[Hardware] nRF52 - NFC antenna design

[Konrad Traczyk]

Hi,

I'm developing a project based on nRF52 and utilizing NFC for my master's degree. One part of the project will be a beacon with as small PCB layout as possible. That's why I'm considering designing the NFC antenna on my own but I'm a newbie in this field. The question I have is about the position of the antenna relatively to the chip. In all of the designs I've already seen, the antenna is on the same layer as the chip but it's placed next to it. I'm wondering if I can place an antenna on another PCB which would lie exactly above the main PCB with a chip and CR2032 battery (like a sandwitch). Thanks to this I would save much space, but can the RF passing through the antenna and then the main PCB damage the chip or battery?

Best regards, Konrad

[butch]

I am not an expert. I read that NFC is for units less than 5 cm apart. Maybe larger antennas are used where you don't know the configuration of the matching antenna. If your units only interact with your units, and not some other maker's unit, then you might be able to design a small antenna and require that they are close and aligned when held together.