TW201547105A - Isolated ground for wireless device antenna - Google Patents

Abstract

A wireless device including multiple counterpoises or ground planes is provided. The wireless device may provide improved multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communication capability through the use of the multiple counterpoises. Multiple counterpoises of the wireless device may be galvanically isolated from one another. Multiple counterpoises may each be coupled to separate antenna elements.

Description

Isolated ground for wireless device antennas Related application

This application claims the priority rights of US Provisional Application No. 61/954,676, filed on March 18, 2014, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/971,650, filed on March 28, 2014 The disclosures of these U.S. Provisional Applications are incorporated herein by reference.

Field of invention

Embodiments of the present disclosure are generally directed to antennas provided for use in electronic devices.

In a MIMO antenna system, at least two antennas operating in overlapping or even substantially identical frequency ranges can be used in a wireless device. Such systems can increase the capacity of a radio link by allowing the use of multiple signal propagation paths. MIMO systems can be used to increase the throughput and/or reliability of communication for a single user, and can also be used to increase the number of users who can use the antenna system simultaneously. Each of the at least two antennas can include all of the components and elements of a single antenna structure including feeders, radiating elements, grounding elements, and any additional features suitable for inclusion in the antenna structure.

In a compact handheld wireless device, at least two antennas that make up a MIMO antenna system can be located near each other and can even share structural elements Pieces. In some MIMO systems, two or more antenna systems may share a common network or grounding element. In some designs, this can result in interference between two or more antennas of a MIMO system. This interference can be particularly prevalent in the lower frequency bands of operation, which in turn leads to a loss of radiation efficiency.

Summary of invention

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to wireless devices. The wireless device may include at least one dielectric substrate; a first net, which is located on the at least one dielectric substrate; a second net, which is galvanically isolated from the first net, the second net is located at the at least one a first antenna element coupled to the first net and configured to operate in a first frequency band; and a second antenna element coupled to the second net, And is configured to operate in the second frequency band.

100‧‧‧Wireless devices/devices

101‧‧‧First antenna/antenna

102‧‧‧Second antenna/antenna

103‧‧‧Wireless device PCB board/PCB board/PCB

110‧‧‧ feeder/separate feeder

111‧‧‧First feeder

112‧‧‧second feeder

120‧‧‧ radio

121‧‧‧First radio

122‧‧‧second radio

201‧‧‧First Balance Network/Gage Network

202‧‧‧Second net/balance net

203‧‧‧first foot

204‧‧‧First pin

205‧‧‧second foot

206‧‧‧Second pin

220‧‧‧ dielectric substrate

1 illustrates a top side perspective view of an exemplary antenna structure consistent with the present disclosure.

2 illustrates a lower perspective view of an exemplary antenna structure consistent with the present disclosure.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment

Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments embodiments Wherever possible, the same element symbols are used throughout the drawings to refer to the

Embodiments of the present disclosure are generally provided for providing Wide bandwidth antenna used in wireless devices. Multi-band antennas consistent with the present disclosure can be used for cellular communication in mobile devices and can operate at frequencies ranging from approximately 700 MHz to approximately 2.7 GHz. Multi-band antennas consistent with the present disclosure may be further utilized for any type of application involving wireless communication, and may be configured to operate in the appropriate frequency range for such applications. A multi-band antenna consistent with the present disclosure may be suitable for use in a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna system.

As used herein, the term "antenna" may generally relate to structures and components that are configured to radiate radio frequency energy for communication. The term "antenna" may generally refer to a plurality of conductive components and components that are combined to create a radiating structure. The term "antenna" may further include additional tuning, parasitic, and fine tuning components incorporated into a wireless device to improve the functionality of the radiating structure. The term "antenna" may additionally include discrete components, such as resistors, capacitors, and inductors and switches, that are coupled to or incorporated with the antenna assembly. As used herein, the term "antenna" is not limited to such structures that radiate radio frequency signals, but rather includes structures for feeding signals to the radiating structure and structures for shaping or adjusting the radiation pattern.

In a MIMO antenna system, at least two antennas operating in overlapping or even substantially identical frequency ranges can be used in a wireless device. Such systems can increase the capacity of a radio link by allowing the use of multiple signal propagation paths. MIMO systems can be used to increase the throughput and/or reliability of communication for a single user, and can also be used to increase the number of users who can use the antenna system simultaneously. Each of the at least two antennas may include all components and components of a single antenna structure including feeders, radiating elements Pieces, grounding elements and any additional features suitable for inclusion in the antenna structure.

In a compact handheld wireless device, at least two antennas that make up a MIMO antenna system can be located adjacent each other and can even share structural elements. In some MIMO systems, two or more antenna systems may share a common network or grounding element. In some designs, this can result in interference between two or more antennas of a MIMO system. This interference can be particularly prevalent in the lower frequency bands of operation, which in turn leads to a loss of radiation efficiency.

Such loss of radiation efficiency can be reduced or eliminated by using isolation techniques that increase signal independence. Allowing multiple signals in a MIMO system to operate independently of each other can reduce the amount of interference between the signals, and thus increase the radiation efficiency. In some embodiments disclosed herein, isolation between two or more antennas in a MIMO system can be increased or improved by using multiple floating ground planes.

The wireless electronic device antenna system structure can include a plurality of layers including, for example, a main printed circuit board (PCB) layer and additional layers, such as a device housing and a battery cover, within which the antenna elements can be located.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, some or all of such additional layers may be formed of a conductive material on at least one side of the layers to form one or more of a net or ground plane. The net can be formed from a conductive material positioned on the substrate. These nets can be separated from the main PCB or chassis of the device. As a result of the separation between the main PCB and the chassis of one or more of the network and the electronic device, the RF current of the individual signals associated with the individual antennas may utilize a separate network. Therefore, multiple antennas of the MIMO system may not be required to share the shared network. Therefore, multiple antennas of the MIMO antenna system in the handheld device can be improved The isolation between.

In accordance with another disclosed embodiment, the conductive layer can be formed adjacent to the outer surface of the wireless device by means of an in-mold designation. This layer may be conductive on its inner surface and may include a dielectric layer on its outer surface. This layer provides an additional network for wireless devices.

1 illustrates a top side perspective view of an exemplary MIMO antenna system consistent with the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the first antenna 101 and the second antenna 102 can be located at opposite ends of the wireless device 100. A wireless device PCB board 103 can be positioned between the first antenna 101 and the second antenna 102, which can include any or all of the components required by the wireless device. For example, PCB board 103 can include components such as at least one processor, at least one memory or storage device, and appropriate signal conditioning components for wireless device 100. FIG. 1 further illustrates the locations of the first net 201 and the second net 202, the first net and the second net being located on a plane offset from the main PCB board 103. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the first net 201 and the second net 202 may be located between the PCB board 103 and the back side of the wireless device 100 (ie, the non-screen side). In an alternate embodiment, the first net 201 and the second net 202 may be located between the PCB board 103 and the screen side of the wireless device 100.

2 illustrates a bottom side perspective view of an exemplary antenna system consistent with the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the first net 201 and the second net 202 may be positioned in a plane offset from the PCB board 103. The first net 201 and the second net 202 can be galvanically isolated from each other. The first net 201 and the second net 202 may be located on at least one dielectric substrate 220. In FIG. 2, the dielectric substrate 220 is exemplified by a broken line to better display the net 201 and the net 202 on the dielectric substrate 220. Dielectric The substrate 220 can be located on either side of the net, for example, between the net and the back of the device 100, or between the net and the front face of the device 100. In some embodiments, each of the first net 201 and the second net 202 can be located on the separate dielectric substrate 220. That is, each of the nets may be located on a dielectric substrate that is not physically connected to the dielectric substrate on which the other net is located. In some embodiments, the first net 201 and the second net 202 may be located on a common dielectric substrate and may be printed or otherwise deposited on a common dielectric substrate, and the first net and the second There is a gap between the nets to maintain galvanic isolation from each other. In some embodiments, the first net 201 and the second net 202 can be substantially coplanar. In some embodiments, the dielectric substrate can form at least a portion of the device housing, such as a device back cover. The first and second nets may be deposited on or in the back cover by any suitable means, such as printing, injection molding, and/or laser direct structuring.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the first net 201 and the second net 202 are located on a dielectric substrate that forms at least a portion of the back cover of the housing of the wireless device 100. In the illustration of FIG. 2, the dielectric substrate 220 and the back cover are not shown to provide a view of the first net 201 and the second net 202. The first net 201 and the second net 202 may be galvanically isolated from each other and may be arranged or positioned to provide appropriate ground plane characteristics for the first antenna 101 and the second antenna 102.

For example, the first net 201 and the second net 202 may each be L-shaped. The first net 201 may include a first foot 203 and a first pin 204. The foot 203 can be disposed proximate to the first antenna 101 and can be current or otherwise coupled to the first antenna 101 to provide a ground plane element for the first antenna 101 Pieces. The radiating or coupling element of the antenna 101 can excite the first net 201 to radiate in at least one frequency band that coincides with the frequency band of the antenna 101. The second net 202 can include a second foot 205 and a second pin 206 and can be disposed relative to the second antenna 102 in a similar manner as the first net 201 is disposed relative to the first antenna 101. The first foot 203 and the second foot 205 may be substantially parallel to each other. The first pin 204 and the second pin 206 can also be substantially parallel to each other.

The L-shaped design for the first net 201 and the second net 202 as illustrated in Figure 2 can provide advantages in terms of the limited space of the wireless device. For example, the first foot 203 and the second foot 205 can be arranged to substantially overlap the projections of the elements of the first antenna 101 and the second antenna 102, respectively. This arrangement maximizes the available space for coupling between each antenna and the individual nets of the antenna. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the first antenna 101 and the second antenna 102 can be located at either end of the wireless device 100. The projections of the first antenna 101 and the second antenna 102 to the plane occupied by the first net 201 and the second net 202 may have substantial overlap with the first foot 203 and the second foot 205. This arrangement can maximize the positioning element to couple the first antenna 101 to the first net 201 and the second antenna 102 to the space of the second net 202.

The positioning of the first pin 204 and the second pin 205 can also provide advantages in a compact wireless device. The first pin 204 and the second pin 205 extend in an overlapping manner, which allows each pin to be longer than would otherwise be possible. The substantially parallel, overlapping extension of the first pin 204 and the second pin 205 allows each pin to extend to a substantial portion of the entire length of the wireless device 101. The extended physical length of the first pin 204 and the second pin 205 can increase the electrical length of each pin. As used herein, electrical length is involved The length of the feature as determined by the portion of the RF signal that the feature is adaptable to. For example, a feature can have an electrical length of 4/A (eg, one of the squares) at a particular frequency. The electrical length of the feature may or may not correspond to the physical length of the structure and may depend on the RF signal current path. Features with an electrical length that suitably corresponds to the expected radiation frequency may operate more efficiently. The increase in the electrical length of the first pin 204 and the second pin 205 of the first net 201 and the second net 202 allows the nets 201, 202 to radiate more efficiently in the low frequency band.

Each of the nets 201, 202 can form a net for the antennas 101 and 102, respectively. The first antenna 101 and the second antenna 102 may comprise any antenna element suitable for inclusion in a wireless device, including any of the PIFA antennas, folded monopole antennas, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, conducting Frame antenna, slot antenna, slot-fed antenna or any other suitable antenna. Any suitable antenna element can be included with the isolated network embodiment disclosed herein. As a result of the use of a separate scale for each antenna element, isolation between the antennas can be increased and the diversity gain can be improved. In some embodiments, the first antenna 101 and the second antenna 102 can include high-band antenna elements that are assembled for radiation at a frequency range between 1700 MHz and 2700 MHz. In some embodiments, the first antenna 101 and the second antenna 102 can be assembled to couple and excite individual first and second nets to cooperate to radiate as low-band antennas. This low band antenna can radiate in a frequency range between 700 MHz and 1200 MHz.

Wireless device 100 can include at least one feed line 110. The at least one feed line 110 can be a coaxial cable or other suitable RF connector. At least one feed line 110 can be coupled to at least one radio 120 located on the PCB 103. In some implementations In an example, each antenna of the MIMO antenna system can include a split feeder 110. For example, the antenna 101 and the net 201 may be coupled to a first feed line 111 that may be coupled to a first radio 121 located on the PCB 103. The second antenna 101 and the second net 202 may be coupled to a second feed line 112 that may be coupled to a second radio 122 located on the PCB 103. Each feeder can be assembled to pass signals to individual antennas and nets to which the feeders are connected.

Although FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate two L-shaped net structures and two PIFA antennas positioned in a substantially coplanar manner, the present disclosure is not limited to such embodiments. For example, any suitable antenna for use in a wireless device can be used in addition to or in lieu of one of the two illustrated PIFA antennas. Such antennas may include a folded monopole antenna, a slot antenna, a slot feed antenna, a loop antenna, a conductive frame antenna, and others.

The net structure consistent with the present disclosure may also have any suitable shape or size. Isolating the structures from each other facilitates the isolation of the antenna structures incorporated into the separately isolated nets. The shape of the net structure can be separated from the maintenance structure while providing a structure that is suitably shaped and sized to function as an antenna net and that radiates as an antenna element as needed. The two net structures can be sized and shaped differently from each other depending on the functional requirements of the antenna structure supported by the net structure. For example, in a MIMO system in which multiple antennas radiate in different frequency bands, the netting structures may be required to differ from each other in size and shape to accommodate different frequencies.

In addition, the number of the net structure is not limited to two, because the handheld electronic device may require three or more antennas, and thus need to be respectively mutually A series of isolated net structures. In addition, multiple isolation net structures are not required to be positioned in a planar manner, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. In some embodiments, depending on the space available within the electronic device, positioning the plurality of isolation nets on different planes, for example, to stack such nets on top of each other may be advantageous.

In some embodiments, multiple scales consistent with the present disclosure may not be strictly planar. For example, in a wireless device characterized by a curved form factor, a plurality of scales can also be bent to conform to a curved housing.

The wireless device 101 can additionally include a main PCB 103 on which the electronics of the device can be located. According to another disclosed embodiment, the first antenna element 101 can utilize the main PCB/chassis as the first net, and the second antenna 102 element can use the separation of the dielectric substrate and the conductive layer from the plane of the PCB 103. The layer is used as the second net.

According to yet another disclosed embodiment, the length of the at least one isolation net can be extended by connecting the isolation net to the main PCB 103 or the chassis assembly. The isolation net structure can be L-shaped with a pin end remote from the foot that can be bent for connection to the main PCB. This can be advantageous because by extending an antenna scale network, the radiation pattern of the antenna elements associated with the extended grid structure can be modified, which further reduces interference between multiple antennas within the wireless device.

It will be appreciated that embodiments consistent with the present disclosure can be used in electronic devices other than handheld wireless devices, including computers and other wireless devices having multiple antennas therein. It should be further appreciated that embodiments as disclosed herein are not limited to application to two antennas within a wireless device; Optionally, a plurality of separate nets can be provided for cooperation with a plurality of individual antennas within the wireless device.

100‧‧‧Wireless devices/devices

101‧‧‧First antenna/antenna

102‧‧‧second antenna

103‧‧‧Wireless device PCB board/PCB board/PCB

111‧‧‧First feeder

112‧‧‧second feeder

121‧‧‧First radio

122‧‧‧second radio

201‧‧‧First Balance Network/Gage Network

202‧‧‧Second net/balance net

Claims (7)

A wireless device comprising: at least one dielectric substrate; a first net, located on the at least one dielectric substrate; and a second net, galvanically isolated from the first net, the second net Located on the at least one dielectric substrate; a first antenna element coupled to the first net and configured to operate in a first frequency band; and a second antenna element coupled To the second net, and assembled to operate in a second frequency band. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the first net and the second net are L-shaped. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the at least one dielectric substrate comprises a first dielectric substrate on which the first net is located and a second dielectric substrate on which the second net is located. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the first frequency band overlaps the second frequency band. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the first net and the second net are substantially coplanar. The wireless device of claim 1, further comprising a processor located on the at least one dielectric substrate and grounded to the first net. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the at least one dielectric substrate forms at least a portion of a cover.