Taoglas, the antenna solutions provider distributed by Alpha Micro Components, now offers its customers a complete approval management facility for wireless device pre-testing. This service is for devices using the Taoglas range of embedded antennas and is of interest to those who are designing products that are to be deployed in the USA. The facility not only provides matching circuit, tuning and antenna design services, it also allows Taoglas to manage the entire device approval process. The aim is to maximize the chances of passing FCC and PTCRB approvals tests first time, so potentially saving thousands for the customer in the approval process.

 

Devices using wireless networks in the USA must be compliant to stringent health and safety regulations before being introduced to the market. The demanding process often results in lengthy design cycles as first-time passes are not guaranteed, with rejections resulting in high costs, further testing and an extended time to market.

 

To address this challenge, Taoglas offers its high volume business customers a service which customizes and fine tunes the antenna incorporated in the final product, increasing its performance, efficiency and ensuring compliance with the regulations.

Taoglas certifies the pre-testing of the device by using experienced engineers that manage the approval process with the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) and PTCRB (PCS Type Certification Review Board). This significantly improves the chances of the device passing the tests first time and avoiding further test costs ranging from $34,000 to $68,000.

 

The whole process requires expensive, high-tech testing equipment forcing most companies to turn to costly outside consultants. Taoglas provides the entire service and full reports through its experienced engineers who are based in California and work closely with the test labs. The testing equipment includes a signal generation device, network analyzers, and anechoic chambers measuring product performance and radiation patterns, including the angles at which the antenna receives and transmits.

 

Subject to the absence of any design flaws, Taoglas pre-tests and manages the subsequent approval process in around four weeks. This dramatically reduces the time to market for the final product. In some cases pre-testing can highlight potential layout and design pitfalls and save the customer significant time and cost in going through premature approval processes.

 

Dermot O’Shea, Director of Taoglas, commented: “We feel there is a gap in the market, as other antenna providers don’t provide the custom antenna service or any help with approvals. Customers have to handle a very time consuming process themselves, or by using an expensive consulting agency. Taoglas delivers a complete service and facilitates the process, reducing the time to market and the risk of rejection.”