The new product reduces antenna height by 50% compared to competitive offerings.
In space-constrained applications like global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), designers often face a tradeoff between antenna height and performance. To solve this issue, Taoglas recently announced a new antenna solution, the HP5354.A, that leverages a unique “patch-in-a-patch” architecture to reduce antenna height and weight.
A Patch Antenna for Positioning and Tracking
Taoglas describes the HP5354.A as a low-profile, multi-band GNSS L1/L5 patch antenna designed specifically for modern positioning and tracking applications.
This multi-band antenna (datasheet linked) supports a range of frequencies:
- GPS: L1 at 1,575.42 MHz and L5 at 1,176.45 MHz
- GLONASS: G1 at 1,602 MHz
- Galileo: E1 at 1,575.24 MHz and E5a at 1,176.45 MHz
- BeiDou: B1 at 1,575.42 MHz and B2a at 1,176.45 MHz
The HP5354.A achieves an efficiency of 52.6% at GPS L1 and 51.7% at Galileo E1. The antenna offers an axial ratio of 1.79 dB, translating to high signal clarity and strength. The average gain of the antenna is -2.79 dB at GPS L1, with a peak gain of 2.61 dBi.
HP5354.A radiation pattern at 1,575 MHz. Image used courtesy of Taoglas
Measuring at a compact 35 mm x 35 mm x 4 mm, the product incorporates a ceramic patch within a patch design, a technique that enhances signal reception and gain across multiple GNSS bands. It also features a dual-feed solder mount configuration that supports right-hand circular polarization (RHCP) for reliable GNSS applications. The antenna employs two orthogonal feeds for the L1 band and a separate feed for the L5 band, combined using a hybrid coupler (HC125A) for high axial ratio and gain.
This antenna's design includes a recommended 70 mm x 70 mm ground plane to achieve peak performance. Taoglas also offers the TFM.100B front-end module, which incorporates a SAW/LNA/SAW/LNA topology to mitigate out-of-band interference and maintain a low-noise figure.
Taoglas' Patch-in-a-Patch Architecture
A patch antenna is a type of microstrip antenna that includes a conductive patch of metal (such as copper or gold) placed on a dielectric substrate with a ground plane on the opposite side. The antenna itself is normally flat and mounted on a substrate, while the conductive patch acts as the radiating element and is usually rectangular or circular—although other shapes can be used to achieve specific performance characteristics.
Patch antennas operate based on the principles of resonant cavities. When an RF signal is fed into the patch, it generates an electromagnetic field between the patch and the ground plane. This field resonates, producing a standing wave pattern. The edges of the patch radiate this energy into free space, creating the antenna's radiation pattern. The radiation is typically broadside, meaning it is perpendicular to the plane of the patch, providing a directional beam for many applications such as satellite communications, GPS, and WLAN.
The architecture of a basic patch antenna. Image used courtesy of Science Direct (Rouphael)
Patch antennas are valued for their simplicity, low profile, ease of fabrication, and integration into printed circuit boards (PCBs). They are lightweight and can be manufactured in large quantities at low cost. Additionally, patch antennas can be designed to operate at multiple frequencies or support dual polarization, enhancing their versatility in different applications.
Taoglas' "patch-in-a-patch" is an advanced architecture built to improve the performance of standard patch antennas. In this design, a smaller patch is embedded within a larger patch, enhancing bandwidth and multi-frequency operation without significantly increasing the antenna's overall size. The inner patch resonates at higher frequencies, while the outer patch covers lower frequencies. This dual-layer structure can provide better impedance matching and gain, making it suitable for applications requiring wideband or multi-band performance.
Saving Space Without Sacrificing Performance
As technology advances, the demand for compact, high-performance components in space-constrained environments continues to grow. The Taoglas HP5354.A "patch-in-a-patch" antenna features an innovative antenna design that Taoglas hopes can address the challenge of reducing size while maintaining exceptional performance.
