The Lowest Profile 3D Antenna Coil Available in The Market | PREMO

PREMO, the leading manufacturer of inductive components, announces the 3DC14EMR-ULP series, the lowest profile 3D Antenna Coil available (below 50% when compared to other antenna coils in the market today).

The majority of the 3D electromagnetic sensors available in the market have minimum heights of 3.2mm. The lowest profile 3D coil prior to the release of the ULP series was the PREMO 3DC06 series with a maximum height of 2.5mm.

The 1.65mm height target has been the biggest challenge during the last 2 years. It was achieved by a joint ecosystem development effort between BQ, UC3M University, and Premo. The entire project was under the scope of a CDTI-Spain (Center for the Development of Industrial Technology) research project called ASUMP.

The most innovative 3DCoil electro-magnetic sensor (fully isotropic) ready to be integrated into Smartphones, key fobs, smartcard key fobs, and wearable devices.  (This innovation is designed for secure access (passive keyless entry), real-time location systems (RTLS), and also for immersive 3D virtual experience motion tracking and Augmented Reality.)

This is a true ultra-low-profile sensor with a 12mm x 14mm footprint and a 1.65mm maximum height that is able to be integrated into ultra-thin devices such as SmartCard-type key fobs, traditional automotive key fobs, special miniaturized key fobs (sport keys), Smartphones (to be used as a digital key with the same user experience of current PKE access), and other devices such as hand-held controllers where EMMT (electromagnetic motion tracking technology) is used for 6DoF applications (real high- precision motion-tracking systems with no limitations in terms of line of sight, ultra-low latency, low power consumption, etc.).

With the new 3DC14EMR-ULP family, it is possible to "float" the coil in the PCB resulting in a true height of less than 1mm with a standard 0.6mm-1mm thick PCB.

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This new 3DC ULP version also provides greatly increased sensitivity. Inductance values of each axis (x, y, and z) are 4.77mH / 6.3mH / 10.5mH, allowing the coil to achieve sensitivities of 95 / 100 / 80 mV/A/m as a minimum per axis.

This level of sensitivity makes the part performance at the same level as today’s market standard for taller and larger parts. With such a low profile and high sensitivity, this 3DC ULP is the best solution in terms of performance against the size volume used. 

Cutting-edge Smartphones include multiple communication antennas integrated, enabling connectivity capabilities in a single device like never before: GPS, Galileo Sat, WiFi, 3G, 4G, 4G LTE, 5G, NFC, BT, BLE, Qi Wireless Charging. Low-Frequency communication with magnetic fields(RFID, in kHz frequency range) has been a connectivity and positioning technology widely used in automotive car access systems for many years. Creating a passive entry system using only today’s Smartphone capabilities (BTLE/NFC) is possible but has handicaps that can be overcome by LF technology. To achieve the same user experience level as current state-of-the-art passive entry key fobs, the inclusion of a low-frequency magnetic field antenna in the Smartphone is mandatory. Premo’s latest innovation, the 3DC14ULP, is a specific development focused on this application and device: the Smartphone. Lowering the profile was a key factor to the success of this integration and allows the use of digital keys for controlling access to their vehicles.

This part includes 3-axis (x, y, and z) windings 100% encapsulated in epoxy to provide full functionality for wakeup and 6DoF position/orientation even with movement tracking. Premo provides multiple versions of fully isotropic 3DCoil configurations to provide solutions for trimmed and non-trimmed performances.

Samples of these two full isotropic versions (3DC14EMR-ULP-0238J/0477J) are available for purchase in the Premo Online store. 

These parts will be delivered (in mass production) on tape & reel for SMT pick & place assembly according to EIA 481 (1000pcs/reel). They have been engineered to be RoHS and REACH-compliant and have also been tested for endurance to comply with AECQ200 standards for automotive and IEC 68000 standards for industrial, wearable, and general applications.