Antenna element, antenna device including the same, and display device

Abstract

The present invention provides an antenna element, an antenna device and a display device including the same. According to one embodiment, the antenna element includes: a radiator formed in a grid structure; a first transmission line and a second transmission line connected to the radiator and formed in a grid structure; and a first signal pad and a second signal pad connected to the first transmission line and the second transmission line respectively and formed in a curved solid structure. The antenna element of the present invention can realize a dual-polarized antenna.

Description

[0001] This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0146958 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) on November 5, 2020, and all the disclosure contents thereof are incorporated into this application by reference. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to an antenna element, an antenna device including the antenna element, and a display device. Background Art

[0003] In recent years, with the development of information society, wireless communication technologies such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are combined with display devices in the configuration of smartphones, for example. In this case, an antenna can be combined with the display device to provide a communication function.

[0004] Recently, due to the rapid development of mobile communication technology, it is necessary to combine an antenna capable of high frequency or ultra-high frequency communication with a display device. In addition, with the development of thin, light, highly transparent and high-resolution display devices such as transparent display devices and flexible display devices, it is necessary to develop an antenna with improved transparency and flexibility.

[0005] As the screen size of the display device increases, the space or area of ​​the frame or light shielding portion decreases. In this case, the space or area that can be embedded in the antenna is also limited, so the radiator included in the antenna that transmits and receives signals may overlap with the display area of ​​the display device. As a result, the image of the display device may be hidden by the radiator of the antenna or the radiator may be seen by the user, resulting in poor image quality.

[0006] Meanwhile, unlike a general single-polarization antenna having only vertical or horizontal polarization waves, a dual-polarization antenna is an antenna having two polarization waves at a predetermined angle, which is becoming a technology capable of reducing installation costs and operation and maintenance costs in mobile communication systems.

[0007] Therefore, it is necessary to design a dual-polarization antenna that can achieve high-frequency communication in a limited space without being seen by the user. Summary of the invention

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide an antenna element, an antenna device, and a display device including the same.

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions.

[0010] 1. An antenna element, comprising: a radiator formed in a grid structure; a first transmission line and a second transmission line connected to the radiator and formed in a grid structure; and a first signal pad and a second signal pad connected to the first transmission line and the second transmission line, respectively, and formed in a curved solid structure.

[0011] 2. The antenna element as described in 1 above, wherein the first transmission line extends in a first direction and is connected to the radiator, and the second transmission line extends in a second direction and is connected to the radiator.

[0012] 3. The antenna element as described in 2 above, wherein the first direction and the second direction intersect each other.

[0013] 4. The antenna element as described in 3 above, wherein an angle between the first direction and the second direction is 80° to 100°.

[0014] 5. An antenna element as described in 2 above, wherein the first signal pad is included in a first section extending in the longitudinal direction of the antenna element and a second section extending from the first section in the first direction and connected to the first transmission line, and the second signal pad is included in a third section extending in the longitudinal direction of the antenna element and a fourth section extending from the third section in the second direction and connected to the second transmission line.

[0015] 6. The antenna element as described in 1 above, wherein the radiator has a rhombus shape, and the first transmission line and the second transmission line are respectively connected to two adjacent sides of the radiator.

[0016] 7. The antenna element according to 6 above, wherein the first transmission line and the second transmission line are connected to the center of each side.

[0017] 8. The antenna element as described in item 1 above, wherein the radiator has a rectangular shape, and the first transmission line and the second transmission line are respectively connected to two adjacent vertices of the radiator.

[0018] 9. The antenna element as described in 1 above, wherein the antenna element includes a visible area and a non-visible area, the radiator, the first transmission line and the second transmission line are arranged in the visible area, and the first signal pad and the second signal pad are arranged in the non-visible area.

[0019] 10. The antenna element as described in 9 above, wherein the first signal pad and the second signal pad are arranged in such a manner that in the longitudinal direction of the antenna element, they jump over a first line which is 0.5 mm apart from the boundary line between the visible area and the non-visible area on the non-visible area side, but do not jump over a second line which is 0.5 mm apart from the boundary line on the visible area side.

[0020] 11. The antenna element according to item 1 above, wherein the first transmission line and the second transmission line are formed symmetrically with respect to a center line of the radiator.

[0021] 12. The antenna element according to item 1 above, wherein the first signal pad and the second signal pad are formed symmetrically with respect to a center line of the radiator.

[0022] 13. The antenna element as described in 1 above, further comprising a ground pad, wherein the ground pad is disposed around the first signal pad and the second signal pad in a manner isolated from the first signal pad and the second signal pad.

[0023] 14. The antenna element as described in 13 above, wherein the ground pad includes: a first ground pad and a second ground pad arranged opposite to each other with the first signal pad and the second signal pad interposed therebetween; and a third ground pad arranged between the first signal pad and the second signal pad.

[0024] 15. The antenna element according to 1 above, further comprising a dummy pattern disposed around the radiation electrode, the first transmission line, and the second transmission line and isolated from the radiation electrode, the first transmission line, and the second transmission line.

[0025] 16. An antenna device comprising: the antenna element of 1 above; a circuit board comprising circuit wiring connected to the first signal pad and the second signal pad; and an antenna driving unit provided on the circuit board and connected to the circuit wiring.

[0026] 17. A display device comprising the antenna element according to 1 above.

[0027] The antenna element according to one embodiment may include a radiator and two transmission lines connected to the radiator and orthogonal to each other, thereby realizing a dual-polarization antenna.

[0028] In the antenna element according to one embodiment, the straight portion in the current path may be formed by a mesh structure, and the curved portion may be formed by a solid structure. The transmission line with the mesh structure connected to the radiator is formed into a straight line, and the signal pad with a solid structure connected to the transmission line is formed into a curve, thereby reducing the signal loss caused by the bending of the current path. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0030] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an antenna element according to an embodiment;

[0031] Figure 2 is a schematic top view of an antenna element according to an embodiment;

[0032] Figure 3 A diagram for describing the configuration position of a signal pad;

[0033] Figure 4 is a schematic top view of an antenna element according to another embodiment;

[0034] Figure 5 is a schematic top view of an antenna element according to another embodiment;

[0035] Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an antenna device according to an embodiment; and

[0036] Figure 7 This is a schematic plan view showing a display device according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, since the drawings attached to the present disclosure are only used to illustrate various preferred embodiments of the present invention so as to easily understand the technical spirit of the present invention through the above invention, they should not be interpreted as being limited to the description shown in the drawings.

[0038] The antenna element described in the present disclosure can be a patch antenna or a microstrip antenna manufactured in the form of a transparent film. For example, the above-mentioned antenna element can be applied to electronic devices for high frequency or ultra-high frequency (for example, 3G, 4G, 5G or higher) mobile communications, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, near field communication (NFC), global positioning system (GPS), etc., but is not limited to this. Here, electronic devices may include mobile phones, smart phones, tablet computers, laptops, personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable multimedia players (PMPs), navigation devices, MP3 players, digital cameras, wearable devices, etc. The above-mentioned wearable devices include watch-type, wristband-type, ring-type, belt-type, necklace-type, ankle-band-type, thigh-band-type, forearm-band-type wearable devices, etc. However, electronic devices are not limited to the above examples, and wearable devices are not limited to the above examples. In addition, the above-mentioned antenna element can be applied to various objects or structures, such as vehicles and buildings.

[0039] In the following figures, two directions parallel to the upper surface of the dielectric layer and perpendicularly intersecting each other are defined as the x direction and the y direction, and the direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the dielectric layer is defined as the z direction. For example, the x direction may correspond to the width direction of the antenna element, the y direction may correspond to the length direction of the antenna element, and the z direction may correspond to the thickness direction of the antenna element.

[0040] Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of an antenna element according to an embodiment is shown.

[0041] Reference Figure 1According to an embodiment, the antenna element 100 may include a dielectric layer 110 and an antenna conductive layer 120 .

[0042] The dielectric layer 110 may include an insulating material having a predetermined dielectric constant. According to one embodiment, the dielectric layer 110 may include an inorganic insulating material such as glass, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, or metal oxide, or an organic insulating material such as epoxy resin, acrylic resin, or imide resin. The dielectric layer 110 may function as a film substrate of the antenna element 100, on which the antenna conductive layer 120 is formed.

[0043] According to one embodiment, a transparent film may be provided as the dielectric layer 110. In this case, the transparent film may include polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene isophthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, etc.; cellulose resins such as diacetyl cellulose, triacetyl cellulose, etc.; polycarbonate resins; acrylic resins such as polymethyl (meth)acrylate, polyethyl (meth)acrylate, etc.; styrene resins such as polystyrene, acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer, etc.; polyolefin resins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, cyclic polyolefin or polyolefin having a norbornene structure, ethylene-propylene copolymer, etc.; vinyl chloride resin; amide resins such as nylon and aromatic polyamide; imide resins; polyether sulfone resins; sulfone resins; polyether ether ketone resins; polyphenylene sulfide resins; vinyl alcohol resins; vinylidene chloride resins; vinyl butyral resins; allyl resins; polyoxymethylene resins; thermoplastic resins such as epoxy resins, etc. These compounds may be used alone or in combination of two or more. In addition, a transparent film formed of a thermosetting resin such as (meth)acrylic resin, urethane resin, acrylic urethane resin, epoxy resin, silicone resin, or the like, or a UV curable resin may be used as the dielectric layer 110 .

[0044] According to one embodiment, the dielectric layer 110 may include an adhesive film such as an optically clear adhesive (OCA) or an optically clear resin (OCR).

[0045] According to one embodiment, the dielectric layer 110 may be formed as a substantially single layer, or may be formed as a plurality of layers including two or more layers.

[0046] The dielectric layer 110 may generate capacitance or inductance, thereby adjusting the frequency band that can be driven or sensed by the antenna element 100. When the dielectric constant of the dielectric layer 110 is greater than 12, the driving frequency will be greatly reduced and an antenna driven at a desired high frequency band may not be realized. Therefore, according to one embodiment, the dielectric constant of the dielectric layer 110 may be adjusted within a range of about 1.5 to 12, preferably about 2 to 12.

[0047] According to one embodiment, an insulating layer (eg, an encapsulation layer, a passivation layer, etc. of a display panel) inside a display device on which the antenna element 100 is mounted may be provided as the dielectric layer 110 .

[0048] The antenna conductive layer 120 may be disposed on the upper surface of the dielectric layer 110 .

[0049] The antenna conductive layer 120 may include a low resistance metal, such as silver (Ag), gold (Au), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), chromium (Cr), titanium (Ti), tungsten (W), niobium (Nb), tantalum (Ta), vanadium (V), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), tin (Sn), molybdenum (Mo), calcium (Ca) or alloys thereof. They may be used alone or in combination of two or more. For example, the antenna conductive layer 120 may include silver (Ag) or a silver alloy (e.g., a silver-palladium-copper (APC) alloy) to achieve low resistance. As another example, considering low resistance and fine line width patterns, the antenna conductive layer 120 may include copper (Cu) or a copper alloy (e.g., a copper-calcium (CuCa) alloy).

[0050] According to one embodiment, the antenna conductive layer 120 may include a transparent conductive oxide, such as indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), indium tin zinc oxide (IZTO), zinc oxide (ZnOx), or copper oxide (CuO).

[0051] According to one embodiment, the antenna conductive layer 120 may include a laminated structure of a transparent conductive oxide layer and a metal layer, for example, a two-layer structure of a transparent conductive oxide layer-metal layer or a three-layer structure of a transparent conductive oxide layer-metal layer-transparent conductive oxide layer. In this case, the metal layer can be used to reduce resistance to increase signal transmission speed and improve flexibility, and the transparent conductive oxide layer can be used to improve corrosion resistance and transparency.

[0052] According to one embodiment, the antenna conductive layer 120 may be blackened. For example, the surface of the antenna conductive layer 120 may be thermally oxidized to reduce reflectivity, thereby reducing the visibility of the pattern due to light reflection from the surface of the antenna conductive layer 120.

[0053] The surface of the metal layer of the antenna conductive layer 120 may be blackened to form a blackened layer, wherein a portion of the metal layer is made of metal oxide or metal sulfide. Further, a blackened layer such as a coating of a black material or a plating layer of a metal such as nickel or chromium may be formed on the metal layer.

[0054] The blackening layer improves the transparency and visibility of the metal layer by reducing the reflectivity of the metal layer, and may include, for example, at least one of silicon oxide, metal oxide, copper, molybdenum, carbon, tin, chromium, nickel and cobalt.

[0055] The composition and thickness of the blackened layer can be adjusted in various ways depending on the desired degree of blackening.

[0056] Below, refer to Figures 2 to 5 Specific contents of the antenna conductive layer 120 will be described below.

[0057] According to one embodiment, the antenna element 100 may further include a ground layer 130. Since the antenna element 100 includes the ground layer 130, a vertical radiation characteristic may be achieved.

[0058] The ground layer 130 may be disposed on the lower surface of the dielectric layer 110. The ground layer 130 may overlap with the antenna conductive layer 120 via the dielectric layer 110. For example, the ground layer 130 may overlap with the radiator of the antenna conductive layer 120 (see Figure 2 210) completely overlap.

[0059] According to one embodiment, a conductive component of a display device or a display panel on which the antenna element 100 is mounted may be provided as the ground layer 130. For example, the conductive component may include electrodes or wirings such as gate electrodes, source electrodes / drain electrodes, pixel electrodes, common electrodes, data lines, and scan lines of a thin film transistor (TFT) included in the display panel; and a stainless steel (SUS) plate, a heat sink, a digitizer, an electromagnetic wave shielding layer, a pressure sensor, a fingerprint sensor, and the like of the display device.

[0060] Figure 2 is a schematic top view of an antenna element according to one embodiment, Figure 3 A diagram for describing the arrangement positions of signal pads. Figure 2 The antenna element 100a shown may be Figure 1 One embodiment of an antenna element 100 is shown.

[0061] Reference Figure 2 and 3 The antenna element 100a of one embodiment includes an antenna conductive layer 120 disposed on a dielectric layer 110 , and the antenna conductive layer 120 may include a radiator 210 , a first transmission line 220 , a second transmission line 230 , a first signal pad 240 , and a second signal pad 250 .

[0062] The first radiator 210 may be formed in a grid structure on the dielectric layer 110. Thus, the transmittance of the first radiator 210 may be increased, and the flexibility of the antenna element 100a may be improved. Therefore, the antenna element 100a may be effectively applied to a flexible display device while preventing the antenna element from being seen when it is present in the display area of ​​the display device.

[0063] The length and width of the radiator 210 may be determined based on desired resonance frequency, radiation resistance, and gain.

[0064] The radiator 210 may be electrically connected to the first transmission line 220 and the second transmission line 230 to be powered by the first transmission line 220 and / or the second transmission line 230. Specifically, the radiator 210 may receive an electrical signal from the first transmission line 220 and / or the second transmission line 230, convert the electrical signal into an electromagnetic wave signal, and radiate the converted electromagnetic wave signal. In addition, the radiator 210 may receive an electromagnetic wave signal and convert the electromagnetic wave signal into an electrical signal.

[0065] According to one embodiment, Figure 2 As shown, the radiator 210 may be configured in a rhombus shape, but this is only one embodiment and is not limited thereto.

[0066] The first transmission line 220 may extend from the first signal pad 240 in the first direction 10 on the dielectric layer 110 and be connected to the radiator 210, and the second transmission line 230 may extend from the second signal pad 250 in the second direction 20 on the dielectric layer 110 and be connected to the radiator 210. Thus, the first transmission line 220 may electrically connect the first signal pad 240 and the radiator 210, and the second transmission line 230 may electrically connect the second signal pad 250 and the radiator 210.

[0067] The first direction 10 and the second direction 20 may be parallel to the upper surface of the dielectric layer 110 and may intersect with the y direction (the longitudinal direction of the antenna element). In addition, the first direction 10 and the second direction 20 may intersect with each other. For example, the angle θ formed by the first direction 10 and the second direction 20 may be 80° to 100°, preferably 90°. By forming the extension directions of the first transmission line 220 and the second transmission line 230 to be orthogonal to each other, a dual-polarized antenna can be effectively realized.

[0068] According to one embodiment, Figure 2 As shown, when the radiator 210 is formed in a rhombus shape, the first transmission line 220 and the second transmission line 230 may be respectively connected to two adjacent sides of the radiator 210. In this case, the first transmission line 220 and the second transmission line 230 may be connected to the center of each side.

[0069] The first transmission line 220 and the second transmission line 230 may include substantially the same conductive material as the radiator 210. In addition, the first transmission line 220 and the second transmission line 230 may be integrally connected with the radiator 210 to form a substantially single component, or may be formed as a component separate from the radiator 210.

[0070] The first transmission line 220 and the second transmission line 230 may be formed in a grid structure. For example, these transmission lines may be formed in a grid structure having substantially the same shape as the radiator 210 (e.g., the same line width, the same interval, etc.), or may be formed in a grid structure having substantially a different shape from the radiator 210.

[0071] The first transmission line 220 and the second transmission line 230 may be formed symmetrically with respect to the center line CL of the radiator 210. In this case, the center line CL of the radiator 210 may be defined as an imaginary line passing through the center of the radiator 210 and bisecting the radiator 210. Figure 2 As shown, the center line CL may extend in the y direction (the longitudinal direction of the antenna element).

[0072] The first signal pad 240 may be connected to the first transmission line 220 and electrically connected to the radiator 210 through the first transmission line 220. The second signal pad 250 may be connected to the second transmission line 230 and electrically connected to the radiator 210 through the second transmission line 230. Thus, the first signal pad 240 may electrically connect the antenna driving unit (e.g., a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)) to the radiator 210, and the second signal pad 250 may electrically connect the antenna driving unit to the radiator 210. For example, a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) may be bonded to the first signal pad 240 and the second signal pad 250, and the transmission line of the FPCB may be connected to the first signal pad 240 and the second signal pad 250. For example, an anisotropic conductive film (ACF) bonding technique may be used to electrically connect the first signal pad 240 and the second signal pad 250 to the FPCB, and the bonding method uses an anisotropic conductive film (ACF) or a coaxial cable to make the upper and lower parts conductive and the left and right parts insulated, but is not limited thereto. The antenna driving unit may be mounted on the FPCB or a separate printed circuit board (PCB) and electrically connected to the transmission line of the FPCB. Therefore, the radiator 210 may be electrically connected to the antenna driving unit.

[0073] The first signal pad 240 and the second signal pad 250 may be bent. For example, the first signal pad 240 may include a first section 241 and a second section 242. The first section 241 may extend in the y direction (the longitudinal direction of the antenna element) and be connected to the second section 242, and the second section 242 may extend from the first section 241 in the first direction 10 and be connected to the first transmission line 220. Similarly, the second signal pad 250 may include a third section 251 and a fourth section 252. The third section 251 may extend in the y direction (the longitudinal direction of the antenna element) and be connected to the fourth section 252, and the fourth section 252 may extend from the third section 251 in the second direction 20 and be connected to the second transmission line 230.

[0074] According to one embodiment, the first signal pad 240 and the second signal pad 250 may include substantially the same conductive material as the first transmission line 220 and the second transmission line 230. In addition, the first signal pad 240 and the second signal pad 250 may be integrally connected with the first transmission line 220 and the second transmission line 230 to form a substantially single component, or may be formed as a component separate from the first transmission line 220 and the second transmission line 230.

[0075] According to one embodiment, the first signal pad 240 and the second signal pad 250 may be formed in a solid structure. In the case of constituting an antenna having two dual-polarized transmission lines, the two transmission lines may be bent. Such bending of the transmission line may result in signal loss, and in particular, in the case where the transmission line is formed in a grid structure, the signal loss increases. In order to minimize such signal loss, in an antenna element of one embodiment, the straight portion in the current path may be formed in a grid structure, and the curved portion may be formed in a solid structure. In other words, the transmission lines 220 and 230 having a grid structure connected to the radiator 210 are formed as straight lines, and the signal pads 240 and 250 having a solid structure connected to the transmission lines 220 and 230 are formed to be curved, thereby preventing signal loss due to the bending of the grid structure lines.

[0076] Similar to the first transmission line 220 and the second transmission line 230 , the first signal pad 240 and the second signal pad 250 may also be formed symmetrically with respect to the center line CL of the radiator 210 .

[0077] According to one embodiment, the antenna conductive layer 120 may further include a ground pad 260 .

[0078] The ground pad 260 may be disposed around the first signal pad 240 and the second signal pad 250 in a manner electrically and physically isolated from the first signal pad 240 and the second signal pad 250. For example, the ground pad 260 may include a first ground pad 261 and a second ground pad 263 disposed opposite to each other across the first signal pad 240 and the second signal pad 250 in the x direction (the width direction of the antenna element), and a third ground pad 262 disposed between the first signal pad 240 and the second signal pad 250.

[0079] The ground pad 260 may be formed in a solid structure including the aforementioned metal or alloy.

[0080] In addition, the antenna element 100a may include a visible area VA and a non-visible area Non-VA. Here, the visible area VA may correspond to the display area of ​​the display device, in which a portion of the antenna element 100a is installed, and the non-visible area Non-VA may correspond to the peripheral area of ​​the display device, in which another portion of the antenna element 100a is installed. The display area may refer to an area where visible information is displayed, and the peripheral area may refer to a non-transparent area disposed on both sides and / or both ends of the display area. For example, the peripheral area may correspond to a shading portion or a frame portion of the display device.

[0081] The radiator 210 , the first transmission line 220 , and the second transmission line 230 may be disposed in the visible area VA, and the first signal pad 240 , the second signal pad 250 , and the ground pad 260 may be disposed in the non-visible area Non-VA.

[0082] According to one embodiment, Figure 3 As shown, the above-mentioned first signal pad 240 and second signal pad 250 can be arranged in the non-visible area Non-VA as follows: in the y direction (longitudinal direction of the antenna element), a first line 31 that jumps over the boundary line 30 between the visible area VA and the non-visible area Non-VA and is spaced 0.5 mm on the side of the non-visible area Non-VA, but does not jump over the second line 32 that is spaced 0.5 mm from the boundary line 30 on the side of the visible area VA.

[0083] in addition, Figure 2 An example of disposing a portion of the radiator 210 in the non-visible area Non-VA is shown, but this is only one embodiment. That is, based on the size of the radiator 210 and / or the transmission lines 220 and 230, etc., the radiator 210 can be selectively disposed only in the visible area VA, and not in the non-visible area Non-VA.

[0084] Figure 4 is a schematic top view of an antenna element according to another embodiment. Figure 4The antenna element 100b shown may be Figure 1 Another embodiment of the antenna element 100 is shown. Figures 1 to 3 The structure and composition of the description are essentially the same.

[0085] Reference Figure 4 , the radiator 410 may be configured in a rectangular shape. The length and width of the radiator 410 may be determined based on a desired resonance frequency, radiation resistance, and gain.

[0086] The first transmission line 420 may extend from the first signal pad 240 in the first direction 10 and be connected to the radiator 410, and the second transmission line 430 may extend from the second signal pad 250 in the second direction 20 and be connected to the radiator 410. Thus, the first transmission line 420 may electrically connect the first signal pad 240 to the radiator 410, and the second transmission line 430 may electrically connect the second signal pad 250 to the radiator 210.

[0087] As described above, the first direction 10 and the second direction 20 may be parallel to the upper surface of the dielectric layer 110 and intersect with the y direction (the longitudinal direction of the antenna element). In addition, the first direction 10 and the second direction 20 may intersect with each other. For example, the angle θ formed by the first direction 10 and the second direction 20 may be 80° to 100°, preferably 90°. By making the extension directions of the first transmission line 420 and the second transmission line 430 perpendicular to each other, a dual-polarized antenna can be effectively realized.

[0088] According to one embodiment, Figure 4 As shown, in the case where the radiator 410 is formed in a rectangular shape, the first transmission line 420 and the second transmission line 430 may be connected to two adjacent vertices of the radiator 410 respectively.

[0089] Figure 5 is a schematic top view of an antenna element according to another embodiment. Figure 5 The antenna element 100c shown may be Figure 1 Another embodiment of the antenna element 100 is shown. Figures 1 to 4 The structure and composition of the description are essentially the same.

[0090] Reference Figure 5 , the antenna element 100 c may further include a dummy pattern 270 .

[0091] The dummy pattern 270 may be disposed around the radiator 210 , the first transmission line 220 , and the second transmission line 230 .

[0092] The dummy pattern 270 may be formed in a mesh structure having substantially the same shape as at least one of the radiator 210, the first transmission line 220, and the second transmission line 230. According to an embodiment, some conductive lines forming the mesh structure of the dummy pattern 270 may be segmented to ensure antenna performance.

[0093] The dummy pattern 270 may be disposed in the visible area VA. According to one embodiment, the dummy pattern 270 may be selectively disposed only in the visible area VA, but not in the non-visible area Non-VA.

[0094] The dummy pattern 270 may be formed to be electrically and physically isolated from the radiator 210, the first transmission line 220, and the second transmission line 230. For example, an isolation region 271 may be formed along the edges or contours of the radiator 210, the first transmission line 220, and the second transmission line 230, so that the dummy pattern 270 may be isolated from the radiator 210, the first transmission line 220, and the second transmission line 230.

[0095] By disposing the dummy pattern 270 around the radiator 210 , the first transmission line 220 , and the second transmission line 230 , the optical uniformity of the pattern in the visible area VA is improved, thereby preventing the antenna pattern from being seen.

[0096] In addition, you can Figures 1 to 5 The plurality of antenna elements 100a, 100b and 100c described in the embodiment are linearly or nonlinearly arranged to form an antenna array. In this case, the isolation distance between the radiators may be greater than half the wavelength (λ / 2) relative to the resonant frequency of the radiators to reduce radiation interference from each radiator.

[0097] Figure 6 This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an antenna device according to an embodiment.

[0098] Reference Figure 6 The antenna device of one embodiment may include an antenna element 100, a circuit board 610, and an antenna driving unit 620. Here, the antenna element 100 is similar to the above-mentioned Figures 1 to 5 The descriptions are the same, so detailed description is omitted.

[0099] The antenna element 100 may be bonded or bonded to an external circuit structure at the bonding area BA. The external circuit structure may include a circuit board 610 and a conductive relay structure.

[0100] The circuit board 610 may be disposed on the antenna conductive layer 120. According to one embodiment, the circuit board 610 may be a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB).

[0101] The circuit board 610 may include a core layer 611, circuit wiring 612, and power ground 613. An upper cover film 615 and a lower cover film 614 for protecting the wiring may be formed on the upper surface and the lower surface of the core layer 611, respectively.

[0102] The core layer 611 may include a flexible resin material, such as polyimide, epoxy resin, polyester, cycloolefin polymer (COP), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), etc.

[0103] The circuit wiring 612 may be provided on one surface (eg, lower surface) of the core layer 611 , for example. The circuit wiring 612 may be provided as wiring for distributing power from the antenna driving unit 620 to the antenna conductive layer 120 or the radiators 210 and 410 .

[0104] According to one embodiment, the circuit wiring 612 may be electrically connected to the first signal pad 240 and the second signal pad 250 of the antenna conductive layer 120. For example, the circuit wiring 612 may be electrically connected to the signal pads 240 and 250 by a conductive relay structure inserted between the circuit wiring 612 and the signal pads 240 and 250. For example, the lower cover film 614 may be partially cut or removed to expose a portion of the circuit wiring 612 to be bonded to the antenna conductive layer 120 at the bonding area BA. The exposed portion of the circuit wiring 612 and the antenna conductive layer 120 may be crimped by the conductive relay structure.

[0105] The above-mentioned conductive relay structure may be made of, for example, an anisotropic conductive film (ACF). In this case, the conductive relay structure may include conductive particles (eg, silver particles, copper particles, carbon particles, etc.) dispersed in a resin layer.

[0106] The above-mentioned circuit wiring 612 may include a first circuit wiring and a second circuit wiring. The first circuit wiring may electrically connect the antenna driving unit 620 to the first signal pad 240. The second circuit wiring may electrically connect the antenna driving unit 620 to the second signal pad 250. By adjusting the length of the first circuit wiring and the second circuit wiring, the delay between the input signals supplied to the radiators 210 and 410 can be controlled. For example, the first circuit wiring may be formed in a straight line, and the second circuit wiring may be formed to have more than one curved portion to be different in length.

[0107] The power ground 613 may be disposed on another surface (eg, the upper surface) of the core layer 611. The power ground 613 may have a linear or plate shape. The power ground 613 may function as a barrier to shield or suppress noise or self-radiation generated by the circuit wiring 612.

[0108] According to one embodiment, the power ground 613 can be connected to the ground pad 260 (see FIG. 20 ) of the antenna conductive layer 120 through a ground hole (not shown) penetrating the core layer 611. Figure 2 )Electrical connection.

[0109] The antenna driving unit 620 may be disposed on the circuit board 610. The antenna driving unit 620 may be a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC).

[0110] Power may be supplied from the antenna driving unit 620 to the antenna conductive layer 120 through the circuit wiring 612. For example, the circuit board 610 may include a circuit or a contact for electrically connecting the antenna driving unit 620 and the circuit wiring 612 therein.

[0111] The antenna driving unit 620 may apply the first input signal and the second input signal to the first signal pad 240 and the second signal pad 250, respectively, through the circuit wiring 612. In addition, the antenna driving unit 620 may control the phases of the first input signal and the second input signal.

[0112] The antenna driving unit 620 may control the time of applying the first input signal and the second input signal. For example, the antenna driving unit 620 may apply the first input signal and the second input signal alternately and sequentially.

[0113] in addition, Figure 6 An example of mounting the antenna driving unit 620 on the circuit board 610 is shown, but this is only one embodiment. In other words, the antenna driving unit 620 may also be mounted on another circuit board connected to the circuit board 610. In this case, the other circuit board may be a circuit board of a display device or a display panel on which an antenna device is mounted.

[0114] Figure 7 is a schematic top view showing a display device according to one embodiment. More specifically, Figure 7 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the external shape of a display device including a window.

[0115] Reference Figure 7 , the display device 700 may include a display area 710 and a peripheral area 720 .

[0116] The display area 710 may refer to an area displaying visible information, and the peripheral area 720 may refer to a non-transparent area disposed on both sides and / or both ends of the display area 710. For example, the peripheral area 720 may correspond to a light shielding portion or a frame portion of the display device 700.

[0117] According to one embodiment, the antenna elements 100, 100a, 100b and 100c described above may be mounted on the display device 700. For example, the visible area VA of the antenna elements 100, 100a, 100b and 100c may be set to correspond to the display area 710, and the non-visible area Non-VA may be set to correspond to the peripheral area 720.

[0118] The circuit board 610 may be disposed in the peripheral area 720 together with the antenna driving unit 620. By disposing the signal pads 240 and 250 of the antenna elements 100, 100a, 100b, and 100c adjacent to the antenna driving unit 620, the path for transmitting and receiving signals can be shortened to suppress signal loss.

[0119] The antenna elements 100, 100a, 100b and 100c include radiators 210 and 410, transmission lines 220, 230, 420 and 430, and / or dummy patterns 270 formed in a grid structure, thereby significantly reducing or suppressing the pattern from being seen while improving the transmittance. Thus, the image quality in the display area 710 can be improved, and the desired communication reliability can be maintained or improved.

[0120] Above, the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications may be made without departing from the basic features of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited by the above-mentioned embodiments, and other various embodiments within the scope equivalent to the contents recorded in the claims are also included in the present invention.

Claims

1. An antenna element, comprising: Radiators formed in a grid structure; a first transmission line and a second transmission line connected to the radiator and formed in a grid structure; and a first signal pad and a second signal pad respectively connected to the first transmission line and the second transmission line and formed in a bent solid structure, in, The first transmission line extends in a first direction and is connected to the radiator, the second transmission line extends in a second direction and is connected to the radiator, and The first direction and the second direction intersect each other.

2. The antenna element according to claim 1, in, An angle between the first direction and the second direction is 80° to 100°.

3. The antenna element according to claim 1, in, The radiator has a rhombus shape, and The first transmission line and the second transmission line are respectively connected to two adjacent sides of the radiator.

4. The antenna element according to claim 3, in, The first transmission line and the second transmission line are connected to the center of each side.

5. The antenna element according to claim 1, in, The radiator has a rectangular shape, and The first transmission line and the second transmission line are respectively connected to two adjacent vertices of the radiator.

6. The antenna element according to claim 1, in, The antenna element comprises a visible region and a non-visible region, The radiator, the first transmission line and the second transmission line are arranged in a visible region, and The first signal pad and the second signal pad are disposed in a non-visible area.

7. The antenna element according to claim 6, in, The first signal pad and the second signal pad are arranged in the following manner: In the longitudinal direction of the antenna element, the antenna jumps over a first line spaced 0.5 mm from a boundary line between the visible area and the non-visible area on the non-visible area side, but does not jump over a second line spaced 0.5 mm from the boundary line on the visible area side.

8. The antenna element according to claim 1, in, The first transmission line and the second transmission line are formed symmetrically with respect to a center line of the radiator.

9. The antenna element according to claim 1, in, The first signal pad and the second signal pad are formed symmetrically with respect to a center line of the radiator. 10 . The antenna element according to claim 1 , further comprising a dummy pattern disposed around the radiator, the first transmission line, and the second transmission line and isolated from the radiator, the first transmission line, and the second transmission line.

11. An antenna element, comprising: Radiators formed in a grid structure; a first transmission line and a second transmission line connected to the radiator and formed in a grid structure; and a first signal pad and a second signal pad respectively connected to the first transmission line and the second transmission line and formed in a bent solid structure, in, The first transmission line extends in a first direction and is connected to the radiator, and the second transmission line extends in a second direction and is connected to the radiator. The first signal pad includes a first section extending in the longitudinal direction of the antenna element and a second section extending from the first section in the first direction and connected to the first transmission line, and The second signal pad includes a third section extending in the longitudinal direction of the antenna element and a fourth section extending from the third section in the second direction and connected to the second transmission line.

12. An antenna element, comprising: Radiators formed in a grid structure; A first transmission line and a second transmission line connected to the radiator and formed in a grid structure; a first signal pad and a second signal pad respectively connected to the first transmission line and the second transmission line and formed in a bent solid structure, and A ground pad is disposed around the first signal pad and the second signal pad in a manner of being isolated from the first signal pad and the second signal pad.

13. The antenna element according to claim 12, in, The ground pad comprises: a first ground pad and a second ground pad disposed opposite to each other with the first signal pad and the second signal pad interposed therebetween; and A third ground pad is disposed between the first signal pad and the second signal pad.

14. An antenna device, comprising: The antenna element according to claim 1; a circuit board including circuit wiring connected to the first signal pad and the second signal pad; and An antenna driving unit is provided on the circuit board and connected to the circuit wiring. 15 . A display device comprising the antenna element according to claim 1 .

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