METAMATERIAL STRUCTURES WITH MULTILAYER METALLIZATION AND VIA

• US 20100109971A2
• Filed: 11/13/2008
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tyco Electronics Services GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: Rayspan Corporation
• Inventors: Nguyen, Nhan, Achour, Maha, Gummalla, Ajay, Poilasne, Gregory, Thornwall, Shane, Lopez, Norberto
• Application Number:
  US12/270,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20090135087A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/909
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/02 with two longitudinal conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/0086 said selective devices having materials with a synthesized negative refractive index, e.g. metamaterials or left-handed materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/335 at the feed, e.g. for impedance matching
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/342 for different propagation modes H01Q5/314 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40

Abstract

Techniques and apparatus based on metamaterial structures are provided for antenna and transmission line devices, including multilayer metallization metamaterial structures with one or more conductive vias connecting conductive parts in two different metallization layers.

Claims

1. A metamaterial device comprising:

a substrate;

a plurality of metallization layers associated with the substrate and patterned to have a plurality of conductive parts; and

a conductive via formed in the substrate to connect a conductive part in one metallization layer to a conductive part in another metallization layer,

wherein the conductive parts and the conductive via form a composite right and left handed (CRLH) metamaterial structure.

2. The device as in claim 1, wherein the conductive parts and the conductive via of the CRLH metamaterial structure are structured to form a metamaterial antenna and are configured to generate two or more frequency resonances.

3. The device as in claim 2, wherein at least two out of the two or more frequency resonances are sufficiently close to produce a wide band.

4. The device as in claim 1, wherein the conductive parts and the conductive via of the CRLH metamaterial structure are configured to generate a first frequency resonance in a low band and a second frequency resonance in a high band, the first frequency resonance being a left-handed (LH) mode frequency resonance and the second frequency resonance being a right-handed (RH) mode frequency resonance.

5. The device as in claim 1, wherein the conductive parts and the conductive via of the CRLH metamaterial structure are configured to generate a first frequency resonance in a low band, a second frequency resonance in a high band, and a third frequency resonance which is substantially close in frequency to the first frequency resonance to be coupled with the first frequency resonance, providing a combined mode resonance band that is wider than the low band.

6. The device as in claim 5, wherein the first frequency resonance is a left-handed (LH) mode frequency resonance, the second frequency resonance is a right-handed (RH) mode frequency resonance, and the third frequency resonances is another right-handed (RH) mode frequency resonance.

7. The device as in claim 5, wherein a bandwidth of the combined mode resonance band is about 150 MHz or more.

8. The device as in claim 6, wherein the RH mode frequency resonance is a monopole mode frequency resonance.

9. The device as in claim 1, wherein the conductive parts and the conductive via of the CRLH metamaterial structure are configured to generate two or more frequency resonances to cover WiFi bands.

10. The device as in claim 1, wherein the conductive parts and the conductive via of the CRLH metamaterial structure are configured to generate the two or more frequency resonances to cover part of a cellular band and a PCS/DCS band for quad-band antenna operations.

11. The device as in claim 1, wherein the conductive parts and the conductive via of the CRLH metamaterial structure are configured to generate two or more frequency resonances to cover a cellular band and a PCS/DCS band for penta-band antenna operations.

12. The device as in claim 1, wherein the conductive parts and the conductive via of the CRLH metamaterial structure are configured to generate two or more frequency resonances to cover WiMax bands.

13. The device as in claim 1, wherein the conductive parts and the conductive via of the CRLH metamaterial structure are structured to form a metamaterial transmission line and are configured to generate two or more frequency resonances.

14. The device as in claim 1, further comprising a lumped circuit element coupled to the conductive parts.

15. The device as in claim 1, wherein the conductive parts and the conductive via of the CRLH metamaterial structure are structured to form a plurality of metamaterial antennas and are configured to generate two or more frequency resonances.

16. The device as in claim 1, wherein the CRLH metamaterial structure is sized based on a trade-off between the size and efficiency.

17. The device as in claim 1, wherein:

the substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface,

the plurality of metallization layers include a first metallization layer formed on the first surface and a second metallization layer formed on the second surface, and

the conductive parts of the CRLH metamaterial structure comprise;

(1) a ground electrode formed in the second metallization layer;

(2) a cell patch formed in the first metallization layer;

(3) a via line formed in the second metallization layer and connecting the ground electrode and the conductive via, which connects to the cell patch in the first metallization layer;

(4) a feed line formed in the first metallization layer; and

(5) a launch pad formed at a distal end of the feed line and electromagnetically coupled to the cell patch through a gap to direct a signal to or from the cell patch.

18. The device as in claim 17, wherein the CRLH metamaterial structure is configured to generate a left-handed (LH) mode frequency resonance in a low band and a right-handed (RH) mode frequency resonance in a high band.

19. The device as in claim 18, wherein the low band includes part of a cellular band and the high band includes a PCS/DCS band for quad-band antenna operations.

20. The device as in claim 1, wherein

the substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface,

the plurality of metallization layers include a first metallization layer formed on the first surface and a second metallization layer formed on the second surface, and

the conductive parts of the CRLH metamaterial structure comprise:

a ground electrode formed in the second metallization layer;

a first cell patch and a second cell patch formed in the first metallization layer;

a via line formed in the second metallization layer and connecting the ground electrode and the conductive via, which connects to the first cell patch in the first metallization layer; and

a feed line formed in the first metallization layer; and

a launch pad formed at a distal end of the fee line and electromagnetically coupled to the first and second cell patches through a first and second gaps, respectively, to direct signals to or from the first and second cell patches.

21. The device as in claim 20, wherein the CRLH metamaterial structure is configured to generate a left-handed (LH) mode frequency resonance in a low band and a first right-handed (RH) mode frequency resonance in a high band, and a second RH mode frequency resonance which is mainly controlled by a configuration of the second cell patch and is substantially close in frequency to the LH mode frequency resonance to be coupled with the LH mode frequency resonance, providing a combined mode resonance band that is wider than the low band.

22. The device as in claim 21, wherein the combined mode resonance band includes a cellular band and the high band includes a PCS/DCS band for penta-band antenna operations.

23. The device as in claim 20, further comprising:

a via line extension formed in the second metallization layer and connected to the via line for improving matching.

24. The device as in claim 1, wherein

the substrate comprises a main substrate and an elevated substrate which is placed above the main substrate with a spacing between the main and elevated substrates, the elevated substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the main substrate having a third surface and a fourth surface opposite to the third surface, the second and third surfaces facing each other with the spacing in between,

the plurality of metallization layers include a first metallization layer formed on the first surface, a second metallization layer formed on the second surface, a third metallization layer formed on the third surface and a fourth metallization layer formed on the fourth surface,

the conductive via includes a first via, a second via, and a third via, and

the conductive parts of the CRLH metamaterial structure comprise:

a ground electrode formed in the fourth metallization layer;

a first cell patch and a second cell patch formed in the first metallization layer;

a first via line formed in the second metallization layer and connected to the first cell patch by the first via which is formed in the elevated substrate;

a second via line formed in the fourth metallization layer and connected to the first via line in the second metallization layer by the second via which penetrates through the main substrate and the spacing;

a first feed line formed in the third metallization layer;

a second feed line formed in the first metallization layer and connected to the first feed line in the third metallization layer by the third via which penetrates through the elevated substrate and the spacing; and

a launch pad formed at a distal end of the second feed line and electromagnetically coupled to the first and second cell patches through a first and second gaps, respectively, to direct signals to or from the first and second cell patches.

25. The device as in claim 24, wherein the CRLH metamaterial structure is configured to generate a left-handed (LH) mode frequency resonance in a low band and a first right-handed (RH) mode frequency resonance in a high band, and a second RH mode frequency resonance which is mainly controlled by a configuration of the second cell patch and is substantially close in frequency to the LH mode frequency resonance to be coupled with the LH mode frequency resonance, providing a combined mode resonance band that is wider than the low band.

26. The device as in claim 25, wherein the spacing between the main and elevated substrates is increased to improve matching in a frequency range between the low band and the high band.

27. The device as in claim 24, further comprising:

a via line extension formed in the second metallization layer and connected to the via line for improving matching.

28. The device as in claim 1, wherein

the substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface,

the plurality of metallization layers include a first metallization layer on the first surface and a second metallization layer on the second surface, and

the CRLH metamaterial structure comprises a first metamaterial antenna and a second metamaterial antenna,

wherein each of the first and second metamaterial antennas comprises:

a ground electrode formed in the second metallization layer;

a cell patch formed in the first metallization layer;

a via line formed in the second metallization layer and connecting the ground electrode and the conductive via, which connects to the cell patch in the first metallization layer; and

a feed line formed in the first metallization layer; and

a launch pad formed at a distal end of the feed line and electromagnetically coupled to the cell patch through a gap to direct a signal to or from the cell patch.

29. The device as in claim 28, wherein the first metamaterial antenna is configured to generate a low frequency resonance in a low band, and the second metamaterial antenna is configured to generate a high frequency resonance in a high band.

30. The device as in claim 29, wherein the low frequency resonance is a left-handed (LH) mode resonance, and the feed line in the first metamaterial antenna is formed to be substantially long to generate a monopole mode resonance close to and higher than the LH mode resonance in frequency to be coupled with the LH mode resonance, providing a combined mode resonance band that is wider than the low band.

31. The device as in claim 1, wherein the conductive parts and the conductive via of the CRLH metamaterial structure are structured to form a receive diversity antenna array comprising a plurality of metamaterial antennas which are configured to generate different frequency resonances.

32. The device as in claim 31, wherein the plurality of metamaterial antennas of the receive diversity antenna array are configured to be compact based on a trade-off between the size and efficiency.

33. The device as in claim 31, wherein

the substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface,

the plurality of metallization layers include a first metallization layer on the first surface and a second metallization layer on the second surface, and

the plurality of metamaterial antennas comprise a first metamaterial antenna, a second metamaterial antenna and a third antenna,

wherein each of the first, second and third metamaterial antennas comprises:

a ground electrode formed in the second metallization layer;

a cell patch formed in the first metallization layer;

a via line formed in the second metallization layer and connecting the ground electrode and the conductive via, which connects to the cell patch in the first metallization layer; and

a feed line formed in the first metallization layer; and

a launch pad attached at a distal end of the feed line and electromagnetically coupled to the cell patch through a gap to direct a signal to or from the cell patch.

34. The device as in claim 33, wherein the ground electrode is common for the first, second and third metamaterial antennas and has extended portions for improving matching and isolation.

35. The device as in claim 33, wherein the first metamaterial antenna is configured to generate a first LH frequency resonance to cover a US Cell Rx 869-894 MHz band, the second metamaterial antenna is configured to generate a second LH frequency resonance to cover a GPS 1570-1580 MHz band, and the third metamaterial antenna is configured to generate a third LH frequency resonance to cover a PCS Rx 1930-1990 MHz band.

36. The device as in claim 1, wherein

the substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface,

the plurality of metallization layers include a first metallization layer formed on the first surface and a second metallization layer formed on the second surface,

the conductive via includes a first via, and

the conductive parts of the CRLH metamaterial structure comprises:

a ground electrode formed in the second metallization layer;

a first cell patch formed in the first metallization layer;

a second cell patch formed in the second metallization layer and connected to the first cell patch by the first via;

a via line formed in the second metallization layer and connecting the ground electrode and the second cell patch; and

a feed line formed in the first metallization layer; and

a launch pad formed at a distal end of the feed line and electromagnetically coupled to the first cell patch through a first gap to direct signals to or from the first cell patch;

a first conductive line formed in the first metallization layer and attached to the feed line or the launch pad; and

a second conductive line formed in the second metallization layer and positioned to substantially overlay with the first conductive line, the second conductive line being electromagnetically coupled to the second cell patch through a second gap.

37. The device as in claim 36, wherein

the conductive via further includes a second via, which connects the top conductive line and the bottom conductive line, to improve matching.

38. The device as in claim 36, wherein the CRLH metamaterial structure is configured to generate an LH mode frequency resonance in a low band, and the top conductive line is configured to generate a monopole mode frequency resonance at a frequency close to and higher than the LH mode frequency resonance.

39. The device as in claim 36, wherein the top and bottom conductive lines are in a spiral form.

40. The device as in claim 36, wherein the top and bottom conductive lines are in a meander form.

41. The device as in claim 1, wherein

the substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface,

the plurality of metallization layers include a first metallization layer formed on the first surface and a second metallization layer formed on the second surface,

the conductive via includes a first via and a second via, and

the conductive parts of the CRLH metamaterial structure comprise:

a ground electrode formed in the first metallization layer;

a first cell patch formed in the first metallization layer;

a second cell patch formed in the second metallization layer and connected to the first cell patch by the first via;

a via line formed in the first metallization layer and connecting the ground electrode and the first cell patch; and

a feed line formed in the first metallization layer; and

a launch pad formed at a distal end of the feed line and electromagnetically coupled to the first cell patch through a gap to direct a signal to or from the first cell patch;

a first conductive line formed in the first metallization layer and attached to the feed line or the launch pad; and

a second conductive line formed in the second metallization layer and connected to the first cell patch by the second via.

42. The device as in claim 41, wherein the CRLH metamaterial structure is configured to generate a left-handed (LH) mode frequency resonance in a low band and a first monopole mode frequency resonance in a high band, and a second monopole mode frequency resonance which is mainly controlled by a configuration of the top conductive line and is substantially close in frequency to the LH mode frequency resonance to be coupled with the LH mode frequency resonance, providing a combined mode resonance band that is wider than the low band.

43. The device as in claim 42, wherein the combined mode resonance band includes a cellular band and the high band includes a PCS/DCS band for penta-band antenna operations.

44. The device as in claim 41, wherein the top conductive line is in a spiral form.

45. The device as in claim 41, wherein the top conductive line is in a meander form.

46. The device as in claim 17, wherein the conductive parts of the CRLH metamaterial structure further comprise a conductive line formed in the first metallization layer and attached to the feed line or the launch pad.

47. The device as in claim 46, wherein the CRLH metamaterial structure is configured to generate a left-handed (LH) mode frequency resonance in a low band and a first monopole mode frequency resonance in a high band, and a second monopole mode frequency resonance which is mainly controlled by a configuration of the conductive line and is substantially close in frequency to the LH mode frequency resonance to be coupled with the LH mode frequency resonance, providing a combined mode resonance band that is wider than the low band, and

wherein the combined mode resonance band includes a cellular band and the high band includes a PCS/DCS band for penta-band antenna operations.

48. The device as in claim 17, further comprising a capacitor that couples the cell patch and the launch pad, wherein a width of the gap is increased and/or a length of the gap is decreased as compared to the width and/or the length of the gap in the absence of the capacitor based on a capacitance value of the capacitor.

49. The device as in claim 17, further comprising an inductor inserted in the via line, wherein a length of the via line is shortened as compared to the length of the via line in the absence of the inductor based on an inductance value of the inductor.

50. The device as in claim 46, further comprising an inductor inserted in the conductive line, wherein a length of the conductive line is shortened as compared to the length of the conductive line in the absence of the inductor based on an inductance value of the inductor.

51. The device as in claim 17, wherein the conductive parts of the CRLH metamaterial structure further comprise a three-dimensional conductive line attached to the feed line or the launch pad, the three-dimensional conductive line comprising:

a first conductive line portion formed in the first metallization layer;

a second conductive line portion formed in the second metallization layer; and

a conductive line via portion formed in the substrate and connecting the first conductive line portion and the second conductive line portion.

52. The device as in claim 51, wherein the three-dimensional conductive line is in a spiral form.

53. The device as in claim 51, wherein the three-dimensional conductive line is in a meander form.

54. The device as in claim 51, wherein the CRLH metamaterial structure is configured to generate two or more frequency resonances to cover a CDMA band.

55. The device as in claim 1, wherein

the substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface,

the plurality of metallization layers include a first metallization layer formed on the first surface and a second metallization layer formed on the second surface,

the via includes a first via and a second via, and

the conductive parts of the CRLH metamaterial structure comprise:

a ground electrode formed in the first metallization layer;

a cell patch formed in the second metallization layer and patterned to define an internal opening;

a via line formed in the first metallization layer and connecting the ground electrode and the first via, which connects to the cell patch in the second metallization layer; and

a feed line formed in the first metallization layer; and

a launch pad formed in the second metallization layer within the internal opening and connected to the feed line by the second via, wherein the launch pad is surrounded by the cell patch and electromagnetically coupled to the cell patch through a gap to direct a signal to or from the cell patch.

56. The device as in claim 1, wherein

the substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface,

the plurality of metallization layers include a first metallization layer formed on the first surface and a second metallization layer formed on the second surface, and

the conductive parts of the CRLH metamaterial structure comprise:

a ground electrode formed in the second metallization layer;

a cell patch formed in the second metallization layer and patterned to define an internal opening;

a via line formed in the second metallization layer and connecting the ground electrode and the cell patch; and

a feed line formed in the first metallization layer; and

a launch pad formed in the second metallization layer within the internal opening and connected to the feed line by the via, wherein the launch pad is surrounded by the cell patch and electromagnetically coupled to the cell patch through a gap to direct a signal to or from the cell patch.

57. The device as in claim 1, wherein

the substrate is a multilayer substrate,

the plurality of metallization layers include a first metallization layer, a second metallization layer and a third metallization layer, which are associated with the multilayer substrate,

the via includes a first via and a second via, and

the conductive parts of the CRLH metamaterial structure comprise:

a ground electrode formed in the third metallization layer;

a cell patch formed in the second metallization layer and patterned to define an internal opening;

a via line formed in the third metallization layer and connecting the ground electrode and the first via, which connects to the cell patch in the second metallization layer; and

a feed line formed in the first metallization layer; and

a launch pad formed in the second metallization layer within the internal opening and connected to the feed line by the second via, wherein the launch pad is surrounded by the cell patch and electromagnetically coupled to the cell patch through a gap to direct a signal to or from the cell patch.

58. The device as in claim 55, wherein the CRLH metamaterial structure is configured to generate an LH frequency resonance in a low band and an RH frequency resonance in a high band.

59. The device as in claim 58, wherein the CRLH metamaterial structure is configured to generate the LH frequency resonance and the RH frequency resonance to cover WiFi bands.

60. The device as in claim 1, wherein

the substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface,

the plurality of metallization layers include a first metallization layer formed on the first surface and a second metallization layer formed on the second surface,

the via includes a first via and a second via, and

the conductive parts of the CRLH metamaterial structure comprise:

a ground electrode formed in the first metallization layer;

a feed line formed in the first metallization layer; and

a launch pad formed in the second metallization layer and patterned to define an internal opening, the launch pad being connected to the feed line by the first via,

a cell patch formed in the second metallization layer within the internal opening;

a via line formed in the first metallization layer and connecting the ground electrode and the second via, which connects to the cell patch in the second metallization layer;

wherein the launch pad surrounds the cell patch and is electromagnetically coupled to the cell patch through a gap to direct a signal to or from the cell patch.

61. The device as in claim 1, wherein

the substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface,

the plurality of metallization layers include a first metallization layer formed on the first surface and a second metallization layer formed on the second surface, and

the conductive parts of the CRLH metamaterial structure comprise:

a ground electrode formed in the first metallization layer;

a feed line formed in the second metallization layer; and

a launch pad formed in the second metallization layer at a distal end of the feed line and patterned to define an internal opening,

a cell patch formed in the second metallization layer within the internal opening;

a via line formed in the first metallization layer and connecting the ground electrode and the via, which connects to the cell patch in the second metallization layer;

wherein the launch pad surrounds the cell patch and is electromagnetically coupled to the cell patch through a gap to direct a signal to or from the cell patch.

62. The device as in claim 1, wherein

the substrate is a multilayer substrate,

the plurality of metallization layers include a first metallization layer, a second metallization layer and a third metallization layer, which are associated with the multilayer substrate,

the via includes a first via and a second via, and

the conductive parts of the CRLH metamaterial structure comprise:

a ground electrode formed in the third metallization layer;

a feed line formed in the first metallization layer; and

a launch pad formed in the second metallization layer and patterned to define an internal opening, the launch pad being connected to the feed line by the first via,

a cell patch formed in the second metallization layer within the internal opening;

a via line formed in the third metallization layer and connecting the ground electrode and the second via, which connects to the cell patch in the second metallization layer;

wherein the launch pad surrounds the cell patch and is electromagnetically coupled to the cell patch through a gap to direct a signal to or from the cell patch.

63. The device as in claim 60, wherein the CRLH metamaterial structure is configured to generate an LH frequency resonance in a low band and an RH frequency resonance in a high band.

64. The device as in claim 63, wherein the CRLH metamaterial structure is configured to generate the low band and the high band substantially close to be coupled with each other, providing a wide band with a bandwidth of about 2.5 GHz or more.

65. The device as in claim 1, wherein

the substrate is a multilayer substrate,

the plurality of metallization layers include a first metallization layer, a second metallization layer and a third metallization layer, which are associated with the multilayer substrate, and

the conductive parts of the CRLH metamaterial structure comprise:

a ground electrode formed in the third metallization layer;

a feed line formed in the first metallization layer;

a launch pad formed at a distal end of the feed line in the first metallization layer;

a cell patch formed in the second metallization layer; and

a via line formed in the third metallization layer and connecting the ground electrode and the via, which connects to the cell patch in the second metallization layer;

wherein the launch pad is electromagnetically coupled to the cell patch through a vertical gap below the launch pad between the first and second metallization layers to direct a signal to or from the cell patch.

66. The device as in claim 1, wherein

the substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface,

the plurality of metallization layers include a first metallization layer formed on the first surface and a second metallization layer formed on the second surface, and

the conductive parts of the CRLH metamaterial structure comprise:

a ground electrode formed in the first metallization layer;

a feed line formed in the first metallization layer; and

a launch pad formed at a distal end of the feed line in the first metallization layer,

a cell patch formed in the second metallization layer;

a via line formed in the first metallization layer and connecting the ground electrode and the via, which connects to the cell patch in the second metallization layer;

wherein the launch pad is electromagnetically coupled to the cell patch through a vertical gap below the launch pad between the first and second metallization layers to direct a signal to or from the cell patch.

67. The device as in claim 65, wherein the CRLH metamaterial structure is configured to generate an LH frequency resonance in a low band and an RH frequency resonance in a high band.

68. The device as in claim 67, wherein the CRLH metamaterial structure is configured to generate the LH frequency resonance and the RH frequency resonance to cover a quad-band.

69. A metamaterial device comprising:

a substrate;

a first metallization layer formed on a first surface of the substrate and patterned to comprise a cell patch and a launch pad that are separated from each other and are electromagnetically coupled to each other;

a second metallization layer formed on a second surface of the substrate parallel to the first surface and patterned to comprise a ground electrode located outside a footprint of the cell patch, a cell via pad located underneath the cell patch, a cell via line connecting the ground electrode to the cell via pad, an interconnect pad located underneath the launch pad, and a feed line connected to the interconnect pad;

a cell via formed in the substrate to connect the cell patch to the cell via pad; and

an interconnect via formed in the substrate to connect the launch pad to the interconnect pad,

wherein one of the cell patch and the launch pad is shaped to include an opening and the other of the cell patch and the launch pad is located inside the opening, and the cell patch, the cell via, the cell via pad, the cell via line, the ground electrode, the launch pad, the interconnect via, the interconnect via and the feed line form a composite right and left handed (CRLH) metamaterial structure.

70. The device as in claim 69, wherein the cell via pad is less than the cell patch in area.

71. The device as in claim 69, wherein the cell patch is shaped to have the opening and the launch pad is located inside the opening.

72. The device as in claim 69, wherein the launch pad is shaped to have the opening and the cell patch is located inside the opening.