Fractal Antenna systems announces breakthrough antenna line.

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 27, 1996--Fractal Antenna Systems Inc., a leader in innovative antenna design, today announced it is developing a line of miniature, invisible antennas for wireless and cellular applications.

The company produces antennas with elements built upon fractal geometric patterns. Fractals take a particular design and repeat it over many size scales. Fractal-element antennas were invented and perfected by Dr. Nathan Cohen, a radio astronomer and physicist, over the last decade. Fractal Antenna Systems, Inc. holds proprietary patent pending technology on fractal-element antennas.

The line of FRACTENNA(TM) fractal antennas addresses the gamut of problems that OEM's and consumers have with cellular and wireless devices. Virtually all of these transceivers, which can include cell phones, cordless phones, LANS, computer links, trunk radios, RF tagging, and others, incorporate `wand' antennas which protrude from the casing. "Its an invitation for disaster," says company spokesman Phil Salkind, "they break; have limited reliability; are too expensive, and let's face it, are ugly." Wands are usually made of a length of wire or helix. "That's technology which has been around for at least 50 years," said Salkind. "Think of it. You've got this miracle transceiver and you make it wireless by attaching it to a spring. It's a techno-time warp."

Fractal Antenna Systems, Inc. uses the fractal patterns to make much smaller resonant antennae which have form factors that can be incorporated in or on the casing. "The opportunity for breakage is virtually zero," says Salkind. Furthermore, the size reduction is substantial. A typical FRACTENNA(TM) cell phone antenna easily fits into the flip assembly or back case. A PCS antenna is dime-sized--or smaller.

A particular industry problem has been with making embedded antennas which will work on top of metal, such as shielding. One of the FRACTENNA(TM) antennas in the new line is a `fractal discontinuity microstrip patch', also called a FRACTAL MICROPATCH(TM). It incorporates the benefits of conventional patch antennas--but at a fraction of the size. And it works on top of metal.

Plans are to release a variety of the FRACTENNA(TM) lines for cell, wireless, and PCS in the Spring. Realizing that some OEM's will need faster response, Fractal Antenna Systems, Inc. plans to make its designs available to a limited number of OEM's on a custom basis before the general release. "This allows companies in the early stage of their design cycles to make their antenna decision as soon as possible," said Salkind.

Fractal Antenna Systems Inc., is a privately held company based in Fort Lauderdale, FL with R&D offices in Belmont MA. FRACTENNA(TM) and FRACTAL MICROPATCH (TM) are trademarks of Fractal Antenna Systems, Inc. Its fractal-based antenna technology is patent pending.

CONTACT: Fractal Antenna Systems, Inc.

Phil Salkind, 617-489-6952