Antenna Module Feed Layout for Acute-Angle Substrate Bends
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Solution Overview
Problem
The risk of breakage of feed wiring lines in antenna modules increases as the substrate is bent at acute angles to maximize housing volume, particularly when radiating radio waves in two directions.
Innovation Solution
An antenna module design with a first and second radiating element, a substrate, and a feed circuit, where the feed wiring line spans the substrate and an antenna disposition member at a joint portion, ensuring stable connection and avoiding bending.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the substrate is bent at an acute angle to effectively utilize the volume inside the housing, then the space utilization is improved, but the risk of breakage of the feed wiring line becomes higher
Solution Approach 1:
The feed wiring line is configured to extend in three-dimensional space, spanning from the substrate through the antenna disposition member. This spatial arrangement allows the wiring line to bypass the acute bent portion of the substrate, maintaining electrical connection while accommodating the compact housing volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna disposition member is formed as a flexible L-shaped structure that can accommodate acute bending of the substrate. This flexible configuration allows the member to deform with the substrate bend while maintaining the integrity of the feed wiring line connection between the substrate and the antenna element.
2Length of moving object
If the substrate is bent at an acute angle to effectively utilize the volume inside the housing, then the device thickness is reduced, but the feed wiring line may break at the bent portion
Solution Approach 1:
The feed wiring line transitions from a planar configuration to a three-dimensional path that spans through the antenna disposition member. This dimensional change allows the wiring line to avoid the high-stress acute bent portion of the substrate while maintaining compact device thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna disposition member serves as an intermediary structure between the substrate and the antenna element. It provides a protected pathway for the feed wiring line, isolating the wiring from the mechanical stress of the acute substrate bend while enabling the reduced device thickness.
3Reliability
If the feed wiring line spans the substrate and antenna disposition member at a joint portion, then the risk of breakage is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna disposition member integrates multiple functions: it holds the antenna element, provides a protected pathway for the feed wiring line, and accommodates the substrate bend. This merging of functions reduces the need for separate protective structures, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The L-shaped antenna disposition member serves as a multi-functional component that simultaneously supports the antenna element, guides the feed wiring line, and adapts to the acute substrate bend. This universal design achieves improved reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna module includes first and second radiating elements, and a substrate including a first main surface facing away from a second main surface. The first radiating element is closer to the first main surface than to the second main surface. The second radiating element is in a first antenna disposition member. A feed circuit supplies high-frequency signals to the first and second radiating elements. The first antenna disposition member has a first disposition surface on which the substrate is disposed and a first intersecting surface intersecting the first disposition surface. The second main surface is joined to the first disposition surface, and a feed wiring line electrically connecting the first radiating element or the second radiating element to the feed circuit includes a wiring line spanning the substrate and the first antenna disposition member in a first joint portion between the second main surface and the first disposition surface.