Earphone Lead Wire as FM Antenna in Mobile Terminals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile terminal designs for receiving FM signals face challenges such as inconvenient user experience due to long earphone lines, high costs, and increased internal space occupancy, as well as complexity in manufacturing and cost escalation.

Innovation Solution

The reuse of equipment with lead wires as a receiving antenna, combined with an antenna matching network, a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA), and a Frequency Modulation (FM) chip, which debugs receiving performance, increases signal-to-noise ratio, and demodulates FM signals for audio transmission, reducing costs and space occupancy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a built-in FM antenna is designed by winding enameled wires on a PCB, then FM signal reception is enabled, but the terminal occupies larger internal space and manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveFM signal reception capabilityVSAvoidinternal space occupancy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling the earphone lead wire to serve dual purposes: as the connection cable for the earphone and as the FM antenna. This eliminates the need for a separate built-in FM antenna structure, thereby reducing internal space occupancy while maintaining FM reception capability

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the earphone lead wire with the FM antenna function, combining two previously separate components (earphone cable and antenna) into a single integrated solution. This reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the terminal structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If a built-in FM antenna is designed by winding enameled wires on a PCB, then FM signal reception is enabled, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveFM signal reception capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the earphone lead wire serve multiple functions including FM antenna, which simplifies the manufacturing process by eliminating the need to separately manufacture and assemble a dedicated FM antenna structure on the PCB

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the FM antenna function from the traditional PCB-based built-in antenna structure and relocates it to the earphone lead wire, thereby simplifying the terminal's manufacturing process and reducing production complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If an earphone is used to receive FM signals, then FM reception is enabled, but user convenience decreases due to long earphone lines and mandatory earphone wearing

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveFM signal reception capabilityVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the earphone lead wire to function as both the earphone connection cable and the FM antenna, allowing the terminal to receive FM signals without requiring the earphone to be worn, thereby improving user convenience while maintaining reception capability

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

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 solution significantly reduces the occupied space for FM signal reception, lowers costs, and ensures efficient FM signal reception without the need for external antennas, utilizing existing terminal components effectively.

Implementation Method 1

the LNA performs blocking processing on the FM signals by utilizing a capacitor of an LNA circuit and amplifies the FM signals which have been subjected to the blocking processing performed by the capacitor by a triode of the LNA circuit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAmplification:

Implementation Method 2

the antenna matching network is configured to debug a receiving performance of the receiving antenna

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpedance matching:

Implementation Method 3

the FM chip is configured to demodulate the FM signals received by the equipment with lead wires and transmit audio signals obtained after demodulating

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFM demodulation:

Implementation Method 4

the LNA performs blocking processing on the FM signals by utilizing a capacitor of an LNA circuit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitive coupling: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP2523254B1Device for receiving signals, antenna device and mobile terminal
Publication Date: 2015.11.11 ZTE CORP
  • EP2523254B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2523254B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2523254B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The disclosure discloses a device for receiving signals, which includes: equipment with lead wires configured to be reused as a receiving antenna to receive Frequency Modulation (FM) signals. The disclosure further discloses an antenna device and a mobile terminal. According to the technical solution of the disclosure, occupied space of a receiving antenna for FM signal is reduced greatly.