Dipole or monopole? Monopole with "mirror" on ground plane Dipole shows that antenna has two rods To transmitter (GSM module) half wave length

Monopole with "mirror" on ground plane

Dipole shows that antenna has two rods

Benefits of embedded monopoles Small size Size interferred by of half wave length only Assembling direct on PCB Cost savings by automatic pick and place Cost savings, because no costs for coaxial cables needed by using of micro strip lines Higher reliability by bypassing coaxial connectors Q: When to select a monopole? A: If small size is needed, integration inside the enclosure or just for cost reduction.

Small size

Size interferred by of half wave length only

Assembling direct on PCB

Cost savings by automatic pick and place

Cost savings, because no costs for coaxial cables needed by using of micro strip lines

Higher reliability by bypassing coaxial connectors

Q: When to select a monopole?

A: If small size is needed, integration inside the enclosure or just for cost reduction.

Drawbacks of embedded monopoles Reasonable ground plane of 3500 to 4500 mm in square needed Components in the near will interfere and detune the antenna Even Epsilon R of plastic enclosure will have an impact on centre frequency Antenna could interfere with micro controller, power supply or any other component on PCB Q: How to minimize the risk on embedded monopoles? A: Select a partner that will help with modules, antennas, references and GSM testers for final design check.

Reasonable ground plane of 3500 to 4500 mm in square needed

Components in the near will interfere and detune the antenna

Even Epsilon R of plastic enclosure will have an impact on centre frequency

Antenna could interfere with micro controller, power supply or any other component on PCB

Q: How to minimize the risk on embedded monopoles?

A: Select a partner that will help with modules, antennas, references and GSM testers for final design check.

Practical use of interference A good example for radio waves and interference is the musical instrument Theremin. The Theremin creates sound by changing the position of your hands in the electromagnetic field In same style components in the near will interfere and detune your antenna Q: How to tune the embedded monopole antenna? A: There are several options. Please take care and follow the guideline on free space, distance to ground and place for matching circuit. Please show steps in between to your antenna partner and ask for their advice.

A good example for radio waves and interference is the musical instrument Theremin.

The Theremin creates sound by changing the position of your hands in the electromagnetic field

In same style components in the near will interfere and detune your antenna

Q: How to tune the embedded monopole antenna?

A: There are several options. Please take care and follow the guideline on free space, distance to ground and place for matching circuit. Please show steps in between to your antenna partner and ask for their advice.

Examples for embedded monopoles Q: Which antenna to select? A: This depends on cellular bands to by covered and ground plane you can offer. Tri band GSM Dimensions in mm: 20.5 x 7 x 3.2 Antenna GXE477 Quad band GSM + UMTS 2100 Dimension in mm: 24 x 4.4 x 5.6 Antenna GXE472 Tri band GSM Dimensions in mm: 30 x 6 x 5 Antenna GXE475

Q: Which antenna to select?

A: This depends on cellular bands to by covered and ground plane you can offer.

Tri band GSM

Dimensions in mm: 20.5 x 7 x 3.2

Quad band GSM + UMTS 2100

Dimension in mm: 24 x 4.4 x 5.6

Tri band GSM

Dimensions in mm: 30 x 6 x 5

Voltage Standing Wave Ratio VSWR Practical not possible Nothing will be reflected VSWR =1 Already not that nice A lot of energy is not feed to the antenna VSWR = 3 Q: Why VSWR is important? A: Any energy that is not feed to antenna never has a chance to be radiated. Reasonable practical value Part of wave will be reflected VSWR = 2

Practical not possible

Nothing will be reflected

Already not that nice

A lot of energy is not feed to the antenna

Q: Why VSWR is important?

A: Any energy that is not feed to antenna never has a chance to be radiated.

Reasonable practical value

Part of wave will be reflected

Antenna Efficiency The efficiency of an antenna relates the power delivered to it and the power radiated or dissipated within the antenna. A high efficiency antenna has most of the power present at the antenna's input radiated away. A low efficiency antenna has most of the power absorbed as losses within the antenna. Q: Why and when antenna efficiency is important? A: If efficiency is low, then power consumption is higher. The stand by time of your product will be less. You will spend more money for bigger batteries. The products of competition with better antennas will work at locations, where your product has already to pass.

The efficiency of an antenna relates the power delivered to it and the power radiated or dissipated within the antenna.

A high efficiency antenna has most of the power present at the antenna's input radiated away.

A low efficiency antenna has most of the power absorbed as losses within the antenna.

Q: Why and when antenna efficiency is important?

A: If efficiency is low, then power consumption is higher. The stand by time of your product will be less. You will spend more money for bigger batteries. The products of competition with better antennas will work at locations, where your product has already to pass.

Impact of a reduced ground plane DUT antenna ANT-GXE477 Lenght of ground plane Good VSWR on GSM 900 and GSM 1800 MHz band Optimised ground plane

DUT antenna ANT-GXE477

Lenght of ground plane

Good VSWR on GSM 900 and GSM 1800 MHz band

Impact of 15 cm smaller ground plane  Q: Why is there no change on GSM 1800?  A: Because wave length is only the half. DUT antenna ANT-GXE477 Lenght of ground plane cut by 15 cm Centre frequency on GSM 900 and GSM 1800 MHz band still ok VSWR on GSM 900 is already less VSWR on GSM 1800 has not changed Optimised ground plane

DUT antenna ANT-GXE477

Lenght of ground plane cut by 15 cm

Centre frequency on GSM 900 and GSM 1800 MHz band still ok

VSWR on GSM 900 is already less

VSWR on GSM 1800 has not changed

Impact of 30 cm smaller ground plane  Q: Do you know options on optimization?  A: Yes, often we can help with hints and tipps. DUT antenna ANT-GXE477 Lenght of ground plane cut by 30 cm Centre frequency on GSM 900 and GSM 1800 MHz band still ok VSWR on GSM 900 is already poor VSWR on GSM 1800 is still close the same Optimised ground plane

DUT antenna ANT-GXE477

Lenght of ground plane cut by 30 cm

Centre frequency on GSM 900 and GSM 1800 MHz band still ok

VSWR on GSM 900 is already poor

VSWR on GSM 1800 is still close the same

Ground plane in praxis  Q: Why does my GSM antenna radiates, but my GPS antenna does not work?  A: Why didn’t your supplier sell you a starter kit; why didn’t they recommend to take care on ground plane? Please do not follow the upper example

Do's and Dont's during development  Never place ground plane or tracks underneath the antenna  Never place the antenna very close to metallic objects  Be careful about the wiring in the finalized product, not too close to the antenna  A monopole antenna should have a reasonable ground plane to be efficient  Do the final tuning in the end product, not in free air  Never install a chip antenna in a vastly different layout than the reference design, and expect it to work without tuning  Do not use a metallic enclosure or metallized plastic for the antenna  Test the plastic casing for high RF losses, preferably before production  Never do a cut and paste antenna design and expect it to work without testing  Do not use very thin PCB tracks, the tracks should be fairly wide

International success stories Medical Intelligence, Canada Eureka, Italy for e-foxx, Germany bplan, Germany

Customised external antennas  Q: Can you help us with antennas that will pass PTCRB?  A: Yes, we can help with standard and customised antennas. GSM 850/1900 antenna with American PTCRB approvel Narrow band GSM-R antenna on top of information terminal Top and back view of GSM-R antenna

Embedded antenna GSM 900/1800 and ISM 868 for electricity meter Result after customisation: The VSWR for GSM 900 is always better than 1.9 and in GSM 1800 MHz band the VSWR is always better than 1.6. Before After

Enhanced services Design in aid for embedded antennas Tuning and customisation of antennas Development of matching circuit Development of new customised antennas  Mount standard part on board and check for shift in characteristics  Select an item from the frequency and impedance series to correct the shift in characteristics  Mount the new part on the board and check characteristics Repeat steps 2 and 3 if necessary to get the best results Receipt of Customers Board Measure the radiation pattern in the company's anechoic chamber Check the center frequency, upper and lower band limits as well as verify the gain. Send a technical report of the test results and a recommendation for the part to use to the customer. Customer Tuning Standard Measurements Make Technical Report Customer

Tuning and customisation of antennas

Development of matching circuit

Development of new customised antennas

 Q: How to find the best partner?  A: Just divide the number of listed components on line card by support engineers Where to buy my antennas? Wireless Solution supplier 300 components You get all parts you need and it fits always together Best support, because the team has to serve minimum lines Special distributor 3000 components You get a few more parts Good support, because the team has to serve a few lines Broadline distributor 30000 components You get a few parts for your project Poor support, because the team has to serve several lines

Wireless Solution supplier

300 components

You get all parts you need and it fits always together

Best support, because the team has to serve minimum lines

Special distributor

3000 components

You get a few more parts

Good support, because the team has to serve a few lines

Broadline distributor

30000 components

You get a few parts for your project

Poor support, because the team has to serve several lines

Do not burn your money  Be careful when selecting your antenna supplier  First plane the size of PCB and antenna  Doing the other way around can force enormous costs  Better spending money for feasibility study, then loosing the chance to get GSM operator approval  Take care that GSM operators like Cingular and Vodafone are looking for antenna efficiency of at least of 40%  Our European wireless paradise will shrink, as soon operators will use close the same rules than the Americans  Hire resources as soon you run in trouble with your RF design  The best RF amplifier is a good antenna  The best antenna you get by selecting a high position

Tools and services to play with  Q: Where to get all the tools and services?  A: Please feel free to ask for measurement equip- ment, consulting, studies and development with us. Please note that we offer the loaning of GSM testers and other equip- ment for premium customers free of charge.

Why not to use services like rapid prototyping of enclosures? Robust material Polyamide Very detailed by using files in format STL Minimum edge length of polygons 0,01 mm Only Euro 3 50 to 4 00 for handheld enclosure Delivery after 2 - 3 working days Final enclosure Prototype

Robust material Polyamide

Very detailed by using files in format STL

Minimum edge length of polygons 0,01 mm

Only Euro 3 50 to 4 00 for handheld enclosure

Delivery after 2 - 3 working days

Why not being a part of a huge community? World's biggest forum for wireless applications 5.0 00+ members Support and information 24 hours/7 days a week

World's biggest forum for wireless applications

5.0 00+ members

Support and information 24 hours/7 days a week

Round Solutions GmbH & Co . KG Hans-Boeckler-Straße 16 63263 Neu-Isenburg, Germany Parliamo italiano +49 6102 79928 - 2 20 Kundtjänst på Svenska +49 6102 79928 -210 Hablamos el espanol +49 6102 79928 -230 English spoken +49 6102 79928-200 German spoken +49 6102 79928-0 Fax +49 6102 79928- 199 i [email_address] www.roundsolutions.com Thank you for listening. More about antennas and services around at stand A17

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