03-07-2012, 11:38 AM
Fractal Antennas
[attachment=26489]
Antenna design is a very tricky problem. Common designs are sensitive to only a narrow range of frequencies, and are not efficient if they are smaller than a quarter of the wavelength. This is a problem for small, portable antennas, such as those on cellular phones.
Fractal antenna designs (see Hohlfeld and Cohen) can overcome some of these problems. Experiments have shown that antennas built with only a small number of iterations of a fractal process can exhibit sensitivity at several frequencies. As the number of iterations increases, the lowest frequency of the antenna gets lower, and additional higher frequencies are added. Also, fractal antennas can operate efficiently at one-quarter the size of more traditional designs. Properly harnessed, these features represent real advantages. Several companies already are using fractals for compact, multifrequency antennas in cellular phones and military communications hardware. Fractal Antenna Systems, http://www.fractenna.com, a company founded by Nathan Cohen, has built a Sierpinski carpet cellular phone antenna fitting inside the body of the phone, and the multifrequency aspect of the antenna will allow GPS to be incorporated in the phone. Other applications include compact, multifrequency wireless LAN and maritime antennas. Several Fractal Antenna System designs are shown below.
Fractal Antenna can perform a broad range of tests to ensure the appropriateness of the antenna to its intended application.
Designing antennas is an art—but testing them is a science. Fractal Antenna equally applies its expertise and focus to both because strong testing leads to proven products. Once a design has been developed and a prototype created, Fractal Antenna can perform a broad range of tests to ensure the appropriateness of the antenna to its intended application.
Fractal Antenna’s Bedford, Massachusetts headquarters houses a variety of testing capabilities:
• Dedicated indoor range – Fractal Antenna’s Reduced Reflection/Anechoic Range (RAR) allows precision antenna measurements. The RAR facilities support the development needs of antennas from 200 MHz to 6 GHz.
• Outdoor range – Fractal Antenna can also evaluate design performance using an on-site outdoor range that supports testing from 10 MHz to 2 GHz.
• Specialized testing – Fractal Antenna works with other facilities to conduct environmental testing which can include humidity and temperature, impact testing, and other certification requirements.
Fractal Antenna’s design capabilities allow for the rapid exploration of antenna solutions based on the precise application requirement.
Thanks to its history of successful development, Fractal Antenna has amassed an extensive library of proven reference designs and a deep understanding of antenna application requirements. These strengths allow the company to creatively meet most design requirements with practical solutions.
For unusual or highly complex designs, Fractal Antenna utilizes its Fractal Coded Genetic Optimization system (FRAGO). FRAGO allows Fractal Antenna to develop, analyze and optimize large numbers of potential designs quickly—reducing a process that once took months to mere days.
The company’s versatile capabilities, combined with FRAGO, can meet the design requirements of any application—today, and in the future.
In manufacturing, Fractal Antenna is able to meet customer demand and ensure the quality of the finished product.
Once a design has been successfully created, prototyped, tested and refined, an engineering package that describes and embodies the antenna or embedded component is provided to Fractal Antenna’s internal manufacturing group, a contract manufacturer, or a licensed customer for production.
Fractal Antenna’s onsite fabrication and manufacturing facilities are ideal for producing small to moderate numbers of antennas or embedded components, for creating low rate initial production units for field evaluation or for design verification requirements.
To meet high volume manufacturing requirements, Fractal Antenna employs contract manufactures. When designs are licensed to customers, Fractal Antenna supports the customer’s manufacturing facility and/or the customer’s authorized contract manufacturer. In each case, Fractal Antenna is able to meet customer demand and ensure the quality of the finished product.
[attachment=26489]
Antenna design is a very tricky problem. Common designs are sensitive to only a narrow range of frequencies, and are not efficient if they are smaller than a quarter of the wavelength. This is a problem for small, portable antennas, such as those on cellular phones.
Fractal antenna designs (see Hohlfeld and Cohen) can overcome some of these problems. Experiments have shown that antennas built with only a small number of iterations of a fractal process can exhibit sensitivity at several frequencies. As the number of iterations increases, the lowest frequency of the antenna gets lower, and additional higher frequencies are added. Also, fractal antennas can operate efficiently at one-quarter the size of more traditional designs. Properly harnessed, these features represent real advantages. Several companies already are using fractals for compact, multifrequency antennas in cellular phones and military communications hardware. Fractal Antenna Systems, http://www.fractenna.com, a company founded by Nathan Cohen, has built a Sierpinski carpet cellular phone antenna fitting inside the body of the phone, and the multifrequency aspect of the antenna will allow GPS to be incorporated in the phone. Other applications include compact, multifrequency wireless LAN and maritime antennas. Several Fractal Antenna System designs are shown below.
Fractal Antenna can perform a broad range of tests to ensure the appropriateness of the antenna to its intended application.
Designing antennas is an art—but testing them is a science. Fractal Antenna equally applies its expertise and focus to both because strong testing leads to proven products. Once a design has been developed and a prototype created, Fractal Antenna can perform a broad range of tests to ensure the appropriateness of the antenna to its intended application.
Fractal Antenna’s Bedford, Massachusetts headquarters houses a variety of testing capabilities:
• Dedicated indoor range – Fractal Antenna’s Reduced Reflection/Anechoic Range (RAR) allows precision antenna measurements. The RAR facilities support the development needs of antennas from 200 MHz to 6 GHz.
• Outdoor range – Fractal Antenna can also evaluate design performance using an on-site outdoor range that supports testing from 10 MHz to 2 GHz.
• Specialized testing – Fractal Antenna works with other facilities to conduct environmental testing which can include humidity and temperature, impact testing, and other certification requirements.
Fractal Antenna’s design capabilities allow for the rapid exploration of antenna solutions based on the precise application requirement.
Thanks to its history of successful development, Fractal Antenna has amassed an extensive library of proven reference designs and a deep understanding of antenna application requirements. These strengths allow the company to creatively meet most design requirements with practical solutions.
For unusual or highly complex designs, Fractal Antenna utilizes its Fractal Coded Genetic Optimization system (FRAGO). FRAGO allows Fractal Antenna to develop, analyze and optimize large numbers of potential designs quickly—reducing a process that once took months to mere days.
The company’s versatile capabilities, combined with FRAGO, can meet the design requirements of any application—today, and in the future.
In manufacturing, Fractal Antenna is able to meet customer demand and ensure the quality of the finished product.
Once a design has been successfully created, prototyped, tested and refined, an engineering package that describes and embodies the antenna or embedded component is provided to Fractal Antenna’s internal manufacturing group, a contract manufacturer, or a licensed customer for production.
Fractal Antenna’s onsite fabrication and manufacturing facilities are ideal for producing small to moderate numbers of antennas or embedded components, for creating low rate initial production units for field evaluation or for design verification requirements.
To meet high volume manufacturing requirements, Fractal Antenna employs contract manufactures. When designs are licensed to customers, Fractal Antenna supports the customer’s manufacturing facility and/or the customer’s authorized contract manufacturer. In each case, Fractal Antenna is able to meet customer demand and ensure the quality of the finished product.