Reconfigurable Antenna with Switched Reactive Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional antennas face challenges in achieving high radiation efficiency while covering wide frequency bands, often requiring larger sizes and increased product complexity, especially in MIMO systems for 4G communication, where they need to support multiple frequency bands and modes with reduced weight, volume, and cost.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a reactive element and a control switch on a printed circuit board, which conducts or disconnects based on frequency, allowing the antenna to operate efficiently across low and high frequency bands without additional trace forms or materials, using a single reactive element such as an inductor or capacitor, and a control switch like a diode or single-pole double-throw switch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the antenna size is increased to cover the 700MHz frequency band, then the low frequency coverage is improved, but the product size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a reconfigurable antenna structure with switching elements that dynamically alter the antenna's electrical characteristics. By controlling the switching elements, the antenna can transform its resonance frequency and impedance to adapt to different frequency bands (including 700MHz), eliminating the need for multiple fixed-size antennas for different frequency ranges.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the electrical parameters of the antenna by introducing reactive elements (inductors or capacitors) and switching elements. These components modify the antenna's resonance frequency, quality factor, and impedance characteristics, enabling the same physical antenna structure to operate efficiently across wide frequency bands from 700MHz to 2.6GHz without increasing its physical dimensions.
2Reliability
If multiple antennas are used for MIMO system, then the transmission performance is improved, but the product size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal antenna structure that can serve multiple functions: it supports both single-antenna and MIMO configurations, covers multiple frequency bands (700MHz, 1.8GHz, 2.6GHz), and provides both omnidirectional and directional radiation patterns. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate antennas for different purposes, reducing overall product size while maintaining MIMO transmission performance.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional materials and design schemes are used, then the manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but the antenna performance reaches natural limits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material structures combining conventional PCB substrates with strategically placed reactive elements (inductors or capacitors) and switching elements. This composite approach maintains compatibility with existing manufacturing processes while achieving superior performance: wide frequency coverage (700MHz-2.6GHz), high radiation efficiency, and low correlation coefficients for MIMO systems, surpassing the limits of conventional homogeneous antenna designs.
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 wide frequency band coverage with improved radiation efficiency, reducing antenna size and production costs, while meeting the requirements for multiple frequency bands and modes, and enhancing digital signal control convenience.
Implementation Method 1
when the reactive element is an inductor, an inductance of the inductor ranges from 0.8-1.2 nanohenry
Implementation Method 2
when the reactive element is a capacitor capacitance, a capacitance of the capacitor ranges from 2.0- 2.4 pf
Implementation Method 3
The control switch is a single-pole double-throw switch or a diode
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Disclosed is an antenna, the antenna includes a metal trace, an antenna feeder, and a power connector set on a printed circuit board (PCB), wherein the metal trance and the antenna feeder are connected at a feed point, the antenna is configured with a reactive element on one surface of the PCB board which is opposite to or the same with the surface where the feed point is located; and when a radio frequency signal of the antenna is at a low frequency, the reactive element is conducted, and when a radio frequency signal of the antenna is at a high frequency, the reactive element is disconnected, or when a radio frequency signal of the antenna is at a low frequency, the reactive element is disconnected, and when a radio frequency signal of the antenna is at a high frequency, a control switch of the reactive element is conducted. The above technical can achieve the wide cover frequency bands and higher radiation efficiency simultaneously.