Folded Flexible Antenna Substrate for Ground Distance Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional antenna designs using thin flexible substrates face challenges in securing required antenna performance due to reduced dielectric thickness, which affects the distance between the radiating element and the ground conductor, leading to compromised antenna performance.
Innovation Solution
The proposed antenna design incorporates a flexible substrate with a folded sheet-shaped dielectric, featuring a thicker first insulating portion and a thinner second insulating portion, along with a grounding conductor and signal line, to increase the distance between the antenna conductor and the ground, thereby enhancing antenna performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a thin flexible substrate is used, then the antenna maintains flexibility and can be mounted on curved surfaces, but the dielectric thickness decreases which compromises antenna performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a folded structure in the dielectric layer, transforming a two-dimensional planar substrate into a three-dimensional configuration. The first insulating portion is folded back toward the antenna conductor, creating an air gap while maintaining overall compactness. This dimensional transformation allows the antenna to achieve effective radiating characteristics without requiring a thick substrate, thus preserving flexibility while improving performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The folded first insulating portion acts as an intermediary structure between the antenna conductor and the ground conductor. By folding this insulating layer, the patent creates an air gap that serves as an additional insulating medium, effectively increasing the electrical distance between conductive elements without increasing the physical substrate thickness. This intermediary air gap structure resolves the contradiction by providing the necessary electrical isolation while maintaining mechanical flexibility.
2Reliability
If the dielectric thickness is increased to improve antenna performance, then the distance between the radiating element and ground conductor increases, but the substrate loses flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing substrate thickness in the vertical direction, the patent utilizes the horizontal dimension by folding the first insulating portion back toward the antenna conductor. This creates an air gap that effectively increases the electrical distance between the radiating element and ground conductor without adding physical thickness to the substrate, thereby maintaining flexibility while improving antenna performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a thin flexible substrate with a folded insulating layer configuration. The folded first insulating portion creates a three-dimensional structure within a thin profile, allowing the substrate to maintain its flexibility and conformability while achieving the necessary electrical isolation and antenna performance characteristics typically associated with thicker substrates.
3Reliability
If the distance between the radiating element and ground conductor is increased, then antenna gain improves, but the substrate thickness must increase which reduces flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by folding the first insulating portion horizontally back toward the antenna conductor, creating an air gap that increases the effective distance between the radiating element and ground conductor. This horizontal folding approach achieves the necessary electrical separation for improved antenna gain without increasing vertical substrate thickness, thereby preserving flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The dielectric layer is segmented into a first insulating portion and a second insulating portion. The first insulating portion is folded back to create an air gap structure, while the second insulating portion remains as the base substrate layer. This segmentation allows the antenna structure to achieve improved gain through the folded configuration while maintaining overall flexibility through the thin second insulating portion.
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna includes an antenna conductor to be provided on an exterior side of a chassis and a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate includes a first insulating portion that is a portion of a sheet-shaped dielectric where the sheet-shaped dielectric is folded, a grounding conductor provided between the first insulating portion and the chassis, a second insulating portion that is a portion of the sheet-shaped dielectric where the sheet-shaped dielectric is not folded, and a signal line configured to feed power to the antenna conductor. A thickness of the first insulating portion is greater than a thickness of the second insulating portion.