Microphone-Integrated Antenna for Compact Mobile Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge in mobile communication device design is to create an antenna with high radio frequency performance that occupies minimal space and reduces production costs, given the increasing compactness of devices.

Innovation Solution

The antenna integrates a microphone with a radio frequency module and a main board ground terminal, eliminating the need for additional feeding points and antenna lines, and utilizing dual microphones to enhance noise reduction and performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate feeding point elastic sheet and antenna line are arranged, then antenna performance is maintained, but production cost increases and occupation space increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantenna performanceVSAvoidoccupation space
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the microphone structure with the antenna structure by making the first ground terminal serve as both a grounding element for the microphone and as the antenna feeder. The microphone body portion acts as the radiator, eliminating the need for separate antenna components. This integration directly reduces occupation space and simplifies the device structure while maintaining antenna functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The first ground terminal of the microphone is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as the grounding terminal for the microphone, the antenna feeder, and part of the radiating structure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate feeding point elastic sheets and antenna lines, reducing both cost and space occupation while preserving antenna performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Volume of moving object

If device size is reduced to be lighter and thinner, then portability is improved, but space for antenna components is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidantenna performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the microphone and antenna into a single integrated structure where the microphone body portion serves as the antenna radiator. This eliminates the need for separate antenna components, allowing the device to maintain high antenna performance in a compact form factor suitable for lighter and thinner mobile communication devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated microphone-antenna structure allows the same physical components to serve dual purposes: the microphone body portion functions as both the acoustic sensing element and the radio frequency radiator. This multi-functionality enables reduced device volume while maintaining adequate antenna performance for 5G Wi-Fi connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If additional components are added to improve antenna performance, then radio frequency performance is improved, but production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradio frequency performanceVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the microphone and antenna functions into a single integrated structure, eliminating the need for separate feeding point elastic sheets and antenna lines. This reduction in component count directly lowers production costs while the careful design of the integrated structure maintains high radio frequency performance for 5G Wi-Fi connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The first ground terminal is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: grounding for the microphone, feeding for the antenna, and part of the radiating structure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional expensive components while maintaining adequate radio frequency performance, thereby reducing production costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 allows for efficient use of space and cost savings while maintaining high antenna performance, particularly for 5G Wi-Fi connections, by leveraging the microphone as a radiator and adjusting terminal lengths for optimal resonance.

Implementation Method 1

a half wavelength of the antenna may resonate with a band of a fifth generation (5G) mobile network of Wi-Fi connection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResonance: Resonance

Data Source

PatentEP3661170B1Mobile communication device and antenna thereof
Publication Date: 2022.07.13 HUIZHOU TCL MOBILE COMM CO LTD
  • EP3661170B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3661170B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3661170B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A mobile communication device and an antenna thereof are provided. The antenna includes a microphone and an antenna feeder, both arranged on a main board of the mobile communication device. The microphone includes a body portion, a first ground terminal and a second ground terminal. The first ground terminal surrounds a sidewall of the body portion, the first ground terminal and the second ground terminal are electrically connected, and the second ground terminal is electrically connected with the body portion. The main board is further arranged with a radio frequency module and a main board ground terminal. The radio frequency module is electrically connected with the first ground terminal through the antenna feeder, and the main board ground terminal and the second ground terminal are electrically connected.