The SGP series has been launched by Taoglas - the first surface-mount (SMT) GPS antenna products 'guaranteed' to pass final device product certification for reflow solder profile tests, device environmental tests (temperature, humidity etc) and mechanical testing (shock, vibration etc.) for machine-to-machine (M2M) telematics devices.
With the SGP line, M2M manufacturers now have a GPS antenna that is delivered via tape and reel and can be mounted during the standard reflow process. Automatic assembly brings many
EFFICIENCY savings including quicker and more accurate assembly and consistency of electrical connection. In this 'unique' patent-pending design, Taoglas has taken the traditional patch antenna technology, mounted the antenna onto a PCB and delivered the feedpoint out to the side of the patch without exposing the feedline. While current market antenna feedpoints crack during high temperature and vibration tests because of exposed feed lines, the SGP antennas are durable and resilient enough to withstand temperatures of -40C to +105C, and vibrations of 20G for cars and motorcycles. SGS certification has been made for these results.
There are four sizes offered; 25mmx 25mm x 5mm, 18mm x 18mm x 5mm, 15mm x 15mm x 5mm and 12mm x 12mm x 4.5mm. Future products in the series will be; 25mm x 25mm x 2.8mm and 18m x18 x 2.8mm for lower device PCB profile.
“All of the best solutions are simple, and this is the case with the surface mount SGP,” said Dermot O’Shea, director, Taoglas. Because this antenna is mounted onto a PCB, there is no pin sticking out. For the first time, the antenna and module can now be mounted on the same side of the board, freeing up valuable real estate on compact mobile devices. Components can be placed directly on the other side of the board from the patch antenna. Pads are used for soldering the antenna to the board keeping it stable and enabling it to withstand high temperature, humidity and environmental tests. Following on from design wins in the OEM automotive area, we anticipate a high degree of interest from the M2M market for this ground-breaking design.”
GPS patch antenna technology has been proven across the industry to be the best antenna technology for receiving GPS signals. It offers high gain, a narrow bandwidth and can be right-hand circularly polarized, matching the characteristics of the actual signal itself. With the new generation of receivers, patch antennas can also pick up signals even when placed upside-down, in effect making them preferable to the much inferior gain of linear polarized chip, helix, and PIFA antenna solutions, says the company.
Also announced -
The company has also released the first LTE and WiMax antenna solutions for the M2M market. There are two antenna solutions: embedded and external. The FXP400 and FXP100 are ultra wideband, embedded antennas. They offer the best market efficiency of over 70% for WiMax (2100~4320MHz) and LTE (690-940 MHz and 1720-3130 MHz). The LTEA.4000 external solution for packaged M2M 3G/4G LTE markets has an efficiency of over 40% and connects externally to terminals and LTE equipment.
Both solutions build on Taoglas’ strong product line and experience with cellular and 3G antennas. M2M manufacturers developing devices for the new fourth generation networks in automotive, telematics, metering, telemedical and femtocells (home networks) will benefit from antennas they can use in developing LTE and WiMax prototypes. These devices promise to deliver super-fast down and upload speeds on multiple applications in location-based services, M2M and various mobile applications, says the company.
“With the FXP100 and FXP400, our new ultra wideband antenna series, and the external LTEA.4000 antenna, we are looking to meet future requirements of the LTE and WiMax market by using very efficient antennas based on current M2M market requirements,” said Dermot O’Shea, Director, Taoglas. “For M2M manufacturers designing devices for LTE and WiMax networks, they now have highly efficient antennas to use in their test and proof-of-concept designs.”
CTIA 2009, M2M Zone Pavilion, Booth #551
