SPE-11-8-055/D Page 2 of 10
1. Introduction
This miniaturized low profile PCB antenna is based on smart TheStripe™ antenna
technology. It consists of a PCB antenna and mini coaxial cable.
Many module manufacturers specify peak gain limits for any antennas that are to be
connected to that module. Those peak gain limits are based on free-space conditions. In
practice, the peak gain of an antenna tested in free-space can degrade by at least 1 or
2dBi when put inside a device. So ideally you should go for a slightly higher peak gain
antenna than mentioned on the module specification to compensate for this effect,
giving you better performance.
Upon testing of any of our antennas with your device and a selection of appropriate
layout, integration technique, or cable, Taoglas can make sure any of our antennas’ peak
gain will be below the peak gain limits. Taoglas can then issue a specification and/or
report for the selected antenna in your device that will clearly show it complying with the
peak gain limits, so you can be assured you are meeting regulatory requirements for
that module.
For example, a module manufacturer may state that the antenna must have less than
2dBi peak gain, but you don’t need to select an embedded antenna that has a peak gain
of less than 2dBi in free-space. This will give you a less optimized solution. It is better to
go for a slightly higher free-space peak gain of 3dBi or more if available. Once that
antenna gets integrated into your device, performance will degrade below this 2dBi peak
gain due to the effects of GND plane, surrounding components, and device housing. If
you want to be absolutely sure, contact Taoglas and we will test. Choosing a Taoglas
antenna with a higher peak gain than what is specified by the module manufacturer and
enlisting our help will ensure you are getting the best performance possible without
exceeding the peak gain limits.
Cable and Connectors are customizable.
