Purdue startup technology could help improve smartphone battery life

December 10, 2014  


WEST LAFAYETTE Ind. – A Purdue-based startup's sensing technology could improve smartphone battery life and service by monitoring and adjusting the phone's cellular antenna to run at its highest efficiency.

Purdue doctoral student Andrew Kovacs and visiting assistant professor Wesley Allen, both in the College of Engineering, created the company CommSense LLC to further develop and commercialize their technology.

"According to J.D. Power and Associates, reception and battery life are two of the biggest complaints tech companies hear about smartphones. One of the biggest consumers of battery life is the phone's antenna – losses of up to 90 percent in efficiency have been measured that result from something as simple as the way someone holds their phone," Kovacs said. "The problem with current solutions is that they either require a large amount of parts and complexity, or they can actually degrade the signal from the antenna, thus negating any improvements to performance."

Kovacs said that the company's sensing technology may improve smartphone battery life and service by monitoring and adjusting the cellular antenna to run at its highest efficiency at all times.

 "Our technology enables up to 25 to 70 percent increase in battery life with the added benefit of improved signal strength, and can be easily integrated in the circuit board that goes in the phone during manufacturing," he said.

CommSense is receiving assistance through the Purdue Foundry, an entrepreneurship and commercialization hub in Discovery Park's Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship.

"The Purdue Foundry has given us great networking capabilities and the opportunity to establish very beneficial relationships that have been vital to the growth and success of our company," Kovacs said.

CommSense participated in the Big Sell Entrepreneurship Competition at Purdue Calumet and placed first, receiving $3,000 as well as additional help with startup services.

About Purdue Foundry

The Purdue Foundry is an entrepreneurship and commercialization hub in Discovery Park's Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship whose professionals help Purdue innovators create startups. The Purdue Foundry is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, which received the 2014 Incubator Network of the Year by the National Business Incubation Association for its work in entrepreneurship. For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org

About CommSense

CommSense's Adapt technology could enable a 25 to 70 percent increase in battery life with an added potential benefit of improved signal strength and higher data rates. Compared to other battery life improving solutions, Adapt is simpler, smaller and less expensive. 

Writer: Hillary Henry, 765-588-3586, HKHenry@prf.org 

Purdue Research Foundation contact: Cynthia Sequin, 765-588-3340, casequin@prf.org 

Source: Andrew Kovacs, 219-718-3103, andrew@commsensellc.com 

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