Tunable Inverted-F Antenna with Adjustable Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inverted-F antennas require new printed circuit boards (PCBs) to be fabricated for impedance and frequency adjustments, limiting their tunability and increasing costs for security systems that need to operate on different frequency bands.
Innovation Solution
A tunable inverted-F antenna design with impedance and frequency adjustment mechanisms using coupling members and conductive contacts on a single PCB, allowing for adjustments without re-fabricating the PCB, enabling configuration for various impedance and frequency transmissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional inverted-F antenna design is used, then the antenna structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the antenna cannot be tuned for different frequency bands without fabricating new PCBs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces adjustable coupling members that can be positioned at different locations along the radiating element, transforming the static antenna structure into a dynamic one. By moving the coupling member to different positions, the electrical characteristics and resonant frequency of the antenna can be adjusted without changing the physical PCB structure, thus achieving multi-frequency band adaptability while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the electrical parameters of the antenna by varying the position of the coupling member along the radiating element. This positional parameter change directly affects the impedance and resonant frequency of the antenna, enabling it to operate at different frequency bands. The physical structure remains unchanged, but the electrical characteristics are tuned through parameter adjustment
2Reliability
If impedance and frequency adjustments are made by fabricating new PCBs, then the antenna performance can be optimized for specific applications, but the manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the antenna structure into a fixed radiating element and a movable coupling member. This segmentation allows the coupling member to be independently positioned at different locations to optimize antenna performance for specific applications, while the main PCB structure remains simple and unchanged. The optimization is achieved through component positioning rather than redesigning the entire PCB
3Ease of manufacture
If a single PCB design is used for all frequency regions, then manufacturing costs are reduced, but the antenna cannot be tuned for different frequency bands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes a single PCB design serve multiple frequency bands by introducing an adjustable coupling member. This universal design allows the same PCB to be configured for different frequency regions simply by repositioning the coupling member, eliminating the need for multiple frequency-specific PCB designs. The single structure achieves multi-functionality across different frequency bands
Data Source
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AI summary
A planar antenna includes a ground plane on a substrate, a radiating element coupled to the ground plane on the substrate, and a feed line. An impedance tap point is defined by a connection between the feed line and the radiating element and the length of the radiating element defines the resonant frequency of the antenna. A first portion of the radiating element includes an impedance adjustment mechanism for defining the impedance tap point of the antenna and consequently the impedance of the antenna. A second portion of the radiating element includes a frequency adjustment section which adjusts the length of said radiating element and consequently the resonant frequency of the antenna.