Innovative Measures

Innovation is one of RichWave’s 6 major core values and an essential element of corporate growth. We adhere to the quality policy of “Ongoing quality refinement – Customer satisfaction comes first” to achieve market differentiation and develop products with outstanding performance through innovation, technology, and unique market positioning. In the field of WiFi wireless communication and IC, we have constantly unveiled new products to accommodate the market’s needs. RichWave monitors technological changes and developments in the industry closely to maintain a high level of understanding of industrial dynamics while constantly elevating the company’s R&D capabilities. At the same time, we have hired external professional consultants to introduce new technologies and engage in industry-academia collaborations, where the patent mechanism is applied to protect RichWave’s innovative ideas and R&D outcome, thereby maintaining the company’s technological leadership position, allowing us to strive to become the leader in the global RFIC market through innovative technology. We will vigorously invest resources to perform innovative R&D; in 2024, RichWave’s R&D totaled NTD 685,841 thousand, an increase of NTD 32,126 thousand from last year, accounting for 18.6% of the Company’s revenue, a slight decrease of 3.3% from the previous year.

Unit: NTD thousands

Energy-saving Performance of Green Products

The primary business of RichWave is chip design. Chips designed by the company are sold worldwide and used in a diverse array of wireless communication products. Through chip design, the company is dedicated to the R&D of more energy-efficient and carbon-reducing products that have minimal impact on the environment. Moreover, the company strives to increase its product competitiveness by improving product performance. This is achieved via lowering power consumption, minimum usable design, and changing production processes, thereby realizing the goal of energy conservation, carbon reduction, and eco-friendliness.

Design and process innovation is one of the company's main R&D directions. This not only demonstrates our commitment to product quality but also contributes to environmental protection. Through chip emphasizing area control and process innovation, we can significantly increase the die yield per wafer and lower the GHG emissions associated with each die by nearly 60%, thereby achieving the goal of reducing GHG emissions. Calculated based on annual shipment volume, the total chip area of the 2.4GHz RF front-end module (FEM) for mid-to-high power Wi-Fi 7 applications in 2024 was reduced by 22% compared to 2023. Wi-Fi 7 applications utilize 6GHz RF FEMs with mid- to-high power. The 2024 product is 21.5% smaller than the 2023 version. This RF FEM reduced CO2 emissions by 6.8 tonnes in 2023, and total CO2 emissions will be reduced by 17.6 tonnes in 2024.

In 2024, the RF FEM for Wi-Fi 7 applications in network communication evolved from linear RF FEMs to non-linear RF FEMs. The 2.4GHz non-linear RF FEMs saves 30% more current at high power compared to the linear RF FEMs, the 5GHz non-linear RF FEMs saves 25% more current at high power compared to the linear RF FEMs, and the 6GHz non-linear RF FEMs saves 10% more current at high power compared to the linear RF FEMs.

Mobile communication products boast extremely low power consumption when in special standby mode, which only consumes roughly 25%~87% power compared to the normal mode. In transmission mode, the efficiency mode of the mobile communication product offers a transmission power comparable to that of the normal mode but only consumes 28%~66% of power compared to the normal mode, hence it can extend battery life and minimize battery pollution.

Under the special standby mode coupled with the efficient transmission mode, tablet and smartphone products can achieve lower power consumption benefits. Relevant technologies were applied to tablet and smartphone products that were shipped to customers in 2024. If calculated based on 12 hours of standby mode and transmission mode, respectively in a day, roughly 39.09 million kWh of electricity can be saved. If calculated based on the electricity carbon emission factor announced by the Energy Administration, MOEA in 2024, the products can decrease CO2 emissions by about 16,253 tonnes.

We continue to implement current reduction designs across this product line. The impulse wave motion-sensing mode current of the 8–10 GHz Ultra-Wideband (UWB) microwave radar with a built- in signal processing sensor was initially designed at 150 mA in 2021, reduced to 110 mA in 2022, further decreased to 5 mA in 2023, and has now dropped to 1.9 mA in 2024, representing a 61% reduction compared to the 2023 specification. The product’s energy-saving benefits are widely applied to smart homes, smart lighting, surveillance systems, and dashcam products.

1. Lighting fixtures or lightbulbs equipped with the automatic sensing function of the radar sensor can turn off the lights automatically when the room is unoccupied
2. Air conditioners equipped with radar sensors can detect the room from different angles for human presence. If no human presence is detected, it will turn the fan speed to the minimum or automatically enter sleep mode, and the fan angle will be adjusted to ensure optimal comfort and cooling efficiency.
3. Televisions equipped with the automatic sensing function of the radar sensor will turn off or enter sleep mode automatically to minimize energy consumption.
4. Desktop or notebook computers equipped with radar sensors can turn off the screen and enter sleep mode when the user is away from the screen
5. Surveillance systems equipped with radar sensors can activate cameras to take photos/videos only when someone is detected to lower overall system energy consumption.
6. Dashcams equipped with radar sensors can be used for anti-theft functions, which can detect abnormal movement before turning on the recording system to reduce battery consumption.
7. RichWave’s microwave radar sensor has been included in the Intel Integrated Sensor Hub (ISH) third-party supplier list

RichWave is the only domestic RF front-end device supplier in the country that has successfully commercialized process technologies such as GaAs, SiGe, SOI, CMOS, and IPD. With the dedicated efforts of its professional R&D team, RichWave has steadily developed advanced RF device technologies and design capabilities, putting the company in a favorable position to embrace the challenges of the upcoming Wi-Fi 7 generation and aims to advance Taiwan's RF front-end device technology, aspiring to surpass major foreign manufacturers to become a leading global supplier. In 2024, the average monthly shipment of RFIC FEMs for Wi-Fi applications has reached 90 million units, with annual shipments exceeding 1.079 billion units. RichWave’s Wi-Fi product portfolio, including RF single-pole dual-throw (SPDT) switches, RF single-pole triple-throw (SP3T) switches, Wi-Fi linear RF FEMs, and Wi-Fi non-linear RF FEMs, accounted for approximately 25% of the global market share in 2024.

RichWave Technology is a member of the Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association (TSIA). By participating in association activities, we exchange and collaborate with other members to build industry consensus and explore cutting-edge R&D technologies, with the goal of promoting mutual benefit and prosperity within the industry chain and enhancing the sound development of the semiconductor industry ecosystem. RichWave continues to connect with the world by sponsoring international forums including IEEE RFIC Symposium (International Microwave Forum), BCICTS (BiCMOS and Compound Semiconductor Integrated Circuit and Technology Conference), and ISPACS (International Conference on Smart Signal Processing and Communications Systems). In addition, the Company also participates in domestic forum events, such as the Taiwan ESD and Reliability Conference, where it hosts academic sessions and publishes technical papers. With over 20 years of experience in the semiconductor design industry, RichWave’s remarkable technical capabilities and global sales network have established it as a key player in the global market. The company actively participates in domestic and international conferences and academic seminars to facilitate industry exchange and collaboration, fostering cooperation in a competitive landscape. This commitment allows RichWave to stay ahead in the dynamic international environment and strengthen its brand value.

Patent Management

RichWave is eagerly promoting the smart intellectual property management project to reinforce the company’s innovative ability and product competitiveness, as well as to protect our cutting-edge technological accomplishments. The company focuses on the strategic goals of “becoming the leader in the global RFIC market through the application of technology” and “market differentiation” to determine the number of patent applications and grants for the year, encouraging our R&D colleagues to achieve the target. RichWave has formulated the “patent management regulation” document to systematically help our colleagues apply for patents systematically and keep the R&D outcome in the form of patents to safeguard the company’s R&D achievements and patent rights. RichWave has established a Patent Review Committee headed by the President, in charge of reviewing patent applications’ economic benefits, application countries, patent maintenance, as well as offering technical consultations and patent management policies, etc. RichWave has set aside invention patent application bonus, invention patent grants bonus, new patent application bonus, new patent grant bonus, design patent application bonus, design patent grant bonus, and patent infringement reporting bonus to increase the company’s patent quality and competitiveness.

Patent Target Achievement:

The Company reports the number of patents and intellectual properties to the Board of Directors in Q4 every year. On February 27, 2025, the Company reported to the Board that the target number of patent proposals for 2024 was 51, with a cumulative total of 49 proposals submitted, achieving a completion rate of 96%. As of December 31, 2024, the company had filed 96 patent applications and was granted 73 patents, reaching a major milestone with a cumulative total of 695 global patents. RichWave was ranked among the top 100 in national patent applications and grants in 2024, maintaining a spot in the top 100 for six consecutive years.

Unit: patent number

Note： As of 2024/12/31

Unit: patent number

Note： As of 2024/12/31

Capable of accurately detecting the power of input signals and increasing the linearity and operating bandwidth of output signals [CN112448679B]

In RF communication, the power amplifier (PA) generates RF signals for transmission through the antenna. The power of RF signals must be controlled within a specific power range to transmit signals within the expected coverage area while minimizing signal interference. A logarithmic power detector can detect the power of an RF signal, thereby controlling the PA to adjust the RF signal's power. However, the current logarithmic power detector cannot accurately measure the power of RF signals, and its operating bandwidth is limited. Therefore, it is necessary to have a logarithmic power detector that can accurately detect the power of the input signal, improve the linearity of the output signal, and operate over a wide frequency range.

Wi-Fi 7 Digital Pre-Distortion Characteristics

RichWave’s Wi-Fi 7 non-linear RF FEM, operating in the 6 GHz band, adopts an innovative circuit architecture in combination with digital pre-distortion (DPD) signals provided by the main chip. At an operating voltage of 4.2V, using a 320 MHz bandwidth (EHT320) and MCS13 modulation, the RF output power achieves an average of 18 dBm while maintaining an error vector magnitude (EVM) better than –45 dB.

the next-generation Wi-Fi 7 non-linear RF FEM chip, as well as 3x3 and 3x5 RF FEMs, which will be mass-produced for the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz frequency bands. The Wi-Fi 7 RFIC has been certified by major main chip platforms and adopted by global telecom carriers, operators, networking vendors, and channel brands, with cumulative shipments exceeding 33 million units.

RichWave's next-generation Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be) nonlinear RF FEM chip series includes a comprehensive range of high-power RF FEMs, medium/high- power RF modules, and high-efficiency RF FEMs to meet the diverse platform requirements of main chip in Taiwan and abroad.

In particular, the RTC66284 (2.4 GHz), RTC66583 (5 GHz), and RTC66937 (6 GHz) nonlinear RF FEM series feature a QFN 3mmx3mm package design. They integrate high-efficiency power amplifiers, power detectors, low noise amplifiers, and single-pole double-throw (SPDT) transmit/receive (T/R) switches for comprehensive functionality. Completed the verification of the Digital Pre- Distortion (DPD) algorithm with main chip platforms in the United States and Taiwan in 2024.

In particular, the RTC66291 (2.4 GHz), RTC66591 (5 GHz), and RTC66951 (6 GHz) nonlinear RF FEM series feature a QFN 3mmx5mm package design. They integrate high-efficiency power amplifiers, power detectors, low noise amplifiers, and single-pole double-throw (SPDT) transmit/receive (T/R) switches for comprehensive functionality. The 2.4GHz and 5GHz non-linear RF FEM series completed Digital Pre-Distortion (DPD) algorithm verification on the U.S. main chipset platform in 2024. The 6GHz RF FEM is expected to complete system verification in the US in Q1 2025, integrated with the main chipset platform and a Digital Pre-Distortion (DPD) algorithm.

In 2024, the RF FEM used for WI-FI 7 applications in networking transitioned from linear RF FEM to non-linear RF FEM

Product Applications

Wi-Fi 7 system: Achieve the greatest energy-saving benefits for wireless APs, routers, and gateways.