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The Future is Active
Ethertronics has pioneered an award-winning active antenna systems portfolio for wireless devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops. Ethertronics realized the need for an evolution to an active antenna system to solve the challenges associated with 4G technologies, particularly with LTE. “Active” antenna system solutions, whereby the antenna system and modem interact with each other, were developed to add more “smarts” in the RF and antenna system to provide a superior user experience.
Ethertronics’ award-winning active antenna systems bring added dimensions of capability to solve 4G and beyond pain points across the entire mobile ecosystem. Active antenna system solutions help OEMs get their products to market faster, decrease the volume required by antennas by approximately 50 percent, deliver the latest technological advances and provide the best consumer experience possible, including an increase in mobile data throughput by two to six times, and the ability to dynamically manage emissions, as well as offset head and hand effects.
For operators, Ethertronics’ active antenna systems increase mobile network capacity by two to six times and dynamically manage emissions. Consumers benefit from their ability to stretch battery usage by two times and provide the speeds that they have been promised by with 4G.
Ethertronics’ patented Isolated Magnetic Dipole™ (IMD) technology has a legacy as a strong foundation for passive, as well as active antennas designs.
What is IMD?
IMD stands for Isolated Magnetic Dipole™, Ethertronics' patented, award winning, antenna technology that resists detuning in real life situations. It was developed to meet the rapidly growing need for increasingly sophisticated embedded antenna solutions. The result of years of research, development and testing, IMD consistently outperforms competing technologies in terms of smaller size, greater coverage and lower emissions. It is increasingly the choice of top product designers requiring optimal performance and size for demanding wireless applications.
How is it different?
Our ability to shape the antenna to meet your requirements and yet deliver outstanding performance sets IMD apart from its competition. Its unique design properties confine current flows to the antenna element, optimizing its isolation from surrounding componentry.
Higher isolation delivers 4 key benefits to product designs:
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It improves coverage in normal usage.
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It has less interaction with surrounding components for higher performance and greater implementation flexibility.
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It allows for smaller antennas that are easier to fit into complex designs.
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It controls near-field emissions, ensuring that designs meet SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) requirements in different markets.
Better Coverage
An antenna plays a critical role in the overall quality of network service, meaning that antenna performance is more and more important to both wireless service providers and end-users. IMD technology reduces energy loss and minimizes antenna detuning. Thus, antenna and network performance can be vastly improved.
Less Interaction with Surroundings
Antennas are often designed and optimized under ideal conditions called “free space.” However, antenna performance is affected by the amount of electrical energy that flows from the element into the surrounding circuit board, neighboring components and the end-user’s body. Excessive current flow makes overall performance more susceptible to changes in the antenna’s surrounding environment (e.g., head, hand placement, other components), which reduces antenna efficiency, shortens battery life and requires higher emission rates to overcome signal loss. To isolate the antenna from these negative factors, wireless device designers are forced to impose a “keep out” area around the antenna. Larger keep out areas results in product design inefficiencies and bulkier products.
Smaller Size
The trend toward smaller, thinner devices requires more compact antenna designs that can adapt to these challenging mechanical constraints. IMD's unique shape enables us to control the current flow better and make smaller volume antennas without reducing performance. These core design principles are highly flexible and can be configured to accommodate a variety of mechanical requirements. IMD antennas are up to 30% smaller than competing technologies and can be placed in close proximity to other components, giving you greater freedom in the design process and accelerating time-to-market.
Lower Emissions
Emissions absorbed by the body are measured by SAR. Wireless products must meet regional requirements for SAR in order to be sold in that market. IMD technology controls near-field emissions, minimizing the effects of SAR. Using proprietary modeling and design techniques developed through years of testing and analysis, IMD consistently meets SAR requirements - even in your small and complex product designs
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