BL600-Sx Hardware Integration Guide
Single Mode BLE Module
Americas: +1-800-492-2320 Option 2
Europe: +44-1628-858-940
Hong Kong: +852-2923-0610
www.lairdtech.com/bluetooth
34
CONN-HIG-BL600
6.2
PCB Layout on Host PCB - General
Checklist (for PCB):
MUST locate BL600-Sx module close to the edge of PCB (mandatory for BL600-SA for on-board chip
antenna to radiate properly).
Use solid GND plane on inner layer (for best EMC and RF performance).
All module GND pins MUST be connected to host PCB GND.
Place GND vias close to module GND pads as possible.
Unused PCB area on surface layer can flooded with copper but place GND vias regularly to connect
copper flood to inner GND plane. If GND flood copper underside the module then connect with GND
vias to inner GND plane.
Route traces to avoid noise being picked up on VCC supply and AIN(analogue) and SIO (digital) traces.
Do NOT run any track near NC pins pin38 and 39 of BL600-Sx.
Ensure no exposed copper underside of the module (refer to land pattern of BL600 development
board).
6.3
PCB Layout on Host PCB for BL600-SA
6.3.1
Antenna keep-out on host PCB
The BL600-SA has an integrated chip antenna and its performance is sensitive to host PCB. It is critical to
locate the BL600-SA on the edge of the host PCB (or corner) to allow the antenna to radiate properly. Refer to
guidelines in section
PCB land pattern and antenna keep-out area for BL600-SA
. Some of those guidelines
repeated below.
Ensure there is no copper in the antenna keep-out area on any layers of the host PCB. Keep all
mounting hardware and metal clear of the area to allow proper antenna radiation.
For best antenna performance, place the BL600-SA module on the edge of the host PCB, preferably in
the corner with the antenna facing the corner.
The BL600 development board has the BL600-SA module on the edge of the board (not in the corner).
The antenna keep-out area is defined by the BL600 development board which was used for module
development and antenna performance evaluation is shown in
, where the antenna keep-out
area is ~4.2 mm wide, 34.2 mm long; with PCB dielectric (no copper) height 1.539 mm sitting under
the BL600-SA antenna.
A different host PCB thickness dielectric will have small effect on antenna.
The antenna-keep-out defined in
