I have seen a lot of datasheets with drawings similar to these. Before I even get to the point of trying to design a circuit, impedance match, design pi filter, etc. I have some basic questions about these datasheets. For example, I see vias which makes me think there is a dedicated Ground layer, but there is also the large "orange" layer in the figures which is labeled "Ground". So is this saying if I have a dedicated ground layer that I should also have a solid "Ground" region on my top (signal) layer and connect them with vias? I am assuming that large orange area labeled "ground" is on the top layer because the microstripline and pads for the antenna are also orange. Or maybe this is just for a 2 layer board? Also, what is the grey area around the microstripline?
Any help is appreciated.
This CANNOT be a two layer board because of the capacitance will completely disable any RF in the side you are designing for. ALL the orange stuff is copper plating on single sided FR4 material. If you are envisioning designing this stuff, you will need appropriate test equipment. No, not need, absolutely HAVE TO HAVE.
I understand it is not trivial to design these which is why I am trying to just learn as much as possible. So to be clear, you are saying these boards have both a dedicated Ground Layer as well as solid Ground areas on the signal layer and these are connected by vias?
No! Just as the pictorial shows the copper ground and the copper strip line to the antenna are BOTH on the same side of the single sided circuit board. I did not see a mention of the type, nor the thickness of the circuit board material, but BOTH will affect the operation of the RF circuit.
Additional. Please understand that the article is about matching your RF generator to that companies antenna, NOT the designing of ceramic patch antennas.
You are right. They are connecting to a second copper layer. I did not read all the text.
"Connect the edge portion of ground planes (the ground plane surrounding the microstripline feeding the antenna to the bottom ground plane layer) with many through holes (vias). These through holes minimize the electric fields which are generated at the edge, minimizing the effects on the antenna performance.".
But see the additional notes about the strip line dimensions being affected by the board material and the thickness.
A couple of years of advanced electrical engineering courses are required to learn the basics of PCB and/or solid state antenna design. it is a specialists specialty, and very, very few people are good at it.