Mechanical considerations in antenna design

Telecommunication providers require low cost, electrically and mechanically reliable products to satisfy customer requirements. In order to meet these expectations, antenna designers must venture beyond electrical performance into the realm of mechanical integrity and robustness. One of the main considerations when designing an antenna for a given commercial application is to classify the environment and the product lifetime in which the antenna is to operate successfully. Antenna applications such as cellular, GSM, PCS, DECT, WLL/WLAN, rural point-to-multipoint, and digital audio broadcast antennas require normal operation in an outdoor environment which may see extremes in temperature, humidity, altitude, ice, snow, rain and wind. The designer must first define the worst case operating conditions that the antenna is expected to meet, and then ensure the antenna design exceeds these specifications. In accomplishing this task, the designer will employ as many tools that they have at their disposal. These tools include hand calculations, 3D computer aided design (CAD) packages, Finite Element Analysis (FEA), standard environmental specifications, standard test procedures, and rapid prototype printing. Every effort must be made to ensure collaboration between electrical and mechanical aspects of a design early on in the concept phase of a new product to ensure success.