Antenna Carrier Structures for Portable Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional antennas in portable electronic devices face design compromises due to size constraints, leading to inefficiencies and reduced bandwidth, which affects their performance in wireless communications.
Innovation Solution
The development of improved antenna structures that utilize dielectric housing portions and molded interconnect device dielectric antenna support structures with conductive coatings to form antenna resonating elements and ground planes, allowing for efficient signal transmission and minimizing interference from conductive materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the size of antennas is reduced to fit within portable devices, then the device size is reduced, but antenna efficiency and bandwidth deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna is nested within the hinge structure of the portable device, utilizing the existing mechanical structure as the antenna support. This allows the antenna to be integrated into the device without occupying additional space, thereby maintaining small device size while preserving antenna performance through proper structural integration.
Solution Approach 2:
A dielectric housing portion is introduced as an intermediary between the antenna and conductive materials. This dielectric material prevents electromagnetic shielding and signal interference from conductive structures, allowing the antenna to maintain efficiency and bandwidth even when miniaturized and integrated within the compact device structure.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional fabrication techniques are used for antennas, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but antenna performance is compromised due to size constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna structure is merged with the hinge assembly of the portable device, combining mechanical and electromagnetic functions into a single integrated component. This integration allows the antenna to benefit from the hinge's structural properties while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through the use of conventional fabrication techniques applied to the combined structure.
3Device complexity
If antennas are integrated within device housing, then device compactness is improved, but electromagnetic shielding from conductive materials increases
Solution Approach 1:
A dielectric housing portion is positioned between the antenna and conductive materials in the device housing. This dielectric intermediary prevents electromagnetic shielding and signal interference, allowing the antenna to be integrated within the compact device structure without performance degradation from conductive interference.
Data Source
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AI summary
Antenna support structures and antennas are provided for wireless electronic devices such as portable electronic devices. Antenna resonating elements may be formed from conductive coatings on two-shot molded interconnect device dielectric antenna support structures. The conductive coatings may be formed from wet-plated copper or other conductive materials. The antenna support structure may have tabs that electrically connect antenna resonating elements to the case of a wireless electronic device that serves as an antenna ground plane. The antenna support structure may be curved about its longitudinal axis so that the antenna resonating elements on the support structure protrude upwards to enhance antenna performance. In a portable electronic device such as a portable computer, the antenna support structure may be mounted within a dielectric portion of the computer housing that is located between the display portion of the housing and the base of the housing.