What is UWB Antenna : Basics, Types and Manufacturers
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A UWB (Ultra-Wideband) antenna is designed to transmit and receive signals across a very wide frequency range for high speed wireless communication and precise positioning. Its advantages include broad bandwidth and accurate ranging performance, while its disadvantages include complex design requirements and potential interference management challenges.
Introduction : An Ultra-Wideband (UWB) system is a wireless communication system that transmits data using very short duration pulses over a very wide frequency spectrum. Instead of continuous narrowband carriers, UWB uses pulse based transmission, which spreads energy across a wide range of frequencies.
Key Features of UWB Technology
- Frequency range : Approx. 3.1 GHz to 10.6 GHz; regulated by FCC for communication
- Uses high bandwidth which delivers higher data rates
- Uses low transmission power which introduces minimal interference with narrowband systems.
- It offers very short range i.e. 10 to 30 meters (Typically).
- The figure-1 depicts how input data are processed before transmission into the air by UWB antenna.
USB Antenna Functions and Specifications
The UWB antenna converts electrical UWB pulses into EM waves and vice versa. It operates efficiently across several GHz of bandwidth without distortion. Following are technical specifications of Taoglas UWB antenna (Part no : FXUWB10.01).
- Frequency Range : 3.1 GHz to 10.3 GHz
- Gain (Max.) : 4 dB
- Dimensions : 34.9 mm x 24.5 mm x 0.24 mm
- Mechanical Style : Flex PCB
- Mounting Style : Adhesive
- Check Website https://www.taoglas.com/ for more details.
Types of UWB Antenna
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Planar Monopole Antennas : simple, compact, widely used.
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Slot Antennas : Good for integration into circuit boards.
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Vivaldi Antennas : highly directional, used in radar & imaging. Also known as Tapered Slot antenna.
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Horn Antennas : wideband, high gain, Used in testing purpose.
UWB Antenna Manufacturers
| Manufacturer | Popular UWB Antenna Model(s) | Antenna Type | Typical UWB Band |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abracon | ACG0806U, ACG0301U, ACR0301U, ACR1004U | Ceramic chip | 3.1–10.6 GHz (model dependent) |
| Taoglas | UWC.40 (Accura), UWC.20, UWC.01, UWCCP.01 | Ceramic chip / Embedded | 3–9 GHz |
| Johanson Technology | 2450AT43B100, 0868AT43A0020 (custom UWB offerings) | Ceramic chip | UWB/ISM variants |
| KYOCERA AVX | 9005868, 1004795 series | Embedded/FPC | UWB positioning |
| PulseLarsen Antennas | W6100 series, W6110 series | Embedded/FPC | 3–8 GHz |
| Molex | 204281 Series, 211140 Series | Flex PCB | 3–8 GHz |
| Linx Technologies | ANT-UWB-FPC Series | Flexible PCB | 6–8.5 GHz |
| 2J Antennas | 2JE59x Series | Embedded/FPC | 3–8 GHz |
| Ignion | NN03-320, NN02-224 | Virtual chip antenna | UWB capable (matching network dependent) |
| Fractus Antennas | Slim mXtend™, Reach mXtend™ | Embedded | Multi-band including UWB |
| Amphenol Procom | Custom UWB omnidirectional antennas | External | 3–10 GHz |
| Laird Connectivity | Custom embedded UWB antennas | Embedded | UWB |
| Ethertronics | Custom UWB embedded antennas | Embedded | UWB |
| Southwest Antennas | UWB Tactical Antenna Series | Rugged external | 0.7–18 GHz |
| Aaronia AG | HyperLOG UWB Series | Log-periodic | 680 MHz–18 GHz |
Summary
A UWB system is short range, high data rate wireless system which spreads signals over very wide frequency band using short pulses. The antenna plays a vital role by ensuring wideband operation, low distortion, and appropriate radiation patterns, making it the key enabler for UWB communication, sensing and imaging applications.