Fractus, a developer of fractal antenna technology says that it has developed a dual-mode ISM and GSM quad band antenna that can be shaped to the mechanics of a GPS emergency device. A key challenge associated with currently available GPS emergency devices is their poor in-building coverage, making it difficult to locate people when they are at home or in a hospital, for example. By adding the ISM900 band, Fractus has enabled emergency devices to also locate people indoors. The GSM quad band connectivity allows emergency calls to be placed from the device as well.
Using its patented fractal antenna technologies, Fractus has designed a solution that can be integrated into the PCB RF component, enabling the device to easily switch bands and eliminating the need for a second antenna. Having a single antenna also reduces the size of emergency devices.
"By addressing the competing challenges of mobility and indoor coverage, Fractus has transformed GPS emergency devices," said Xavier Oliver, Fractus Account Manager, Products & Services Division. "There is a huge demand for such small, portable devices that can help users get assistance in the case of an emergency, regardless of where they are. The alarm buttons currently available are not mobile and only work inside the home, so this antenna will revolutionise the market for emergency devices."
Fractus' antenna will be shipping in GPS emergency devices in 2008.
The industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) radio bands were originally reserved internationally for the use of RF electromagnetic fields for industrial, scientific and medical purposes other than communications.
Posted to the site on 27th November 2007
Posted to: www.cellular-news.com/story/27688.php