Antenna Structure With Integrated Coupling Element For Mm-Wave Gain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional grid array antennas do not perform well at millimeter wave frequencies, lacking high-gain radiation patterns and easily controlled operation bandwidths.
Innovation Solution
An antenna structure with integrated coupling elements, comprising conductive pads and connectors that electrically couple to a reflector ground plane, is designed to operate within specific RF frequency ranges, featuring a substrate with conductive layers and a re-wiring structure for improved radiation patterns and bandwidth control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional grid array antenna structure is used, then the antenna can be manufactured with standard processes, but the antenna performance at millimeter wave frequencies is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna structure is divided into distinct functional layers including a ground plane layer, dielectric layer, and radiating element layer. The coupling elements are separately positioned between these layers, allowing each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall manufacturing feasibility through standardized layering processes.
Solution Approach 2:
Coupling elements are introduced as intermediary components positioned between the ground plane and radiating elements. These coupling elements facilitate electromagnetic field interaction and improve mm-wave performance by controlling impedance matching and field distribution, without requiring fundamental changes to the manufacturing process.
2Ease of operation
If the distance between conductive pad and radiative antenna element is reduced to improve bandwidth control, then operation bandwidth is easier to control, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The distance between the conductive pad and radiative antenna element is optimized to be equal to or smaller than 0.4λ (where λ is the wavelength at the operating frequency). This parameter optimization enables effective bandwidth control at millimeter wave frequencies while maintaining achievable manufacturing tolerances through precise design specifications.
3Reliability
If integrated coupling elements are added to improve radiation pattern, then antenna performance is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling elements are integrated into the existing antenna structure by positioning them between the ground plane and radiating elements within the same package footprint. This merging approach enhances radiation pattern quality and gain without requiring additional external components or significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling elements are positioned in the vertical dimension between the ground plane and radiating elements, utilizing the z-axis space within the package. This three-dimensional arrangement improves radiation characteristics without increasing the planar footprint, thereby avoiding excessive complexity in the overall device structure.
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
The antenna structure achieves a high-gain radiation pattern and well-controlled operation bandwidth, suitable for applications such as radar sensors and 5G mobile communication systems, by optimizing the placement and coupling of conductive elements within the antenna-in-package configuration.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the at least one coupling element comprises a conductive pad and a connector that electrically couples the conductive pad to the reflector ground plane
Implementation Method 2
the antenna structure is configured to operate with a predetermined RF signal having a RF frequency and a corresponding wavelength λ
Implementation Method 3
the radiative antenna element and the at least one coupling element are disposed in the first conductive layer
Data Source
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AI summary
An antenna structure (20) includes a radiative antenna element (220) disposed in a first conductive layer (210), a reflector ground plane (211) disposed in a second conductive layer (210) under the first conductive layer (210), a feeding network comprising a transmission line (341) disposed in a third conductive layer (340) under the second conductive layer (210), and at least one coupling element (230a, 230b) disposed in proximity to a feeding terminal (31) that electrically couples one end of the transmission line (341) to the radiative antenna element (220) . The at least one coupling element (230a, 230b) is capacitively coupled with the feeding terminal (31) .