C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. (TSXV: CMI) has been granted U.S. patent No.10,211,527 for their invention of a phased array antenna calibration method and apparatus.

This is the second patent C-COM has been granted in the last year and comes as a result of its ongoing research and development into a novel electronically steerable Ka-band phased array antenna. A unique process for calibration of a phased array antenna is used to adjust internal phase shifters and amplifiers, making it possible to recalibrate the antenna on-the-fly, potentially mitigating service interruptions.

The project is being developed in partnership with the University of Waterloo under the guidance of Dr. Safieddin (Ali) Safavi-Naeini, director of the Centre for Intelligent Antenna and Radio Systems (CIARS) and with the assistance from the Ontario Centers for Excellence (OCE) and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

Dr. Safieddin Safavi-Naeini, a professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo, said this new calibration technique will be integrated into current active and fully modular phased-array technology. In addition, the research team is using this new technology as an integral part of its first fully passive phased array antenna made of 4X4 intelligent modules. It opens the way to low-cost high performance electronically steerable mobile antennas for both commercial and personal device applications, which are now under development in the Centre.

Leslie Klein, President and CEO of C-COM Satellite Systems Inc., added this patent provides further recognition for the quality of innovation being carried out by the University of Waterloo’s research team. This advanced design, which will be incorporated into the next generation phased array antennas, should significantly increase their reliability and serviceability.