Dimensions of the nRF52840 Dongle PCB antenna

[Gianlucamilani]

Good morning, 

I am developing a custom PCB with nrf52840 and antenna. I would exploit the shape of the nrf52840 Dongle PCB antenna copying it.

Two questions:

- could you help me in finding precise measurements for it? I saw in this ticket is provided a pdf file:

   https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/f/nordic-q-a/44409/spec-of-the-nrf52840-dongle-pcb-antenna/174166#174166

   but some dimensions are missing such as the width of the meander antenna. could you please provide me? it also seems that the drawing in the pdf does not correspond exactly to the pca10059.

- do you suggest me to use exactly the same component positions and values for its matching circuit?

Thanks,

Best regards,

Gianluca

[Marjeris Romero]

Hi,

You can download the Altium files for the nRF52840 dongle from the product page at nordicsemi.com: https://www.nordicsemi.com/Software-and-tools/Development-Kits/nRF52840-Dongle/Download#infotabs

- do you suggest me to use exactly the same component positions and values for its matching circuit?

 It doesn't matter so much, I recommend you start with the values for the radio matching network from the reference design, since the values need to be tune according to your design. You can also start with the values used by the nRF52840 dongle, but you still need to tune those anyways, unless your PCB has the same dimentions and ground plane as the one from the dongle.

The reference layout can be downloaded from the nRF52840 product page: https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Low-power-short-range-wireless/nRF52840/Compatible-downloads#infotabs

The position of the radio matching components should be copied from the reference design (including the distances between the components and the radio, the keepout area around, and the grounding of the matching components).

For the matching network of the antenna the components should be place as close to the PCB antenna as possible and the track between the two matching networks should be a 50ohms trace.

If you want to you can create a private ticket and share your design files with us for a review before ordering your first prototypes

Best regards,

Marjeris

[Gianlucamilani]

Thank you very much Marjeris, 

I use PADS layout and I managed to convert the Altium PCB files you provided me to PADS PCB files thanks to the guide at the following link: http://www.cadlog.it/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Altium_PADS_Standard_Translation.pdf

Thanks also for the suggestions on the matching circuit guidelines

Best regards,

Gianluca Milani

[Marjeris Romero]

Happy to help! Feel free to ask if there is something else :)