Hybrid Eyewear Antenna with Loop-Dipole Band Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Antenna systems in consumer electronics, particularly in wearable devices like smart glasses, face challenges in achieving compactness while ensuring reliable wireless connectivity and efficient data transfer, especially with limited battery power and the need for increased data throughput.

Innovation Solution

A hybrid antenna system combining a loop antenna and a dipole antenna, with the dipole antenna being offset-fed or center-fed, and incorporating a diplexer for frequency-domain discrimination, allowing for improved bandwidth, radiation efficiency, and polarization diversity, and also serving as a lens retainer to maintain optical elements in place.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single antenna is used in wearable devices, then the device complexity is reduced, but the bandwidth and data transmission capability are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebandwidthVSAvoidantenna system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines a loop antenna and a dipole antenna into a single hybrid antenna system. The loop antenna element and dipole antenna element are integrated to operate across multiple frequency bands (e.g., 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz), achieving broadband capability without requiring separate antennas for each frequency band. This merging approach increases adaptability while controlling complexity through unified design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If antenna size is increased to improve radiation efficiency, then the communication range is enhanced, but the compactness of wearable devices is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradiation efficiencyVSAvoidantenna volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The dipole antenna element is positioned within or alongside the loop antenna structure, allowing both antenna elements to occupy a compact shared space. The dipole's arms are arranged to fit within the overall footprint of the loop antenna, effectively nesting one antenna structure within another to maintain small overall volume while preserving radiation efficiency of both elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes three-dimensional spatial arrangement to achieve compact antenna design. The loop antenna may be configured in a planar geometry while the dipole antenna extends in a different spatial dimension or orientation, allowing both structures to coexist in a small volume by exploiting available space in multiple dimensions rather than competing for the same two-dimensional area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If multiple frequencies are supported for data transmission, then the data throughput is increased, but the antenna system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission rateVSAvoidantenna system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hybrid antenna system is designed to perform multiple functions across different frequency bands. The same loop antenna and dipole antenna structures support both 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz operations, as well as potentially other frequency bands, without requiring separate dedicated antennas for each frequency. This multi-functionality increases data throughput while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate antenna systems.

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

4Use of energy by moving object

If battery power is minimized for wearable comfort, then the device portability is improved, but the wireless communication reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidwireless connectivity reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By merging the loop and dipole antenna elements into a hybrid structure, the system achieves improved radiation efficiency that reduces power consumption. The combined antenna structure optimizes electromagnetic field distribution and impedance matching, allowing for more efficient energy transfer during transmission and reception, thereby maintaining reliable wireless connectivity with lower power requirements suitable for battery-constrained wearable devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The hybrid antenna system enhances communication range, reduces energy consumption, and supports data transmission over multiple frequencies, addressing the need for efficient and broadband wireless communication in compact electronic devices.

Implementation Method 1

a first antenna of the antenna system comprises a loop conductor, and a second antenna of the antenna system comprises a dipole conductor... the loop antenna and a dipole antenna, with the dipole antenna being offset-fed or center-fed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

incorporating a diplexer for frequency-domain discrimination, allowing for improved bandwidth, radiation efficiency, and polarization diversity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFrequency domain separation: Filter (electronic)

Data Source

PatentEP3714508B1Hybrid antenna system for wearable devices
Publication Date: 2024.07.17 SNAP INC
  • EP3714508B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3714508B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3714508B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

An antenna system comprises a combination of a loop antenna and a non-loop antenna. The loop antenna and the non-loop antenna is connected in common to a transceiver mechanism or signal feed mechanism. The non-loop antenna is in some embodiments provided by a dipole conductor. An eyewear device incorporates the antenna system, a loop conductor and a dipole conductor of the antenna system being integrated in a body of the eyewear device. The loop conductor may be provided by a lens ring that extends around a lens held by the body. The lens ring may serve both as loop conductor and as a lens retention mechanism.