PCB Antenna Fundamentals Explained

Introduction

An in-depth guide to PCB Antennas: what they are; how they work; and their importance to PCB design as well as performance and size issues to watch out for.

PCB Antennas

You’ll walk away with a rock-solid understanding of antenna fundamentals and terminology, as well as an understanding of how the different types and configurations of PCB antennas can improve the performance, size, cost, efficiency, reliability, and other factors like power handling requirements, bandwidths, frequencies, etc.

As technology advanced and electronics became smaller/better and became more compact with fewer or no large external components due to integrated circuits (ICs) using circuit boards to mount their components instead to occupy less area, antennas slowly began disappearing from circuit boards.

Now that PCBs have become bigger again through the miniaturization of ICs such as with SMDs (SMT), some EMI considerations have come into play requiring PCB antenna design and implementation on PCB traces now more than ever before!

What is a PCB Antenna?

A PCB antenna is a small, flat piece of metal that is usually placed behind a printed circuit board. This antenna helps transmit and receive radio signals for devices such as computers, cell phones and other electronic equipment. The antenna works by converting electromagnetic waves from the air into electric signals that can be transmitted over the airwaves.

PCB antenna design is an important part of the manufacturing process. PCB antennas are typically made up of metal traces and vias that are etched into the copper surface of the board. The metal traces connect to the vias, which are formed by drilling through the board at certain points.

Usage of Antenna in a PCB

The use of an antenna in a PCB is an important part of the design, as it can be used to increase the range and strength of wireless signals. The antenna is essentially a metal rod that helps transmit signals between devices. It works by sending out radio waves in all directions, allowing communication with multiple devices at once.

The antenna works by converting electrical energy into electromagnetic radiation and vice versa. Electromagnetic radiation consists of photons, which are packets of electromagnetic energy.

A radio frequency (RF) module can be made of one or more antennas, which are connected to the PCB through printed circuit board (PCB) traces.

Different PCB Antennas

Types of PCB Antenna

PCB antennas are one of the most common types of antenna used in mobile devices. They are also used in other electronics, including cell phones, laptops, and tablets. There are several types of PCB antennas available for your use:

Internal Antennas

These antennas are located inside the device and are usually not seen. They are used to connect to a wireless network via radio waves. The internal antenna connection is often hidden in the phone or laptop case, or even in the device’s PCB itself. This is why many users do not know that they have an internal antenna.

Internal antennas are normally used in wireless devices such as mobile phones and laptops, as well as Bluetooth devices such as keyboards and mice. They have no external parts and can be made using printed circuit boards (PCBs)

Embedded Antennas

The term “embedded” refers to a type of internal antenna that is designed to directly integrate into devices. Embedded antennas are often used to connect with other types of antennas, such as external or roof-mounted antennas.

These antennas can be made from metal and plastic. They are typically designed to be integrated into the chassis of a device, though they may also be mounted on surfaces or structures near the device itself.

Embedded antennas are typically used in mobile devices with wireless capabilities, such as smartphones or tablets.

Chip Antennas

A type of internal antenna that have been in use for decades. These antennas are usually made from high-quality materials like gold, silver, and copper. They can be used in GPS tracking, mobile phones, and even wireless internet connections.

The size of the chip will depend on how much power it needs to transmit or receive signals at various distances from its source.

For example, if you want to send data from one place to another using an antenna then you need more power than if you just wanted to receive data in order to display it on your screen or send it through email so therefore your chip would need more power as well as being smaller in size so that it doesn’t take up too much room inside your device!

Patch Antennas

A small, flat panel antenna that can be used to transmit or receive signals. It works in the same manner as larger antennas. Patch antennas are used in applications where space is at a premium, such as inside computers and in other electronic equipment. They are also used as part of a larger array of antennas on satellites, spacecraft, and other vehicles.

Flexible Antennas

A type of antenna that can be bent or folded without affecting its function or performance. Flexible antennas are typically made from copper wire or copper tubes with plastic insulators separating them from other parts of the device they’re installed in.

Flexible antennas have many applications including mobile phones and portable computers where they allow users to carry their devices in their pockets without restricting their movement too much while also allowing them greater freedom when interacting with these devices through touch screens etc…

External Antennas

These types of antennas are the most common type of antenna, and they are easily recognizable by their length and their shape. They can be plugged into a transmitter via a specific connector.

The transmitter sends the signal to the external antenna, which then sends it out in all directions. This type of antenna is often used for long-range communication and can be found on things like satellite dishes.

There are two types of External Antennas. These are Omnidirectional Antenna and Directional Antenna.

Omnidirectional Antenna

This type of antenna is a type of external antenna that radiates or intercepts radio-frequency electromagnetic fields equally in all horizontal directions in a flat, two-dimensional geometric plane. Omnidirectional antennas are typically used for short to medium-range applications, such as point-to-point links, Wi-Fi routers, and scanners.

Omnidirectional Antenna also has a few types depending on their appearance and usage. Here are some of them:

Terminal-Mount Antenna

A type of omnidirectional antenna that is long and mounted in the PCB. They can be used for various applications such as RFID, Bluetooth, and NFC communications. Terminal-mount antennas are available in different shapes and sizes. They all have one thing in common; they are designed to be mounted on a PCB or circuit board individually or as part of an array.

Whip Antenna

It is a common type of base-loaded antenna, and the loading coil is attached to the end of the whip. The high impedance at the end of the whip causes the current to flow in a circular pattern around the inside surface of the coil. This pattern can be visualized by imagining a small amount of charge moving around in circles within a larger circle.

Whip antennas are used for short-range communication applications such as AM radio broadcasting, citizen’s band radio communication, and operation on 2-meter amateur radio bands.

Rubber Duck Antenna

A type of omnidirectional antenna is an electrically short monopole antenna that functions like a whip antenna. It’s also known as a rubber ducky or just plain duck. This type of antenna is most commonly found on portable devices like cell phones, radios, and walkie-talkies because it’s made of flexible material and can be bent into many different shapes.

Outdoor Dipole Antenna

A type of omnidirectional antenna that is producing a radiation pattern. It is approximating that of an elementary electric dipole. This means that the antenna has two identical conductive elements separated by a distance, which are acting as the radiating structure. The length of the elements and their separation determines the frequency at which this type of antenna operates.

Puck Style Antenna

This antenna is a type of omnidirectional antenna that is small disc-shaped and is a 5-in-1 antenna system within a single housing, used for any DTV or HDTV system. Can also be used in the home or in cars. The puck-style antenna works by picking up signals from all directions and sending them to the receiver. It comes with an amplifier built into its base that helps to boost signal strength when needed.

Magnetic-Mount Antenna

The magnetic-mount antenna is a type of omnidirectional antenna that is designed with a strong magnet that holds your antenna onto a surface, such as your car or the side of your home. This type of antenna is often used for outdoor applications where there is little room for more traditional options, such as a roof mount or pole mount.

A magnetic-mount antenna is ideal for those who want to use their existing rooftop mounting for another purpose, and it can also be easily installed on metal surfaces like a fence or garage door.

Screw-Mount Antenna

This type of omnidirectional antenna is designed to be mounted by drilling a hole in the ceiling or wall panel. This type of antenna has a long history and was one of the first types of antennas invented. The design was inspired by lightning rods, which were used to attract lightning from their intended targets.

Screw-Mount Antennas come in many different sizes and shapes, with some being more common than others. There are also variations on this type of antenna that may include an amplifier built into it so that it can pick up signals better than other types of antennas might be able to do on their own.

Directional Antenna

Also called a beam antenna. It is an antenna that radiates or receives power in specific directions. It allows increased performance and reduced interference from any unwanted source. This type of antenna is commonly used with satellites because they are able to transmit and receive signals in a very narrow direction. The satellite dish is an example of a directional antenna that transmits and receives signals from earth-bound antennas.

Directional Antennas also have a few types depending on usage and appearance. These are a few types of directional antennas:

Panel Antenna

It’s shaped like a sheet or panel. Panel antennas are often used in television broadcasting and mobile phone networks.

These antennas are made from flat plates or sheets of conductive material, such as copper or aluminum. They have the advantage of being able to be shaped into many different shapes and sizes, which makes them useful for different applications.

For example, a panel antenna can be shaped in such a way that it provides broad coverage over an entire region, or it can be shaped in such a way that it provides focused coverage over only one area.

Dish Antenna

a type of directional antenna that is a dish-shaped type of parabolic antenna. It consists of a reflector, feed, and sub-reflector. The reflector collects radio waves from the sky and focuses them into the feed, which converts them into an electrical signal. The sub-reflector helps to maintain a constant focal point for the reflector.

The dish antenna is used in satellite communications systems, wireless LAN systems and radio astronomy. In wireless LAN systems, it is used to send and receive data over a wireless network (WiFi). In radio astronomy, it is used to pick up radio waves from outer space using large telescopes pointed at specific areas of the sky.

Yagi Antenna

A directional antenna that radiates signals in one main direction. It is made up of a number of elements, or dipoles, which are connected together at one end and to a reflector at the other end. Its shape resembles the letter Y, hence its name.

The Yagi antenna has high gain compared to other types of antennas because there are multiple dipoles that radiate in phase with each other and combine to produce better performance. The length and orientation of each dipole determines how much signal is radiated by each element.

How to Choose Antennas for Your PCB Applications

There are many things to consider when choosing an antenna for your PCB application. The first step is to determine the frequency range of your antenna, as well as its bandwidth. A wideband antenna will cover a larger frequency range than a narrowband one, and it will also be able to operate across multiple frequencies.

If you want the most flexibility in terms of bandwidths and frequency ranges, you should look for a directional antenna. These antennas have narrower bandwidths than other types of antennas, but they can also be tuned using a software.

For applications where you need high gain and/or directional capabilities, consider using a slot antenna or patch antenna instead. These are typically larger than other types of antennas because they have higher power-handling capabilities. However, they offer better performance than omnidirectional antennas.

Conclusion

A PCB antenna is an important component in communication devices that allows signal pick-up, signal transmission, and reception of frequency. However, there are no specific PCB antenna specifications, as antennas are field oriented. Meaning, they have to be considered within the context of a larger simulation of the device itself.

PCBs are vital components in a wide range of electronic equipment, ranging from high-end consumer electronics to industrial control systems. The PCB antenna is an important part of most PCBs. It acts as the primary point of communication between the PCB and the outside world.