Tunable Antenna With Magnetic Adaption Element

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communication devices face challenges in maintaining optimal antenna performance across different frequency bands and environmental conditions due to the physical limitations of traditional antennas, leading to reduced performance and increased production costs from requiring multiple device models for various regions.

Innovation Solution

A tunable antenna system with an adjustable adaption element made of electric or magnetic susceptible material, moved by an actuator to optimize antenna characteristics such as power gain, resonant frequency, and radiation pattern, allowing dynamic adjustment to match changing conditions without physically altering the device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the antenna is made physically larger to cover different frequency bandwidths, then the frequency coverage is improved, but the device size becomes too big for a normally sized mobile device

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency coverageVSAvoidantenna size
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the antenna electrically tunable through a varactor diode, allowing the resonant frequency to be dynamically adjusted via voltage control. This enables a compact physical antenna structure to adapt its electrical characteristics to cover multiple frequency bands, resolving the contradiction between frequency coverage and antenna size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the electrical parameters of the antenna by introducing a varactor diode whose capacitance varies with applied voltage. This parameter change allows the antenna's resonant frequency to be tuned across different frequency bands without physically altering the antenna structure, thereby maintaining compact size while achieving broad frequency coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If different antenna set ups and types are used within mobile devices for different regions, then the antenna performance in specific frequency bands is improved, but the production costs, logistics costs, and approval procedures increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantenna performanceVSAvoidmodel variety
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements universality by designing a single antenna structure with multi-functional capability through electronic tuning. The varactor-diode-integrated antenna can operate across multiple frequency bands and adapt to different regional requirements, eliminating the need for multiple region-specific antenna models and reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The dynamic tuning capability allows one antenna design to serve multiple regional markets by adjusting its resonant frequency electronically. This eliminates the need for maintaining multiple static antenna configurations for different regions, thereby reducing model variety and associated production and logistics complexity while ensuring reliable performance everywhere.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the antenna characteristics are adjusted to match different frequency bands, then the antenna performance is improved, but the production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantenna performanceVSAvoidproduction costs
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the antenna structure with a varactor diode in a single integrated design. This combination allows frequency tuning functionality to be built into the antenna itself during manufacturing, eliminating the need for separate tuning components and reducing production complexity and costs while maintaining improved antenna performance across frequency bands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

By incorporating a voltage-controlled varactor diode directly into the antenna structure, the patent enables parameter changes (capacitance adjustment) to be achieved through simple electrical control rather than physical manufacturing variations. This approach maintains consistent production processes while enabling flexible frequency adaptation, thereby improving performance without increasing production costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Improves antenna performance and user experience by enhancing quality of service, data throughput, and battery life, while reducing the need for multiple device models and lowering network infrastructure costs through efficient energy use.

Implementation Method 1

a change of a position of an adaption element having an electric and/or magnetic susceptible material relative to an antenna or antenna element can positively effect the antenna performance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3136503B1Tuneable antenna for a wireless communication device
Publication Date: 2018.11.28 VODAFONE GMBH
  • EP3136503B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3136503B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3136503B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a tuneable antenna (1; 201; 301; 401; 701) for a wireless communication device comprising at least one antenna element (11, 12; 211, 212; 311, 312; 411, 412; 611; 711; 712; 811) and at least one adaption element (20; 220, 221; 320; 420; 520; 620; 720; 820), wherein said adaption element (20; 220, 221; 320; 420; 520; 620; 720; 820) has an electric and/or magnetic susceptible material and is moveable relative to said antenna element (11, 12; 211, 212; 311, 312; 411, 412; 611; 711; 712; 811), and wherein the position of said adaption element (20; 220, 221; 320; 420; 520; 620; 720; 820) relative to said antenna element (11, 12; 211, 212; 311, 312; 411, 412; 611; 711; 712; 811) is adjustable by at least one actuator (30; 230, 231; 330; 430; 530; 630; 730; 830) as a function of at least one of the antenna characteristics.