Flexible Wearable Antenna Package With Back Plane Body Shielding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable devices face space limitations and electromagnetic interference issues, leading to compromised antenna performance and inefficient wireless connectivity due to proximity to the user's body and other electronic components.
Innovation Solution
Integrate multilayer antenna packages within flexible substrates of wearable devices, comprising a backplane layer, insulating layer, circuitry layer, and antenna layer, optimized for specific wireless protocols, to enhance performance and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If antenna is placed close to user's body in compact wearable devices, then space utilization is improved, but antenna performance deteriorates due to electromagnetic interference and body loading effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the antenna system into multiple protocol-specific antennas (Bluetooth antenna, Wi-Fi antenna, cellular antenna) placed in different locations within the flexible band. Each antenna is independently optimized for its specific protocol, avoiding interference from other electronic components and the user's body while maintaining device compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a ground plane layer positioned between the antenna and the user's body as an intermediary shielding structure. This ground plane acts as an electromagnetic barrier that reduces body loading effects and interference, allowing the antenna to operate reliably in close proximity to the user's body.
2Device complexity
If multiple antennas for different protocols are integrated in the main device housing, then device complexity is reduced, but signal loss increases due to additional switching, filtering, and matching components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the antenna system into dedicated protocol-specific antennas (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cellular) with each antenna optimized for its specific frequency band and protocol. This eliminates the need for complex switching, filtering, and matching components required in shared antenna designs, thereby reducing signal loss while maintaining integrated design benefits.
3Reliability
If antenna is placed in flexible bands rather than rigid main body, then wireless performance is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements the antenna system within a flexible band structure that can be bent and conform to the user's wrist. The flexible band incorporates multiple layers including antenna elements, ground plane, and dielectric materials, all designed to maintain electrical performance while accommodating mechanical flexibility. This approach improves wireless performance by positioning antennas away from the rigid main body while using standardized flexible circuit manufacturing techniques.
4Reliability
If protocol-specific antennas are used instead of shared antenna structures, then wireless connectivity reliability is improved, but device space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the antenna system into multiple protocol-specific antennas (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cellular) distributed throughout the flexible band structure. By utilizing the extended area of the flexible band rather than concentrating all antennas in the rigid main body, the design achieves reliable wireless connectivity for multiple protocols while effectively utilizing available space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional antenna placement on a flat circuit board to three-dimensional distribution of antennas throughout the flexible band volume. This allows protocol-specific antennas to be positioned at different locations and orientations, improving wireless connectivity reliability while efficiently utilizing the available space within the wearable device form factor.
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
Facilitates robust, high-performance wireless connectivity with reduced interference, supporting multiple protocols and protocols without sacrificing space for other device components, and enabling modular, scalable manufacturing.
Implementation Method 1
The back plane layer can be configured to one at least one of: reflect, direct or attenuate one or more body effects of the user
Implementation Method 2
The back plane layer can be configured to one at least one of: reflect, direct or attenuate one or more body effects of the user
Implementation Method 3
The antenna package can include an insulating layer comprising a dielectric material disposed above at least a portion of the electrical conductor material of the back plane layer
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are implementations of systems and methods for providing antenna in package flexible components of wearable devices. A system can include a flexible component having a back plane layer disposed along a length of the flexible component. The system can include an antenna package having an insulating layer comprising a dielectric material disposed above the back plane layer and a circuitry layer disposed above at least a portion of the insulating layer and comprising one or more electrical components for processing antenna signals. The antenna package can include an antenna layer comprising an antenna pattern disposed above the circuitry layer and configured for wireless communication of the antenna signals using the wearable device. The back plane layer can be disposed between antenna layer and a surface of the flexible component configured to interface with a user wearing the wearable device.