Multi-Range Vehicle Antenna With Segmented Ground Plane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-range antennas for mobile devices, particularly in vehicles, face challenges with insufficient decoupling of antenna elements, leading to increased mass and production costs, limiting their use in compact and lightweight applications.
Innovation Solution
A copper-clad printed circuit board with partially interrupted grounding laminations and symmetrical MIMO mobile radio slot antenna structures, coupled with microstrip lines and slot radiators, enables efficient decoupling and circular polarization, allowing for a compact, lightweight, and cost-effective multi-range antenna design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If patch antennas are used with sufficient decoupling, then antenna performance is improved, but the distance between patch and ground plane must be large, resulting in increased mass
Solution Approach 1:
The ground plane is segmented by introducing a slot that partially interrupts the grounding lamination, creating first and second ground lamination surfaces. This segmentation enables sufficient decoupling between antenna elements without requiring increased distance between patch and ground plane, thus maintaining low mass while achieving good decoupling performance
Solution Approach 2:
The slot runs along an axis of symmetry and partially interrupts the grounding lamination in a specific dimension, creating spatial separation between ground surfaces. This dimensional approach to decoupling allows compact design with reduced mass while maintaining antenna performance
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple antenna elements are integrated on a printed circuit board, then multi-functionality is improved, but production costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The printed circuit board integrates multiple antenna types (GPS, satellite radio, GSM, terrestrial radio, WLAN) on a single substrate with unified grounding and feeding structures. The slot and ground lamination serve multiple functions: decoupling for patch antennas, radiation for slot antennas, and impedance matching, reducing overall device complexity while achieving multi-functionality
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple antenna elements and their supporting structures are merged into a single integrated printed circuit board design. The grounding lamination with slot serves as a common structure for multiple antenna types, and microstrip lines provide unified feeding, simplifying production and reducing complexity
3Reliability
If a large-area ground plane is used for patch antennas, then decoupling is improved, but the base area occupied by the antenna increases
Solution Approach 1:
The large-area ground plane is segmented by the slot into first and second ground lamination surfaces that run along the axis of symmetry. This segmentation provides sufficient decoupling area for MIMO slot antennas while maintaining a compact overall base area, as the slot creates effective separation without requiring a uniformly large ground plane
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 achieves excellent antenna parameters with improved decoupling and polarization, resulting in a compact, low-mass, and cost-effective multi-range antenna suitable for glass-adhesive applications in vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
The electric field between the pad structure and the monopole radiator structure is orthogonally polarized
Implementation Method 2
A slot radiator for navigation services is formed on the second ground lamination surface, the slot radiator having a first section which is parallel to the slot and a second section which is perpendicular to the slot. The first section is selected to be shorter than the second section. The shorter section is coupled to the slot to obtain circular polarization.
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of microstrip lines and further antenna structures are formed on the second copper-clad circuit board side, which are capacitively and/or inductively coupled to the structures on the first circuit board side
Implementation Method 4
a plurality of microstrip lines and further antenna structures are formed on the second copper-clad circuit board side, which are capacitively and/or inductively coupled to the structures on the first circuit board side
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a multi-range antenna for a receiving and/or transmitting device for mobile use, in particular in vehicles, consisting of a copper-clad printed circuit board (1) on both sides, wherein copper-clad areas on the sides of the printed circuit board represent antenna radiator structures for mobile communications, WLAN and/or navigation services, and slot radiator and monopole structures are formed for this purpose, characterized in that a ground plane is provided over a large area on the first copper-clad side of the printed circuit board (2), wherein the ground plane is partially interrupted along an axis of symmetry by a straight slot (3), thereby creating a first (4) and a second (5) ground plane, wherein within the first (4) and second (5) ground plane two MIMO mobile communications slot radiator structures (40;50) are formed, furthermore several microstrip lines and further antenna structures are formed on the second copper-clad printed circuit board side (9), which are capacitively and/or inductively coupled to the structures on the first printed circuit board side (2) and in addition antenna connections are formed.;