Glass-LCP Patch Antenna Structure for Wider Sub-6G Bandwidth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patch antennas designed with FR4 or FPC materials are large in size, limited in application, and have poor performance due to insufficient thickness, and those using FPC substrates are not suitable for the sub-6G band, while existing solutions fail to achieve high directivity and sufficient bandwidth.
Innovation Solution
A patch antenna with a dielectric substrate coated in high dielectric coefficient glass and LCP material, featuring a radiating metal arm, ground metal plate, and parasitic metal arm, using microstrip slot feeds or LCP multilayer feeds to overcome the limitations of glass material drilling and achieve miniaturization, high directivity, and expanded bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a patch antenna is designed with FR4 or FPC materials, then the antenna can be manufactured with conventional processes, but the antenna size becomes large and the application range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the dielectric constant parameter by using glass material (K>6) instead of conventional FR4 or FPC materials. This parameter change allows the antenna to be miniaturized while maintaining manufacturability through coating processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite structure combining glass material with LCP coating. This composite material approach provides both the high dielectric constant for miniaturization and the flexibility/manufacturability needed for production
2Shape
If a patch antenna uses FPC substrate, then the antenna can be made flexible, but the thickness is insufficient leading to poor antenna performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses LCP (liquid crystal polymer) as a flexible coating material on the glass substrate. This thin film provides the necessary flexibility while the underlying glass provides the required thickness for proper antenna performance
Solution Approach 2:
The combination of rigid glass substrate with flexible LCP coating creates a composite structure that simultaneously achieves both flexibility and sufficient thickness for reliable antenna operation
3Ease of manufacture
If a patch antenna is designed with conventional materials, then the antenna can be manufactured, but the bandwidth is insufficient for sub-6G applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the dielectric constant parameter to K>6 using glass material, which enables broader bandwidth operation in the sub-6G frequency range while maintaining compatibility with conventional manufacturing processes
4Area of stationary object
If glass material is used for the dielectric substrate, then the antenna size is reduced and thickness is sufficient, but the material cannot be drilled through for feed holes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the feeding function from the substrate material itself and implements it through surface-level structures (microstrip lines and slot feeds) on the glass substrate, eliminating the need to drill through the glass material
Solution Approach 2:
The LCP coating acts as an intermediary layer that enables feed implementation on the glass substrate surface, allowing signal transmission without requiring holes through the glass material
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 solution results in a more compact, high-directivity patch antenna with increased bandwidth, capable of operating across multiple sub-6G bands, achieving an antenna gain of 3.4 dBi and a bandwidth ratio of 18%, while maintaining sufficient thickness and performance.
Implementation Method 1
The high dielectric coefficient of the glass (a value of K>6) can reduce the size of the patch antenna
Implementation Method 2
A dielectric substrate, formed by a soft material coated over a high dielectric coefficient material
Data Source
AI summary
A patch antenna includes a dielectric substrate formed by a high dielectric coefficient material covered with a soft material. The dielectric substrate has a first surface, an opposite second surface, and surrounding side surfaces there between. The patch antenna further includes a radiating metal arm formed on at least the first surface with a thin metal layer in a specific shape, a grounding metal plate disposed on the second surface, and a parasitic metal arm extending from the grounding metal plate towards the first surface via at least one of the side surfaces. The parasitic metal arm is approximate but not connected to the radiating metal arm. The radiation metal arm further includes an enclosed slot, together with the parasitic metal arm, improve the working bandwidth and high directivity of the antenna.