QUESTION

Question

What is the difference between a PIFA and a Dipole?  When should I use one over the other? How do I feed them with the antenna trace?

Answer 1

Hi, Electrically they are both similar but a PIFA utilizes the PCB GND and a dipole uses the GND half of the antenna.

A dipole requires much more space than a PIFA and Dipoles for devices are normally on an FPC type antenna with a cable. If your device is small its likely you would need to use a smaller SMD type antenna, but no need to limit yourself to a PIFA as there are ceramic type antennas which use the GND plane differently to radiate.