Antennas Components

Passive Components > Antenna

Antennas are often the bulkiest components in portable wireless devices like mobile phones. They play a critical role in all radio equipment, supporting applications such as wireless LAN, satellite communication, and mobile telephony. The antenna portfolio includes products for cellular, GNSS, RFID, IoT, and distributed antenna systems (DAS), available in both standard and custom designs.
Antennas

These antennas are engineered for diverse uses, from computers / laptops, cars and heavy transport vehicles, including rail, to a wide range of personal electronics like mobile devices and wearable technology. They support various frequencies, including Bluetooth, WLAN, and ZigBee, ensuring high-quality transmission.

Manufacturing facilities worldwide produce these antennas, offering extensive testing capabilities, including near and far field patterns, scattering parameters, SAR, vibration, humidity, temperature shock, salt fog, throughput, and acoustic tests. The facilities also manufacture complete antenna assemblies.

An antenna is a transducer that converts electric current into electromagnetic (EM) waves or vice versa. It is used for transmitting and receiving nonionizing EM fields, such as radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, and visible light. While radio and microwave antennas are common in everyday use, infrared and visible light antennas are more specialized.

Radio frequency antennas are typically made from conductive wire elements classified as driven or parasitic. Driven elements transmit or receive signals, while parasitic elements modify the radiation pattern without direct connection to the circuitry. Parasitic elements can enhance directional focus or bandwidth. Antennas often use a metal rod, known as a boom, for support.

The IEEE defines antennas as components designed to radiate or receive EM waves, forming a transition between guided waves and free space.

The demand for smaller, faster technology drives advancements in antennas for consumer electronics like fitness trackers, smart speakers, smartphones, and AR/VR devices. These connected devices require efficient communication and data transfer through advanced antenna systems.

Antenna Types for Electronics

  • Chip, Patch, Flexible PCB, and Whip Antennas: These compact solutions cater to wireless communication protocols in IoT devices, supporting cellular, GNSS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth applications across wearables, pet trackers, 3D printers, and smart appliances.
  • Wi-Fi 6e: This standard offers faster speeds, reduced spectrum congestion, and more reliable connections. Abracon’s Wi-Fi 6e antennas facilitate rapid device development with enhanced frequency coverage.
  • 5G: Abracon’s 5G antennas deliver faster speeds, lower latency, and reliable connectivity, enabling scalable IoT systems and ultra-reliable communications.
  • GNSS: Abracon’s GNSS/GPS antennas ensure high-gain performance and radiation efficiency for precision applications. Options include active/passive patch antennas for compact, precise geolocation and chip antennas for lightweight, cost-effective use.

Markets

  • Mobility and Infrastructure: High-quality antennas for public infrastructure, industrial networks, and mission-critical systems.
  • Connected Health: Advanced RF designs for telehealth and remote care.
  • Transportation: Antennas for connected vehicles, public transport, and navigation.
  • Smart Industrial: Solutions for monitoring agriculture and industrial applications.
  • Smart Cities: IoT-enabled systems for safer, smarter urban living.

Main Types of Antennas

  • Aperture Antennas: Feature an opening to direct EM waves, used in aircraft and spacecraft.
  • Array Antennas: Consist of multiple connected antennas to enhance gain and directionality, ideal for wireless communications and radar.
  • Reflector Antennas: Use reflective components for focusing waves, common in satellite dishes.
  • Lens Antennas: Utilize lens properties to direct higher-frequency waves for radar and microwave use.
  • Log-Periodic Antennas: Support a broad range of frequencies with multiple elements, useful in communications.
  • Microstrip Antennas: Small antennas integrated into circuit boards, used in mobile devices.
  • Traveling-Wave Antennas: Support a wide frequency range with unidirectional wave travel, suitable for analog TV and telecommunications.
  • Wire Antennas: Simple, portable antennas used in radios, vehicles, and buildings.

IBS Electronics offers a wide range of antenna products from leading manufacturers, including RFID antennas, parasitic coupling devices, and radiation interference solutions.