Antenna supplier SkyCross has developed an isolated mode antenna technology or iMAT that enables a single device antenna to perform like multiple antennas through the use of multiple feed points. A single-antenna patented technology, iMAT significantly mproves antenna gain and receiver sensitivity to allow designers of handsets, PC cards, USB dongles, personal navigation and other wireless electronics to offer diversity or MIMO communications, even in applications where such implementation has been considered impossible due to space constraints inside mobile devices. It eliminates the need to configure multiple antennas and reduces the number of parts required to build a device, stated SkyCross.

According to the developer, iMAT-equipped devices on a network can improve the capacity and bandwidth of the entire system. It permits operators to optimize network performance without any additional investment in infrastructure. iMAT supports legacy networks and is essential for next-generation protocols such as HSxPA, WiMAX, 802.11x, and LTE — all of which require diversity or MIMO.

For end users, iMAT helps deliver better signal strength, even when the nearest tower or base unit is far away, said SkyCross. This reduces dropped calls and enables faster data transfer for high-definition video, music, and more. In addition, iMAT antennas also exhibit minimal power loss, extending battery life, added the supplier.

In this design, each feed accesses the antenna as if it consisted of multiple antennas, each with high isolation, low correlation, and high per-feed antenna efficiency. The multiple radiation patterns produced by an iMAT antenna have low correlation so they cover different spatial regions to achieve pattern diversity and signal independence. Since iMAT provides sufficiently large isolation between feedpoints, the effect of unwanted coupling between antennas becomes negligible. Thus, improving the radiation efficiency and therefore TRP by several dB (a factor of 1.5 or more) compared to similar non-iMAT solutions, claims SkyCross.

“iMAT provides a new way to create a diversity or MIMO system,” said Chris Morton, CEO of SkyCross. “Now any wireless device can offer advanced antenna technology that was not previously feasible for small consumer electronics. As a result, end users will realize the full potential of their wireless services and demand faster connections at an increasing rate.”

In fact, the technology was demonstrated at the recent International CES show in Las Vegas where Sennheiser displayed a new wireless earphones, model MX W1, with embedded iMAT antenna.

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