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Planar Inverted-F Antenna (PIFA)

Microstrip & Printed Antennas

A folded, shorted patch that fits an efficient antenna into a tiny device.

Band: UHF to SHF
Gain: ~0-4 dBi
Polarization: Linear

Photos

Real-world photo of a Planar Inverted-F Antenna (PIFA) in use — Real-world example. Source: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0; Peter Häll / Swedish National Museum of Science and Technology).

Radiation / wave patterns

Idealized radiation pattern of the Planar Inverted-F Antenna (PIFA) — Idealized azimuth radiation pattern (illustrative, generated). Radial scale in dB.

How & why it works

A PIFA takes a patch antenna and shorts one edge to the ground plane with a pin or strip, which lets a quarter-wavelength resonance fit in roughly half the length of a normal patch. The 'inverted-F' name comes from the side profile formed by the feed and shorting posts. This compactness, low profile, and reduced radiation toward the user's head make the PIFA a workhorse internal antenna in phones, tablets, and other handheld devices.

Real-world uses

Mobile phones, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth modules, laptops, and other compact wireless devices.