Coupled Annular Circular Antenna for Compact Wearable Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Smart wearable devices face challenges in implementing circularly polarized antennas due to size constraints, leading to poor satellite positioning performance and multipath interference, with existing designs being complex and limited to specific radiator sizes.

Innovation Solution

A circularly polarized antenna design for wearable devices featuring a coupling excitation unit with a coupling branch and tuning elements, allowing electromagnetic coupling without direct electrical connections, enabling flexible frequency tuning for radiators of varying sizes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If linearly polarized antennas are used in wearable devices due to size constraints, then device size is reduced, but satellite positioning performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidsatellite positioning performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the polarization parameter from linear to circular, which fundamentally alters the antenna's electromagnetic field characteristics. This enables the antenna to receive signals from satellites with any polarization orientation, thereby improving positioning performance while maintaining the compact wearable device form factor

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a coupling excitation unit with adjustable coupling coefficients that can dynamically optimize the excitation of orthogonal modes in the annular radiator. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the antenna to maintain optimal circular polarization performance across different operating conditions and device configurations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If circularly polarized antennas are implemented in wearable devices, then satellite signal reception intensity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesatellite signal reception intensityVSAvoidantenna structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the feeding network and grounding structure into a unified coupling excitation unit that directly couples to the annular radiator. This integration eliminates the need for separate feeding antennas and complex impedance matching networks, reducing overall device complexity while achieving circular polarization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The annular radiator serves multiple functions: it acts as the radiating element, the resonant structure for circular polarization, and the grounding reference. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby simplifying the overall antenna structure

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

3Reliability

If existing coupling structure designs are used for annular radiators, then circular polarization is achieved, but adaptability to different radiator sizes is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircular polarization performanceVSAvoidapplicability to different radiator sizes
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a coupling excitation unit with adjustable coupling coefficients that can dynamically optimize the excitation of orthogonal modes in the annular radiator. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the antenna to maintain optimal circular polarization performance across different operating conditions and device configurations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent provides multiple embodiments with different coupling structure configurations (direct coupling, capacitive coupling, inductive coupling) that can be selected based on the specific radiator size and operating frequency, enabling broad adaptability across different wearable device form factors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enhances satellite signal reception intensity and reduces multipath interference, providing accurate positioning and improved design flexibility for wearable devices.

Implementation Method 1

a coupling excitation unit arranged in proximity to the annular radiator and electromagnetically coupled to the annular radiator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic coupling: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

the first tuning element being configured for tuning a resonant frequency of the circularly polarized antenna

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResonance: Resonance

Data Source

PatentEP4679630A1Circularly polarized antenna and wearable device
Publication Date: 2026.01.14 ANHUI HUAMI HEALTH TECH CO LTD
  • EP4679630A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~2
  • EP4679630A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4679630A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of electronic devices and provides a circularly polarized antenna and a wearable device. The circularly polarized antenna includes a circuit board (10), an annular radiator (20) arranged at a distance from the circuit board (10), and a coupling excitation unit, where the coupling excitation unit is positioned close to the annular radiator (20) and electromagnetically coupled therewith, and the coupling excitation unit includes a first coupling branch (30) and a first tuning element, a first end of the first coupling branch (30) being electrically connected to a feeding portion of the circuit board (10), and a second end of the first coupling branch (30) being electrically connected to a reference ground of the circuit board (10) via the first tuning element. An annular current loop is formed between the coupling excitation unit and the circuit board (10). In the embodiments of this disclosure, since there is no direct electrical connection between the annular radiator and other electrical components, and the first coupling branch is grounded via the first tuning element, the antenna design provides improved practicality and flexibility.