Case studies

Sarantel PowerHelixä antennas reach volume production through Morgan Advanced Ceramics' process capability (16/03/04)

Morgan Advanced Ceramics has been using its ceramic materials expertise to work with Sarantel, a leading miniature antenna manufacturer, in the development of its PowerHelix antenna technology for mobile devices. Using a patented design in which copper tracks, deposited onto a small ceramic cylinder, are individually and automatically laser trimmed for optimum frequency response, PowerHelix has been developed for volume production requirements.

Already, Sarantel's antenna is used in many GPS applications, where its zero ground plane allows space saving in handheld and portable equipment. When mounted side by side, the antennas can be used in combined applications such as Bluetooth and GPS without loss of performance. However, in the future it is within the mobile phone market that Sarantel believes its PowerHelix range can be of significant benefit.

In order to develop its designs, Sarantel needed a partner with materials expertise who could help them develop a microwave ceramic to meet their specification. Morgan Advanced Ceramics was able to refine the production techniques to ensure guaranteed process stability and consistent end-product even at high volumes. Morgan Advanced Ceramics has the ability to manufacture over 10 million ceramic components a year to a tolerance of ±0.01mm so that it has the optimum surface finish for deposition of the copper bands that give Sarantel's PowerHelixä antennas their name.