Multi-Band Wireless Terminals With A Hybrid Antenna Along An End Portion, And Related Multi-Band Antenna Systems

• US 20130076580A1
• Filed: 03/14/2012
• Published: 03/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ying, Zhinong, Zhang, Shuai
• Granted Patent: US 9,583,824 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/720
• 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 1/521 reducing the coupling between adjacent antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• 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 5/364 Creating multiple current paths
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/42 with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength

Abstract

An antenna system may include a backplate that includes an end portion. The antenna system may also include a hybrid antenna that includes first and second antenna elements spaced apart from each other along the end portion of the backplate. The first antenna element may include a type of antenna element that is structurally different from the second antenna element. Additionally, the antenna system may further include a parasitic element between the first and second antenna elements along the end portion of the backplate.

Claims

1. A multi-band wireless communications terminal comprising:

a backplate covering a multi-band transceiver circuit configured to provide communications for the multi-band wireless communications terminal via a plurality of frequency bands;

a hybrid antenna comprising first and second antenna elements spaced apart from each other along an end portion of the backplate, wherein the first antenna element comprises a type of antenna element that is structurally different from the second antenna element, and wherein the multi-band transceiver circuit is configured to communicate through the first and second antenna elements via the plurality of frequency bands; and

a parasitic element between the first and second antenna elements along the end portion of the backplate.

2. The multi-band wireless communications terminal of claim 1, wherein the first and second antenna elements are structurally asymmetrical with respect to each other.

3. The multi-band wireless communications terminal of claim 2, wherein the first antenna element comprises a monopole antenna element and the second antenna element comprises a c-fed antenna element.

4. The multi-band wireless communications terminal of claim 3, further comprising an impedance matching network connected to the monopole antenna element.

5. The multi-band wireless communications terminal of claim 4, wherein the impedance matching network comprises a wideband impedance matching network that connects the monopole antenna element to the backplate.

6. The multi-band wireless communications terminal of claim 4, wherein:

each of the monopole and c-fed antenna elements comprises first and second portions, the first portion at least partially surrounding the second portion; and

the c-fed antenna element comprises a capacitive element connected between its first and second portions.

7. The multi-band wireless communications terminal of claim 5, wherein:

the first portion of the c-fed antenna element comprises a perimeter portion located along a perimeter of the multi-band wireless communications terminal and a side portion located between the second portion of the c-fed antenna element and the parasitic element; and

the first portion of the monopole antenna element comprises a perimeter portion but no side portion between the second portion of the monopole antenna element and the parasitic element.

8. The multi-band wireless communications terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

a speaker on the parasitic element between the first and second antenna elements along the end portion of the backplate; and

an antenna housing configured to cover the first and second antenna elements, and further configured to provide an acoustic cavity for the speaker.

9. The multi-band wireless communications terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

a slot in the parasitic element between the first and second antenna elements;

a third antenna element at least partially recessed in the slot.

10. The multi-band wireless communications terminal of claim 9, wherein the third antenna element comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) antenna element.

11. The multi-band wireless communications terminal of claim 1, further comprising a dielectric block along the end portion of the backplate, wherein the first and second antenna elements and the parasitic element are on the dielectric block.

12. The multi-band wireless communications terminal of claim 11, wherein:

each of the first and second antenna elements is on first and second sides of the dielectric block;

the first side of the dielectric block is substantially parallel with a primary surface of the backplate; and

the second side of the dielectric block comprises an outer edge of the dielectric block.

13. The multi-band wireless communications terminal of claim 12, wherein the first side of the dielectric block comprises a perimeter portion that shares a boundary with a perimeter portion of the end portion of the backplate.

14. The multi-band wireless communications terminal of claim 11, wherein the dielectric block has a width of less than 55.0 millimeters and a thickness of less than 5.0 millimeters.

15. The multi-band wireless communications terminal of claim 1, wherein:

the first and second antenna elements comprise printed metals; and

the parasitic element comprises a printed metal film.

16. The multi-band wireless communications terminal of claim 1, wherein the first and second antenna elements comprise transmit/receive antennas that are configured to communicate in different cellular ones of the plurality of frequency bands.

17. A multi-band wireless communications terminal comprising:

a backplate covering a multi-band transceiver circuit configured to provide communications for the multi-band wireless communications terminal via a plurality of frequency bands;

a dielectric material along an end portion of the backplate;

a hybrid antenna comprising a monopole antenna element and a c-fed antenna element spaced apart from each other on the dielectric material, wherein the multi-band transceiver circuit is configured to communicate through the monopole and c-fed antenna elements via the plurality of frequency bands;

a wideband impedance matching network that connects the monopole antenna element to the backplate; and

a parasitic metal strip between the monopole and c-fed antenna elements on the dielectric material.

18. A multi-band antenna system comprising:

a backplate comprising first and second end portions;

a hybrid antenna comprising a monopole antenna element and a c-fed antenna element spaced apart from each other along the first end portion of the backplate; and

a parasitic element between the monopole and c-fed antenna elements along the first end portion of the backplate.

19. The multi-band antenna system of claim 18, further comprising a wideband impedance matching network that connects the monopole antenna element to the first end portion of the backplate.

20. The multi-band antenna system of claim 18, further comprising a dielectric block along the first end portion of the backplate, wherein:

the monopole and c-fed antenna elements and the parasitic element are on the dielectric block;

the backplate comprises a metal backplate;

the monopole and c-fed antenna elements each comprise printed metals; and

the parasitic element comprises a printed metal film.