Capacitive Top-Loaded Antenna for Wireless Receiver Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless microphone systems face challenges with external antennas that are costly, mechanically complex, and prone to misorientation, damage, and environmental interference, which affects reception quality.

Innovation Solution

A compact antenna design featuring a capacitive top-loaded component electrically coupled to a printed circuit board, positioned away from the ground plane, allowing for reduced vertical profile and broader frequency range operation, enabling internal integration within the wireless receiver chassis and simplified user setup.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If external antennas with rotating attachments are used, then optimal reception can be achieved by orienting antennas to varying transmitter polarization directions, but mechanical complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereception qualityVSAvoidmechanical complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the antenna function from external rotating antennas and integrates it into the device housing through built-in antenna elements. The antenna is formed by conductive structures (such as metal pieces or printed circuit board traces) that are incorporated directly into the housing or circuit board, eliminating the need for external rotating antenna mechanisms while maintaining polarization adaptability through the housing's conductive properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the antenna function with the device housing structure. The housing itself becomes part of the antenna system through conductive coatings, metal reinforcements, or integrated conductive elements, combining structural support with electromagnetic radiation/reception functions. This integration eliminates separate antenna components and their mounting mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If external antennas are mounted to the outside of the chassis, then antenna orientation can be adjusted, but the antenna is prone to be disturbed from the desired position or even damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantenna orientation adjustmentVSAvoidantenna position stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna is merged with the housing structure through conductive elements that are an integral part of the housing or firmly attached to it. This integration eliminates the need for separate antenna mounts that can be disturbed, as the housing itself provides both mechanical support and electromagnetic function. The antenna becomes part of the device's structural framework rather than a separate adjustable component

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If a built-in antenna is used to reduce device complexity, then mechanical complexity is reduced, but the antenna may not achieve optimal reception across varying transmitter polarization directions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical complexityVSAvoidreception quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The housing structure serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical protection, structural support, and electromagnetic radiation/reception. The conductive elements in the housing are designed to handle multiple polarization directions simultaneously or adapt to different transmission orientations, making the single integrated structure universally applicable to various signal directions without requiring separate antenna elements for each polarization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Length of moving object

If the antenna is internally located in the same enclosure as the printed circuit board, then the vertical profile is reduced, but capacitive coupling to the ground plane may degrade performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevertical profileVSAvoidVSWR performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces intermediary elements between the antenna and the ground plane to prevent direct capacitive coupling. These intermediaries include insulating barriers, spacing structures, or strategically positioned conductive shields that decouple the antenna from the ground plane while maintaining compact dimensions. The intermediary elements allow the antenna to operate at lower frequencies with better VSWR performance despite the reduced vertical profile

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 provides improved reception quality with reduced susceptibility to environmental factors and user error, enhanced reliability, and protection from damage, while maintaining a low VSWR over a broad frequency range.

Implementation Method 1

Experimental data suggest that by doing so, the capacitive coupling is reduced, and consequently the required voltage standing wave ration (VSWR) is maintained over a broad operating range.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitive coupling: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

The antenna includes an opened segmented component that is electrically coupled to a printed circuit board and a capacitive top loaded component that provides a capacitive load.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2067209B1An antenna in a wireless system
Publication Date: 2012.11.07 SHURE ACQUISITION HLDG INC
  • EP2067209B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2067209B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2067209B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for an antenna in a wireless receiving system. The antenna includes an opened segmented component that is electrically coupled to a printed circuit board and a capacitive top loaded component that provides a capacitive load. The vertical profile of the antenna may be reduced sufficiently so that the antenna may be internally located in the same enclosure as the printed circuit board. The capacitive top loaded component is situated away from a ground plane of a printed circuit board to reduce the capacitive coupling is reduced, and consequently the required voltage standing wave ration (VSWR) is maintained over a broad operating range. The capacitive top loaded component includes a closed shape that provides a capacitive load. In order to tune the antenna to operate with a desired characteristic (e.g., within a VSWR criterion), the closed shape may be modified.