Small dual-band antenna for IoT

The new antenna is named ‘Lama’, part number SRFI065. It was developed for small, connected devices operating on the LP-WAN networks including LoRa, Sigfox, Wi-SUN and MIoTy. This antenna uses the ISM frequencies in Europe and America or both, which means that one product design can be sold in both US and European markets.

Lama is a particularly small antenna, making it suited to designs with limited real estate. It is a flexible printed circuit (FPC) antenna measuring 35 x 10 x 0.15mm, supplied with a standard 100mm RF cable with I-PEX MHF connector. This shape allows it to be mounted several different ways in a design.

The antenna performed equally well in tests for the 868MHz and 915MHz bands, showing a peak efficiency at 60%, and maximum VSWR of 1.5:1 for both frequency bands.

The LP-WAN networks, also known as ISM, use frequencies 863 - 870MHz in Europe and 902 - 928MHz in the US. They are licence-free bands which are typically used to connect large fleets of low powered devices which transmit small packets of data across large physical distances at low bit rates.

These characteristics make the Lama antenna a good choice for small, networked devices operating across wide geographic areas in IoT applications.

The Lama antenna therefore targets the fast-growing markets in smart agriculture, smart cities and tracking.

Lama will suit agricultural applications using cloud-connected sensors to measure ground moisture or temperature or to track livestock, e.g., cattle.

It will also suit remote-controlled applications such as meter reading, environmental monitoring and connected services in smart cities controlling street lighting, parking sensors or waste bins.

In other IoT sectors, the Lama antenna fits commercial applications in cold chain transport, distribution, logistics and tracking of goods and containers.

Antenova’s Michael Castle comments: “The Lama antenna targets these growing markets which will need large volumes of devices on all continents of the world. For example, we estimate there could be 45 million connected street lights worldwide by 2025.”

Like all of Antenova’s embedded antennas, Lama is designed for easy integration into a design.

Antenova provides consultancy and testing services and a selection of online tools and calculators to help designers achieve a successful integration and a high-performance wireless device.