Antenna, user terminal apparatus, and method of controlling antenna

• US 10,305,181 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2014
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Hong, Won-bin, Baek, Kwang-hyun, Lee, Young-ju
• Primary Examiner(s): Magloire, Vladimir
• Assistant Examiner(s): Malley, Sr., Daniel P
• Application Number:
  US14/220,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20140285378A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,895 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/06 Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/29 Combinations of different interacting antenna units for giving a desired directional characteristic H01Q25/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/00 Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/00 Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system means for positioning H01Q1/125
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/34 by electrical means active lenses or reflecting arrays H01Q3/46
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0414 in a stacked or folded configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0442 with particular tuning means
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/14 Length of element or elements adjustable telescopic elements H01Q1/10

Abstract

An antenna is provided. The antenna includes a first radiator, a second radiator, a current feeder configured to supply power to at least one of the first radiator and the second radiator, and an adjuster configured to adjust transceiving directions of electromagnetic waves transmitted and received to and from the first radiator and the second radiator to be perpendicular to each other.

Claims

1. An antenna comprising:

a substrate having a surface and a via hole formed on the surface, wherein the via hole starts at the surface and ends within the substrate;

a first antenna element formed on the surface of the substrate and configured to have a first radiation pattern in a first direction;

a second antenna element formed in the via hole of the substrate and configured to have a second radiation pattern in a second direction;

a current feeder, electrically connected to the first antenna element, configured to supply power to the first antenna element; and

an adjuster comprising a switch configured to;

electrically connect the first antenna element to the second antenna element to supply the power to the second antenna element through the first antenna element in a first configuration so that the second antenna element emits corresponding electromagnetic waves in the second radiation pattern in the second direction, and

electrically disconnect the first antenna element from the second antenna element in a second configuration so that the first antenna element emits corresponding electromagnetic waves in the first radiation pattern in the first direction,

wherein the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other.

2. The antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first antenna element and the second antenna element comprises a plurality of independent antenna elements.

3. The antenna as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the first antenna element and the second antenna element are formed of a same electroconductive material, and

wherein the first antenna element and the second antenna element are electrically connected to form one antenna element when the switch electrically connects the first antenna element to the second antenna element.

4. The antenna as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a third antenna element formed on the surface of the substrate and configured to have a third radiation pattern in a third direction; and

a fourth antenna element formed in another via hole of the substrate and configured to have a fourth radiation pattern in a fourth direction, wherein the other via hole starts at the surface and ends within the substrate,

wherein the adjuster further comprises another switch configured to;

electrically connect the third antenna element to the fourth antenna element to supply the power to the fourth antenna element through the third antenna element in a third configuration, and

electrically disconnect the third antenna element from the fourth antenna element in a fourth configuration, and

wherein the first direction and the third direction are parallel to each other, and

wherein, in a configuration comprising the second configuration and the fourth configuration, the first antenna element and the second antenna element are configured to transmit and receive electromagnetic waves in parallel according to the first direction and the second direction.

5. The antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjuster comprises a phase adjuster configured to:

adjust a phase of electromagnetic waves transmitted by at least one of the first antenna element and the second antenna element, and

adjust a phase of electromagnetic waves received by the at least one of the first antenna element and the second antenna element.

6. The antenna as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

a sensitivity determiner configured to;

determine a strength of the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the at least one of the first antenna element and the second antenna element, and

determine a strength of the electromagnetic waves received by the at least one of the first antenna element and the second antenna element,

wherein the phase adjuster adjusts a phase of the electromagnetic waves transmitted and the electromagnetic waves received according to the corresponding determined strength.

7. The antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first antenna element is disposed in a groove concavely formed on the surface of the substrate.

8. The antenna as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one reflecting plate configured to;

reflect electromagnetic waves transmitted by the second antenna element in a third direction, and

reflect electromagnetic waves received by the second antenna element in a fourth direction.

9. A wireless communication apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

an antenna comprising;

a substrate having a surface and a via hole formed on the surface, wherein the via hole starts at the surface and ends within the substrate,

a first antenna element formed on the surface of the substrate and configured to have a first radiation pattern in a first direction,

a second antenna element formed in the via hole of the substrate and configured to have a second radiation pattern in a second direction,

a current feeder, electrically connected to the first antenna element, configured to supply power to the first antenna element, and

an adjuster comprising a switch configured to;

electrically connect the first antenna element to the second antenna element to supply the power to the second antenna element through the first antenna element in a first configuration so that the second antenna element emits corresponding electromagnetic waves in the second radiation pattern in the second direction, and

electrically disconnect the first antenna element from the second antenna element in a second configuration so that the first antenna element emits corresponding electromagnetic waves in the first radiation pattern in the first direction,

wherein the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other; and

at least one processor configured to control an operation of the antenna in order to perform wireless communication.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9,

wherein the first antenna element and the second antenna element are electrically connected to form one antenna element when the switch electrically connects the first antenna element to the second antenna element.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the adjuster comprises a phase adjuster configured to:

adjust a phase of electromagnetic waves transmitted by at least one of the first antenna element and the second antenna element, and

adjust a phase of electromagnetic waves received by at least one of the first antenna element and the second antenna element.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9,

wherein at least one of the first antenna element and the second antenna element comprises a plurality of antennas, and

wherein at least one of the plurality of antennas is positioned at a corner portion of the wireless communication apparatus.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9,

wherein at least one of the first antenna element and the second antenna element comprises a plurality of antennas, and

wherein at least one of the plurality of antennas is positioned at an edge portion of the wireless communication apparatus.

14. A wireless communication method, the method comprising:

supplying power to a first antenna element of an antenna, the first antenna element formed on a surface of a substrate of the antenna and configured to have a first radiation pattern in a first direction;

controlling a switch configured to;

electrically connect the first antenna element to a second antenna element formed in a via hole formed on the substrate and configured to have a second radiation pattern in a second direction to supply the power to the second antenna element through the first antenna element in a first configuration so that the second antenna element emits corresponding electromagnetic waves in the second radiation pattern in the second direction, and

electrically disconnect the first antenna element from the second antenna element in a second configuration so that the first antenna element emits corresponding electromagnetic waves in the first radiation pattern in the first direction; and

transmitting first electromagnetic waves through the first antenna element and the second antenna element and receiving second electromagnetic waves through the first antenna element and the second antenna element,

wherein the via hole starts at the surface of the substrate and ends within the substrate, and

wherein the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein at least one of the first antenna element and the second antenna element comprises a plurality of independents antenna elements.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the transmitting and receiving of the first and second electromagnetic waves, respectively, comprises:

electrically connecting the first antenna element to a current feeder;

electrically connect the first antenna element and the second antenna element; and

transmitting and receiving the first and second electromagnetic waves, respectively, through the first and the second antenna element connected to the current feeder.

17. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the transmitting and receiving of the first and second electromagnetic waves, respectively, comprises:

adjusting a phase of electromagnetic waves transmitted by at least one of the first antenna element and the second antenna element; and

adjusting a phase of electromagnetic waves received by the at least one of the first antenna element and the second antenna element.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

determining a strength of the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the at least one of the first antenna element and the second antenna element, and

determining a strength of the electromagnetic waves received by the at least one of the first antenna element and the second antenna element

wherein a phase of the electromagnetic waves transmitted and the electromagnetic waves received is adjusted according to the corresponding determined strength.

19. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first antenna element is disposed in a groove concavely formed on the surface of the substrate.

20. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

reflecting electromagnetic waves transmitted by the second antenna element in a third direction, and

reflecting electromagnetic waves received by the second antenna element in a fourth direction.