Antenna module and portable electronic device using the same

Abstract

To provide an antenna module and a portable electronic device using the same.SOLUTION: The antenna module includes a flexible substrate, a first antenna circuit, and a second antenna circuit. The flexible substrate includes a first body part, a second body part, an L-shaped bending part having a first end and a second end facing each other, the first end connected to the first body part, and a U-shaped bending part having a first end and a second end facing each other, the first end connected to the second end of the L-shaped bending part, and the second end connected to the second body part. The first antenna circuit is provided in the first body part. The second antenna circuit is provided in the second body part. A portable electronic device includes the antenna module and a housing. The antenna module is provided within a corner of the housing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] In recent years, with the progress of science and technology, electronic products such as tablet computers (tablet PCs), notebook computers (notebooks, NBs), smart phones and other portable electronic devices have frequently appeared in daily life. In order to meet the need for miniaturization of portable electronic devices, the antenna module of the portable electronic device is usually installed in a corner of the portable electronic device so as 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 space in the corners of the portable electronic device while providing multiple antenna radiation directions to meet the wireless communication needs of the portable electronic device.

[0004] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the antenna module includes a flexible substrate, a first antenna circuit, and a second antenna circuit. The flexible substrate includes a first body portion, a second body portion, an L-shaped bent portion having a first end and a second end opposite to each other, the first end being connected to the first body portion, and a U-shaped bent portion having a first end and a second end opposite to each other, the first end being connected to the second end of the L-shaped bent portion, and the second end being connected to the second body portion. The first antenna circuit is provided in the first body portion. The second antenna circuit is provided in the second body portion.

[0005] In some embodiments, the antenna module further includes an antenna communication chip electrically connected to the first antenna circuit and the second antenna circuit and performing wireless communication using the first antenna circuit and the second antenna circuit, the antenna communication chip being located on a first side of the L-shaped bend portion, the second main body portion being located on a second side of the L-shaped bend portion, and the first side facing the second side.

[0006] In some embodiments, the first antenna circuit is provided on a first substrate surface of a flexible substrate, and the second antenna circuit and the antenna communication chip are provided on a second substrate surface of the flexible substrate, the first substrate surface facing 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 bend and the U-shaped bend is treated with a de-cap process and has a smaller thickness than the first body portion and the second body portion.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the antenna module includes a flexible substrate, a first antenna circuit, and a second antenna circuit. The flexible substrate includes a first body portion, a second body portion, a first U-shaped bent portion having a first end and a second end opposite to each other, the first end being connected to the first body portion, an L-shaped bent portion having a first end and a second end opposite to each other, the first end being connected to the second end of the first U-shaped bent portion, and a second U-shaped bent portion having a first end and a second end opposite to each other, the first end being connected to the second end of the L-shaped bent portion, and the second end being connected to the second body portion. The first antenna circuit is provided in the first body portion. The second antenna circuit is provided in the second body portion.

[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 and performing wireless communication using the first antenna circuit and the second antenna circuit, and the first antenna circuit, the second antenna circuit and the antenna communication chip are provided on the same substrate surface of the flexible substrate.

[0011] In some embodiments, the L-shaped bend has a first linear extension and a second linear extension, the first linear extension is connected to the first U-shaped bend and the second linear extension is connected to the second U-shaped bend, a reflector is provided on the first linear extension and another reflector is provided on the second linear extension.

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

[0013] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the portable electronic device includes a housing having a first side wall and a second side wall, the first side wall and the second side wall providing a corner space, and an antenna module provided in the corner space, the antenna module including a first main body portion, a second main body portion, a flexible substrate having opposing first and second ends, a first L-shaped bend portion having the first end connected to the first body portion, and a first U-shaped bend portion having opposing first and second ends, the first end connected to the second end of the first L-shaped bend portion and the second end connected to the second body portion, a first antenna circuit provided in the first body portion, and a second antenna circuit provided in the second body portion.

[0014] In some embodiments, the portable electronic device further comprises an antenna communication chip electrically connected to the first antenna circuit and the second antenna circuit for performing 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 body portion, a second L-shaped bend portion having opposing first and second ends, the first end being connected to the first body portion, a second U-shaped bend portion having opposing first and second ends, the first end being connected to the second end of the second L-shaped bend portion and the second end being connected to the third body portion, and a third antenna circuit provided in the third body portion. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] To make the above and other objects, features, advantages and embodiments of the present invention more comprehensible, reference is made to the accompanying drawings as follows: [Figure 1] 3A to 3C are structural schematic diagrams of an antenna module according to an embodiment of the present invention before and after bending. [Diagram 2] 3A to 3C are structural schematic diagrams of an antenna module according to an embodiment of the present invention before and after bending. [Diagram 3] 4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the antenna module according to the embodiment of the present invention after being folded; FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a schematic front view of a portable electronic device and an internal antenna module according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 5] 2 is a schematic side view of a portable electronic device and an internal antenna module according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic perspective view of an antenna module according to an embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] The following describes embodiments of the present invention. However, as will be appreciated, the embodiments provide many applicable concepts and may be implemented in a variety of specific contexts. The discussed and disclosed embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0018] As used herein, "first," "second," ... etc. do not denote any particular order or sequence, but are merely used to distinguish between elements or operations that are described with the same technical terminology.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 shows a structural schematic diagram of an antenna module 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention before and after bending. 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 mount 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 body 111 and a second body 112 to provide the first antenna circuit 121, the second antenna circuit 122, and the antenna communication chip 130, the first antenna circuit 121 and the second antenna circuit 122 are located on two opposing surfaces 110a and 110b of the flexible substrate 110, and the first antenna circuit 121 and the antenna communication chip 130 are located on opposing sides of the first body 111. The antenna communication chip 130 is electrically connected to the first antenna circuit 121 and the second antenna circuit 122, and performs wireless communication using the first antenna circuit 121 and the second antenna circuit 122.

[0020] In an embodiment of the present invention, flexible substrate 110 is a Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) substrate, but embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. In some embodiments, other flexible substrate materials may be applied to flexible substrate 110.

[0021] After the antenna module 100 is bent, the flexible substrate 110 includes an L-shaped bent portion 110L and a U-shaped bent portion 110U. The L-shaped bent portion 110L has a first end L1 and a second end L2 opposite to each other, and the first end L1 of the L-shaped bent portion 110L is connected to the first body portion 111. The U-shaped bent portion 110U has a first end U1 and a second end U2 opposite to each other, and the first end U1 of the U-shaped bent portion 110U is connected to the second end L2 of the L-shaped bent portion, and the second end U2 of the U-shaped bent portion 110U is connected to the second body portion 112.

[0022] 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 to the outside along the X-axis, and the second antenna circuit 122 can transmit and receive antenna signals to the outside along the Y-axis. Specifically, the outer shape of the bent antenna module 100 is adapted to the outer shape of the corner of the housing of the portable electronic device, which can improve the space utilization efficiency at the corner of the antenna module 100, and can also cover a large wireless communication range by providing wireless communication in the X-axis and Y-axis directions.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 shows a structural schematic diagram of an antenna module 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention before and after bending. 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 mount 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 body 211 and a second body 212 to provide the first antenna circuit 121, the second antenna circuit 122, and the antenna communication chip 130, and 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 body portion 211 and the second body portion 212 has a thickness smaller than that of the body portion, because the substrate portion between the first body portion 211 and the second body portion 212 is processed by a thinning (De-cap) process. The post-thinning process allows the antenna module 200 to be folded more easily.

[0024] After the antenna module 100 is bent, the flexible substrate 110 includes an L-shaped bent portion 210L, a first U-shaped bent portion 221U, and a second U-shaped bent portion 222U. The first U-shaped bent portion 221U has a first end U11 and a second end U12 facing each other, and the first end U11 of the first U-shaped bent portion 221U is connected to the first body portion 211. The L-shaped bent portion 210L has a first end L21 and a second end L22 facing each other, and the first end L21 of the L-shaped bent portion 210L is connected to the second end U12 of the first U-shaped bent portion 221U. The second U-shaped bending portion 222U has opposing first and second ends U21 and U22, and 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 portion 212.

[0025] After the antenna module 200 is bent to form the L-shaped bending portion 210L, the first U-shaped bending portion 221U and the second U-shaped bending portion 222U, the first antenna circuit 121 can transmit and receive antenna signals to the outside along the X-axis, and the second antenna circuit 122 can transmit and receive antenna signals to the outside along the Y-axis. Specifically, the outer shape of the bent antenna module 200 is adapted to the outer shape of the corner of the housing of the portable electronic device, which can improve the space utilization efficiency at the corner of the antenna module 200, and can also cover a large wireless communication range by providing wireless communication in the X-axis and Y-axis directions.

[0026] 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 more easily installed than the antenna module 100, and the process is simplified.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 shows a structural schematic diagram of the antenna module 300 according to the embodiment of the present invention after bending. 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, and the reflector 310 is provided on the first linear extension portion 211S and the second linear extension portion 212S of the L-shaped bending portion 210L. For example, when the antenna module 300 is bent, the first linear extension portion 211S of the L-shaped bending portion 210L is provided adjacent to the first body portion 211 and the first antenna circuit 121, and is arranged along the Y-axis direction together with the first body portion 211 and the first antenna circuit 121, the reflector 310 is located between the first body portion 211 and the first linear extension portion 211S, and the reflector 310 and the first antenna circuit 121 are located on both opposing sides of the first body portion 211. For example, when the antenna module 300 is bent, the second straight extension portion 212S of the L-shaped bending portion 210L is provided adjacent to the second main body portion 212 and the second antenna circuit 122, and is arranged along the X-axis direction together with the second main body portion 212 and the second antenna circuit 122, 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.

[0028] In this way, when the first antenna circuit 121 and the second antenna circuit 122 transmit antenna signals, the reflector 310 located on the rear surface 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 of the wavelength, and thus the signals of the first antenna circuit 121 and the second antenna circuit 122 can be efficiently reflected.

[0029] In some embodiments, the distance between the first antenna circuit 121 and the corresponding reflector 310 can be adjusted by controlling the bending degree of the first U-shaped bending portion 221U, thus adjusting the effect of the corresponding reflector 310 according to the needs of the user. Similarly, the distance between the second antenna circuit 122 and the corresponding reflector 310 can be adjusted by controlling the bending degree of the second U-shaped bending portion 222U, thus adjusting the effect of the corresponding reflector 310 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 of the wavelength, and a good reflection effect can be obtained.

[0030] 4, 5 and 6, FIG. 4 shows a front structure schematic diagram of a portable electronic device and an antenna module therein according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 shows a side structure schematic diagram of a portable electronic device and an antenna module therein according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 shows a perspective structure schematic diagram of the antenna module. In this embodiment, the portable electronic device includes a housing 400 and an antenna module 500, and the antenna module 500 is provided at the upper right corner of the housing 400 to provide wireless communication function of the portable electronic device. Specifically, the housing 400 includes side walls 411S and 412S, the side walls 411S and 412S define a corner, the antenna module 500 is provided in the corner, and the volume is adapted to the space of the corner, thus the corner space can be efficiently utilized to provide the antenna module 500 and provide wireless communication function of the portable electronic device. The antenna module 500 is similar to the above-mentioned antenna module 100, but differs in that the antenna module 100 further includes a third main body portion 513, an L-shaped bending portion 510L, a U-shaped bending portion 510U and a third antenna circuit 523, and the third antenna circuit 523 is provided in the third main body portion 513 and electrically connected to the antenna communication chip 130 to provide wireless communication functionality.

[0031] 4, the first body portion 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 (outward from the side wall 411S). Next, the L-shaped bending portion 110L, the U-shaped bending portion 110U, the second body portion 112 and the second antenna circuit 122 of the antenna module 500 are arranged along the X-axis direction, and thus the second antenna circuit 122 on the second body portion 112 can provide wireless communication in the X-axis direction (outward from the side wall 412S). Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the L-shaped bending portion 510L, the U-shaped bending portion 510U and the third main body portion 513 of the antenna module 500 are arranged along the Z-axis direction, and in this manner, the third antenna circuit 523 on the third main body portion 513 can provide wireless communication in the Z-axis direction (toward the outside of the rear surface of the housing 400). In FIG. 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.

[0032] 4 and 5 show that the antenna module 500 is provided in the upper right corner space of the housing 400, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the antenna module 500 may be provided in another corner space of the housing 400. In some embodiments, the antenna module 100, 200 or 300 may be provided in a corresponding corner space of the housing 400.

[0033] The present invention has been disclosed in various embodiments as described above, but the above embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art may make some changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be limited by the scope of the patent application to be attached later. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 100: Antenna module 110: Flexible substrate 110a: Surface 110b: Surface 110L: L-shaped bent part 110U: U-shaped bent part 111: First main body part 112: Second main body part 121: First antenna circuit 122: Second antenna circuit 130: Antenna communication chip 200: Antenna module 210: Flexible substrate 211: First main body part 212: Second main body part 210L: L-shaped bent part 221U: 1st U-shaped bent part 222U: 2nd U-shaped bent part 300: Antenna module 310:Reflector 400: Cabinet 500: Antenna module 411S: Side wall 412S: Side wall 510L: L-shaped bent part 510U: U-shaped bent part 513: Third main body 523: 3rd antenna circuit L1: 1st end L2: 2nd end L21: 1st end L22: 2nd end U1: 1st end U2: 2nd end U11: 1st end U12: 2nd end U21: 1st end U22: 2nd end

Claims

1. A first body portion; A second body portion; an L-shaped bend having opposing first and second ends, the first end being connected to the first body portion; a U-shaped bend having opposing first and second ends, the first end connected to the second end of the L-shaped bend and the second end connected to the second body portion; A flexible substrate comprising: a first antenna circuit provided in the first body portion; a second antenna circuit provided in the second body portion; An antenna module comprising:

2. 2. The antenna module according to claim 1, further comprising an antenna communication chip electrically connected to the first antenna circuit and the second antenna circuit and performing wireless communication using the first antenna circuit and the second antenna circuit, the antenna communication chip being located on a first side of the L-shaped bend, the second main body being located on a second side of the L-shaped bend, and the first side facing the second side.

3. 3. The antenna module according to claim 2, wherein the first antenna circuit is provided on a first substrate surface of the flexible substrate, the second antenna circuit and the antenna communication chip are provided on a second substrate surface of the flexible substrate, and the first substrate surface faces the second substrate surface.

4. The antenna module according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible substrate is a Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) substrate.

5. The antenna module of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the L-shaped bend portion and the U-shaped bend portion is processed by a de-cap process and has a thickness smaller than that of the first body portion and the second body portion.

6. A first body portion; A second body portion; a first U-shaped bend having opposing first and second ends, the first end being connected to the first body portion; an L-shaped bend having opposing first and second ends, the first end being connected to the second end of the first U-shaped bend; a second U-shaped bend having opposing first and second ends, the first end connected to the second end of the L-shaped bend and the second end connected to the second body portion; A flexible substrate comprising: a first antenna circuit provided in the first body portion; a second antenna circuit provided in the second body portion; An antenna module comprising:

7. 7. The antenna module according to claim 6, further comprising an antenna communication chip electrically connected to the first antenna circuit and the second antenna circuit and performing wireless communication using the first antenna circuit and the second antenna circuit, wherein the first antenna circuit, the second antenna circuit and the antenna communication chip are provided on the same substrate surface of the flexible substrate.

8. 7. The antenna module according to claim 6, wherein the L-shaped bend portion has a first linear extension portion and a second linear extension portion, the first linear extension portion is connected to the first U-shaped bend portion, the second linear extension portion is connected to the second U-shaped bend portion, a reflector is provided on the first linear extension portion, and another reflector is provided on the second linear extension portion.

9. 7. The antenna module according to claim 6, wherein the distance between the first and second antenna circuits and the corresponding reflectors is a quarter of a wavelength of an antenna signal.

10. a housing having a first side wall and a second side wall, the first side wall and the second side wall providing a corner space; An antenna module disposed in the corner space, A first body portion; A second body portion; a first L-shaped bend having opposing first and second ends, the first end being connected to the first body portion; a first U-shaped bend having opposing first and second ends, the first end connected to the second end of the first L-shaped bend and the second end connected to the second body; A flexible substrate comprising: a first antenna circuit provided in the first body portion; a second antenna circuit provided in the second body portion; an antenna module including: A portable electronic device comprising:

11. The portable electronic device according to claim 10 , further comprising an antenna communication chip electrically connected to the first antenna circuit and the second antenna circuit, and configured to perform wireless communication using the first antenna circuit and the second antenna circuit.

12. The housing further includes a third side wall, and the flexible substrate includes: A third body portion; a second L-shaped bend having opposing first and second ends, the first end connected to the first body portion; a second U-shaped bend having opposing first and second ends, the first end connected to the second end of the second L-shaped bend and the second end connected to the third body portion; a third antenna circuit provided in the third body portion; The portable electronic device of claim 10 further comprising:

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