Polymer antennas support broadband expansion

New class of polymeric composite antennas claims superior performance to ceramic antennas and the same/or better coverage and throughput than external dipole antennas.

Pirelli Broadband Solutions has developed an integrated dielectric antenna for wireless access gateways, set-top boxes and other customer premises equipment (CPE).

The new antenna was developed by Pirelli Labs Material Innovation, the Group R and D centre for new materials led by the CEO Enrico Albizzati.

Through patent-pending, dielectric conformal antenna technology using polymeric composite, Pirelli has developed a new class of antennas that provide superior performance to ceramic antennas and the same/or better coverage and throughput than external dipole antennas.

Moreover, Pirelli's new antenna delivers the added benefit of greater product design flexibility.

"Pirelli's new integrated antenna technology will allow telecom operators and service providers to offer a wider range of products including new stylish devices that end consumers will welcome into their homes and offices", said Corrado Rocca, Senior Vice President, Product Marketing and Development, Access Products, for Pirelli Broadband Solutions.

"With the availability of MIMO and 802.11n technologies where multiple antennas are required for data and video connectivity over different transmission frequencies, the timing of this solution could not have been better".

At the core of the antenna are dielectric polymeric composites filled with dielectric ceramic powder, reducing fragility while facilitating low-cost manufacturing and processing when compared with ceramic antennas available on the market today.

The new antenna is based on a low aspect-ratio which can reduce the overall height of the CPE device giving equipment manufacturers more creative leeway when it comes to the "look and feel" of new broadband devices.

Back to top