Antenna

Abstract

An antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a stub capable of reducing electromagnetic mutual coupling between a plurality of radiation patches spaced apart from each other in a horizontal direction and arranged in a line, wherein the stub includes a lower part arranged on a ground and connected to the ground and an upper part extending from the lower part, and has a T-shape in which the length of the lower part in a first direction is shorter than the length of the upper part in the first direction.

Description

antenna

[0001] The present invention relates to an antenna, and more specifically, to an antenna with improved isolation.

[0002] Research is generally being conducted to improve the performance of antenna devices in communication terminals. This is because antenna devices are essentially responsible for transmitting and receiving signals. Accordingly, MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) antenna devices have recently been proposed as antenna devices installed in communication terminals. MIMO antenna devices comprise multiple antenna elements. These MIMO antenna devices transmit and receive signals across a specific frequency band through the antenna elements, enabling access to various communication networks.

[0003] However, when the antenna is in operation, there is a problem that electromagnetic coupling occurs between antenna elements, which causes a deterioration in the performance of the communication terminal.

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an antenna with improved isolation.

[0005] In order to solve the above technical problem, an antenna according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of radiating patches spaced apart from each other; and a stub disposed between two adjacent radiating patches among the plurality of radiating patches.

[0006] In addition, the stub includes an upper portion that is disposed on a substrate and connected to the substrate; and a lower portion extending from the upper portion, wherein one side of the lower portion may face one of the two adjacent radiating patches, and the other side may face the other of the two adjacent radiating patches.

[0007] Additionally, the upper part and the lower part can be formed in a T shape.

[0008] Additionally, the lower portion may extend in a first direction perpendicular to the direction in which the two adjacent radiating patches face each other.

[0009] Additionally, the length of the lower portion in the first direction may be λ / 8 to λ / 2 of the radiation signal.

[0010] Additionally, the length of the upper portion in the first direction may be shorter than the length of the lower portion in the first direction.

[0011] Additionally, the length of the stub from the substrate in the second direction may be less than or equal to the length of the radiating patch from the substrate in the second direction, and the second direction may be perpendicular to the first direction.

[0012] In addition, the plurality of radiating patches may be arranged in a row, and the stub may include a first stub arranged between two adjacent radiating patches; and a second stub positioned in a direction opposite to the direction of neighboring other radiating patches of the radiating patches at both ends among the plurality of radiating patches.

[0013] In addition, each of the plurality of radiating patches may be formed in a rectangular shape, and two adjacent radiating patches may be arranged in a rotated form with respect to the center of the radiating patch so that their corners face each other.

[0014] In addition, each of the plurality of radiating patches includes a feeding part arranged at at least one corner among four corners of the square, and the positions of the corners where the feeding parts are arranged in the two adjacent radiating patches may differ by 180 degrees with respect to the center of the radiating patches.

[0015] Additionally, the feed portion includes two feed portions, and the two feed portions can be arranged at two adjacent corners among the four corners.

[0016] In order to solve the above technical problem, a front-end module according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a signal input unit; a signal output unit; an antenna connected to the signal input unit or the signal output unit; and a switch connecting the antenna to one of the signal input unit or the signal output unit, wherein the antenna includes a plurality of radiating patches arranged to be spaced apart from each other in a horizontal direction; and a stub arranged between two adjacent radiating patches among the plurality of radiating patches.

[0017] Additionally, it may include a first amplifier and filter connected between the signal output unit and the switch; and a second amplifier connected between the signal input unit and the switch.

[0018] According to embodiments of the present invention, the isolation between antenna radiating patches can be improved, and inter-polarization interference can be minimized. In addition, the array surface wave loss can be improved.

[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates an antenna according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates an antenna according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figures 3 to 6 are drawings for explaining each configuration of an antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a feeding section of an antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figures 9 to 11 illustrate implementation examples of antennas according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 12 illustrates a block diagram of a front-end module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0026] However, the technical idea of ​​the present invention is not limited to some of the embodiments described, but can be implemented in various different forms, and within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention, one or more of the components between the embodiments can be selectively combined or substituted for use.

[0027] In addition, terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the embodiments of the present invention may be interpreted as having a meaning that can be generally understood by a person of ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention belongs, unless explicitly and specifically defined and described, and terms that are commonly used, such as terms defined in a dictionary, may be interpreted in consideration of the contextual meaning of the relevant technology.

[0028] Additionally, the terms used in the embodiments of the present invention are intended to describe the embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0029] In this specification, the singular may also include the plural unless specifically stated otherwise in the phrase, and when it is described as “A and / or at least one (or more) of B, C”, it may include one or more of all combinations that can be combined with A, B, C.

[0030] Additionally, in describing components of embodiments of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used. These terms are only intended to distinguish the components from other components, and are not intended to limit the nature, order, or sequence of the components.

[0031] And, when a component is described as being 'connected', 'coupled', or 'connected' to another component, it may include not only cases where the component is 'connected', 'coupled', or 'connected' directly to the other component, but also cases where the component is 'connected', 'coupled', or 'connected' by another component between the component and the other component.

[0032] Additionally, when described as being formed or arranged "above" or "below" each component, "above" or "below" includes not only cases where the two components are in direct contact with each other, but also cases where one or more other components are formed or arranged between the two components. Furthermore, when expressed as "above" or "below," the meaning may include not only the upward direction but also the downward direction based on one component.

[0033] FIG. 1 illustrates an antenna according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 illustrates an antenna according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 3 to 6 are drawings for explaining each component of an antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 7 to 8 illustrate a feeding section of an antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 9 to 11 illustrate implementation examples of an antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] An antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention may be an antenna that radiates signals in multiple frequency bands. For example, it may be an antenna capable of transmitting and receiving signals in a frequency band that includes all of the n257, n258, n259, n260, and n261 bands, which are mmWave 5G frequency bands. The antenna may be an antenna applied to mobile devices, base stations, repeaters, etc., and may perform short-range, ultra-high-speed, broadband communication between mobile devices and mobility devices.

[0035] An antenna device according to one embodiment of the present invention may include an antenna. Here, the antenna substrate may refer to a hybrid antenna substrate, an antenna in package (AIP), an antenna array substrate, an antenna array, etc.

[0036] The antenna substrate may include an antenna portion including an antenna and a routing portion. In one embodiment, the antenna portion may be disposed on the routing portion. In one embodiment, the antenna substrate may further include a core portion, and the antenna portion may be disposed on the core portion, and the routing portion may be disposed below the core portion. In one embodiment, the antenna portion and the routing portion may be disposed on the same horizontal plane. In one embodiment, the routing portion and the antenna portion may be disposed spaced apart from each other, and the routing portion and the antenna portion may be electrically connected to each other by a connecting member, such as a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB), a solder ball, or a metal bump. In the following description, for the convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the antenna portion of the antenna substrate is disposed on the routing portion, but it is of course applicable to cases where the antenna substrate has the structure of the above embodiments.

[0037] The antenna substrate may include a plurality of wiring layers and a plurality of insulating layers that are stacked and spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction. In one embodiment, the antenna portion may include a plurality of first wiring layers and a plurality of first insulating layers. And the routing portion may include a plurality of second wiring layers arranged under the plurality of first wiring layers and a plurality of second insulating layers arranged under the plurality of first insulating layers.

[0038] Here, the wiring layer may include a radiating patch (110), a stub (120), a feed unit (140), a ground, and a transmission line that constitute the antenna. Current supplied through the port may be supplied to the antenna unit through the transmission line. In addition, the wiring layer may include a metal material such as copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), silver (Ag), tin (Sn), gold (Au), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), titanium (Ti), or an alloy thereof.

[0039] Here, each of the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer may include a thermosetting resin such as an epoxy resin, a thermoplastic resin such as a polyimide, or a material including a reinforcing material such as glass fiber and / or an inorganic filler together with these, for example, ABF, PID, BCC, or prepreg (PPG). In addition, each of the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer may include a glass plate or a ceramic plate.

[0040] The wiring layer included in the routing section may include signal patterns, power patterns, or resistance patterns. In addition, the routing section may have a combination of various routing characteristics, such as power / data, input / output, and RF (Radio Frequency) routing.

[0041] The antenna unit may include a plurality of antennas arranged horizontally spaced apart. Each of the plurality of antennas may include a radiating patch (110). The antenna unit may further include a stub (120) to prevent interference between the plurality of antennas.

[0042] The radiating patch (110) is a patch from which a signal is radiated and includes a plurality of radiating patches. The plurality of radiating patches (110) may be arranged in the antenna section and may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the horizontal direction. The plurality of radiating patches (110) may be rectangular, and may be formed in a rectangular shape, and may be arranged in a form rotated around the center of the radiating patch so that two adjacent radiating patches face each other with their corners facing each other, as shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2, they may be arranged in an unrotated rectangular shape. The rectangular shape is simply to express the antenna, and it is obvious that the antenna may include various shapes such as circular slits or slots other than the rectangular shape.

[0043] Although the multiple radiating patches (110) are spaced apart from each other, they may couple with each other and cause interference when radiating signals. This interference may result in noise or deterioration of radiation quality.

[0044] A stub (120) may be included to improve the isolation between multiple radiating patches (110). The stub (120) may be placed between two adjacent radiating patches among the multiple radiating patches (110).

[0045] The stub (120) may include a lower portion (121) and an upper portion (122). The lower portion (121) may be placed on the ground (130), and the upper portion (122) may extend from the lower portion (121). The lower portion (121) and the upper portion (122) may be formed in a 'T' shape on the ground (130), as shown in FIG. 3. That is, the stub (120) may be a T-shaped stub.

[0046] In one embodiment, the lower portion (121) may be connected to the ground (130), and the upper portion (122) may be spaced apart from the ground (130) and may serve to be fixed on the ground (130). In this case, the stub (120) may operate as a short stub.

[0047] In one embodiment, the ground (130) includes a hole in an area vertically overlapping with the lower portion (121) of the stub (120), and the lower portion (121) may be positioned in the hole and not be connected to the ground (130). In this case, the stub (120) may operate as an open stub. Meanwhile, for convenience of explanation, the following description assumes that the stub (120) is a short stub.

[0048] The upper portion (122) may be arranged so that one surface faces one of the two adjacent radiating patches (110), and the other surface faces the other of the two adjacent radiating patches (110). That is, the upper portion (122) may be arranged to block a space between the two adjacent radiating patches (110). The upper portion (122) may be formed in a rectangular shape in a planar shape. Meanwhile, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the shape of the upper portion (122) may be a polygonal shape other than a rectangular shape, or a circular shape or an oval shape. For example, the upper portion (122) may include vias that penetrate a plurality of insulating layers and vertically overlap each other. As another example, the upper portion (122) may include vias that penetrate a plurality of insulating layers at once.

[0049] Meanwhile, in FIG. 3, the stub (120) is illustrated and described as having a T shape, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and may have a rectangular shape, a polygonal shape other than a rectangular shape, a circular shape, or an oval shape. For example, the stub (120) may be implemented in a shape that includes vias that penetrate multiple insulating layers and vertically overlap each other. As another example, the stub (120) may include vias that penetrate multiple insulating layers at once.

[0050] The upper portion (122) may extend in a first direction that is perpendicular to the direction in which the two adjacent radiating patches (110) face each other. At this time, the length of the upper portion (122) in the first direction may be λ (= wavelength) / 8 to λ / 2 of the radiating signal. In order to increase the isolation between the two radiating patches (110), the length of the upper portion (122) in the first direction may be set to λ / 8 to λ / 2 of the radiating signal for which the isolation is to be improved. The length of the upper portion (122) in the first direction may be calculated based on the following formula.

[0051] λ1 = c / f1

[0052] Here, f1 is the frequency of the radiation signal, i.e. the frequency to be improved, c is the speed of light, and λ1 is the wavelength corresponding to f1.

[0053] For example, the length (a) in the first direction of FIG. 4 may be set to λ / 2 of the radiation signal to be improved. Depending on the dielectric constant of the substrate and the environment in which the antenna is placed, it may be set to λ / 8 to λ / 2. The length (a) of the upper portion (122) in the first direction may be less than or equal to the length of the radiation patch (110) in the first direction.

[0054] The length of the lower portion (121) in the first direction may be shorter than the length of the upper portion (122) in the first direction. The lower portion (121) and the upper portion (122) may form a T-shape, and in this case, the length of the lower portion (121) in the first direction may be considerably shorter than the length of the upper portion (122) in the first direction.

[0055] The length of the stub (120) from the substrate in the second direction may be less than or equal to the length of the radiating patch (110) from the substrate in the second direction. Here, the second direction may be perpendicular to the first direction. As shown in FIG. 5, the height of the stub (120), that is, the length (b) in the second direction, may be less than or equal to the length in the second direction, which is the height of the radiating patch. The height of the antenna is set according to the design, and the stub (120) may be formed to be less than or equal to the height of the antenna. This prevents the size of the antenna from increasing due to the stub (120) and prevents the radiation performance of the antenna from being degraded.

[0056] A plurality of radiating patches (110) may be arranged in a row. When there are three or more radiating patches (110), the plurality of radiating patches (110) may be arranged in a row. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when four radiating patches (111 to 114) are included, they may be arranged in a row. At this time, the stub (120) may include a first stub (120) and a second stub (150). The first stub (120) may be a stub arranged between two adjacent radiating patches (111 to 114), and the second stub (150) may be a stub positioned in the opposite direction to the neighboring direction of other radiating patches of the radiating patches (111, 114) at both ends among the plurality of radiating patches. Since the influence of interference between neighboring radiating patches (110) is large, the second stub (150) may only include the first stub (120) without application. Alternatively, the second stub (150) may be further included to minimize interference to the radiating patches (110) at both ends by components other than the antenna radiating patch.

[0057] Array surface wave loss can be improved through a stub (120) placed between radiating patches (110) arranged in a row.

[0058] Each of the plurality of radiating patches (110) is formed in a rectangular shape, and two adjacent radiating patches may be arranged in a rotated form with respect to the center of the radiating patches so that their corners face each other. At this time, each of the plurality of radiating patches (110) may include a feeding part (140) having a via shape and connected to at least one of the four corners of the rectangular shape. The radiating patch (110) may be connected to the feeding part (140) to radiate a radiating signal. The antenna substrate may include a port connected to the feeding part (140) through a transmission line. In addition, the current supplied through the port may be supplied to the radiating patch (110) through the transmission line and the feeding part (140). At this time, interference may increase depending on the position of the feeding part of the adjacent radiating patch. In order to improve the isolation between the feeder parts, the positions of the corners where the feeder parts (140) are placed in two adjacent radiating patches (110) may differ by 180 degrees with respect to the center of the radiating patches.

[0059] As shown in Fig. 7, the feed parts (140) can be arranged so that the positions of the corners where they are arranged are 180 degrees apart from each other between neighboring radiating patches (111 to 114), thereby allowing the feed parts (140) to be arranged at the furthest distance possible. Through this, the degree of isolation between the feed parts (140) of the radiating patches (111 to 114) can be improved.

[0060] The feeder (140) may include two feeders (141, 142), and the two feeders (141, 142) may be arranged at two adjacent corners among the four corners. A signal may be radiated with dual polarization of H-pole and V-pole from one radiating patch (110). Here, H means Horizontal, and V means Vertical. Alternatively, low-band and high-band signal radiating may be performed. For example, signals may be radiated in a low-band band of 24.25 to 29.5 GHz and a high-band band of 37.0 to 43.5 GHz.

[0061] For this purpose, two feed parts (141, 142) may be included, and at this time, the feed parts (141, 142) are arranged at two adjacent corners among the four corners, thereby increasing the isolation between adjacent radiating patches (111 and 112, 113 and 114).

[0062] In addition, not only is the isolation improved through the arrangement of the feeder parts (141, 142), but also, as shown in FIG. 8, by applying the stub (120) together, the isolation can be increased between two radiating patches (112 and 113) whose feeder parts (142) are positioned closer together.

[0063] According to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of radiating patches (110) may be arranged in a row, and a stub (120) may be arranged between two adjacent radiating patches (110). The antenna may be composed of a plurality of layers, as shown in FIG. 10. The radiating patches (110) may be arranged on the outermost layer, and a feed unit (140) may be connected from a transmission line to radiate a signal. Stubs (120) may be arranged on both sides of the radiating patches (110) to increase the degree of isolation from other adjacent radiating patches (110). The stubs (120) may be configured in a T shape and may be arranged on the ground (130). At this time, the length of the stub (120) in the first direction is a major factor in improving the isolation, and the length in the first direction can be set to λ / 2 of the frequency to be improved, and can be set to λ / 8 to λ / 2 depending on the dielectric constant of the antenna substrate and the environment in which the antenna is placed.

[0064] The radiating patch can radiate signals in low-band and high-band bands. For example, it can radiate signals in a low-band band of 24.25 to 29.5 GHz and a high-band band of 37.0 to 43.5 GHz, and can radiate signals with dual polarization of H-pole and V-pole. The length of the stub (120) in the first direction can be 2.4 mm, and the length in the second direction can be 0.742 mm. If the stub is not included, the radiating signal performance may be degraded due to interference in the high-band of 43.5 GHz, but if the stub is included, sufficient radiation performance can be maintained even in the corresponding frequency band.

[0065] A mobile device, a base station, or a repeater according to an embodiment of the present invention may include an antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention described above.

[0066] Fig. 12 shows a block diagram of a front-end module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0067] The front-end module (500) according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12 may include an antenna device (510), first and second amplifiers (520, 540), a multilayer filter (530), and a switch (550).

[0068] The first amplifier (520) can amplify a signal received through the antenna device (510) and provide the amplified result to a multilayer filter (530). For example, the first amplifier (520) can be a low noise amplifier (LNA).

[0069] The multilayer filter (530) can filter the signal amplified by the first amplifier (520) and output it through the output terminal OUT.

[0070] The second amplifier (540) amplifies a signal input through the input terminal IN and transmits the amplified result through the antenna device (510). For example, the second amplifier (540) may be a power amplifier (PA).

[0071] A switch (550) is placed between the input terminal of the first amplifier (520) and the output terminal of the second amplifier (540) and the antenna device (510), and serves to select a signal path thereof.

[0072] Since the antenna device (510) may include an antenna unit according to the above-described embodiment, or an antenna substrate including the antenna unit, a redundant description is omitted.

[0073] FIG. 12 is only one embodiment of a front-end module (500), and the antenna (100) according to the above-described embodiment is not limited to FIG. 12 and can be applied as an antenna of a front-end module having various configurations.

[0074] The antenna and the front-end module including the antenna according to the above-described embodiment can be applied to modules for mobile devices, base stations, repeaters, automobiles, etc. to enable short-range or medium-range ultra-high-speed broadband communication of mobile devices and mobility devices, but the embodiment is not limited to a specific application example.

[0075] As described above, the present invention has been described with specific details such as specific components and limited examples and drawings, but these are provided only to help a more general understanding of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above examples, and those with ordinary knowledge in the field to which the present invention pertains can make various modifications and variations from this description.

[0076] Therefore, the idea of ​​the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, and all things that are equivalent or equivalent to the following claims as well as the claims are considered to fall within the scope of the idea of ​​the present invention.

Claims

1. A plurality of radiating patches arranged horizontally and spaced apart from each other; and An antenna including a stub positioned between two adjacent radiating patches among the plurality of radiating patches.

2. In paragraph 1, The above stub, A lower part placed on the ground and connected to the ground; and Including an upper portion extending from the lower portion, The above upper part, An antenna having one side facing one of the two adjacent radiating patches, and the other side facing the other of the two adjacent radiating patches.

3. In paragraph 2, An antenna in which the upper and lower parts are formed in a T shape.

4. In paragraph 2, The above upper part, An antenna in which the two adjacent radiating patches extend in a first direction perpendicular to the direction in which they face each other.

5. In paragraph 4, An antenna whose length in the first direction of the upper portion is λ / 8 to λ / 2 of the radiated signal.

6. In paragraph 4, An antenna in which the length of the lower portion in the first direction is shorter than the length of the upper portion in the first direction.

7. In paragraph 4, The length of the stub in the second direction from the ground is less than or equal to the length of the radiating patch in the second direction from the ground, An antenna in which the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

8. In paragraph 1, The above plurality of radiation patches are arranged in a row, The above stub, a first stub disposed between the two adjacent radiating patches; and An antenna including a second stub positioned in the opposite direction to the neighboring direction of other radiating patches of the radiating patches at both ends among the plurality of radiating patches.

9. In paragraph 1, Each of the above plurality of radiation patches, An antenna formed in a rectangular shape, wherein two adjacent radiating patches are arranged in a rotated manner with respect to the center of the radiating patches so that their corners face each other.

10. In paragraph 9, Each of the above plurality of radiation patches, Including a power supply unit arranged at at least one of the four corners of the above square, The two adjacent radiating patches are, An antenna in which the positions of the corners where the above-mentioned power supply is placed differ by 180 degrees based on the center of the above-mentioned radiation patch.

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