Good day,
Could you please rate the quality of the antenna matching for the PN7160?
The antenna was measured with a VNA and calculated with the PN7160_matching_calculator.xls, then fine-tuned with the VNA.
Our values:
La = 1.2uH
Ca = 8pF
Ra = 0.645R
L0 = 160nH
C0 = 330pF
C1 = 71pF
C2 = 68pF
Rq = 2R2
The Z almost matches the targeted 20R, unfortunately a small (-4.5j) imaginary component remains.
Is a small imaginary component okay, or should it be completely eliminated? Unfortunately, I can't manage to get rid of it.
Do you have any suggestions where I could start here?
By the way, reader function, I_TXLDO, AGC (both measured with the Factoryapp) look okay!
Thanks in advance,
Michael
Hello Michael !
I think generally it looks OK. But I have a few comments.
1. Are the values you wrote the right ones? Especially the C2 capacitor? I put your values into the RF simulator and I can see quite a huge difference
I double-checked the matching in PN7160_matching_calculator.xls, and the C2 value should be around 135 pF. Then it looks more like your measurement.
2. Impedance (22.5 - 4.6j) Ohm is not bad. Of course, ideally, it is better to have exactly e.g. 20-22 Ohms real impedance. Then you have the most "efficient" system. It is also better from a manufacturing and components tolerances point of view.
You can try to slightly increase C1 and then slightly decrease C2. You should be closer to the real axis. Generally, we recommend to keep the imaginary part up to +-3j
3. Not sure how many "points" are you using for the VNA measurement. If possible, use 801 points. Then the Smith chart will be more "smooth"
BR
Tomas
Hello Tomas!
I tried a bit more and came up with C1=71p / C2=131p (130p).
Here I get an almost real Z of 25R.
I accept the higher Z because the read range is actually very good and I then have reserves in terms of maximum I_TXLDO.
If I'm missing something serious, please let me know.
Thanks & BR,
Michael
