The design of an end product is often driven by small form factor and attractive appearance. However, to achieve a product with solid performance, several design factors must be considered.
Some of those design factors conflict with the small form factor target. Typically, this means a compromise in the design that may affect the performance or appearance of the end product.
When a preliminary schematic of the device is ready, designing the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) can begin. Layout design is typically iterative and involves trade-offs. The first hardware design rarely ends up being the mass-produced version. To minimize the number of hardware design rounds, cost, and time, the selected essential design factors that have a major impact on the end product's RF performance are discussed here.