Antenna Systems & Technology - Fall 2015 - (Page 29)

SOFTWARE / SYSTEM DESIGN NEW PRODUCTS & SERVICES CST Unveils Characteristic Mode Analysis Tool Computer Simulation Technology AG (CST) has unveiled its Characteristic Mode Analysis tool for CST Studio Suite 2016. Antenna engineers, in particular in the mobile communications industry, are faced with the challenge of optimizing antenna performance while complying with the functional and geometrical constraints of integrating multi-band antennas into compact devices. These engineers' tasks can be simplified with the latest extension to the CST Studio Suite integral equation solver, the Characteristic Mode Analysis (CMA) tool. CMA is a technique developed to provide physical insight into the behavior of a conducting surface. CMA calculates a set of orthogonal current-modes which are supported on a conducting surface - for example, the current modes of a metal plate. By using CMA, engineers can tune an antenna to the correct resonant frequencies and work out where to place the feed to couple into a particular radiating mode. The CMA tool, which is built into the integral equation solver module of CST Studio Suite, automates the process of calculating these modes, and calculates the modal significance (a measure of which modes are dominant at a particular frequency), farfield radiation pattern and surface current distribution associated with each mode, with automatic mode-tracking. This offers users significant insight into their device. For example, when developing a multi-band printed antenna, the CMA tool can be used to calculate the current modes on the antenna at the desired resonant frequency, and then optimize the geometry to increase the coupling to the desired mode. The CMA tool will be available with CST Studio Suite 2016, which is due for release at the end of Q1 2016. New Cloud-based Solution Reduces Costs and Improves ROI of In-Building DAS Installation and Maintenance Anritsu Company has introduced SkyBridge Tools, a cloud-based trace judgment solution for tower and in-building Distributed Antenna System (DAS) installations that reduces costs and improves ROI. Serving as a data warehouse for contractors who are installing or modifying equipment for network operators, SkyBridge Tools saves time, reduces rework, and makes timely payment more likely by automating the trace judgment process. SkyBridge Tools allows field technicians to more clearly understand their project work, validate their inbuilding DAS or tower installations, and deliver accurate results the first time. Thousands of line sweep traces, OTDR traces, passive intermodulation (PIM) traces, site photos, required construction documents, and any other electronically-formatted deliverables can be stored and judged on a SkyBridge Tools account. Users can view an overview of the deliverable status via an easy-to-read dashboard or can access full detailed reports through SkyBridge Tools. All reports can be downloaded as PDF or ZIP files to authorized personnel. By expediting the job preparation procedure, trace judging process, and report preparation, SkyBridge Tools significantly reduces the time spent on each job. Pass/fail judgments may be made wherever there is Internet access, allowing field technicians to confirm that traces meet required standards while in the field, reducing return visits and lowering operating costs. Initial network operator acceptance of the traces and other work verification is increased using SkyBridge Tools because traces can be routinely checked during the job to reduce rework time. SkyBridge Tools is designed to store traces taken by Anritsu's field test solutions. Among the instruments that can work with SkyBridge Tools are the current generation of Site Master handheld cable and antenna analyzers, PIM Master passive intermodulation analyzer, OTDRs, and video inspection probes. SkyBridge Tools is compatible with web-browsing devices using current versions of Chrome and Firefox. www.AntennasOnline.com Fall 2015 Antenna Systems & Technology 29 http://www.AntennasOnline.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Antenna Systems & Technology - Fall 2015

Editor’s Choice
Dual Tuning - The OEM's Secret Weapon in Spectrum Proliferation
A Hybrid "Hexa-Band" Cellular Antenna
Tunable and Fixed Filtering Solutions Enhance Dynamic Range of 4G-LTE Measurements
Antenna Systems 2015: Conference Preview
Low-Cost and Frequency-Selective Metamateiral and Its Antenna Applications
Antennas
Components/Subsystems
Software / System Design
Industry News
Hiding a DAS
Marketplace

Antenna Systems & Technology - Fall 2015