Could liquid crystal antennas be the future of GPS tracking?

Date: 15/2/2012

Antennas with liquid crystal technology could be the future of global positioning satellite (GPS) tracking systems.

According to Gizmag, doctoral candidate Onur Hamza Karabey is working on a fast-performing, low-cost alternative to the phased array antennas that are typically used in GPS technology.

Mr Karabey's prototype as it stands includes four LCD cells that can selectively amplify radio signals from different directions using voltage variation.

At around five millimetres in thickness, these antennas have the potential to be fitted unobtrusively into car roofs, while they may also be made to be partially transparent.

Mr Karabey hoped the commercial version of the antennas will be manufactured using a similar process to existing LCD monitors, which will keep costs down.

This follows news that an international committee will soon make a decision on where to locate the Square Kilometre Array - the most sensitive radio telescope in the world - which will comprise of some 3,000 outdoor antennas.

Quadrant Connections offer a complete range of base-station antennas for mobile communication networks.

Posted by Nick Hester