TE Connectivity L000938-01 - A High-Power SMD Antenna
Ceramic SMD antennas offer a compact solution for RF applications. TE Connectivity now offers designers an antenna with 5 W of power output.
Using a ceramic surface-mount antenna eliminates the challenge of antenna matching: Place the antenna and ensure a sufficiently large ground plane, and the rest of the RF design is handled automatically. With the L000938-01, TE Connectivity promises a power-handling capacity of 5 W - enough to exceed the limits proscribed by many governmental regulations. Designers can deploy this SMD antenna in high-power applications, fully leveraging RF output power and customer satisfaction.
The component, furthermore, has an excellent 360° coverage. As shown in the figure below, antenna orientation does not affect the component\'s excellent RF performance.
Boasting a weight of less than 1.5 g and dimensions of 40 mm x 5 mm x 6 mm, the component can be fitted in the most space-constrained of applications.
Wide-Band Coverage for 5G Applications
Advanced wireless standards avoid bandwidth and airspace congestion by using more and more bands. In the case of the L000938-01, RF designers can cover a wide variety of bands with a single antenna. In particular, the data sheet includes the table shown below, which provides information on the variety of bands supported.
The product's high efficiency also deserves mention: Thanks to its 50 Ohm impedance, the antenna connects to most RF transmitter outputs without the need for a balun or similar RF matching circuit.
Ground Plane Design and Antenna Evaluation Board
As with other chip antennas, achieving optimal performance with the L000938-01 requires PCB design. In particular, the various keep-out areas on the printed circuit board need to be taken into account. The data sheet provides a detailed diagram showing the space where no components can be placed.
Furthermore, a ground plane is required for optimal performance. In the data sheet, TE Connectivity shows the grounding layout below.
Designers seeking to evaluate this ceramic antenna can do so via SKU L000938-80. It provides a comfortable-to-use evaluation board that connects to a variety of RF sources and serves as a source of inspiration for custom PCB designs.
Conclusion and Outlook
Designers seeking a compact, high-performance antenna must use the TE Connectivity L000938-01. Thanks to its wide array of supported bands, high efficiency, and tremendous power-handling capability, this antenna handles the most challenging RF assignments. In short, a component ideal both for wireless module design and ham radio applications.