Chip antenna and antenna unit including the same

• US 6,707,427 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2002
• Issued: 03/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Network and Sensor Systems Limited (NEC Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nec Microwave Tube, Ltd. (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Tsukiji, Takehiko, Konishi, Takayoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoang V.
• Application Number:
  US10/059,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20020101382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/700.MS, 343/895, 343/873
• US Class Current: 343/700.0MS
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/362 for broadside radiating helical 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

Abstract

A chip antenna includes a first electrical conductor having a first end, a second electrical conductor extending in parallel with the first electrical conductor and having a second end located in alignment with the first end, a third electrical conductor extending between the first and second ends perpendicularly to the first and second electrical conductors, and a dielectric substrate. The first to third electrical conductors are integrally formed anywhere in the dielectric substrate, and power is fed to one of the first and second electrical conductors.

Claims

1. A chip antenna, comprising:

a first electrical conductor comprising a first end;

a second electrical conductor extending in parallel with said first electrical conductor and comprising a second end located in alignment with said first end;

a third electrical conductor extending between said first and second ends perpendicularly to said first and second electrical conductors; and

a power feed line which feeds power to one of said first and second electrical conductors, and is parallel to said third electrical conductor,

wherein said first to third electrical conductors are integrally formed, and

wherein said first and second electrical conductors comprise third and fourth ends, respectively, which are substantially aligned.

2. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a dielectric substrate, said first to third electrical conductors are formed in said dielectric substrate.

3. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first to third electrical conductors are formed on a surface of said dielectric substrate.

4. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a capacitive plate defining a capacitance between said capacitive plate and a ground and electrically connected to one of said first and second electrical conductors, said capacitive plate being formed on a surface of said dielectric substrate other than a surface of said dielectric substrate on which said first to third electrical conductors are formed.

5. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first to third electrical conductors are formed on a surface of said dielectric substrate by printing.

6. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 2, wherein said dielectric substrate comprises one of a rectangular-parallelopiped, a cubic, a cylinder, and a polygonal pole in shape.

7. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a circuit board on which said first to third electrical conductors are formed.

8. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 7, wherein said first to third electrical conductors are formed on a surface of said circuit board by printing.

9. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a capacitive plate defining a capacitance between said capacitive plate and a ground, said capacitive plate being formed on a surface of said circuit board on which said first to third electrical conductors are formed.

10. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a capacitive plate defining a capacitance between said capacitive plate and a ground and electrically connected to one of said first and second electrical conductors, said capacitive plate being formed on a surface of said circuit board other than a surface of said dielectric substrate on which said first to third electrical conductors are formed.

11. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 1, further comprising at least one meander line comprising an open end and extending from one of said first and second electrical conductors to the other.

12. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second electrical conductors are formed in a line.

13. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second electrical conductors are formed in a curve.

14. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second electrical conductors comprise a length at most equal to a quarter wavelength of an electromagnetic wave emitted from said chip antenna.

15. The chip antenna according to claim 1, wherein said first and second electrical conductors are formed in straight lines.

16. The chip antenna according to claim 1, wherein said first and second electrical conductors comprise substantially equal lengths.

17. A chip antenna, comprising:

a first electrical conductor comprising a first end;

a second electrical conductor extending in parallel with said first electrical conductor and comprising a second end located in alignment with said first end; and

a third electrical conductor extending between said first and second ends perpendicularly to said first and second electrical conductors,

wherein said first to third electrical conductors are integrally formed, power is fed through said power feed line to one of said first and second electrical conductors, and

wherein at least one capacitor is integrally formed in one of said first and second electrical conductors.

18. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 17, wherein said capacitor comprises at least one first extension extending from said first electrical conductor to said second electrical conductor, and at least one second extension extending from said second electrical conductor to said first electrical conductor such that said first and second extensions are in alignment with each other.

19. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 17, wherein said capacitor comprises at least one extension extending from one of said first and second electrical conductors to the other.

20. A chip antenna, comprising:

a first electrical conductor comprising a first end;

a second electrical conductor extending in parallel with said first electrical conductor and comprising a second end located in alignment with said first end;

a third electrical conductor extending between said first and second ends perpendicularly to said first and second electrical conductors;

a power feed line which feeds power to one of said first and second electrical conductors, and is parallel to said third electrical conductor; and

a dielectric substrate, said first to third electrical conductors are formed in said dielectric substrate,

wherein said first to third electrical conductors are integrally formed, and

wherein said first to third electrical conductors are formed inside said dielectric substrate.

21. A chip antenna, comprising:

a first electrical conductor comprising a first end;

a second electrical conductor extending in parallel with said first electrical conductor and comprising a second end located in alignment with said first end;

a third electrical conductor extending between said first and second ends perpendicularly to said first and second electrical conductors;

a power feed line which feeds power to one of said first and second electrical conductors, and is parallel to said third electrical conductor;

a dielectric substrate, said first to third electrical conductors being formed in said dielectric substrate; and

at least one capacitor which extends perpendicularly to said first to third electrical conductors in a thickness-wise direction of said dielectric substrate.

22. A chip antenna, comprising:

first electrical conductor comprising a first end;

a second electrical conductor extending in parallel with said first electrical conductor and comprising a second end located in alignment with said first end;

a third electrical conductor extending between said first and second ends perpendicularly to said first and second electrical conductors;

a power feed line which feeds power to one of said first and second electrical conductors, and is parallel to said third electrical conductor, said first to third electrical conductors being integrally formed; and

a capacitive plate defining a capacitance between said capacitive plate and a ground.

23. A chip antenna, comprising:

a first electrical conductor comprising a first end;

a second electrical conductor extending in parallel with said first electrical conductor and comprising a second end located in alignment with said first end;

a third electrical conductor extending between said first and second ends perpendicularly to said first and second electrical conductors;

a power feed line which feeds power to one of said first and second electrical conductors, and is parallel to said third electrical conductor;

a dielectric substrate, said first to third electrical conductors being formed in said dielectric substrate; and

a capacitive plate defining a capacitance between said capacitive plate and a ground, said capacitive plate is formed on a surface of said dielectric substrate on which said first to third electrical conductors are formed.

24. A chip antenna, comprising:

a first electrical conductor comprising a first end;

a second electrical conductor extending in parallel with said first electrical conductor and comprising a second end located in alignment with said first end;

a third electrical conductor extending between said first and second ends perpendicularly to said first and second electrical conductors; and

a power feed line which feeds power to one of said first and second electrical conductors, and is parallel to said third electrical conductor,

wherein said first to third electrical conductors are integrally formed, and

wherein said first and second electrical conductors are thinner than said third electrical conductor.

25. A chip antenna, comprising:

a first electrical conductor comprising a first end;

a second electrical conductor extending in parallel with said first electrical conductor and comprising a second end located in alignment with said first end;

a third electrical conductor extending between said first and second ends perpendicularly to said first and second electrical conductors; and

a power-feeding line electrically connected to one of said first and second electrical conductors and extending in parallel with said third electrical conductor,

said first to third electrical conductors and said power-feeding line are integrally formed,

power being fed to one of said first and second electrical conductors through said power-feeding line, and

wherein said first and second electrical conductors comprise third and fourth ends, respectively, which are substantially aligned.

26. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 25, further comprising a dielectric substrate, said first to third electrical conductors being formed anywhere in said dielectric substrate.

27. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 26, wherein said first to third electrical conductors are formed on a surface of said dielectric substrate.

28. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 26, further comprising at least one capacitor extending perpendicularly to said first to third electrical conductors in a thickness-wise direction of said dielectric substrate.

29. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 26, further comprising a capacitive plate defining a capacitance between said capacitive plate and a ground, said capacitive plate being formed on a surface of said dielectric substrate on which said first to third electrical conductors are formed.

30. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 26, further comprising a capacitive plate defining a capacitance between said capacitive plate and a ground and electrically connected to one of said first and second electrical conductors, said capacitive plate being formed on a surface of said dielectric substrate other than a surface of said dielectric substrate on which said first to third electrical conductors are formed.

31. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 26, wherein said first to third electrical conductors are formed on a surface of said dielectric substrate by printing.

32. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 26, wherein said dielectric substrate comprises one of a rectangular-parallelopiped, a cubic, a cylinder, and a polygonal pole in shape.

33. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 26, wherein said first and second electrical conductors are formed in a line.

34. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 26, wherein said first and second electrical conductors are formed in a curve.

35. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 26, wherein said first and second electrical conductors comprise a length at most equal to a quarter wavelength of an electromagnetic wave emitted from said chip antenna.

36. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 25, further comprising a circuit board on which said first to third electrical conductors are formed.

37. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 36, wherein said power-feeding line is formed on a surface of said circuit board on which said first to third electrical conductors are formed.

38. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 36, wherein said first to third electrical conductors are formed on a surface of said circuit board by printing.

39. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 36, further comprising a capacitive plate defining a capacitance between said capacitive plate and a ground and electrically connected to one of said first and second electrical conductors, said capacitive plate being formed on a surface of said circuit board other than a surface of said dielectric substrate on which said first to third electrical conductors are formed.

40. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 25, further comprising at least one capacitor integrally formed in one of said first and second electrical conductors.

41. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 25, further comprising at least one meander line comprising an open end and extending from one of said first and second electrical conductors to the other.

42. The chip antenna as set forth in claim 25, further comprising a capacitive plate defining a capacitance between said capacitive plate and a ground.

43. A chip antenna, comprising:

a first electrical conductor comprising a first end;

a second electrical conductor extending in parallel with said first electrical conductor and comprising a second end located in alignment with said first end;

a third electrical conductor extending between said first and second ends perpendicularly to said first and second electrical conductors;

a power-feeding line electrically connected to one of said first and second electrical conductors and extending in parallel with said third electrical conductor,

said first to third electrical conductors and said power-feeding line being integrally formed,

power being fed to one of said first and second electrical conductors through said power-feeding line; and

a dielectric substrate,

wherein said first to third electrical conductors are formed inside said dielectric substrate.

44. A chip antenna, comprising:

a first electrical conductor comprising a first end;

a second electrical conductor extending in parallel with said first electrical conductor and comprising a second end located in alignment with said first end;

a third electrical conductor extending between said first and second ends perpendicularly to said first and second electrical conductors;

a power-feeding line electrically connected to one of said first and second electrical conductors and extending in parallel with said third electrical conductor,

said first to third electrical conductors and said power-feeding line being integrally formed

power being fed to one of said first and second electrical conductors through said power-feeding line; and

at least one capacitor integrally formed in one of said first and second electrical conductors,

wherein said capacitor comprises at least one first extension extending from said first electrical conductor to said second electrical conductor and at least one second extension extending from said second electrical conductor to said first electrical conductor such that said first and second extensions are in alignment with each other.

45. A chip antenna comprising:

a first electrical conductor comprising a first end;

a second electrical conductor extending in parallel with said first electrical conductor and comprising a second end located in alignment with said first end;

a third electrical conductor extending between said first and second ends perpendicularly to said first and second electrical conductors;

a power-feeding line electrically connected to one of said first and second electrical conductors and extending in parallel with said third electrical conductor,

said first to third electrical conductors and said power-feeding line being integrally formed,

power being fed to one of said first and second electrical conductors through said power-feeding line; and

at least one capacitor being integrally formed in one of said first and second electrical conductors,

wherein said capacitor comprises at least one extension extending from one of said first and second electrical conductors to the other.

46. A chip antenna, comprising:

a first electrical conductor comprising a first end;

a second electrical conductor extending in parallel with said first electrical conductor and comprising a second end located in alignment with said first end;

a third electrical conductor extending between said first and second ends perpendicularly to said first and second electrical conductors;

a power-feeding line electrically connected to one of said first and second electrical conductors and extending in parallel with said third electrical conductor,

said first to third electrical conductors and said power-feeding line being integrally formed,

power being fed to one of said first and second electrical conductors through said power-feeding line; and

a dielectric substrate, said first to third electrical conductors are formed anywhere in said dielectric substrate,

wherein said first and second electrical conductors are thinner than said third electrical conductor.

47. A chip antenna, comprising:

a first electrical conductor comprising a first end;

a second electrical conductor extending in parallel with said first electrical conductor and comprising a second end located in alignment with said first end;

a third electrical conductor extending between said first and second ends perpendicularly to said first and second electrical conductors;

a power-feeding line electrically connected to one of said first and second electrical conductors and extending in parallel with said third electrical conductor,

said first to third electrical conductors and said power-feeding line being integrally formed,

power being fed to one of said first and second electrical conductors through said power-feeding line;

a circuit board on which said first to third electrical conductors are formed; and

a capacitive plate defining a capacitance between said capacitive plate and a ground, said capacitive plate being formed on a surface of said circuit board on which said first to third electrical conductors are formed.

48. An antenna unit, comprising:

a chip antenna; and

a circuit board comprising a ground area and a non-ground area on a surface thereof,

wherein said chip antenna is mounted on a surface of said circuit board such that a power-feeding line of said chip antenna is located in said non-ground area and said ground area acts as a ground plate by which said chip antenna is grounded,

said chip antenna including;

a first electrical conductor comprising a first end;

a second electrical conductor extending in parallel with said first electrical conductor and comprising a second end located in alignment with said first end;

a third electrical conductor extending between said first and second ends perpendicularly to said first and second electrical conductors; and

a power-feeding line electrically connected to one of said first and second electrical conductors and extending in parallel with said third electrical conductor,

said first to third electrical conductors and said power-feeding line being integrally formed,

power being fed to one of said first and second electrical conductors through said power-feeding line.

49. The antenna unit as set forth in claim 48, wherein said chip antenna further includes a dielectric substrate, said first to third electrical conductors being formed in said dielectric substrate.

50. The antenna unit as set forth in claim 48, wherein said chip antenna further includes a circuit board on which said first to third electrical conductors are formed.

51. An antenna, unit comprising:

a chip antenna; and

a circuit board comprising first and second surfaces oppositely facing each other,

wherein said chip antenna is mounted on said first surface of said circuit board,

said circuit board comprises a ground area and a non-ground area on said second surface,

both said ground area and said non-ground area on said second are surface located in alignment with a power-feeding line of said chip antenna and act as a ground plate by which said chip antenna is grounded, and

said chip antenna is located in an area in alignment with said non-ground area,

said chip antenna including;

a first electrical conductor comprising a first end;

a second electrical conductor extending in parallel with said first electrical conductor and comprising a second end located in alignment with said first end;

a third electrical conductor extending between said first and second ends perpendicularly to said first and second electrical conductors; and

a power-feeding line electrically connected to one of said first and second electrical conductors and extending in parallel with said third electrical conductor,

said first to third electrical conductors and said power-feeding line being integrally formed,

power being fed to one of said first and second electrical conductors through said power-feeding line.

52. The antenna unit as set forth in claim 51, wherein said chip antenna further includes a dielectric substrate, said first to third electrical conductors being formed in said dielectric substrate.

53. The antenna unit as set forth in claim 51, wherein said chip antenna further includes a circuit board on which said first to third electrical conductors are formed.