Compact Multiband Antenna Design Using Wound Element and Harmonic Leaves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Designing compact antenna arrangements that can operate across multiple frequency bands, such as VHF to S or C bands, while maintaining compatibility with WiFi, Bluetooth, and GNSS frequency bands, is challenging due to the need for a small form factor and efficient power budget, as traditional solutions are either too large or costly in terms of materials and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
The antenna arrangement includes a conductive element tuned to a lower frequency with additional elements positioned and oriented to optimize the reception of selected harmonics, allowing for frequency shifts and impedance matching, enabling operation across multiple frequency bands with a compact form factor, and can be manufactured using metallization on non-conductive substrates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional omnidirectional monopole antennas are used for VHF bands, then the antenna can achieve sufficient bandwidth and range, but the antenna length becomes too large (25 cm to 2.5 m) to fit in compact devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent winds the monopole antenna element into a compact 3D form factor (helicoid or spiral shape) while maintaining the electrical length required for VHF operation. This nesting approach allows the antenna to fit within compact devices while preserving the necessary bandwidth and range characteristics of traditional monopole antennas
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a linear 1D antenna structure to a 3D wound configuration, utilizing vertical and radial dimensions to compact the antenna while maintaining its electrical performance. The wound structure allows the antenna to achieve the required electrical length without occupying excessive linear space
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate antennas are added to support different frequency bands (VHF, WiFi, Bluetooth, GNSS), then frequency compatibility is achieved, but the form factor, power budget, and material cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a single antenna structure capable of operating across multiple frequency bands including VHF, UHF, and microwave bands (WiFi, Bluetooth, GNSS). The antenna achieves multi-functionality through careful design of the wound element geometry and the use of additional conductive elements that enable operation at fundamental and harmonic frequencies, eliminating the need for multiple separate antennas
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple antenna functions into a single integrated structure. The wound monopole element serves as a universal radiator that can be tuned to operate at multiple frequency bands by adjusting its geometry and adding strategic conductive elements, merging what would traditionally require separate antennas into one compact unit
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional conductive elements are added to optimize harmonic reception, then multi-frequency operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds conductive elements at specific strategic locations along the wound antenna structure to optimize performance at particular frequency bands. Rather than uniformly complicating the entire structure, additional elements are placed only where needed to enhance harmonic reception and impedance matching at specific frequencies, maintaining simplicity elsewhere
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 solution allows for a compact, multi-frequency antenna that can operate in various bands, including ISM, WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G, LTE, and 5G, with increased bandwidth resources, ease of design and manufacturing, and low cost, while maintaining efficient power usage.
Implementation Method 1
a first conductive element configured to radiate above a defined frequency of electromagnetic radiation
Implementation Method 2
one or more additional conductive elements located at or near one or more positions defined as a function of positions of nodes of current of electromagnetic radiation of selected harmonics of the electromagnetic radiation
Data Source
AI summary
The invention discloses an antenna arrangement and a method of designing the same, the antenna arrangement being tuned to radiate in a plurality of bands. The antenna arrangement comprises a first conductive element which has a compact linear 2D or 3D form factor. It also comprises leaves attached to the first conductive element, the position, dimension, form factor and orientation of which are defined based on their impact on frequency shifts of the fundamental and harmonic modes, so that the antenna arrangement radiates at a plurality of predefined frequencies. The design method uses maps of hot areas where the sensitivity to the parameters defined for the leaves is maximal. Advantageously, the design method is performed in a manner which uses an orthogonality of the impacts of the parameters of the leaves vis-à-vis the different radiating modes. The antenna arrangement is compact and well adapted to applications to the IoT and consumer communication devices.