The huge number of frequency bands in which LTE can run is a major obstacle to affordable devices and global roaming. Antenova has taken a step to address the problem, unveiling a wideband LTE antenna reference design for smartphones.
The antenna specialist says the situation is becoming urgent as more and more carriers roll out 4G networks, using various newly allocated and refarmed frequencies. Its A10453 antenna can cover all the major LTE bands, without using switches or active tuneable components, which add cost. It targets 700MHz, 850MHz, 900MHz, 1.8GHz, 1.9GHz, 2.1GHz, 2.3GHz, 2.5GHz and 2.6GHz.
The element can be used singly or in pairs for MIMO devices. With a dual-antenna MIMO configuration, the firm says it achieves efficiencies of more than 50% over all bands.
“The goal of a truly global LTE smartphone imposes great challenges on the antenna system,” said CEO Greg McCray. ‘The extremely wide frequency range and MIMO requirements of the LTE specification poses many technical challenges to the antenna design as well as bill of materials costs as more active components are normally required to cover all the LTE bands.”