#United States #New Haven #ReflecTek #Carillon #Phased Array

Carillon Technologies Launches Innovative Phased Array Technology

Carillon Technologies, a prominent innovator in both commercial and government sectors, has recently made headlines with the announcement of its cutting-edge phased array antenna technology. This groundbreaking development is designed to significantly lower the costs and complexities associated with satellite communication terminals, paving the way for widespread adoption of broadband Direct-to-Device (D2D-HD) connectivity for a range of consumer devices, including smartphones and laptops.

The new technology, known as ReflecTek™, has been developed by Carillon's dedicated spinout, ReflecTek Inc. This unique approach utilizes a reflecting phased-array antenna design, which effectively removes the need for separate components at the element level. By leveraging standard printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing processes along with liquid crystal materials, this technological advancement enables scalable production devoid of the typical limitations imposed by traditional semiconductor-based phased arrays.

Dr. John D. Evans, the CEO of Carillon, remarked, "This development aligns with Carillon's vision to introduce next-generation solutions that cater to both commercial and defense markets." He highlighted the existing challenges of providing broadband connectivity to numerous devices within a specific geographic area due to the prohibitive costs, size, and power demands of conventional phased array antennas. With the introduction of ReflecTek™, the barriers to mass adoption of satellite communications are being dismantled, allowing for the seamless integration of antennas into everyday consumer electronics, such as smartphones and computers.

Dr. John R. Sanford, Carillon's Chief Technology Officer, added insight into the technical aspects of this innovation. He stated, "Such levels of performance are typically unattainable with traditional phased-array methodologies. Achieving a system that satisfies stringent criteria for affordability, scalability, and beamforming efficiency is remarkably complex. At Carillon, our use of advanced modeling and optimization techniques, coupled with machine learning methods, enables us to explore a more extensive design space, unveiling solutions that would otherwise remain undiscovered through conventional means. The end result is an effective architecture that facilitates high-performance, electronically steered connectivity at a cost that is viable for large-scale implementation."

Technical Highlights of ReflecTek™

• - Ultra-Low-Cost Manufacturing: The ReflecTek™ technology employs standard radio frequency PCB processes and liquid crystal materials, effectively eliminating the need for specialized components, thus allowing commercial RF board manufacturers to produce these antennas.
• - Cost-Effective Control: Controlled by readily available, low-cost liquid crystal display (LCD) drivers, it negates the requirement for specialized beamforming integrated circuits (ICs).
• - Dual-Band Flexibility: Capable of operating over multiple frequencies (for instance, 20 GHz and 28 GHz) within a single reflect-array antenna, thus supporting both transmission and reception through one aperture.
• - High-Frequency Scalability: The technology can be extended to handle frequencies as high as 100 GHz. Unlike semiconductor-based technologies, ReflecTek™ antenna elements can decrease in size as the operational wavelength increases, enabling enhanced performance while reducing costs.
• - High Efficiency: The system has demonstrated efficiencies comparable to current transmit phased-array systems, while its design offers a clear trajectory toward integration with battery-powered devices.

About Carillon Technologies

Founded in 2017 and headquartered in New Haven, Connecticut, Carillon Technologies stands at the forefront of transformative technologies that bridge both government and commercial domains. Their portfolio showcases innovations such as ReflecTek™ RF phased arrays, as well as optical phased arrays and RF tagging technologies. ReflecTek’s mission is particularly focused on developing High-Data-Rate Direct-to-Device solutions to facilitate enhanced satellite-to-cell phone and satellite-to-computer communications.

For further information about their initiatives and technologies, visit Carillon Technologies and ReflecTek.