Ultra wideband (UWB) is a wireless technology that provides high data rate transmissions over short distances, making it ideally suited to streaming multimedia in the home or office environment without the need for cables. The high data rates associated with this technology require an antenna that can operate over a broad frequency band. Increasing the bandwidth of antennas, while minimising the size, is a key challenge faced by antenna designers. The challenge is exacerbated when UWB antennas are arrayed to form a smart antenna system.

ERA Technology has successfully completed development of a low-cost state of the art UWB Smart Antenna system for ITI Techmedia, Scotland. The unit provides active pattern control over the full UWB (3.1 - 10.6 GHz) frequency band. The ability to control the direction of radiation improves gain and reduces sensitivity to interference. The technical requirements were challenging; in particular, achieving a satisfactory RF performance over the full bandwidth. However, by far the most challenging requirement was to produce a design which could be manufactured in quantity at extremely low cost (a few dollars at most). Antennas with active pattern control are in common use in other markets, such as the military, but can typically cost many millions of dollars each.

The design drew upon ERA’s significant expertise in antenna and RF circuitry design and fabrication techniques. The development used state-of-the-art electromagnetic modelling techniques to optimise the performance of the antenna when operating in combination with that of the specially developed RF feeding circuitry in order to provide a compact, efficient, cost-effective design. A number of units have been successfully built, tested and supplied to ITI Techmedia for trials purposes.

The development programme has also included the development of a compact passive UWB antenna operating over the same frequency band and designed such that its quantity production price is under US$1.

About ERA Technology Ltd

ERA Technology works at the leading edge of advanced technology consultancy and design. The business provides specialist, high value-added, technology-based services including design and development, testing, assessment and expert advice.

The company has built an international reputation for technical expertise through constant innovation. ERA's services reduce technical and commercial risk, improve the operational performance of engineering infrastructure assets, and develop and enhance the competitiveness of products and systems.

ERA Technology is a part of the Cobham Avionics and Surveillance Division of Cobham plc.

For more information, please contact: marketing@era.co.uk