Custom antenna development for embedded applications
Off-the-shelf antennas often compromise range performance compared to a custom antenna tailor made for your product and user environment. Operational range may be degraded by poor antenna position, orientation and sensitivity to user proximity effects.
Off-the-shelf antennas often compromise range performance compared to a custom antenna tailor made for your product and user environment. Operational range may be degraded by poor antenna position, orientation and sensitivity to user proximity effects.
Fortunately a custom antenna daughterboard costs very little when directly soldered to your host PCB. When incorporated as part of the host PCB layout as shown here, the antenna is almost cost free.
Custom embedded antenna versus off-the-shelf antenna:
... reduced packaging constraints and improved power consumption
... improved range performance through optimum marriage of host and antenna design
... lower unit cost at moderate volumes and fast payback of development costs
The antenna engineering expertise and crafts to optimise your wireless system performance ...
If you are using or planning to use Sigfox; IOT; LoRa; BLE; SRD (Short Range Devices on 433, 869, 915 MHz etc.); ISM band; GSM; GPS; WiFi; NFC or RFID technology in your products, we can help optimise your radio link.
Our expertise is backed by the design of hundreds of successfully integrated custom embedded antennas 100 kHz through 10 GHz over 30 years and with production volumes of around 10 million units. These have included applications in medical devices, security products, man down alarms, RFID, nurse call, social alarm, GSM linked and consumer products. We have considerable experience in developing high performance electrically small antennas (dimensions significantly less than lambda/4) for miniaturised products.
Custom embedded antenna versus off-the-shelf antenna:
... reduced packaging constraints and improved power consumption
... improved range performance through optimum marriage of host and antenna design
... lower unit cost at moderate volumes and fast payback of development costs
The antenna engineering expertise and crafts to optimise your wireless system performance ...
If you are using or planning to use Sigfox; IOT; LoRa; BLE; SRD (Short Range Devices on 433, 869, 915 MHz etc.); ISM band; GSM; GPS; WiFi; NFC or RFID technology in your products, we can help optimise your radio link.
Our expertise is backed by the design of hundreds of successfully integrated custom embedded antennas 100 kHz through 10 GHz over 30 years and with production volumes of around 10 million units. These have included applications in medical devices, security products, man down alarms, RFID, nurse call, social alarm, GSM linked and consumer products. We have considerable experience in developing high performance electrically small antennas (dimensions significantly less than lambda/4) for miniaturised products.
We use high specification Agilent and Wiltron instruments
Summary of services
Embedded antenna frequently asked questions (FAQ) here
Recommended Application Note from Linx Technologies ... Understanding Antenna Specifications & Operation here
- Rapid hands-on embedded antenna development and prototyping from 100 kHz through to 12 GHz.
- Range performance estimates in real world environments provided before the breadboard stage, helping reduce time consuming cut and try performance experiments during your initial product concept discussions.
- Measured return loss and gain performance, not just simulated results, during the initial antenna development phase. Our rapid breadboard and prototype antenna development allows you to progress to meaningful field trial range testing, validation and regulatory tests at the earliest opportunity.
- Our measured results include gain measurements using calibrated reference antennas and signal generators. Beware the antenna specification claiming radiation 'efficiency' in terms of just VSWR or return loss. There is no correlation!
- By providing a clear understanding of the trade-offs involved in your antenna configuration and position options, we can help optimise your product operational range and minimise power consumption.
- Filters, TX/RX changeover switches and low noise amplifiers can be included as part of the antenna design brief.
- Most designs can be implemented on FR4 either as a daughterboard or printed directly on your host PCB.
- Specifically no ‘standard’ cookbook or academic experimental solutions!
- Performance evaluation, tuning and remedial development of your existing antenna also available.
Embedded antenna frequently asked questions (FAQ) here
Recommended Application Note from Linx Technologies ... Understanding Antenna Specifications & Operation here
The vast majority of our work is carried out on a fixed quotation against agreed deliverables and timescales. We typically discuss the project details and provide progress updates via telephone, email and Skype.
Our well-equipped RF lab includes calibrated (K factor), standard gain reference antennas covering 30 MHz to 10 GHz. We have general purpose test equipment to support and monitor the operation of the host product functionality.
Last but not least, radio system expertise ...
If you are in the early stages of development, our independent wireless system expertise may be helpful to avoid (often difficult to identify) performance issues ...
Please use the contacts page form and we'll get in touch to discuss your custom antenna requirements.
Our well-equipped RF lab includes calibrated (K factor), standard gain reference antennas covering 30 MHz to 10 GHz. We have general purpose test equipment to support and monitor the operation of the host product functionality.
Last but not least, radio system expertise ...
If you are in the early stages of development, our independent wireless system expertise may be helpful to avoid (often difficult to identify) performance issues ...
- Lower than expected range in some environments not fully assessed by R&D validation or anticipated by your module vendor.
- In channel interference blocking from other users in some geographic areas.
- In channel interference caused by adjacent channel emissions from neighbouring bands.
- Out of channel interference blocking from adjacent band users in some geographic areas.
- Intermodulation regulatory issues when using more than one band in your product.
- Local EMC issues.
- Lack of flexibility as new export opportunities arise.
Please use the contacts page form and we'll get in touch to discuss your custom antenna requirements.