Ethertronics at the MWC 2015 has introduced an Active Steering System Solution for the 5 GHz and WiFi applications. The Active Steering System Solution for 5 GHz combines the antenna, Ethertronics’ recently announced EtherChip EC482 Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) RFIC, EtherChip EC614 four-port RF switch, and algorithm into a single systems module. An ideal solution for the burgeoning streaming High Definition video markets, the Active Steering System Solution for 5 GHz can be easily integrated into a variety of products, including access points, set-top boxes, Wi-Fi clients’ smart appliances, Wi-Fi extenders, wearables and other Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
Ethertronics’ Active Steering technology generates multiple radiation patterns from a single antenna structure. It enables “beam steering” from a wireless device by sampling and switching between the multiple radiation patterns, and optimally selecting the antenna radiation pattern that provides the best RF link performance. This capability provides for revolutionary improvements in range, data throughput for applications such as video streaming, interference reduction, robustness in multipath environments, and connection reliability. This is ideal for devices such as set-top boxes, tablets, HDMI video dongles and Wi-Fi access points.
With MIMO systems becoming more prevalent for Wi-Fi, the need for two or more antennas collocated in a mobile device or small form factor access point is becoming more common. These groups of antennas in a MIMO system need to have high, and preferably, equal efficiencies along with good isolation and low correlation. In the case of access point applications, for example, the multipath environment is constantly changing, impacting throughput performance of the communication link. The new Active Steering System Solution for 5 GHz with embedded EC482 addresses these challenging RF environments by dynamically tuning and optimizing the antenna system parameters for a MIMO system that will provide greater throughput.
In addition to solving the MIMO challenges associated with the 5 GHz band, this new system enables one gateway to streaming video, data and voice – all in a single box or access point – since these components are co-developed and optimized as a system to provide a solution that is cost effective and easy to integrate.
OEMs can realize time-to-market and cost benefits with the new Active Steering System Solution for 5 GHz. The embedded EtherChip EC482 is designed for the high frequency and fast RF switching environment that Wi-Fi systems demand. EtherChip EC482 contains not only the RF switching, which acts as the transducer to adjust the IMD antenna’s pattern, but also the algorithm and communication and control conduits that sample and switch among the patterns, adaptively making the optimal selection. For MIMO Wi-Fi applications, the master EC482 controls multiple MIMO antenna systems in concert through satellite antenna systems utilizing EtherChip EC614s. An EC482 is used for the first antenna system element and an EC614 is utilized for each additional element. This combination will provide the most cost-effective solution to Ethertronics’ customers.
Furthermore, with the Active Steering System Solution for 5 GHz, an OEM can replace one of the existing antennas, all 5 GHz antennas or a subset of them in a single box, since the antenna, chip and algorithms are configured as one system. To further ease integration, the Active Steering System Solution for 5 GHz is available as a 2D antenna on flexible circuit that can be placed anywhere in the box for Active Steering, or printed on PCB for further cost reduction.
With an operating frequency of 100 MHz to 7000 MHz, Active Steering System Solution for 5 GHz has a small foot print, and minimal power consumption is required for operation. In addition to delivering uninterrupted service, faster data throughput and video streaming, and eliminating tiling of videos for end-users, Active Steering provides a host of benefits to service providers.
This new Active Steering System Solution for 5 GHz, is being showcased at the Ethertronics booth at Mobile World Congress (Hall 1, Stand 1D49) in Barcelona.
