Providence Section - Social: 6:00 p.m.; Dinner: 6:30 p.m.; Presentation: 8:00 p.m; Wednesday, February 18, 2009

A Low Profile Phased Array Antenna for Satellite TV in Automobiles

Bosui Liu, Ph.D

Abstract: In 2003 KVH Industries transformed in-vehicle entertainment with the introduction of the TracVision A5. The TracVision A5 allowed passengers to watch DIRECTV satellite television programs and enjoy XM satellite radio in their vehicles while on back roads or while rolling down the highway. The A5 offers faster acquisition, increased versatility, greater reliability, and quieter operation, due to patented advances in satellite TV technology developed by KVH engineers. Several key innovations have made the award-winning TracVision A5 possible, which includes prescan of the antenna main beam, high efficiency aperture design, customized low noise LNB, and a dedicated mobile receiver.

Biography: Dr. Bosui Liu graduated from Shanghai Jiaotong University in 1996 with a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering.  His PhD study at University of Cincinnati was focused on the development of 3D multilayer monolithic T/R module for X-band conformal phased array.  He joined Purdue University in Indiana as a research associate in 2002 to continue his exploration of 3D integration of high performance front-end components using periodic structures, composite materials and high-resolution stereolithography.

In 2004, Dr. Liu joined the design team at KVH Industries. He is involved in all aspects of antenna and RF circuit board design. Dr. Liu is also the lead design engineer in the KVH's Electronic Scanning (ESCAN) advanced development project, which is aimed at studying different approaches of phase shifter implementations, including MEMS switch, MMIC, and tunable ferroelectric materials. Dr. Liu's recent antenna designs at KVH include offset ring focus shaped reflector and high efficiency patch arrays.

Dr. Liu has published 18 research papers in IEEE transactions, and international and national conferences.

Three of his papers are currently being used as training examples on Ansoft.com website. He is also a reviewer for IEEE Transactions on Antenna and Propagation since 2003.

Reservations: Reservations may be made for dinner and the presentation; or for the presentation only, with Dr. Martin Cohen at mlcohen@ieee.org (please provide name, guest name(s), IEEE member status, e-mail address, phone number and dinner selection). Advance reservations required for dinner not later than February 16, 2009. Dinner choices: Boneless Baked Stuffed Breast of Chicken, Broiled Scrod, or Yankee Pot Roast of Beef. Prices for dinner and presentation: IEEE Member and guest, $10.00 each; IEEE Student Member and guest and students; $7.00 each; Others, $15.00 each. Prices for presentation only: IEEE Members, Student Members and guests, Free; Others, $5.00. Total number of attendees is limited to 50 persons.

Directions: The Seekonk Ramada Inn is located just south of I-195 at Massachusetts Exit 1, Route 114. The Ramada entrance is immediately after the eastbound exit onto Rte 114 south, on the left (east side).