Antenna structure and electronic device

Abstract

The application discloses an antenna structure and an electronic device. The antenna structure comprises an antenna layer, a substrate layer, a ground layer, a feed line network and a matching network. The substrate layer is located between the antenna layer and the ground layer. The antenna layer comprises a first patch antenna and a second patch antenna. The first patch antenna and the second patch antenna are connected with the ground layer. The feed line network is located in a region between the first patch antenna and the second patch antenna. The feed line network has at least three connection ends in different positions. At least two connection ends are connected with the first patch antenna, and at least one connection end is connected with the second patch antenna. The matching network is connected with the feed line network.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application belongs to the technical field of communication, and particularly relates to an antenna structure and an electronic device. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the related art, with the development of communication technology, the number of antennas used in a terminal is increasing, while the appearance and structure design size of the terminal are almost unchanged, which results in the reduction of the design space of a single antenna and the reduction of the spacing between multiple antennas. The smaller antenna design space will result in the difficulty of the antenna in covering a wide band, and the smaller antenna spacing will result in the increase of the coupling between antennas, which may cause the decline of the performance of the antenna and the increase of the design complexity. In the environment of the smaller low-profile antenna design space, the bandwidth of the antenna unit is narrow. SUMMARY

[0003] The present application aims to provide an antenna structure and an electronic device, which at least solve one of the problems that the bandwidth of the antenna unit is narrow in the environment of the smaller low-profile antenna design space.

[0004] To solve the above technical problems, the present application is implemented as follows:

[0005] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an antenna structure, which comprises an antenna layer, a substrate layer, a ground layer, a feed line network and a matching network.

[0006] The substrate layer is located between the antenna layer and the ground layer.

[0007] The antenna layer comprises a first patch antenna and a second patch antenna, and the first patch antenna and the second patch antenna are both connected with the ground layer.

[0008] The feed line network is located in the region between the first patch antenna and the second patch antenna, and the feed line network has at least three connection ends at different positions, at least two of which are connected with the first patch antenna, and at least one of which is connected with the second patch antenna.

[0009] The matching network is connected with the feed line network.

[0010] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an electronic device, which comprises the antenna structure as described in the first aspect.

[0011] In the embodiments of the present application, a feeder network is located in the region between the first patch antenna and the second patch antenna, the feeder network has at least three connection ends in different positions, at least two of the connection ends are connected with the first patch antenna, and at least one of the connection ends is connected with the second patch antenna, current is input to the first patch antenna and the second patch antenna through the feeder network, the first patch antenna and the second patch antenna form a common excitation effect, thereby realizing uniform distribution of the field, reducing loss, improving the radiation efficiency of the antenna structure, and increasing the antenna bandwidth.

[0012] Additional aspects and advantages of the present application will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present application will become apparent and be readily appreciated from the following description, including the appended drawings.

[0014] Figure 1 is one of the schematic plan structure diagrams of the antenna structure according to the embodiments of the present application;

[0015] Figure 2 is a sectional view of Figure 1 ;

[0016] Figure 3 is the return loss curve of the antenna structure according to the embodiments of the present application;

[0017] Figure 4 is the total efficiency curve of the antenna structure according to the embodiments of the present application;

[0018] Figure 5 is the current distribution schematic diagram of the antenna structure according to the embodiments of the present application;

[0019] Figure 6 is the second schematic plan structure diagram of the antenna structure according to the embodiments of the present application;

[0020] Figure 7 is the third schematic plan structure diagram of the antenna structure according to the embodiments of the present application;

[0021] Figure 8 is the fourth schematic plan structure diagram of the antenna structure according to the embodiments of the present application;

[0022] Figure 9 is a sectional view of Figure 8 ;

[0023] Figure 10 is the fifth schematic plan structure diagram of the antenna structure according to the embodiments of the present application;

[0024] Figure 11 Figure 10 cross-sectional view.

[0025] Reference signs:

[0026] 11, first patch antenna; 12, second patch antenna; 13, third patch antenna; 111, first patch area; 112, second patch area; 121, third patch area; 122, fourth patch area;

[0027] 2, substrate layer; 21, metal hole; 201, first substrate layer; 202, second substrate layer;

[0028] 3, ground layer;

[0029] 4, feed line network; 40, connection end;

[0030] 5, matching network. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings, in which like or similar elements always have the same reference numerals, and the embodiments described below are examples only and are intended to explain the present application, and are not to be understood as limiting the present application. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative work under the premise that the scope of protection of the present application.

[0032] The terms "first", "second" in the description and claims of the present application can explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present application, unless otherwise specified, the meaning of "a plurality of" is two or more. In addition, "and / or" in the specification and claims means at least one of the connected objects, and the character " / ", generally means that the front and rear associated objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0033] In the description of the present application, it is to be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" and the like indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and are only for the purpose of facilitating the description of the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the devices or elements referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present application.

[0034] In the description of the present application, it should be noted that unless specifically defined and limited otherwise, the terms "mounting", "connected", "connection" should be understood broadly, for example, it can be fixed connection, or detachable connection, or integrally connected; it can be mechanical connection, or electrical connection; it can be directly connected, or indirectly connected through intermediate medium, or internal communication of two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the present application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0035] The following describes an antenna structure according to an embodiment of the present application. Figures 1-11 The following describes an antenna structure according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0036] As shown in the figure, according to some embodiments of the present application, an antenna structure includes: an antenna layer, a substrate layer 2, a ground layer 3, a feed line network 4 and a matching network 5. Figures 1-4 The substrate layer 2 is located between the antenna layer and the ground layer 3.

[0037] The antenna layer includes a first patch antenna 11 and a second patch antenna 12, and the first patch antenna 11 and the second patch antenna 12 are both connected to the ground layer 3.

[0038] The feed line network 4 is located in the area between the first patch antenna 11 and the second patch antenna 12, and the feed line network 4 has at least three connection ends 40 at different positions, at least two of which are connected to the first patch antenna 11, and at least one of which is connected to the second patch antenna 12.

[0039] The matching network 5 is connected to the feed line network 4.

[0040] In the embodiment of the present application, the feed line network 4 is located in the area between the first patch antenna 11 and the second patch antenna 12, and the feed line network 4 has at least three connection ends 40 at different positions, at least two of which are connected to the first patch antenna 11, and at least one of which is connected to the second patch antenna 12. By inputting current to the first patch antenna 11 and the second patch antenna 12 through the feed line network 4, the first patch antenna 11 and the second patch antenna 12 form a common excitation effect, so as to realize uniform distribution of the field, thereby reducing the loss, improving the radiation efficiency of the antenna structure, and increasing the antenna bandwidth.

[0041] For example, by inputting current to the first patch antenna 11 and the second patch antenna 12 through the connection end 40 of the feed line network 4, the current acting on the first patch antenna 11 and the second patch antenna 12 has the same phase, so as to realize the effect of same frequency resonance of the first patch antenna 11 and the second patch antenna 12.

[0042] ​

[0043] For example, the feeder network 4 is connected to the matching network 5 in correspondence with a line width of a 50 ohm impedance transmission line. The other end of the matching network 5 is connected to a signal feed-in end.

[0044] The matching network 5 is of a microstrip line type, and the matching network 5 includes, but is not limited to, a series-parallel connection, a mixed connection, and a parallel transmission line. The parallel transmission line can be an open-circuit transmission line or a short-circuit transmission line.

[0045] In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the feeder network 4 has four connection ends 40, which include two first connection ends and two second connection ends. The two first connection ends are connected to the first patch antenna 11, and the two second connection ends are connected to the second patch antenna 12. Figures 1-5

[0046] In the embodiment, the two first connection ends are connected to the first patch antenna 11, and the two second connection ends are connected to the second patch antenna 12, so that the two frequency band coverage ranges of the antennas can be realized on the first patch antenna 11 and the second patch antenna 12.

[0047] Optionally, the two first connection ends and the two second connection ends are symmetrically arranged.

[0048] The two first connection ends and the two second connection ends are symmetrically arranged, which reduces the difficulty of forming in-phase current through the connection ends 40, so that the effect of the first patch antenna 11 and the second patch antenna 12 resonating at the same frequency is more easily achieved.

[0049] The two first connection ends and the two second connection ends of the feeder network 4 are symmetrically arranged, so that the current distribution on the first patch antenna 11 and the second patch antenna 12 is similar and in-phase, which is equivalent to increasing the effective antenna size corresponding to the fundamental mode current, so that the bandwidth of the antenna structure can be increased, and the radiation efficiency of the antenna structure can be improved.

[0050] Optionally, the feeder network 4 is connected to one side of the first patch antenna 11 facing the second patch antenna 12 through the connection end 40, and the feeder network 4 is connected to one side of the second patch antenna 12 facing the first patch antenna 11 through the connection end 40. In this way, the size of the entire antenna structure can be reduced, and the current input by the feeder network 4 to the antenna has the same phase when acting on the antenna structure, so that the excitation effect of resonating at the same frequency is achieved.

[0051] In an embodiment, the size difference between the first patch antenna 11 and the second patch antenna 12 in the width direction is 0 < W < 1 mm, and the size difference between the first patch antenna 11 and the second patch antenna 12 in the length direction is 0 < L < 0.25 mm.

[0052] ​In the embodiment of the present application, the size difference between the width direction and the length direction can make the coverable frequency bands of the first patch antenna 11 and the second patch antenna 12 have overlapping parts, so as to more easily form the effect of the first patch antenna 11 and the second patch antenna 12 resonating at the same frequency.

[0053] In one embodiment, as shown in Figure 1 , Figure 5 The first patch antenna 11 includes a first patch area 111 and a second patch area 112, and the second patch antenna 12 includes a third patch area 121 and a fourth patch area 122. The first patch area is connected with one of the first connection ends, the second patch area is connected with another of the first connection ends, the third patch area is connected with one of the second connection ends, and the fourth patch area is connected with another of the second connection ends.

[0054] In the embodiment, the first patch area 111, the second patch area 112, the third patch area 121 and the fourth patch area 122 each form an antenna area, and the feed network 4 can input current to each antenna area through the connection end 40, so as to form the required antenna coverable frequency band.

[0055] Optionally, the first patch area 111 and the second patch area 112 are distributed along the length direction, the third patch area 121 and the fourth patch area 122 are distributed along the length direction, and the size difference between the second patch area 112 and the fourth patch area 122 in the length direction is 0 < L < 0.25 mm.

[0056] As shown in Figure 3 , it is the return loss curve of the antenna structure. The return loss of the antenna structure in the working frequency bands of WiFi 2.4G (2.4GHz-2.484GHz) and WiFi 5G (5.15GHz-5.85GHz) is less than -5dB.

[0057] As shown in Figure 4 , it is the total efficiency curve of the antenna structure. The minimum total efficiency in the band of WiFi 2.4G (2.4GHz-2.484GHz) is -9dB, and the average total efficiency in the band is -8.1dB; the minimum total efficiency in the band of WiFi 5G (5.15GHz-5.85GHz) is -5.5dB, and the average total efficiency in the band is -4.4dB.

[0058] The embodiment of the present application can achieve better antenna performance in a limited design space.

[0059] As shown in Figure 5 , the working frequency band corresponding to the antenna structure is the WiFi 2.4G frequency band. The current is mainly distributed in the first patch area 111 and the third patch area 121.

[0060] The currents input to the first patch antenna 11 and the second patch antenna 12 through the connection end 40 are in phase, thereby forming the effect of the same frequency resonance of the first patch antenna 11 and the second patch antenna 12. For example, the different antenna structure currents excited to the first patch antenna 11 and the second patch antenna 12 are in the same direction, and the excitation effect of the same frequency resonance can be achieved.

[0061] In an embodiment, the first patch antenna 11 has a first split area to divide the first patch antenna 11 into the first patch area 111 and the second patch area 112, and the second patch antenna 12 has a second split area to divide the second patch antenna 12 into the third patch area 121 and the fourth patch area 122.

[0062] The first split area and the second split area are staggered. For example, in the length direction, the first split area and the second split area are staggered to avoid the first split area and the second split area being opposite to each other.

[0063] In the embodiment of the present application, the first split area and the second split area being staggered can avoid reducing the radiation efficiency of the antenna structure. By splitting the antenna layer through the first split area and the second split area, the connection end 40 of the feed network 4 corresponds to different antenna areas, so as to more accurately input the current to different antennas, thereby controlling the current acting on the antenna to be in the same direction, thereby achieving the excitation effect of the same frequency resonance.

[0064] In an embodiment as shown in Figures 1-11 The first split area includes a plurality of metal holes 21, and the first patch antenna 11 is connected to the ground layer 3 through the metal holes 21; or, the first split area is a broken seam.

[0065] The second split area includes a plurality of metal holes 21, and the second patch antenna 12 is connected to the ground layer 3 through the metal holes 21; or, the second split area is a broken seam.

[0066] In the embodiment of the present application, the metal hole 21 and the broken seam can both be used as a structure for dividing the antenna into different areas, so as to facilitate the feed network 4 to input the current.

[0067] In the structure split by the metal hole 21, the first patch antenna 11 and the second patch antenna 12 can be connected to the ground layer 3 through the metal hole 21.

[0068] On this basis, the plurality of metal holes 21 form an entire row structure to divide the first patch antenna 11 into a first patch area 111 and a second patch area 112, and to divide the second patch antenna 12 into a third patch area 121 and a fourth patch area 122. For example, by setting the size of each patch area, the first patch area 111 and the third patch area 121 correspond to the WiFi 2.4G frequency band resonance and part of the WiFi 5G resonance. The second patch area 112 and the fourth patch area 122 correspond to the resonance of other sub-bands of the WiFi 5G frequency band. With the metal hole 21 as the boundary, the WiFi 2.4G frequency band can be tuned by setting the length direction size of the first patch area 111 and the third patch area 121. The 5.15GHz and 5.35GHz resonances can be tuned by setting the width size of the first patch area 111 and the third patch area 121. The 5.5GHz and 5.85GHz resonances can be tuned by the length direction size of the second patch area 112 and the fourth patch area 122. In this way, the current mode of the antenna structure is clear, and debugging is simple.

[0069] In one embodiment, the thickness value of the substrate layer 2 is less than or equal to 0.5% of the free space wavelength corresponding to the lowest working frequency of the antenna layer.

[0070] Within this thickness value range, the thickness of the antenna structure is small, which can adapt to smaller antenna space and can meet the excitation effect of the same frequency resonance.

[0071] For example, the thickness value of the substrate layer 2 is 0.3mm, and the antenna structure works in the WiFi 2.4G and WiFi 5G frequency bands, that is, works in the 2.4GHz-2.484GHz and 5.15GHz-5.85GHz. The free space wavelength λ corresponding to the lowest working frequency of the antenna structure is 125mm. The thickness value of the substrate layer is 0.24%λ.

[0072] In one embodiment, the product of the relative equivalent dielectric constant and the loss tangent value of the substrate layer 2 is less than 0.05.

[0073] For example, the substrate layer 2 selects a modified polyimide (MPI) material, the relative equivalent dielectric constant is 3.2, and the loss tangent angle is 0.0035. The product of the relative equivalent dielectric constant and the loss tangent value is 0.0112, which can ensure that the dielectric loss of the antenna structure is small.

[0074] Optionally, the substrate layer 2 can be made of flexible material to facilitate edge integration and assembly.

[0075] In one embodiment, as shown in Figures 1-11 the connection end 40 is connected to the first patch antenna 11 through metal direct connection or electrical coupling.

[0076] The connection end 40 is connected to the second patch antenna 12 by metal direct connection or electric coupling.

[0077] In the embodiment of the present application, the metal direct connection has high connection strength, which improves the strength structure of the antenna structure.

[0078] The electric coupling connection can expand the bandwidth. The connection end 40 of the feed network 4 is a feed line, which can realize partial high-frequency band coverage. Meanwhile, the coupling effect of the connection end 40 to the first patch antenna 11 and the second patch antenna 12 makes the reflection of the connection end 40 small, which can improve the bandwidth.

[0079] In one embodiment, as shown in Figures 6-11 The substrate layer 2 includes at least two layers of plates, and the feed network 4 is located between the two layers of plates.

[0080] For example, the substrate layer 2 includes a first substrate layer 201 and a second substrate layer 202, and the first substrate layer 201 is laminated with the second substrate layer 202. The feed network 4 is located at the interface position of the lamination of the first substrate layer 201 and the second substrate layer 202. The connection end 40 of the feed network 4 is connected to the antenna layer through the metal hole 21 passing through only the first substrate layer 201, and the connection end 40 is connected to the ground layer through the metal hole 21 passing through only the second substrate layer 202.

[0081] For example, as shown in Figure 6 The connection end 40 of the feed network 4 is connected to the second patch antenna 12 by coupling connection. For example, the feed network 4 is coupled to the third patch area 121 through the connection end 40, and the feed network 4 is coupled to the fourth patch area 122 through the connection end 40, which can expand the bandwidth. Specifically, the connection end 40 of the feed network 4 can realize partial high-frequency band coverage, and the coupling effect makes the reflection of the connection end 40 small, which can improve the bandwidth.

[0082] In one embodiment, as shown in Figure 7 The antenna layer further includes a third patch antenna 13, the first patch antenna 11 and the second patch antenna 12 are located on the same side of the third patch antenna 13, and the third patch antenna 13 is connected to the ground layer 3.

[0083] The at least three connection ends 40 in different positions include four connection ends 40 in different positions, two of which are connected to the first patch antenna 11, one of which is connected to the second patch antenna 12, and one of which is connected to the third patch antenna 13.

[0084] The first patch antenna 11 is divided into a first patch area 111 and a second patch area 112 by a metal hole 21, and two connection ends 40 connected with the first patch antenna 11 are first connection ends, and the feed network 4 is connected with the first patch area 111 and the second patch area 112 through a first connection end respectively. One connection end 40 connected with the second patch antenna 12 is a second connection end, and the second patch antenna 12 is connected with the feed network 4 through a second connection end. The third patch antenna 13 added can further expand the bandwidth that the antenna structure can cover.

[0085] As shown in Figure 8 , Figure 9 The first substrate layer 201 and the second substrate layer 202 can be the same material or different materials, and the thicknesses can be the same or different. The first patch antenna 11 is divided into a first patch area 111 and a second patch area 112 by a metal hole 21, and the feed network 4 is connected with the first patch area 111 and the second patch area 112 through a first connection end respectively. The second patch antenna 12 is connected with the feed network 4 through a second connection end.

[0086] The connection end 40 of the feed network 4 is connected with the second patch area 112 through a metal hole 21, and the metal hole 21 is a blind hole that only penetrates to the position between the first substrate layer 201 and the second substrate layer 202. The connection end 40 of the feed network 4 is connected with the first patch area 111 through electromagnetic coupling.

[0087] The connection end 40 of the feed network 4 is connected with the second patch antenna 12 through a metal hole 21, and the metal hole 21 is a blind hole that only penetrates to the position between the first substrate layer 201 and the second substrate layer 202.

[0088] The substrate layer 2 includes at least a first substrate layer 201 and a second substrate layer 202, and by setting different layers, the working frequency band and the space utilization of the antenna structure can be expanded.

[0089] As shown in Figure 10 , Figure 11As shown, the first substrate layer 201 and the second substrate layer 202 can be the same material or different materials, and the thicknesses can be the same or different. The first patch antenna 11 is divided into a first patch area 111 and a second patch area 112 by a metal hole 21 which only distributes part of the area in the width direction. The feed network 4 is connected to the first patch area 111 and the second patch area 112 through two connection terminals 40 respectively, and the connection mode is coupled connection. The feed network 4 is connected to the second patch antenna 12 through two connection terminals 40, and the connection mode is coupled connection. The feed network 4 is at the interface of the first substrate layer 201 and the second substrate layer 202, and the coupled connection can be coupling in the thickness direction of the substrate layer 2. The feed network 4 is connected to the matching network 5 through the metal hole 21, and the metal hole 21 is a blind hole which only communicates to the interface of the first substrate layer 201 and the second substrate layer 202.

[0090] In an embodiment, an electronic device is provided, and the electronic device includes an antenna structure as described in embodiments of the present application.

[0091] In the description of the present specification, the description of the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "exemplary embodiment", "example", "specific example", or "some examples" and the like means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present application. In the present specification, the exemplary description of the above terms does not necessarily mean the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described can be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner.

[0092] Although the embodiments of the present application have been shown and described, those skilled in the art can understand that various changes, modifications, replacements and variations can be made to the embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present application, and the scope of the present application is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An antenna structure, characterized by The antenna structure comprises: an antenna layer, a substrate layer, a ground layer, a feed line network and a matching network; the substrate layer is located between the antenna layer and the ground layer; the antenna layer comprises a first patch antenna and a second patch antenna, and the first patch antenna and the second patch antenna are both connected with the ground layer; the feed line network is located in a region between the first patch antenna and the second patch antenna, and the feed line network has at least three connection terminals in different positions, at least two of which are connected with the first patch antenna, and at least one of which is connected with the second patch antenna; the matching network is connected with the feed line network; the feed line network has four connection terminals, including two first connection terminals and two second connection terminals, the two first connection terminals being connected with the first patch antenna, and the two second connection terminals being connected with the second patch antenna; the two first connection terminals and the two second connection terminals are symmetrically arranged to make the current phases acting on the first patch antenna and the second patch antenna the same.

2. The antenna structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the first patch antenna comprises a first patch region and a second patch region, and the second patch antenna comprises a third patch region and a fourth patch region, the first patch region being connected with one of the first connection terminals, the second patch region being connected with the other of the first connection terminals, the third patch region being connected with one of the second connection terminals, and the fourth patch region being connected with the other of the second connection terminals.

3. The antenna structure of claim 2, wherein the first patch antenna has a first division region to divide the first patch antenna into the first patch region and the second patch region, and the second patch antenna has a second division region to divide the second patch antenna into the third patch region and the fourth patch region; the first division region is staggered with the second division region.

4. The antenna structure of claim 3, wherein the first division region comprises a plurality of metal holes, and the first patch antenna is connected with the ground layer through the metal holes; or the first division region is a broken seam; the second division region comprises a plurality of metal holes, and the second patch antenna is connected with the ground layer through the metal holes; or the second division region is a broken seam.

5. The antenna structure of claim 1, wherein the antenna layer further comprises a third patch antenna, the first patch antenna and the second patch antenna are located on the same side of the third patch antenna, and the third patch antenna is connected with the ground layer; the at least three connection terminals in different positions comprise four connection terminals in different positions, two of which are connected with the first patch antenna, one of which is connected with the second patch antenna, and one of which is connected with the third patch antenna.

6. The antenna structure of claim 1, wherein the thickness value of the substrate layer is less than or equal to 0.5% of the free space wavelength corresponding to the lowest working frequency of the antenna layer.

7. The antenna structure of claim 1, wherein the product of the relative equivalent dielectric constant and the loss tangent value of the substrate layer is less than 0.

05.

8. The antenna structure of claim 1, wherein the connection terminal is connected with the first patch antenna through metal direct connection or electrical coupling; the connection terminal is connected with the second patch antenna through metal direct connection or electrical coupling.

9. The antenna structure of claim 1, wherein the substrate layer comprises at least two board layers, and the feed line network is located between two of the board layers.

10. An electronic device, comprising: The antenna structure comprises: the antenna structure according to any one of claims 1-9.

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