Pattern Antenna Miniaturization via 3D Substrate Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional F-shaped pattern antennas face challenges in achieving desired antenna characteristics while being miniaturized, as adjusting the length of the antenna element to λ/4 limits the configuration in smaller areas, and forming meander line shapes restricts the adjustment of short-circuiting portions, making it difficult to maintain impedance matching and achieve desired performance.
Innovation Solution
A pattern antenna design featuring a substrate with a conductor pattern antenna element and a short-circuiting portion on opposite surfaces, allowing for capacitive coupling and adjustable impedance, along with a protruding portion to reduce sensitivity to spurious signals, enabling the antenna to be formed in a smaller area while maintaining desired characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the antenna element length is adjusted to λ/4 to achieve desirable antenna characteristics, then the antenna performance is improved, but the antenna cannot be configured in a smaller area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the antenna design from a two-dimensional planar configuration to a three-dimensional structure by utilizing the thickness direction of the substrate. The antenna element extends in the thickness direction and bends back toward the front surface, creating a folded path that achieves the required electrical length (λ/4) within a compact footprint. This dimensional transition allows the antenna to maintain desirable characteristics while occupying smaller area on the substrate surface.
2Area of stationary object
If meander line shaped portions are formed to reduce antenna area, then the antenna can be configured in smaller area, but the adjustable area for short-circuiting portion becomes narrow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the limitation on adjustable area by moving the short-circuiting portion from the front surface to the back surface of the substrate. This allows the short-circuiting portion to be positioned at the end of the antenna element in the thickness direction, providing sufficient adjustment space that is not constrained by the narrow gaps between meander line portions on the front surface.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of placing the short-circuiting portion on the same surface as the antenna element (front surface), the patent inverts the arrangement by positioning it on the opposite surface (back surface). This inversion provides adequate space for adjusting the short-circuiting portion's position to achieve desired impedance characteristics, overcoming the spatial constraints imposed by the meander line configuration.
3Area of stationary object
If the short-circuiting portion position is restricted by narrow space, then the antenna area is reduced, but impedance matching becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves both compact area and precise impedance matching by utilizing the third dimension (substrate thickness). The antenna element extends vertically and bends back, while the short-circuiting portion is positioned on the back surface, allowing independent optimization of both the antenna's electrical length and the short-circuiting position without the spatial constraints that would otherwise compromise impedance matching precision.
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 design allows for easy adjustment of antenna characteristics and impedance matching, reducing the circuit scale required for impedance adjustment and effectively lowering antenna sensitivity to spurious signals, thus achieving desired performance in a compact form.
Implementation Method 1
adjusting an overlapped area between the conductor pattern of the short-circuiting portion and the conductor pattern of the antenna element portion as viewed in planar view enhances the capacitance (the capacitance component) of the input impedance
Data Source
AI summary
A pattern antenna, with desired antenna characteristics, that is formed in a small area is provided. The pattern antenna includes a substrate, a ground portion formed on a first surface of the substrate, an antenna element portion, a short-circuiting portion, and a connecting portion. The antenna element portion is a conductor pattern including a conductor pattern in which a plurality of bent portions are formed. The conductor pattern is formed on the first surface of the substrate and, and is electrically connected to the grand portion. The short-circuiting portion includes a conductor pattern formed in a second surface, which is a different surface from the first surface. The conductor pattern is formed so as to at least partially overlap with the conductor pattern of the antenna element portion as viewed in planar view. The connecting portion is configured to electrically connect the conductor pattern of the antenna element portion to the conductor pattern of the short-circuiting portion.