Tunable Antenna Array Impedance Matching for Feeder Loss Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current antenna tuning technologies for multiple-antenna systems fail to reduce mismatches between antennas and feeders, leading to strong reflections and losses, especially in portable devices like mobile phones, where size and cost are critical and user interaction affects impedance matrices.

Innovation Solution

A multiple-antenna-port and multiple-radio-port antenna tuning apparatus using tunable passive antennas with adjustable impedance devices, controlled by a tuning instruction generated automatically, to align the impedance matrix seen by the radio device with a specified matrix, reducing reflections and losses in feeders.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If conventional antenna tuning technologies are used in multiple-antenna systems, then the system can operate with fixed impedance configurations, but strong reflections and losses occur due to impedance mismatches between antennas and feeders

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeeder lossesVSAvoidimpedance adaptation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the antenna impedance characteristics adjustable through control devices. Each antenna is equipped with control devices that can modify its electrical characteristics (such as capacitance or inductance) to adapt to different operating conditions, thereby reducing impedance mismatches and feeder losses while maintaining adaptability across multiple antennas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements parameter changes by varying the electrical parameters of the antennas through control devices. By changing parameters such as capacitance, inductance, or resonant frequency of individual antennas based on detected impedance conditions, the system optimizes the match between antennas and feeders, minimizing reflections and energy losses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If multiple antennas are used in portable devices to improve communication performance, then radio communication capability is enhanced, but device size and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradio communication performanceVSAvoidantenna system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functions of multiple antennas and their control devices into an integrated antenna system. The control devices are combined with the antenna structures themselves, and the system operates multiple antennas in coordinated fashion with unified control, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining enhanced radio communication performance through multiple-antenna diversity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Stability of the object's composition

If user interaction effects are compensated for in portable devices, then antenna performance stability improves, but additional control mechanisms are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpedance stabilityVSAvoidcontrol mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by detecting the actual impedance presented by each antenna and using this information to control the antenna characteristics. The control devices adjust the antenna parameters based on the detected impedance conditions, creating a closed-loop system that compensates for user interaction effects and maintains stable antenna performance without requiring complex external control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 solution effectively compensates for user interaction and reduces feeder losses by aligning the impedance matrix with a desired configuration, improving radio communication performance in portable devices with multiple antennas.

Implementation Method 1

one or more adjustable impedance devices, each of the adjustable impedance devices having a reactance at said frequency in said given frequency band, the reactance of any one of the adjustable impedance devices being adjustable and having an influence on the impedance matrix presented by the radio ports

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpedance matching: Electrical Impedance Tomography

Data Source

PatentEP3120457B1Radio communication using tunable antennas and an antenna tuning apparatus
Publication Date: 2023.09.06 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3120457B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3120457B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3120457B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Radio communication using tunable antennas and an antenna tuning apparatus The invention relates to a method for radio communication using one or more tunable antennas and an antenna tuning apparatus, and to an apparatus for radio communication using one or more tunable antennas and an antenna tuning apparatus. An apparatus for radio communication of the invention comprises: 4 antennas (11) (12) (13) (14), the 4 antennas forming an antenna array (1), each of the antennas being a tunable passive antenna; a radio device (5); an antenna tuning apparatus (3) having 4 antenna ports (311) (321) (331) (341), each of the antenna ports being coupled to one of the antennas through a feeder (21) (22) (23) (24), the antenna tuning apparatus having 4 radio ports (312) (322) (332) (342), each of the radio ports being coupled to the radio device (5) through an interconnection (41) (42) (43) (44); and a tuning control unit (7), the tuning control unit receiving a tuning instruction generated automatically within the apparatus for radio communication, the tuning control unit delivering a plurality of tuning control signals to the antenna tuning apparatus and to the tunable passive antennas.