Capacitive Coupling Element for Mobile Terminal Directivity Gain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile communication terminals face challenges in achieving high directivity gain for both terrestrial and satellite communication without increasing the device's size, as existing solutions require additional circuit elements and physical connections, compromising portability and usability.
Innovation Solution
A mobile communication terminal design that includes a case with an antenna element and a coupling element, where the coupling element is capacitively coupled to the antenna element, allowing for enhanced directivity gain in the zenith direction without altering the antenna configuration, using a coupling element of length λ/2 or more, which is separate from the case and can be capacitively coupled without a physical connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional circuit elements (reactance elements) are added to switch directivity of the antenna, then the directivity can be changed for satellite communication, but the device complexity increases and the size of the mobile communication terminal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The case cover acts as an intermediary carrier for the coupling element, allowing the coupling element to be positioned near the antenna element without being integrated into the terminal's internal circuitry. This mediator approach enables directivity control while keeping the terminal structure simple and the coupling element externally manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling element is extracted from the terminal's internal structure and placed on the case cover, separating the directivity control function from the main terminal body. This extraction reduces the terminal's internal complexity while maintaining the ability to switch directivity through the coupling element's positioning.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a separate antenna device is provided with physical connection (cable or card) to supply electric power, then the directivity can be switched, but the portability and usability deteriorate due to the need to always carry the separate device
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling element is integrated with the case cover, merging the directivity control function into the terminal's protective housing. This combination eliminates the need for a separate portable antenna device while maintaining directivity switching capability, as the coupling element moves with the terminal.
Solution Approach 2:
The case cover serves multiple functions: it protects the terminal and simultaneously carries the coupling element for directivity control. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate devices, improving portability while maintaining versatility.
3Reliability
If the antenna configuration is altered to achieve high directivity gain, then the satellite communication performance improves, but the existing antenna elements cannot be utilized effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling element acts as an intermediary that enhances the existing antenna element's performance without replacing or altering it. By positioning the coupling element near the antenna element on the case cover, the system achieves high directivity gain for satellite communication while maintaining compatibility with the terminal's existing antenna configuration.
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 solution enhances directivity gain and bandwidth, enabling effective satellite communication while maintaining portability and usability by utilizing existing antenna elements without the need for additional circuit elements or physical connections.
Implementation Method 1
one end of the case is placed near the coupling element, so that the antenna element and the coupling element are capacitively coupled to each other
Data Source
AI summary
The mobile communication terminal includes a case, a display unit, an antenna element having a feeding point for receiving electric power near an end, and a substrate. A plate-like member is disposed so as to be in close to or in contact with the end where the antenna element of the mobile communication terminal is disposed to be close thereto. The plate-like member may be a case cover. The plate-like member includes a long coupling element which has a length of about λ/2 or more with respect to a communication wavelength λ and stored in the plate-like member. When one end of the case of the mobile communication terminal is placed near the coupling element, the antenna element and the coupling element can be capacitively coupled to each other, so that radiation power in a specific direction is increased, and thus, a directivity gain is improved.