Dielectric Support for mmWave Antenna Beam Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to enhance the mmWave radiation coverage and beamforming in electronic devices with limited housing space, where the internal metal structures and housing shape distort the radiation pattern, leading to non-uniform beamforming and varying ambient radiation environments for multiple antenna modules.
Innovation Solution
The electronic device incorporates a dielectric structure and a support member made of injection molding material, strategically positioned to enhance the antenna beam radiation pattern, reduce resonant frequency changes, and improve the front-to-back ratio by using a vertical sidewall adjacent to the antenna array, and a dielectric structure with a seating portion to support the antenna module.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the antenna module is disposed inside the housing as far as possible away from the center, then the antenna can be embedded in the housing, but the radiation pattern becomes distorted and beamforming becomes non-uniform due to proximity to peripheral metal structures
Solution Approach 1:
A support member made of non-conductive injection molding material is introduced as an intermediary structure between the antenna module and the housing. This support member provides mechanical support while electrically isolating the antenna module from peripheral metal structures, preventing radiation pattern distortion and maintaining beamforming uniformity even when the antenna is positioned away from the center of the housing.
2Power
If multiple mmWave modules are mounted in the electronic device, then the radiation coverage can be enhanced, but the ambient radiation environments of the modules become different causing beam distortion to appear differently
Solution Approach 1:
Each antenna module is provided with its own dedicated support member made of non-conductive material. This local application of the support member structure ensures that each antenna module has a consistent electromagnetic environment independent of other modules' positions, allowing all modules to maintain uniform beamforming characteristics even when mounted at different locations within the housing.
3Volume of moving object
If the antenna module is positioned away from the center of the housing, then embedding the antenna becomes feasible, but the array mounting size of the mmWave module is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The non-conductive support member acts as a mediator that enables the antenna module to be positioned at optimal locations away from the center while maintaining electrical isolation. This allows for greater flexibility in module placement and can accommodate larger array mounting sizes by preventing interference from peripheral metal structures, thus resolving the limitation on array 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 enhances the radiation pattern symmetry, increases the gain in the main radiation direction, and mitigates distortion caused by the housing and internal covers, resulting in improved mmWave radiation coverage and beamforming consistency across multiple modules.
Implementation Method 1
a dielectric structure and a support member made of injection molding material, strategically positioned to enhance the antenna beam radiation pattern, reduce resonant frequency changes, and improve the front-to-back ratio
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronic device is provided and includes a housing including a first plate facing in a first direction, a second plate facing in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a side surface member surrounding at least part of a space between the first and second plates; a printed circuit board including a first surface facing in the first direction and a second surface facing in the second direction, the printed circuit board being disposed in the housing; an antenna module disposed on the first surface of the printed circuit board and adjacent to the side surface member, forming a first gap therewith, the antenna module being configured to radiate an antenna beam in a third direction which is perpendicular to the first and second directions; a wireless communication circuit electrically connected with the antenna module, and configured to transmit or receive a signal having a frequency between 3 gigahertz (GHz) and 100 GHz; and a dielectric structure including a seating portion to have the antenna module mounted thereon, and configured to form the antenna beam to be radiated toward an outside of the housing in the third direction.