Featured Story
Intel and telcos left in virtual RAN limbo by rise of AI RAN
A multitude of general-purpose and specialist silicon options now confronts the world's 5G community, while Intel's future in telecom remains uncertain.
Intel and Etenna to improve the performance of 802.11a/b and Bluetooth antennas in wireless-enabled notebooks by reducing interference
February 25, 2003
LAUREL, Md. -- Etenna Corporation, an antenna developer for commercial wireless applications, and Intel®, are collaborating to create an antenna solution for high performance wireless- enabled notebook computers. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and original design manufacturers (ODMs) can use this reference design to directly address co-existence and incorporate 802.11a/b and Bluetooth(TM) antennas into their future products. Etenna and Intel have been working together for almost a year to apply cutting edge antenna and surface treatment technology to Intel's reference design mobile platforms to provide outstanding mobile connectivity. Specifically, the two companies have been using Etenna's artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) technology to enhance the performance of internal antennas. Etenna's AMC technology is an electrically thin, loss-less material that blocks surface waves. The AMC material itself is not composed of any exotic compounds, but uses traditional materials to create a periodic structure with distributed inductors and capacitors. Small amounts of this material are required for this type of application, resulting in a small size and low profile surface treatment. "We are strategically placing 'RF speed bumps' along the edge of the laptop screen to reduce surface currents created by the antennas," says Greg Mendolia, Etenna's Executive Vice President. "Applying this treatment between antennas embedded into laptops dramatically improves in-band isolation by over 20 dB. Without this treatment, the isolation is typically 20-25 dB, but with the treatment isolation in excess of 45 dB has been achieved within Intel's specified form factor." By enhancing antenna isolation, interference between protocols such as Bluetooth, and 802.11b/g is significantly reduced. This creates more reliable wireless connectivity at improved data rates and increased range when the two protocols are operated simultaneously -- one application no longer has to be turned off while the other one runs. The results from this collaboration were showcased at one of the technical sessions jointly given by Intel and Etenna at the Spring 2003 Intel Developer Forum (IDF), an event sponsored by Intel to demonstrate the latest technologies going into computing devices. Etenna provided a live demo, which showed the audience real-time improvement in isolation by adding small strips of AMC on a laptop. Multiple sessions at the IDF emphasized the importance of achieving at least 40 dB of antenna isolation to obtain optimum performance with both Bluetooth and 802.11b/g. Etenna Corp.Intel Corp.
You May Also Like