EB_FR05-S1-R-0-105A - Fractus

USER MANUAL

EZConnectTM (FR05-S1-R-0-105)

Last updated on November 2017

1

EZConnectTM (FR05-S1-R-0-105) – Zigbee, RFID, ISM 868/915

Fractus Antennas specializes in enabling effective mobile communications. Using Fractus

technology, we design and manufacture optimized antennas to make your wireless devices

more competitive. Our mission is to help our clients develop innovative products and accelerate

their time to market through our expertise in antenna design, testing and manufacturing.

EZConnectTM

FR05-S1-R-0-105

Fractus Antennas products are protected

by Fractus patents.

All information contained within this

document is property of Fractus Antennas

and is subject to change without prior

notice. Information is provided “as is” and

without warranties. It is prohibited to copy

or reproduce this information without prior

approval.

Fractus Antennas is an ISO 9001:2015

certified company. All our antennas are

lead-free and RoHS compliant.

ISO 9001: 2015 Certified

USER MANUAL

EZConnectTM (FR05-S1-R-0-105)

Last updated on November 2017

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INDEX OF CHAPTERS

1. ANTENNA DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................. 4

2. QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE ............................................................................................. 4

3. ELECTRICAL PERFORMANCE ......................................................................................... 5

4. MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS .................................................................................. 8

5. MATCHING NETWORK ..................................................................................................... 9

6. ASSEMBLY PROCESS .................................................................................................... 10

7. PACKAGING .................................................................................................................... 12

USER MANUAL

EZConnectTM (FR05-S1-R-0-105)

Last updated on November 2017

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. ANTENNA DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................. 4

2. QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE ............................................................................................. 4

3. ELECTRICAL PERFORMANCE ......................................................................................... 5

3.1. FRACTUS EVALUATION BOARD (902-928 MHz) ..................................................... 5

3.2. VSWR AND EFFICIENCY .......................................................................................... 5

3.3. RADIATION PATTERNS, GAIN AND EFFICIENCY ................................................... 6

3.4. CAPABILITIES AND MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS ..................................................... 7

4. MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS .................................................................................. 8

4.1. DIMENSIONS AND TOLERANCES ............................................................................ 8

4.2. SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE INK ............................................................................... 8

4.3. ANTENNA FOOTPRINT (as used in the evaluation board) ......................................... 9

5. MATCHING NETWORK ..................................................................................................... 9

6. ASSEMBLY PROCESS .................................................................................................... 10

7. PACKAGING .................................................................................................................... 12

USER MANUAL

EZConnectTM (FR05-S1-R-0-105)

Last updated on November 2017

4

1. ANTENNA DESCRIPTION

The EZConnectTM antenna has been specifically designed for wireless devices using Zigbee,

RFID and other wireless standards operating at the ISM 868/915 MHz bands.

EZConnectTM antenna uses the space-filling properties of Fractus technology to become one of

the smallest antennas for ISM868/915 applications. Additionally, the antenna maintains a high

radiation efficiency that helps to improve the battery life of your devices and features an

omnidirectional radiation pattern optimal for highly scattered environments such as indoor

environments and public spaces.

TOP

BOTTOM

Material: The EZConnectTM antenna is built on glass epoxy substrate.

APPLICATIONS

 Metering (Gas, Electricity, Water...)

 RFID (UHF Tags, Readers...)

 Sensors (Parking, Speed control,

Optics...)

 Modules Zigbee

 Gateways

BENEFITS

 High efficiency and gain

 Cost-effective

 Small size

 Easy to use (pick and place)

2. QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE

Technical Features

Frequency Range

902 – 928 MHz

Average Efficiency

82.0%

Peak Gain

1.7 dBi

Radiation Pattern

Omnidirectional

VSWR

< 2:1

Polarization

Linear

Weight (approx.)

0.2 g

Temperature

-40 to 85º C

Impedance

50 Ω

Dimensions (L x W x H)

18.0 mm x 7.3 mm x 0.8 mm

Table 1 – Technical Features. Measures from the evaluation board. See Figure 1.

Please contact info@fractusantennas.com if you require additional information on antenna

integration or optimization on your PCB.

7.3 mm

0.8 mm

18.0 mm

USER MANUAL

EZConnectTM (FR05-S1-R-0-105)

Last updated on November 2017

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3. ELECTRICAL PERFORMANCE

3.1. FRACTUS EVALUATION BOARD (902-928 MHz)

The 915MHz configuration for the EZConnectTM chip antenna used in the PCB Evaluation

Board, Figure 1 and picture in page 6 corresponds to the 902 – 928 MHz band.

Measure

mm

A

105.0

B

48.0

C

121.0

D

11.0

E

53.5

Tolerance: ±0.2mm

Material: The evaluation

board is built on FR4

substrate. Thickness is

0.8mm.

Figure 1 – EB_FR05-S1-R-0-105A. EZConnectTM Evaluation Board in the 902 – 928 MHz band.

3.2. VSWR AND EFFICIENCY

VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio) and Total Efficiency versus Frequency (GHz).

Figure 2 – VSWR and Efficiency (%) vs. Frequency (GHz).

NOTE: to work at ISM 868 MHz band in the EZConnectTM antenna, please download the

following application in www.fractusantennas.com.

USER MANUAL

EZConnectTM (FR05-S1-R-0-105)

Last updated on November 2017

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3.3. RADIATION PATTERNS, GAIN AND EFFICIENCY

Orientation: Antenna in Plane ZY

Azimuth Cut θ = 90º Plane XY

Elevation Cut φ = 0º Plane XZ

Elevation Cut φ = 90º Plane YZ

Gain

Peak Gain

1.7 dBi

Average Gain across the band

1.6 dBi

Gain Range across the band (min, max)

1.6 <–> 1.7 dBi

Efficiency

Peak Efficiency

85.2 %

Average Efficiency across the band

82.8 %

Efficiency Range across the band (min, max)

80.0 – 85.2 %

Table 2 – Antenna Gain and Efficiency within the 902 – 928 MHz band. Measures made in the evaluation

board and in the Satimo STARGATE 32 anechoic chamber.

USER MANUAL

EZConnectTM (FR05-S1-R-0-105)

Last updated on November 2017

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3.4. CAPABILITIES AND MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS

Fractus Antennas specializes in the design and manufacture of optimized antennas for wireless

applications, and with the provision of RF expertise to a wide range of clients. We offer turn-key

antenna products and antenna integration support to minimize your time requirements and

maximize return on investment throughout the product development process. We also provide

our clients with the opportunity to leverage our in-house testing and measurement facilities to

obtain accurate results quickly and efficiently.

Agilent E5071B

VSWR

&

S Parameters

Radiation

Pattern

&

Efficiency

SATIMO STARGATE 32

Anechoic chambers and full equipped in-house lab

2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 6

-20

-18

-16

-14

-12

-10

-8

-6

-4

-2

0

Return Loss (dB)

Freque ncy (GHz)

Left Ante nna

Right Antenna

Isolation

VSWR=2

2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 6

-20

-18

-16

-14

-12

-10

-8

-6

-4

-2

0

Return Loss (dB)

Freque ncy (GHz)

Left Ante nna

Right Antenna

Isolation

VSWR=2

USER MANUAL

EZConnectTM (FR05-S1-R-0-105)

Last updated on November 2017

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4. MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS

4.1. DIMENSIONS AND TOLERANCES

TOP

SIDE

BOTTOM

The white circle located on the top side of the antenna indicates the feed pad.

Measure

mm

Measure

mm

A

18.0  0.2

F

4.5  0.2

B

7.3  0.2

G

1.0  0.05

C

0.8  0.2

H

4.1  0.1

D

15.2  0.2

I

1.4  0.05

E

0.4  0.1

Figure 3 – Antenna Dimensions and Tolerances.

Fractus EZConnectTM chip antenna is compliant with the restriction of the use of hazardous

substances (RoHS).

The RoHS certificate can be downloaded from www.fractusantennas.com.

4.2. SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE INK

Next figure shows the correct colors of the antenna:

Acceptable color range

TOP

USER MANUAL

EZConnectTM (FR05-S1-R-0-105)

Last updated on November 2017

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4.3. ANTENNA FOOTPRINT (as used in the evaluation board)

This antenna footprint applies for the reference evaluation board described on page 5 of this

User Manual.

Measure

mm

A

1.4

B

1.8

C

3.8

D

0.8

E

18.0

F

14.4

G

3.7

H

4.1

I

7.3

J

1.8

K

14.8

L

8.4

Tolerance: ±0.2 mm

Figure 4 – Antenna Footprint Details.

Other PCB form factors and configurations may require a different feeding configuration, feeding

line dimensions and clearance areas. If you require support for the integration of the antenna in

your design, please contact info@fractusantennas.com.

5. MATCHING NETWORK

The specs of a Fractus Antennas standard antenna are measured in their evaluation board,

which is an ideal case. In a real design, components nearby the antenna, LCD’s, batteries,

covers, connectors, etc. affect the antenna performance. This is the reason why it is highly

recommended placing pads compatible with 0402 and 0603 SMD components for a PI matching

network as close as possible to the antenna feeding point. Do it in the ground plane area, not in

the clearance area. This is a degree of freedom to tune the antenna once the design is finished

and taking into account all elements of the system (batteries, displays, covers, etc.).

USER MANUAL

EZConnectTM (FR05-S1-R-0-105)

Last updated on November 2017

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6. ASSEMBLY PROCESS

Figure 5 shows the back and front view of the Fractus EZConnectTM antenna, and indicates the

location of the feeding point and the mounting pads:

Figure 5 – Pads of the Fractus EZConnectTM chip antenna.

As a surface mount device (SMD), this antenna is compatible with industry standard soldering

processes. The basic assembly procedure for this antenna is as follows:

1. Apply a solder paste to the pads of the PCB. Place the antenna on the board.

2. Perform a reflow process according to the temperature profile detailed in Table 3, Figure 7

on page 11.

3. After soldering the antenna to the circuit board, perform a cleaning process to remove any

residual flux. Fractus Antennas recommends conducting a visual inspection after the

cleaning process to verify that all reflux has been removed.

The drawing below shows the soldering details obtained after a correct assembly process:

Figure 6 – Soldering Details.

NOTE(*): Solder paste thickness after the assembly process will depend on the thickness of the

soldering stencil mask. A stencil thickness equal to or larger than 127 microns (5 mils) is

required.

1

2

4

3

Antenna

PCB

Solder Paste

Antenna

PCB

~ 0.1* mm

1 1

3

Mounting Pads (2, 3, 4): solder the antenna mounting pads to the

soldering pads on the PCB. These pads must NOT be grounded.

Feed Pad (1): the white circle on the top of the antenna indicates the position of the feed pad

in the bottom. Align the feed point with the feeding line on the PCB. See Figure 1.

USER MANUAL

EZConnectTM (FR05-S1-R-0-105)

Last updated on November 2017

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The Fractus EZConnectTM antenna should be assembled following either Sn-Pb or Pb-free

assembly processes. According to the Standard IPC/JEDEC J-STD-020C, the temperature

profile suggested is as follows:

Phase

Profile features

Pb-Free Assembly SnAgCu)

RAMP-UP

Avg. Ramp-up Rate (Tsmax to Tp)

3 ºC / second (max.)

PREHEAT

- Temperature Min (Tsmin)

- Temperature Max (Tsmax)

- Time (tsmin to tsmax)

150 ºC

200 ºC

60-180 seconds

REFLOW

- Temperature (TL)

- Total Time above TL (tL)

217 ºC

60-150 seconds

PEAK

- Temperature (Tp)

- Time (tp)

260 ºC

20-40 seconds

RAMP-DOWN

Rate

6 ºC/second max

Time from 25 ºC to Peak Temperature

8 minutes max

Table 3 – Recommended soldering temperatures.

Next graphic shows temperature profile (grey zone) for the antenna assembly process in reflow

ovens.

Figure 7 – Temperature profile.

USER MANUAL

EZConnectTM (FR05-S1-R-0-105)

Last updated on November 2017

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7. PACKAGING

The Fractus EZConnect™ chip antenna is available in tape and reel packaging.

Measure

mm

W

32.0 ± 0.3

A0

7.7 ± 0.1

B0

18.3 ± 0.1

K0

1.2 ± 0.1

B1

19.1 max

D

1.55 ± 0.05

D1

2.1 min

Wmax

32.3

E

1.75 ± 0.1

F

14.2 ± 0.1

K

1.5 ± 0.1

P

12.0 ± 0.1

P0

4.0 ± 0.1

P2

2.0 ± 0.1

Figure 8 – Tape Dimensions and Tolerances.

Figure 9 – Image of the tape.

Measure

mm

A max

330.0 ± 1

G

33.5 ± 0.2

t max

37.5 ± 0.2

Reel Capacity: 2500 antennas

Figure 10 – Reel Dimensions and Capacity.