How to Successfully Integrate a Wireless Module

Choosing the right wireless technology for your wireless module design is always the first step, but this decision is influenced by many constraints like required range, data rate, battery life, security, infrastructure, signal coverage, product size, co-existence, knowledge, time frame, and more.

The design recommendations in this white paper mainly cover the placement of a wireless module on a circuit board, module placement with respect to ground plane, and routing of crucial signal traces. Recommendations are also made regarding more general issues like power supply or handling of special-purpose module signals. These design recommendations are usually fully implemented on our development kits (DVKs), so these kits (and associated design documents) serve as a reference which are available for most DVKs on their module product pages at www.lairdconnect.com.

In the following sections, we’ll browse through several design topics. We will not dive deeply into antenna and RF theory here but will provide some basic information to shed new light onto and motivate the design recommendations from the module datasheets.

“Wireless modules greatly simplify integrating a wireless technology into your product, compared to a bare chipset-based approach. Crucial parts of the RF design are already integrated into the module and an existing module certification can significantly simplify end-product certification testing. However, to take advantage of both the RF design and the certification, it is important to follow certain design recommendations. This white paper will walk through these design recommendations and explain the underlying concepts, leading to a successful module integration.”

Dr. Erik Lins, Field Applications Engineering Manager EMEA, Laird Connectivity

For better performance, stability, and longevity of your product, and a better user experience, design recommendations from manufacturers like Laird Connectivity are your friend. Poor wireless directly correlates with a poor user experience, so make it your earliest PCB inclusion and follow best practices to set your design on a path to success. Furthermore, the regulatory process is a common hurdle and is full of potential pitfalls and delays; follow design recommendations to ensure a safe path to market for your design with as minimal hassle as possible.