Millimeter-Wave Antenna Switching for 5G Body-Blocked Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in fifth-generation millimetre wave mobile communication is providing omni-coverage due to the limited space in user equipment, where millimetre wave radiation is easily blocked by the human body.
Innovation Solution
A communication device with a millimetre wave antenna arrangement featuring a distributed antenna radiating element and a corresponding fixed antenna radiating element, where the distributed element is on a separate substrate and can be selectively connected to the Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit via a switching arrangement to counteract human body blocking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating element is integrated with the RFIC on a first substrate, then device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is simplified, but antenna coverage performance deteriorates due to human body blocking
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna system is segmented into two independent parts: a fixed antenna radiating element integrated with the RFIC on a first substrate, and a distributed antenna radiating element on a separate second substrate. This segmentation allows the distributed element to be positioned away from the human body blocking area while keeping the fixed element integrated for simplicity, thus resolving the contradiction between device complexity and coverage performance.
Solution Approach 2:
A switching arrangement is introduced as an intermediary component that selectively connects either the fixed antenna element or the distributed antenna element to the RFIC. This mediator enables dynamic selection of the optimal antenna configuration based on usage conditions, maintaining both integration simplicity and coverage performance.
2Reliability
If an omni-coverage millimetre wave antenna is implemented, then communication stability in all directions is achieved, but the limited space in the UE makes it difficult to provide such coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The distributed antenna radiating element on the second substrate extends the antenna system into a third dimension away from the main device body. This dimensional extension enables omni-coverage capability without increasing the footprint area on the device surface, thus resolving the contradiction between communication stability and device volume constraints.
3Reliability
If the distributed millimetre wave antenna radiating element is placed on a separate substrate spaced apart from the RFIC, then radiation coverage is expanded and human body effect is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic switching between the fixed and distributed antenna elements based on real-time conditions. The switching arrangement allows the system to adapt its configuration, connecting the distributed element when enhanced coverage is needed and the fixed element when simplicity is sufficient, thus balancing coverage performance and device complexity dynamically.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication device comprising: a millimetre wave antenna arrangement comprising a distributed millimetre wave antenna radiating element and a corresponding fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating element; a Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit; wherein the fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating element is arranged together with the Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit on a first substrate; wherein the distributed millimetre wave antenna radiating element is arranged on at least one second substrate spaced apart from the first substrate; and a switching arrangement configured to selectively connect either the fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating element to the Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit or the distributed millimetre wave antenna radiating element to the Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit. An associated method in a communication device, and an associated computer program product.