Flexible PCB Antenna with Cable
Integration Application Note
Version 2
CONTENTS
1. BASICS
2. APPLICATIONS
3. SIZE
4. SHAPE
5. GROUND PLANE SIZE
6. IMPEDANCE
7. BANDWIDTH
8. VSWR
9. GAIN
10. EFFICIENCY
11. POLARIZATION
12. TECHNOLOGY ADVANTAGES
13. MOUNTING
14. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
15. TUNING
16. ISOLATION
17. CABLE & CONNECTOR
APN-11-8-004/A Page 1 of 7
1. BASICS
A Flexible PCB antenna with cable is a very flexible, low profile, highly reliable
and economical solution widely used in the wireless industry.
Usually consisting of polyimide flexible PCB (polyimide), a trace is printed on the
substrate to get the desired antenna topology. Various antenna types such as
monopoles, dipoles and printed F antennas can be made.
This design application note is intended to help the antenna integrator
understand the relevant parameters affecting the antenna performance. Taoglas
recommends that the integrator strictly follow the guidelines in this application
note, upon your device prototype completion Taoglas can provide further
optimization by custom tuning and testing service of the antenna in your device.
(see Note 15 on Page 6 for further info on Tuning)
2. APPLICATIONS
A Flexible PCB antenna with cable is suitable for mobile applications or areas
where internal antennas are required or where not much space or volume is
available. It is ideally affixed to the plastic housing of a device directly by double-
sided adhesive. Taoglas Flexible PCB antennas come in single-band or multi-
band solutions. Starting from 450MHz up to 6 GHz.
3. SIZE
The larger the antenna surface area (or volume), in general the higher the
performance in terms of gain and radiation characteristics.
APN-11-8-004/A Page 2 of 7