nRF52 antenna connection and shielding

RE: nRF52 antenna connection and shielding

NewtoM — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 15:40:24 GMT

Thank you!

RE: nRF52 antenna connection and shielding

Ole Bauck — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 14:55:31 GMT

For evaluation please open a case on mypage.

RE: nRF52 antenna connection and shielding

NewtoM — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 14:50:10 GMT

Thanks, Ole. We will read those documents and do a redesign. I will let you know about the results on Friday.

RE: nRF52 antenna connection and shielding

Ole Bauck — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 13:50:23 GMT

You can use that antenna yes, but be sure to know how to use it first. From the picture it looks like the antenna is connected the wrong way. It is also important that the antenna is the same distance from the ground plane as the antenna in the library. You should see how it is done on the nRF51 dongle.

I also see that you have not followed the reference design. It is important that you do this. The paths between the antenna and the chip should not go through vias and you should not have any other tracks going under (or over) the matching network. Please take a look at this blogpost and when you are finished with your design send it to us for evaluation.

RE: nRF52 antenna connection and shielding

NewtoM — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 13:09:11 GMT

Hi Ole,

thank you very much for the quick answer! So that means we can probably go with the footprint provided on GitHub without grounding it and without a shielding, like shown here: https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/attachment/a5da3ad05010ab3f8cb08e719085b31c?

Thanks, NewtoM

RE: nRF52 antenna connection and shielding

Ole Bauck — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 11:13:22 GMT

Hi,

The antenna on this module is an inverted F antenna (or more specific a “meandered inverted F antenna"). Inverted F antennas are grounded at one end as can be read in the Wikipedia article.
You probably don’t need shielding. Pre certified modules must have shielding. This is because the FCC requires shielding on a module that is being sold with the FCC number already in place.

Best regards
Ole