ThinkPad Development Report Senior Engineering Staff Member/Manager Wireless Communications Technology Lenovo Japan, Ltd. Kazuo Fujii Mobile WiMAX Project Lead Wireless Communications Technology 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. Figure 1: The results of test operation at the Yamato office 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. ThinkPad T400s WiMAX Built-In Model 2 m from window on the table Time required to connect Stability of connection ThinkPad T400s WiMAX External USB Transmission Adapter/Antenna Equipped At window Time required to connect 15 seconds Stability of connection No problems with YouTube 15 seconds No problems with YouTube - 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- ments to speed and transmission 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 design 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 performance 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 are pursuing design quality and miniaturization? Fujii: Actually that kind of question comes up a lot. You see, the built-in antenna of No connection (Out of range displayed) Connection unavailable 1 - 3 minutes YouTube interrupted (Interviewed April 23, 2010) 2 Lenovo Voice Vol.4
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ThinkPad Development Report
Senior Engineering Staff Member/Manager
Wireless Communications Technology
Lenovo Japan, Ltd.
Kazuo Fujii
Mobile WiMAX Project Lead
Wireless Communications Technology
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
ThinkPad Development Report
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."
The Masters of ThinkPad Development
ThinkPad Development Report
The Masters of ThinkPad Development
- 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
YouTube interrupted
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
2 3Lenovo Voice Vol.4Lenovo Voice Vol.4
ThinkPad Development Report
Senior Engineering Staff Member/Manager
Wireless Communications Technology
Lenovo Japan, Ltd.
Kazuo Fujii
Mobile WiMAX Project Lead
Wireless Communications Technology
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
ThinkPad Development Report
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."
The Masters of ThinkPad Development
ThinkPad Development Report
The Masters of ThinkPad Development
- 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
YouTube interrupted
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
2 3Lenovo Voice Vol.4Lenovo Voice Vol.4
ThinkPad Development Report
Senior Engineering Staff Member/Manager
Wireless Communications Technology
Lenovo Japan, Ltd.
Kazuo Fujii
Mobile WiMAX Project Lead
Wireless Communications Technology
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
ThinkPad Development Report
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."
The Masters of ThinkPad Development
ThinkPad Development Report
The Masters of ThinkPad Development
- 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
YouTube interrupted
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
2 3Lenovo Voice Vol.4Lenovo Voice Vol.4
ThinkPad Development Report
Senior Engineering Staff Member/Manager
Wireless Communications Technology
Lenovo Japan, Ltd.
Kazuo Fujii
Mobile WiMAX Project Lead
Wireless Communications Technology
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
ThinkPad Development Report
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."
The Masters of ThinkPad Development
ThinkPad Development Report
The Masters of ThinkPad Development
- 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
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When you get stuck, you can also borrow the wisdom of other experts I want ThinkPad to be a bold