NeoCortec, developer of the NeoMesh protocol for low–power IoT systems, wanted to show that excellent antenna performance is not necessarily associated with costs. Together, we developed a series of PCB track antennas that are integrated directly into the PCB track. This results in designs that require neither space nor additional individual components.

The white paper, funded by NeoCortec, uses simulations and measurements to prove that an inverted F antenna (IFA) with an S-shaped structure can be optimized without losses. The highlight: a mechanically designed stub near the ground plane acts as an integrated capacitor. It precisely tunes the frequency without the need for components. The antenna thus achieves close to 100% antenna efficiency – a value that commercial chip antennas cannot match in this frequency range.

If a matching network with a capacitor is added by mistake, the efficiency drops by around 5 %. It is better to fine-tune directly via the geometry of the radiator. In tests, this layout even beats well-known reference designs, such as those from Texas Instruments.

Another advantage is that developers can freely download the DXF files of the reference antennas and use them in their own circuits. This eliminates the need for the usual NDA processes and saves developers weeks in antenna design. With an early antenna design directly on the PCB, range and energy consumption can be massively optimized without any additional costs in the bill of materials.

Well-known projects such as the Gillette order button with integrated GSM antenna already show that this approach works. Antennas are created in the layout and are not expensive external components. NeoCortec is thus introducing a paradigm shift: More antenna performance through knowledge, not material.