Antenna integration can be a complex and challenging process, especially when dealing with small form factors and multiple frequency bands. However, with the advancements in Virtual Antenna® technology, the process of antenna integration has been greatly simplified. In this blog post, we will explore how Virtual Antenna® technology can make antenna integration easier and more efficient. We will also dive deeper into the specific challenges faced in designing a blood pressure monitor for Withings and how these challenges were overcome using Ignion’s Antenna Intelligence Cloud™ and Virtual Antenna® technology.

When designing a device, one of the key considerations is meeting the performance requirements, particularly in terms of cellular connectivity. In the case of the Withings blood pressure monitor, there were a number of challenges. Withings was taking an existing product design, the BPM Connect which has a small, elegant design, and needed to add cellular to address a new use case for professional health providers and their patients who did not necessarily have access to a smartphone to use the Withings app. The small PCB size posed limitations on antenna performance, especially for cellular while the proximity of the antenna to the body caused signal degradation. These challenges needed to be addressed to ensure optimal antenna efficiency and a fast development schedule.

Virtual Antenna® technology offers a solution to simplify antenna integration and optimize performance. By utilizing Ignion’s online digital twin design tool Antenna Intelligence Cloud™, engineers can input the frequency range of operation and PCB size to receive antenna recommendations, matching network requirements, and performance data. This tool allows engineers to evaluate antenna performance before starting the design process, saving time and effort and removing risk.

In the case of the Withings blood pressure monitor, the feasibility step involved using the Antenna Intelligence Cloud™ to assess antenna performance. The initial results indicated that the efficiency was relatively low due to the small PCB size. To address this, it was recommended that the PCB size be increased and employ an active circuit topology, where the various LTE bands could be tuned to be narrowed to peak efficiency.

Moving to the design step, Withings’ engineers worked on their PCB design and integrated the antenna into the enclosure. Simulation of the complete design revealed a slight detuning of the frequency and a drop in efficiency as this took into account their enclosure plus their impact on the body. The matching network was adjusted to retune the frequency and optimize performance. This process just took a week by just adjusting the matching network thanks to Virtual Antenna(R) technology while it could take several weeks with other antenna solutions.

Once satisfied with the simulated performance, the engineers proceeded to build the first prototype hardware. Physical tuning and optimization were performed using a body phantom hand in the Ignion lab in Barcelona to simulate real-world conditions. Minor detuning was observed, but with the flexibility of the matching network, the frequency was easily adjusted to achieve optimal performance.

After the necessary optimizations, the Withings blood pressure monitor successfully achieved certifications and was ready for the market. The design journey demonstrated how Virtual Antenna® technology, combined with the Antenna Intelligence Cloud™ digital twin, simplified the antenna integration process. The use of Virtual Antenna® component allowed for easy integration into the small form factor and provided broadband and multi-band capabilities. This approach ensured consistent results and saved time throughout the design process. In fact, the product from concept to final design was done in under a year.

Virtual Antenna® technology offers a streamlined approach to antenna integration, enabling engineers to optimize performance and meet design requirements. The Antenna Intelligence Cloud™ serves as a valuable resource in assessing antenna performance early in the design process. By utilizing Virtual Antenna® technology and following a structured design journey, engineers can simplify the integration process and achieve optimal antenna efficiency.

By leveraging the power of Virtual Antenna® technology and embracing a customer-centric design journey, companies can simplify their antenna integration processes, save time, and deliver high-performance IoT products to the market.

In the rapidly advancing world of health and wellness, the integration of cellular connectivity has brought forth new possibilities.

Sequans, a leading provider of 4G and 5G chipsets and modules, plays a vital role in creating medical and wellness products for companies like Withings. In this blog post, we will explore how Sequans’ products combined with the antenna connectivity expertise from Ignion contribute to the future of health and wellness by enabling seamless connectivity and enhanced user experiences.

Sequans is uniquely positioned as the sole provider offering a complete range of 4G and 5G chipsets and modules optimized for non-smartphone applications. Their portfolio is divided into two main categories: massive IoT and broadband and critical IoT. For the purpose of this discussion, we will focus on massive IoT, which encompasses health and wellness devices.

By 2025, it is projected that there will be approximately 200 million units of IoT devices with single-mode LTE Cat 1 or Cat 1bis connectivity. Among these, around 8 million units will be medical equipment. Additionally, it is estimated that 100 million IoT devices with LTE-M connectivity will exist, with over 5 million units being medical equipment.

Sequans addresses the growing market for connected medical equipment by utilizing their Calliope and Monarch platform families. These platforms are specifically designed to support respectively LTE Cat 1 and LTE Cat M connectivity. With their second-generation platforms, Sequans offers optimized integration, secure connections, integrated SIM capabilities, and low power consumption. These features ensure ease of use, data security, and extended device lifetimes.

Collaboration and Support: Sequans collaborates with industry partners like Ignion to overcome RF challenges and facilitate the integration of cellular connectivity. Ignion provides Virtual Antenna® solutions, ensuring seamless connectivity without compromising device design or performance. In addition to technical support, Sequans offers a range of services to their customers, including schematic and layout review, RF and field qualification, certification, and assistance during the production phase. This comprehensive support structure enables a smooth transition from prototype to mass production.

Sequans’ connectivity solutions, Monarch and Calliope, play a pivotal role in shaping the future of health and wellness. By adding cellular connectivity to medical equipment, these solutions enable seamless integration into our daily lives. Complex pairing procedures are eliminated, and users enjoy an “always on” availability regardless of their location. The integration of Sequans’ solutions brings optimized real estate, secure connections, flexible connectivity management, low power consumption, and longevity benefits. Patients’ data remains secure, and devices can operate for extended periods, ensuring a reliable and sustainable solution.

The Withings BPM PRO is a result of a successful collaboration between Sequans, Ignion, and Withings. Withings, established in 2008, has been a leader in designing and manufacturing health devices for home use, including smart scales, watches, blood pressure monitors, and sleep sensors. These clinically validated devices are connected to an app that provides users with in-depth health information and personalized programs.

Withings focuses on user experience and engagement, understanding the importance of daily and long-term health monitoring. Their devices are designed to be beautiful and easy to use, with a high retention rate of 94% for scales and blood pressure monitors after 12 months.

Expanding beyond the consumer market, Withings aims to address the needs of patients who require blood pressure monitoring as part of their health programs. These individuals may not be equipped with smartphones or have technical expertise, so seamless onboarding and data synchronization are crucial. Withings takes responsibility for delivering the data to healthcare providers and bridging the gap between providers and patients.

The BPM PRO range, which includes the BPM Connect and BPM Connect Pro, offers simple and efficient user experiences. The BPM Connect features Wi-Fi and BLE connections, while the BPM Connect Pro adds cellular connectivity to cater to patient use cases. Although they appear the same externally, the differences lie in the internal components.

The collaboration between Ignion, Sequans, and Withings was instrumental in the development of the BPM Connect Pro (read all about it in our case study). The teams of engineers worked closely to adapt the compact design of the BPM Connect and incorporate the necessary cellular modules, SIM cards, and antennas. Sequans provided expertise in module firmware adaptation, ensuring optimal performance and secure connectivity.

Ignion contributed the right antenna technology and fine-tuning to meet the product’s requirements and the challenges of a very small form factor and proximity to the human body.  Using Ignion’s unique Antenna Intelligence Cloud™ and carefully orchestrated design journey the teams were able to retune and make adjustments every step of the way shortening the design process from idea to finished product to just 12 months.  Get more in-detail information about this successful health and wellness IoT case study here.

Sequans’ commitment to advancing cellular IoT solutions for health and wellness devices has paved the way for a future where connectivity seamlessly integrates into our daily lives. With a comprehensive range of chipsets and modules, optimized platforms, and collaborative partnerships with key partners like Ignion which brings its expertise to accelerate customer design with the right performance level, Sequans is driving innovation in the industry. As technology continues to evolve, we can expect further advancements that will revolutionize the way we monitor and improve our health and well-being.