Multiple Signals, Single Antenna
Portable Design News, Tuesday January 29, 2008
SkyCross has introduced its Isolated Mode Antenna Technology (iMAT), which enables a single device antenna to perform like multiple antennas through the use of multiple feed points. Each feed accesses the antenna as if it consisted of multiple antennas, each with high isolation, low correlation, and high per-feed antenna efficiency. The multiple radiation patterns produced by an iMAT antenna have low correlation so they cover different spatial regions to achieve pattern diversity and signal independence. This makes the way the device is “pointed” with respect to towers and base units less crucial.
iMAT enables designers of handsets, PC cards, USB dongles, personal navigation and other wireless electronics to offer diversity or multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) communications, even in applications where such implementation has been considered impossible due to space constraints inside mobile devices. (Traditionally, MIMO leverages multiple antennas at both the radio transmitter and receiver to improve communication performance). The single-antenna solution from SkyCross eliminates the need to configure multiple antennas and reduces the number of parts required to build a device.
Network operators benefit from a greater number of efficient, iMAT-equipped devices on a network can improve the capacity and bandwidth of the entire system. iMAT enables operators to optimize network performance without any additional investment in infrastructure. iMAT supports legacy networks and is essential for next-generation protocols such as HSxPA, WiMAX, 802.11x, and LTE—all of which require diversity or MIMO. iMAT helps deliver better signal strength to end users, even when the nearest tower or base unit is far away. This reduces dropped calls and enables faster data transfer for high-definition video, music, and more. iMAT antennas also exhibit minimal power loss, extending battery life.
iMAT antenna systems are immediately available from SkyCross for commercial application in a wide variety of wireless devices.
SkyCross USA, Viera, FL (321) 308-6600 [www.skycross.com]
