WHITEPAPER

A guide to matching
circuits, transmission
lines and antenna tuning
A GUIDE TO MATCHING CIRCUITS, TRANSMISSION LINES AND ANTENNA TUNING

Contents

Introduction2

What is antenna matching? 2

The importance of trace lines 3

Measures of antenna mismatches 3

Smith charts 5

Key matching considerations 5

Trace tracks 5
PCB material 6

Achieving 50 Ohms impedance 6

Pi matching circuits 6
Matching for in-situ performance 6

Conclusion7

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A GUIDE TO MATCHING CIRCUITS, TRANSMISSION LINES AND ANTENNA TUNING

Introduction
Designs thrive in environments with the an antenna can (and will) interact with
least restrictions and minimal risk of radiated electromagnetic fields.
product failure. Part of creating a product
is analysing the risk associated with “Antenna Matching is the process
individual components, identifying and of aligning the impedance of both
selecting the ones with the most desirable the antenna chip/module and the
functions.
RF circuitry”
Wireless antennas are not like these other
electronic components. Whilst you can
predict antenna performance to a certain
level, it is highly likely you will face serious
compromise if you choose to integrate it at
the latter stages of development.

Antenna performance is wholly a product

of the operating environment. In every
different scenario, the performance of an
antenna will vary—be that in free space
or whilst embedded within a device. This
variation in performance can cause real
design headaches for engineers; seemingly Foreign objects, components and other
design small decisions could prevent an factors of your design will cause detuning.
antenna from working. This means the frequency of an antenna
will shift with this interference. These
Matching is a process every device effects occur in all wireless devices, so
requires to ensure high levels of antenna the cost of using an embedded antenna
performance. This guide will take you in this regard are unavoidable. In small,
through the basic principles and best challenging devices these shifts can
practice to help you avoid a technical be more severe. Every device will need
development disaster. adjustment to account for the compact
PCB and close proximity to other
components and enclosure.
What is antenna matching?
Antenna matching is the process of
One of the most devastating consequences aligning the impedance of both the antenna
of embedded antenna integration alongside chip/module and the RF circuitry. This
efficiency, is return loss. Objects surrounding process allows an antenna to radiate at the

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A GUIDE TO MATCHING CIRCUITS, TRANSMISSION LINES AND ANTENNA TUNING

intended frequency with minimal deviation, They also remove the need to introduce
vastly increasing performance capabilities. additional backside manufacturing
However, an unmatched antenna will processes to your PCB.
suffer a significantly reduced range and
may render the device unable to operate
effectively. Measures of antenna
mismatches
The importance of trace There are several key concepts which shed
lines light on how to correctly match an antenna
within a given application.
Trace lines (or transmission lines) carry
received and transmitted signals to and The VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio)
from an antenna. They, therefore, play a measures the quality of an impedance
key role in the ultimate performance of an match in the form of return loss. Return
antenna. However, unlike typical digital loss is a measure of reflections caused
lines, they yield high levels of resistance. by a suboptimal impedance match.
The power transfer and return loss of an This measure is one of the most critical
antenna can be as high as 50% in a poorly parameters in antenna integration,
matched design. as a well-matched circuit can provide
good levels of performance, even when
“Trace lines carry received and efficiency is inhibited.
transmitted signals to and from an
“There are several key concepts
antenna.”
which shed light on how to
Electromagnetic waves are formed of correctly match an antenna within
two fields, E, the electric field, and H, the a given application.”
magnetic field. Trace lines operate at 50
Ω, simply due to antennas requiring a ratio A lower VSWR is better; the lower the
of 50:1 to work uninhibited. RF tracks and measure, the more energy delivered to the
other elements of the RF system - such antenna. The presence of a higher VSWR
as transceivers or power amplifiers—must poses issues, as RF energy will be reflected
therefore also match this impedance. back onto the transmission line—thus do
not radiate.
For an embedded antenna, grounded
coplanar waveguides (GCPW) are Reflection coefficients measure how
recommended as the antenna can mount much power is reflected from the antenna
on the component side of a PCB and at the point where the transmission line
enable improved performance levels. connects. Ideally, a transmission line

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“ Unlike typical digital lines,
antenna lines yield high
levels of resistance. The
power transfer and return
loss of an antenna can
be as high as 50% in a
poorly matched design.
A GUIDE TO MATCHING CIRCUITS, TRANSMISSION LINES AND ANTENNA TUNING

would provide 100% of power delivered antenna, where all power is delivered,
to the antenna. Although, these levels of whereas the outer ring indicates the
performance are highly difficult to achieve maximum reflection coefficient, whereby all
in a small device. power is reflected.

Smith charts
Smith Charts plot antenna impedance
Key matching
versus operating frequencies, providing considerations
a visual reference for solving impedance
mismatches. The lines across the chart are There are a number of factors that become
based on multiple equations, providing an important when reducing mismatch losses.
illustration of reflection coefficients across The dimensions and length of trace tracks
various levels of impedance. and PCB stack will determine the best
design decisions to limit the VSWR.

Trace tracks
Grounded coplanar waveguides
(GCPW) are the most appropriate
solution for RF tracks in an
embedded antenna. Your
PCB stack up and dimensions
will determine the optimum
dimensions for this feed to create
the most aligned impedance
match possible for your device.
This involves calculating the
optimum height between the ground
plane layer and component layer.

The easiest way to calculate

this is by using a calculator, to
avoid the mess and lengthy time
Fig.1: Smith Chart it spends to learn and apply the formulae
yourself. Antenova’s trace line calculator
Historically, these charts were used
allows you to quickly calculate the optimal
to speed up the calculation process,
transmission line dimensions from 3
although modern day software, such as the
key parameters—PCB thickness, copper
Antenova Trace Line Calculator, can solve
thickness and dielectric constant of the
these sums in microseconds. The centre of
PCB substrate.
the circle represents a perfectly matched

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A GUIDE TO MATCHING CIRCUITS, TRANSMISSION LINES AND ANTENNA TUNING

PCB material
The associated thickness and dielectric Cellular and LTE - multiband - antenna
constant of your PCB material (such as FR- may require 5 components. Pi matching
4) will play a role in limiting return loss. It’s circuits, between the antenna terminal
also important to note that any difference and 50 Ω input ports allow for the antenna
in PCB material between development resonance to be tuned and optimised. Very
and final manufacture can also have often this is for the operating environment
devastating consequences. Engineers rather than free space.
often submit their design and find a slight
variation in the final manufacture material— Matching for in-situ performance
be that for cost and efficiency measures—
If the end product is likely to be used in
but this shift will mismatch the antenna.
the hand or near the body (e.g. trackers,

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Achieving 50 Ohms
impedance Fig. 2: Pi Matching Network Example for Antenova
SR4G013 ‘Beltii’’
The goal of the matching process is to
produce as close to 50 ohms impedance wearables), the antenna can be matched
as possible, to minimise return loss (Γ). and tuned according to the working
environment. Pi matching networks
Pi matching circuits become useful to closely control and
tune the antenna for these operating
The best way to do this for an embedded,
environments.
surface mount antenna, is by using
impedance matching circuit. For this,
“The goal of the matching process
we recommend a pi (π) matching circuit
consisting of three components (inductors is to produce as close to 50 Ohms
and capacitors) for a single-band antenna. impedance as possible”

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A GUIDE TO MATCHING CIRCUITS, TRANSMISSION LINES AND ANTENNA TUNING

Conclusion
Antenna matching is one of the challenges especially given the implications of every
synonymous with developing a wireless design decision could have on your
device. Where embedded surface-mount matching process. Whilst this is important,
(SMT) antennas are used, often so are Pi you will also need to ensure you are
matching networks, yet these are often following the guidelines of the antenna you
tuned for their operating environments as are integrating. Without a dedicated RF
opposed to free space. expert, you may need additional support.

Completing the matching process with

minimal experience can be daunting,

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designers and engineers working
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