Ceramics precision aids antenna manufacturer
A
Morgan Advanced Ceramics product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Oct 21, 2003
Morgan Advanced Ceramics is applying its materials and metallising expertise to the development of the next generation of mobile phone antennas.
Morgan Advanced Ceramics is applying its materials and metallising expertise to the development of the next generation of mobile phone antennas.
The company has been supporting customer Sarantel, a leading miniature antenna specialist, in the development of the ceramic materials and production techniques required to produce the antennas in volume.
The PowerHelix range uses a patented design in which copper tracks, deposited onto a small ceramic cylinder, are individually and automatically laser trimmed for optimum frequency response.
Currently, this type of antenna is used in GPS applications, where its zero ground plane allows space saving in handheld and portable equipment.
When mounted side by side, the antennas can also be used in combined applications such as Bluetooth and GPS without loss of performance.
However, it is within the mobile phone market that Sarantel believes its PowerHelix range can be of most benefit.
Under E-911 Legislation in the USA it will soon be mandatory for GPS receivers to be built in to mobile phone handsets, so that the technology can be used to help emergency services respond more effectively to distress calls.
Sarantel also sees 3G mobile and Wi-Fi networks as key growth markets.
The continuing debate over the health implications of using mobile phones is another market driver.
International safety regulations defined in terms of the specific energy absorption rate (SAR) encourage optimisation of the ratio of radiated power versus absorbed power in the user head.
One of the strictest SARs has been set by China, a huge potential market.
Sarantel's patented PowerHelix antenna design significantly reduces the losses of current that can cause an incident magnetic field at the user's skin.
In order to develop the design for the mobile phone market, Sarantel needed a partner with materials expertise who could help them develop a microwave ceramic to meet their specification.
They were assisted by Morgan, whose materials experts helped to identify a specific ceramic that enables the manufacture of antennas which yield just five per cent of the radiation emitted by other systems.
Morgan also manufactures the ceramic so that it has the optimum surface finish for deposition of the copper bands that give Sarantel's PowerHelix antennas their name.
Morgan has spent the last 24 months refining the production techniques necessary to guarantee process stability and a consistent end product at high volumes.
Sarantel specified that Morgan should achieve tolerances within +/-0.01mm.
Morgan Advanced Ceramics is consistently within these parameters.
Full volume production is scheduled for 2004.
Not what you're looking for? Search the site.
Google Ads
Contact Morgan Advanced Ceramics
Related Stories
- Arnitel TPC enables compact brake tubes
- Laser Lines marks code on tiny area of oil seal
- Mac3 uses RTP fire-proof materials in float switch
- Electric shaker removes scrap from stamping press
- Combined starter-alternator reduces petrol use
Articles by product category
- Consultancy and Services (903)
- Machine Building (4,517)
-
Engineering Design Software (6,179)
- Engineering Design Software (12)
- 2D CAD software (200)
- 3D CAD software (1,157)
- FEA and structural analysis software (369)
- Fluid, thermal, noise, vibration software (334)
- Simulation, modelling, validation software (914)
- Rendering, visualisation, styling software (196)
- Materials design and moulding design software (151)
- Process, instrumentation, automation software (258)
- Electrical design software (164)
- Publishing and documentation software (229)
- Maths, charting, statistics, QA software (317)
- Data, document management software (310)
- CAM, CNC, production management software (568)
- File conversion software, data capture (351)
- PLM and collaboration software (649)
-
Drives, Motors and Controls (3,361)
- Drives, Motors and Controls (1)
- Precision Motors and Gears (411)
- Industrial Drives/Controls (1,276)
- Linear Drives and Motors (114)
- Industrial Motors (497)
- Stepper and Servo Drives, Motors, Controls (1,060)
- Small Mechanical Components, Joining, Tools (1,975)
-
Control and Instrumentation (5,028)
- Plantwide control (1,324)
- Plant- and Machine-Wide Communications (1,174)
- Smaller-Sized PLCs (387)
- CNC and Motion Controllers (184)
- Mid-range and Large PLCs (201)
- Power Supplies, Uninterruptible Power (562)
- HMIs/Operator Interfaces (294)
- Logic Controllers, Timers and Relays (96)
- Cabling, Conduit, Signal Conditioning (806)
-
Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (5,459)
- Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (1)
- Data acquisition Software and Communications (494)
- Data Acquisition Hardware and PC I/O Boards (472)
- Electrical and Electronic Testing, PAT Equipment (630)
- Form/co-ordinate, optical, vision instruments (703)
- Gauges, Indicators and Instruments (440)
- Data loggers (422)
- Materials testing equipment (421)
- Telecomms/network test equipment, software etc (154)
- Testing and Calibration Services and Information (500)
- Testing, analysing and monitoring equipment (1,222)
-
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Design (4,160)
- Batteries, chargers and circuit protection (555)
- Connectors, Terminals, Busbars, Slip Rings (679)
- Enclosures and Equipment Cooling Fans (709)
- Knobs, Handles and Enclosure Hardware (420)
- PCs and Embedded Systems (798)
- Electrical and Electronic Subassemblies (369)
- Electrical and Electronic Components (630)
-
Materials and Processing (2,963)
- Materials and Processing (5)
- Materials and components (2,215)
- Rapid Prototyping (458)
- Materials processing and testing (285)
-
Engineering Industry News, Resources (6,093)
- Engineering Industry News, Resources (4)
- Engineering Business News, Views (388)
- Engineering Exhibitions, Events (562)
- Engineering Conferences (425)
- Engineering Seminars (400)
- Engineering Industry Developments, Awards (633)
- Engineering Guides, Newsletters (349)
- Engineering Recruitment, Employment (219)
- Engineering Training Courses (433)
- Engineering Education, Resources, Standards (838)
- Engineering Industry Reports, Surveys (597)
- Electronic Resources for Engineers (278)
- Health and Safety Legislation (402)
- Health and Safety Strategy, Risk Assessment (113)
- Health and Safety Consultancy, Software (175)
- Health and Safety Events, Training, News (277)
-
Powertrain Design (3,598)
- Powertrain Design (2)
- Bearings (939)
- Chains and belts (326)
- Gears, brakes, couplings and engines (1,441)
- Hydraulic Components (471)
- Lubricants (418)
-
Capital Equipment (3,387)
- Capital Equipment (1)
- Manufacturing Machinery and Plant Equipment (468)
- Production line blowers and fans (62)
- Compressors and Air Treatment (510)
- Electronics Manufacturing, Tools, Instruments (192)
- Electrical hardware (131)
- Machinery and Production Equipment (1,093)
- Robotics, Handling and Storage (930)
-
Sensors (7,080)
- Sensors (8)
- Accelerometers and Vibration Sensors (427)
- Loadcells, Force Sensors, Torque Sensors (699)
- Pressure sensors (621)
- Flowmeters and Flow Sensors (618)
- Level Sensors and Leak Detectors (527)
- Linear Position Sensors (399)
- Rotary Position, Tilt and Angular Sensors (546)
- Proximity Sensors (700)
- Gas, Chemical, Radiation, Magnetic Sensors (284)
- Humidity and Environmental Sensors (152)
- Temperature sensors (612)
- Vision and Colour Sensors (1,384)
- Barcode Sensors (103)
- Valves, Pumps, Process Hardware (3,623)
