Differences between antenna types for RF products and a brief introduction to SAW Oscillator

25/04/2022

electronic components on motherboard

For RF product, it may need another IC, RF transceiver, for communication and
special SAW resonator to work in different frequency range.
SAW Oscillator
SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave) resonators are microcircuits that process analog
signals in RF communication. SAW Oscillators are different from other oscillator
types as they use acoustic waves on a material’s surface for signal processing.
Antenna Type
? PCB antenna
? Lowest cost.
? It can be a straight, inverted F-type, meandered, circular trace depending
on the antenna requirement and PCB space limitation.
? The antenna is placed near PCB edge without chance of human interference.
? It needs larger PCB area but no need additional component.
? It needs experience in design layout with software matching.
? PCB Wire antenna
? Lower cost and same principle as PCB antenna but antenna is in form of
solid copper wire or stranded wire wire extending over the PCB in free
space.
? Length of wire should match to ?/4, in the form of straight, helix, or loop
shape.
? Antenna performance tolerance is larger than PCB antenna.
? Chip antenna
? Medium cost
? It is small form-factor IC with a conductor inside which is useful when there
is PCB area limitation.
? It is commonly in frequencies between 300 MHz and 2500 MHz, and range
below a few hundred feet.
? Photo below shows different size of chip antenna from www.mactech.co.kr.
? Whip antenna
? Highest cost.
? It is an antenna consisting of a straight flexible wire or rod with the bottom
end connected to the radio receiver or transmitter.
? Best matching for all ranges.
? It requires an external antenna attached to the product, which mostly found
in WIFI router.

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