Mobile Phone Antenna Structure Using Metal Frame Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antenna structures for mobile phones with metal frames face challenges in minimizing the impact of the metal frame on radiation, leading to styling and volume issues, poor performance when touched, and circuit board occupation due to slot-based designs.
Innovation Solution
An antenna structure comprising a carrier body, circuit board, metal coupling sheet, grounding parts, and metal frame with strategically placed slots and a T-shaped metal coupling sheet to form communication paths, allowing for adjustable impedance and resonance across multiple frequency bands without altering the phone's style or occupying circuit board space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal parts near the antenna structure are replaced by plastics to avoid metal frame influence, then the antenna performance is improved, but the mobile phone loses its stylish appearance and the antenna structure volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of the metal frame into a beneficial feature by using the metal frame itself as part of the antenna structure. The metal frame is divided into segments, with certain portions serving as radiating elements, thereby eliminating the need to replace metal parts with plastics while maintaining both aesthetic appearance and antenna performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal frame is segmented into multiple parts, with specific segments designated for antenna functionality. This segmentation allows the metal frame to serve dual purposes: structural support and radiation element, avoiding the need for plastic replacements while maintaining stylistic integrity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the metal frame is divided into several parts to be used as antenna structure, then the antenna function is achieved, but the performance degrades when user's hand or other conductors touch the slots
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary structure (the continuous metal frame with integrated antenna elements) that mediates between the user's hand and the antenna elements. The metal frame acts as a shield, preventing direct contact between conductive objects and the antenna slots, thereby maintaining performance stability during touch operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna elements are merged with the metal frame structure itself, eliminating separate slots that would be vulnerable to external conductors. The metal frame and antenna function are combined into a unified structure, providing both mechanical support and radiation capability while protecting against performance degradation from touch.
3Reliability
If planar slot antenna with micro strip line feeding is applied to avoid metal frame influence, then the antenna performance is improved, but large area of the circuit board is occupied by slots
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a planar slot antenna design (two-dimensional on circuit board) to a three-dimensional structure where the metal frame itself serves as the antenna. By utilizing the vertical and lateral dimensions of the metal frame, the antenna function is achieved without occupying circuit board area, effectively moving the antenna implementation to a different spatial dimension.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna function is extracted from the circuit board and relocated to the metal frame structure. By taking out the antenna elements from the planar circuit board environment and placing them on the three-dimensional metal frame, the circuit board area is freed while maintaining antenna performance.
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 solution maintains the phone's style, prevents performance degradation upon touch, and optimizes circuit board usage by achieving resonance across multiple frequency bands without slots on the metal frame, enhancing both low and high-frequency bandwidths.
Implementation Method 1
The first communication path forms a low-frequency resonance and a high-frequency resonance as well, so that the antenna structure is applied to the four bands GSM850/900/1800/1900
Implementation Method 2
The metal coupling sheet, the first grounding part, and the first slot form a first communication path. The metal coupling sheet, the second grounding part, and the second slot form a second communication path.
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna structure includes a carrier body, a circuit board, a metal coupling sheet, a first grounding part, a second grounding part, and a metal frame. A first slot and a second slot are between the metal frame and the carrier body after the parts mentioned above are assembled. The metal coupling sheet, the first grounding part, and the first slot form a first communication path. The first communication path forms a low-frequency resonance and a high-frequency resonance as well, so that the antenna structure is applied to a four bands GSM850/900/1800/1900. The metal coupling sheet, the second grounding part, and the second slot form a second communication path. The second communication path forms the WCDMA2100 resonance, so that the antenna structure is applied to a five bands 850/900/1800/1900/2100.