e2ip technologies gets nod from CES 2021

Montreal-based e2ip technologies has been named a CES 2021 Innovation Awards Honoree for its Electromagnetic Engineered Surfaces (EES) technology in the Smart Cities category. The announcement was made ahead of the first-ever, all-digital CES 2021, happening Jan. 11-14, 2021. 

The CES Innovation Awards program is an annual competition honoring outstanding design and engineering in consumer technology products across 28 product categories. An elite panel of industry expert judges, including members of the media, designers, engineers and more, reviewed submissions based on innovation, engineering and functionality, aesthetic and design.

e2ip Engineered Electromagnetic Surfaces (EES), developed in conjunction with the Communications Research Centre of Canada, are thin, semi-transparent plastic sheets that reflect, redirect or block specific radiofrequency waves. These low-cost flexible sheets can be deployed on outdoor or indoor structural surfaces (buildings, signage, interior walls…) to augment, direct or inhibit specific telecommunication services (5G, Wi-Fi…).

EES sheets reduce deployment costs

In the case of 5G networks, e2ip EES sheets reduce deployment costs and facilitate network deployment by reducing the number of antennas required to ensure omnidirectional 5G access to mobile users and fixed location access points. e2ip EES printed sheets do not require power and reduce the need for additional small cell antennas – traits highly needed in a 5G NR environment. EES provide an economical opportunity to better manage infrastructure for telecom operators, heads of Smart Cities, and managers of large venues. 

EES surface designs are tailored to each network’s specific needs and depending on the design of the surface, EES can act as a band-stop, band-pass structure, reflect signals at varying angles, or act as a diffusing or as a focusing instrument. These properties of EES can then be used to enhance the propagation of mm Wave signals and help improve the overall reliability of the underlying infrastructure.

Demand from 5G communications and IoT

“Innovations in engineered surfaces will support the growing demand expected with the introduction of 5G communications and IoT. e2ip is poised to become a dominant market contributor, helping building owners, smart city and infrastructure providers manage their growth while balancing their investments.” says Anna-Marie Marasliyan, vice-president technology, products and marketing.

“Our DNA in chemistry and printing functional electronics are at the heart the EES innovation, enabling us to embed printed electronics in structural surfaces that enhance 5G network performance and reduce network deployment cost” said Eric Saint-Jacques, e2ip CEO, “EES is another example of our close collaboration with the Government of Canada research teams to create transformative value for our ecosystem of market leading customers and partners”.