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Where is the ground on a chip antenna?
A chip antenna is designed to have metal near it only on certain sides. The chip shown in Figure 1 is meant to be placed in a corner, with ground on two sides as shown. Taking this chip and orientating it such that it’s perpendicular to the ground (now 3 sides with no ground) would be incorrect.
How to properly implement chip antennas in RF design?
The key in using a chip antenna in RF design is to be aware of how your implementation will differ from the datasheet. It often takes an experienced antenna designer to understand the tradeoffs and how to maximize the chip antenna performance while properly placing the antenna. Contact LSR to move forward with your wireless product design project.
How to properly implement chip antennas you Laird connectivity?
Lastly, the matching components provided in the datasheet are only valid for a chip antenna implementation that follows the datasheet exactly: same ground, same keep out, same orientation. Re-matching the antenna is not easy, and requires a network analyzer. However, it is crucial to performance to have the antenna matched appropriately.
How big does a chip antenna need to be?
He has also developed range prediction software for low power, short range wireless devices. As a compliance engineer, Johnny has experience testing to FCC Part 15 and Industry Canada standards. Chip antennas offer small, compact solutions for wireless products. They often only need a few millimeters of space, and a little bit of ground clearance.
How does the layout of a chip affect antenna performance?
Chip Antenna matching and radiation pattern performance can be dramatically affected by the design/layout of a circuit. Antenna mounting, the antenna’s position relative to circuit mismatches, the antenna position relative to adjacent components and ground planes all can affect antenna performance.
How many spatial directions does a chip antenna need?
The greatest design challenge is probably to provide sufficient ground plane length for sub-Gigahertz frequencies. A chip antenna radiates in six spatial directions and ideally requires clearance in three to five of these, as shown below.
How are chip antennas used in PCB design?
The data sheet of each antenna will detail the optimum placement of the antenna, as will the design of the evaluation board. The greatest design challenge is probably to provide sufficient ground plane length for sub-Gigahertz frequencies.