What are TE Connectivity's strengths in the antenna business?

Chuang We have over 60 years of connector business experience, and with that experience have we have accumulated various achievements in the area of reliability and performance. These two points are our company's strengths. Performance includes not only engineering capabilities, but also manufacturing, quality control and logistics. Furthermore, we believe that the fact that we have been able to continue the connector business for more than 60 years is due not only to our high reliability and quality, but also to our sincerity in dealing with our customers.

Currently, we have many global key customers in the United States, South Korea, and other countries. Because of this, for example, if a Japanese company encounters some kind of trouble with an antenna, there is a very high possibility that we have experience solving similar problems with other clients of ours. If you consult with our engineers, they will be able to use their accumulated experience to help you solve your problems.

What are your engineering capabilities that set you apart from your competitors?

Chuang In addition to antennas, our company has a top-class position in the industry for products and technologies such as coaxial cables, connectors, and receptacles. Therefore, we can provide a "total solution" for systems equipped with antennas. This is our advantage over competitors. In addition, we have extensive experience and cutting-edge knowledge about basic RF technology.

Please tell us about your system for customizing and technical support.

Chuang Development bases are located in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and China, in addition to the United States, and we have engineering teams stationed at each location. These development bases are equipped with prototyping equipment, anechoic chambers, measurement systems, etc., and are ready for custom design, prototyping, and evaluation in various locations. The characteristics of the antenna are easily affected by the surrounding environment of the board on which it is mounted. Because of this, it is important that we listen carefully to the requests of our clients and respond to them promptly. With our development/support system, we should be able to handle any issue without fail.

What kind of antenna business are you currently developing?

Figure 1: Three markets and focus products for direct sales

Figure 3: Markets and focus products served by agency business

Chuang We are currently focusing on multiple markets. Specifically, the markets that include "small cells," "wireless LAN enterprise," "IoT," and "tracking." Of these, small cells, wireless LAN enterprise, and IoT will mainly be handled through direct sales (Fig. 1). For this market category, we have already acquired a large number of client companies in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere. On the other hand, applications such as tracking will be sold mainly through distributors (Fig. 3).

Which has been the focus of your business so far, direct sales or agency business?

Chuang In the past, there was a focus more on direct sales. This is because the characteristics of general antennas change depending on the environment they are mounted on the board. For this reason, it is necessary to tune the antenna characteristics according to such changes. Recently, however, there has been an increase in agency business for GNSS antennas and external antennas for wireless LAN (Wi-Fi). In the future, we would like to increase our ratio of agency business.

In the direct sales antenna business, what technologies and products will you focus on in the future?

Figure 1: Three markets and focus products for direct sales

Chuang They are "MetaSpan Antenna", "Antenna/Assembly" and "3D Antenna" (Fig. 1). A MetaSpan antenna is an antenna using a so-called metamaterial. We acquired the intellectual property (IP) by acquiring Rayspan, which was the first company in the industry to apply metamaterials to antennas. We rebranded the Rayspan name and now operate under the brand name MetaSpan.

What are metamaterials? What are the benefits of applying metamaterials to antennas?

Figure 2: MetaSpan Antenna
An antenna that uses metamaterials. It features an antenna pattern that uses CRLH (Composite right/left-handed) lines that combine right-handed and left-handed systems.

Chuang A metamaterial is a material that has characteristics that the original material does not possess by artificially creating a periodic structure that is sufficiently smaller than the wavelength of an electromagnetic wave (Fig. 2). Using this artificial material for antennas offers a variety of benefits. For example, even if the antenna is miniaturized, it can support a very wide frequency band, the antenna gain can be increased, the characteristic impedance is 50Ω which eliminates the need for matching components, and the antenna is stable because it is not easily affected by the human body.

Various companies have already commercialized antennas that use metamaterials. What are the features of the MetaSpan antenna make it a better choice?

Chuang It features an antenna pattern that uses CRLH (Composite right/left-handed) lines that combine right-handed and left-handed systems. Therefore, the characteristics of the antenna can be improved, and at the same time, it can be manufactured on a general printed circuit board, resulting in a lower cost.

What kind of products are antennas/assemblies and 3D antennas?

Chuang For example, we provide MIMO (Multiple Input and Multiple Output) antennas such as 2x2 and 4x4 for wireless LAN routers and wireless LAN gateways.

A 3D antenna is a three-dimensional (3D) structure with an antenna pattern built into it. Therefore, it is most suitable for applications where the mounting area is limited. 3D antennas have other benefits as well. They must be able to withstand harsh operating environments, must be waterproof, and must be mountable even in areas surrounded by metal.

What specific applications are TE's antenna products used in?

Figure 3: Markets and focus products served by agency business

Chuang We are selling antennas compatible with Wi-Fi and 4G systems for general applications such as social infrastructure (Fig. 3). Antennas for such applications are often used in harsh environments, so they are required to be waterproof and dustproof. With the agency business in mind, we have standard antenna solutions for a variety of applications, but we also offer custom solutions. Furthermore, in Japan and South Korea, we see great business opportunities in antennas for the security and medical markets.

I would like you to introduce an actual example of an antenna product that you recently launched.

Chuang From the beginning of 2019, we have expanded our lineup of external antennas assuming agency business. For example, GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) compatible antennas. We introduced 11 types of products with different characteristics including type, assembly method, external dimensions, frequency band, antenna gain, etc. All of them are for smartphones, mobile phones, and portable electronic devices. The common strength of the 11 types of products is good coverage (directivity, radiation pattern). High gain antenna that does not require tuning by the customer company, and is easy to use.

In addition, we have expanded our lineup of antennas compatible with 5G (5th generation mobile communication) systems. In the future, we plan to increase the product lineup of external 5G system compatible antennas.

Could you elaborate on the strengths of the external antenna?

Chuang First and foremost, it is easy to use. For example, it supports various styles of termination. Specifically, it can support SMA, RP-SMA, MHF/MHF4L, FME, etc. In addition, various types of mating parts and cable adapters are available. It would not be an exaggeration to say that almost all antenna connection parts that are popular in the industry are available. Therefore, customer companies can more easily implement antennas in electronic devices.

What does "no tuning" mean?

Chuang This means that we have prepared products that are not affected by the ground. When a general antenna is mounted on the ground plane, its radiation pattern and directivity change due to its influence. Therefore, when mounting on the ground, it is necessary to tune the antenna characteristics for each application. However, if the antenna is ground-insensitive, no such tuning is necessary. In other words, our products do not require tuning.

How would you rate the cost?

Chuang We handle everything from antenna design to antenna system construction. As a result, total costs can be reduced compared to competitors.

Do you have any other products that deserve special mention?

Chuang In 2019, we commercialized a dual-polarized horn antenna. The frequency band is from 24G to 44GHz, aimed at 5G system test/measurement. It was developed by an engineering team in South Korea for a key customer, but is now widely sold as a catalog product.