Antenna module and portable electronic device using the same

Abstract

The invention relates to an antenna module and a portable electronic device using the same. The antenna module comprises a flexible substrate, a first antenna circuit and a second antenna circuit. The flexible substrate comprises a first main body part, a second main body part, an L-shaped bending part and a U-shaped bending part. The L-shaped bent part is provided with a first end and a second end which are opposite. The first end of the L-shaped bent part is connected to the first main body part. The U-shaped bending part is provided with a first end and a second end which are opposite. And the first end of the U-shaped bent part is connected to the second end of the L-shaped bent part. And the second end of the U-shaped bending part is connected to the second main body part. The first antenna circuit is arranged on the first main body part. The second antenna circuit is arranged on the second main body part. The portable electronic device comprises the antenna module and a casing. The antenna module is arranged in the corner of the casing. Therefore, the corner space of the portable electronic device can be effectively used, and multiple antenna radiation directions are provided to meet the wireless communication requirement of the portable electronic device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an antenna module and a portable electronic device using the antenna module. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, with the advancement of technology, electronic products such as tablet PCs, notebooks, smart phones or other portable electronic devices have frequently appeared in daily life. In order to meet the small size requirements of portable electronic devices, the antenna module of the portable electronic device is usually set in the corner of the portable electronic device to save the internal space of the portable electronic device. Summary of the invention

[0003] Therefore, the present invention provides an antenna module and a portable electronic device using the antenna module, which can efficiently use the corner space of the portable electronic device and provide multiple antenna radiation directions to meet the wireless communication requirements of the portable electronic device.

[0004] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the antenna module comprises: a flexible substrate, a first antenna circuit and a second antenna circuit. The flexible substrate comprises: a first main body, a second main body, an L-shaped bend and a U-shaped bend. The L-shaped bend has a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The first end of the L-shaped bend is connected to the first main body. The U-shaped bend has a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The first end of the U-shaped bend is connected to the second end of the L-shaped bend. The second end of the U-shaped bend is connected to the second main body. The first antenna circuit is disposed on the first main body. The second antenna circuit is disposed on the second main body.

[0005] In some embodiments, the above-mentioned antenna module also includes an antenna communication chip, which is electrically connected to the first antenna circuit and the second antenna circuit to utilize the first antenna circuit and the second antenna circuit for wireless communication, wherein the antenna communication chip is located on the first side of the L-shaped bend portion, and the second main body is located on the second side of the L-shaped bend portion, and the first side is opposite to the second side.

[0006] In some embodiments, the first antenna circuit is disposed on a first substrate surface of the flexible substrate, and the second antenna circuit and the antenna communication chip are disposed on a second substrate surface of the flexible substrate, and the first substrate surface is opposite to the second substrate surface.

[0007] In some embodiments, the flexible substrate is a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) substrate.

[0008] In some embodiments, at least one of the L-shaped bending portion and the U-shaped bending portion is processed by a decapping process to have a thickness smaller than that of the first body portion and the second body portion.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the antenna module comprises: a flexible substrate, a first antenna circuit and a second antenna circuit. The flexible substrate comprises: a first main body, a second main body, a first U-shaped bend, an L-shaped bend and a second U-shaped bend. The first U-shaped bend has a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The first end of the first U-shaped bend is connected to the first main body. The L-shaped bend has a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The first end of the L-shaped bend is connected to the second end of the first U-shaped bend. The second U-shaped bend has a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The first end of the second U-shaped bend is connected to the second end of the L-shaped bend, and the second end of the second U-shaped bend is connected to the second main body. The first antenna circuit is arranged on the first main body. The second antenna circuit is arranged on the second main body.

[0010] In some embodiments, the antenna module further includes an antenna communication chip electrically connected to the first antenna circuit and the second antenna circuit to utilize the first antenna circuit and the second antenna circuit for wireless communication, wherein the first antenna circuit, the two antenna circuits and the antenna communication chip are disposed on the same substrate surface of the flexible substrate.

[0011] In some embodiments, the L-shaped bend has a first straight extension and a second straight extension, the first straight extension is connected to the first U-shaped bend, the second straight extension is connected to the second U-shaped bend, the first straight extension is provided with a reflective plate, and the second straight extension is provided with another reflective plate.

[0012] In some embodiments, the distance between the first antenna circuit and the second antenna circuit and the corresponding reflector is one quarter of the wavelength of the antenna signal.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the portable electronic device comprises: a housing and an antenna module. The housing has a first side wall and a second side wall. The first side wall and the second side wall provide a corner space. The antenna module is arranged in the corner space. The antenna module comprises: a flexible substrate, a first antenna circuit and a second antenna circuit. The flexible substrate comprises: a first main body, a second main body, a first L-shaped bend and a first U-shaped bend. The first L-shaped bend has a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The first end of the first L-shaped bend is connected to the first main body. The first U-shaped bend has a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The first end of the first U-shaped bend is connected to the second end of the first L-shaped bend, and the second end of the first U-shaped bend is connected to the second main body. The first antenna circuit is arranged on the first main body. The second antenna circuit is arranged on the second main body.

[0014] In some embodiments, the portable electronic device further includes an antenna communication chip electrically connected to the first antenna circuit and the second antenna circuit to perform wireless communication using the first antenna circuit and the second antenna circuit.

[0015] In some embodiments, the housing further has a third side wall and the flexible substrate further includes: a third main body, a second L-shaped bend, a second U-shaped bend, and a third antenna circuit. The second L-shaped bend has a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The first end of the second L-shaped bend is connected to the first main body. The second U-shaped bend has a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The first end of the second U-shaped bend is connected to the second end of the second L-shaped bend, and the second end of the second U-shaped bend is connected to the third main body. The third antenna circuit is disposed on the third main body. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] In order to make the above and other objects, features, advantages and embodiments of the present invention more understandable, the attached drawings are described as follows:

[0017] Figure 1 A schematic diagram illustrating the structure of an antenna module before and after bending according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 A schematic diagram illustrating the structure of an antenna module before and after bending according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 3 A schematic diagram illustrating the structure of an antenna module after bending according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 4 A front structural schematic diagram of a portable electronic device and an internal antenna module according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated;

[0021] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the side structure of a portable electronic device and an internal antenna module according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated;

[0022] Figure 6 FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the three-dimensional structure of an antenna module according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The following describes embodiments of the present invention. However, it is understood that the embodiments provide many applicable concepts that can be implemented in a variety of specific contexts. The embodiments discussed and disclosed are for illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0024] The terms “first”, “second”, etc. used in this document do not particularly refer to an order or sequence, but are only used to distinguish elements or operations described with the same technical terms.

[0025] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 1 Schematic diagrams of the structure of the antenna module 100 before and after bending according to an embodiment of the present invention are illustrated. The antenna module 100 includes a flexible substrate 110, a first antenna circuit 121, a second antenna circuit 122, and an antenna communication chip 130. The flexible substrate 110 is used to carry the first antenna circuit 121, the second antenna circuit 122, and the antenna communication chip 130. In this embodiment, the flexible substrate 110 includes a first main body 111 and a second main body 112, on which the first antenna circuit 121, the second antenna circuit 122, and the antenna communication chip 130 are disposed, wherein the first antenna circuit 121 and the second antenna circuit 122 are located on two opposite surfaces 110a and 110b of the flexible substrate 110, and the first antenna circuit 121 and the antenna communication chip 130 are located on opposite sides of the first main body 111. The antenna communication chip 130 is electrically connected to the first antenna circuit 121 and the second antenna circuit 122, so as to use the first antenna circuit 121 and the second antenna circuit 122 for wireless communication.

[0026] In the embodiment of the present invention, the flexible substrate 110 is a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) substrate, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, other flexible substrate materials can also be applied to the flexible substrate 110 .

[0027] After the antenna module 100 is bent, the flexible substrate 110 includes an L-shaped bending portion 110L and a U-shaped bending portion 110U. The L-shaped bending portion 110L has a first end L1 and a second end L2 opposite to each other, wherein the first end L1 of the L-shaped bending portion 110L is connected to the first main body portion 111. The U-shaped bending portion 110U has a first end U1 and a second end U2 opposite to each other, wherein the first end U1 of the U-shaped bending portion 110U is connected to the second end L2 of the L-shaped bending portion, and the second end U2 of the U-shaped bending portion 110U is connected to the second main body portion 112.

[0028] After the antenna module 100 is bent to form the L-shaped bending portion 110L and the U-shaped bending portion 110U, the first antenna circuit 121 can transmit and receive antenna signals outward along the X-axis, and the second antenna circuit 122 can transmit and receive antenna signals outward along the Y-axis. Specifically, the shape of the antenna module 100 after bending can be adapted to the shape of the corner of the housing of the portable electronic device, thereby improving the space utilization efficiency of the antenna module 100 in the corner, and can also provide wireless communication in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction to cover a larger wireless communication range.

[0029] Please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 2Schematic diagram of the structure of the antenna module 200 before and after bending according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The antenna module 200 includes a flexible substrate 210, a first antenna circuit 121, a second antenna circuit 122, and an antenna communication chip 130. The flexible substrate 210 is used to carry the first antenna circuit 121, the second antenna circuit 122, and the antenna communication chip 130. In this embodiment, the flexible substrate 210 includes a first main body 211 and a second main body 212, on which the first antenna circuit 121, the second antenna circuit 122, and the antenna communication chip 130 are disposed, wherein the first antenna circuit 121 and the second antenna circuit 122 are located on the same surface of the flexible substrate 210. The substrate portion located between the first main body 211 and the second main body 212 has a thinner thickness than the main body, because the substrate portion between the first main body 211 and the second main body 212 is subjected to a decapping process. After the decapping process, the antenna module 200 can become easier to bend.

[0030] After the antenna module 100 is bent, the flexible substrate 110 includes an L-shaped bending portion 210L, a first U-shaped bending portion 221U, and a second U-shaped bending portion 222U. The first U-shaped bending portion 221U has a first end U11 and a second end U12 opposite to each other, wherein the first end U11 of the first U-shaped bending portion 221U is connected to the first main body 211. The L-shaped bending portion 210L has a first end L21 and a second end L22 opposite to each other, wherein the first end L21 of the L-shaped bending portion 210L is connected to the second end U12 of the first U-shaped bending portion 221U. The second U-shaped bending portion 222U has a first end U21 and a second end U22 opposite to each other, wherein the first end U21 of the second U-shaped bending portion 222U is connected to the second end L22 of the L-shaped bending portion 210L, and the second end U22 of the second U-shaped bending portion 222U is connected to the second main body 212.

[0031] After the antenna module 200 is bent to form the L-shaped bend 210L, the first U-shaped bend 221U and the second U-shaped bend 222U, the first antenna circuit 121 can transmit and receive antenna signals outward along the X-axis, and the second antenna circuit 122 can transmit and receive antenna signals outward along the Y-axis. Specifically, the shape of the antenna module 200 after bending can be adapted to the shape of the corner of the housing of the portable electronic device, thereby improving the space utilization efficiency of the antenna module 200 in the corner, and can also provide wireless communication in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction to cover a larger wireless communication range.

[0032] In addition, since the first antenna circuit 121, the second antenna circuit 122 and the antenna communication chip 130 of the antenna module 200 are all located on the same surface of the flexible substrate 210, the first antenna circuit 121, the second antenna circuit 122 and the antenna communication chip 130 of the antenna module 200 are easier to set up than the antenna module 100, and the process is more simplified.

[0033] Please refer to Figure 3 , Figure 3 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the antenna module 300 after bending according to an embodiment of the present invention. The antenna module 300 is similar to the antenna module 200, but the difference is that the antenna module 300 further includes a reflector 310, wherein the reflector 310 is disposed on the first straight extension portion 211S and the second straight extension portion 212S of the L-shaped bending portion 210L. For example, when the antenna module 300 is bent, the first straight extension portion 211S of the L-shaped bending portion 210L will be adjacent to the first main body portion 211 and the first antenna circuit 121, and will be arranged along the Y-axis direction with the first main body portion 211 and the first antenna circuit 121, wherein the reflector 310 is located between the first main body portion 211 and the first straight extension portion 211S, and the reflector 310 and the first antenna circuit 121 are located on opposite sides of the first main body portion 211. For another example, when the antenna module 300 is bent, the second straight extension portion 212S of the L-shaped bending portion 210L will be adjacent to the second main body portion 212 and the second antenna circuit 122, and will be arranged along the X-axis direction with the second main body portion 212 and the second antenna circuit 122, wherein the reflector 310 is located between the second main body portion 212 and the second straight extension portion 212S, and the reflector 310 and the second antenna circuit 122 are located on opposite sides of the second main body portion 212.

[0034] Thus, when the first antenna circuit 121 and the second antenna circuit 122 transmit antenna signals, the reflector 310 located at the back of the first antenna circuit 121 and the second antenna circuit 122 can reflect the antenna signals from the first antenna circuit 121 and the second antenna circuit 122, thereby improving the signal quality of the first antenna circuit 121 and the second antenna circuit 122. For example, the side length of the metal surface of the reflector 310 is at least half a wavelength, so that the signals of the first antenna circuit 121 and the second antenna circuit 122 can be efficiently reflected.

[0035] In some embodiments, the bending degree of the first U-shaped bending portion 221U can be controlled to adjust the distance between the first antenna circuit 121 and the corresponding reflector 310, so that the effect of the corresponding reflector 310 can be adjusted according to the needs of the user. Similarly, the bending degree of the second U-shaped bending portion 222U can be controlled to adjust the distance between the second antenna circuit 122 and the corresponding reflector 310, so that the effect of the corresponding reflector 310 can be adjusted according to the needs of the user. In this embodiment, the distance between the first antenna circuit 121 and the second antenna 212 and the corresponding reflector 310 is a quarter wavelength, which can obtain a better reflection effect.

[0036] Please also refer to Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 , Figure 4 FIG. 2 is a front structural diagram of a portable electronic device and an internal antenna module according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a side structure of a portable electronic device and an internal antenna module according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the antenna module. In this embodiment, the portable electronic device includes a housing 400 and an antenna module 500, wherein the antenna module 500 is disposed at the upper right corner of the housing 400 to provide the wireless communication function of the portable electronic device. Specifically, the housing 400 includes side walls 411S and 412S, and the side walls 411S and 412S define a corner, and the antenna module 500 is disposed in the corner, and the volume is adapted to the space of the corner, so that the corner space can be efficiently utilized to set the antenna module 500 and provide the wireless communication function of the portable electronic device. The antenna module 500 is similar to the antenna module 100 described above, but the difference is that the antenna module 100 further includes: a third main body 513, an L-shaped bending portion 510L, a U-shaped bending portion 510U and a third antenna circuit 523, wherein the third antenna circuit 523 is disposed on the third main body 513 and is electrically connected to the antenna communication chip 130 to provide the wireless communication function.

[0037] like Figure 4 As shown, the first main body 211 and the first antenna circuit 121 of the antenna module 500 are arranged along the Y-axis to provide wireless communication in the Y-axis direction (towards the outside of the side wall 411S). Secondly, the L-shaped bending portion 110L, the U-shaped bending portion 110U, the second main body 112 and the second antenna circuit 122 of the antenna module 500 are arranged along the X-axis direction, so that the second antenna circuit 122 on the second main body 112 can provide wireless communication in the X-axis direction (towards the outside of the side wall 412S). Furthermore, as Figure 5As shown, the L-shaped bending portion 510L, the U-shaped bending portion 510U and the third main body 513 of the antenna module 500 are arranged along the Z-axis direction, so that the third antenna circuit 523 on the third main body 513 can provide wireless communication in the Z-axis direction (towards the back of the housing 400), wherein Figure 5 The L-shaped bending portion 110L, the U-shaped bending portion 110U, the second main body portion 112 and the second antenna circuit 122 of the antenna module 500 are omitted from illustration.

[0038] Although Figures 4 to 5 The antenna module 500 is shown to be disposed in the upper right corner space of the housing 400, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the antenna module 500 can be disposed in other corner spaces of the housing 400. In some embodiments, the antenna modules 100, 200 or 300 described above can also be disposed in the corner spaces of the housing 400 accordingly.

[0039] Although the present invention has been disclosed as above in various embodiments, they are not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art may make slight changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be determined by the appended claims.

[0040]

Explanation of symbols

[0041] 100: Antenna module

[0042] 110:Soft substrate

[0043] 110a: Surface

[0044] 110b: Surface

[0045] 110L: L-shaped bend

[0046] 110U: U-shaped bend

[0047] 111: First main body

[0048] 112: Second main body

[0049] 121: First antenna circuit

[0050] 122: Second Antenna Circuit

[0051] 130: Antenna communication chip

[0052] 200: Antenna module

[0053] 210:Soft substrate

[0054] 211: First main body

[0055] 212: Second main body

[0056] 210L: L-shaped bend

[0057] 221U: First U-shaped bend

[0058] 222U: Second U-shaped bend

[0059] 300: Antenna module

[0060] 310: Reflector

[0061] 400: Chassis

[0062] 500: Antenna module

[0063] 411S: Sidewall

[0064] 412S: Sidewall

[0065] 510L: L-shaped bend

[0066] 510U: U-shaped bend

[0067] 513: The third main body

[0068] 523: Third antenna circuit

[0069] L1: First end

[0070] L2: Second end

[0071] L21: First end

[0072] L22: Second end

[0073] U1: First end

[0074] U2: Second end

[0075] U11: First end

[0076] U12: Second end

[0077] U21: First End

[0078] U22: Second end.

Claims

1. An antenna module, characterized in that: Include: Flexible substrate, including: a first main body; The second main body; An L-shaped bent portion having a first end and a second end opposite to each other, wherein the first end of the L-shaped bent portion is connected to the first main body portion; and A U-shaped curved portion having a first end and a second end opposite to each other, wherein the first end of the U-shaped curved portion is connected to the second end of the L-shaped curved portion, and the second end of the U-shaped curved portion is connected to the second main body portion; A first antenna circuit is disposed on the first main body; as well as The second antenna circuit is arranged on the second main body.

2. The antenna module according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes an antenna communication chip, which is electrically connected to the first antenna circuit and the second antenna circuit to utilize the first antenna circuit and the second antenna circuit for wireless communication, wherein the antenna communication chip is located on a first side of the L-shaped bending portion, and the second main body is located on a second side of the L-shaped bending portion, and the first side is opposite to the second side.

3. The antenna module according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first antenna circuit is arranged on a first substrate surface of the flexible substrate, the second antenna circuit and the antenna communication chip are arranged on a second substrate surface of the flexible substrate, and the first substrate surface is opposite to the second substrate surface.

4. The antenna module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flexible substrate is a liquid crystal polymer substrate.

5. The antenna module according to claim 1, characterized in that: At least one of the L-shaped bending portion and the U-shaped bending portion is processed through a thinning process to have a thickness smaller than that of the first main body portion and the second main body portion.

6. An antenna module, characterized in that: Include: Flexible substrate, including: a first main body; The second main body; A first U-shaped bend portion having a first end and a second end opposite to each other, wherein the first end of the first U-shaped bend portion is connected to the first main body portion; An L-shaped bend having a first end and a second end opposite to each other, wherein the first end of the L-shaped bend is connected to the second end of the first U-shaped bend; and A second U-shaped bend portion having a first end and a second end opposite to each other, wherein the first end of the second U-shaped bend portion is connected to the second end of the L-shaped bend portion, and the second end of the second U-shaped bend portion is connected to the second main body portion; A first antenna circuit is disposed on the first main body; as well as The second antenna circuit is arranged on the second main body.

7. The antenna module according to claim 6, characterized in that: It also includes an antenna communication chip electrically connected to the first antenna circuit and the second antenna circuit to utilize the first antenna circuit and the second antenna circuit for wireless communication, wherein the first antenna circuit, the two antenna circuits and the antenna communication chip are arranged on the same substrate surface of the flexible substrate.

8. The antenna module according to claim 6, characterized in that: The L-shaped bending portion has a first straight extension portion and a second straight extension portion, the first straight extension portion is connected to the first U-shaped bending portion, the second straight extension portion is connected to the second U-shaped bending portion, the first straight extension portion is provided with a reflection plate, and the second straight extension portion is provided with another reflection plate.

9. The antenna module according to claim 6, characterized in that: The distance between the first antenna circuit and the second antenna circuit and the corresponding reflection plate is one quarter of the wavelength of the antenna signal.

10. A portable electronic device, characterized in that: Include: A housing having a first side wall and a second side wall, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall provide a corner space; and An antenna module is disposed in the corner space, wherein the antenna module comprises: Flexible substrate, including: a first main body; The second main body; A first L-shaped bend portion having a first end and a second end opposite to each other, wherein the first end of the first L-shaped bend portion is connected to the first main body portion; as well as A first U-shaped bend portion having a first end and a second end opposite to each other, wherein the first end of the first U-shaped bend portion is connected to the second end of the first L-shaped bend portion, and the second end of the first U-shaped bend portion is connected to the second main body portion; A first antenna circuit is disposed on the first main body; as well as The second antenna circuit is arranged on the second main body.

11. The portable electronic device according to claim 10, wherein: The invention also comprises an antenna communication chip which is electrically connected to the first antenna circuit and the second antenna circuit so as to utilize the first antenna circuit and the second antenna circuit for wireless communication.

12. The portable electronic device according to claim 10, wherein: The housing also has a third side wall and the flexible substrate further comprises: The third main body; A second L-shaped bend portion having a first end and a second end opposite to each other, wherein the first end of the second L-shaped bend portion is connected to the first main body portion; A second U-shaped bend portion having a first end and a second end opposite to each other, wherein the first end of the second U-shaped bend portion is connected to the second end of the second L-shaped bend portion, and the second end of the second U-shaped bend portion is connected to the third main body portion; and The third antenna circuit is arranged on the third main body.

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