NEC Technologies Double Communications Speeds Between Wireless Devices

NEC's new electromagnetic noise suppression technology is an Electromagnetic Bandgap structure that suppresses the electromagnetic wave transmission of particular frequencies using varieties of artificial materials that exhibit properties not found in nature. These properties are derived by periodically arranging certain metals.

A newly developed EBG structure achieves the world's smallest unit cell size, approximately 1/10 the size of existing cells, by introducing an open-stub resonator made up of spiral metal wire. As a result, EBG structure can be applied internally to circuit boards, which is difficult to accomplish with conventional technologies.

The communications performance of antennas for wireless communication devices is reduced by electromagnetic waves (electromagnetic noise) that are caused by devices on circuit boards then transmit within the circuit boards and radiate towards open space. These new technologies improve the reception sensitivity of antennas by up to 10 times more than conventional technologies by suppressing electromagnetic noise within circuit boards and preventing unnecessary emission of electromagnetic waves. As a result, transmission speeds are accelerated by as much as 2 times, enabling users to enjoy high quality video and content through high-speed wireless communications.

Key features of these new technologies include:

1. Original EBG structure with the world's smallest unit cell

NEC developed a EBG structure featuring new unit cells that incorporate an open-stub resonator made up of spiral metal wire. As a result, the area of unit cells have been reduced by approximately 90% (2.1 x 2.1mm) to become the world's smallest of its kind when compared to existing LC resonators using unit cells with an EBG structure for suppressing electromagnetic noise in the 2.4GHz band used in WiFi. This enables the suppression of electromagnetic noise emissions through the implementation of unit cells within high density printed circuit boards, which has been difficult to perform through conventional technologies.

2. Unit cells placed near the source of electromagnetic noise and maximized transmission performance

A high concentration of unit cells have been installed near the sources of electromagnetic noise, such as the small internal areas of printed circuit boards for devices, where it is difficult to install existing EBG structure cells. As a result, the electromagnetic noise of GHz bands that obstruct communications are reduced from within printed circuit boards, which improves the reception sensitivity of antennas by as much as 10 times and improves the transmission speed of wireless devices by as much as 2 times.

3. Reduces the electromagnetic noise of various frequency bands

Multi-band operations are made possible by integrating multiple open-stub resonators with a unit cell in response to communication frequency bands. As a result, unit cells can flexibly support the frequencies in a variety of wireless communication standards by, for example, simultaneously reducing the electromagnetic noise in both 2.4 and 5GHz bands of WiFi.

NEC and NEC Access Technica aim to release products that capitalize on these newly developed technologies by the end of 2013.

Going forward, NEC will continue to drive the research and development behind electromagnetic noise suppression technologies that enable higher quality wireless communications.