Handheld Wireless Communicator Antenna Ground Plane Segmentation

Solution Overview

Problem

Handheld wireless communicators face challenges in achieving hearing aid compatibility and reducing susceptibility to head blocking due to high free-space and near-field electric and magnetic emissions, particularly in the 850 MHz band.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a housing with first and second opposing ends, featuring an internal antenna, a pair of ground planes, and a reactive element that reactively couples these ground planes, along with a speaker and microphone configuration, allowing for hearing aid compatibility and reduced emissions by optimizing antenna placement and coupling mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional antenna configurations are used in handheld wireless communicators, then wireless communication functionality is achieved, but high free-space and near-field electric and magnetic emissions occur that cause hearing aid incompatibility and susceptibility to head blocking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehearing aid compatibilityVSAvoidfree-space and near-field emissions

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The ground plane is divided into multiple segments (first ground plane, second ground plane, third ground plane) positioned at different locations within the housing. Each ground plane segment is electrically connected to the antenna through feed lines, creating a distributed ground structure that reduces concentrated electromagnetic emissions while maintaining functional performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Feed lines are introduced as intermediary elements to electrically connect the antenna to multiple ground plane segments. These feed lines distribute the electromagnetic energy across multiple pathways, reducing the intensity of emissions in any single direction and improving hearing aid compatibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional antenna configurations are used in handheld wireless communicators, then wireless communication functionality is achieved, but susceptibility to head blocking increases due to high emissions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesusceptibility to head blockingVSAvoidfree-space and near-field emissions

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The ground plane is divided into multiple segments (first ground plane, second ground plane, third ground plane) positioned at different locations within the housing. Each ground plane segment is electrically connected to the antenna through feed lines, creating a distributed ground structure that reduces concentrated electromagnetic emissions while maintaining functional performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different ground plane segments are positioned at specific locations within the housing to create localized electromagnetic field distributions. The first ground plane is positioned to reduce emissions in one direction while the second and third ground planes address emissions in other directions, creating directionally optimized emission patterns that reduce head blocking susceptibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 provides hearing aid compatibility and reduces emissions in both closed and open positions, achieving desired emission levels and improving user safety by minimizing exposure to harmful radiation.

Implementation Method 1

A reactive element (i.e., comprising an inductor and/or capacitor) is provided in the housing adjacent the second end that reactively (i.e., inductively and/or capacitively) couples the first and second ground planes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInductive coupling: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

A reactive element (i.e., comprising an inductor and/or capacitor) is provided in the housing adjacent the second end that reactively (i.e., inductively and/or capacitively) couples the first and second ground planes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitive coupling: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS7526326B2Handheld wireless communicators with reduced free-space, near-field emissions

Publication Date: 2009.04.28 SNAPTRACK INC

AI summary

Stick, clamshell, jackknife and slider configurations are provided for handheld wireless communicators with reduced free-space, near-field emissions that can be hearing aid compatible using two ground planes and a reactive matching element along with predefined placement of an antenna, speaker and/or microphone in the communicator housing.