Ring-Shaped Antenna for Wireless Earphone NFMI
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional directional solenoid antennas in wireless earphones have a narrow directional angle and decreased communication distance due to physical variations in users, leading to lowered sound quality.
Innovation Solution
A ring-shaped antenna is designed for ear modules, utilizing a base sheet with terminal sheets and radiation patterns wound in a vertical direction, facilitating Near-field magnetic induction communication to enhance communication distance and sound quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a directional solenoid antenna is used in wireless earphones, then the antenna can be mounted in a compact space, but the directional angle becomes narrow and communication distance decreases rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional linear solenoid antenna to a three-dimensional ring-shaped antenna structure. The ring shape provides spatial extension in multiple dimensions, creating a larger effective aperture and omnidirectional radiation pattern. This dimensional change allows the antenna to maintain compact mounting while achieving extended communication distance through enhanced electromagnetic field distribution in three-dimensional space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite construction by winding conductive wire around a magnetic core material (such as ferrite or permeable polymer). This composite structure combines the electromagnetic induction properties of the conductive wire with the magnetic flux concentration properties of the magnetic core, thereby enhancing the antenna's radiation efficiency and extending communication distance within the constrained volume of the earphone housing.
2Device complexity
If a directional solenoid antenna is used, then the antenna structure remains simple, but sound quality deteriorates due to decreased communication distance
Solution Approach 1:
The ring-shaped antenna introduces a three-dimensional configuration that naturally provides omnidirectional radiation coverage without requiring complex multi-element arrays or switching mechanisms. This geometric transformation alone achieves improved sound quality by ensuring stable communication regardless of the relative positions of the ear modules, thereby maintaining high reliability while preserving structural simplicity.
3Ease of operation
If the ear modules are positioned at different orientations on the user's head, then user comfort is improved, but communication stability deteriorates with directional antenna
Solution Approach 1:
The ring-shaped antenna possesses inherent rotational symmetry rather than directional asymmetry. This symmetric geometry ensures that the antenna radiates electromagnetic waves uniformly in all directions within the plane of the ring, making the communication performance independent of the orientation of the ear module on the user's head. Consequently, users can wear the ear modules in various orientations for comfort without compromising communication stability.
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 ring-shaped antenna increases communication distance and sound quality by maximizing the Quality Factor and antenna performance, minimizing electromagnetic wave influence on the human body, and maintaining performance regardless of user positioning or ear shape.
Implementation Method 1
communicate with an antenna mounted to the other ear module through Near-field magnetic induction communication (NFMI)
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are: a ring-shaped antenna which is formed in the form of a ring mounted between the housing of an ear module and the outer circumference of a coin-shaped battery and communicates with an antenna, mounted on another ear module, via NFMI; and a wireless earphone comprising the ring-shaped antenna. The disclosed ring-shaped antenna comprises: a first terminal sheet and a second terminal sheet, each extending from one side of a base sheet and having a terminal formed thereon; a plurality of front radiation patterns disposed apart from one another on the front surface of the base sheet; and a plurality of rear radiation patterns disposed apart from one another on the rear surface of the base sheet, wherein the plurality of front radiation patterns and the plurality of rear radiation patterns are connected through via-holes and thereby form an antenna pattern wound in the vertical direction of the base sheet.