REDUCED SURFACE AREA ANTENNA APPARATUS AND MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES INCORPORATING THE SAME

• US 20150200462A1
• Filed: 12/02/2014
• Published: 07/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pulse Electronics Incorporated (Yageo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pulse Electronics Incorporated (Yageo Corporation)
• Inventors: Leppaluoto, Timo
• Granted Patent: US 9,590,308 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/371 Branching current paths
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0414 in a stacked or folded configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/42 with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength

Abstract

Space- and cost-efficient antenna apparatus and methods of making and using the same. Antenna may comprise one or more planar radiator elements fabricated from an electrically conductive material. Surface area of the antenna radiator metallized portion may be reduced by utilizing a crosshatch pattern. The pattern may comprise of one or more metal-free elements disposed within the outline of the radiator. The elements may be interconnected by conductive crosslinks. The antenna may be coupled to radio electronics at one or more connection points. At least one of a size and/or a placement of the crosslinks may be configured based on distance from the connecting points. Crosslink size and/or placement may be configured to provide a prescribed current flow within the antenna. Reducing surface area of the antenna radiator may reduce manufacturing time and/or cost compared with prior art antenna design approaches.

Claims

1. An antenna apparatus with a reduced metal surface area, comprising:

an antenna structure disposed on a three-dimensional substrate, the antenna structure, comprising;

one or more connection structures; and

a radiator portion comprising one or more cross-hatch structures.

2. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more connection structures comprises a feed structure and a ground structure.

3. The antenna apparatus of claim 2, wherein the antenna structure is configured for operation in a plurality of frequency bands, the plurality of frequency bands comprising an upper frequency band and a lower frequency band.

4. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more cross-hatch structures, comprises:

a first branch and a second branch; and

a plurality of connecting elements disposed substantially between the first and the second branches.

5. The antenna apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least one of a size and/or a placement of the first and the second branches is configured based on a distance from the one or more connection structures.

6. The antenna apparatus of claim 5, wherein the one or more connection structures comprises at least one of a feed structure and a ground structure.

7. The antenna apparatus of claim 6, wherein at least one of a size and/or a placement of at least one of the plurality of connecting elements is configured based on a distance from at least one of the feed structure and the ground structure.

8. The antenna apparatus of claim 4, wherein a configuration of at least one of the plurality of connecting elements is based at least in part on achieving a desired current flow.

9. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radiator portion comprising the one or more cross-hatch structures, comprises:

a first radiator structure disposed on a first surface of the three-dimensional substrate; and

a second radiator structure disposed on a second surface of the three-dimensional substrate, the first and second surfaces being different surfaces.

10. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radiator portion comprising the one or more cross-hatch structures is configured to reduce a conductive surface area of the antenna structure as compared with an antenna structure with no cross-hatch structures.

11. A reduced-area antenna element, comprising:

a first radiating element having a first and a second branches thereof, and a connecting point; and

a plurality of connecting elements disposed substantially between the first and the second branches.

12. The antenna element of claim 11, wherein at least one of a size and/or a placement of the first and the second branches is configured based on a distance from the connecting point.

13. The antenna element of claim 11, wherein at least one of a size and/or a placement of at least one of the plurality of connecting elements is configured based on a distance from the connecting point.

14. The antenna element of claim 11, wherein a configuration of at least one of the plurality of connecting elements is based at least in part on achieving a desired current flow.

15. A mobile communications device, comprising:

a device enclosure and a substrate disposed within the device enclosure;

a radio transceiver; and

a reduced-area antenna element disposed on the substrate, the reduced-area antenna element, comprising;

a first radiating element having a first and a second branches thereof, and a connecting point; and

a plurality of connecting elements disposed substantially between the first and the second branches.

16. The mobile communications device of claim 15, wherein the reduced-area antenna element is constructed from a laser direct structuring (LDS) process.

17. The mobile communications device of claim 16, wherein at least one of a size and/or a placement of the first and the second branches is configured based on a distance from the connecting point.

18. The mobile communications device of claim 16, wherein at least one of a size and/or a placement of at least one of the plurality of connecting elements is configured based on a distance from the connecting point.

19. The mobile communications device of claim 16, wherein a configuration of at least one of the plurality of connecting elements is based at least in part on achieving a desired current flow.

20. The mobile communications device of claim 16, wherein the reduced-area antenna element is configured to operate in a plurality of frequency bands, the plurality of frequency bands comprising at least an upper operating frequency band and a lower operating frequency band.