The Need

Ultra-wide-band (UWB) technology combined with multiple transmit and receive antennas can provide high data rates for indoor communications. However, designing multi-antenna systems with UWB performance is challenging because a sizable level of isolation between antennas is required to achieve efficient radiation. Furthermore, indoor antenna systems tend to have strict area-volume constraints, which limits coupling reduction between antennas for even narrow-band applications. As a result, it is difficult to provide the necessary isolation required for UWB performance in indoor antenna systems.

The Technology

Researchers at The Ohio State University, led by Dr. Chen, have developed a multi-antenna design with effective UWB performance for indoor mobile communication systems. The design isolates between antennas to achieve efficient radiation at LTE, GSM, PCS, and WiFi frequencies. The isolation of antennas was determined by the quality of the baluns that were used in the feeding network of four dipole antennas.

Commercial Applications

• Smart antennas
• Wireless communications
• loT applications

Benefits/Advantages

• Achieves efficient radiation at LTE, GSM, PCS, and WiFi frequencies
• Small, low-profile, and low cost
• Provides significant improvement for cellphone drop-off or wireless connection outages with its UWB performance and highly-isolated antennas
• UWB performance with a 2-port capability increases the capacity and reliability of wireless systems