Modified PIFA Antenna for Circular Polarization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional antennas for GPS and GNSS signals, such as patch and ceramic antennas, have narrow bandwidth and are not easily tunable, and they occupy significant space, while PIFA antennas support linear polarization, not circular polarization, making them inadequate for modern compact electronic devices that require circular polarization and wider bandwidth.

Innovation Solution

A modified planar inverted F antenna (PIFA) structure with a connecting portion, grounding portion, and two extending portions, where the difference in length between the paths of electric currents creates a 90° phase difference, enabling circular polarization of radio frequency signals, allowing for efficient reception and transmission of circularly polarized signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If patch antenna or ceramic antenna is used for circular polarization, then circular polarization performance is improved, but bandwidth becomes narrow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecircular polarization performanceVSAvoidbandwidth

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna is divided into multiple radiating elements arranged in specific geometric patterns, where each element contributes to the overall circular polarization performance while the collective structure provides broader bandwidth through multiple resonant modes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The antenna employs composite structures combining different geometric shapes and materials with complementary polarization characteristics, creating a system that achieves both circular polarization purity and enhanced bandwidth through the synergistic interaction of components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If patch antenna or ceramic antenna is used, then circular polarization is achieved, but area occupied increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecircular polarization capabilityVSAvoidmounting area

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna transitions from planar two-dimensional structures to three-dimensional configurations with vertical elements and stacked arrangements, enabling circular polarization functionality while reducing the footprint area occupied on the device surface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The antenna structure implements nested arrangements where smaller radiating elements are positioned within or around larger elements, allowing multiple polarization functions to be integrated in a compact volume with minimized area occupation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Strength

If ceramic material is used for antenna, then rigidity is improved, but bandwidth becomes narrow and tuning becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproverigidityVSAvoidbandwidth and tunability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna incorporates adjustable and reconfigurable elements that can be dynamically tuned after assembly, such as variable capacitance loads, movable shorts, or programmable feeding networks, enabling bandwidth expansion and frequency adaptation while maintaining the structural rigidity of ceramic substrates

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Productivity

If PIFA antenna is used, then bandwidth is widened, but circular polarization capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovebandwidthVSAvoidcircular polarization capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna merges the broadband PIFA structure with additional parasitic elements and feeding configurations that generate circular polarization, combining the advantages of wide bandwidth from PIFA with the circular polarization capability through integrated multi-element construction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 modified PIFA antenna structure achieves circular polarization, increasing bandwidth and allowing for efficient signal transmission in GPS and GNSS systems while being compact and easily tunable, overcoming the limitations of conventional antennas.

Implementation Method 1

a phase difference between two electric currents which follow two electric current paths of different length renders it practicable for the antenna structure to receive and send a circularly polarized radio frequency signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCircular polarization: Polarisation

Data Source

PatentUS9660346B2Antenna structure

Publication Date: 2017.05.23 GETAC TECH CORP

AI summary

An antenna structure and an electronic device are provided. The antenna structure includes a connecting part, a grounding part, a first extending part and a second extending part. An angle is larger than zero between a first vector from the connecting point to the first open terminal and a second vector from the connecting point to the second open terminal. Also, a difference between the path length of a first path length and the path length of a second path length would be a quarter of the wave length of the radio frequency signal or a positive integer times thereof, so that the antenna is capable of receiving the radio frequency signal with circular polarizing.