Chip Antenna Clearance Area for Parallel Radiation Pattern

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Solution Overview

Problem

PIFA antennas in portable devices face challenges in achieving a desirable radiation pattern, as the direction of strongest signal strength is influenced by the ground plane shape, making it difficult to adjust the antenna shape or layout to achieve the desired orientation.

Innovation Solution

A chip antenna is positioned in a clearance area of a circuit board with a specific distance from the edge, greater than one-tenth of the smallest width, and a first ground layer is separated from a second ground layer by an isolation area, allowing the antenna's polarization direction to be perpendicular to the circuit board surface and the strongest signal strength direction to be parallel to the surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If PIFA antenna shape or layout is adjusted to change radiation pattern, then radiation pattern direction may be improved, but the adjustment is difficult and cannot easily achieve desirable orientation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradiation pattern directionVSAvoidantenna shape adjustment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna system is segmented into a chip antenna unit and a ground plane structure. The ground plane is divided into multiple ground segments with different orientations, allowing independent control of radiation patterns without changing the antenna shape itself. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining simple antenna geometry while achieving radiation pattern control through ground plane configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ground plane acts as an intermediary element between the chip antenna and the radiation pattern. By adjusting the ground plane segments rather than the antenna shape, the radiation pattern direction is controlled indirectly. This mediator approach simplifies the antenna design while providing flexibility in radiation pattern orientation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of stationary object

If chip antenna is placed near circuit board edge to save space, then area utilization is improved, but radiation pattern control becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclearance area utilizationVSAvoidradiation pattern orientation

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The solution moves from two-dimensional antenna shape modification to three-dimensional ground plane configuration. By utilizing vertical ground plane segments and spatial arrangement of ground elements, the radiation pattern is controlled in three-dimensional space, allowing flexible orientation regardless of the chip antenna's position on the circuit board surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple ground plane segments are created as copies or variations of a basic ground element, each oriented differently to produce desired radiation patterns. These ground copies work together to shape the overall radiation pattern without requiring the chip antenna itself to be repositioned or reshaped.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Shape

If ground plane is made large to control radiation pattern, then radiation pattern control is improved, but device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradiation pattern controlVSAvoidground plane area

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the ground plane are given different local qualities through segmented configuration. Each ground segment is strategically positioned and oriented to contribute specifically to controlling the radiation pattern in certain directions. This localized approach achieves effective radiation pattern control with minimal total ground plane area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The ground plane uses asymmetric segmentation where different ground elements have different sizes, shapes, and orientations rather than uniform symmetry. This asymmetric configuration allows precise control of radiation patterns in specific directions while minimizing the overall ground plane footprint, as each asymmetric element is optimized for its specific function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentUS10916852B2Antenna device capable of generating specific radiation pattern

Publication Date: 2021.02.09 UNICTRON TECH CORP

AI summary

An antenna device includes a circuit board and at least one chip antenna. The circuit board includes a clearance area and at least one signal feeding line disposed in the clearance area. The chip antenna includes a substrate and at least one resonance unit partially or wholly disposed on the surface of or within the substrate. The chip antenna is disposed in the clearance area of the circuit board and the resonance unit of the chip antenna is connected to the signal feeding line. A shortest distance from an edge of the clearance area to a nearest edge of the circuit board is greater than 1/10 of a smallest width of the circuit board. Therefore, the polarization direction of the chip antenna is approximately perpendicular to the upper surface of the circuit board, as well as the direction of the strongest signal strength of the radiation pattern is approximately parallel to the upper surface of the circuit board.