Antenna device

Abstract

An antenna device. The antenna device includes a substrate, a ground layer, two connectors, a metal structure, and two antenna units. The ground layer is disposed on the substrate. The two connectors are electrically connected to the ground layer. The metal structure is connected to the ground layer, wherein two ends of the metal structure are electrically connected to the two connectors through the ground layer. The two antenna units are connected to the two connectors, respectively. Thus, the antenna device can maintain the antenna radiation characteristics and reduce the volume simultaneously.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an antenna device, and more particularly to an antenna device for electronic products. Background Technology

[0002] When an electronic product contains at least two external antennas, and the external antennas are directly attached to the connector of the circuit board or directly attached to the casing of the communication product, a certain distance must be maintained between the two adjacent external antennas to avoid mutual interference between the two antennas and to avoid affecting each other's performance and characteristics.

[0003] However, with the trend of increasingly smaller product sizes in current electronic products, excessively small antenna spacing may make it difficult for electronic products to meet increasingly stringent over-the-air (OTA) testing standards. Therefore, developing an antenna device that can effectively utilize product space while also possessing antenna characteristics has become a worthwhile research goal for relevant manufacturers. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an antenna device that connects two antenna elements via a metal structure, thereby shortening the spacing between the connectors of the two antenna elements. In this way, the antenna device of the present invention can simultaneously maintain antenna radiation characteristics and reduce size.

[0005] According to one embodiment of the structural configuration of the present invention, an antenna device is provided, comprising a substrate, a ground layer, two connectors, a metal structure, and two antenna elements. The ground layer is disposed on the substrate. The two connectors are electrically connected to the ground layer. The metal structure is connected to the ground layer, wherein two ends of the metal structure are respectively electrically connected to the two connectors through the ground layer. The two antenna elements are respectively connected to the two connectors. Attached Figure Description

[0006] Figure 1 A schematic diagram illustrating an antenna device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0007] Figure 2 Drawing according to Figure 1 A side view of the antenna device;

[0008] Figure 3 A schematic diagram illustrating an antenna device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0009] Figure 4 Drawing according to Figure 3 A top view of the antenna device;

[0010] Figure 5 Drawing according to Figure 3 A side view of the antenna device;

[0011] Figure 6 Drawing according to Figure 3 A schematic diagram illustrating the efficiency of the antenna device; and

[0012] Figure 7 A schematic diagram illustrating an antenna device according to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0013] Explanation of key component symbols:

[0014] Antenna devices 100, 100a, and 100b

[0015] 110 substrate

[0016] 120 Grounding layer

[0017] 121 First grounding part

[0018] 122 Second grounding part

[0019] 130a, 130b, 130c, 130d connectors

[0020] 140 Metal Structure

[0021] 141 First line segment

[0022] 142 Second line segment

[0023] 143 Third line segment

[0024] 150 trench

[0025] Spacing between D1 and D2

[0026] W1 width Detailed Implementation

[0027] Several embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. For clarity, many practical details will be set forth in the following description. However, it should be understood that these practical details are not intended to limit the invention. That is, in some embodiments of the invention, these practical details are not essential. Furthermore, for the sake of simplicity in the drawings, some well-known and customary structures and elements will be illustrated in a simple schematic manner; and repeated elements may be denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0028] Furthermore, in this document, when a component (or unit, module, etc.) is "connected" to another component, it can mean that the component is directly connected to the other component, or that the component is indirectly connected to the other component, meaning that there is another component between the component and the other component. Only when it is explicitly stated that a component is "directly connected" to another component does it indicate that there is no other component between the component and the other component. The terms "first," "second," and "third" are only used to describe different components and do not limit the components themselves; therefore, "first component" can also be referred to as "second component." Moreover, the combinations of components / units / circuits in this document are not combinations generally known, conventional, or publicly known in this art. Whether the components / units / circuits themselves are publicly known cannot be used to determine whether their combination relationships are easily performed by a person skilled in the art.

[0029] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 , Figure 1 A schematic diagram illustrating an antenna device 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown; Figure 2 Drawing according to Figure 1 A side view of the antenna device 100 is shown. The antenna device 100 includes a substrate 110, a ground layer 120, connectors 130a, 130b, 130c, and 130d, a metal structure 140, and antenna elements (not shown). The ground layer 120 is disposed on the substrate 110. Connectors 130a, 130b, 130c, and 130d are electrically connected to the ground layer 120. The metal structure 140 is connected to the ground layer 120, wherein the two ends of the metal structure 140 are electrically connected to connectors 130a, 130b, 130c, and 130d respectively through the ground layer 120. The antenna elements are connected to connectors 130a, 130b, 130c, and 130d respectively.

[0030] In detail, the substrate 110 can be a PCBA circuit board or other circuit board material; connectors 130a, 130b, 130c, and 130d can be SMA connectors or other connectors for connecting external antenna units; the antenna unit can be an external antenna of any type, shape, and function; the metal structure 140 can be a U-shaped structure, a U-shaped structure, or other shapes, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The antenna unit is electrically connected to the components on the substrate 110 through at least one of the connectors 130a, 130b, 130c, and 130d.

[0031] In a first embodiment, the metal structure 140 may include a first line segment 141, a second line segment 142, and a third line segment 143. The first line segment 141 is disposed on the substrate 110 along a direction perpendicular to the substrate 110. The second line segment 142 connects to the first line segment 141 and is perpendicular to the first line segment 141. The third line segment 143 connects to the second line segment 142 and is disposed on the substrate 110 along a direction perpendicular to the substrate 110. Specifically, the first line segment 141 and the third line segment 143 of the metal structure 140 are connected to the ground layer 120 and stand upright on the substrate 110, while the second line segment 142 connects between the first line segment 141 and the third line segment 143. In addition, the second line segment 142 may be parallel to the substrate 110, and there is a gap D1 between the second line segment 142 and the substrate 110, wherein the gap D1 is greater than or equal to 3 mm. In this way, the antenna device 100 of the present invention can significantly shorten the spacing of the connectors 130a, 130b, 130c, and 130d of the full-band external antenna on the substrate 110 by connecting the metal structure 140 between adjacent two connectors (i.e., connectors 130a, 130b and connectors 130c, 130d) while maintaining the radiation characteristics of the external antenna.

[0032] Please refer to the following: Figures 3 to 5 , Figure 3 A schematic diagram illustrating the antenna device 100a according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown; Figure 4 Drawing according to Figure 3 A top view of the antenna device 100a; Figure 5 Drawing according to Figure 3 A side view of the antenna device 100a is shown. The antenna device 100a includes a substrate 110, a ground layer 120, connectors 130a, 130b, 130c, and 130d, a metal structure 140, and antenna elements (not shown). The ground layer 120 is disposed on the substrate 110. Connectors 130a, 130b, 130c, and 130d are electrically connected to the ground layer 120. The metal structure 140 is connected to the ground layer 120, wherein the two ends of the metal structure 140 are electrically connected to connectors 130a, 130b, 130c, and 130d respectively through the ground layer 120. The antenna elements are connected to connectors 130a, 130b, 130c, and 130d respectively.

[0033] The antenna device 100a may further include a trench 150. The trench 150 is disposed on the substrate 110 and surrounds connectors 130a, 130b, 130c, and 130d respectively. The trench 150 divides the ground layer 120 into a first ground portion 121 and a second ground portion 122. The first ground portion 121 is located between the two trenches 150, and the second ground portion 122 is located between connectors 130a, 130b, 130c, and 130d and the trench 150. The trench 150 has a U-shaped or U-shaped structure. The two ends of the trench 150 are located at the edge of the substrate 110 and are disposed on both sides of one of the connectors 130a, 130b, 130c, and 130d. The two ends of the metal structure 140 are respectively connected to the two second ground portions 122.

[0034] In detail, the trench 150 can be used to etch or otherwise remove a portion of the ground layer 120 after it has been laid on the substrate 110, thus preventing conductivity between the first ground portion 121 and the second ground portion 122. Each of the second ground portions 122 is electrically connected to connectors 130a, 130b, 130c, and 130d. In this way, the antenna device 100a of the present invention uses the trench 150 to separate the ground layer 120, preventing the low-frequency characteristics of the antenna elements from being affected by adjacent antenna elements, and reducing the overall size of the antenna device 100a.

[0035] In the second embodiment, the distance D2 between two adjacent connectors (e.g., connectors 130a and 130b) is less than or equal to 40 mm. The substrate 110 has a length of 110 mm and a width of 110 mm, and the distance D2 between two adjacent connectors (e.g., connectors 130a and 130b) can be 30 mm. The width W1 of each groove 150 is greater than or equal to 1 mm.

[0036] In the second embodiment, the first resonant frequency band of the antenna element is between 617 MHz and 960 MHz, and the second resonant frequency band is between 1450 MHz and 5925 MHz, but the invention is not limited thereto. The total length of the metal structure 140 is L1, and the wavelength of the lowest frequency of the antenna element is λ, which conforms to the following formula: 1 / 4λ ≤ L1 ≤ 1 / 2λ. In other words, the total length of the metal structure 140 is the sum of the lengths of the first segment 141, the second segment 142, and the third segment 143.

[0037] In other embodiments of the present invention, the total length of the metal structure 140 is L1, the distance between the center point of one antenna element and the center point of the other antenna element is L2, and the wavelength of the lowest frequency of the two antenna elements is λ, which conforms to the following formula: 1 / 4λ≤L1+L2≤1 / 2λ. Therefore, the total length and shape of the metal structure 140 will change with the distance D2 between connectors 130a, 130b, 130c, and 130d. When the distance D2 between connectors 130a, 130b, 130c, and 130d increases, the total length of the metal structure 140 will decrease accordingly.

[0038] Furthermore, the antenna device 100a may also include a metal housing (not shown). The metal housing houses the substrate 110, ground layer 120, connectors 130a, 130b, 130c, 130d, and metal structure 140. The metal structure 140 has another distance between itself and the metal housing along a direction perpendicular to the substrate 110, this other distance being greater than or equal to 3 mm. In other words, the metal housing may include a top cover, and the distance between the top cover and the second segment 142 of the metal structure 140 is greater than or equal to 3 mm, to prevent the metal housing from interfering with the radiation characteristics of the antenna element.

[0039] Please refer to the following: Figure 1 , Figure 3 as well as Figure 6 ,in Figure 6 Drawing according to Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the efficiency of the antenna device 100a. Figure 6 The diagram illustrates the efficiency at various frequencies of a known antenna device without metal structures and trenches, an antenna device 100 of a first embodiment, an antenna device 100a of a second embodiment, and an antenna device 100a of a second embodiment covered with a metal casing. Figure 6 It can be seen that by adding the metal structure 140, the groove 150 and the metal shell, the efficiency at low frequencies (617 MHz to 1450 MHz) can be greatly improved.

[0040] Please refer to the following: Figure 3 and Figure 7 ,in Figure 7A schematic diagram illustrating an antenna device 100b according to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown. The antenna device 100a includes a substrate 110, a ground layer 120, connectors 130a, 130b, 130c, and 130d, a metal structure 140, antenna elements (not shown), and two trenches 150. The ground layer 120 is disposed on the substrate 110. Connectors 130a, 130b, 130c, and 130d are electrically connected to the ground layer 120. The metal structure 140 is connected to the ground layer 120, wherein two ends of the metal structure 140 are electrically connected to connectors 130b and 130c respectively through the ground layer 120. The antenna elements are respectively connected to connectors 130a, 130b, 130c, and 130d. The trenches 150 are disposed on the substrate 110 and surround connectors 130b and 130c respectively. The trench 150 divides the grounding layer 120 into a first grounding portion 121 and two second grounding portions 122. The first grounding portion 121 is located between the two trenches 150, one of the second grounding portions 122 is located between the connector 130b and the trench 150, and the other of the second grounding portions 122 is located between the connector 130c and the trench 150.

[0041] In detail, when the area of ​​the grounding layer 120 is large and the distance between connectors 130a and 130d is greater than 90 mm, it is only necessary to provide the groove 150 and the metal structure 140 on the connectors 130b and 130c that are closer in distance. In this way, the antenna device 100b of the present invention can simultaneously take into account the radiation characteristics of the adjacent antennas and reduce the overall layout space limitation caused by the metal structure 140.

[0042] As can be seen from the above embodiments, the antenna device of the present invention has the following advantages: First, by connecting a metal structure between two adjacent connectors, the spacing between the connectors of the full-band external antenna on the substrate can be greatly shortened while maintaining the radiation characteristics of the external antenna; Second, by separating the grounding layer by trenches, the low-frequency characteristics of the antenna element are not affected by the adjacent antenna element, and the overall size of the antenna device is reduced; Third, the radiation characteristics of the adjacent antenna can be taken into account at the same time, and the overall layout space is reduced due to the metal structure.

[0043] Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art should be able to make various modifications and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An antenna device, the antenna device comprising: One substrate; A grounding layer is disposed on the substrate; Two connectors, which are electrically connected to the ground plane; A metal structure connected to the grounding layer, wherein two ends of the metal structure are electrically connected to two connectors through the grounding layer; and Two antenna elements, each connected to one of the two connectors.

2. The antenna device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metal structure is a U-shaped structure or a U-shaped structure.

3. The antenna device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metal structure comprises: A first line segment is disposed on the substrate along a direction perpendicular to the substrate; A second line segment, which connects to the first line segment and is perpendicular to the first line segment; and A third line segment, which connects to the second line segment, and is disposed on the substrate in a direction perpendicular to the substrate.

4. The antenna device of claim 3, wherein the second line segment is parallel to the substrate and there is a gap between the second line segment and the substrate, the gap being greater than or equal to 3 mm.

5. The antenna device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising: A metal housing, wherein the substrate, the grounding layer, the two connectors and the metal structure are disposed therein; The metal structure has another gap between itself and the metal shell along the direction perpendicular to the substrate, and the other gap is greater than or equal to 3 mm.

6. The antenna device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the total length of the metal structure is L1, and the wavelength of the lowest frequency of the two antenna elements is λ, which conforms to the following formula: 1 / 4λ≤L1≤1 / 2λ.

7. The antenna device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the total length of the metal structure is L1, the distance between the center point of one of the two antenna elements and the center point of the other of the two antenna elements is L2, and the wavelength of the lowest frequency of the two antenna elements is λ, which conforms to the following formula: 1 / 4λ≤L1+L2≤1 / 2λ.

8. The antenna device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: Two trenches are disposed on the substrate and respectively surround the two connectors; The two trenches divide the grounding layer into a first grounding portion and two second grounding portions. The first grounding portion is located between the two trenches, and one of the two second grounding portions is located between one of the two connectors and one of the two trenches.

9. The antenna device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the two trenches are U-shaped or U-shaped.

10. The antenna device of claim 9, wherein the two ends of the two trenches are located at the edge of the substrate and are disposed on both sides of the two connectors.

11. The antenna device of claim 8, wherein the two ends of the metal structure are respectively connected to the two second grounding portions.

12. The antenna device of claim 8, wherein the width of each of the two trenches is greater than or equal to 1 mm.

13. The antenna device of claim 12, wherein a first resonant frequency band of the two antenna elements is between 617 MHz and 960 MHz, and a second resonant frequency band of the two antenna elements is between 1450 MHz and 5925 MHz.

14. The antenna device of claim 1, wherein the spacing between the two connectors is less than or equal to 40 mm.

Images