Antenna module and electronic apparatus having the same

• US 7,126,547 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2004
• Issued: 10/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Kim, Chul Ho, Kim, Hyun Hak, Seo, Jeong Sik, Park, II Hwan
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HOANGANH T
• Application Number:
  US10/983,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20060049988A1
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/700.MS, 343/873, 343/90.6, 455/90, 455/90.3
• 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 21/0025 Modular arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0421 with a shorting wall or a shorting pin at one end of the element H01Q9/0414 takes precedence

Abstract

An antenna module, which minimizes a space, in an electronic apparatus set, occupied thereby without changing characteristics thereof, improves a degree of freedom of the installation structure thereof to increase the space utilization of the set, and achieves miniaturization and multi-functionality of electronic apparatuses, and an electronic apparatus having the antenna module. The antenna module includes a PCB (printed circuit board) made of nonconductive material having flexibility; an antenna element mounted at a designated position of the upper surface of the PCB; a ground line formed on the PCB so that the ground line is connected to a ground terminal of the antenna element, and provided with a joint portion formed at one end thereof; a feeder line formed on the PCB so that the feeder line is connected to a signal terminal of the antenna element, and provided with a joint portion formed at one end thereof; and a passive line, having a designated length, formed on the PCB in parallel with the feeder line. The joint portions of the ground line and the feeder line are bonded to designated positions of a set of the wireless electronic apparatus, and a portion of the antenna module having the antenna element mounted on the PCB is located outside the set.

Claims

1. An antenna module comprising:

a PCB (printed circuit board) made of a flexible, nonconductive material;

an antenna element mounted on an upper surface of the PCB;

a ground line formed on the PCB so that the ground line is connected to a ground terminal of the antenna element, and provided with a first joint portion at one end thereof;

a feeder line formed on the PCB so that the feeder line is connected to a signal terminal of the antenna element, and provided with a second joint portion at one end thereof, and

a non-grounded impedance adjusting passive line, formed on the PCB in parallel with the feeder line, the impedance adjusting passive line being configured to adjust impedance by electric coupling with the feeder line.

2. The antenna module according to claim 1, further comprising a fixing board made of nonconductive material which is attached to a lower surface of the PCB which is opposite the upper surface of the PCB on which the antenna element is mounted.

3. The antenna module according to claim 1, wherein the PCB has a single-layered structure and is made of one of the group consisting of polymer, flexible metal, polyimide, polyester, and glass epoxy, and a multi-layered structure including a plurality of sheets made of one or more selected from the above group and attached by an organic bonding agent.

4. The antenna module as set forth in claim 1, wherein the antenna element is die bonded to the upper surface of the PCB.

5. A wireless electronic apparatus comprising:

a main board having a plurality of elements constituting an electronic circuit of a wireless electronic a apparatus; and

an antenna module including;

a PCB (printed circuit board) made of a flexible non-conductive material;

an antenna element mounted on an upper surface of the PCB;

a ground line formed on the PCB so that the ground line is connected to a ground terminal of the antenna element, and provided with a first joint portion at one end thereof;

a feeder line formed on the PCB so that the feeder line is connected to a signal terminal of the antenna element, and provided with a second joint portion at one end thereof; and

a non-grounded passive line formed on the PCB in parallel with the feeder line and configured to adjust impedance by electric coupling with the feeder line,

wherein the first joint and the second joint portion are each bonded to a ground terminal and a feeder terminal of the main board, and wherein a portion of the PCB mounted on the antenna element is located outside the main board.

6. The wireless electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein the first joint portion and the second joint portion are connected to an outer edge of the upper surface of the main board.

7. The wireless electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

a side wall is formed at a side surface of the main board; and

the portion of the antenna module having the antenna element is attached to the sidewall.

8. The wireless electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

a sidewall including a protruded fixing pin, is formed at the side surface of the main board;

a fixing hole is formed at a position of the antenna module corresponding to the fixing pin; and

the antenna module is fixed to the sidewall by inserting the fixing pin into the fixing hole.