Keywords
Citation
(2002), "New miniature antenna can incorporate low noise amplifier", Sensor Review, Vol. 22 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/sr.2002.08722aaf.005
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2002, MCB UP Limited
New miniature antenna can incorporate low noise amplifier
New miniature antenna can incorporate low noise amplifier
Keywords: Radio, Antenna
Boosts system performance, simplifies designs, saves space
A new miniature antenna aimed at the Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver market has the capability to incorporate a low noise RF amplifier (LNA) into its base. Designed and manufactured by UK antenna specialist Sarantel, the GPS-A PowerHelixTM provides designers with greater flexibility in antenna positioning within the receiver and improves system performance by keeping the signal path as short as possible (Plate 6).
The robust metallised plastic case of the GPS-A antenna is designed with a screened compartment which Sarantel can populate with one of the standard low noise amplifiers favoured by GPS designers, or any other customer specified circuit. The active circuitry can be added as part of the automated manufacturing process at Sarantel's new Wellingborough factory.
Barrie Foley, Sarantel's CEO, remarked, "When we introduced our first GPS antenna earlier in the summer we understood the demand existed for a small active unit, but the feedback from customers has exeeded alle xpectations and I now anticipate that three out of four PowerHelix GPS antennas will be manufactured with active components. The GPS-A will therefore be a very important product for Sarantel."
Plate 6
Sarantel's patented PowerHelix™ antenna is now available with a low noise
RF amplifier. The GPS-A is designed for GPS applications
The GPS L1-band uses two signals, one coarse acquisition signal sometimes referred to as CA code and a second precise positioning signal known as P code.
The PowerHelix GPS-A also has a very broad beamwithdth (3dB contour up to 175o Typical) making it highly effective at picking up GPS signals regardless of the orientation or movement of the GPS receiver or antenna.
The PowerHelix technology, developed by Sarantel in conjunction with Loughborough University, has a right-hand circular primary polarisation generating a cardioid-shaped reception pattern above the antenna. The antenna also generates a left hand pattern beneath the antenna, enabling it to pick up the bounced signals typically encountered in urban areas. The active part of the antenna is isolated from the handset case and has a very small near-field region. This makes it far less susceptible to being in close proximity with the body or other absorbing material than with conventional designs.
The GPS-A, which operates on the GPS L1-band (1575.42MHz), uses Sarantel's patented design in which copper tracks, deposited on to a small ceramic cylinder, are individually and automatically laser trimmed for optimum frequency response. With no ground plane, the robust antenna measures only 10mm in diameter by 18mm and allows considerably smaller designs for in-vehicle and handheld GPS solutions. Furthermore, the antennas can be mounted side by side and used in combined applications such as Bluetooth and GPS without loss of performance.
Contact:- Jo Trimarco, Sarantel Ltd, Unit 2, Wendel Point, Ryle Drive, Park Farm South, Wellinborough, NN8 6AQ UK. Tel: 01933 670561; E-mail: info@sarantel.com
In the US contact: Jim Gray, Jim Gray & Associates. Tel: 001 972 699 9976; E-mail: jdgray@airmail.net