Chip-Loaded Earbud Antenna Structure Without Large Ground Plane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hearing devices face challenges in achieving desirable wireless communication performance due to size constraints and limited antenna design options, which are often complex and costly to design and manufacture.
Innovation Solution
The use of a chip antenna coupled to antenna elements, without a large ground plane, in a reactively loaded network circuit enhances antenna radiation and impedance matching, improving efficiency and reducing size while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the antenna size is increased to achieve desirable wireless communication performance, then wireless communication performance is improved, but the device size constraint is violated
Solution Approach 1:
The chip antenna is nested within the housing of the hearing device, utilizing the internal space efficiently. The chip antenna is positioned in close proximity to the antenna element, allowing it to contribute to radiation without requiring additional external space. This nesting approach enables improved wireless communication performance while maintaining compact device dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
A reactively loaded network circuit is introduced as an intermediary between the chip antenna and the antenna element. This network circuit enables effective coupling and impedance matching between the chip antenna and the antenna element, allowing the chip antenna to contribute meaningfully to radiation despite its small size. The reactively loaded network circuit mediates the interaction between the chip antenna and the antenna element, optimizing the overall antenna performance within space constraints.
2Reliability
If conventional antenna designs are used to achieve desirable wireless communication performance, then wireless communication performance is improved, but design complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The chip antenna is implemented using a standard, commercially available component rather than a custom-designed antenna structure. This chip antenna can be readily procured from semiconductor manufacturers and integrated into the hearing device using standard manufacturing processes. The use of this off-the-shelf component significantly reduces design complexity and manufacturing cost while still achieving desirable wireless communication performance when combined with the antenna element and reactively loaded network circuit.
3Power
If a large ground plane is used with the chip antenna to improve radiation, then antenna radiation is improved, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The traditional requirement for a large ground plane is extracted and eliminated from the design. Instead of relying on a large ground plane for chip antenna operation, the invention couples the chip antenna directly to an antenna element through a reactively loaded network circuit. This approach removes the need for extensive ground plane area while maintaining effective antenna radiation, thereby solving the contradiction between radiation performance and device size.
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 significantly increases total radiated power and improves wireless communication range while minimizing heating and design complexity, making it suitable for small ear-worn devices.
Implementation Method 1
The chip antenna may be used to simultaneously contribute to antenna radiation
Implementation Method 2
The chip antenna may be used to simultaneously contribute to antenna radiation and to load the antenna structure
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2F
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Various embodiments are directed to an ear-worn electronic device configured to be worn by a wearer. The device includes an enclosure configured to be supported by or in an ear of the wearer. Electronic circuitry is disposed in the enclosure and includes a wireless transceiver. An antenna is situated in or on the enclosure and coupled to the wireless transceiver. The antenna includes a first antenna element, a second antenna element, and a chip antenna operably coupled to the first and second antenna elements.