THREE-DIMENSIONAL ANTENNA STRUCTURE

• US 20110095948A1
• Filed: 01/05/2011
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Liu, Yunhong, Alexopoulos, Nicolaos G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,065,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/700.0MS
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2283 mounted in or on the surface of a semiconductor substrate as a chip-type antenna or integrated with other components into an IC package
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• 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 1/48 Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/00 Arrangements for simultaneous operation of antennas on two or more different wavebands, e.g. dual-band or multi-band arrangements combinations of separate active antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system H01Q21/30
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/04 Resonant antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/065 Microstrip dipole antennas patch antenna H01Q9/0407
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/285 Planar dipole H01Q9/065 takes precedence; patch antenna H01Q9/0407

Abstract

A three-dimensional antenna structure includes first and second antenna components and a via. The first antenna component is on a first layer of a substrate and the second antenna component is on a second layer of a substrate. The via couples the first antenna component to the second antenna component, wherein the first antenna overlaps, from a radial perspective, the second antenna component by an angle of overlap.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional antenna structure comprises:

a first antenna component on a first layer of a substrate;

a second antenna component on a second layer of a substrate; and

a via coupling the first antenna component to the second antenna component, wherein the first antenna overlaps, from a radial perspective, the second antenna component by an angle of overlap.

2. The three-dimensional antenna structure of claim 1 further comprises:

the first antenna component having a first pattern in a first geometric shape; and

the second antenna component has a second pattern in a second geometric shape.

3. The three-dimensional antenna structure of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first and second patterns comprises a modified Polya curve.

4. The three-dimensional antenna structure of claim 1 further comprises:

operating characteristics that are based on physical characteristics of the first and second antenna components and on the angle of overlap.

5. The three-dimensional antenna structure of claim 1 comprises a monopole antenna.

6. The three-dimensional antenna structure of claim 1 comprises a dipole antenna.

7. The three-dimensional antenna structure of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises at least one of:

an integrated circuit (IC) die;

an IC package substrate; and

a printed circuit board.

8. The three-dimensional antenna structure of claim 1 further comprises:

a plurality of vias to couple the first antenna component to the second antenna component, wherein the plurality of vias includes the via.

9. The three-dimensional antenna structure of claim 1 further comprises:

the first antenna component including a plurality of antenna elements; and

the second antenna component including one or more antenna elements.

10. The three-dimensional antenna structure of claim 1 further comprises:

a third antenna component on a third layer of the substrate; and

a second via to couple the third antenna component to the first or the second antenna component.

11. A three-dimensional antenna array comprises:

a first antenna structure including;

a first antenna component on a first substrate layer;

a second antenna component on a second substrate layer; and

a first via coupling the first antenna component to the second antenna component, wherein the first antenna overlaps, from a radial perspective, the second antenna component by a first angle of overlap;

a second antenna structure including;

a third antenna component on a third substrate layer;

a fourth antenna component on a fourth substrate layer; and

a second via coupling the third antenna component to the fourth antenna component, wherein the third antenna overlaps, from a radial perspective, the fourth antenna component by a second angle of overlap.

12. The three-dimensional antenna array of claim 11 further comprises:

a substrate having a plurality of layers, wherein the plurality of layers includes the first, second, third, and fourth substrate layers, and wherein a first layer of the plurality of layers includes the first and third substrate layers and a second layer of the plurality of layers includes the second and fourth substrate layers.

13. The three-dimensional antenna array of claim 11 further comprises:

a first substrate that includes the first and second substrate layers; and

a second substrate that includes the third and fourth substrate layers.

14. The three-dimensional antenna array of claim 11, wherein the first antenna structure further comprises:

a third antenna component on a fifth substrate layer; and

a third via coupling the third antenna component to the first or the second antenna component.

15. The three-dimensional antenna array of claim 11, wherein the second antenna structure further comprises:

a third antenna component on a fifth substrate layer; and

a third via coupling the third antenna component to the third or the fourth antenna component.

16. The three-dimensional antenna array of claim 11 further comprises:

the first antenna component including a plurality of antenna elements; and

the second antenna component including one or more antenna components.

17. The three-dimensional antenna array of claim 11 further comprises:

the third antenna component including a plurality of antenna elements; and

the fourth antenna component including one or more antenna components.

18. The three-dimensional antenna array of claim 11 further comprises:

the first antenna component having a first modified Polya curve pattern in a first geometric shape; and

the second antenna component has a second modified Polya pattern in a second geometric shape, wherein operating characteristics of the first antenna structure are based on physical characteristics of the first and second antenna components and on the first angle of overlap.

19. The three-dimensional antenna array of claim 11 further comprises:

the third antenna component having a third modified Polya curve pattern in a third geometric shape; and

the fourth antenna component has a fourth modified Polya pattern in a fourth geometric shape, wherein operating characteristics of the second antenna structure are based on physical characteristics of the third and fourth antenna components and on the second angle of overlap.