Wireless communication system of notebook computer having antenna array module

• US 20060049993A1
• Filed: 03/10/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Acer, Inc.
• Inventors: Lin, Yung-Sen, Chuang, Tzu-Lung
• Granted Patent: US 7,196,668 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2266 disposed inside the computer
• 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 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/40 Element having extended radiating surface
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0608 Antenna selection according to transmission parameters

Abstract

A wireless communication system of a notebook computer includes a first antenna, an antenna array module and a wireless local area network (WLAN) module. The antenna array module includes a plurality of second antennas and a plurality of connectors electrically connected to the second antennas via corresponding signal transmission lines, wherein the distance between two adjacent second antennas is identical, and the length of each signal transmission line is equal. The wireless local area network (WLAN) module has a switch unit electrically connected to the first antenna and the antenna array module to select one of the first antenna and the antenna array module to receive/transmit a signal according to an operational mode of the WLAN module.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system of a notebook computer, said wireless communication system comprising:

a first antenna;

an antenna array module comprising a plurality of second antennas and a plurality of connectors electrically connected to said second antennas via corresponding signal transmission lines, wherein the distance between two adjacent second antennas is identical, and the length of each signal transmission line is equal; and

a wireless local area network (WLAN) module having a switch unit electrically connected to said first antenna and said antenna array module to select one of said first antenna and said antenna array module to receive/transmit a signal according to an operational mode of said WLAN module.

2. The wireless communication system according to claim 1 wherein said second antennas, said connectors and said signal transmission lines are disposed in a substrate.

3. The wireless communication system according to claim 2 wherein said substrate is a printed circuit board or a ceramic substrate.

4. The wireless communication system according to claim 1 wherein said first antenna and said antenna array module are disposed at the periphery of a liquid crystal display panel of said notebook computer.

5. The wireless communication system according to claim 1 wherein said signal is a RF data signal.

6. The wireless communication system according to claim 1 wherein the distance between two adjacent second antennas is in proportion to the wavelength of said signal.

7. The wireless communication system according to claim 1 wherein said connectors are FR connectors.

8. The wireless communication system according to claim 7 wherein said connectors are electrically connected to said WLAN module via a RF coaxial cable.

9. The wireless communication system according to claim 1 wherein said signal transmission lines are strip lines, micro strip lines or co-planar waveguide lines.

10. The wireless communication system according to claim 1 wherein said antenna array module is selected to receive/transmit said signal when operational mode of said WLAN module is an multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) mode.

11. The wireless communication system according to claim 1 wherein either said first antenna or one of said second said antenna array module is selected to receive/transmit said signal when operational mode of said WLAN module is an IEEE 802.11 a/b/g mode.

12. An antenna array module of a notebook computer, said notebook computer comprising a liquid crystal display panel and a wireless local area network (WLAN) module, said antenna array module comprising:

a plurality of antennas, a distance between two adjacent antennas being identical;

a plurality of connectors electrically interconnected to said antennas and said WLAN module; and

a plurality of signal transmission lines for connecting said antennas to corresponding connectors, wherein the length of each signal transmission line is equal.

13. The antenna array module according to claim 12 wherein said antennas, said connectors and said signal transmission lines are disposed in a substrate.

14. The antenna array module according to claim 13 wherein said substrate is a printed circuit board or a ceramic substrate.

15. The antenna array module according to claim 12 being disposed at the periphery of said liquid crystal display panel.

16. The antenna array module according to claim 12 wherein said signal is a RF data signal.

17. The antenna array module according to claim 12 wherein the distance between two adjacent antennas is in proportion to the wavelength of said signal.

18. The antenna array module according to claim 12 wherein said connectors are FR connectors.

19. The antenna array module according to claim 18 wherein said connectors are electrically connected to said WLAN module via a RF coaxial cable.

20. The antenna array module according to claim 12 wherein said signal transmission lines are strip lines, micro strip lines or co-planar waveguide lines.