nRF51822 Beacon PCB Stackup (2-Layer) Required

[vinnygeever]

Hi, We are designed our own Beacon PCB based on nRF51822 Beacon Kit...We followed board size,PCB Antenna Trace width and GND Clearance as per Beacon kit...The difference is NRF51 Package we followed QFN instead of BGA...

We have to include FAB details like Board Thickness,Material and Finish copper for making PCB...Also we need complete 2 layer Stack up as nRF51822 Beacon kit followed,so that we can achieve the antenna performance ( like 50 Ohm Impedance details)...

Currently we followed 1.6mm Board Thickness,FR4 material and 1 oz (35 Micron) finish copper and no information for 50 ohm Impedance....But we want make sure our data are correct to match the antenna to perform 100% like beacon kit...

Note: Its Exactly copied from beacon kit (Including GND and Trace width and all passives). Currently the board is in Fab house to wait for the above data...Kindly provide the required information...

[MartinBL]

Hi,

If you have access to Altium or Altium Viewer you can get an overview of the stackup used on the beacon. If you have purchased an nRF51822 Beacon kit and own a key you can find Beacon HW files here. This is the beacon stackup:

Regarding the 50 Ohm impedance you can try to copy our reference design as closely as possible, but to achieve optimum performance you will have to tune the antenna. In antenna and high frequency designs, tiny differences in the layout can have huge effects on the impedance. If you have your device placed in a casing you will also have to compensate for that and tune the antenna with the device installed in the casing.

Nordic can help you out with tuning.