Set-top box having an improved patch antenna

• US 20030028902A1
• Filed: 07/11/2001
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eagle Broadband, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Eagle Broadband, Inc.
• Inventors: Cubley, H. Dean, Liu, Richard C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,071,883 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/151
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2266 disposed inside the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite

Abstract

A set top box is provided with a patch antenna to wirelessly communicate with other devices. In one embodiment, the set top box has a metallic enclosure with a non-metallic bezel covering the front of the device. A communication circuit board with an imprinted patch antenna is located in the interstitial space between the metallic enclosure and the non-metallic bezel. The communications board preferably comprises a thin (0.06 inch) FR-4 circuit board with etched copper cladding. The patch antenna preferably comprises a ground plane on one side of the circuit board, and a rectangular patch on the opposite side of the circuit board. The patch is side-fed by a microstrip feed. The dimensions of the antenna are selected to optimize the antennas performance in frequency range between 2.400 and 2.483 GHz when located in the above-described interstitial space.

Claims

1. A communications board comprising:

an FR-4 circuit board having a thickness of 0.06±

10% inches;

a side-fed patch antenna having the circuit board as a dielectric spacer, the antenna further having;

a ground plane on a first side of the circuit board, wherein the ground plane has a width of at least 1.875±

10% inches and a length of at least 2.25±

10% inches;

a rectangular patch on a second side of the circuit board opposite the first side, wherein the patch has a width of 1.5±

10% inches and a length of 1.164 ±

10% inches; and

a feed connected to a side of the patch halfway along the width, wherein the feed has a width of 0.07±

10% inches and a length of at least 0.625±

10% inches.

2. The board of claim 1, wherein the patch antenna is configured to operate between 2.400 and 2.483 GHz.

3. The board of claim 1, wherein the patch and feed comprise copper cladding having a thickness of approximately 0.063 inches.

4. The communications board of claim 1, further comprising:

a radio-frequency (“

RF”

) module coupled to the patch antenna and configured to convert signals between baseband and an operating frequency range of the patch antenna.

5. The communications board of claim 4, further comprising:

a USB bus interface that couples the RF module to a USB bus.

6. A set-top box comprising:

a metallic enclosure having a front face;

a non-metallic bezel attached to the front face of the enclosure and defining an interstitial space between the front face and the bezel; and

a communications board located in said interstitial space, wherein the communications board includes;

a FR-4 circuit board having a thickness of 0.06±

10% inches; and

a side-fed patch antenna having the circuit board as a dielectric spacer.

7. The set-top box of claim 6, wherein the patch antenna further includes:

a ground plane on a first side of the circuit board, wherein the ground plane has a width of at least 1.875±

10% inches and a length of at least 2.25±

10% inches;

a rectangular patch on a second side of the circuit board opposite the first side, wherein the patch has a width of 1.5±

10% inches and a length of 1.164±

10% inches; and

a feed connected to a side of the patch halfway along the width, wherein the feed has a width of 0.07±

10% inches and a length of at least 0.625±

10% inches.

8. The set-top box of claim 6, wherein the patch antenna is configured to operate between 2.400 and 2.483 GHz.

9. The set-top box of claim 7, wherein the patch and feed comprise copper cladding having a thickness of approximately 0.063 inches.

10. The set-top box of claim 6, further comprising:

a radio-frequency (“

RF”

) module coupled to the patch antenna and configured to convert signals between baseband and an operating frequency range of the patch antenna.

11. The set-top box of claim 10, further comprising:

a USB bus interface coupled to the RF module; and

a USB bus that couples the USB bus interface to electronic circuitry in said metallic enclosure.

12. The set-top box of claim 6, wherein the communications board is mounted flush against the front face of the metallic enclosure.

13. The set-top box of claim 6, wherein the communications board is mounted about 1.23 inches from the front face of the metallic enclosure.

14. The set-top box of claim 6, wherein the patch antenna is less than about 0.5 inches from the bezel.