SAM-M10Q - Integration manual
elevation angle
θ.
The direction
θ
= 0° is in the direction normal to the ground plane. The pattern is
omnidirectional over the azimuth angle
φ.
Figure 20: SAM-M10Q antenna RHCP gain pattern in free space at GPS and GLONASS bands. Measured on a 50 x 50
mm
2
ground plane.
The ground plane of the application design forms a part of the antenna. For best performance, place
the SAM-M10Q antenna module in the middle of the ground plane. A solid ground plane around the
antenna is required for free flow of the antenna currents. The size and shape of the ground plane
as well as discontinuities (e.g. holes or signal traces) in the ground plane may affect the radiation
pattern. The optimal radiation pattern is achieved with a 50 x 50 mm
2
ground plane. A larger ground
plane can be used, but on a small ground plane the antenna gain and radiation efficiency are reduced.
Significant degradation in performance occurs with a ground plane smaller than 40 x 40 mm
2
.
The ceramic patch antenna is insensitive to surroundings and has a high tolerance against
frequency detuning. It is however recommended to place any tall components (h > 3 mm) at least
10 mm away from the antenna. An enclosure or a plastic cover should have a minimum distance of
5 mm to the antenna.
The close proximity of human body can have a detrimental effect on the antenna performance due
to the high permittivity and electrical loss of body tissue. The antenna operating frequency can be
UBX-22020019 - R01
3 Hardware integration
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C1-Public
