S-911 BY LAIPAC TECHNOLOGY INC
14 December 2005 - Sarantel Limited

Laipac applied its GPS tracking and GSM communications expertise to address a rapidly growing demand for safety and security appliances. The S-911 combines a GSM/GPRS radio with a cutting edge GPS receiver capable of indoor sensitivity and innovative "geo-fencing" software for a complete emergency beacon solution. Equipped with both speed-dial voice communications or "silent call" emergency messaging with personalized voice location and time stamp, the S-911 has broad application for travelers, hikers, businessmen, or anyone requiring a secure tether to emergency services.

Laipac knew that users of such a device depend upon reliable service in situations of duress, when the user couldn't be counted on to remember the "do's and don't's" of conventional GPS receiver technology. The device would often be carried in a purse or backpack, and would be called upon to get an instant position fix when the user pulled it out to make an emergency call. Orientation of the antenna would be variable, and the user's hand or body would desensitize conventional GPS antenna types. Laipac needed a GPS antenna for the S-911 that would combine the maximum reception efficiency with the broadest pattern.

Another important consideration for Laipac was packaging. "Packaging is very important, especially for a device focused on security," commented Diego Lai, CEO of Laipac. "The S-911 requires very rugged construction because it may be used in situations of extreme duress." Rather than have a protruding antenna that could break off, Laipac wanted an embedded antenna GPS that could be housed in a more rigid structural environment.

Laipac turned to Sarantel's active GeoHelix-S GPS antenna as the optimum antenna solution for the S-911. The GeoHelix-S combines a high gain, low noise amplifier with a very low noise figure with the GeoHelix quadrifilar helix GPS antenna. The GeoHelix antenna produces the very broad, omni-directional pattern characteristic of quadrifilar helix antennas for the best GPS reception possible in all orientation angles. As a balanced antenna, it rejects common mode noise generated by the GSM/GPRS radio electronics inside the S-911, filtering out unwanted signals before they reach the GPS receiver and isolating it from the rest of the device.

The constrained near-field properties of the GeoHelix antenna ensure that the user's hand or body can't de-tune the antenna or cause it to lose efficiency. Because of these properties, Laipac was able to embed the antenna without re-tuning it every time a change was made during the S-911's design. This made antenna integration much less expensive and shortened the design cycle for Laipac. Taken in combination, the GeoHelix-S assured Laipac that the S-911 GPS would function with the very highest possible SNR figures. "The Sarantel antenna provided a level of performance that ensures the S-911 will be there when it's needed," concluded Lai.

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