Meaning
RF coupling loss between two or more radiating elements on a common substrate establishes the electromagnetic boundary that defines local system performance. High antenna isolation ensures that the transmitter on one band does not desensitize the co-located receiver of another technology. This boundary is measured in decibels across the operational bandwidth of the device.
Measurement Method
Direct measurement of the scattering parameters between the feed points of the co-located elements yields the required loss value. Vector network analyzers connect directly to the coaxial interfaces during this verification step. The ports of the inactive antennas must be terminated with a fifty-ohm load to prevent false reflections.
Performance Threshold
A minimum loss of twenty decibels prevents excessive noise leakage and preserves the receiver sensitivity of co-located modules. Lower values lead to system degradation and can cause intermodulation issues. The specific target depends on the transmit power of the active module.
Design Mitigation
Physical separation of the radiators on the printed circuit board remains the primary method for improving the coupling loss. Implementing slot lines, using orthogonal polarization or placing decoupling structures between the feeds can also increase the barrier. These design adjustments reduce the field coupling without increasing the footprint.
When mechanical constraints prevent adequate physical spacing, electronic measures like bandpass filters at the receiver input help protect the sensitive low-noise amplifier from being saturated by the nearby transmitter.