USM develops high performance ceramic antenna

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) researchers have successfully invented a palm-sized antenna for communication, known as the Dielectric Resonator Antenna. Although the ceramic-based antenna is smaller than the conventional antennas that are currently in the market, it has features that are far superior.

The head of the research team, Dr. Mohd. Fadzil Ain, from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, USM is also a pioneer in the research to produce an antenna of this nature. The antenna functions as a transmitter for alternating microwaves.

He said that the main advantage of the dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) is the design flexibility to fulfil physical or electrical requirements for use in many communication systems.

“The product is unique because it’s a mini-device but has a wide band-width and high radiation efficiency. More importantly, unlike the antennas that ae currently in use, the DRA can be hidden from view,” he said.

He said this at a pres conference here today. Also present were several co-researchers including Prof. Dr. Zainal Arifin Ahmad, Dr. Sabar Derita Hutagalung and PhD student, Mohd. Ariff.

He added that the DRA that was produced with the collaboration of the School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering can be used at different frequencies and systems such as WiFi, Wireless Bridge, WiMax, RADAR and Wireless Sensor.

“The study showed that the DRA can out-perform the commercial antennas by a distance of 25 meters. Commercial antennas that are on par with this antenna show a reading of 2 bars out of 5 at a distance of 90 meters compared to the DRA which shows a reding of 3 bars out of 5 and up to a distance of 110 meters from the transmitter,” he explained.

Dr. Mohd. Fadzil said that a mini-device, produced locally could meet the nation’s needs for a high performance antenna that was small and cost-effective, and which kept pace with the fast growth in telecommunication technology.

He added that apart from being 100% locally produced, the cost to produce the device is very low, estimated to be around RM1.50 to RM2.00 per unit. This is because the raw materials to produce the device are cheap and easily available.

He explained that research on the product began five years ago with a
RM100,000 grant under the Fundemental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) from the Ministry of Higher Education. He added that the team recently received an additional grant of RM 40,000 for further research.

“Further research will focus on efforts to producing a much smaller device but with twice the capacity of the current antennas available in the market. If we are successful, we hope to increase the satellite applications and reduce the size of the antennas and parabolic dishes that are currently in use,” he said.

Dr. Mohd. Fadzil went on to say that the product has received Gold Medals in several research competitons including the International Invention, Innovation, Industrial Design & Technology (ITEX), Malaysia Technology Expo and two International Awards from Seoul, Korea and Nuremberg, Germany.

Published: 26 Mar 2010

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