Triple-radio chip component simplifies IoT antenna integration

Ignion has announced a one-of-a-kind three-port Virtual Antenna component to support simultaneous cellular, GNSS, and Wi-Fi/BLE radios. The surface-mounted passive component, OMNIA mXTEND, turns the ground plane of a PCB into a high-efficiency radiating element that can operate between 400MHz and 8,000MHz, enabling device manufacturers to pick specific bands without needing size modifications.

The device provides extra degrees of freedom compared to three independent antennas, requiring a single clearance area. It also enables superior long-range connectivity performance across multiple frequencies, making it appropriate for remote monitoring applications.

The advanced multi-block design minimises radio coupling, enhances performance, reduces the matching network BoM, and facilitates certifications, which are crucial factors for IoT devices where every dB counts.

The company's latest release also marks a notable step toward eco-friendly IoT solutions by decreasing material usage by up to four times and cutting manufacturing emissions compared to producing multiple antenna components. Engineered for high efficiency and low power requirements, it extends device lifecycles, directly contributing to a reduced environmental CO2 footprint.

Measurement results on an evaluation board demonstrate that the average efficiency of an OMNIA mXTEND device is greater than 55% from 790MHz to 960MHz (cellular), over 75% in the 1,561MHz-1,606MHz range (GNSS), and greater than 65% between 2,400MHz and 2,500MHz (Wi-Fi/BLE). Peak gains for these frequency ranges are 0.9dBi, 4dBi, and 3.5dBi, respectively, with corresponding maximum VSWR figures of 2.61:1, 1.5:1, and 2.0:1.

OMNIA mXTEND sets a new standard in multi-radio IoT design with its plug-and-play simplicitydecreasing. It reduces the necessity for complex RF adjustments and accelerates time-to-market for multi-radio projects. Ideal for applications like asset tracking, automotive telematics, smart metering, and industrial IoT, it enables seamless connectivity while lowering material use and delivering performance enhancements and sustainability gains.

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