Grip Sensing Electrode Positioning for Millimeter Wave Antenna Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
As wireless communication frequencies increase, external factors such as precipitation or a user's body can significantly influence antenna performance, particularly affecting grip sensors that are in proximity to antennas, leading to degraded radiation performance.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device is designed with a sensing electrode for grip sensing that is strategically positioned to avoid overlapping with antenna arrays, using a housing with insulating layers and a printed circuit board to maintain antenna performance while allowing precise grip detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a grip sensor is disposed in proximity to an antenna for grip detection, then grip sensing capability is improved, but antenna radiation performance is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing electrode is extracted from the antenna structure and placed on a separate PCB layer, electrically isolated from the antenna elements. This allows grip sensing functionality to be maintained while eliminating the harmful interaction between the sensing electrode and antenna current distribution, thus preserving antenna radiation performance.
Solution Approach 2:
An insulating layer is introduced as an intermediary between the sensing electrode and the antenna array. This intermediate structure allows the sensing electrode to be positioned close to the antenna for effective grip detection while preventing direct electrical interaction that would degrade antenna performance.
2Measurement precision
If a sensing electrode is placed on the PCB for grip detection, then grip position detection accuracy is improved, but antenna radiation pattern is distorted
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing electrode is positioned in a different spatial dimension (separate PCB layer) rather than overlapping with the antenna elements in the same plane. This dimensional separation allows accurate grip position detection while preventing the sensing electrode from distorting the antenna's three-dimensional current distribution and radiation pattern.
3Measurement precision
If the sensing electrode is positioned close to the antenna array, then grip sensing sensitivity is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing electrode is positioned close to the antenna for enhanced grip sensing sensitivity, but electrical connection is made only when needed (partial action). The system establishes electrical connection between the sensing electrode and antenna during specific operational modes, reducing unnecessary power consumption while maintaining high sensing sensitivity when required.
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 enables accurate grip position sensing without degrading antenna radiation performance, effectively managing power consumption and beam steering in wireless communication devices operating at frequencies from 20 to 100 GHz.
Implementation Method 1
a sensing electrode mounted in one layer of the PCB so as not to overlap the array when viewed from above the second plate... and a grip sensing circuit electrically connected with the sensing electrode
Data Source
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Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
An electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure can comprise: a housing including a first plate, a second plate oriented in the direction opposite to that of the first plate, and a side member surrounding the space between the first plate and the second plate; a plurality of insulating layers interposed between the first plate and the second plate; a printed circuit board in parallel to the second plate; an array of first conductive plates mounted on one layer of the printed circuit board; a second conductive plate mounted on one layer of the printed circuit board so as not to overlap the array when viewing from the top of the second plate; a wireless communication circuit electrically connected to the array and set to provide wireless communication at a frequency of 20-100 GHz; and a grip sensing circuit electrically connected to the second conductive plate. Other various embodiments can be possible.