Dielectric Slot Antenna for Set Top Box Wireless Networking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing television and set top box antennas face challenges such as increased cost, complexity, and reduced structural integrity due to the need for external or internal antennas, which often require additional components and non-metallic parts to facilitate wireless networking, leading to detuning and radiation pattern modifications.
Innovation Solution
A slot antenna design utilizing a printed circuit board with dielectric material and electrodes extending into a rectangular slot in the metal enclosure, allowing for a shorter slot length by reducing the wavelength through dielectric presence, thereby eliminating the need for external or internal antennas and maintaining the metal enclosure's integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an external antenna is used with coaxial cable connection, then wireless networking functionality is achieved, but cost, complexity, and clutter increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the antenna function directly into the metal enclosure structure by creating a slot antenna, eliminating the need for separate external antennas and coaxial cables. The enclosure itself becomes part of the antenna system, merging structural and functional elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal enclosure serves dual purposes: as the protective housing for the electronic device and as the radiating structure for the antenna. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated antenna components while maintaining wireless networking capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an internal antenna is used in metal enclosure, then wireless networking functionality is achieved, but detuning and radiation pattern modification occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the problematic interaction between internal antennas and metal enclosures by designing the slot antenna to use the enclosure's outer surface. The radiating slot is formed on the external surface of the metal enclosure, removing the antenna from the internal environment where detuning occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The printed circuit board with dielectric material acts as an intermediary structure that extends into the slot formed in the metal enclosure. This intermediary allows controlled electromagnetic coupling while maintaining the integrity of both the PCB and the metal enclosure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If internal antenna is used, then wireless networking functionality is achieved, but structural integrity and assembly cost increase due to non-metallic parts
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna structure is merged with the metal enclosure itself, eliminating the need for separate non-metallic antenna housings or modifications to the enclosure structure. The slot is formed directly in the metal enclosure, maintaining full structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal enclosure serves as both the protective housing and the antenna structure, eliminating the need for additional non-metallic components that would compromise structural integrity or increase assembly complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If conventional slot antenna is used without dielectric, then full wavelength slot length is required, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the electromagnetic parameters within the slot by introducing dielectric material from the printed circuit board. This dielectric increases the effective permittivity, which reduces the wavelength and allows the slot to be shorter while maintaining the same resonant frequency and antenna performance.
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 design provides a low-cost, functional wireless networking solution for electronic devices by reducing the slot length, minimizing additional components, and maintaining the metal enclosure's integrity, while ensuring effective radio frequency transmission and reception.
Implementation Method 1
A printed circuit board comprising a dielectric material and electrodes extends into a rectangular slot in the metal enclosure of the device such that the electrodes are coupled with locations on opposite edges of the long dimension of the rectangular slot. The presence of the dielectric in the slot allows the use of a shorter slot for a given wavelength.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention concerns a slot antenna for an electronic device, e.g. a set top box. A printed circuit board (210) comprising a dielectric material (310, 320, 330, 340, 350) and electrodes (240, 360) extends into a rectangular slot (120) in the metal enclosure (110) of the device such that the electrodes are coupled with locations on opposite edges of the long dimension of the rectangular slot. The coupling may be capacitively in order to affect the level of coupling or to optimize the driving point return loss. The presence of the dielectric in the slot allows the use of a shorter slot for a given wavelength.