Shared Dielectric Resonator Antennas for Full-Sphere Device Coverage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices face challenges in providing efficient wireless communications at millimeter and centimeter wave frequencies due to signal attenuation and distortion, as well as the difficulty in incorporating bulky antennas and handling conductive components.
Innovation Solution
The electronic device is equipped with a housing that includes peripheral conductive housing structures and a rear wall, featuring front- and rear-facing phased antenna arrays that utilize dielectric resonator antennas. These antennas share a dielectric resonating element, which is fed by separate feed probes to radiate signals through the display and rear wall, respectively, while minimizing space occupation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If traditional antennas are used for millimeter and centimeter wave communications, then wireless communication capability is achieved, but the antenna size becomes bulky and occupies excessive device volume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines front-facing and rear-facing antenna functions into a single shared dielectric resonating element. The resonating element is positioned to radiate signals through both the display (front) and rear wall (back) of the device, allowing one physical component to fulfill dual directional communication roles, thereby reducing overall antenna volume while maintaining reliable wireless communication capability
Solution Approach 2:
The dielectric resonating element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both a front-facing antenna and a rear-facing antenna, enabling the single component to provide wireless communication coverage in multiple directions (front and rear hemispheres) across millimeter and centimeter wave frequency bands, thus eliminating the need for separate dedicated antennas for each direction
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate antennas are provided for front and rear coverage, then full sphere wireless coverage is achieved, but the device volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges front-facing and rear-facing antenna systems into a single integrated dielectric resonating element structure. The resonating element is strategically positioned and dimensioned to radiate electromagnetic signals effectively through both the display assembly (providing front hemisphere coverage) and the rear wall (providing rear hemisphere coverage), achieving full sphere wireless coverage with minimal device volume occupation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the third dimension (depth/thickness of the device) by positioning the dielectric resonating element to extend between the display and rear wall, allowing it to radiate signals in opposite directions simultaneously. This spatial arrangement enables dual-directional coverage (front and rear) from a single component located within the device thickness, achieving omnidirectional coverage without increasing lateral footprint
3Volume of moving object
If dielectric resonator antennas are used to reduce volume, then antenna size is minimized, but signal attenuation and distortion at millimeter and centimeter wave frequencies increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the dielectric resonating element by adjusting its physical parameters including dimensions (length, width, thickness), dielectric constant of the material, and positioning within the device. These parameter optimizations are specifically tuned for millimeter and centimeter wave frequency ranges to maximize signal radiation efficiency, minimize attenuation and distortion, while maintaining compact volume. The resonating element's geometry and material properties are carefully selected to resonate at the target frequencies with minimal loss
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
This configuration enables the device to provide comprehensive wireless coverage across a full sphere while maintaining a minimal volume, effectively addressing the challenges of signal propagation and antenna integration at millimeter and centimeter wave frequencies.
Implementation Method 1
The front-facing and rear-facing dielectric resonator antennas may share a dielectric resonating element. The dielectric resonating element may include a dielectric column disposed within an opening in a printed circuit board.
Implementation Method 2
The dielectric resonating element may be fed using at least a first feed probe for the front-facing dielectric resonator antenna and a second feed probe for the rear-facing dielectric resonator antenna.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device may have a first phased antenna array that radiates through a display and a second phased antenna array that radiates through a rear wall. The first array may include a front-facing dielectric resonator antenna and the second array may include a rear-facing dielectric resonator antenna. The front and rear-facing antennas may share a dielectric resonating element. Feed probe(s) may excite a first volume of the dielectric resonating element to radiate through the display and may excite a second volume of the dielectric resonating element to radiate through the rear wall. The dielectric resonating element may have a geometry that helps to isolate the front-facing dielectric resonator antenna from the rear-facing dielectric resonator antenna. The first and second arrays may collectively cover an entire sphere around the device while occupying a minimal amount of volume within the device.