ParkerVision is engaged in the development of Direct2Data
(D2D) and Direct2Power (D2P) technology, based on a platform called
Energy Signal Processing (ESP). ParkerVision claims that
this technology is “a wireless Direct Conversion radio frequency
("RF") technology that will reduce cost, size, and power
consumption while improving performance of wireless devices such
as cellular telephones and wireless local area networks ("WLAN"),
among others”.
Efforts that ParkerVision expended into commercializing D2D technology
from 1998 to 2004 resulted in a mediocre chipset that was not only
late to market, but failed to differentiate itself (see Direct2Digital
(D2D) Analysis). The SignalMAX product family of WLAN cards
based on D2D chips were more expensive and consumed more power
than competing WLAN products, although they offered improved range. Worse,
when analyzed, the SignalMAX design achieved its noticeable improvement
in range not from the D2D chip technology, but rather from a high
gain antenna manufactured by SkyCross, higher raw power, and redundant
receivers!
In the absence of publicly available datasheets, publications,
or white papers on ESP technology, it is difficult for ParkerVision
to defend its claims within the RF engineering community, let alone
build credibility with the technical gatekeepers at OEMs and other
customers. Surely, given the extensive patent portfolio on
which ParkerVision has expended almost $8M to date, Jeff Parker
should feel secure enough to divulge the great technical mysteries
that will surpass the work of Marconi and usher in a new wireless
communications age (see Intellectual Property).
From recent presentation materials published to date, it is nevertheless
possible to glean enough evidence that D2P technology, like its
D2D counterpart, is not as revolutionary as Jeff Parker would like
us to believe (see Direct2Power (D2P) Analysis). In
fact, it appears more that the company is hiding the fact that
the technology is not novel, through obfuscation and silence, rather
than celebrate and share their discovery with the technical community. |
|