Perpendicular Diversity Antenna Module Reducing Mutual Coupling

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Solution Overview

Problem

The performance of wireless communications devices with multiple internal antennas is compromised by mutual coupling, leading to trade-offs between device size and performance, resulting in issues like shortened battery life and dropped calls due to wasted power and reduced signal reception.

Innovation Solution

A compact diversity antenna module is designed with two radiating elements disposed on perpendicular sides of a substrate, spatially dispersed to minimize cross-coupling, achieving spatial, pattern, and polarization diversity while maintaining a stringent form factor, allowing for efficient operation in multiple frequency bands.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple internal antennas are used in a wireless device, then diversity performance is improved, but mutual coupling between antennas increases causing wasted power and reduced signal reception

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediversity performanceVSAvoidwasted power
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions antennas on perpendicular sides of a substrate (e.g., one antenna on the top surface, another on the side surface), transitioning from planar to three-dimensional spatial arrangement. This dimensional change increases the effective distance between antennas and reduces mutual coupling, thereby reducing wasted power while maintaining diversity performance.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs asymmetric positioning of antennas relative to the substrate geometry, placing them on different sides with different orientations. This asymmetric arrangement minimizes the overlap of electromagnetic fields between antennas, reducing mutual coupling effects and improving overall system efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Reliability

If multiple internal antennas are used in a wireless device, then diversity performance is improved, but device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediversity performanceVSAvoiddevice size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates multiple antennas within a compact substrate structure, nesting the antenna elements within the existing device form factor. The antennas are positioned on different surfaces and orientations of the same substrate, effectively packing multiple radiating elements into a small volume without significantly increasing overall device size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

By utilizing three-dimensional space through perpendicular positioning on substrate sides, the patent achieves greater antenna separation within a compact footprint. This vertical and lateral stacking approach allows multiple antennas to coexist in a small volume, improving diversity performance without proportionally increasing device volume.

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

3Reliability

If multiple internal antennas are used in a wireless device, then diversity performance is improved, but cross-coupling between antennas increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediversity performanceVSAvoidcross-coupling
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces cross-coupling by positioning antennas on perpendicular sides of the substrate, utilizing three-dimensional spatial separation. This orthogonal arrangement minimizes the overlap of electromagnetic near-fields between antennas, thereby reducing mutual coupling and improving signal quality.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The asymmetric placement of antennas on different sides and orientations of the substrate creates unequal electromagnetic field interactions, reducing the strength of coupling between antenna elements. This asymmetric geometry helps isolate the antennas electrically while maintaining compact physical dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

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 solution enhances diversity performance, reduces correlation between radiation patterns, and increases diversity gain, leading to improved signal reception and transmission efficiency across various frequency bands without compromising device size.

Implementation Method 1

a first radiating element operable with a first transceiver circuit adapted to operate in at least one band; A second radiating element operable with a second transceiver circuit adapted to operate in at least one band

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a key driver of this trade-off is mutual coupling between the antennas, which can result in wasted power when transmitting and a lower received power from incoming signals

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMutual coupling: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2732503B1Diversity antenna module and associated method for a user equipment (UE) device
Publication Date: 2019.06.19 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2732503B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2732503B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~6
  • EP2732503B1 patent drawingFigure 5A~5D

AI summary

A diversity antenna module comprising a first radiating element adapted to operate with a first transceiver circuit operating in at least one band and a second radiating element adapted to operate with a second transceiver circuit operating in at least one band. The first radiating element is disposed along a first side of a substrate and the second radiating element is disposed along a second side of the substrate, wherein the first and second sides are substantially perpendicular to each other, the first and second radiating elements being spatially dispersed from each another by a distance.