Antenna Systems 2010 brings the entire value-chain of antennas and antenna systems together – antenna manufacturers, dealers, integrators, end-users and subsystem suppliers.

This two-day symposium, taking place October 19-20, is a two-day international conference focused on the latest and most important advancements in antenna systems and technology.

Conference Program

Day 1 • Day 2

Meet the Speakers • Presentation Spotlights

7:00 - Registration & Continental Breakfast

8:05 - Opening Address

8:10 - Keynote Presentation
Wireless Eco-System and Its Implication on Hardware Design
Historical trends suggest that a disruptive technology does present itself every 10 years or so. Since the advent of the mobile phone this periodic event seems to have been quite accurate. As of 2007 we have witnessed such an event with the introduction of the iPhone. The underlying implication of this product is still not clear to this day as the rippling effects are still being felt across the legacy industry player. Today we are talking about a new eco-system in which hardware is no longer essential but where the content user is. Learn how these events are transforming our industry and how it will shape the antenna world and its supplier base.

Alessandro Perrotta, Corporate VP • Amphenol

9:15
Antenna Array Analysis
This presentation will detail a proposed workflow for antenna array analysis with commercial 3D EM simulation software. The analysis ranges from element level to finite arrays to installed performance and will be shown in the form of demonstration.

Ian Wood, Application Engineer • CST of America, Inc.

New Developments in Embedded LTE Antennas for 4G Mobile Devices
The antenna system represents a potential bottleneck in achieving the full LTE data throughput in mobile devices because of the conflicting requirements and support of the 700 MHz bands. Adding to the complexity, MIMO (multiple-input, multiple-output) has also been designed into the LTE specification, which allows for multiple antennas per mobile device but requiring even greater isolation, low correlation and high matched efficiencies. These extra requirements have to be maintained on devices that still have stringent size requirements. Learn about a novel class of embedded antennas, which covers all cellular bands between 698 MHz and 2,700 MHz with a high efficiency and are small enough to be building blocks of a MIMO system for a small mobile device.

Devis Iellici, Director of R&D • Antenova Ltd

Read an interview with Devis Iellici here.

10:10
Latest Advancements in Techniques Bring Cost Effective Design and Manufacture of Miniature, Dielectric Cell Phone Antennas
Learn about the new, disruptive technology, advanced materials, design freedoms and print forming techniques taking us a giant leap forward to cost effective manufacture of miniature, dielectric cell phone antennas. See why print forming is the cost effective choice when producing complex devices with multiple materials at the miniature scale. Dielectric cell phone antennas must be built more rugged than ever before for high performance. They must have multiple materials and high bandwidth, yet they must be forged to a miniature scale no larger than a grain of rice.

Arthur L. Chait, President and CEO • EoPlex Technologies, Inc.

Read an interview with Arthur Chait here.

10:55
Modular Frequency Up Conversion for Antenna Ranges
NSI offers a series of frequency up and down conversion units that allows for the upgrade of existing antenna test ranges. These conversion units allow users to expand the upper frequency range of an antenna test range without replacing the existing sources and receiver. The units also allow for the mixing process to take place close to the source antenna and the AUT, minimizing loss and maximizing dynamic range. The conversion units cover distinct bands spanning 20 GHz to 500 GHz.

Bruce Williams, Electronic Products Manager • Nearfield Systems, Inc.

RF Fiber Optic Antenna Remoting
The ever increasing proliferation and reliance on RF systems has necessitated the need for robust, secure and distributed network topologies. As a result, the defense and commercial industry is incorporating optical fiber cabling in lieu of coaxial cables or waveguides within major communications and weapons systems. This trend has put increased demands on the RF performance of optical links to achieve ever improved Spurious Free Dynamic Range (SFDR) capabilities. Hear the current capabilities, integration techniques, system performance enhancements and lessons learned in the deployment of Fiber Optic Antenna Links (FOAL). The presenters shall provide a technical overview of the critical design elements, component specifications and generic link budget analysis required to identify and assess RF Photonic Links as key building blocks in antenna remoting.

Richard Stewart, Director of Engineering • Microwave Photonic Systems
Joshua Korson, RF / Optical Systems Engineer • Microwave Photonic Systems

11:40 - Networking Lunch in the Exhibit Hall

2:00
Ridged Waveguide Slot Array for Omni Directional Base Station Antenna
The simplest antenna to use for a base station of a wireless system is an omnidirectional antenna. However, the standard dipole antenna does not have sufficient gain. To increase the gain, designers usually stack many dipole antennas vertically, feeding each one with an appropriate phase shift. Such a configuration is not easy to construct mechanically and will be expensive as well. A waveguide slot array could resolve both the mechanical and feed problems. However, it faces a problem of nonuniform radiation on the azumuth plane. Learn how to solve this problem by replacing the rectangular waveguide by a rectangular ridged waveguide.

Ming Hui Chen, President • Victory Microwave Corp.

Multi-Band Satellite Communications Antenna Systems Development and Applications
Multiband satellite communications solutions are becoming more necessary as solutions look for ways to enhance the capabilities of antenna systems to supply increased capacity. The use of feed systems that allow the antenna to operate in multiple bands simultaneously or switch between bands is desirable on antennas that are not accessible or where real estate does not allow multiple antennas. Multiband solutions are available in the market for maritime use, airborne use, vehicle use and teleport use. Learn why multiband satellite communications solutions make sense and how it helps to achieve life cycle cost savings.

Mark D. Cavalier, Principal Systems Engineer • Overwatch Systems

2:45
Fast Solver Technology for the Simulation of Planar Antenna Arrays: The Next 10 Years
The purpose of this talk is to educate the audience about fast solver methods for planar antennas. The methods are relatively new to electromagnetic simulation codes, and not as well known as the fast, multipole methods used for wire antenna and scattering problems. Learn how the techniques work, as well as their limitations and pitfalls. Predictions will be made as to the size of arrays that can be solved in 10 years, where it is assumed Moore’s law continues to hold.

Dr. John Dunn, Senior Engineering Consultant • AWR Corp.

Active Antenna Systems for 4G
LTE and 4G is rapidly becoming a reality. Since LTE’s ultimate benefits include spectrum efficiency, increased capacity and data rates and lowered cost per bit, to date, more than 50 operators across the globe have publicly committed to launching LTE within the next two years. Hear about the antenna implementation complexities of bringing the 700 MHz and 2.6 GHz bands needed for support of 4G/LTE into mobile devices while continuing to service the existing bands resident in today’s handset.

Jeff Shamblin, Chief Technical Officer • Ethertronics

2:55
Small Antennas on PCB FR4
Hear case study results on the steps to scale small antenna design on PCB boards while keeping the same bandwidth, radiation resistance and efficiency. Empirical design of small PCB antennas can be costly and time consuming when trying to port an existing design to a new layout. Attend this session to learn how to keep the design cost low, design time minimum and maintain antenna performance.

Rea Schmid, Sr. RF Engineer • Texas Instruments

3:40
Adding Arbitrary Antennas for Down Range Propagation with Moving Window FDTD
Propagation models represent the physical environment in order to predict signal strength in different scenarios without having to take actual measurements. More accurate inputs lead to more accurate predictions. FDTD techniques are traditionally used to solve 3-D antenna problems with high accuracy. Moving Window Finite Difference Time Domain (MWFDTD) uses this same method for accurate long range 2-D propagation prediction. The addition of aperture synthesis techniques to this framework allows arbitrary antenna patterns from 3-D antenna models to be applied to this 2-D framework. The patterns are formed by 2-D waveguides arrays using the Woodward-Lawson pattern synthesis technique.

Kyle Labowski, Electromagnetics Engineer • Remcom, Inc.

New MultiPolarized Science & Antenna Technology For Real-World Wireless
Hear real-world problems and analysis of why problems exist and how MultiPolarized antenna science addresses these issues. Learn how a new generation of multipolarized antenna products significantly outperforms previous technology, improving weak, obstructed signals and increasing throughput.

Dr. Jack Nilsson, Chief Research Scientist • MP Antenna Ltd.

4:25
4G Antenna Challenges, Strategies & Opportunities
Operators can make significant progress in reducing the cost of WiMAX, LTE and other 4G cellular networks through the selection of high-performance, cost-effective antennas. Discuss how network technology is expected to evolve to meet the needs of mobile WiMAX, LTE and the role antennas play in enabling OEMs and operators to deploy, adjust and optimize mobile 4G coverage for higher data rates and reduced costs. OEMs and operators will gain direct insight into the obstacles they face and how they can overcome these challenges through the development of antenna platforms that allow a degree of customization to support the variety of emerging requirements for 4G systems.

Rishi Bharadwaj, VP of Product Management & Marketing • PCTEL

5:00 - Cocktail Reception in the Exhibit Hall

7:30 - Registration & Continental Breakfast

8:10 - Featured Presentation
The Next, Next Generation: Antenna Designs for When LTE Challenges Get Even Harder
Everyone is working on LTE, and the devices are coming soon. The first LTE devices will support just enough frequency bands for 3G and 4G networks, and antenna suppliers are working on a variety of band-switching solutions to support these needs. This hasn’t been an easy feat given the MIMO requirements of 4G, but the technical challenges will get even harder. The market will ultimately demand 4G world phones and devices that can seamlessly roam need to cover more frequencies. SkyCross will discuss the importance of balanced efficiency across multiple resonators and describe antenna solutions that solve the challenges of LTE.

Paul Tornatta, Chief Technical Officer • Skycross, Inc.

9:15
Delivering State of the MIMO Antenna with OTA Testing
Cellular proponents face relentless demand for ever-increasing data rates within existing spectral constraints. Multi-antenna techniques are a necessity. However, traditional conducted-signal mobile device testing is insufficient for the multi-antenna case, where antenna spacing, polarization, correlation and more will have significant effects on the viability of next-generation mobile devices. Hear about the state-of-the-art in multi-antenna testing, the pros and cons of various proposed methods, and an up-to-date insider’s view of where the industry seems to be headed.

Doug Reed, Solutions Architect • Spirent Communications

Case Study: Tri-Band Antenna
Learn about a tri-band antenna (X-, Ku- and Ka-band) for use in manpack SATCOM terminals. The antenna arrangement consists of a 45 cm parabolic reflector center fed by independent, replaceable X-, Ku- and Ka-band top hat feeds. The parabolic reflector is made of a metal matrix composite (e.g. nickel nanostrand) capable of disassembling for portability. The hat feed is a self supported rear-radiating (reflects through a corrugated splash plate) circular waveguide located along the symmetry axis of the reflector. Inherent advantages from this feed versus other front-fed configurations are the exclusion of support struts, which block the reflector aperture to cause low efficiency and high sidelobes, and avoiding the use of lossy cables since the transmitter and receiver circuitry can be placed behind the reflector. Furthermore, the antenna feed is attached to an orthomode transducer by a hub where the various antenna segments are also joined.

Sergio Melais, Ph.D., Electrical Engineer • Tampa Microwave

10:10
Microwave Antenna Near Field Power Estimation
The far field power density of fixed point to point microwave antennas is well known. However, the near field power density has not been extensively studied. With the wide deployment of small high frequency antennas, interest in this issue has increased from a public safety perspective. Various government agencies and the IEEE have established public protection radiation exposure limits but related methods of accurately determining exposure are lacking. This paper provides simple but accurate formulas for calculating near field power density for circular and square aperture antennas typically used in fixed point to point microwave systems.

George Kizer, President • TeleVision, Inc.

SATCOM-On-The-Move Antenna Tracking with Monopulse
SATCOM-On-The-Move systems present unique challenges for antenna tracking systems. Traditionally, satellite beacons have been used for closed-loop tracking. Designing antenna tracking loops to operate on communication traffic introduces issues that must be carefully considered. Learn about these issues and hear about a closed-loop tracking technique. The communication system performance benefits of the monopulse approach will be presented in comparison to traditional tracking techniques.

William S. Sward, Engineering Manager • RT Logic, Inc.

10:55
Radome Impacts and Implications for Antenna System Engineers
The radome is the first component in the RF chain of an antenna system. As such, its characteristics can have a significant impact on the performance of the entire system. Radome impacts on system performance can include EIRP, noise temperature, sidelobes and cross polarization and bore-site error. This presentation is for antenna and system engineers, program managers and purchasing agents interested in learning about the types of radomes available, expected performance, limitations and the physics of radome operation. Various sandwich structures and materials will be presented including their RF properties.

Lance Griffiths, PhD, Radome Design Engineer • MFG Galileo Composites

Non-Interfering Multiple Output Antenna System
A novel approach to an antenna and beamforming system, NIMO (Non-Interfering Multiple Output), is introduced to overcome bandwidth and capacity limitations on dense wireless networks. The new system combines beamforming technology with MIMO, providing a higher quality of service (QoS) and supports transparent integration with any telecommunication system. NIMO provides multiple narrow beams using a single antenna and provides improved characteristics compared to conventional beamforming techniques such as reduced interference. Such a multibeam antenna system increases spectral efficiency, user capacity and throughput, as well as QoS. The improved performance makes it well suited for broadband wireless communications including mobile systems.

Thomas G. Economou, Chief Operations Officer • ETI, Inc.

11:40 - Networking Lunch in the Exhibit Hall

1:00
Practical Measurement Approaches for Complex Small Antenna Systems
Even though the size requirements of wireless devices are becoming more constrained, their functional requirements continue to increase. Today’s devices require an increasingly complex system of multiple antennas to cover the various frequency bands, diversity requirements and adjunct applications such as GPS, Wi-Fi, television and emergency systems. Given the small space requirements, the many antennas are bound to interact with each other as well as the dense electronics and chassis of the device itself. The presentation describes important metrics used to characterize such systems and then illustrates the methods used to quickly achieve measurement insight. The primary focus will be on free-space measurements using reference chambers with a focus on passive, in-system testing of multi-antenna systems. Both anechoic and reverberation chamber methods will be discussed with an overview of calibration and test equipment requirements.

Derek Skousen, Product Marketing Analyst • MI Technologies

1:45
The Trend of Wireless in Multi-Antenna, Multi-Band And Miniaturization Application
Multi-antenna and multi-band design concept is an application trend in current wireless communication devices requirement. For instance, in a notebook, there are at least three to six antennas have to be built inside the product. These antennas will need to design for LTE, WWAN, WLAN, WPAN, GPS, WiMAX band. The critical antenna challenge is how to enhance the antenna bandwidth, miniaturize antenna volume and solve the electric magnetic coupling and SAR issue in this moment. Learn a novel wideband antenna design to solve the bandwidth problem to cover WWAN and LTE band requirement and a miniaturized IC Chip antenna to solve the space limited problem.

Alan Tang, RF Chief Technical Officer • Auden Techno Corp.

2:30
Accelerating Wireless TIS Measurements with the Reverberation Chamber
The Total Isotropic Sensitivity (TIS) measurement of a mobile phone, laptop and USB modem has a direct impact on the downlink data-rate experienced by the end-user. The TIS values also provide insight to the wireless operator into the system capacity, i.e. the number of simultaneous users. Both end-users and operators are therefore interested in wireless devices with good TIS performance. While TIS performance is very hard to simulate accurately with software, it can be measured with good accuracy. Over the last several years reverberation chambers have been shown to be useful for direct tests of antenna efficiency, TRP, TIS, antenna diversity gain and MIMO capacity. Also, the reverberation chambers can be made much smaller than a typical anechoic chamber. When combined with the potential speed improvements, these chambers offer some unique advantages to device development processes. This presentation will describe how TIS measurements in Bluetest’s reverberation chambers can be made in only three minutes per channel and provide comparative results with tests made in traditional anechoic chambers.

Kjell Olovsson • Bluetest

3:00 - Conclusion of Conference