Shared-Aperture Slot Antenna Layout for Compact Multi-Band Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current IoT antennas face challenges in miniaturization for 5G applications, requiring multiple sub-antenna units that lead to strong surface waves and spatial inductive coupling, necessitating decoupling technologies that occupy additional space, while also needing to operate across both sub-6-GHz and mm-wave bands efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A shared-aperture slot-based antenna system with a substrate, a single straight microstrip line, a microstrip power divider, and three concentric square slots etched on the ground plane, allowing for octaband operation from 1.05-6.151 GHz and 27.4-28.4 GHz, reducing coupling and optimizing space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple sub-antenna units are integrated into limited space, then data throughput and connectivity are improved, but strong surface waves and spatial inductive coupling occur between sub-antennas, deteriorating antenna performance
Solution Approach 1:
A decoupling network is introduced as an intermediary component between multiple sub-antenna units to reduce spatial inductive coupling and surface waves. The decoupling network acts as a mediator that allows multiple antennas to coexist in limited space while maintaining individual antenna performance, thus enabling high data throughput without sacrificing reliability.
2Reliability
If decoupling circuits and decoupling networks are used to reduce coupling between antennas, then coupling is effectively reduced, but additional space is required
Solution Approach 1:
The decoupling network is merged with the antenna feed structure, integrating the decoupling function into the existing antenna architecture. This combination allows coupling reduction to be achieved without adding separate decoupling components that would occupy additional space, thus maintaining reliability while minimizing area increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna feed structure is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the feeding mechanism for the antenna elements and as the decoupling network. This multi-functionality allows the same structure to provide both signal distribution and coupling reduction, eliminating the need for separate decoupling components and reducing overall space occupation.
3Volume of moving object
If antenna size is reduced for miniaturized IoT devices, then device compactness is improved, but it becomes challenging to integrate multiple MIMO sub-antenna units with adequate spacing
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple antenna elements are arranged in a nested configuration where smaller antenna elements are positioned within or around larger elements. This nesting approach allows multiple MIMO sub-antenna units to be integrated into a compact volume while maintaining adequate electrical spacing through strategic positioning, thus achieving miniaturization without sacrificing multi-band operation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna elements are arranged in three-dimensional space rather than being confined to a single plane. By utilizing vertical and diagonal dimensions, multiple sub-antenna units can be integrated into a compact footprint while maintaining adequate spacing to prevent coupling, thus achieving miniaturization while preserving adaptability for multi-band operation.
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 antenna system effectively covers a wide range of frequency bands with reduced coupling and compact size, achieving efficient operation across sub-6-GHz and mm-wave bands, making it suitable for next-generation 5G IoT devices.
Implementation Method 1
a single straight microstrip line on the top side of the substrate... An input end of the single straight microstrip line is adjacent and vertical to a first edge of the substrate
Implementation Method 2
Three concentric square slots are etched on the ground plane
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna system and a method for fabricating an antenna system are disclosed. The antenna system includes a substrate having a top side and a bottom side, a single straight microstrip line on the top side of the substrate, a microstrip power divider (PD) on the top side of the substrate, and a ground plane on the bottom side. An input end of the single straight microstrip line is adjacent and vertical to a first edge of the substrate, and an output end of the single straight microstrip line is open. An input end of the microstrip PD is adjacent and vertical to a second edge of the substrate, and eight output ends of the microstrip PD are open. The first edge is parallel to the second edge. Further, three concentric square slots are etched on the ground plane.