Angled Coil Substrate for Compact Magnetic-Coupling Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices installed in equipment for short-range wireless communication, such as control panels, face the challenge of increasing in size due to the need for a large surface area to accommodate antennas, which is not feasible for embedded devices.
Innovation Solution
A communication device with a substrate including a coil pattern that allows magnetic coupling for wireless communication, where the substrate is placed nonparallel to the exposed surface, reducing the required surface area for wireless communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a flat antenna is incorporated to face the antenna of another device for short-range wireless communication, then wireless communication capability is improved, but the surface area of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by tilting the substrate containing the coil pattern at an angle of 45 degrees or more relative to the exposed surface. This transforms the antenna configuration from a two-dimensional planar arrangement to a three-dimensional angled structure, allowing the magnetic field to extend outward from the device body without requiring additional surface area on the exposed face.
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate with the coil pattern is nested within the device body rather than being exposed on the surface. The antenna structure is contained inside the housing, with only the magnetic field extending outward, similar to how a nested doll contains smaller dolls within its structure. This eliminates the need for additional surface area while maintaining wireless communication functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the substrate including the coil pattern is placed parallel to the exposed surface, then the antenna area is maximized for communication, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is oriented at an angle of 45 degrees or more relative to the exposed surface, transitioning from a parallel (2D) configuration to an angled (3D) configuration. This allows the coil pattern to generate magnetic flux that extends outward from the device body without increasing the device's external dimensions, effectively utilizing the third dimension for antenna functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic field generation is localized to the angled substrate region within the device body, concentrating the electromagnetic functionality in a specific oriented region rather than requiring the entire device surface. This localized approach maintains communication efficiency while minimizing overall device volume.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables short-range wireless communication without increasing the device's size by utilizing magnetic coupling through a nonparallel substrate configuration, optimizing the exposed surface area for efficient communication.
Implementation Method 1
wireless communication means housed in the body for communicating wirelessly with an external device proximate to the body through magnetic coupling
Data Source
AI summary
A communication device includes a body, and a wireless communicator housed in the body for communicating wirelessly with an external device proximate to the body through magnetic coupling. The body is placed in an opening in a wall surface and fixed to the wall surface with an exposed surface of the body exposed from the wall surface. The wireless communicator includes a substrate including a coil pattern to allow the magnetic coupling with the external device. The substrate is nonparallel to the exposed surface.