2
antenna solutions
Ceramic patch antennas are growing in
popularity due to their low profile design and
their effective balance of performance and price.
At Spectrum Control we have developed a complete
line of patch antennas that are designed to optimize
the transmission and reception of signals for modern
wireless products. Beyond the product itself,
Spectrum Control offers world class technical support
from our experienced engineering department…
on a wavelength you can understand.
spectrum patch antenna attributes
patch antenna
applications
Satellite Based
• GPS Commercial (L1) & Military (L2)
• GlobalStar including AeroAstro SENS
• Iridium
• Inmarsat
Terrestrial Based
• ISM (Industry, Scientific & Medical)
• Zigbee
• Bluetooth
• RFID
Consult Factory other available applications
We can provide quick turn prototypes by using our on-site engineering lab
to hand tune an existing design to meet your specific needs. For advanced
designs, we utilize 3-D computer modeling to optimize antenna performance
and provide expected real world results of high volume production.
•Small Footprint: Dimensions for antennas from 1 GHz to 3 GHz
are from 13mm to 50mm square (excluding the ground plane).
•Low Profile: Antennas designed with higher dielectric values are typically
<8mm in height and depending upon your bandwidth requirement can
be as low as 4mm.
•Lightweight: These small antennas can be worn on people with little notice.
•Versatile: Antennas not only transmit and receive circularly polarized
signals but also linearly polarized signals.
•Low Cost: Our antenna elements are very affordable in small and
large volume.
•Flexible: Antennas can be tuned and optimized very easily making
prototyping quick and cost effective.
•Omni-directional: Antenna radiation patterns provide excellent gain
across all elevation angles but can also be manipulated for more
focused requirements.
•Performance: These passive devices offer typical gain response from
0 dBi to 3 dBi for half-power beamwidths of 110 degrees. Gain at
boresite (90 degrees elevation) can exceed 6 dBi depending upon
the proper selection of a ground plane.
•Military: We have extensive experience in building hardened
military designs.
•Testing: All of our products are tested 100% on custom testing
systems to ensure quality performance.
prototyping
3
SPECTRUM CONTROL INC. • 8061 Avonia Rd. • Fairview, PA 16415 • Phone: 814-474-1571 • Fax: 814-474-3110 • Website: www.specemc.com
SPECTRUM CONTROL GmbH • Hansastrasse 6 • 91126 Schwabach, Germany • Phone: (49)-9122-795-0 • Fax: (49)-9122-795-58
Key Factors
Ground plane:
During the design process, consideration must be given to
the size and configuration of the ground plane. The ground plane
has substantial effects on the performance of the antenna. These
effects include frequency shift, gain, axial ratio and radiation pattern.
See additional ground plane optimization notes on pages 6 and 7.
Element Size:
The amount of space available for the antenna element
determines not only the material required but also the related
performance that can be expected. The element size relates to
the material that will be selected, the shape of the element, and
the metallization pattern. Each of these has a substantial effect
on electrical performance.
Assembly Configuration:
The final assembly configuration also affects element
performance. The position of other components, etc. affects
the overall performance of the element.
The items mentioned above are areas in which Spectrum Control's engineering
staff can assist in developing an optimized antenna element to fit your needs.
Optimizing Performance
Don’t trust your wireless reception to luck. Let us help you
design it right the first time. Our engineering team is ready to
help identify critical issues such as the board layout, ground
plane size, mounting methods and port measurement that will
influence the efficiency of the antenna. We’ll look at the polarization
and radiation patterns, gain, impedance matching and frequency
tolerance to determine the ideal patch for your design. With our
computer modeling abilities, we can quickly determine your best
options. In addition, we also have an on-site anechoic chamber
to validate performance. Our flexible manufacturing and testing
processes allow us to easily accommodate the required
adjustments to supply an optimized antenna.
CERTIFIED
SPECTRUM CONTROL INC. • 8061 Avonia Rd. • Fairview, PA 16415 • Phone: 814-474-1571 • Fax: 814-474-3110 • Website: www.specemc.com
SPECTRUM CONTROL GmbH • Hansastrasse 6 • 91126 Schwabach, Germany • Phone: (49)-9122-795-0 • Fax: (49)-9122-795-58
4
Patch Antenna
Elements
Features
■
Temperature stable (-40°C to +105°C)
■
Low return loss
■
Uniform dielectric constant
■
Offset single-point feeding method
■
Custom designs available (900 MHz to 5.8 GHz)
■
Silver plated electrode and probe
■
Surface mount
■
50 Ohm impedance
■
RoHS parts available
Application Polarization
Part #
Tested ground
plane (mm)
Gain
(dB)
2:1 VSWR
Bandwidth (MHz)
Center
Frequency (MHz)
GPS PA25-1575-008SA RHCP 1575 20 2.5 35X35 B
GPS PA25-1579-008SA RHCP 1579 20 2.5 35X35 B
GPS-military (L2) PA25-1227-008SA RHCP 1227 20 0.0 60X60 B
GPS PA18-1580-010SA RHCP 1580 15 0.0 50X50 C
GPS PA13-1580-005SA RHCP 1580 8 2.5 30X30 D
Globalstar PA25-1615-025SA LHCP 1615 125 3.0 70X70 B
Iridium PA25-1621-025SA RHCP 1621 25 4.0 60X60 B
Inmarsat PA25-1542-025SA LHCP 1542 25 4.0 60X60 B
Inmarsat PA25-1643-025SA LHCP 1643 25 4.0 60X60 B
Inmarsat PA45-1592-175SA LHCP 1592 125 5.0 60X60 F
Satellite Radio PA28-2345-025SA LHCP 2345 60 4.0 45X45 A
Satellite Radio PA25-2350-014SA LHCP 2350 60 4.0 45X45 B
ISM PA37-2400-050SA RHCP or LHCP 2400 50 4.0 45X45 E
ISM PA37-2450-150SA RHCP or LHCP 2450 150 4.0 40X40 E
ISM PA28-2450-120SA RHCP or LHCP 2450 120 4.0 40X40 A
Satellite Radio PA28-2370-014SA LHCP 2370 60 4.0 45X45 A
Reference
Outlines
Class
Patch
Antennas
Size
2 digits in mm
Center
Frequency (MHz)
Use 4 digits
Configuration
S= Square
Series
Assigned
by factory
Bandwidth
(MHz)
Use 3 digits
PA 25 - 1575 - 008 S A
Ordering Information - Standard Single Frequency Patch Element
To order RoHS versions, remove dashes in part number and add “LF” to the end of the part. Ex: PA251575008SALF (RoHS version)
Consult Factory for custom parts or optimized center frequencies for your specific applications.
Dual Frequency SMD Patch Element
Spectrum Control offers an innovative solution for dual frequency applications.
Our individual SMD antennas can be mounted on an single ground plane to
address both frequencies at once.
Part #
Ground Plane
Test Size (mm)
Application
Reference
Outline
PA451615-1575SA Globalstar & GPS (Comm) 76X76 F
PA451621-1575SA Iridium & GPS (Comm) 76X76 F
Consult Factory for full product details.
SPECTRUM CONTROL INC. • 8061 Avonia Rd. • Fairview, PA 16415 • Phone: 814-474-1571 • Fax: 814-474-3110 • Website: www.specemc.com
SPECTRUM CONTROL GmbH • Hansastrasse 6 • 91126 Schwabach, Germany • Phone: (49)-9122-795-0 • Fax: (49)-9122-795-58
5
Patch Antenna
Elements
Reference Outlines
Dimensions in inches
(mm)
DRIVEN CONDUCTOR
Note: See sales drawing for detailed specifications on each part.
Figure A
Figure B
Figure D
Figure C
Figure E
DRIVEN CONDUCTOR
Figure F
SPECTRUM CONTROL INC. • 8061 Avonia Rd. • Fairview, PA 16415 • Phone: 814-474-1571 • Fax: 814-474-3110 • Website: www.specemc.com
SPECTRUM CONTROL GmbH • Hansastrasse 6 • 91126 Schwabach, Germany • Phone: (49)-9122-795-0 • Fax: (49)-9122-795-58
6
Patch Antenna
Assembly Options
Features
■
Available in partial assembly to complete
“Plug-n-Play” assemblies
■
Single or multi-frequency packages
■
Optimized designs for peak performance
■
100% tested
■
Custom designs
• Flexibility on cable and connector selection
■
Standard designs available
• AeroAstro SENS
• Globalstar
• Iridium
• GPS
■
RoHS compatible parts available
Design Options
Spectrum Control can supply nearly any variation
to meet your design needs, using the three general
classifications of assemblies that we manufacture.
Our designs can be modified to meet your mechanical,
cable length, connector and other specification. Each
design is evaluated to provide an optimized performance
to achieve maximum gain.
Please consult Factory with your
specific details.
AC Series
Patch Antenna mounted on a ground plane with a
connector mounted directly to the PCB. Standard
connector is MMCX.
AR Series
Patch Antenna mounted on an optimized ground plane
with a pigtail cable to a connector, which is tuned
and packaged for the plastic radome that covers the
complete assembly. Standard cable is RG-316 to
MMCX or SMA connectors, others available.
AP Series
Patch Antenna mounted on a ground plane with a
pigtail cable to a connector. Standard designs have
6" (15.2 cm) RG-316 cables, connector varies by
application. Alternative lengths & connectors available.
Antenna Design
Considerations
Ground plane Optimization
Fundamental to the performance of a patch antenna
is the interaction with the ground plane. The following is
a brief overview of the interplay between the element
and the ground plane. Consider the classic case of
GPS reception, where it is likely that the customer may
have the receiver in a less than an ideal environment
(e.g. under trees, inside of buildings, various elevations)
reducing the possibility of reception. “Off-the-Shelf”
components do not address this concern, which why
it is so important for the element to be designed for
the ground plane. Increasing efficiency can reduce the
cold start times and draw less power from the battery
supply, in addition to the improving performance.
SPECTRUM CONTROL INC. • 8061 Avonia Rd. • Fairview, PA 16415 • Phone: 814-474-1571 • Fax: 814-474-3110 • Website: www.specemc.com
SPECTRUM CONTROL GmbH • Hansastrasse 6 • 91126 Schwabach, Germany • Phone: (49)-9122-795-0 • Fax: (49)-9122-795-58
7
Antenna Design
Considerations
Figure 1 through 3 detail changes in ground plane
sizes and the effect of the radiation pattern and the
gain as shown via our computer modeling. Design
enhancements that can be considered to improve
performance include the use of a thicker ground plane.
Figure 4 details the same 35mm plane as in Figure 1,
however, it is thicker at 6 mm. This effectively improves
the resultant directive gain. The front to back ratios have
also improved, as well as pattern fullness or axial ratio
measurement.
While it may be understood that a larger ground
plane will improve the gain of an antenna, there may
be a degradation of the axial ratio of the system if the
element is not tuned for the ground plane. In Figure 5,
the best axial ratio for the element under the test occurs
with the 55 mm zero thickness ground plane. Proper
evaluation and tuning can improve designs. Spectrum
Control offers experienced engineering solutions to
optimize your system. In addition to specialized design
assistance, we also provide complete optimized
assemblies.
Additional Interaction Notes:
•Center frequency shift: A 13mm GPS element
designed for a 70 mm GP will have a
f0
= 1580MHz by
design. The same element on a 35 mm ground plane
will have a
f0
=1569 MHz and on an effectively zero
ground plane (13mm), the
f0
= 1549MHz.
•Radiation pattern nulls: When a patch antenna is
mounted off center on a ground plane, it will realize non-
spherical radiation patterns. “Gain tilt” will occur as the
radiation pattern will adjust toward the larger surface,
and conversely be reduced on the smaller surface.
55 mm sq.
Ground plane
Ground plane
thickness is minimal
75 mm sq.
Ground plane
Ground plane
thickness is minimal
35 mm sq.
Ground plane
Ground plane
thickness is 6 mm
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
z
y
x
z
y
x
z
y
x
6.00
5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00
-1.00
-2.00
-3.00
6.00
5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00
-1.00
-2.00
-3.00
6.00
5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00
-1.00
-2.00
-3.00
Gain(dB) 1.55GHz
Gain(dB) 1.585GHz
Gain(dB) 1.578GHz
Figure 5
Axial Ratio vs.
Ground plane Size
“Hg” is ground plane
thickness in mm
35 mm sq.
Ground plane
Ground plane
thickness is minimal
Figure 1
z
y
x
6.00
5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00
-1.00
-2.00
-3.00
Gain(dB) 1.575GHz
AHA 7/06 3M 27-0027-0049 ©2006 Spectrum Control, Inc. Printed in U.S.A.
Spectrum Control, Inc. reserves the right to alter the specifications
provided in this publication. Consult factory for current specifications.
www.specemc.com
What are the min & max temperatures for the antenna?
Operating: -40°C to +105°C
Storage: No min to +150°C
Can the antenna undergo reflow soldering?
Yes, the pin is attached with Sn62 on the Non-RoHS versions and Sn96 for RoHS versions.
The adhesive is also designed to meet expected profiles. (Do not reflow the solder on the top
surface for more than a duration of one minute – to avoid the risk dissolving the silver pattern.)
What surfaces are the adhesive compatible or incompatible with?
Anything that is well adhered to the substratum and clean. For example, if you place a patch antenna
on standard copper FR-4 for longer than a few days, you will likely pull the silver electrode and some
ceramic off the patch during removal. (The fired on silver electrode passes ~150 lbs/in2.)
What sort of surface preparation is recommended before installing the antenna?
Clean, de-grease and dry. The pressure sensitive adhesive will continue the process of bonding to
the substratum for days. NO OTHER ADHESIVES are needed…. they will lower the center frequency
of the patch (for example, one more layer of adhesive would reduce the frequency by ~1.5MHz).
Will the performance be affected if a cover (radome) is placed above the patch and/or
on the ground plane?
Yes, any covering of the antenna will change its performance characteristics. This would includes any
solder mask or a conformal coating. The classic example is applying a radome (cover) over the part.
What are the recommended clearances for a radome?
Generally the radome should be a minimum of 10mm from the sides of the patch and 5mm
above the patch element on the ground plane.
Does the ground plane affect the performance of the antenna?
Yes. The ground plane is a pivotal part of the antenna, and different sizes and thickness change
performance. Please refer to the ground plane optimization section of this catalog.
antenna handling & processing
faq’s
north america
EMI Filters & Components
8061 Avonia Road
Fairview, Pennsylvania 16415
Phone: 814-474-1571
Fax: 814-474-3110
europe
Spectrum Control GmbH
Hansastrasse 6
91126 Schwabach, Germany
Phone: (49)-9122-795-0
Fax: (49)-9122-795-58
china
Spectrum Control Limited
2nd Industrial Area
North Ling Tou Industrial Road
Quid Tou Town, Dong Guan City
Guang Dong Province 523530
Peoples Republic of China
Phone: (011)-86-769-8343-7761
Fax: (011)-86-769-8343-7760
CERTIFIED
