Phased array antennas enter the mainstream

Still relatively new to the wireless industry, 5-month-old e-tenna (www.etenna.com) is moving quickly to make itself known At CTIA Wireless IT 2001, the RF technology company will launch a new product with the aim of bringing phased-array antennas to wireless carriers.

Phased-array antenna technology is common in military applications, like fighter jet nose cones and ballistic missile systems, but high costs have kept market penetration down, said Andy Humen, e-tenna director of marketing.

The phased-array antennas used in the armed forces and by some commercial aircraft companies can cost anywhere from $100,000 to hundreds of millions of dollars. E-tenna’s product will be a percentage of that, Humen said. E-tenna will use CTIA IT to introduce FlexScan, its newest product.

“It’s an enabling technology that will bring phased arrays to the mainstream,” Humen said.

FlexScan is a flat-panel antenna that produces a very direct beam similar to a laser beam.

“Typically, antennas like that need to be pointed very precisely,” Humen said. “And, typically, those antennas are dishes and they require a mechanical positioner to hold them in place.”

More sophisticated antennas used to track moving objects like satellites or trucks have electromechanical devices that accurately position the dish. But, phased-array antennas can do all of that electronically.

“They have a directive beam, electronic scanning and no moving parts,” Humen said.

At the show, e-tenna will demonstrate a FlexScan array operating at 2.4 GHz.

“It’s not the final product,” Humen said. “So, it’s a little bigger than we want it to be and some things are done discreetly. But, it shows the technology.”

E-tenna also is using the show to announce a new round of funding. David McCartney, e-tenna president, said the funding was especially important because of the current economic conditions.

“It’s a major accomplishment to happen now within our industry,” said David McCartney, e-tenna president.

The $10.7 million being announced brings e-tenna’s total capitalization to $18 million.