Executive Interview: Brian Deutsch, CEO, Pivotal Commware
Posted on April 16, 2021 by Pivotal Commware
1. Pivotal Commware is built on Holographic Beam Forming technology. What is that?
Holographic Beam Forming® (HBF) is a patented, dynamic beamforming technique. Functionally, it is similar to a phased array in that it can shape and direct wireless signals with no moving parts. HBF is electronically reconfigurable, making it a software defined antenna. Architecturally, HBF is significantly simpler, while still achieving the functionality of conventional phased arrays.
Phased arrays rely on discrete phase shifters as the critical element to accomplish beam steering. This approach brings with it a need for distributed amplification and switching to handle losses and enabling time-division duplex operation. HBF employs no discrete phase shifters or distributed amplifiers. Instead, individual antenna elements of the HBF array are activated by altering the coupling between the elements and antenna feed. This approach only requires DC biasing of varactor diodes. This allows us to build the lowest cost, size, weight and power consumption beamforming architecture we are aware of.
HBF gets its name from its similarity to optical holography. In optics, holograms are used to transform waves from one configuration to another. Similarly, the HBF technique transforms a guided wave in the antenna to a radiated wave that makes up the beam.
2. You are focusing HBF on 5G, specifically for the mmWave bands. What capabilities and advantages does it offer operators and consumers?
HBF’s cost, size, weight and power consumption (C-SWaP) advantages over other beam forming technologies translate into low-profile mmWave repeaters that install quickly and inexpensively. The indoor Echo 5G™ is installed by the subscriber, so costly truck-rolls are avoided. The outdoor mounted Pivot 5G™ network repeater requires neither a power meter nor fiber connection, offers low OPEX siting and minimizes fiber-connected gNB CAPEX. Pivotal’s unique advantages will accelerate time to market and optimize total cost of ownership by mmWave operators.
Read the full interview at Microwave Journal