Mobile antenna unit and accompanying communication apparatus

• US 7,719,473 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2008
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Asano, Takeshi, Fujio, Shohhei
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, THO GIA
• Application Number:
  US12/127,091
• Publication Number:
  US 20080224933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/700.MS, 343/846, 343/829
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2266 disposed inside the computer
• 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 9/42 with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength

Abstract

An antenna unit is provided with an inverted F-type antenna element provided with a feeding point and a ground connection point, and a non-feed antenna element configured so as to resonate with the inverted F-type antenna element through electrical coupling. In addition, the antenna unit may also be provided with a ground part which is grounded to the earth and connected to the ground connection point provided on one edge of the inverted F-type antenna element, and a resonance element, one edge of which is connected to the ground part, resonated by the non-feed antenna element through electrical coupling.

Claims

1. An antenna unit, comprising:

a ground part grounded to the earth;

a feed antenna element, a first edge of which is connected to said ground part, provided with a feeding point between said first edge and a second edge of said antenna element;

a non-feed antenna element, which is resonated by said feed antenna element through electrical coupling; and

a resonance element, one edge of which is connected to said ground part, which is resonated by said non-feed antenna element through electrical coupling,

wherein said non-feed antenna element comprises two or more non-feed antenna elements, the lengths of which are different along a direction of resonance with said feed antenna element and said resonance element.

2. The antenna unit according to claim 1, wherein said feed antenna element, said non-feed antenna element and the resonance element oscillate in the shape of a loop, and said loop-shaped route has a length of a standing wave of one period generated by said oscillation.

3. The antenna unit according to claim 1, wherein each of said two or more non-feed antenna elements has a feed antenna element side electrical coupling part, which faces said feed antenna element and which resonates through electrical coupling, and a resonance element side electrical coupling part, which faces said resonance element and allows said resonance element to be resonated by electrical coupling.

4. The antenna unit according to claim 1, wherein said resonance element extends in a direction that maintains a distance between said feed antenna element and said edge of said resonance element that is connected to said ground part.

5. The antenna unit according to claim 1, wherein the feed antenna element comprises an inverted F-type antenna element.

6. An antenna unit, comprising:

a ground part grounded to the earth;

a feed antenna element, a first edge of which is connected to said ground part, provided with a feeding point between said first edge and a second edge of said antenna element;

a non-feed antenna element, which is resonated by said feed antenna element through electrical coupling; and

a resonance element, one edge of which is connected to said ground part, which is resonated by said non-feed antenna element through electrical coupling,

wherein when a first frequency signal is supplied to said feeding point, said feed antenna element oscillates and said non-feed antenna element resonates, so that said antenna unit radiates an electric wave corresponding to said first frequency signal as a waveguide device, and when a second frequency signal lower than said first frequency is supplied to said feeding point, said feed antenna element, said non-feed antenna element and the resonance element oscillate in the shape of a loop, so that said antenna unit radiates an electric wave corresponding to said second frequency signal.

7. The antenna unit according to claim 6, wherein the feed antenna element comprises an inverted F-type antenna element.

8. A communication apparatus, comprising:

a transmission circuit which generates signals to be radio-transmitted;

a ground part grounded to the earth;

a feed antenna element, a first edge of which is connected to said ground part, provided with a feeding point located between said first edge and a second edge of said feed antenna element, and which feeding point is supplied with signals generated by said transmission circuit;

a non-feed antenna element configured to resonate with said feed antenna element through electrical coupling;

a resonance element, one edge of which is connected to said ground part, configured to resonate with said non-feed antenna element through electrical coupling;

an input part for accepting user input in order to direct the operations of said communication apparatus;

a display part for outputting information to a user of said communication apparatus; and

a hinge part for connecting said display part to said input part and allowing said display part to move between a closed position against said input part and an open position away from said input part, and

wherein said feed antenna element and said non-feed antenna element are provided on a side of said display part and are generally parallel with said side.

9. The communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said non-feed antenna element comprises two or more non-feed antenna elements, the lengths of which are different along a direction of resonance with said feed antenna element and said resonance element.

10. The communication apparatus according to claim 9, wherein each of said two or more non-feed antenna elements has a feed antenna element side electrical coupling part, which faces said feed antenna element and which resonates through electrical coupling, and a resonance element side electrical coupling part, which faces said resonance element and allows said resonance element to be resonated by electrical coupling.

11. The communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein when a first frequency signal is supplied to said feeding point, said feed antenna element oscillates and said non-feed antenna element resonates, so that said antenna unit radiates an electric wave corresponding to said first frequency signal as a waveguide device, and when a second frequency signal lower than said first frequency is supplied to said feeding point, said feed antenna element, said non-feed antenna element and the resonance element oscillate in the shape of a loop, so that said antenna unit radiates an electric wave corresponding to said second frequency signal.

12. The communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the feed antenna element comprises an inverted F-type antenna element.