Ring-Shaped Booster Antenna for Wearable Terminals
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable communication terminal antennas have limited communication range due to small antenna coil openings and metal components that shield magnetic fields, leading to poor communication characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A ring-shaped antenna device with a power feed coil and a ring-shaped conductor featuring a cavity that enhances electric and magnetic field coupling, allowing for increased magnetic flux radiation and collection, and a communication terminal apparatus that uses this antenna for improved communication characteristics without a large-sized antenna coil.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If an antenna coil is formed only in a portion of the communication terminal apparatus, then the device size is kept small, but the coil opening becomes small and magnetic flux interlinking decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extends the antenna structure from a two-dimensional planar coil to a three-dimensional configuration by adding a ring-shaped conductor that surrounds the coil opening. This dimensional extension creates additional surface area for magnetic flux interlinking without increasing the overall device footprint, effectively resolving the contradiction between small device size and sufficient magnetic flux coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The ring-shaped conductor is positioned to surround the coil opening of the antenna coil, creating a nested configuration where the ring encloses the coil. This nesting arrangement allows the ring-shaped conductor to contribute to magnetic flux interlinking while occupying minimal additional space, maintaining compact device dimensions while enhancing coupling capability.
2Length of moving object
If a linear conductor is wound in the circumferential direction to increase thickness, then the antenna length increases, but the communication terminal apparatus thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing antenna length by winding conductors in the circumferential direction (which would increase thickness), the invention uses a ring-shaped conductor that extends in the radial direction around the coil opening. This dimensional change allows the antenna structure to achieve greater effective length for magnetic flux coupling without compromising the thin profile of the wearable device.
3Strength
If the arm of the ring is made of metal, then structural strength is improved, but the metal shields the magnetic field and lowers antenna characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the magnetic field shielding problem by separating the structural function from the antenna function. The ring-shaped conductor is designed to provide antenna functionality without requiring the entire ring structure to be metallic. By using non-magnetic materials for the ring or making the ring electrically discontinuous, the design eliminates magnetic shielding while maintaining structural integrity through alternative means.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by making only specific portions of the ring-shaped conductor electrically conductive while other portions can be non-conductive or insulating. This allows the conductive segments to generate and interact with magnetic fields for antenna functionality, while non-conductive segments prevent magnetic shielding and allow magnetic flux penetration, thus resolving the contradiction between structural strength and antenna performance.
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 provides enhanced communication characteristics by increasing the range and distance of magnetic flux radiation and collection, enabling easier coupling with communication partner-side antennas and improving communication efficiency in wearable terminals.
Implementation Method 1
The power feed coil generates electric field coupling, magnetic field coupling, and/or electromagnetic field coupling with the cavity
Implementation Method 2
The power feed coil generates electric field coupling, magnetic field coupling, and/or electromagnetic field coupling with the cavity
Implementation Method 3
The power feed coil generates electric field coupling, magnetic field coupling, and/or electromagnetic field coupling with the cavity
Implementation Method 4
a range and a distance in which a magnetic flux is radiated (collected) are increased
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna device includes a power feed coil and a ring-shaped conductor arranged about an axis and a ring-shaped conductor including first and second edge end portions in an axial direction and a cavity inward from the first edge end portion. At least a portion of the cavity overlaps with a coil opening of the power feed coil when seen from the radial direction. The power feed coil causes electric field coupling, magnetic field coupling, and/or electromagnetic field coupling with the cavity. The ring-shaped conductor defines and functions as a booster antenna of the power feed coil. A substantial coil opening defining and functioning as an antenna is larger than that when only the power feed coil is provided, thus facilitating coupling with a communication partner-side antenna coil.