A British tech start-up has invented a world-first multi-function antenna for laptops that fits into the extremely limited space of the hinge cavity. Smart Antenna Technology’s (SAT) device combines Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth and 3G/4G LTE and WiGig 60 GHz wireless standards in one unit. Developed by scientists at the University of Birmingham, in the UK, SAT’s new antenna replaces as many as five separate antennas found in a standard laptop. Dr Sampson Hu, founder of SAT, who has raised a total of £3.3 million from investors to develop SAT’s antenna system.
Conventional antennas cannot be located immediately next to each other because of signal interference which leads to reduced performance. If the laptop has a metal casing then it is impossible to embed an antenna on the top of laptop screen or motherboard and the antenna must sit in the hinge cavity. However, the hinge cavity is a very limited space in which laptop manufactures can only fit two conventional antennas, one for Wi-Fi and one for 3G/4G LTE. If conventional antennas are brought so close together interference degrades efficiency and increases battery usage.
Additionally if a laptop has metallic covers there is no other space to locate the second conventional Wi-Fi antenna and 3G/4G LTE antennas to support Multi-Input-Multi-Output (MIMO) function to provide enhanced data download rates.
SAT belives they have the solution for this problem with their integrated MIMO antenna system. All the antennas are combined together as one single system. This patented MIMO antenna system improves both data download rates and battery life. This new antenna system also eliminates the problem of interference.
SAT is in discussions with Sony to manufacture the antenna system at the Japanese giant’s Technology Centre near Cardiff in Wales.
Dr Hu, originally from Guangdong in China, invented the MIMO antenna system while completing his PhD at the University of Birmingham. This emerging technology from the University of Birmingham also benefits from the expertise of Dr Colin Tucker, former CTO and COO at Orange for European business, and the founding CEO of 3, the first 3G operator in the UK, who sits on the Board as Executive Chairman.
SAT is a spin out company that has taken academic research and turned it into a high value mass produced product. They have raised both significant equity funding and UK government grants which have enabled them to build a substantial business and provide a growing number of high value jobs. The next stage of growth will bring high volume UK production and associated export revenues.
