How to select and apply antennas for IoT devices Written by Steven Keeping
The proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices continues to accelerate and inspire the design of innovative end products. However, designers must remember that no matter how much creativity and effort goes into the hardware and software, the antenna plays a pivotal role. If the antenna does not work right, product performance is severely compromised.
As the interface between the device and the wireless network, the antenna is a critical part of the IoT device design process. It converts electrical energy to an electromagnetic radio-frequency (RF) wave at the transmitter and converts an incoming RF signal to electrical energy at the receiver. Designers can optimize the performance of an application by
selecting an antenna that meets key engineering parameters. However, the many available options and considerations can lead to delayed and costly design cycles. This article summarizes the role of an antenna in a wireless IoT device and briefly describes the critical design criteria influencing its selection. The article then uses
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