Mobile Antenna Structure With Coupling Gaps For Wideband LTE Operation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mobile communication device antennas struggle to integrate wideband operation with other electronic elements, such as data transmission ports, due to reduced coupling effects with the grounding plane, limiting design freedom and failing to cover all required operating bands like LTE/WWAN.

Innovation Solution

A mobile communication device antenna structure featuring a grounding element with a main ground and protruded ground, an antenna element with feeding and radiating portions, and strategically placed coupling gaps to excite quarter-wavelength and higher-order resonant modes, allowing for two wide operating bands covering 704 MHz to 960 MHz and 1710 MHz to 2690 MHz.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the antenna is directly disposed in the no-ground section of the system circuit board to reduce coupling effects and provide sufficient operating bandwidth, then wideband operation is achieved, but the design freedom of internal electronic elements is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperating bandwidthVSAvoiddesign freedom
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna structure is divided into multiple segments including a feeding portion and a radiating portion with multiple branches. The radiating portion includes first, second, third, and fourth branches that can be independently configured to achieve wideband operation while accommodating other electronic elements on the circuit board

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The antenna design transitions from a conventional planar configuration to a three-dimensional structure by extending the radiating portion in multiple directions and utilizing vertical spacing between the antenna and grounding plane, thereby achieving wideband operation without occupying excessive planar space

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If a mobile antenna occupying three-dimensional space is adopted to achieve wideband operation, then wideband operation is achieved, but the integration of the antenna and other electronic elements functioning as a data transmission port cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperating bandwidthVSAvoidintegration capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna design extracts the essential radiating function from a complex three-dimensional structure and implements it through a planar configuration with controlled coupling gaps. This allows the antenna to achieve wideband operation while leaving space for USB connectors and other data transmission ports to be integrated on the same circuit board

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Coupling gaps are introduced as intermediary elements between the feeding portion and radiating portion branches. These coupling gaps enable electromagnetic coupling to excite resonant modes for wideband operation while maintaining physical separation that allows integration with other electronic elements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the antenna is disposed on a single no-ground section to achieve wideband operation, then wideband operation is achieved, but the operating band cannot cover the eight-band LTE/WWAN operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperating bandwidthVSAvoidmulti-band coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Different branches of the radiating portion are designed with locally optimized dimensions and configurations. The first, second, third, and fourth branches have different lengths and orientations that resonate at different frequency ranges, enabling the overall antenna to cover all eight LTE/WWAN bands from 704 MHz to 2690 MHz

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The antenna structure is designed as a multi-functional system where a single antenna element performs multiple functions by supporting operation across all eight LTE/WWAN bands. The feeding portion with multiple coupled branches universally covers low-band (704-960 MHz), mid-band (1710-2170 MHz), and high-band (2300-2690 MHz) frequencies

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

The antenna structure effectively covers the eight-band LTE/WWAN operation, integrates with data transmission ports, and has a simple, manufacturable design, satisfying current mobile communication system requirements.

Implementation Method 1

By using the first coupling gap between the first section of the radiating portion having the first open end and the first strip of the feeding portion, a quarter-wavelength resonant mode can be excited at the lower frequency (such as near 750 MHz) and a higher-order resonant mode can be excited at the higher frequencies (such as near 2700 MHz)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResonance: Resonance

Data Source

PatentEP2493015B1Mobile communication device and antenna structure thereof
Publication Date: 2016.06.29 ACER INC
  • EP2493015B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2493015B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2493015B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A mobile communication device (1) having an antenna structure includes a grounding element (10) and an antenna element (11). The grounding element (10) includes a main ground (101) and a protruded ground (102) being connected to an edge of the main ground (101). Antenna element (11) includes a feeding portion (13) and a radiating portion (14). The feeding portion (13) includes a feeding point (131), a first strip (134) and a second strip (135). The first strip (134) and the second strip (135) are both connected to the feeding point (131). The radiating portion (14) includes a first open end (15), a second open end (16) and a shorting point (141) which is connected to the protruded ground (102) by a short-circuiting strip (142). There is a first coupling gap (17) between the first strip (134) and a first section (151) of the radiating portion (14) having the first open end (15). There is a second coupling gap (18) between the second strip (135) and a second section (161) of the radiating portion (14) having the second open end (16) .