New simulation-based magnetic antenna for Hearing Aids

Hearing Aids (HAs) nowadays are sophisticated hearing computers and are well embedded in the connected world with multiple integrated wireless systems.

At first, there is a Tele-Coil system which is providing analog reception of magnetic fields from an established infrastructure that can be found e.g., in theaters, cinemas and churches. At second, there is a digital Bluetooth wireless system working at 2.45 GHz which is providing the exchange of data / audio with smartphones, with programming devices and audio streaming devices. At third, there is a digital near field magnetic inductive (NFMI) system working at 3 MHz which is connecting both HAs. Data exchange is scalable and supports full exchange of audio data between left and right HAs. This is required for a lot of powerful binaural signal processing features.

For decades, the antennas for NFMI systems were created as standard rod core coil antennas taking a lot of space inside the HA and being sensitive to internal unwanted crosstalk. In our latest platform the standard antenna has been replaced by a sophisticated magnetic flange coil antenna. This antenna is consisting of a small magnetic core and magnetic layered flanges. This provides the advantage creating high performance without taking a large volume inside the HA. Moreover, the flanges are designed to increase robustness against crosstalk of internal electronic interferers and can be also covered inside with copper to allow the usage of different batteries. All the relevant parameters (magnetic dipole moment, Q-Factor, Inductivity) of the antenna are designed in conjunction with the NFMI wireless front-end.

In this talk, we present the main challenges developing such an antenna and will also show that without simulation in CST Microwave Studio we would not have been possible developing such a component.

Presenter: Thomas FISCHER, WSAudiology

Replay	Slide deck

LCD Tunable Filters

Future wireless communication systems must satisfy the increasing demand for higher data rates, while the frequency spectrum is limited. Therefore, the millimeter wave regime gains more and more interest, due to the larger available bandwidths. Furthermore, reconfigurable RF front-ends are required to enable a highly efficient usage of the spectrum and for bandless systems such as cognitive radio or software-defined radio. For these front-ends, reconfigurable filters are key components, since they provide the required flexibility. In this presentation, a tunable bandpass filter is presented in the Ka-band at 30 GHz, which can be tuned independently in bandwidth and center frequency. For tuning, liquid crystal technology is employed, which is well known from display applications. Due to its anisotropic material properties, LC is well suited for the design of tunable millimeter wave components. By adjusting the orientation of the LC molecules the permittivity can be adjusted. Tunability is obtained by inserting LC into the filter structure. However, waveguide are not ideal for LC components in the millimeter wave regime, since the closed structure complicates the integration and assembly. That is why the Groove Gap Waveguide is used, which has an open structure.

Presenter: Ersin POLAT, Dassault Systèmes
 

Replay	Slide deck

Design of 3D Antenna using Evolutionary Algorithms

For decades, the antennas for NFMI systems were created as standard rod core coil antennas taking a lot of space inside the HA and being sensitive to internal unwanted crosstalk. In our latest platform the standard antenna has been replaced by a sophisticated magnetic flange coil antenna. This antenna is consisting of a small magnetic core and magnetic layered flanges. This provides the advantage creating high performance without taking a large volume inside the HA. Moreover, the flanges are designed to increase robustness against crosstalk of internal electronic interferers and can be also covered inside with copper to allow the usage of different batteries. All the relevant parameters (magnetic dipole moment, Q-Factor, Inductivity) of the antenna are designed in conjunction with the NFMI wireless front-end.

In this talk, we present the main challenges developing such an antenna and will also show that without simulation in CST Microwave Studio we would not have been possible developing such a component.

Presenters: Stanislav KOVAR, Tomas Bata University in Zlin
 

Replay	Slide deck

5G Coverage

Industry 4.0 and digitalization of the factory promise enormous benefits in terms of efficiency, productivity and sustainability. 5G private networks will be able to provide the required networking performance, and initial industrial deployments are showing promise.
But modern factories or assembly halls are complex environments. Planning robust wireless connections in the smart factory relies on an understanding of coverage and individual channel responses. Ray tracing-based simulation has an important role to play in predicting this behavior, complementing costly and time-consuming measurement campaigns exercises in existing realistic real-world environments, and predicting performance in planned facilities. This digital or virtual twin model of the factory environment can help to minimize the number of access points whilst optimizing coverage, before the factory is upgraded or built.

This presentation describes a flexible ray-tracing-based workflow for analyzing coverage and communication channels in such a complex and dynamic environment, using SIMULIA CST Studio Suite and the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. Topics include:

• preparation of realistic 3D factory models with moving elements for simulation,
• impact of antenna positioning on the channel prediction, and
• simulation of the scenario to predict coverage and the channel response.

Presenter: Marc RÜTSCHLIN, Dassault Systèmes
 

Replay	Slide deck