Issue link: https://te.mouser.com/i/1349977
DATA AND DEVICES / TREND PAPER Smart IoT Applications and Environments: Key Antenna Considerations in Designing Your Smart Ecosystem PAGE 3 Choosing the right antennas and customizing solutions are key The complexities of antenna system design and the availability of more frequency bands afforded by 5G, have made choosing an antenna for a smart device that much more challenging. System designs cannot rely on "plug and play" options but instead require more sophisticated planning and a holistic assessment of all connectivity requirements. In a variety of IoT applications, it is not unlikely that an antenna solution will need to be customized and include two to 12 antenna products inside a device often the size of a mobile phone. These antennas must manage different redundancies and services while working clearly and independently from one another – a physical trick of isolating antennas within a system design. There is another critical issue to consider in designing an antenna system for a business, industrial or real world IoT application: they must be designed to operate on secure networks. While there are a range of antennas that can be used for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS applications, there is increasing reliance on cellular antennas that offer the critical features needed for IoT success. For example, with the exponential growth of wireless traffic causing more and more interference, spectral efficiency is key. As a result, antennas must also be able to handle this bandwidth issue. Cellular antennas effectively meet this requirement. Cellular antennas also address critical certification and regulatory standards required in the marketplace. This includes meeting the specifications of various cellular carriers operating around the world and the standards set by the GSM Association (GSMA) and the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). It also means passing multiple rounds of testing to obtain regulatory approval from authorities such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the U.S., or the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) and Radio Equipment Directive (RED) in the EU. Together, these various technical and marketplace demands make clear that innovative and secure antenna systems are needed for IoT applications. The engineers who design these systems must also fully understand how antennas operate in a wide variety of technical and governing circumstances. Regardless of the situation, however, the time for "bad" antennas is over. For smart IoT environments, smart antenna system designs are essential As discussed, the rapid growth of the IoT is allowing for the creation of smart environments. At TE, we are committed to identifying real world situations where the ability to effectively collect data and gather knowledge can lead to developing sustainable IoT solutions. To demonstrate how our engineers are focused on smart antenna system designs, it makes sense to look at two major trends in IoT applications: Smart Tracking and Smart Buildings. In both these cases, TE engineers examine the market issues, challenges and requirements that clients face to develop the optimal solution. Regardless of the application, there are clear standards that must be met in focusing on data management and protection, as well as backup-battery performance requirements. Other pertinent standards focus on installation practices, firmware upgrades, communications, device diagnostics, and climate-resistance measures, as the environment in which an antenna operates will impact its function. Types of Antennas IoT Antenna Requirements • Cellular LTE/5G/ NB-IoT/ CAT-M • GNSS • Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Zigbee • ISM • LPWAN and RF accessories • High efficiency for clean transmission and optimized battery life • High quality transmission: signal interruption against interference/noise • Harsh environment durability: robust design in dry and moisture prone areas • Compact design (miniaturization) • Multiple frequencies operations: need for more bandwidth and compatibility with global cellular networks • Shorter development cycles: reduce cost