Antenna device and communication apparatus including the same

• US 6,201,502 B1
• Filed: 08/20/1999
• Issued: 03/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Original Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Inventors: Kurita, Junichi, Kawahata, Kazunari, Yuasa, Atsuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, THO GIA
• Application Number:
  US09/378,522
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: H01/Q.124, H01/Q.136, 343/700.MS, 343/702, 343/829, 343/846, 343/873, 343/848, 343/849
• US Class Current: 343/702
• 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 9/0421 with a shorting wall or a shorting pin at one end of the element H01Q9/0414 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0243 Printed circuits associated with mounted high frequency components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/115 Via connections; Lands around holes or via connections H05K1/112 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0715 provided by an outer layer of PCB
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09481 Via in pad; Pad over filled via if used for surface mounting H05K1/113
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0979 Redundant conductors or connections, i.e. more than one current path between two points
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10636 Leadless chip, e.g. chip capacitor or resistor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10969 Metallic case or integral heatsink of component electrically connected to a pad on PCB
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

An antenna includes: a base having opposing first and second surfaces and opposing end surfaces; a radiation electrode covering at least a portion of the first major surface of the base; a power terminal disposed on the base and operable to conduct signal power which is at least one of received and transmitted by the antenna; a mounting substrate having spaced apart first and second major surfaces; a first ground electrode covering at least a portion of the second major surface of the base, wherein the base is disposed on the mounting substrate such that the second major surface of the base is coupled to the first major surface of the mounting substrate and a distance D is defined from the first major surface of the base to the second major surface of the mounting substrate, and the first ground electrode is electrically coupled to the first ground electrode such that a gain of the antenna is a function of the distance

Claims

1. An antenna, comprising:

a base having opposing first and second major surfaces and opposing end surfaces;

a first ground electrode covering at least a portion of the first major surface of the base;

.

a radiation electrode covering at least a portion of the second major surface of the base;

a power terminal disposed on the base and operable to conduct signal power which is at least one of received and transmitted by the antenna;

a mounting substrate having spaced apart first and second major surfaces;

wherein

the base is disposed on the mounting substrate such that the first major surface of the base is coupled to and adjacent the second major surface of the mounting substrate and a distance D is defined from the second major surface of the base to the first major surface of the mounting substrate, a first substrate ground electrode being provided on the first major surface of the mounting substrate and

the first ground electrode is electrically coupled to the first substrate ground electrode such that a gain of the antenna is a function of the distance D.

2. The antenna of claim 1, further comprising:

a connection electrode disposed on the second major surface of the mounting substrate, the connection electrode being electrically coupled to the first substrate ground electrode, wherein;

the opposing ends of the base define a length, the opposing ends comprising first and second base ends;

the radiation electrode includes a first open circuited end at the first base end and a second end at the second base end, the radiation electrode extending over the length of the base, over the second base end and to the first major surface of the base; and

a second end of the first substrate ground electrode is electrically coupled to the connection electrode.

3. The antenna of claim 2, further comprising at least one conductive through-hole operable to electrically couple the connection electrode to the first substrate ground electrode.

4. The antenna of claim 2, further comprising:

a second substrate ground electrode covering at least a portion of the second surface of the mounting substrate but terminating proximate to the connection electrode such that the connection electrode and the second substrate ground electrode are not connected.

5. The antenna of claim 4, wherein the second end of the radiation electrode extends at least partially onto the second major surface of the base and contacts the connection electrode.

6. The antenna of claim 4, further wherein the first ground electrode contacts the second substrate ground electrode of the mounting substrate.

7. The antenna of claim 6, further comprising at least one conductive through-hole operable to electrically couple the first and second substrate ground electrodes of the mounting substrate to one another.

8. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the first and second major surfaces and the opposing ends of the base define a parallelepiped.

9. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the base is formed from at least one material taken from the group consisting of a dielectric ceramic, a dielectric resin, and a magnetic material.

10. A communications device, comprising:

at least one of a transmitter and receiver circuit; and

an antenna coupled to the at least one of the transmitter and receiver circuit, the antenna including;

a base having opposing first and second major surfaces and opposing end surfaces;

a first ground electrode covering at least a portion of the first major surface of the base;

a radiation electrode covering at least a portion of the second major surface of the base;

a power terminal disposed on the base and operable to conduct signal power which is at least one of received and transmitted by the antenna;

a mounting substrate having spaced apart first and second major surfaces;

wherein

the base is disposed on the mounting substrate such that the first major surface of the base is coupled to and adjacent the second major surface of the mounting substrate and a distance D is defined from the second major surface of the base to the first major surface of the mounting substrate, a first substrate ground electrode being provided on the first major surface of the mounting substrate and

the first ground electrode is electrically coupled to the first substrate ground electrode such that a gain of the antenna is a function of the distance D.

11. The communications device of claim 10, further comprising:

a connection electrode disposed on the second major surface of the mounting substrate, the connection electrode being electrically coupled to the first substrate ground electrode, wherein;

the opposing ends of the base define a length the opposing ends comprising first and second base ends;

the radiation electrode includes a first open circuited end at the first base end and a second end at the second base end, the radiation electrode extending over the length of the base, over the second base end and to the first major surface of the base; and

a second end of the first substrate ground electrode is electrically coupled to the connection electrode.

12. The communications device of claim 11, further comprising at least one conductive through-hole operable to electrically couple the connection electrode to the first substrate ground electrode.

13. The communications device of claim 11, further comprising:

a second substrate ground electrode covering at least a portion of the second surface of the mounting substrate but terminating proximate to the connection electrode such that the connection electrode and the second substrate ground electrode are not connected.

14. The communications device of claim 13, wherein the second end of the radiation electrode extends at least partially onto the first major surface of the base and contacts the connection electrode.

15. The communications device of claim 13, further wherein the first ground electrode contacts the second substrate ground electrode of the mounting substrate.

16. The communications device of claim 15, further comprising at least one conductive through-hole operable to electrically couple the first and second substrate ground electrodes of the mounting substrate to one another.

17. The communications device of claim 10, wherein the first and second major surfaces and the opposing ends of the base define a parallelepiped.

18. The communications device of claim 10, wherein the base is formed from at least one material taken from the group consisting of a dielectric ceramic, a dielectric resin, and a magnetic material.