LATEST UPDATES:
PBS SEGMENT NOW ON YOUTUBE
The amazing video segment with CEO Nathan Cohen’s description of the first fractal antenna is now on Youtube at:
Video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Xq6h31UCKQ
WE SHOWED’EM—SRO DEMO AT AMERICAN MATHEMATICS SOCIETY
At the January meeting of the American Mathematical Society, our CEO Nathan Cohen gave an invited talk on fractal antennas. Anticipating modest interest from the live demo, our staff was floored when almost 150 people got up to get a closer look at the fractal advantage!
FRACTALS WEATHER (ARTIFICIAL) STORM
Our fractal antennas sure take a beating! One of our commercial customer- exclusive fractal antennas just underwent rigorous independent testing, including massive environmental tests. Conditions reminiscent of the Martian surface; Amazon in the rainy season; shake and quake; you name it. We passed it. Oh, and lightning zaps as well, showing a fractal loves another fractal. In comparison, other antennas using MEMS switching fuse under such torture. Beware the tortuous path—unless its fractal!
FRACTALS AT THE OLYMPICS
A customer-exclusive fractal antenna design will be a key tool to bring the Olympics to you his Summer. This is one of many private label antennas we design, manufacture, and deliver for custom niches. London calling! Stay tuned for more details.
FRACTALS BRING CHRISTMAS TO NEW YORK
Fractals made the season bright with the lighting of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center this past Christmas. The CLAIR CF 10190 fractal antenna, designed and manufactured by us, also made sure that Justin Bieber got the message across at the Tree lighting ceremony. Check it out at: http://www.prosoundnewseurope.com/main-content/full/wireless-first-uses-new-antenna-for- christmas-tree-event
GOT BODY? GET FRACTAL!
Commercials needs for on-body or clothing-attached antennas (‘body worn antennas’) has recently exploded—and we have the designs to meet those needs. Leveraging a decade of defense and government development, those lessons learned now map directly to the commercial arena. Let us know how we can help you. Contact Jane Winter at 781-275-2300 x09 or jwinter@fractenna.com
YOUNG HAM WINS RADIO CLUB OF AMERICA AWARD
FRACTAL congratulates Austin Schaller,KD0FAA, for his award winning presentation “Fractal Antennas” at the recent Radio Club of America meeting in Texas. Great job Austin! You can catch Austin’s talk on Youtube.
INVITED DEMO GIVES ‘AHAH!’ MOMENT
Nathan Cohen’s recent invited colloquium for the IEEE Communications Society had the bonus of a live demonstration of fractal antennas. As part of the 25th year celebration of the creation of fractal antennas, Cohen is giving demo’s whenever possible: “ I invariably get the ‘Ahaah’ gasp of response when the fractals go up. There’s nothing quite like being able to see and touch the fractal advantage!”
CLAIR GLOBAL AND FRACTAL ANNOUNCE JOINT WIDEBAND FRACTAL ANTENNA
FRACTAL is proud to work with its partner Clair Global , creating and manufacturing a revolutionary new antenna for wireless audio and wireless control. Concentrating on the wireless solutions for performance venues and the sports, music, and entertainment industries, this new antenna is nearly flat and unobtrusive, and replaces the cumbersome ‘arrowhead’, ‘potato cannon’, and ‘eyeball’ antennas of the past. Sold exclusively by Clair Global. See www.clairglobal.com. More info coming soon!
CF1900 FRACTAL ANTENNAS are sittin’ pretty.
A BIG PRODUCTION!
October saw a record for commercial custom design projects transitioning to production. This is our cakes and ale! After the custom design, customers chose for us to provide the antenna as a vended product-- or licensed for manufacturing. The antennas ran the gamut between very small and internal to embedded and conformal. These productions came about because the FRACTAL ADVANTAGE provided a cost-effective solution the customers couldn’t find elsewhere.
FRACTAL PLASMONICS - IT'S OFFICAL
FRACTAL welcomes a new revolutionary extension to our fractal technology—fractal plasmonic surfaces (FPS). Imagine antennas built into the back of a tablet, or in a wall, a credit card, or a car door. No wires, no connections, no parts. Just fractals built into material. Fat fingers or dings or mud muddying up the antenna? No problem? FPS are ‘self configurable’. Like a fly’s eye, if one part goes down, the others still keep on going.
INVITED PRESENTATION AT THE AMERICAN MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
Our founder and CEO, Nathan Cohen, will be an invited speaker at the American Mathematical Society Meeting in Boston in January. Detailing some of the benefits reaped from practical fractals, Cohen will also give live demos of our fractal technology.
NEW 787 DREAMLINER—FRACTAL EQUIPPED!
Boeing’s new 787 is a dream flying machine with state of the art technology. And each 787 has FRACTAL’s proprietary patch fractal antennas on board. We’re proud to be part of this historic plane and congratulate Boeing for a spectacular addition to aviation—well worth the wait. This is the first of several aviation-related product launches you’ll see from FRACTAL in the coming months.
FRACTAL PARTNERS WITH AUDIO INDUSTRY LEADER
FRACTAL has partnered with a leader in the audio industry for wireless sound system applications. Stay tuned for more information on our revolutionary joint product for that industry—coming soon!
FRACTAL AT ANTENNA SYSTEMS 2011 CONFERENCE
CEO Nathan Cohen presented a talk on ‘Fractal Plasmonics’ at the AS 20011 Conference at Nashville. Warmly received, the presentation shows how our proprietary wideband use of fractal metamaterials leads to new cost effective paths for wideband antennas and electromagnetic systems.
FRACTALS... PROTESTING *OVERSIZED*OVERPRICED* CONVENTIONAL ANTENNAS
Just Kiddin’: A myriad of fractal VHF sensor antennas (note SMA connectors) patiently await their turn before QC inspection for shipment to their new home. Did you know that FRACTAL makes state of the art, small antennas for industrial sensor, metering, SMART grid, and related needs?
SCATTERING –HOW OUR INVISIBILITY CLOAK STACKS UP
Our researchers have just completed the final analysis on our (world’s first) wideband invisibility cloak. A substantial amount of scattering data was taken—and it clearly shows the cloak works…like a cloak! Take a look, and don’t forget the invisibility cloak video (shown below).
Video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JpMJTJXf28
FRACTAL SURVIVES HURRICANE IRENE
FRACTAL is happy to report that our Waltham lab and facility has come thru damage-free with minimal disruption from this scary storm. We appreciate the dozens of kind wishes and prayers we received. They worked!
BUSY AUGUST!
We’ve had the busiest month of August in the company’s history. Look for a major web site update beginning with our monthly update on or before September 20.
FRACTAL on PBS’s NOVA
Perhaps the most popular NOVA episode yet, ‘Hunting the Hidden Dimension: Fractals’ is being re-broadcast. This is the episode with FRACTAL and Dr. Nathan Cohen’s uncanny tale on the creation of fractal element antennas, now an exciting and internationally recognized field of electronics. Watch for it on your local PBS station. You can also find it on Youtube at:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6917200224135375895#
FRACTAL SUCCEEDS AT COMMERCIAL LEVERAGING
FRACTAL has met the call of our customers for more commercial and product offerings. In June our expanded commercial plan went fully operational, with design, private labeled products, licensing, and off the shelf products for our customers—including new ones available now. Using ‘lessons learned’ from more than 15 years with military antenna innovation, our commercial products are second to none value for size, widebandeness, and performance. FRACTAL is fully committed to our commercial customers, and our growth reflects our excitement as the FRACTAL ADVANTAGE catches fire!
NEW PATENT—Our 26th U.S.
A classic tale of new ideas playing out as useful innovation continues as FRACTAL gets its 26th U.S. patent. Not only is FRACTAL the source-patent home for fractal antennas, we also continue to have active and exciting ‘development and application’ (DNA) on all aspects of fractal electromagnetics.
NEW CELL PHONE ANTENNA ENABLES NOVEL PHONE DESIGN
FRACTAL’s new cell phone antenna presented a new and welcome solution for one of our telecom customers. It may be the world’s smallest cell phone—but our fractal antenna solution made it work just like its big brothers! FRACTAL designs all its cell phone antennas with an emphasis on prudent and conservative limits for head exposure.
NEW WHIPBEATER™ ANTENNA SHIPS FIRST 1000 LOT
Filling the niche between the convenience of an on-board antenna and the performance of an external one, our new whipbeater™ antenna is a small, flat high performance fractal antenna that installs in the housing of wireless units. Especially suited for remote and SMART industrial systems, the whipbeater ™ antenna is now available and has already sold out the first lot of 1000.
CUSTOM ANTENNAS SHOW VERSATILITY OF THE FRACTAL ADVANTAGE
With our surge of growth of commercial antennas, customers are discovering our expert design ability, using our proprietary fractal technology to meet their demanding antenna needs. We are happy to consider being an exclusive vendor/ provider or license exclusivity for custom applications. Contact Jane Winter at jwinter@fractenna.com or at 781-275-2300 x09.
TEAM FRACTAL SHIPS RECORD PRODUCT VOLUME
In May FRACTAL scored a new record for shipped commercial product. Using both in-house assembly and local outsourced manufacturing we met the needs of customers across a wide spectrum of applications, vending off- the-shelf designs and custom ones for specific customer needs. We’d be delighted to meet your antenna needs. Try Jane Winter at jwinter@fractenna.com or at 781-275-2300 x09.
NEW VIDEO NOW UP—SUPER WIDEBAND BOWTIE, SMALL SIZE
Showing the better BOWTIE ANTENNA, our educational video on improving the performance of a bowtie is done with a simple piece of fractal ribbon placed on the back. It’s an excellent example of how fractals can bed simply to make big changes in antenna performance.
Video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zpy0qGBDQq0
FRACTAL ANTENNA REVIEW IN SCHOLARLY JOURNAL
Dr. Nathan Cohen, our CEO, is completing an invited review of fractal antenna technology for a scholarly journal. Dr. Cohen started the field of fractal element antennas and is the inventor on the source patents. We’ll post a link when published, expected in the late Fall 2011.
REVOLUTIONARY APPROACH TO MILITARY WIDEBAND ANTENNAS
Fractal has introduced the next generation of military antenna technology, which are dubbed ‘dissimulation ™ antennas. The first product is a featherweight covert and conformal antenna that is rated over 50 watts from HF to S-Band. The antenna is shrunk dramatically in size and width, and it follows the important DOD adage: ’form does not give away function’. With no ohmic loads, matching units, cooling fins, ground plane requirements, nor heavy mast support, the new antenna spells a revolution for EW, DF, SIGINT , COMS, and other antenna applications. Available directly and sold to US Gov’t, DOD, and NATO nations only. Contact Nathan Cohen at 781-275-2300 x01 for this important FRACTAL advantage; briefings now being scheduled.
FROM SKEPTIC TO EXCLUSIVE—CUSTOMER BENEFITS FROM FRACTAL ADVANTAGE
Did you know that skeptics become our best customers? Last Fall we convinced a skeptical lead to consider the FRACTAL advantage. Not only did we produce a superior antenna to those in their market, but just closed an exclusive private label deal with our new customer. How about you? We’d be happy to help explain the benefits of our technology. CONTACT: Jane Winter at jwinter@fractenna.com.
HIRING INTO GROWTH
FRACTAL is hiring. As we welcome a new Summer Intern and a part-time engineer, we still are looking for the multiple additions for TEAM FRACTAL in antenna engineering and technology (technician/ specialist). Check out the jobs listing for the latest update.
NEW VIDEO IN BETA VIEWING
We’re conducting a limited beta viewing of our first in a series of educational videos on the benefits of fractal antennas. If you want to take some time to let us know what you think, drop us a line and we’ll provide the link. Open viewing starts 10 June. CONTACT: jwinter@fractenna.com.
NO FRACTAL DOORBELL
Everyone wants to get their hands on a fractal! Our visitors often wonder why our wireless doorbell has no fractal antenna. In fact, we designed a great little fractal antenna that lay conformal on the adjacent brick--only to have it stolen the next day. When replaced, the same thing happened. Now we use the de rigeur paper clip, much like a ‘genetic antenna’. Not as good a performer but hasn’t been stolen yet. As a customer, your fractal antenna is either inside your device or hidden in a radom location and won’t suffer the same fate as our doorbell!
CUSTOMER GRABS FACTOR OF TEN
Fractal antennas are an ‘enabling’ technology! Recent example: we welcomed a new customer with a solution that extended that firm’s product and market—just by changing to one of our antennas. Compared to the standard competitor antenna, the FRACTAL antenna retrofit increased gain by almost 10 dB, and dramatically increased bandwidth. It’s not magic; it’s cutting edge electromagnetics from TEAM FRACTAL. Drop a line to Jane Winter and check what we can do for you: jwinter@fractenna.com
INTERN TO ENGINEER—WELCOME DAN!
FRACTAL welcomes Dan E. as an Antenna Engineer to TEAM FRACTAL. Starting as an undergraduate Intern, Dan jumped right in and we are proud to have him as a peer and contributor to our growth. Incidentally, we still have one slot open for a Summer Intern for 2011, but competition can be fierce. Deadline 30 April.
WHAT’S AHEAD
In the next few weeks watch for: 1) several new products; 2) web updates; 3) significant new technology; and 4) an exciting new video. Enjoy the rollout!
COMMERCIAL SURGE
FRACTAL welcomes orders this month in many commercial fields including: emissions monitoring; aviation; entertainment control systems; cellular telecom; indoor wireless; patient monitoring; GPS tracking; DOD comms; surveillance; asset tracking and management; RFID; medical tracking; spectrum management; and many, many others. Our commercial work now exceeds pre-Recession levels. Customers love our versatility—we developed/sold vended antennas; licensed; or private label manufactured. Give us a ping and find out why we are the ‘go to’ place for antennas. Contact jwinter@fractenna.com
TV SHOW PLOTS AROUND FRACTAL ANTENNA
The popular TV hit WHITE COLLAR finished up with a great season finale—built around our patented fractal antenna technology! Using a Minkowski Island fractal antenna as a key plot mover, the clever drama finds Mozzie and crew using the fractal antenna to discover a cache of secret Nazi stolen art in a dilapidated warehouse. ”As inventor I am honored to see my invention used in my favorite TV show, noted CEO Nathan Cohen, “ But of course, the plot premise that Nazis created fractals and invented fractal antennas , especially this design, is wrong, and, at the least, awkward, as Minkowski, Mandelbrot, and myself were/are all Jews. Usually I am lectured that extraterrestrials invented fractal antennas, so at least attributing it to humans in this case is a step in the right direction.” Bottom line: fractal antennas were not invented by Nazis
RESEARCHERS WORLD-WIDE VERIFY THE FRACTAL ADVANTAGE
Researchers world wide have produced an explosion of research papers, independently corroborating the technology we developed and own. Our FRACTAL ADVANTAGE section showcases a sampling, with new additions each month.
VIDEOS A HUGE HIT
Our two videos have generated a great deal of interest and excitement (see below for links), with over 30,000 YouTube hits. Quite a ride for educational videos. As many of you have asked about these results being published in a peer-reviewed technical journal, we are happy to let you know when they hit the press; expected Fall 2011. Incidentally, our research collaborators also hold positions at a few good schools, including Stanford; Boston University; Cornell; Vanderbilt; U-Mass; and Harvard. Next video coming in May.
JOBS—NEW OPENINGS: FULL-TIME AND INTERNS
FRACTAL expects technical hires in Q2-Q4 2011. We also welcome resumes for our Summer 2011 Interns—closing 30 April. If you want the challenge and joys of working at the cutting edge of electromagnetics you should check out these new descriptions and see if you’ve got what it takes to be on TEAM FRACTAL.
INVISIBILITY CLOAK—CAN YOU SEE IT?
Video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JpMJTJXf28
At long last here is the part 1 video that is shaking the hi-tech world. See a real invisibility cloak—operating at microwaves—in action.Enjoy!
PBS NOVA SHOW RUNNING ON FRACTALS
Experiencing its next broadcast iteration, the NOVA show HUNTING THE HIDDEN DIMENSION (FRACTALS) is scheduled for PBS broadcast beginning 14 December. This is the show that tells the fascinating story of fractals, and showcases their value to understanding nature, and technology. With portions shot at Fractal Antenna Systems, and featuring CEO Nathan Cohen, this is a show you’ll find riveting. PBS’s re-broadcast is in memory of our late colleague Benoit Mandelbrot, who passed on October 14.
FIRST VIDEO – OUR AMAZING FRACTAL TECHNOLOGY
Video 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWd0nEXFnrE
Have you seen it yet? If you have any interest in electronics, you’ll be fascinated by our series of videos. The first shows how the world’s best known antenna, the ¼ wave Marconi monopole, retrofitted with a slip on fractal metamaterial collar/sleeve to increase the gain by 3 dB and TRIPLE the bandwidth. Amazing but true—and it is enabled by our patented/proprietary fractal metamaterial/ resonator/ antenna technology. Check out the video transcript, with a high resolution graphic, HERE. Video 2, first of a two-parter on the invisibility cloak, will be posted in mid-December.
LONG-TERM PRODUCTION TAKES LEAD
This Fall, FRACTAL made the important transition to majority revenue from volume production of custom and OTS product. Notes CEO Nathan Cohen: ” Development and licensing are key aspects of who we are, but ultimate it comes down to getting real antennas , lots of them, into the hands of our customers. Working with our ISO outsource partners and in-house production and assembly for government related work is proving a winning aspect of our growth strategy.”
FIRST VIDEO –OUR AMAZING FRACTAL TECHNOLOGY
NEW GROWTH & A KEY COMPANY MILESTONE
November has brought the largest number of booked customers in FRACTAL’s 15 years, as we emphasize the FRACTAL ADVANTAGE for our commercial accounts. Not only are the customer vehicles spread across: design & development , licensing, vended product, and custom product, but the markets served run through a wide swath of the wireless world. “Fractals aren’t just pretty pictures. We put them to work, and are gratified that so many new accounts, across great variety of wireless applications see us as the ‘go-to guys’ for their antenna and resonator solutions”, notes CEO Nathan Cohen.
PRODUCT UPDATE ON THE WEBSITE
Potential customers want to know who we are and what we’ve got. Well, we have more than technology—we’ve got the goods! Over the next few weeks, you will see more info showcasing our custom and OTS products. Of course, if you don’t see what you need, we most likely have a great start with a reference design, with a quick path to a cost –effective custom solution. “Commercial customers should realize that our decade-plus experience as a technology provider for the government leads to spinoffs and lessons learned for their custom solutions—which are years ahead of the competition”, notes CEO Nathan Cohen. We always welcome the feedback and let us know what you’d like to see. Call Jane Winter at 781-275-2300 x09 or email at JWinter@fractenna.com.
BENOIT MANDELBROT: SAYING GOODBYE TO A FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE
Fractal Antenna Systems shares its deep sadness over the 14 October passing of fractal pioneer Benoit Mandelbrot. Notes Nathan Cohen: ”We shared a great respect and admiration for each other’s work and a common vigilance along the tortuous path.” Mandelbrot’s profound efforts in science, economics, and mathematics transcend boundaries of subject fields that will take decades to fully appreciate and realize. “I regret that Benoit did not see things move fast enough . But paradigm shifts, especially in engineering and especially economics, eventually pick up momentum and then can’t be stopped”, states Cohen.
RIDING THE PRODUCTION WAVE
Sure we make’em; literally lots of’em! FRACTAL recently executed new vended production orders for customers during September in aerospace electronics; electronic warfare; sensors; and indoor wireless markets. Working with our US-based contract manufacturers assures a consistent stream of manufacturing, testing and QC for excellent product at competitive prices, delivering product in the thousands to the millions. Surprised? Ask Jane Winter at jwinter@fractenna.com.
INVISIBILITY CLOAK— FROM THE INSIDE LOOKING OUT
What should a real invisibility cloak do? If you think it should make something disappear into the background, over a wide microwave range, that let's you look out. It’s not alien technology . It’s Yankee ingenuity! And no one has EVER done it before! FRACTAL has just completed its two year research program on the fundamentals of invisibility cloaks and came up with a spectacular success, with first results reported in early 2009. “The patent application has been published, “notes Nathan Cohen, “and we will be submitting the full results for scientific publication shortly”.
GASP FACTOR DOMINATES IN HAM TALKS
Recent talks at ham radio conventions at Boxboro and TAPR brought the unexpected drool-worthy delight of invisibility cloaks and fractal metamaterial antennas . A live demo at Boxboro, with network analyzer, antennas, and on-off comparisons highlighted the proffering of a roomful of gasps from the audience, some of whom had heard previously that fractals posed no advantages in antennas. So much for that!
A BUSY SUMMER!
FRACTAL welcomes new orders/customers in surveillance; audio wireless; radio direction finding; electronic warfare; medical sensors; indoor wireless; wireless tracking; commercial aerospace ;and concealed antennas. We also manufactured and shipped more vended antenna product this Summer than in the last 3 years. As we all grow again, we welcome the opportunity to share in your wireless growth too. Our world-renowned expertise in solving tough antenna problems takes our ‘horizontal’ technologies and leverages them for the benefits of customers across the board in the wireless world— commercial and government. Contact Jane Winter to discuss your needs jwinter@fractenna.com.
WIDEBAND TAKES OFF
Our IR&D program in wideband antennas for mini/micro UAV’s saw its first flight test recently. Positioned on the wing underside, the antenna technology enables new uses of the tiny planes for a variety of applications. Note Dan’s perfect launch swing!
WELCOME NEW FALL INTERN
FRACTAL welcomes our new gap year student from Harvard University. Remember students: if you’re well qualified and taking time off in your undergraduate years, we always welcome ‘semester interns’. In the last few years we’ve had interns from: Cornell (many many); UMass-Amherst; UMass-Lowell; Vanderbilt; Stanford; and Harvard. Preference is for students at local universities and/or those living locally. Check the job board for availability in the Winter/Spring semester.
FRACTAL REZCHIP™ LAUNCHES
Our FRACTAL Rezchip antenna system launched on 20 Sept. Look for the accompanying press release. Think of the possibilities…
WEBSITE UPDATE THIS FALL
We’re finally catching up with updating the rest of the website, and you can expect a new feature: exciting videos to showcase our technologies in antennas and metamaterials. If you wish to help us help you get a better flavor of our technologies, drop us a line and tell us what you’d like to see on the site. A major revamp of the FAQ’s is imminent, for example.
FLYING HIGH
Team FRACTAL is developing wideband, featherweight, conformal antenna for the next generation of UAV’s. Testing them is half the fun!
BODY WORN ANTENNAS GET REAL CLOSE
Our new fractal ‘Stickems’ ™ use our proprietary wideband technology to make sure that closeness to the body doesn’t stop the antennas from working. We are experts on countering/working with the effects of human proximity on antennas, and our lessons learned apply across the board from on-body to smartphones.
WHO’S ON FIRST? TEAM FRACTAL! FRACTAL ADDS CORNERSTONE TO PATENT PORTFOLIO
It took 15 years, but patent 7,750,856 makes it crystal clear who invented fractal element antennas and who owns them. Read Dr. Cohen’s account of the first fractal antenna, built in 1988 and inspired by a conference talk by Dr. Benoit Mandlebrot.
TEAM FRACTAL Summer Interns
FRACTAL welcomes Summer 2010 Student Interns from Cornell, Vanderbilt, UMass-Lowell, and Stanford Universities. Our interns will focus on no-profile wideband antennas; lab procedures and measurements; fractal metamaterials; and business development.
FRACTAL’S LICENSE ROLL-UPS (LRU’s) PICKING UP SPEED
Since TEAM FRACTAL’s rollout of ‘Design to Licensing’ (DTL) on fractal antennas, companies large and small have discovered the value of rolling together our design services with a non-exclusive license to include the FRACTAL ADVANTAGE on their project’s circuit boards. We call it a ‘license roll-up’ (LRU). In these times of customers’ strained in-house development resources, FRACTAL won’t leave you high and dry trying to figure out the antenna design yourself! Drop Jane Winter a line and see how this can work for you: jwinter@fractenna.com
antenna. Stay tuned for the FRACTAL Stick’em! (USP Patent 7345642)
HAM RADIO AND METAMATERIALS - A CONNECTION?
Some folks say ham radio’s days have past, but today’s leaders in wireless technology often share this common pastime and public service. Honoring our ham radio colleagues, and the hidden history and latest developments behind metamaterials, CEO and ham op Nathan Cohen will be giving a talk on ‘From Ham Radio Origins: the Weird World of Metamaterials’ at the New England ‘Boxboro’ Ham Convention on August 28. Drop by for an “eyeball QSO”!
Looking for Information on metacloak?
Information and data on Metacloak™ technologies is available now and periodically (no pun!) updated. All of FRACTAL’s fractal metamaterial info is on www.metacloak.net (Note: Metacloak™ is a registered trademark of Fractal Antenna Systems, Inc.) You’ll find the metacloak™ antennas and invisibility cloak materials there. If you have a ‘how did you do it?’ question, please send to fractalcloak@aol.com. All metacloak™ business queries are handled through jwinter@fractenna.com. Thanks!
FRACTAL’S EXPANDING DESIGN-TO-LICENSE (DTL)
FRACTAL is enjoying rapid growth in its ‘design-to-license’ program, where we customize our patented technology for your application, for licensing in large quantities. This is in addition to our standard option of a vended solution, or existing product, giving our customers full versatility.
FRACTAL is the patent holder on the key IP for fractal element antennas and related technologies, with broad and far reaching claims, for example, with patents 6,452,553 and 7,256,751. This makes us the friendly but singular ‘go-to’ guys for all fractal-related solutions. As inventors say: ‘the claims are only as good as the claims’. FRACTAL’s got the claims! Call us for your antenna-related solution.
WALL OF FAME—FRACTAL’s IP portfolio steadily grows, with the fundamental and broad patents (plaques shown here) held on fractal antennas; fractal resonators and metamaterials; and ancillary electronics.
COMING PRODUCT THIS SUMMER - RezChip™ SYNTONY COMPONENTS™
It’s a tiny chip making a part-less tuned circuit. That makes it ideal as a loading component to turn your wireless device into an antenna. Why buy an antenna when you already have the ground plane? One tiny chip - a RezChip™ - does the trick - wideband or custom multiband.
THREE NEW PATENTS ISSUED - MANY TO MORE TO COME!
The last few weeks have reaped three new US patents (7659862; 7701396; 7705798) for FRACTAL, a carry-through of management’s assertion of value of FRACTAL as a technology company. Notes CEO Nathan Cohen: “We anticipate upwards of a dozen new issued patents in the next two years and have some fundamental, breakthrough surprises with recent patents pending.”
WDB ANTENNA - POWERFUL NEW ANTENNA FOR EW
Shaped like a tiny, skinny dumbbell, FRACTAL’s new WDB antenna for UHF + provides high power and omni coverage in an unusually small form factor. If you’ve got the need we’ve got the info. Drop an e-mail to Chip at ncohen@fractenna.com
FRACTALS… FIELD OF A THOUSAND USES
Recent new business highlights how broadly our technologies enable the commercial wireless world. A typical day may have new designs for: aerospace; wireless audio; medical telemetry; robotics; surveillance; hand held devices; pagers; RFID; public service; EC backbone; indoor wireless; and many others. Fifteen years of proprietary design leads to attacking tough application challenges with the experience to solve antenna problems that are: wideband; hidden; smaller; and high performance. If you have an antenna challenge, give us a call: Jane Winter at 781-275-2300 x09.
FRACTAL METAMATERIALS –INCREDIBLE SHRINKING LP
The log periodic dipole array is one of the best known antennas, with a characteristic arrowhead shape. FRACTAL found a way to shrink it with our proprietary metafractal™ technology. How much? Upwards of 45%, with little if any performance degradation. Have a need to know? Check in with TEAM FRACTAL via Chip, our CEO: ncohen@fractenna.com.
NEW PATENTS EXTEND OUR FRACTAL TECHNOLOGY TROVE
As a technology company, FRACTAL innovates by creating new inventions to solve tough problems. New additions include the hot-off-the-patent press: 7,659,862 and two others issuing imminently. These further cement FRACTAL’s unique and proprietary IP stance from the creators and owners of fractal antenna and related technologies.
Fractal Metamaterials Under Contract
FRACTAL has won its first bona fide metamaterial contract, mere months after it publicly announced the availability of the new technology. A defense related application, the antenna design is a fractal antenna augmented by metamaterials, also made of fractals. The antenna is a much smaller design with comparable performance to a conventional one.
Record New Orders on UACM's
Fueled by price reductions with our flagship indoor wireless product, the UACM set a new orders record in Q4. Leveraging the pleasing form factor with unprecedented wideband coverage, the UACM has quickly established itself as a standard in the industry.
Third Anechoic Range Added
FRACTAL added a third anechoic range to its development antenna laboratory in Waltham, MA. Designed for 700 MHz on up, the new facility frees up a logjam on FRACTAL's main anechoic chamber.
The new chamber is modular and can be reconfigured in a matter of minutes. It also allows the engineers instant access for real-time measurement and design tweaking. Notes CEO Nathan Cohen: "Paradoxically, chamber manufacturers make their boxes so that they are great for testing but awkward for tweaking. The new chamber makes it easy to implement antenna and array design mods in real-time, rather than schlepping stuff in and out to the bench on a repetitive basis."
"Clearly the additional testing access will improve productivity and allow for the greater throughput we need with our increasing customer base in 2010", remarked Cohen.
FRACTAL NOW ON "SCIENCE TREK" ON PBS
Fractal Antenna Systems and our CEO Nathan Cohen are featured on the new TV show "Science Trek" now playing nationwide on PBS. Discussing the inspiration of science fiction; metamaterials and cloaking; and how new technologies are adopted, Dr. Cohen paints an interesting view of a future where fractal metamaterials render 'surfaces' into collections of useful things. Just a wall, ceiling or a door? Not for long!
UASM: Flat and Wideband and Now at a Great Price
Following the terrific reception for the price break on our wideband indoor wireless product the UACM, we are happy to announce price breaks on its sister product, the UASM. Systems Integrators, why not give Jane Winter a call for quote?
METACLOAK™ MONOPOLE—COMING SOON!
Fractal is proud to announce that the first major matematerial product is scheduled for launch early next year. We'll keep you posted.
VISIT METACLOAK.NET For Our Fractal Metamaterial Happenings
Many exciting new things have been happening on the fractal metamaterial front—and we've had trouble breaking away to report them. But have no fear: we'll get them out, especially those videos!
FRACTAL METAMATERIAL ANTENNAS - METACLOAK™ -
LET THE REVOLUTION BEGIN!
FRACTAL announced on 5 October 2009 its revolutionary new antenna technology. Check it out on www.metacloak.net !
UACM - The CLASSIC PUBLIC SAFETY ANTENNA - SUCH A DEAL!
We’ve passed on economies of scale on our flagship indoor wireless antenna. Check out the savings.
FRACTAL ANTENNA’ s METAMATERIALS ON TELEVISION AND VIDEO
FRACTAL will be featured, again, on a new network television show to be broadcast around or after Thanksgiving 2009. Stay tuned! Also, we will have our videos on our metacloak™ technology up on Youtube about that time. Vu on!
FRACTAL'S RAPIQUIP™ ASSEMBLY-- NOW IN FULL-FORCE
Fractal is pleased to announce the implementation of its RAPIQUIP™ processing for moderate–sized order lot sizes. For selected defense and commercial customers, FRACTAL is now able to achieve parts procurement, final assembly, quality testing, and shipping - quickly - all within our home facility. Leveraging the talents of US vendors and contract manufacturers, FRACTAL is proud to serve the needs of our customers in this way, while helping our US based support partners at the same time.
FRACTAL Celebrates Its 15th Year
Fractal Antenna Systems is now celebrating its 15th year! What began as a humble garage-based startup has grown to become the world leader in antenna innovation—and the pioneer in fractal electronics and metamaterial applications. Committed and moving forward, join us as we continue our growth with the fascinating field of fractals!
Fractal CEO Invited Speaker at Printed Electronics USA
Fractal Antenna Systems' Nathan Cohen will be an invited speaker at the December Printed Electronics USA 2009 Conference in San Jose CA.
Printed Electronics USA (http://www.idtechex.com/printedelectronicsusa09/en/) is the world's largest conference dealing with the use of printed circuits and their uses. Innovative needs, methods, and technology applications have caused an explosive growth in that market, with continued growth forecasted despite the economic downturn.
CEO Cohen will be speaking on the prospects for practical uses of metamaterials in printed electronics. The firm's announcements earlier in the year, on the successful use of fractals as metamaterials, lead the way to near-term applications of the 'metafractal™' technology. This paves the path for taking metamaterials out of the scientists' labs and into the hands of consumers, government, and other end-users.
Notes Cohen: "We are no longer decades away from 'killer apps' for metamaterials. The issues are mainly business ones—who needs the technology; what new uses will it enable? As a scientist by training, I understand that forecasting fantastic futures from new discoveries is fun, but making those happen is the technologist’s challenge." Cohen will report applications for the metafractal™ technology in a variety of enabling applications including: energy; telecommunications; RFID; computers; healthcare; defense; and other arenas.
Fractal Floating in Sea of Foam
For two weeks in early June, Fractal Antenna Systems floated in a sea of blue-wedgie anechoic foam. All three of its chambers and testing platforms have now been re-foamed for better performance and accuracy in measurements. Fractal now has capabilities from 200MHz - 8GHz in its laboratory area, with several separate and versatile testing positions. Outside capabilities continue from MF on up. We are enjoying our new Quiet Zones.
A Big Hit at Harvard
On 15 April, FRACTAL's CEO gave an invited Harvard University seminar at the Center for Nanoscale Systems on: "Small, Wide, and See-Thru: Adventures in Practical Fractals and Life on the Tortuous Path". Attended by students, researchers and engineers, the seminar presented, for the first time outside of FRACTAL's lab, data from the world's first wideband invisibility cloak, a FRACTAL invention. Emphasizing the fascinating tale of fractal antennas, the seminar also highlighted the marriage of fractal resonators to antennas, with a live demonstration on how fractal metamaterials open up new arenas for fractal antenna design and unique performance attributes.
Cohen, previously a research assistant at Harvard, pointed out how many of his ideas in science first incubated at Harvard's Cruft Laboratory, just step away from the seminar.
Fractal Antenna Featured on NOVA
Dr. Nathan Cohen, CEO of Fractal Antenna Systems, Inc. is featured on the new NOVA show:”Hunting the Hidden Dimension”. The show is a fascinating romp through the emerging field of fractal applications to explain nature—and build exciting new technologies. Dr. Benoit Maldelbrot, the father of fractal geometry, tells his extraordinary story of insight and scorn by colleagues, now to see whole fields of science and technology embracing fractals as the tool they need to make better sense of nature and technology.
Dr. Cohen recounts his invention of fractal element antennas in the 80’s, based on a conference meeting with Dr. Mandelbrot. From then, fractal antennas took a spring board to smaller antennas, keen insight into Maxwell’s equations—and wideband antennas. The whole show is educational and fun. See your local PBS station for showings, or www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/fractals/ for video streaming.
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