Integration of wireless technology in consumer electronic devices
Sean Mercer - Microsoft corporation
Mon, 10 Dec 2007 7:00-9:00pm BCIT, Bldg SE2, Town Square D

The integration of radios\wireless technology into consumer electronics devices is of broad interest our days.
There are many EMI issues and antenna issues that have to be overcome when integrating wireless devices into a consumer type product.
I will discuss common EMI issues and antenna design and implementation concepts applicable to achieving a successful outcome.
 
Please have a look at this site below for some examples that I have been directly involved with in recent times.  I will bring along a couple of the watches as samples.

http://www.msndirect.com/
 
The presentation will include (but not limited to):
 
1.       A couple of slides (1-2) about Microsoft – very high level publicly available data about staff size, organization, finance etc.
2.       Today, there is a trend towards widespread adoption of wireless technology.  It is being included into many devices that may not traditionally have been thought of as ‘wireless’ (see above web site).  I will give a couple of high level slides covering the MSN Direct FM broadcast service that we operate.  We broadcast content and appropriately equipped devices can receive and display the information.  This will easily lead to some design examples (e.g. watch)
3.       I will then go into noise and EMI emissions from various non wireless ‘host’ products and the implications for radio receivers.  Antenna implementation issues can also be covered here. I can go a bit deeper on the technical side here based on the audience
4.       I will give a brief run down of the type of lab equipment as SW used in our lab for development and evaluation purposes (1-2 slides). I can go a bit deeper if this will be of interest
5.       I will expand further with some higher frequency examples: 2.4GHz and 1.575GHz
6.       I have several examples from past work too  that I will bring along.
7.       I would happily entertain questions and audience participation
8.       In depth review of Maxwell equations + Exam (just kidding...).
 

 
 
I can also address any of the areas below if that may be of interest to the audience:
 
PUBLICATIONS
 
MERCER, S., “Exact Simulation of LNAs Reduces Design Cycle Time,” Small-Signal Amplifier Design, Noble Publishing, 2002, pp.29-35.
This article first appeared in Applied Microwave and Wireless, January 1999, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 74-82.
 
MERCER, S., “Minimizing RF PCB Electromagnetic Emissions,” RF Design, January 1999, pp. 46-56.
 
 
MERCER, S.R., “An Introduction to Low-Noise Amplifier Design,” RF Design, July 1998, pp. 44-56.
 
MERCER, S.R., “Linear Simulators offer successful Microstrip Modeling for Wilkinson Power Splitters,” RF Design, September 1996, pp. 38-48.
 
MERCER, S.R., MABADA, E., “Microstrip Coupled-Line Bandpass Filter Synthesis and Analysis Program,” RF Design, August 1995, pp. 95-102.
 
MERCER, S.R., “A microstrip realisation of loosely coupled conductors with enhanced directivity,” Electronics Letters, Vol. 31, No. 4, pp. 295-296, February 16, 1995.
 
MERCER, S.R., DOWNING, B.J., “On line fruit weighing using resonant cavity Techniques.” Paper presented at the SAIEE Joint Symposium on Antennas and Propagation and Microwave Theory and Techniques, August 24, 1990.
 
MERCER, S.R., DOWNING, B.J., SALTER, J.D., NORDIN, L., “Microwave discrimination techniques for rock sorting,” Elektron November / December 1988.
 
MERCER, S.R., DOWNING, B.J., SALTER, J.D., NORDIN, L., “Microwave discrimination techniques for rock sorting,” Paper presented at the SAIEE 2nd Joint Symposium on Antennas and Propagation and Microwave Theory and Techniques, August 1988.
 
MERCER, S.R., DE WAAL, A., DOWNING, B.J., “Online fruit weighing using a 500MHz waveguide cavity,” Electronics Letters, Vol. 24 No. 4, pp. 212-213, February 1988.
 
MERCER, S.R., “Rock differentiation by microwave irradiation.” Paper presented at the SAIEE National Student Papers Evening, Johannesburg, South Africa, November 28, 1986.
 
Short bio:

Sean Mercer is a Wireless Technology Architect in the Smart Personal Objects Technology Group at Microsoft Corporation.  He is responsible for researching and promoting wireless technologies within the group, in addition to working with partners to achieve successful wireless product implementations.  Prior to joining Microsoft, Sean worked as an RF engineer at Palm Inc. Before relocating to the USA in 2000 he spent several years in Vancouver working in an RF capacity for Philips Semiconductors, Motorola, Glenayre and Racal Canada.

He holds a Ph.D in electrical engineering, maintains his CEng status in the UK and has been a MIEEE for over a decade.