Definition

PCB antennas integrate radiating elements directly on the board - patch antennas, IFAs (inverted-F), PIFAs, meander lines, or chip antenna feeds. Benefits: no external antenna cost, smaller form factor, reproducible performance. Design factors: substrate Dk affects antenna size (higher Dk = smaller), ground plane size affects gain, clearance keep-outs are critical. Simulated with EM tools (HFSS, CST). Common for WiFi, Bluetooth, cellular, GPS, and NFC. Antenna performance is highly sensitive to nearby components, enclosure, and user interaction. Prototype validation essential.