Antenna Engineering & Certification
Improve integrated antenna quality and reduce development cost by using accurate and validated virtual prototyping

Antennas are the keystone technology that allows connected smart devices to communicate wirelessly with the world. A modern cell phone contains multiple antennas to provide location awareness and connectivity for a whole host of communication standards. Including support for emerging 5G communication standards (e.g. MIMO and mm-wave array functionality) alongside existing standards - like 4G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GNSS - in already crowded devices has wide-reaching implications for system design and integration. At the same time, developers are facing increasing pressure to streamline development processes, e.g. by reducing the number of costly physical prototypes and time-consuming measurements.
The antenna engineering and certification solution by Dassault Systèmes SIMULIA provides a comprehensive set of simulation tools to address the full design process, from antenna concept, where the antenna design tool Antenna Magus accelerates the discovery of new antenna options, to optimizing antenna performance in the full device while complying with electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and human safety (specific absorption rate, or SAR) requirements. The range of advanced simulation technologies included with CST Studio Suite allows fast and accurate simulation of the antenna in its real environment.
Seamless collaboration between designers, electronic and mechanical engineers using a model-based – as opposed to a file-based – approach allows them to make and communicate necessary changes to the product quickly and thus improves the engineering efficiency, enabling them to make better informed design decisions.

Integrated Antenna Design
Antennas form the basis of modern communications and antenna design is one of the largest applications areas of CST Studio Suite. Users design and optimize components ranging from miniaturized antennas printed on densely populated PCBs to electrically large arrays and reflector antennas. The installed performance of antennas placed on platforms such as vehicles, buildings, aircraft and ships can also be calculated.

Co-site Interference
Modern devices serve multiple communication requirements with various antenna systems on one platform. Co-site interference analysis helps understanding the interaction between these antenna systems, predicting coupling levels and identifying critical coupling paths. By mitigating cosite interference the reliable operation of a device in its intended electromagnetic environment in the presence of other radio systems can be ensured.

SAR Optimization and Certification
The specfic absorption rate (SAR) is a measure of the rate of electromagnetic energy being absorbed by the body. This energy is typically emitted by devices such as mobile phones. Simulation can help to analyze SAR values and ensure the product fulfills the required human exposure certification standards.
The Challenge
Antennas require a proper ground plane in order to function correctly. This can be hard to achieve in small devices with several separate metal parts and may result in high-loss resonances which are very difficult to track. It may take weeks to find the cause of these problems, and a new prototyping round would be needed in order to fix the problem.
Dassault Systèmes Response
Simulation with CST Studio Suite, a SIMULIA simulation tool, made it possible for designs to be examined without the cost of constructing a prototype, and field visualization allows resonant components to be identified by eye
The Challenge
A dual-band, high-gain antenna needed to be integrated into an Internet of Things sensor network, while making sure that the antenna is compact enough to fit into the device.
Dassault Systèmes Response
Drayson Technologies used CST Studio Suite in order to design this antenna. The combination of all the different solvers in one user interface meant that they could use the best solver for each application.
The correct placement of antennas can make or break a system when installed on a vehicle, aircraft, ship or structure. Communication systems such as radio, WIFI, cell networks, and satellite links as well as sensor systems such as radar, guidance and collision avoidance all rely on antennas to function. However, the surroundings of the antenna can reflect or obstruct waves and affect its performance.
Find the Ideal Antenna Placement with Electromagnetic Simulation to learn how the Antenna Placement app on the 3DEXPERIENCE® platform helps engineers find the best antenna placement early in the design process, without having to test a physical prototype.