DelfMEMS

DelfMEMS, founded in 2005 by Dr. Olivier Millet, operates as a fabless semiconductor company specializing in radio frequency micro-electro-mechanical systems (RF MEMS). The company originated as a spinoff from the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), leveraging research that identified mechanical stress in traditional MEMS designs as a key challenge. Dr. Millet, who invented the company's core RF-MEMS switch structure patent, founded the company based on the insight that an anchorless membrane could improve reliability. His background includes a Ph.D. in electrical engineering, providing the technical foundation for this development.

The company's business model is fabless, meaning it designs the technology and partners with high-volume semiconductor foundries for manufacturing. DelfMEMS develops and markets its RF MEMS switches to clients such as automatic test equipment manufacturers and RF front-end module manufacturers within the semiconductor and telecommunications industries. Its revenue is generated by supplying these bare die components to module makers who integrate them into products for mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.

DelfMEMS' core product is an RF MEMS switch based on its patented, anchorless "FreeFlex" technology. Unlike conventional MEMS structures like bridges or cantilevers, this design uses a push-pull mechanical device deflected by electrostatic forces to switch RF signals. This approach is engineered to resolve historical issues of stiction and contact degradation, particularly during hot switching (when an RF signal is active). The key benefits of this technology include ultra-low insertion loss, high isolation, and superior linearity, which translate to improved receiver sensitivity, fewer dropped calls, and faster data rates for end-users. Furthermore, the switches enable a reduction in the power consumption of the RF module by up to 20%, leading to longer battery life for mobile devices. A significant milestone was achieved when the company's SP12T ohmic switch surpassed one billion operations, a demonstration of its reliability.

The company has secured multiple rounds of funding to support its growth and product industrialization. This includes a Series C round of €5.4 million ($7.4 million) in 2014 from investors including bpifrance Investissement, Iris Capital, VIVES, and Capitalaria. Over its history, DelfMEMS has raised a total of approximately $16 million from various venture capital firms and angel investors. Cybele Rolland was appointed CEO in September 2014, having previously served as the company's CFO since 2009. Her background includes extensive experience in industrial companies, managing finance, supply chain, and purchasing.

Keywords: RF MEMS, radio frequency switch, fabless semiconductor, micro-electro-mechanical systems, mobile telephony, front-end modules, anchorless membrane, FreeFlex technology, low insertion loss, high isolation, carrier aggregation, wireless communication, semiconductor components, mobile device hardware, telecom infrastructure, automatic test equipment, MEMS manufacturing, Olivier Millet, Cybele Rolland, SP12T switch