TWI624994B - Integrated antenna - Google Patents

Abstract

The specific embodiment relates to an integrated antenna. In one example, an integrated antenna system as described herein can include a grounding system including a conductive housing and a grounded slotted structure of a wireless communication device, including an integrated coupling to one of the grounding system actuators An antenna, wherein the exciter is configured to excite a plurality of wireless bandwidths, and the integrated antennas are integrated in the ground slotted structure, and a signal is fed to receive and transmit wireless signals to and from the exciter.

Description

Integrated antenna

This disclosure relates to techniques for integrated antennas.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Computing devices can include antennas that facilitate wireless communication. For example, multiple antennas in a computing device can be assigned to operate in different frequency bands of interest to the device while still maintaining signal strength and minimizing the size requirements for the device.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a system is specifically provided comprising: a grounding system comprising a conductive housing of a wireless communication device and a ground slotted structure; an integrated antenna comprising an actuator coupled to the grounding system The exciter is configured to excite a plurality of wireless bandwidths; and the integrated antenna is integrated in the ground slotted structure; and a signal is fed to receive and transmit wireless signals to and from the exciter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As the size of the computing device changes, the spatial configuration within the computing device may change. For example, mobile and/or portable computing devices (collectively referred to herein as "computing devices") may become lighter, thinner, and shorter. The computing device can include a smart phone, a handheld computer, a personal digital assistant, a car computer, a wearable computer, a laptop, a tablet, and/or a laptop/tablet hybrid computer.

The computing device can include an antenna to transmit and/or receive signals. For example, antennas can be used to assist with network access, voice over IP, games, high-definition mobile TV, video conferencing, and more. However, as computing devices become lighter, thinner, and shorter, multiple antennas of an electronic device may be located closer to each other. When the location is close to and/or in contact with another antenna, the antenna may experience interference and/or may not function as desired. Also, wireless communication devices such as smart phones and tablet devices may include conductive decorative features such as metal strips around the perimeter of the device housing. While providing an attractive appearance, such conductive decorative features may cause interference with the antenna system of the device.

Again, Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology for commercial and consumer wireless devices has created additional difficulties in antenna design. Due to the new frequency configuration of LTE technology, the design difficulty of integrating LTE antennas into wireless communication devices has increased.

Accordingly, the disclosure herein relates to methods, systems, and electronics for employing integrated antennas. For example, an integrated antenna as described herein includes an apparatus having a ground slotted structure in physical contact with a chassis of a wireless communication device. The apparatus can include a metal gap region coupled to the ground slotted structure, wherein the ground slotted structure includes an integrated antenna, and as described herein, the integrated antenna can include a grounded excitation arm and a monopole arm. The grounding excitation arm can provide a wireless bandwidth to the wireless communication device in a first range and a second range, and the monopole arm can provide a wireless bandwidth in a second range to the wireless communication device.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a system 100 in accordance with the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 1, system 100 can include a grounding system 102 that includes a conductive housing 102-1, a chassis ground 102-2, and a modified ground 102-3. System 100 can also include integrated antenna 104 that includes other components such as exciter 106 and signal feed 108. Moreover, system 100 can include a region referred to as ground slotted structure 103 that includes both conductive and non-conductive portions, as discussed in relation to Figures 2A and 2B. System 100 can be implemented in a wireless communication device, such as a smart phone, a handheld computer, a personal digital assistant, a car computer, a wearable computer, a laptop, a tablet, and/or a laptop/tablet hybrid computer Wait. Although an example of a wireless communication device is presented herein, the examples are not limited to the enumerators, and it is to be understood that the term wireless communication device can refer to any device capable of transmitting information between two or more points that are not connected by an electrical conductor. As will be described in detail later, the modified ground structure 102-3 can include a slotted extension of the chassis ground 102-2. However, in some embodiments, the modified ground structure 102-3 can comprise a printed circuit board (PCB).

2A and 2B illustrate perspective views of one example of a system 200 in accordance with the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 2, system 200 can include grounding system 202, integrated antenna 204 that includes other components such as exciter 206 and signal feed 208. The grounding system can include a conductive housing 202-1 and a ground slotted structure 203 of the wireless communication device. As used herein, a conductive housing refers to a metal strip, housing, or other device that encloses a wireless communication device. In several examples, the conductive housing can refer to a decorative housing, such as a decorative metal strip. Also, although metal is proposed as an example of a conductive material, it should be noted that the examples are not limited thereto, and the conductive housing may contain materials other than metal. As used herein, ground slotted structure 203 refers to a portion of a wireless communication device that includes an integrated antenna that is positioned at least partially in a specialized slotted grounded material. In other words, the ground slotted structure refers to a grounded material having a slot, where the slot includes at least a portion of the integrated antenna. Also, as used herein, an integrated antenna refers to an antenna that is coupled to a device in some manner. For example, in the disclosure herein, the conductive housing of system 200 can be used with and/or incorporated into an antenna of a wireless communication device.

The grounding system can also include a chassis ground 202-2 disposed on a first surface of the wireless communication device, where the conductive housing 202-1 is disposed on a second surface of the wireless communication device. As illustrated in Figure 2, the second surface can be perpendicular to the first surface. Again, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the ground slotted structure 203 can include a modified ground 202-3 coupled to the chassis ground 202-2 and the conductive housing 202-1. As used herein, modified grounding refers to a grounding material that has been modified to conform to the shape of the integrated antenna, as described in more detail below. In other words, the modified grounding can include slots, scores, gaps, and/or other structural components to conform to the shape of the integrated antenna. Although FIG. 2 illustrates that the modified ground has an "L" shape, the example is not limited thereto, and the modified ground 202-3 may have a shape other than the illustrated shape. The modified ground 202-3 can comprise the same material as the chassis ground 202-2 and/or can be an integral component of the chassis ground. In other words, the modified ground may be an extension of the chassis ground 202-2. However, the examples are not limited by this, and the modified ground may include a printed circuit board (PCB). In general, conductive housing 202-1, chassis ground 202-2, and modified ground 202-3 are referred to as grounding system 202.

The ground slotted structure 203 can include a metal gap region 210. As used herein, a metal gap region refers to a portion of a ground slotted structure 203 that is comprised of a non-conductive material. For example, the metal gap region 210 may be comprised of a non-conductive epoxy composite, plastic, and/or other materials such as FR-4.

In several examples, the conductive housing 202-1 includes an opening 212 within a critical distance of the junction between the grounded excitation arm of the exciter and the monopole arm of the exciter, as described in more detail below. As used herein, an exciter refers to an antenna portion that produces broadband multi-band resonance to transmit and receive signals. That is, the integrated antenna 204 can include an exciter 206 and can be coupled to the grounding system 202. The exciter 206 can excite multiple wireless bandwidths, as detailed later. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the integrated antenna 204 can be integrated into the ground slotted structure 203. Signal feed 208 can receive and transmit wireless signals to and from exciter 206, as detailed below.

FIG. 3 further illustrates a perspective view of an example of an integrated antenna device 340 in accordance with the present disclosure. As illustrated, the integrated antenna device 340 can include a smart phone, a handheld computer, a personal digital assistant, a car computer, a wearable computer, a knee, such as the systems 100 and 200 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, respectively. Laptops, tablets, and/or laptop/tablet hybrids, etc. In other words, the integrated antenna device 340 can be an embodiment of the device of the system 100.

As discussed in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2, integrated antenna device 340 can include other components such as ground slotted structure 303 and metal gap region 310. Metal gap region 310 can be in physical contact with a chassis of a wireless communication device, such as chassis ground 302-2.

Again, as discussed in relation to Figures 2A and 2B, the metal gap region 310 can be coupled to the modified ground 302-3 and can include an integrated antenna. An integrated antenna (eg, 104 illustrated in FIG. 1) can include a grounded excitation arm 314 to provide a wide bandwidth to the first and second range of wireless communication devices, and a monopole arm 312 to the second range of wireless communication devices Provide wireless bandwidth. For ease of illustration, and to aid in distinguishing between the grounded excitation arm and the monopole arm, the monopole arm 312 is exemplified by stray symbols in FIG. 3, and the grounded excitation arm 314 is exemplified in FIG.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the ground excitation arm 314 can extend along a first planar surface of the ground slot structure 303, and the monopole arm 312 can follow a wireless communication device opposite the first planar surface of the ground slot structure 303. The two flat surfaces extend.

In some examples, the grounded excitation arm 314 can be disposed proximal to the PCB of the wireless communication device relative to the monopole arm 312. For example, if chassis 302-2 includes the main PCB of device 340, then comparison of monopole arm 312, ground excitation arm 314 may be closer to the PCB (eg, chassis 302-2).

The monopole arms can have a variety of configurations. For example, the monopole arm can include a first portion 312-1 extending in a first plane, wherein the first plane includes a grounded excitation arm 314 and a second portion 312-2 extending perpendicular to a second plane of the first plane And a third portion 312-3 extending parallel to the third plane of the first plane. Regardless of configuration independence, the monopole arm 312 can be disposed within the ground slotted structure 303 such that the distance of the monopole arm 312 from the chassis and the modified ground 302-3 exceeds a critical distance. In other words, the monopole arm 312 can be disposed within the ground slotted structure 303 such that the distance between the monopole arm 314, the chassis 302-2, and the modified ground 302-3 is maximized for improved radio performance.

FIG. 4 further illustrates a perspective view of an example of an integrated antenna device 440 in accordance with the present disclosure. FIG. 4 illustrates an additional embodiment of an integrated antenna device 440. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the monopole arm 412 can include an overlapping portion, wherein the first component 412-4 of the monopole arm 412 extends parallel to the second component 412-5 of the monopole arm 412. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the modified ground 402-3 is exemplified as having a shape other than "L". Therefore, it should be noted that both the exciter (e.g., the exciter 106 illustrated in Figure 1) and the modified ground 412-3 may have a different configuration than the configuration illustrated in this disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart of an example of a method 548 of forming an integrated antenna system in accordance with the present disclosure. As exemplified at 550, method 548 can include disposing a first antenna on a first planar surface of a metal gap region of the wireless communication device. As used herein, setting up may include fabricating and/or otherwise obtaining a first antenna. As described, the metal gap region can refer to a non-conducting region of the wireless communication device, such as inside a ground slotted structure. As discussed in relation to Figures 1-4, the first antenna can refer to a grounded excitation arm.

The method 548 can include at least partially arranging the second antenna on a second planar surface of the metal gap region of the wireless communication device, wherein the second planar surface is opposite the first planar surface, as exemplified at 552. As discussed in connection with Figures 1-4, the second antenna can also be referred to as a monopole arm. As exemplified at 554, method 548 can include setting a conductive housing of the wireless communication device proximal to the second antenna. In other words, at 554, method 548 can include providing a monopole arm proximal to the conductive housing of the wireless communication device.

In some examples, providing the first antenna on the first planar surface can include disposing the first antenna on the non-conductive material, such as the non-conductive epoxy composite and/or plastic discussed herein. Similarly, setting the first antenna and setting the second antenna may include setting a first antenna to transmit and receive signals within the first and second bandwidths, and setting a second antenna to transmit and receive the second bandwidth. Signal within. For example, the monopole arm portion of the exciter can be placed in the ground slotted structure to further expand the high frequency band (ie, the second bandwidth) that is energized by the excitation arm and the ground slotted structure. Conversely, the grounded excitation arm can provide a low frequency band signal. Thus, the ground slotted structure can be capacitively coupled to the electromagnetic energy generated from the grounded excitation arm. Both the ground slotted structure and the excitation arm then become effective radiating structures to provide a wide bandwidth for both the low and high frequency bands.

In the foregoing detailed description of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in the drawings, The examples are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the examples disclosed herein. It is to be understood that other examples may be utilized and that the process, electrical, and/or structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

The figures disclosed herein are in accordance with the numbering conventions, in which the first digits correspond to the figure number and the remaining digits identify the elements or components in the figures. For example, component symbol 210 may refer to component "10" in FIG. 1 and corresponding component may be identified by component symbol 210 in FIG. The elements shown in the various figures disclosed herein may be added, exchanged, and/or deleted to provide a number of additional examples disclosed herein. In addition, the proportions and relative sizes of the elements provided in the drawings are intended to illustrate examples disclosed herein and are not to be construed as limiting.

As used herein, "a plurality of" elements and/or features may refer to one or more of such elements and/or features. It must be understood that when an element is referred to as being "on," "connected to", "coupled to" or "coupled" to another element, the element can be directly above, connected to, or coupled to other elements or There may be intervening elements. As used herein, "substantially" refers to a feature that is sufficiently close to an absolute characteristic to achieve the same function (eg, having three individual antennas (first antenna, second antenna, and third antenna) each substantially bit The individual corners of the electronic device are used to create a physical separation (ie, distance) between the three antennas to achieve a high degree of antenna isolation.

100, 200‧‧‧ system

102, 202‧‧‧ Grounding system

102-1, 202-1, 302-1‧‧‧ Conductive housing

102-2, 202-2, 302-2‧‧‧ Chassis grounding

102-3, 202-3, 302-3, 412-3‧‧‧ modified grounding structure

103, 203, 303‧‧‧ grounding slotted structure

104, 204‧‧‧ integrated antenna

106, 206‧‧‧Exciter

108, 208‧‧‧Signal feed

210, 310‧‧‧Metal gap area

212‧‧‧ openings

312, 412‧‧‧ monopole arms

Section 312-1~3‧‧‧

314‧‧‧Grounding excitation arm

340, 440‧‧‧ integrated antenna equipment

412-4, 412-5‧‧‧ Parts

548‧‧‧ method

550-554‧‧‧ square

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a system in accordance with the present disclosure.

2A and 2B illustrate perspective views of one example of a system in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 further illustrates a perspective view of one example of an integrated antenna device in accordance with the present disclosure.

4 further illustrates a perspective view of one example of an integrated antenna device in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of one example of a method 548 of forming an integrated antenna system in accordance with the present disclosure.

Claims (14)

An integrated antenna system comprising: a conductive housing including a wireless communication device and a grounding system of a grounded slotted structure; and an integrated antenna including an exciter coupled to the grounding system, wherein: the exciter The system is configured to stimulate a plurality of wireless bandwidths, and includes a wireless bandwidth for providing a first range and a second range to a ground excitation arm of the wireless communication device, and a wireless for providing the second range The bandwidth is provided to one of the wireless communication devices; and the integrated antenna is integrated in the grounded slot structure; and is configured to receive and transmit wireless signals to and from a signal feed of the exciter. The system of claim 1 wherein the ground slotted structure comprises a metal gap region comprised of a non-conductive epoxy composite, plastic, or FR-4. The system of claim 1, wherein the grounding system comprises: a chassis ground disposed on a first surface of the wireless communication device; the conductive housing disposed on a second surface of the wireless communication device, wherein the The second surface is perpendicular to the first surface; and coupled to the chassis ground and a modified ground of the conductive housing. The system of claim 1, wherein the grounding system comprises: the chassis grounding structure; and a modified grounding structure including a slotted extension of the chassis ground. The system of claim 1, wherein the grounding system comprises: a chassis grounding structure; and a modified grounding structure coupled to the chassis grounding structure, wherein the modified grounding structure comprises a printed circuit board. The system of claim 1 wherein the conductive housing comprises an opening within a critical distance of a junction between the grounded excitation arm of the actuator and the monopole arm of the actuator. An integrated antenna device comprising: a ground slotted structure in contact with a chassis body of a wireless communication device; and a metal gap region coupled to the ground slotted structure, wherein the metal gap region includes an integrated antenna The integrated antenna includes: a grounding excitation arm for providing a wireless bandwidth of a first range and a second range to the wireless communication device; and a monopole arm for providing a second range A wireless bandwidth is given to the wireless communication device. The device of claim 7, wherein: The ground excitation arm extends along a first flat surface of the ground slot structure; and the monopole arm extends along a second flat surface of the ground slot structure opposite a first flat surface of the ground slot structure . The device of claim 7, wherein: the grounded excitation arm is proximal to a printed circuit board of one of the wireless communication devices relative to the monopole arm. The device of claim 7, wherein: a first portion extending in a first plane, wherein the first plane comprises the ground excitation arm; and a second portion extending in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane; And a third portion extending parallel to a third plane of the first plane. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the monopole arm comprises an overlapping portion, wherein a first portion of the monopole arm extends parallel to a second portion of the one of the monopole arms. The device of claim 7, wherein the monopole arm is placed in the ground slot structure such that the monopole arm is more than a critical distance from the chassis and the ground slot structure. A method of manufacturing an integrated antenna, comprising: disposing a first antenna on a first flat surface of a metal gap region of a wireless communication device for transmitting and receiving at a first bandwidth and a second bandwidth Signal inside Positioning a second antenna on a second flat surface of the metal gap region of the wireless communication device for transmitting and receiving a signal in the second bandwidth, wherein the second flat surface is coupled to the second flat surface The first flat surface is opposite; and a conductive housing of the wireless communication device is disposed on a proximal side of the second antenna. The method of claim 13, wherein the disposing the first antenna on the first planar surface comprises disposing the first antenna on a non-conductive material.