Laird BL600 Series, Hardware Integration Manual

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BL600-Sx
Single Mode BLE Module
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Europe: +44-1628-858-940
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www.lairdtech.com/bluetooth
29 CONN-UM-BL600_v1_0

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
Figure 10 , where the antenna keep-out
area is ~4.2 mm wide, 34.2 mm long; with PCB dielectric (no copper) height 1.539mm sitting under the
BL600-SA antenna.

A different host PCB thickness dielectric will have small effect on antenna.
Figure 10: Antenna keep-out area (shown in red) used on the BL600 development board for BL600-SA module.

The antenna-keep-out defined in the section
PCB land pattern and antenna keep-out area for BL600-SA
is for case when BL600-SA is placed in the corner of host PCB. When BL600-SA cannot be placed in
corner of host PCB, then MUST place on the edge of the host PCB then cut-away copper (on all layers of
host PCB) from the corner to the location of the BL600-SA antenna. For example Figure 10 shows
what was done on the BL600 development board.
6.3.2 Antenna keep-out and Proximity to Metal or Plastic
Checklist (for metal /plastic enclosure)

Minimum safe distance for metals without seriously compromising the antenna (tuning) is 40mm
top/bottom and 30mm left or right.
BL600-SA module
Anten
na Keepout
1. BL600 module placed on edge of
host PCB.
2. Copper cut-away on all layers in
“antenna Keep-out” area under
BL600 on host PCB.
Corner of development board (host
PCB).