Abstract
An antenna assembly for a mobile communication device includes two antennas. The two antennas are disposed in a cavity defined in a side frame member of the mobile communication device. The two antennas are disposed adjacent with a gap in between. An antenna feed point is disposed in connection with each antenna. One antenna element of each antenna is disposed on a surface of side frame member surrounding the cavity.
Claims
1-14. (canceled)
15. An antenna assembly for a mobile communication device, the mobile communication device having a frame with a side frame member, the side frame member defining a cavity, the antenna assembly comprising: a first antenna comprising a first antenna element, a first end, a second end, and a first antenna feed point disposed between the first end and the second end; and a second antenna comprising a third antenna element, a third end, a fourth end, and a second antenna feed point disposed between the third end and the fourth end, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are disposed within the cavity defined by the side frame member, the first antenna element and the third antenna element are disposed on a surface surrounding the cavity, and the second end is disposed adjacent to the third end with a gap separating the second end from the third end.
16. The antenna assembly according to claim 15, wherein the side frame member of the frame of the mobile communication device comprises one or more of a left side member, a right side member, a top side member, or a bottom side member of the frame.
17. The antenna assembly according to claim 15, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are disposed lengthwise within the cavity defined by the side frame member.
18. The antenna assembly according to claim 15, wherein the first antenna comprises a second antenna element extending away from the first antenna element and into the cavity.
19. The antenna assembly according to claim 18, further comprising: a first edge member of the first antenna element that is configured to be connected to a third edge member of the second antenna element.
20. The antenna assembly according to claim 19, further comprising: a second edge member of the first antenna element of the first antenna that is configured to be connected to the surface of the side frame member surrounding the cavity.
21. The antenna assembly according to claim 15, wherein the second antenna comprises a fourth antenna element extending away from the third antenna element and into the cavity (26).
22. The antenna assembly according to claim 21, further comprising: a third edge member of the third antenna element that is configured to be connected to a fourth edge member of the fourth antenna element.
23. The antenna assembly according to claim 18, wherein the second antenna element is aligned parallel to the side frame member and separated from the surface of the side frame member.
24. The antenna assembly according to claim 15, wherein the surface comprises an inner surface of the side frame member or an outer surface of the side frame member.
25. The antenna assembly according to claim 15, wherein a shape of the cavity is one of an oval shape or an oblong shape, and a length of the cavity has a dimension that is greater than a width of the cavity.
26. The antenna assembly according to claim 15, wherein a shape of the first antenna and a shape of the second antenna is one of an L-shape, a T-shape, a Z-shape, a step shape, or an S-shape.
27. The antenna assembly according to claim 15, wherein the gap between the first antenna and the second antenna defines a T-shaped slot.
28. The antenna assembly according to claim 15, wherein the first antenna feed point is disposed adjacent to the second antenna feed point.
29. The antenna assembly according to claim 15, wherein the first antenna feed point and the second antenna feed point are mirrored to each other.
30. The antenna assembly according to claim 15, wherein a size or dimension of the gap is in a range of 5 millimeters to and including 7 millimeters.
31. The antenna assembly according to claim 15, wherein a length of the cavity is less than a half of a wavelength at an operating frequency of the antenna assembly.
32. The antenna assembly according to claim 15, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are configured as MIMO antennas operating at the same frequency band.
33. The antenna assembly according to claim 15, wherein there is no grounding connection or an LC resonator network disposed between the first antenna and the second antenna.
34. The antenna assembly according to claim 15, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are self-decoupled antennas.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] In the following detailed portion, the embodiments will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective schematic view of exemplary antenna assembly incorporating aspects of the embodiments.
[0028] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional schematic view of a side frame member of a mobile communication device with an antenna assembly incorporating aspects of the embodiments.
[0029] FIG. 3 illustrates a sectional view of an exemplary antenna assembly incorporating aspects of the embodiments.
[0030] FIG. 4 illustrates a sectional schematic view of an exemplary antenna assembly incorporating aspects of the embodiments.
[0031] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective schematic view of an exemplary antenna assembly incorporating aspects of the embodiments.
[0032] FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective schematic view of an exemplary antenna assembly incorporating aspects of the embodiments.
[0033] FIG. 7 illustrates a sectional view of a frame member of a mobile communication device including an exemplary antenna assembly incorporating aspects of the embodiments.
[0034] FIG. 8 illustrates exemplary loop surface currents which form inductances in a cavity antenna of an antenna assembly incorporating aspects of the embodiments.
[0035] FIG. 9 illustrates the capacitance behavior in a cavity antenna of an antenna assembly incorporating aspects of the embodiments.
[0036] FIG. 10 is a graph illustrating results of S-parameter efficiency of an antenna assembly incorporating aspects of the embodiments.
[0037] FIG. 11 is a graph illustrating the efficiencies of two self-decoupled antenna assemblies incorporating aspects of the embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0038] Referring to FIG. 1 there can be seen a perspective view of a portion of an antenna assembly 10 implemented in exemplary apparatus such as a mobile communication device 20. The aspects of the embodiments are directed to an antenna assembly, such as a multi MIMO antenna assembly, for a user equipment 20 that has a conductive or metal frame 22. The MIMO antenna assembly can include a 4×4 MIMO antenna or an 8×8 MIMO antenna, for example. The user equipment 20 in this example includes a mobile communication device, such as a smartphone, for example. In alternate embodiments, the mobile communication device 20 can include any suitable communication device, other than including a smartphone. Despite being disposed in the metal frame 22 of the mobile communication device 20, the antenna assembly 10 of the embodiments provides broadband and efficient performance with good isolation between the antennas and does not require any grounding between the antennas. Mutual coupling between coupled antennas is reduced.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile communication device 20 has a frame 22 with at least one side member 14, also referred to herein as a side frame member. While only one side frame member 14 will be referred to herein, the aspects of the embodiments are not limited thereto. As will generally be understood, a typical frame 22 of a mobile communication device 20 has four side frame members, namely a top, bottom, left and right side member. The antenna assembly 10 of the embodiments can be implemented in any one or more of the four side frame members, depending upon size requirements and space limitations. However, since existing long term evolution (LTE) antennas are usually found in the top and bottom regions of a mobile communication device, the aspects of the embodiments will be described with respect to adding additional antenna to the side regions, or side frame members.
[0040] The aspects of the embodiments are directed to disposing two antennas adjacently in a free volume of a side frame member 14 of the frame 22 of the mobile communication device 20. While two antennas are referred to herein, the aspects of the embodiments are not limited thereto. In alternate embodiments, the antenna assembly 10 can include any suitable number of antennas, other than including two. In one embodiment, antenna assembly 10 is directed to a group with a minimum of two antennas.
[0041] In one embodiment, the antenna assembly 10 is configured to be disposed in a long side frame member of the frame 22. The left side member and the right side member of a mobile communication device 20 tend to be longer than the top side member and the bottom side member. A longer side frame member will typically present a larger space where multiple antennas can be placed, as is further described herein.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 1, the antenna assembly 10 includes at least a first antenna 100 and a second antenna 200. The first antenna 100 and the second antenna 200 can also be referred to singularly as a “cavity antenna” or collectively as “cavity antennas.” As is illustrated in the sectional view of FIG. 2, the side frame member 14 of the frame 22 defines a cavity 26. The first antenna 100 and the second antenna 200 are configured to be disposed within the cavity 26. While the embodiments herein will generally be with respect to the first antenna 100 and/or the second antenna 200, the embodiments herein also applies to any antenna that may include the antenna assembly 10.
[0043] In the example of FIG. 1, the first antenna 100 has a first end 102 and a second end 104. An antenna feed point 106, referred to herein as the first antenna feed point 106, is configured to be disposed between the first end 102 and the second end 104 of the first antenna 100.
[0044] The second antenna 200 has a first end 202 and a second end 204. In this example, an antenna feed point 206, referred to herein as a second antenna feed point 206, is configured to be disposed between the first end 202 and the second end 204 of the second antenna 200.
[0045] The antenna feed points 106, 206 can include any suitable antenna feeding structure. An antenna feeding structure with its matching circuit can lead to optimizing antenna resonances and efficiency. In one embodiment, the antenna feed points 106, 206 can be formed from printed multiyear flexible printed circuits (FPC) and attached to corresponding feeding tabs/posts. The antenna feed points 106, 206 can have capacitive or inductive coupling.
[0046] As shown in the example of FIG. 1, the first antenna 100 is disposed adjacent to the second antenna 200 in the cavity 26. The second end 104 of the first antenna 100 is configured to be disposed adjacent to the first end 202 of the second antenna 200. In this example, the first antenna 100 and the second antenna 200 are disposed lengthwise, end to end. A gap or space 12 separates the second end 104 of the first antenna 100 from the first end 202 of the second antenna 200. In one embodiment, a size or dimension of the separation or gap 12 is in the range of 5 millimeters to and including 7 millimeters. In alternate embodiments, the dimensions of the antennas 100, 200 and the separation 12 are any dimensions suitable for the particular application, such as a mobile communication device. Because of the unique arrangement and configuration of the first antenna 100 and the second antenna 220, there is no need for a ground connection, decoupling networks, matching components or other structure and coupling between the first antenna 100 and the second antenna 200.
[0047] The first antenna 100 and the second antenna 200 are configured as cavity antenna structures, with lengths that are less than half-wavelength. In one embodiment, the first antenna 100 and the second antenna 200 are configured to cover for example, the 5G New Radio (NR) frequency range (FR) frequency bands n77 and n79. In alternate embodiments, the antenna assembly 10 of the embodiments can be configured to cover any suitable frequency range.
[0048] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary side frame member 14 and the first antenna 100 of antenna assembly 10 in the cavity 26. While reference is made herein only to the first antenna 100, the description that follows also applies to the second antenna 200, and any further cavity antenna of the antenna assembly 10. In this example, the cavity 26 has a substantially oval or oblong shape. The wall 24 on one side of the cavity 26 can represent another component or device of the mobile communication device, such a battery, battery compartment or printed circuit board. In alternate embodiments, the shape of the cavity 26 can be any suitable shape, such as a rectangular or cylindrically shaped cavity.
[0049] The surfaces of the cavity 26 formed by the side frame member 14 include an inner surface 32 and an outer surface 34. The length of the side frame member 14 will be longer than a width of the cavity 26. The dimensions of the cavity 26 may be substantially less than a half of a wavelength at the desired operating frequency of the antenna assembly 10.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 2, the first antenna 100 has a first antenna element 110 and a second antenna element 120. The first antenna element 110 has a first side or edge 112 and a second side or edge 114. The second antenna element 120 has a first side or edge 122 and a second side or edge 124. The first sides 112, 122 and the second sides 114, 124 form the longer edges of the respective antenna elements 110, 120. The length of the antenna elements 110, 120 shown in FIG. 2 are longer than their height and width.
[0051] In the example of FIG. 2, the first antenna element 110 is disposed on or in connection with the inner surface 32 of the side frame member 14 defining the cavity 26 or the outer surface 34 of the side frame member 14. The second antenna element 120, which is connected to the first antenna element 110, is disposed within the cavity 26. In one embodiment, the second antenna element 120 is configured to be oriented substantially parallel to and with the length of the side frame member 14 but separated from the side frame member 14 by a distance. The feed point 106 for the first antenna 100 in this example is connected to the second antenna element 120.
[0052] In one embodiment, the first antenna element 120 is configured to be disposed on and/or conform to a shape of the inner surface 32 or the outer surface 34 of the side frame member 14, depending upon the application. For example, in one embodiment, one or more of the first antenna 100 and the second antenna 200 can be formed from printed multilayer flexible printed circuits (FPC), foil tape, copper tape, or conductive paint, such silver paint. These materials can be applied to conform to the applicable surface 32, 34.
[0053] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary side frame member 14 incorporating an antenna assembly 10 of the embodiments. In this example, the mobile communication device 10 includes a glass back cover 40. The first antenna element 110 is disposed on and/or connected to an inner surface 32 of the glass back cover 40 and/or the side frame member 14. The second antenna element 120 is disposed within the cavity 26. As shown in
[0054] FIG. 3, the first antenna element 110 is configured to conform to the shape of the glass back cover 40 or the inner surface 32 of the side frame member 14.
[0055] In the example of FIG. 3, the cavity 26 is filled with a dielectric material 310. The dielectric material 310 can have different permittivity and provide good structural strength to support the antenna assembly 10, and in particular the second antenna element 120. The cavity 26 can also be filled with or include glass, ceramic, carbon fiber, composites or other dielectric layers.
[0056] FIG. 4 illustrates another example of an antenna assembly 10 incorporating aspects of the embodiments. In this example, the shape of the exemplary antenna 100 is configured to include an additional antenna element 410. This particular configuration can be referred to as a Z-shape, reverse Z-shape or a step shape. In this example, antenna element 410 is connected to an end of antenna element 120. In alternate embodiments, antenna element 410 can be connected to any suitable or desired portion of the antenna elements 110 and 120. By adjusting the shape of the antenna 100, is possible to tune the self-resonance frequency of antenna 100. This is particularly beneficial where width of the cavity 26 is limited. FIG. 5 illustrates an additional antenna element 510 of the second antenna 200.
[0057] The shape of the antenna 100 can include any suitable shape, such as an L shape, a Z shape, an S shape, or a T shape, for example. The configurations can also be inverted or backwards, such as the inverted Z shape shown in FIG. 4. The design of optimal dimensions of antenna elements for the antenna 100 can lead to optimized efficiency and isolation for the antenna assembly 10.
[0058] In the example of FIG. 4, the antenna 100 has a Z type shape. Exemplary dimensions for the shape of the antenna 100 shown in FIG. 4 include approximately 1.9 millimeters in the X direction, approximately 1.6 millimeters in the Y direction and approximately 1.4 millimeters in the Z direction. In alternate embodiments, the X, Y and Z dimensions of the antenna 100 can be any suitable dimensions.
[0059] Referring to FIG. 5, in this example, the shape of the gap or slot 12 between the first antenna 100 and the second antenna 200 is a T-shaped slot. By shaping the slot 12 between the two antennas 100, 200, it is possible to further improve the isolation between the first antenna 100 and the second antenna 200.
[0060] FIG. 6 illustrates another exemplary antenna assembly 10. In this example the positions of the respective antenna feed points 106, 206 are shifted relative to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. In the example of FIG. 6, the antenna feed points 106, 206 are disposed closer to one another. As shown in FIG. 6, the antenna feed point 106 of the first antenna 100 is positioned adjacent to the antenna feed point 206 of the second antenna. In one embodiment, the antenna feed points 106, 206 can be disposed side by side. The slot 12 in this example is a T-shaped slot, although any suitably shaped slot can be used. In this example, the antennas 100 and 200 include additional antenna elements 410 and 510, respectively.
[0061] FIG. 7 illustrates a sectional view of an antenna assembly 10 incorporating aspects of the embodiments implemented in a mobile communication device 20. In this example, the antenna assembly 10 includes a first antenna element 110 and a second antenna element 120 disposed in a long side frame member 14. A battery device 240 is disposed on one side or wall 24 of the side frame member 14. The example of FIG. 7 illustrates the antenna feed point 106 of the antenna assembly 100 and its corresponding connection point(s) 706. In this example the antenna feed point 106, also referred to as an antenna feeding structure, is formed from printed multilayer FPC with matching lumped components.
[0062] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the self-decoupling behavior of the antenna assembly 10 comes from the LC resonance, which is formed in the antenna structure itself, such that mutual coupling between the first antenna 100 and the second antenna 200 is reduced. As is illustrated in FIG. 8, the inductance is formed from loop currents, generally illustrated as arrows 80. In the example of FIG. 9, the side frame member 14 is metal and the capacitance C is formed between an interior surface 310 of the second antenna element 120 and the inner surface 32 of the side frame member 14.
[0063] FIG. 10 is a graph illustrating the S-parameters (S2,1) of two self-decoupled cavity antennas incorporating aspects of the embodiments operating at same frequency bands. In this example, the isolation S2,1 at 4.3 GHz is −16 dB while the return loss is −18 dB.
[0064] FIG. 11 is a graph illustrating the efficiencies of two self-decoupled cavity antennas incorporating aspects of the embodiments. As is seen in the exemplary graph of FIG. 11, good wide band radiation performance is achieved.
[0065] The antenna assembly 10 of the embodiments is directed to a minimum group of two cavity antennas, such as antennas 100, 200, which will reduce mutual coupling and provide good isolation between the different cavity antennas without the need of grounding, circuits or additional structure connecting or between them. The antenna assembly 10 will provide improved wide bandwidth and efficiency comparing to the ordinary antennas with ground in middle between antennas.
[0066] The cavity antennas of the antenna assembly 10 are generally configured as MIMO antennas operating at the same frequency and act as self-decoupled antennas. The antenna assembly of the embodiments eliminates the need for any matching components or structure, such as a ground connection or an LC resonator network, connected between the different cavity antennas.
[0067] Thus, while various embodiments have been shown and , it is understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details of devices and methods illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments. Further, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements, which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results, are within the scope of the embodiments. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements shown and/or described in connection with any form or embodiment may be incorporated in any other form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice.
