Internet of Things (IoT) and machine-to-machine (M2M) antenna manufacturer Antenova Ltd. has released a free Transmission Line Calculator. The tool is the first of several planned resources that are aimed to help IoT designers integrate antennas into their printed circuit board (PCB) designs.
Transmission
Wireless design isn't as simple as putting an antenna on a PCB; there are a variety of factors that designers must consider when working to achieve their desired results while minimizing radio frequency (RF) loss. Antenova claims that “A poorly designed [PCB] trace could reduce wireless device performance by as much as 50 percent.”
To help prevent this outcome, the Antenova Transmission Line Calculator is meant to help properly integrate antennas into PCBs. Based on three PCB design parameters, the tool calculates optimal transmission line dimensions for a project in order to maximize antenna performance.
In addition to the Transmission Line Calculator, Antenova offers several other resources that are aimed at product designers. These include a series of papers with tips on antenna performance, selection and PCB integration; CAD and STEP footprint files for Antenova's embedded antennas; technical data such as antenna radiation patterns; and videos covering antenna design and implementation.
Simplifying IoT Design
“A growing number of manufacturers are creating designs for the Internet of Things and need to integrate antennas into devices which have not been connected until now,” said Antenova CEO Colin Newman. “[H]owever, the factors affecting antenna performance are not always well understood….We are providing resources to explain the fundamentals of antenna integration, to assist [engineers] with the process of ‘designing in’ the antenna.”
Antenova plans to add more online resources for designers throughout 2017, in the interest of simplifying what can be a complicated design process.
“We want to make antenna integration straightforward and ‘frictionless’ for all product designers, and enable them to work successfully with their RF design,” said Newman.
You can download the free Transmission Line Calculator here. Not so interested in doing your own wireless design? Check out IoT Roundup: Front-End Connectivity for some prebuilt options.