TABLE OF CONTENTS An antenna has also been incorporated into a package [8] for a complete Bluetooth RF and digital SiP design. However, the design approach could be applied to other wireless applications. Incorporating the antenna into the module reduces the burden on the end user. In addition, it sets the mating antenna for the RF transceiver, which allows the module designer to reduce the filtering requirements on the front end of the transceiver. The designer can rely on the selectivity provided by the one and only antenna that mates to the transceiver [9]. A conservative approach would rely on 10-dB to 15-dB selectivity from the antenna in the 900-MHz GSM band for this design (see Figure 4.9).
The antenna is highly dependent on its operating environment. A package designer avoids restrictions on the module placement and surroundings. A package incorporating an antenna, however, can not be made robust to accommodate all applications without restrictions. The application for this design was industrial lighting. Plastic would not be in the vicinity of the module as in the case of a wireless mouse or PDA application. Plastic in proximity to the antenna acts as a radome and detunes the antenna. However, the ground plane on the mating board was a concern for this design. The module was a square, 15 mm on a side. The desire was to reduce the ground plane to this size, thus removing any ground plane constraints on the mating...
