Antenna structure for a wireless device with a ground plane shaped as a loop

• US 8,493,280 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2011
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fractus SA
• Original Assignee: Fractus SA
• Inventors: Soler Castany, Jordi, Puente Baliarda, Carles
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Application Number:
  US13/282,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20120038536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/702, 343/846, 343/848
• US Class Current: 343/846
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/242 specially adapted for hand-held use
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/48 Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/42 with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength

Abstract

This invention refers to an antenna structure for a wireless device comprising a ground plane and an antenna element, wherein the ground plane has the shape of an open loop. The invention further refers to an antenna structure for a wireless device, such as alight switch or a wristsensor or wristwatch, comprising an open loop ground plane having a first end portion and a second end portion, the open loop ground plane defining an opening between the first end portion and the second end portion; and an antenna component positioned within the opening defined between the first end portion and the second end portion and overlapping at least one of the first end portion or the second end portion. Further the invention refers to a corresponding wireless device and to a method for integrating such an antenna structure in a wireless device.

Claims

1. A wireless device including an antenna structure comprising:

an antenna element;

a ground plane;

the ground plane having the shape of a semi loop;

the semi loop defining an opening; and

the opening defining a curve having at least five segments that are connected in such a way that each segment forms an angle with any adjacent segments, such that no pair of adjacent segments define a larger straight segment.

2. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the width of the ground plane is not constant, and wherein the opening defines a curve having at least ten segments that are connected in such a way that each segment forms an angle with any adjacent segments, such that no pair of adjacent segments define a larger straight segment.

3. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the antenna element is

provided such that in a projection of the antenna element onto the portion of the ground plane in the proximity of the antenna element in a direction orthogonal to the plane of the antenna element at least a portion of the antenna element is overlapping with the ground plane.

4. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the antenna element is positioned substantially close to a shortest edge of an imaginary substantially rectangular area completely enclosing the ground plane.

5. The wireless device of claim 4, wherein the longest dimension of an imaginary area substantially enclosing the antenna element is substantially parallel to the shortest edge of the imaginary substantially rectangular area.

6. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the opening has a longest dimension smaller than a quarter of a free-space wavelength of operation of the antenna structure.

7. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein said ground plane is printed or etched on a printed circuit board comprising at least one opening substantially similar to the opening of the ground plane.

8. The wireless device of claim 7, wherein a battery is included in said opening.

9. A wireless device including an antenna structure comprising:

an antenna element;

a ground plane;

the ground plane having the shape of a semi loop;

the semi loop defining an opening;

the opening defining a curve having at least five segments that are connected in such a way that each segment forms an angle with any adjacent segments, such that no pair of adjacent segments define a larger straight segment; and

the antenna element being positioned in such a way that it partially overlaps at least a portion of the ground plane.

10. The antenna structure of claim 9, wherein a feeding means is positioned between the antenna element and a portion of the ground plane.

11. The antenna structure of claim 10, wherein the antenna element comprises at least one contact point that connects the antenna element to the ground plane by direct electrical contact.

12. The antenna structure of claim 10, wherein the antenna element comprises at least one contact point that connects the antenna element to the ground plane through a reactive element.

13. The antenna structure of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the antenna element is a multilevel structure, space filling curve, a grid dimension curve or a contour curve.

14. A wireless device comprising:

an antenna element;

a ground plane;

the ground plane having the shape of a semi loop;

the semi loop defining an opening;

the antenna element partially overlaps the ground plane; and

the antenna element is multiband and operates at least two frequency bands used for mobile communication services.

15. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the ground plane is a multilevel structure, a space filling curve, a grid dimension curve or a contour curve.

16. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein a largest dimension of an imaginary area completely enclosing the opening is smaller than a quarter of a free-space wavelength.

17. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein the ground plane is at least partially integrated in a flexible strap.

18. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein the opening defines a curve having at least five segments that are connected in such a way that each segment forms an angle with any adjacent segments, such that no pair of adjacent segments define a larger straight segment.

19. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein the first antenna element is multiband and operates at least four frequency bands used for mobile communication services.

20. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein the ground plane has an irregular shape and wherein the width of the ground plane is not constant.