Antenna Structure With Conductive Support Member For Millimeter Wave Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to secure effective coverage for antennas in electronic devices, particularly those using millimeter wave technology, due to limited space and sensitivity to path loss, which complicates antenna placement and communication range.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device design incorporating a housing, an antenna structure, and a conductive support member, where the antenna structure is positioned on a printed circuit board with a support member that extends to enhance beam coverage, allowing for stable placement and improved communication performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the antenna is positioned on the printed circuit board inside the housing, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is simplified, but the coverage and communication range are limited due to space constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the antenna structure from a two-dimensional PCB mounting to a three-dimensional configuration using a support member that protrudes from the housing. This dimensional extension allows the antenna to achieve greater coverage area while maintaining a compact device form factor, resolving the contradiction between coverage and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna system is divided into separate functional components: the antenna element mounted on the PCB, the support member that provides structural extension, and the housing. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, enabling enhanced coverage without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
2Productivity
If millimeter wave antennas are used to achieve high data transmission rates, then the productivity is improved, but the signal is more sensitive to path loss and requires precise positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is pre-configured with specific geometric features and positioning structures that automatically align the antenna element during assembly. This preliminary preparation of the support structure eliminates the need for complex post-assembly adjustments, achieving precise positioning without requiring high manufacturing precision across multiple components.
3Area of stationary object
If the antenna structure is extended outside the housing to improve coverage, then the coverage area is increased, but the device structure becomes more complex and vulnerable to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is designed as a composite structure integrating rigid support sections for structural strength with streamlined sections for aerodynamic performance. This composite design provides both the mechanical reliability needed to protect the antenna and the extended geometry required for improved coverage area.
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
This configuration enables the electronic device to securely position antennas, enhancing coverage and communication efficiency by optimizing antenna placement and reducing signal loss.
Implementation Method 1
The second portion, when viewed from above the first surface, may overlap the first surface and may be spaced apart from the first surface
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device may include a housing, an antenna structure, and a conductive support member. The housing may provide the exterior of the electronic device. The antenna structure may include a printed circuit board including a first surface and a second surface facing in the opposite direction of the first surface. The antenna structure may include at least one antenna element positioned on the first surface or positioned inside the printed circuit board to be closer to the first surface than to the second surface. The antenna structure may be positioned on the conductive support member. The conductive support member may include a first portion and a second portion. The first portion may be coupled to the antenna structure. The first portion may be coupled to the housing or a support structure positioned in the inner space of the housing. The second portion may extend from the first portion. The second portion, when viewed from above the first surface, may overlap the first surface and may be spaced apart from the first surface.