Antenna Tuning Across a Housing Knuckle for Multi-Band Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a challenge in designing compact electronic devices with wireless communications capabilities to efficiently cover multiple communications bands while minimizing space and avoiding interference between antennas and other components.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves using a dielectric-filled gap in the peripheral conductive housing structures to divide them into segments, with multiple switchable tuning components and a fixed inductor coupled in parallel between the feed terminals of the antennas, allowing for adjustable frequency response to optimize performance across various frequency bands such as 5G NR, cellular midband, WLAN, and WPAN bands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If antennas are made compact to reduce device size, then the device form factor is improved, but antenna performance and frequency coverage deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs switchable components (such as PIN diodes or MEMS switches) that can dynamically change the electrical characteristics of the antenna structure. By switching between different states, the antenna can adjust its resonant frequency and impedance to maintain optimal performance across multiple frequency bands despite the compact physical dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes electrical parameters (inductance, capacitance, resistance) of the antenna by incorporating switchable components and tuning elements. These parameter changes allow the antenna to be tuned to different frequency bands (5G NR, cellular midband, WLAN, WPAN) while maintaining a compact form factor, thus resolving the contradiction between size and performance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple antennas are added to cover more frequency bands, then frequency coverage is improved, but interference between antennas and components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple antenna functions into a single integrated structure using peripheral conductive housing segments. Instead of placing separate physical antennas for different frequency bands, the invention uses one or more conductive housing segments that can be electrically reconfigured through switchable components to serve multiple frequency bands, thereby reducing the number of separate antenna elements and minimizing interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive housing segments are designed to perform multiple functions: they serve as both structural housing elements and as antenna radiating elements. The same housing segment can be tuned to operate in different frequency bands (5G NR, cellular, WLAN, WPAN) by adjusting the switchable components, making the antenna system universal and reducing the need for multiple dedicated antennas.
3Ease of manufacture
If antenna structures are simplified to reduce device complexity, then manufacturing is improved, but performance optimization across frequency bands deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive housing segments serve dual purposes as both structural components and antenna elements. This universal design simplifies manufacturing by eliminating the need for separate antenna components while maintaining the ability to optimize performance across multiple frequency bands through electrical tuning of the switchable components.
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 efficient antenna performance across multiple frequency bands, maximizing data throughput and antenna efficiency while minimizing the physical space occupied by the antennas within the device.
Implementation Method 1
A dielectric-filled gap may divide the peripheral conductive housing structures into a first segment and a second segment
Implementation Method 2
The tuning component may include multiple switchable components and a fixed inductor coupled in parallel between the first feed terminal and the second feed terminal across the gap
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device may be provided with peripheral conductive housing structures, a first antenna, and a second antenna. A gap may divide the housing structures into a first segment forming an arm of the first antenna and a second segment forming an arm of the second antenna. A first feed terminal may be coupled to the first segment and a second feed terminal may be coupled to the second segment. Switchable components may be coupled in parallel between the first and second feed terminals across the gap. The switchable components may be adjusted to tune the frequency response of the first and/or second antenna. The switchable components may have a first state in which only the first feed terminal feeds the first antenna and may have a second state in which both the first and second feed terminals feed the first antenna.