a tenacious spirit in develop- ment leading the way into...

ThinkPad Development Report

Senior Engineering Staff Member/Manager

Wireless Communications Technology

Lenovo Japan, Ltd.

Kazuo Fujii

Mobile WiMAX Project Lead

Lenovo Japan, Ltd.

Hideto Horikoshi

As the research and development location for ThinkPad,

the Lenovo Japan Yamato Office (Yamato City, Kanagawa

Prefecture) continues to send out the culmination of

cutting-edge technologies to the world. Here is our

collection of "experts", working on the frontline of

development. In this section we will dig deeper into their

passion toward the ThinkPad, development policies and

highly polished skills and knowledge. In this edition, we

are introducing two of our "experts" that have continued

to overcome obstacles as they explore the limitless

possibilities of the communications field.

The Masters of ThinkPad Development

A tenacious spirit in develop-ment leading the way into new areas of wireless technology.

Targeting the development of an antenna with a small size and large performance.

The "visualization" of the elec-tric field strength distribution achieved through simulation.

Not just a manufacturer, partnering with WiMAX carriers

Returning to the beginnings of ThinkPad, freedom of ideas in development.

Mr. Fujii speaking about "targeting the creation of a wireless environment where you're never out of range" at the wireless communications experimental laboratory.

In simulations, results showed that the global antenna gain of built-in antennas was 3.5 dB better than USB communications adapters.

By util izing the 3-D antenna chamber we created, we made it possible to simulate electronic field strength distributions for WiMAX, etc.

WiMAX built-in antennaWiMAX External USB Transmission

Adapter/Antenna Equipped

Figure 1: The results of test operation at the Yamato office

Figure 3: A comparison of antenna gain patterns

Wireless Communcations Experimental Laboratory

The next gain design with two WiMAX antennas on the left and right sides used in the ThinkPad T400s produces a gain plot that is almost globe shaped, indicating a gain (amplification factor) that is strong in any direction.

The ThinkPad T400s was used to connect to the WiMAX base station from the window on the fifth floor of the Yamato Office, which lies just on the edge of the service area. The actual speed at the time of the test was around 1.5 Mbps - 2.1 Mbps per second The WiMAX built-in model clearly led in both the time required to establish a connection and the stability of the connection.

WiMAX AUX antenna WiMAX main antenna

ThinkPad T400s WiMAX Built-In Model

2 m from windowon the table

Time required to connect

Stability of connection

ThinkPad T400s WiMAX External USB Transmission Adapter/Antenna Equipped

At windowTime required to connect 15 seconds

Stability of connection No problems with YouTube

15 seconds

No problems with YouTube

Mr. Horikoshi saying that, "we have made it a priority to create a wireless environment where customers can confidently use the ThinkPad."

- ThinkPad is capable of handling multiple

forms of wireless communications, but

what kind of hurdles must be overcome in

order to achieve that?

Fujii: In 2000, when we first equipped the

ThinkPad with wireless LAN capabilities,

the only forms of wireless communica-

tions were WiFi and Bluetooth. After that,

a variety of communications standards

appeared one after another and improve-

m e n t s to s p e e d a n d t r a n s m i s s i o n

distance began to accelerate rapidly.

Under these conditions, at Lenovo we

began research and development in

pursuit of the goal of making it possible

for our users to seamlessly connect to the

Internet without having to think about it.

We wanted our PCs to automatically

connect the wireless device that would

offer the best conditions wherever and

whenever they needed it. Because of this,

for instance, we installed six antennas in

the ThinkPad T410s. This des ign is

capable of responding to a total of 10

varieties of frequency bands. If you think

about the progress of wireless communi-

cations, it seems most likely that the

number of antennas and frequencies that

we must support will continue to increase.

It is only natural that in order to improve

performance, it's preferable to have a

larger sized antenna, but this can also

have a detrimental effect on the design of

the PC itself. Our greatest challenge is to

achieve both miniaturization and high

per formance to the greatest degree

possible.

- Wouldn't it be easier then to base the

design on an external USB transmission

adapter/antenna than a built-in antenna if

you a re pursu ing des ign qua l i t y and

miniaturization?

Fujii: Actually that kind of question comes

up a lot. You see, the built-in antenna of

the ThinkPad actually has a better gain

performance (amplification factor) than

a USB transmission adapter/antenna

wou ld. Th is has been p roven w i th

WiMAX performance comparison tests.

For better or for worse, the Yamato

office is a little bit outside of the WiMAX

service area. It was an environment

where you could just about get recep-

tion (at that time in July, 2009). A Think-

Pad model T400s with WiMAX built-in

and a ThinkPad model T400s with a USB

transmission adapter were used for a

comparison test. We found out that the

former was superior in the time required

to establish a connection and in the

stability of transmissions (Figure 1).

- Radio waves are invisible. It seems like

it would be difficult to figure out what

place would be best to put the antenna in

the ThinkPad.

Fujii: You are right about that. That's

why at Lenovo, we use a 3-D simulation

to make the electric field strength distri-

bution of the antenna "visible". For

instance, in the ThinkPad T400s, there

is one WiMAX antenna built in on both

the right and left edge of the upper part

of the display. The red areas in the

simulation are the parts were electric

field strength is strong. The blue areas

display the par ts where i t is weak.

(Figure 2) The areas with a good gain

are concentrated on the outer edges on

both the left and right side of the PC. By

mixing the gain of these two antennas,

a globe shaped area of coverage that

j u s t a b o u t c o v e r s t h e d i s p l a y i s

achieved indicating a strong gain for

almost any direction. In comparison,

when a USB transmission adapter/

antenna is installed on the outside of

the PC, it is difficult for the radio waves

to pass through the metal components

in the display and case and the gain on

the backside of the PC is weakened

(Figure 3). When we actually compared

the gain, the results showed that the

WiMA X bu i l t- in mode l was 3 .5 dB

bet ter. I f WiMA X transmissions are

possible from a location 1 km away

using the antenna on an external USB

transmission adapter/antenna, then the

connection for a WiMAX built-in model

would logically be available up to 1.5 km

away. For antenna manufacturers, it is

common to test using these electronic field

strength distribution simulations in product

development, but I think that Lenovo is

probably the only PC manufacturer doing

that. The ThinkPad antenna design

team is already working on the next-

generation wireless communication

technology, 4G wireless communica-

tions. We think that the superiority of

bu i l t- i n an tennas w i l l on l y fu r the r

increase.

- What other ideas have you had other

than antennas in order to achieve a high

level of transmission performance?

Fujii: In the ThinkPad T410s, we use the

newly developed high quality material

hybrid CFRP (carbon fiber-reinforced

plastic) in the case. CFRP is used in the

bodies of F1 race cars. It is a light and

tough material essential in the construc-

tion of notebook PCs, but because it is

carbon, i t is h ighly conductive and

unfortunately intercepts radio waves. Our

response was to use the nonconductive

glass fiber material GFRP (Glass Fiber

Reinforced Plastic ) only in the area

around the antenna. However, when

combining these two materials, which

have different qualities, it is difficult to

remove the seam between these two

materials. The existence of the seam

deteriorates the quality of the design and

also reduces the strength of the case.

That is why we entered into research

jointly with a domestic materials manu-

facturer and achieved a design without

seams. We ended up with what could

truly be called a "hybrid".

- When you have run into difficulties that

you just can't seem to overcome and

you're hitting a wall, how do you overcome

that, Mr. Fujii?

Fujii: First of all, I just continue to think.

As I continue to think, sometimes late at

night, I eventually fall asleep...only to

wake up from a dream exclaiming, "If I

just put three rods here, noise will be

reduced!" That has happened to me

before. When I woke up I gave it a try. It

still didn't work. LOL If we really get

stuck, we do brainstorming in the team,

a n d a s k f o r o p i n i o n s f r o m o t h e r

engineers. There are a lot of "experts"

around here. Instead of taking a problem

all on my own, if I just speak up and talk

about it an answer will come from some-

where. This is the excellent environment

that the Yamato Office provides for us. It

is common for engineers that once they

get the i r mind set on someth ing i t

becomes difficult for them to see any

other options around them. I prefer to

keep thinking about two or more ideas

and discuss those amongst the team, so

that we don't get stuck. In the end we

might end up settling on the thing we

were thinking about in the first place, but

by absorbing a variety of ideas and

opinions it's possible that we will change

directions towards a better one.

- What challenges would you like to tackle

in the future?

Fujii: My target is a wireless environment

where you're never out of range. In the

communications fields new technologies

are constantly appearing. I think it is not

easy to continue to create notebook PCs

that can respond to this. However, I think

the fundamental thing is to maintain a

spirit of "continuing to be a pioneer". The

P C s t h a t we h ave wo r ke d h a r d to

improve change lifestyles, and as a result

we can satisfy our customers. There is

no greater joy for an engineer.

- What does the ThinkPad mean for you Mr.

Fujii?

Fujii: It's like my child. Because I have

helped it grow over the last 20 years,

however, it's already over 20 years old!

( LOL) I hope that in the future, the

ThinkPad will continue to not just be a

quiet star pupil, but a bold child that

always seeks to take on new challenges.

- Next we will Speak with Mr. Horikoshi.

Currently it seems you are involved in the

worldwide WiMAX project.

Horikoshi: We are working on the world-

wide expansion of WiMAX. With WiMAX,

it's possible to provide the convenience

of high-speed Internet to areas where it

is di f f icul t to construct h igh-speed

transmission lines such as secluded and

mountainous areas. In order that our

customers can use WiMAX equipped

PCs anywhere around the world, we are

partnering with carriers (communications

carriers) from different countries.

- Even though Lenovo is a manufacturer,

it's not true to say that you only create

products.

H o r i k o s h i : B e c a u s e W i M A X i s a

c o m p l e t e l y n e w c o m m u n i c a t i o n s

technology, in order for it to spread,

carriers and manufacturers must work

together and first create the infrastruc-

ture. So far, we have partnered with the

A me r i c a n c o mpa ny C le a r w i re , the

Russian companies Yota and Comstar,

the Japanese Company UQ Communica-

tions and the Taiwanese company VMAX

and shipped WiMAX built-in ThinkPads.

In comparison with wired transmissions,

WiMAX is also suitable for the creation of

small-scale networks in certain areas or

spots as a result of its limited implemen-

tation costs. In other words, it can be

used not only for commercial services,

but also for public services from local

governments and the communications

infrastructure in universities, etc. Even

now in Japan there is an industry organi-

zat ion ca l led the "Regional WiMA X

P r o m o t i o n A s s o c i a t i o n". T h ey a r e

work ing to promote the creat ion of

s m a l l - s c a l e W i M A X n e t wo r k s a n d

achieve interconnectivity. Lenovo is also

working to participate in the activities in

this field as much as possible. This is a

technology that first arose in Japan and if

it stimulates growth in other countries,

this will also energize the Japanese. As a

result of those feelings, we have made it

a priority to create a wireless environ-

m e n t w h e r e o u r c u s t o m e r s c a n

confidently use the ThinkPad.

- As a new technology, aren't there a lot of

difficulties?

Horikoshi: When we first started this

project three years ago, how to evaluate

the performance of WiMAX was a major

issue for us. This was before the service

actually went into use and without an

accurate evaluation method, we couldn't

guarantee quality. Luckily, at Lenovo we

had already faced the same issue with

our work in 3G, which preceded WiMAX.

We had an experimental laboratory for

antenna development in the basement of

the Yamato office. We installed a base

station simulator for WiMAX and created

an environment where we could do

WiMA X RPT ( radiated per formance

tests ) . In the beginning there were

several problems with the base station

simulator and it took us a long time to

make our evaluations. At the time, I think

that Lenovo was the first company to

implement an RPT envi ronment for

WiMAX in Japan. I think that Lenovo is

also the only PC manufacturer in Japan

that is doing evaluation tests in the

company with a WiMAX experimental

laboratory.

- How would you like to be engaged in the

development of the ThinkPad in the future?

Horikoshi: Horikoshi: If we only keep

moving along the same track, ThinkPad

will only be able to exist as an extension

of what it is now. With the appearance of

WiMAX, we have a good opportunity to

approach ThinkPad development once

again from a new point of view and freely

come up with ideas. There is an old

Chinese saying that I like very much. It

says, "Where there is a will there is a

way." When I graduated from junior high,

the pr incipal wrote i t on a piece of

colored paper and handed it out to the

graduates. Where there is a will there is a

way. In other words, if you dedicate

yourself and try hard enough, anything is

possible. I want to keep that in my heart

as I continue my work in development.

Front side

Rear side

Figure 2: The 3-D gain pattern of a built-in WiMAX antenna

No connection (Out of range displayed)

Connection unavailable

1 - 3 minutes

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When you get stuck, you can also borrow the wisdom of other experts I want ThinkPad to be a bold

child.

(Interviewed April 23, 2010)

A happy customer makes a happy engineer!

Kazuo Fujii

Where there is a will there is a way.

Hideto Horikoshi

4 5Lenovo Voice Vol.4Lenovo Voice Vol.4

Lenovo Japan, Ltd.

Kazuo Fujii

Lenovo Japan, Ltd.

Hideto Horikoshi

15 seconds

possible.

miniaturization?

the ThinkPad.

increase.

that, Mr. Fujii?

in the future?

Fujii?

products.

difficulties?

laboratory.

Front side

Rear side

1 - 3 minutes

YouTube interrupted

child.

Kazuo Fujii

Hideto Horikoshi

Lenovo Japan, Ltd.

Kazuo Fujii

Lenovo Japan, Ltd.

Hideto Horikoshi

15 seconds

possible.

miniaturization?

the ThinkPad.

increase.

that, Mr. Fujii?

in the future?

Fujii?

products.

difficulties?

laboratory.

Front side

Rear side

1 - 3 minutes

YouTube interrupted

child.

Kazuo Fujii

Hideto Horikoshi

Lenovo Japan, Ltd.

Kazuo Fujii

Lenovo Japan, Ltd.

Hideto Horikoshi

15 seconds

possible.

miniaturization?

the ThinkPad.

increase.

that, Mr. Fujii?

in the future?

Fujii?

products.

difficulties?

laboratory.

Front side

Rear side

1 - 3 minutes

YouTube interrupted

child.

Kazuo Fujii

Hideto Horikoshi

a tenacious spirit in develop- ment leading the way into...

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