Multi-band Antenna Segmentation for Compact Wireless Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a challenge in designing compact wireless electronic devices that can efficiently cover multiple communications bands while minimizing interference between antennas and other components, while also ensuring satisfactory performance across a range of operating frequencies.
Innovation Solution
The electronic device incorporates a housing with peripheral conductive housing structures and a conductive support plate, featuring multiple antennas at different ends, including open slot antennas, inverted-F antennas, and additional antennas that radiate through a display cover layer to cover various frequency bands, including cellular ultra-high, WLAN, and UWB bands, using a combination of slots and segments to optimize antenna placement and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple antennas are incorporated to cover different frequency bands, then the coverage of communications bands is improved, but antenna interference and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The peripheral conductive housing structure is segmented into multiple conductive segments (first conductive segment, second conductive segment, third conductive segment, fourth conductive segment) separated by slots. Each segment functions as an independent antenna element for different frequency bands, allowing multiple antennas to coexist with minimal interference while maintaining compact form factor.
2Volume of moving object
If antennas are made compact to satisfy small form factor requirements, then device size is reduced, but antenna performance and efficiency bandwidth may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Each conductive segment serves multiple functions: it forms part of the housing structure providing mechanical support, acts as a radiating element for specific frequency bands, and contributes to the overall antenna system's multi-band coverage capability. This multi-functionality allows compact design without sacrificing performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna elements are arranged along the peripheral housing structure, utilizing the device's outer boundary for antenna placement. This dimensional arrangement allows multiple antennas to be positioned in a compact space by distributing them along the perimeter rather than requiring internal volume.
3Volume of moving object
If antennas are placed close together to maintain compact form factor, then device size is reduced, but interference between antennas increases
Solution Approach 1:
Slots are introduced between adjacent conductive segments to electrically isolate them from each other. These slots extract or remove the harmful electromagnetic coupling between closely spaced antenna elements, allowing compact placement while minimizing interference. The slots act as electromagnetic barriers between adjacent antenna segments.
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 coverage of multiple frequency bands with minimal space usage, enhancing wireless communication performance and data throughput while maintaining a compact form factor.
Implementation Method 1
The first and second open slot antennas may be directly fed by respective antenna feeds and may radiate in a cellular ultra-high band
Implementation Method 2
first and second inverted-F antenna formed from the first segment and a second inverted-F antenna formed from the second segment
Implementation Method 3
The fourth segment may have a first antenna feed that conveys antenna currents below 2700 MHz using the fourth segment
Implementation Method 4
The antennas at the upper end that radiate in the UWB frequency bands may convey radio-frequency signals through a display cover layer of the device
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device may be provided with wireless circuitry and a housing with upper and lower ends. The lower end may include first and second open slot antennas that are directly fed by respective feeds and that radiate in a cellular ultra-high band. The lower end may also include first and second inverted-F antennas. The upper end may include third and fourth inverted-F antennas. The first inverted-F antenna may have a first feed that conveys currents below 2700 MHz and a second feed that conveys antenna currents in the cellular ultra-high band, a wireless local area network band, and/or ultra-wideband frequency bands. If desired, the upper end may include a third open slot antenna that is directly fed by a corresponding antenna feed and that radiates in the cellular ultra-high band and/or in the ultra-wideband frequency bands.