Folded Antenna Assembly for Handheld Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing internal antennas in mobile communication devices suffer from poor communication signal radiation and reception, particularly when the device is in a voice communication position, due to interference from the user's body and ambient objects, and there is a trade-off between antenna performance and device thickness.
Innovation Solution
A multiple frequency band antenna assembly is designed with a dielectric substrate and a conductive stripe pattern on a rectangular polyhedron support, which wraps around the substrate to reduce thickness while maintaining performance across various frequency bands, including GSM, UMTS, and Bluetooth frequencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a larger internal antenna assembly is used to improve communication signal radiation and reception, then antenna performance is improved, but device thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna assembly transitions from a planar configuration to a three-dimensional folded structure that wraps around the device housing. This dimensional change allows the antenna to achieve the effective radiating length required for multiple frequency bands while maintaining a compact footprint that does not increase device thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna assembly is integrated within the device housing structure, with the antenna elements nested along the edges and corners of the housing. This nesting approach allows the antenna to utilize the available three-dimensional space efficiently without adding to the overall device dimensions.
2Length of stationary object
If the antenna assembly is made smaller to reduce device thickness, then device slimness is improved, but communication signal radiation and reception performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By folding the antenna elements in three-dimensional space around the housing edges, the design achieves long effective radiating paths within a compact volume, maintaining antenna performance while reducing device thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna assembly is designed with flexible printed circuit board elements that can be folded and bent, allowing the antenna to achieve complex three-dimensional configurations that optimize radiation patterns for different frequency bands while maintaining a slim profile.
3Device complexity
If known internal antenna structures are used, then device integration is simplified, but communication signal performance is poor particularly in voice communication position
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna assembly is divided into multiple discrete elements including inverted F antennas for different frequency bands, each optimized for specific communication functions. This segmentation allows each element to be independently tuned and positioned to minimize interference from the user's body and ambient objects.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the antenna assembly are optimized for different frequency bands and communication modes. The antenna elements are strategically positioned at specific locations on the housing to achieve optimal radiation patterns for various operating positions, including voice communication mode.
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna assembly is formed on a rectangular polyhedron support that has two sections projecting away from opposite sides of an electrically non-conductive substrate. An electrically conductive stripe wraps around the support and comprises a plurality of segments on different surfaces of the support. A conductive patch is located on two surfaces of the support to provide impedance matching between the antenna and a radio frequency circuit. By placing sections of the antenna assembly on both sides of the substrate and wrapping the conductive stripe around those sections, the space required to accommodate the antenna assembly within a housing of a communication device is reduced, as compared to some prior antenna designs.