Antenna Systems & Technology - Fall 2011 - (Page 29)

INDUSTRY NEWS MP Antenna Awarded Government Contract to Supply Multi-Polarized Antennas MP Antenna has been awarded a US government contract to supply 1,400 multi-polarized antennas to the Special Communications Requirements Division of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division. The antennas will be used to distribute VHF radio signals in buildings, garages and tunnels within the highly obstructed environment of the National Capitol Region. Given the historical significance of the buildings, the application required the antennas be unobtrusive and smaller than usual to be acceptable to building curators. Despite the small size constraints the antennas had to provide coverage normally only achievable with much larger high gain antennas. “We are always encouraged when the numerous benefits of MP Antenna’s multi-polarized antenna technology are demonstrated in real world scenarios, but this contract win is special because of the high profile nature of the application,” said Joe Bliss, president of MP Antenna, Ltd. Lockheed Martin engineers have completed installation of a XLS-band antenna at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam that will allow military commanders to receive real time weather information for operational use. This is one in a series of six installations around the globe under the US Air Force MARK IVB program with remaining antennas to be installed in Kuwait and Hawaii by October. "This program enhancement allows the Air Force Weather Agency, its users and joint services to receive and exploit enhanced data to support tactical and national missions," said Robert Kramer, vice president of Operational Systems and Services with Lockheed Martin Information Systems and Global Solutions-Defense. "Most importantly, these antennas will allow the agency to collect data from the new series of X band-capable weather satellites." The three-meter tri-band antenna will collect, process and provide moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) data from the NASA aqua and terra earth observing system satellites. The new capability captures higher spatial and spectral resolution MODIS images and additional meteorological satellite sensor data to support national and tactical operations. The installation included construction of a tower and radome and installation of the antenna and computing infrastructure. The Air Force Weather Agency delivers worldwide weather products to Air Force and Army warfighters, unified commands, national programs and the National Command Authorities. The agency supplies weather products, training tools and fields equipment to Air Force operational weather squadrons and combat weather flights and provides 24 hour technical assistance on all standard weather systems and equipment. Lockheed Martin Completes Antenna Installation on Guam To Support US Air Force Weather Mission The Bluetooth SIG has announced two new members to its board of directors, with representatives from Apple and Nordic Semiconductor joining. So why add these two companies to an exclusive group of seven? Simply because they are currently two of the most influential companies in the Bluetooth world. The Bluetooth market is forecast to grow to 1.4 billion unit shipments in 2011. Penetration rates are already high (more than 50 percent) in handsets and portable computing devices, two applications forecast to account for almost 80 percent of Bluetooth IC shipments this year. According to Research Director Alex West “with a strong position in both of these markets, Apple is on the way to becoming the single biggest consumer of Bluetooth ICs in the world”. Combining the 2010 sales of the iPad, iPhone, and various other products such as the Mac and iPod touch, it is estimated that more than 80 million Bluetooth enabled Apple devices were sold (in its FY through to end of September 2010). This is set to rise significantly in 2011, with strong 1Q11 sales of the iPad and iPhone already reported. However, the Bluetooth SIG has been active in seeking to diversify use of Bluetooth into new markets. Bluetooth low energy is the bridge to a range of new markets, with opportunities in markets ranging from proximity tags, to healthcare monitors, to home entertainment solutions now addressable. The market for single mode Bluetooth low energy is forecast to grow to 150 million units shipped in 2015. Nordic has been at the forefront of the development of this, and with the release of the Nordic µBlue chip, it was the first supplier of single mode Bluetooth low energy ICs to be included in a module. Since the technology’s inception 13 years ago, changes to the Bluetooth SIG board have been few and far between. However, IMS Research believes these two new additions will give the board a new dimension that should help drive the technology into these new applications and devices. Apple at the Core of the Bluetooth SIG Strategy Analytics: Cellular Baseband Market Reached $3.5 Billion in Q1 2011 Quarterly global cellular baseband revenue grew a healthy 20 percent year-over-year to reach $3.5 billion, according to the latest market share report from the Strategy Analytics Quarterly Metrics Service, “Baseband Market Share Tracker: Intel Doubles Revenue Year-on-Year in Q1 2011.” According to this Strategy Analytics report, cellular baseband market share rankings went through changes again in Q1 2011. Qualcomm ranked number one in baseband unit volume and revenue share in Q1 2011, with the help of its strong positions in CDMA, W-CDMA and LTE. Broadcom, Intel and Spreadtrum continued their impressive recent growth in Q1 2011 with strong shipments. MediaTek and ST-Ericsson both experienced declines in baseband revenues in Q1 2011 and compared to Q1 2010. “Intel cellular baseband revenue more than doubled in Q1 2011 on the strength of strong design-win momentum with tier-one handset manufacturers. Despite the latest MeeGo setback, Nokia continues to be an important baseband customer for Intel in terms of volume,” said Sravan Kundojjala, Senior Analyst. “However, Intel is still noticeably absent in Nokia 3G phones.” WWW.ANTENNASONLINE.COM FALL 2011 ANTENNA SYSTEMS & TECHNOLOGY 29 http://WWW.ANTENNASONLINE.COM

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Antenna Systems & Technology - Fall 2011

Planning of Advanced Wireless Systems
Selectable Multi-Beam Smart Antennas
AISG OOK Modem Implementations
Antenna Systems 2011: Conference Preview
Editor’s Choice
Antennas
Components
Test & Measurement
Manufacturing/Design
Base Stations
Marketplace, Advertising Index & Calendar of Events
Industry News

Antenna Systems & Technology - Fall 2011