GB2418782A - Digital radio receiver with a multi-band antenna - Google Patents

Digital radio receiver with a multi-band antenna Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2418782A
GB2418782A GB0515102A GB0515102A GB2418782A GB 2418782 A GB2418782 A GB 2418782A GB 0515102 A GB0515102 A GB 0515102A GB 0515102 A GB0515102 A GB 0515102A GB 2418782 A GB2418782 A GB 2418782A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
antenna
band
radio
printed circuit
circuit board
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0515102A
Other versions
GB0515102D0 (en
Inventor
James Irlam
Wayne Iu
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
RadioScape Ltd
Original Assignee
RadioScape Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by RadioScape Ltd filed Critical RadioScape Ltd
Publication of GB0515102D0 publication Critical patent/GB0515102D0/en
Priority to PCT/GB2005/003773 priority Critical patent/WO2006035241A1/en
Publication of GB2418782A publication Critical patent/GB2418782A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/12—Supports; Mounting means
    • H01Q1/22—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles
    • H01Q1/24—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set
    • H01Q1/241—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM
    • H01Q1/242—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM specially adapted for hand-held use
    • H01Q1/243—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM specially adapted for hand-held use with built-in antennas
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/36—Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewith
    • H01Q1/38—Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewith formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q21/00—Antenna arrays or systems
    • H01Q21/30—Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Details Of Aerials (AREA)
  • Support Of Aerials (AREA)

Abstract

A digital radio receiver with a multi-band antenna arrangement comprises a printed circuit board 1 antenna tuned to a first frequency band and a whip antenna (not shown) tuned to a second frequency band. The printed antenna may be a monopole formed by a linear copper trace 2. The printed antenna may have a connection 7 and transmission line portion 4, 5 at one end for connection to the radio receiver circuitry and a printed trap coil 3 and connection 6 at the other end for connection to the whip antenna. The trap coil 3 provides a high impedance to signals in the first frequency band and a low impedance to signals in the second frequency band. The first frequency band may be the L-band and the second frequency band may be band III. The antenna arrangement provides a simple and cheap multi-band antenna for digital radio receivers. The printed antenna may be used to upgrade existing radios without loss of performance.

Description

DIGITAL RADIO RECEIVER WITH A MULTI-BAND PCB
ANTENNA
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a digital radio receiver with a low-cost multiband antenna design; it finds a particular application in consumer digital radios. A mult-band antenna is one that is tuned to more than one frequency band, e.g. band II (EM), band III (DAB) and/or L- band (DAB).
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART * .
Existing multi-band antennas are generally complex to manufacture and therefore expensive.
am 15:L-hc construction of a typical dual-band antenna for Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) car 2'* radios includes a non-conducting rod on which an L-band _ wave antenna IS formed and a * separate monopole for Band III. The non-conducting rod acts as a coil former for an inductive trap at L-band. The sections are made separately and soldered together with a cable . .. to connect the antenna to the receiver. The assembly is then encapsulated to make it -. 20 weatherproof and aesthetically pleasing. It is obvious that this antenna does not lend itself easily to automated assembly. As a consequence, many low cost DAB receivers include only a Band III antenna.
Low-cost, smgle band antennas also exist, e.g. retractable, or telescopic whip antennas for EM reception.
Printed circuit board antennas are also known, as are.multi-band printed circuit board antennas, such as that shown in US patent 4356492. However, to date, no-one has provided a low cost mult'-band antenna for a consumer digital radio receiver.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The invention is a digital radio receiver with a multi-band antenna, the radio comprising: (l) a printed circuit board antenna tuned to one frequency band, and (ii) a whip antenna tuned to another frequency band.
The printed circuit board antenna may be a L Band monopole and the whip antenna may be a Band III antenna. Hence, where the radio is a DAB radio (or other digital radio, such as DRM, or HO Radio), then the conventional and costly conducting L Band rod is replaced with a PCB antenna and the Band III antenna is a low cost and simple whip antenna. In this way, a DAB radio can be manufactured with both L Band and Band III antennas, yet at much lower cost than conventional dual band DAB radios.
Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are normally used to create the bulk of the wiring in electromc 15 circuits. PCBs are made In very large volume at low-cost for use in consumer electronic equipment. An antenna can be considered to be a circuit and could be made from PCB material. So, instead of using mechanical assembly, we form the antenna from conventional printed circuit material. The PCB creates an antenna at one particular band. When the PCB is connected in between a radio and an existing whip antenna it allows multi-band reception.
a24 This has the following advantages: 1. The PCB assembly is low-cost compared to conventional antenna construction.
2. The PCB antenna can be supplied as an upgrade.
3. It does not require any modifications to the radio.
4. The whip antenna does not need to be retracted to get ultimate performance at the PCB antenna's design wavelength.
In one implementation, the printed circuit board antenna comprises a linear, electrically conducting trace on one side of a printed circuit board, the trace being of a length selected to enable it to operate as the receiving element of the printed circuit board antenna. The linear trace can terminate at one end in a printed inductor that presents a high impedance at the frequency band that the printed circuit board antenna receives at and a low impedance at the frequency band received by the whip antenna.
lithe printed circuit board can include a connector for connecting the printed circuit board antenna to RF circuitry in the radio and a further connector for connecting the whip antenna to the PCB antenna. The PCB antenna is hence positioned in between the whip antenna and the RF circuitry connector, so that this connector is the single feed for both antennas.
Having a single feed is cheaper than having two separate feeds. - ë ... ë . . . . -- . .
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 Is a schematic view of a L Band printed circuit board antenna for use with a Band III whip antenna (not shown) in a radio as defined in the present invention; Figure 2 is a view of such a radio; Figure 3 is a view of a L Band printed circuit board antenna that is not connected to a Band III whip antenna. .- . - ë
....15 .. :e ë . . ë
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Refertmg to Figure 1, a PCB 1 is used to form an L-Band monopole. Typically the PCB is made from standard [ounce copper clad 1.6mm thick FR4 material. This material was chosen for lowest cost but other PCB dielectrics and thicknesses may be used, as well as single-sided material. The l'CB 1 has a linear copper trace 2 formed on one side; this is 1/4 wavelength long and hence approx 5cm for L-Band. Trace 2 acts as the receiving (or radiating) element in the L band antenna. Other types of antenna (1/2, _ wave and/or dipoles) and wavelengths may be constructed by varying the destgn/dimensions.
A printed inductor 3 at the end of the PCB forms a trap and provides the inductance for the PCB monopole 2. The inductance 3 is chosen to create a high-impedance (several hundred ohms) at L-Band and is relatively low-impedance (less than a hundred ohms) at frequencies received by the whip section. This means that the PCB/whip combination will be tuned to L-band and the design frequency of the whip antenna (typically Band III and FM), 1.e. it is a multi-band antenna. 'lihe inductance of the trap will be a function of the number of turns in the trap, the width of the copper trace and the gap between the arms of the trace. In an implementation for L-Band, the trap is 4 turns, spacing and thickness is 0.4 mm. Inductance ë is then approximately 56 nH. 20
Approximately half of the surface of the PCB 1 is covered with a copper section 5 to raise the level of the monopole section 2 above the shielding in the radio as shown in Figure 2.
Trace 2 is an extension of copper section 5. Section 5 may not be necessary in certain radio designs; e.g. if the antenna input is directly on the top of the product.
A connector 7 at one end of the PCB 1 is used to mate with the Rl' circuitry in the radio and a further connector 6 at the other end is used to mate with a conventional retractable whip (not shown). Connector 7 is hence the single feed for both the L Band monopole and the Band III/FM whip antenna, although it would be possible to include separate feeds.
In another embodiment the connector 6 could be left off and the whip section fixed using solder or some other arrangement e.g. by screw attachment. In a product, we would expect that the PCB I would be encapsulated or covered by a plastic sleeve. '['his would protect the surface of the PCB 1 and improve the cosmetic appearance.
On the underside of the PCB 1, a copper trace 4 creates a ground plane to screen the RF input and form a transmission line to feed signals back to connector 7 and from there to the RF circuitry of the radio receiver.
This assembly works at L-band, FM and Band III. Without the whip attached, the PCB works as an L-band antenna and has some response at Band III and FM. Indeed, the connector for the whip antenna may be excluded. In this case the trap will not be required, as shown in Figure 3. . ë A. . . ë -. . .

Claims (7)

1. A digital radio receiver with a multi-band antenna, the radio composing: (i) a printed circuit board antenna tuned to one frequency band, and (ii) a whip antenna tuned to another frequency band.
2. The radio of Claim I in which the printed circuit board antenna is a L Band monopole.
3. The radio of Claim 2 in which the whip antenna is a Band III antenna.
4. The radio of any preceding claim, conforming to the DAB, DRM, or HD Radio standards. ë . ...
. 15
5. The radio of any preceding Claim in which the printed circuit board antenna comprises a linear, electrically conducting trace on one side of a printed circuit board, the ..
trace being of a length selected to enable it to operate as the receiving element of the printed circuit board antenna. ë-
.0
6. The radio of Claim 5 in which the linear trace terminates at one end in a prmted inductor that presents a high impedance at the frequency band that the printed circuit board antenna receives at and a low impedance at the frequency band received by the whip antenna.
7. The radio of Claim 6 in which the inductor is a printed trap inductor, configured as a coil.
S. The radio of Claim 5 in which the printed circuit board includes at one end a first connector for connecting the printed circuit board antenna to RF circuitry in the radio and at its other end a further connector for connecting the printed circuit board antenna to the whip antenna, such that the first connector is the sole feed for both antennas. ë ë ..- . - ë :. . ë -
GB0515102A 2004-09-30 2005-07-25 Digital radio receiver with a multi-band antenna Withdrawn GB2418782A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/GB2005/003773 WO2006035241A1 (en) 2004-09-30 2005-09-30 Dual band antenna

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0421675A GB0421675D0 (en) 2004-09-30 2004-09-30 Multi-band PCB antennna

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0515102D0 GB0515102D0 (en) 2005-08-31
GB2418782A true GB2418782A (en) 2006-04-05

Family

ID=33397475

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0421675A Ceased GB0421675D0 (en) 2004-09-30 2004-09-30 Multi-band PCB antennna
GB0515102A Withdrawn GB2418782A (en) 2004-09-30 2005-07-25 Digital radio receiver with a multi-band antenna

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0421675A Ceased GB0421675D0 (en) 2004-09-30 2004-09-30 Multi-band PCB antennna

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (2) GB0421675D0 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2221914A1 (en) * 2009-02-10 2010-08-25 Laird Technologies AB An antenna, an antenna system and a portable radio communication device comprising such an antenna system

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1999003168A1 (en) * 1997-07-09 1999-01-21 Allgon Ab Trap microstrip pifa
EP1193797A2 (en) * 2000-09-20 2002-04-03 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Built-in dual band antenna device and operating method thereof in a mobile terminal
US6388626B1 (en) * 1997-07-09 2002-05-14 Allgon Ab Antenna device for a hand-portable radio communication unit
US20030020656A1 (en) * 2001-07-25 2003-01-30 Arie Shor Dual band planar high-frequency antenna
US6642893B1 (en) * 2002-05-09 2003-11-04 Centurion Wireless Technologies, Inc. Multi-band antenna system including a retractable antenna and a meander antenna
WO2005031916A1 (en) * 2003-09-26 2005-04-07 Nec Corporation Mobile terminal antenna device, and broadcast wave receivable radio apparatus

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1999003168A1 (en) * 1997-07-09 1999-01-21 Allgon Ab Trap microstrip pifa
US6388626B1 (en) * 1997-07-09 2002-05-14 Allgon Ab Antenna device for a hand-portable radio communication unit
EP1193797A2 (en) * 2000-09-20 2002-04-03 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Built-in dual band antenna device and operating method thereof in a mobile terminal
US20030020656A1 (en) * 2001-07-25 2003-01-30 Arie Shor Dual band planar high-frequency antenna
US6642893B1 (en) * 2002-05-09 2003-11-04 Centurion Wireless Technologies, Inc. Multi-band antenna system including a retractable antenna and a meander antenna
WO2005031916A1 (en) * 2003-09-26 2005-04-07 Nec Corporation Mobile terminal antenna device, and broadcast wave receivable radio apparatus

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2221914A1 (en) * 2009-02-10 2010-08-25 Laird Technologies AB An antenna, an antenna system and a portable radio communication device comprising such an antenna system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0421675D0 (en) 2004-10-27
GB0515102D0 (en) 2005-08-31

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)