Design Process and Services

The antenna solution for a product is a critical factor in its success and DockOn’s innovative design process leveraging our CPL^™ Builder Software Tools and integration/measurement methods provides the speed and reliability required.

Design Process

1. Requirements and Optimization
The requirements for the project are documented and a custom CPL^™ antenna solution is begun in simulation utilizing our CPL Builder software tools. The industrial design (ID), PCB layout, and components are included in the simulation and the antenna solution is optimized inside of the product. Manufacturing tolerances are studied at this point as well.

The DockOn process and tools reduce the time for initial designs from weeks to days enabling several benefits to the customer:
Enable flexibility to virtually explore multiple product design concepts with full RF optimization.
Discover and eliminate product risk earlier in the product design cycle.
Evaluate industrial design vs. RF performance tradeoffs without impacting time to market.

2. Prototype and Integration
The resulting CPL^™ antenna solution from the simulation optimization routine is prototyped and integrated into the device.

3. Passive Measurements
The device with integrated CPL^™ antenna(s) is measured passively in our lab using our Satimo Starlab 3D measurement chamber. Passive requirements are optimized and recorded into a report. Data in the report includes:
–Initial requirements summary
–CPL^™ antenna solution specifications
–Return loss
–Efficiency
–Peak gain
–Radiation patterns (2 elevation, 1 azimuth)
–Recommendations

4. Active Measurements
Certain applications, such as Wi-Fi, require active measurement data in order to fully characterize the antenna solution performance. For these applications, the CPL^™ antenna solution is integrated into the device and active throughput measurements are performed using Ixia’s IX Chariot tool.

5. PCB CAD Layout Integration and Validation
The CPL^™ antenna solution artwork is integrated into the device’s PCB CAD layout by our experienced engineering team. A small run of updated PCB assemblies is produced by our customer’s manufacturer with all components installed and ID parts assembled. The antenna solution is validated again in our lab with passive measurements. After validation, the design is complete and delivered. Our experienced engineering team supports your company through the manufacturing process and is dedicated to the success of the product.