Ground Plane Antenna with Apertures for Compact Wireless Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antenna designs, such as the planar inverted F antenna (PIFA), require additional conductive elements that can be challenging to size, space, and position effectively, particularly when aiming to minimize the impact on electronic devices, as the radiator element may be large compared to the device size at frequencies used for radio communication.
Innovation Solution
A conductive ground plane element with interior apertures and elongate portions defined by gaps, along with a feed element that indirectly feeds a closed-loop electric current path, allowing the ground plane to operate as an antenna radiator, potentially using reactive elements to adjust the resonant wavelength and enable efficient radio wave radiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional antenna radiator element is used, then radio wave transmission and reception is effective, but the antenna size becomes large compared to the electronic device size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the antenna function with the existing ground plane of the electronic device. The ground plane, which is already present as part of the device structure, is configured with specific aperture patterns to serve dual purposes: as an electrical ground reference and as the radiating element. This eliminates the need for a separate antenna radiator, thereby reducing antenna size while maintaining transmission effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The ground plane is given multiple functions: it serves as both the electrical ground plane necessary for circuit operation and as the radiating element for antenna functionality. By making the ground plane universal, the patent eliminates the need for dedicated antenna structures, thus reducing overall device size while maintaining radio wave transmission capability.
2Area of stationary object
If a planar inverted F antenna (PIFA) is used to reduce antenna size, then the radiator element size is reduced, but additional conductive elements are required that complicate sizing, spacing and positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the radiating function from separate conductive elements and integrates it directly into the ground plane structure. By removing the need for additional parasitic elements required by PIFA designs, the invention simplifies the overall antenna structure while achieving compact size. The ground plane alone, with appropriate aperture configuration, provides both grounding and radiation functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the ground plane and radiating elements into a single integrated structure. Instead of requiring separate conductive elements as in PIFA designs, the ground plane itself is configured with apertures that enable it to function as the radiating element, thereby eliminating additional components and reducing structural complexity.
3Device complexity
If the ground plane is used as the radiator element, then device complexity is reduced, but achieving efficient operation across frequency bands becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The ground plane is segmented into multiple regions with different aperture patterns. Each aperture region can be independently configured to resonate at different frequencies, enabling multi-band operation. The segmentation allows each portion of the ground plane to contribute to different frequency bands, achieving versatility without increasing overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the ground plane are given different local properties through varied aperture configurations. Specific areas have apertures sized and positioned to resonate at particular frequencies, while other regions handle different frequency bands. This local differentiation enables the single ground plane structure to efficiently operate across multiple frequency bands.
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
This configuration enables efficient operation across various frequency bands with reduced size and complexity, minimizing the impact on electronic devices while maintaining effective radio wave transmission and reception, as illustrated by the examples of single- and dual-band antenna operations.
Implementation Method 1
a feed configured to indirectly feed a closed-loop electric current path comprising portions of the ground plane adjacent the aperture to enable radio wave radiation by the ground plane
Implementation Method 2
an interior aperture in the area of conductive material and an elongate portion defined by a gap at the elongate edge of the conductive ground plane and by at least a portion of the interior aperture
Data Source
AI summary
The Figures illustrate an apparatus 2 comprising: a conductive element 4 comprising an area of conductive material 5 defined by a plurality of edges 6, 7 including a first edge 7 wherein the conductive element 4 comprises an interior aperture 12 in the area of conductive material 5 and an elongate portion 20 defined by a gap 14 at the first edge 7 of the conductive element 4 and by at least a portion of the interior aperture 12. The apparatus 2 may comprise a further interior aperture in the area of conductive material and a second elongate portion defined by a second gap, by at least a portion of the interior aperture and by at least a portion of the further interior aperture.