Yageo Introduces the Smallest PIFA GPS Antenna for Handheld Devices

ELECTRONICS: Yageo Corp. announced the release of the smallest ceramic chip antenna (PIFA mode) for GPS applications. The new PIFA GPS antenna is an advanced design of the 2.45GHz PIFA antenna that was released last year. Although the same size, it can now reach the same efficiency on lower frequency. This antenna is specifically designed for use in high-end handheld GPS devices, such as mobile phones, PDAs, portable navigation devices, notebook computers, and mobile internet devices. Samples were sent to customers earlier this year while mass production began in March.

Yageo’s 3216 ceramic PIFA GPS antenna features ultra compact volume and high performance with a dimension of only 3.2mm x 1.6mm. With less clearance needed, it greatly helps reducing the overall GPS design block. The antenna supports central frequency of 1.575GHz, unprecedentedly breakthrough in size limitation on low frequency chip antennas, performing on par with CP GPS antennas. Moreover, the use of SMD packaging along with the compact size of the component makes it easier to mount on circuit boards, thus effectively reducing manufacturing costs. This makes it the best solution for handheld GPS devices- designing with limited space.

The design refinement of the 3216 ceramic PIFA GPS antenna is a breakthrough from the traditional mono-polar circuit design mode. This allows a simplified manufacturing process that results in superior product performance in both efficiency and size. Additionally, the use of coupling and parasitic effects reduces the frequency, thus strengthening low frequency performance. Yageo offers a variety of ceramic PIFA antennas, with the 3216 size supporting 1.575GHz to 2.45GHz bandwidths. This not only provides an industry-leading product portfolio, but also gives wireless device manufacturers the best value-added choice available.

-Edited by Kelsey Anderson