<antenna />

Overview

The <antenna /> element represents a single-feed antenna. It is a normal component, so its feed pad is defined by a footprint and the complete antenna can be placed with props such as pcbX, pcbY, pcbRotation, and layer.

Use pcbPath to draw an open-ended copper shape from the feed. Coordinate entries are local to the feed pad and move with the antenna, unlike board-level coordinates. The copper route begins at the feed automatically.

export default () => (
  <board width="32mm" height="16mm" minTraceWidth="0.3mm">
    <antenna
      name="ANT1"
      pcbX={-8}
      pcbY={-1}
      footprint={
        <footprint>
          <smtpad
            shape="rect"
            width="1mm"
            height="1mm"
            portHints={["pin1"]}
          />
        </footprint>
      }
      pcbPath={[
        { x: 1, y: 0 },
        { x: 1, y: 5 },
        { x: 12, y: 5 },
        { x: 12, y: 3.5 },
        { x: 3, y: 3.5 },
        { x: 3, y: 2 },
        { x: 12, y: 2 },
        { x: 12, y: 0.5 },
        { x: 3, y: 0.5 },
        { x: 3, y: -1 },
        { x: 12, y: -1 },
      ]}
    />
  </board>
)

Pins

An antenna has one electrical connection:

Pin	Alias	Description
pin1	feed	Feed point for the antenna and the anchor for local pcbPath coordinates

Connect the antenna to another component with either pin name:

<trace from=".U1 > .pin1" to=".ANT1 > .feed" />

Properties

Property	Type	Required	Description
name	string	Yes	Component name or reference designator, typically "ANT1"
footprint	string | JSX.Element	For PCB use	Physical antenna footprint. Provide a pad with portHints={["pin1"]} to anchor pcbPath
pcbPath	PcbPath	No	Explicit open-ended copper path using the same point, selector, and via entries as <trace />
pcbX	number | string	No	X position of the antenna feed
pcbY	number | string	No	Y position of the antenna feed
pcbRotation	number | string	No	Counter-clockwise PCB rotation applied to the footprint and local path
layer	LayerRef	No	PCB layer for the component; defaults to "top"
symbol	string | JSX.Element	No	Custom schematic representation
cadModel	object | JSX.Element	No	Optional 3D model configuration

The antenna also accepts the common PCB and schematic layout props used by normal components.

PCB path entries

A pcbPath can contain:

• Local coordinate points such as { x: 4, y: 2 }. Raw numbers are millimeters relative to the feed.
• Port selectors such as ".TP1 > .pin1". Selector positions use their global PCB coordinates.
• Via points such as { x: 4, y: 2, via: true, fromLayer: "top", toLayer: "bottom" }.

The copper width follows minTraceWidth on the enclosing board or subcircuit. See Draw a WiFi Antenna for a complete example connected to an RF chip.

RF geometry

The example demonstrates the tscircuit API, not a tuned RF design. Use antenna dimensions, controlled impedance, substrate parameters, and clearance rules from a validated reference design or antenna datasheet. Preserve the specified ground and copper clearance with a <keepout /> where needed.