Whether we are talking about a low-pass filter or a high-pass filter, all radio frequency filters (RF filters) are a vital, widely-used component to most electronic devices on the market. They restrict signals in the MHz to GHz frequency range, which are received and transmitted primarily by broadcast radio, TVs, and wireless communication devices such as cellphones and tablets.
They also help detect signals and process the required information. RF filters are used in numerous applications across the entire spectrum of frequencies. This versatility is one of many factors currently driving the Global Radio Frequency Filters Market at a CAGR of 14.99 percent for the 2013-2018 period.
4 Basic Types of RF Filters:
- Band-pass filter: selects only a desired band of frequencies.
- Band-stop filter: eliminates an undesired band of frequencies.
- Low-pass filter: allows only frequencies below a cut-off frequency to pass.
- High-pass filter: allows only frequencies above a cut-off frequency to pass.
RF filters are technologically advanced and compatible with 3G and 4G technologies. They are designed and developed to work on various frequency bands based on application requirements. They are also compact in size and can fit easily into cellphones and other wireless communication devices.
There are two main types of filters used in the RF Filter industry are the BAW filter and the SAW filter.
SAW Filter
A Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) filter is currently used across all application segments in the Global Radio Frequency Filters Market because SAW technology provides better performance and is cost-effective when used as a low-pass filter (approximately 2 GHz). Also, there is a better choice of SAW filters for the 1 GHz band, though filter selectivity degrades when the frequency band is closer to the upper limit of 2.5 GHz. Hence, the demand for SAW filters may decrease in 4G-enabled wireless communication devices because LTE wireless technology operates at ultra-high frequencies (above 2.5 GHz) where a low-pass filter is relatively ineffective.
BAW Filter
A Bulk Acoustic Wave (BAW) filter is widely used as a high-pass filter in devices that operate above the 2.5 GHz frequency range. They have better power handling capabilities than SAW filters and are less sensitive to surface contamination. The trend of miniaturization of semiconductor devices has increased the demand for BAW filters as they provide filtering with fewer external components and use less board space than SAW filters. All these factors are expected to have a positive impact on market growth during the forecast period.
RF Filter Market Landscape
The SAW Filter segment will dominate the Global Radio Frequency Filters Market during the forecast period because most wireless communication devices use a low-pass filter (operates below the 2.5 GHz frequency range) and SAW filters are widely used in devices that operate in this range. However, the market share of the BAW Filter segment is expected to increase during the forecast period with the deployment of next-generation LTE wireless communication networks that operate above the 2.5 GHz frequency range, requiring a high-pass filter.
In 2013, the market for RF filters was predominantly driven by the demand for compact and multifunctional wireless communication devices such as smartphones and tablets. As these devices are highly integrated and compact products, there is limited board space for RF filters. Hence, vendors are compelled to reduce the size of RF components. This need for integration is leading to the development of high-performance devices that meet the requirements of wireless communication devices manufacturers. This, in turn, is strengthening the revenue of RF-integrated circuit vendors.
