The SkyCross state-tuned iMAT LTE antenna performs well across all LTE and legacy 3G bands in six tuning states.

SkyCross has demonstrated a tunable multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna designed for multimode/multiband Long-Term Evolution (LTE) handsets. In fact, it covers all 12 standard LTE bands (see the figure). These bands span from 700 MHz to 2.7 GHz, making it very difficult to make a single antenna to cover all of them.

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The SkyCross tunable antenna, though, covers them with ease. It’s based on the company’s innovative iMAT technology, which lets one antenna structure act like two different antennas with different radiation patterns. By using dual feeds, this single antenna can implement 2x2 MIMO in a very small form factor.

The main problem with most antennas is that they’re resonant structures, so they perform best at a single frequency or over a narrow bandwidth. Various optimizations can be included to widen bandwidth but usually at the expense of efficiency. This inherent limitation can be overcome by tuning the antenna, which isn’t easy.

SkyCross came up with a innovative aperture state-tuned design that includes switching elements that select the desired band. Internal circuitry allows the phone to select and switch to the desired band as required. This makes the antenna a candidate for new LTE handsets that use TD LTE, LTE FDD, TD SCDMA, GSM, EDGE, WCDMA, and HSPA. Handset makers can now create real global roaming handsets.

The China Mobile Research Institute cooperated with SkyCross in completing the new antenna design work. The end result fully satisfies China Mobile’s performance standards. The 12-band antenna is expected to be available by the end of the year. Narrower-band versions are available now. In all cases, SkyCross works with handset manufacturers to customize the design to a specific handset. A USB version is also an option.

Traditional antenna limitations have delayed LTE and other advanced handsets. Now with its MIMO capability and 12-band tunability, the SkyCross design should drive next-generation multiband MIMO handset development.

SkyCross Inc.
www.skycross.com