Conductive Shielding Bucket for Millimeter Wave Antenna Arrays
Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices face challenges in supporting millimeter and centimeter wave communications due to signal attenuation, distortion, and susceptibility to electromagnetic interference, particularly in compact designs where space for antennas is limited.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a phased antenna array within a conductive shielding bucket, combined with dielectric layers and switchable antenna feeds, helps mitigate interference and maintain antenna efficiency across millimeter and centimeter wave frequencies despite the limited space and electromagnetic interference from the device's components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a phased antenna array is integrated into a compact electronic device, then wireless communication capability is enabled, but antenna efficiency deteriorates due to electromagnetic interference from nearby components
Solution Approach 1:
A conductive shielding bucket is introduced as an intermediary structure between the phased antenna array and interfering components (display module, peripheral conductive sidewall). The bucket acts as a electromagnetic shield that blocks interference paths while allowing the antenna to maintain its compact integration within the device housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna system is extracted and isolated within a dedicated shielding bucket structure, separating it from interfering components. This extraction creates physical and electromagnetic isolation, allowing the antenna to operate efficiently despite close proximity to other device components.
2Area of stationary object
If the antenna array is placed close to the display module to maximize display area, then device compactness is improved, but electromagnetic interference from the display module degrades signal quality
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive shielding bucket serves as a mediator that enables close integration of the antenna with the display module while blocking electromagnetic interference. The bucket's conductive walls create a Faraday cage effect, allowing spatial proximity for compactness while maintaining signal integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The phased antenna array is nested within the conductive shielding bucket, which itself is integrated into the device housing near the display module. This nested configuration allows multiple components to occupy overlapping spatial volumes, maximizing display area while protecting the antenna.
3Reliability
If dielectric layers are added to mitigate interference, then antenna efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive shielding bucket performs multiple functions simultaneously: it shields the antenna from electromagnetic interference, provides a mounting structure for the antenna array, and serves as part of the device housing integration. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding bucket and antenna mounting structure are merged into a single integrated component. The bucket's conductive walls serve both as electromagnetic shielding and as the structural base for mounting the phased antenna array elements, simplifying the overall device structure.
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 effective wireless communications at millimeter and centimeter wave frequencies with improved antenna efficiency and reduced interference, allowing for larger display areas while maintaining robust signal handling capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
The conductive bucket may shield the phased antenna array from interference by the peripheral conductive sidewall and/or the display module
Implementation Method 2
The phased antenna array may transmit radio-frequency signals at frequencies greater than 10 GHz through the display cover layer
Implementation Method 3
dielectric loading effects from the display cover layer
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device may be provided with a sidewall, a display module separated from the sidewall by a gap, a display cover, a conductive bucket mounted to the display cover within the gap, and a phased antenna array mounted to the bucket for conveying millimeter wave signals through the display cover. The sidewall may form part of an antenna for conveying non-millimeter wave signals. The array may include resonating elements on a substrate. The resonating elements may be fed using feed terminals coupled to alternating sides of the resonating elements. Dielectric layers having a dielectric constant lower than that of the display cover may be provided on a surface of the display cover within the bucket. The array may operate with satisfactory efficiency despite the small amount of available space within the device, electromagnetic interference from the sidewall and the display module, and dielectric loading by the display cover.