Case Study: Smart Watch
Smartwatches are wearable computers that resemble traditional wristwatches but offer a wide range of functionalities beyond just telling time. They are used for a variety of purposes, including health and fitness tracking, communication, GPS and navigation, mobile payments, and entertainment.
The antenna design procedure for smartwatches begins with determining the specific wireless technologies and frequency bands the antenna needs to support. Designers then create a preliminary design using simulation software to model its performance within the smartwatch’s compact form and using a realistic hand model. Material selection is crucial to ensure that the antenna and smartwatch casing do not interfere with signal transmission. A prototype is built and integrated into the smartwatch for initial testing. Performance tests, including efficiency, bandwidth, and Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), are conducted with hand models, and the design is optimized based on the results.
Finally, the optimized antenna is integrated into the final smartwatch design, and comprehensive testing is performed to ensure it meets all regulatory and performance standards.
Challenges in smart watch antenna design
Antenna implementation to smartwatch requires high workload for concepting-phase. Every detail, from mechanical engineering to hardware considerations, is crucial to meet the design targets effectively. The main challenges in smart watch antenna design are listed in the following:
Size Constraints: Smartwatches are compact devices, which limits the space available for antenna placement. This requires antennas to be small and efficient while maintaining performance.
Multifunctionality: Smartwatches support various wireless technologies such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, and cellular networks. Designing an antenna that can handle multiple frequencies without interference is complex.
Material and Aesthetics: The materials used in smartwatch casings and straps can affect antenna performance. Designers must balance aesthetic appeal with functional requirements.
Battery and Power Management: Antennas must be designed to operate efficiently with the limited power available from the smartwatch’s battery
Human Body Interaction: The proximity of the antenna to the human body can detune the antenna and affect its performance. This requires careful design to ensure reliable operation in various wearing conditions
Regulatory Compliance: Antennas must meet regulatory standards for electromagnetic radiation and safety
These challenges require innovative solutions and careful consideration of both electromagnetic and mechanical design aspects to ensure optimal performance and user experience. Antenna design and testing should be conducted from the start in realistic conditions, using human model.
Expertise
Convergentia has strong expertise on smart watch antenna design and optimization. Our guiding principles encompass both industrial design-driven and performance-driven concepts, ensuring that our smartwatch antennas meet the highest standards across various products. We also specialize in designing antennas for high-end mechanical luxury watches, where maintaining a seamless visual appearance without any gaps in the displays is paramount. This meticulous attention to visual aesthetics is balanced with the need for exceptional performance, ensuring that both form and function are optimized to the highest standards.
In addition, Convergentia has extensive experience in integrating advanced connectivity features into smartwatches, including Long Term Evolution (LTE) and Ultra-Wideband (UWB). These capabilities are seamlessly combined with conventional technologies like GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, ensuring comprehensive connectivity and advanced functionalities. Implementing LTE connectivity requires innovative antenna concepts, advanced matching circuits, and optimal grounding designs. Through comprehensive antenna conceptual design, we strike a perfect balance between excellent performance and sleek industrial design
Conclusions
Designing antennas for smartwatches involves creating compact, multi-band solutions that ensure reliable performance while considering the device’s limited space and the influence of the human body on signal transmission. Convergentia excels in designing antennas for both high-end luxury smartwatches and innovative connectivity smartwatches, seamlessly combining outstanding performance with sleek, elegant industrial design.
