Multiple Wireless Technologies Co-Exist On Ceramic Antenna

Feb. 8, 2008

2 min read

Multiple wireless technologies are showing up next to one another more and more inside cell phones, laptops, and other products. Most cell phones today include a Bluetooth radio in addition to the cellular transceivers. Other radios for Wi-Fi and GPS are also being included. Packaging isn’t an issue since each radio is a tiny single chip. The problem lies in the multiple antennas that not only take up space but also require some isolation from one another to work properly.

The Savvi antennas from Ethertronics target these applications. For example, the dual-band, dual-feed GPS and Bluetooth antenna operates at 1.575 and 2.4 GHz and has separate connections to each radio. By using a ceramic substrate and Ethertronics’ patented Isolated Magnetic Dipole technology, it provides very high efficiency and excellent isolation from the main cellular antenna as well as from objects in close proximity like a hand. The radiation patterns supply optimum signal strength in a variety of real-world settings and environments.

Available now, the antenna comes in a 14- by 4- by 1.3-mm package (see the figure). Other Savvi models that target Bluetooth only, dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz and 4.9 to 5.8 GHz), dual-band WiMAX (2.5 to 2.7 GHz and 4.9 to 5.8 GHz), and cellular PCS with WiMAX will be available later this year.

Ethertronics

www.ethertronics.com

About the Author

Lou Frenzel

Technical Contributing Editor

Lou Frenzel is a Contributing Technology Editor for Electronic Design Magazine where he writes articles and the blog Communique and other online material on the wireless, networking, and communications sectors. Lou interviews executives and engineers, attends conferences, and researches multiple areas. Lou has been writing in some capacity for ED since 2000.

Lou has 25+ years experience in the electronics industry as an engineer and manager. He has held VP level positions with Heathkit, McGraw Hill, and has 9 years of college teaching experience. Lou holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston and a master’s degree from the University of Maryland. He is author of 28 books on computer and electronic subjects and lives in Bulverde, TX with his wife Joan. His website is www.loufrenzel.com.