Edinburgh University spinout Sofant Technologies claims it has the "world's smallest smart antenna"-- a 7 year development both small and smart enough to fit in smartphones and other mobile devices.
The working prototype features a steerable beam able to lock onto the strongest signal available, combining tunable RF Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (RF-MEMS) modules and Sofant software. Regular mobile device antennas, on the other hand, constantly look for signals in all directions.
The Sofant development reduces power requirements, as well as improves reception.
"Until now, the antenna has acted as a bottleneck to performance in mobile devices... every new generation of smart phone performs less well than its predecessor, resulting in dropped calls, lost signals, weak connections, slow internet and battery drain." Sofant CE Sergio Tansini says.
Sofant is moving the technology twards commercialisation phase before it finds implementation in actual mobile devices.
Go Edinburgh Technology Firm Unveils New "Smart Antenna" (BBC)
