CRLH antenna structures

• US 8,604,983 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2011
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tyco Electronics Services GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Services GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Pathak, Vaneet, Poilasne, Gregory, Thornwall, Shane, Lee, Tzung-I, Pasion, Alan, Lopez, Norberto, Gummalla, Ajay
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, THO GIA
• Application Number:
  US13/021,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20120001804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/702, 343/846, 343/895
• US Class Current: 343/700.MS
• 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 5/357 using a single feed point
• 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: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

A variety of configurations for a CRLH structured antenna in a wireless device are presented. An antenna having portions of the CRLH structure positioned on different layers provides an elevated structure. An antenna is presented having a double folded antenna structure, wherein a cell patch includes extensions on multiple layers of a substrate.

Claims

1. A wireless device, comprising:

a substrate;

a first portion of a radiating element patterned onto a first side of the substrate;

a second portion of the radiating element patterned onto a second side of the substrate, wherein the first and second portions are patterned as a continuous conductive element;

a feed line capacitively coupled to the radiating element; and

a via line coupled to the radiating element, the via line further coupled to a reference ground,

wherein the radiating element is positioned outside of a footprint of the reference ground.

2. The wireless device of claim 1, further comprising a Composite Right and Left Handed (CRLH) metamaterial antenna structure,

wherein the first portion and the second portion of the radiating element form a continuous cell patch of the CRLH metamaterial antenna structure.

3. The wireless device of claim 2, wherein the CRLH metamaterial antenna structure includes a unit cell, comprising:

the feed line;

the continuous cell patch; and

the via line.

4. The wireless device of claim 1, comprising a meander line coupled to the feed line.

5. The wireless device of claim 1, further comprising:

a component area,

wherein the first portion of the radiating element located on the first side of the substrate includes regions patterned proximate a first side of the component area and patterned proximate a second side of the component area, and

wherein the second portion of the radiating element located on the second side of the substrate includes a region patterned opposite the component area.

6. The wireless device of claim 5, wherein the component area includes a microphone area.

7. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the feed line further comprises a launch pad capacitively coupled to the radiating element.

8. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the substrate is an FR-4 material.

9. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a keypad connection area.

10. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the radiating element conforms to a shape of the substrate.

11. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the radiating element includes a portion arranged to fold around an edge of the substrate to provide the continuous conductive element.

12. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the feed line is patterned on the first surface of the substrate.

13. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the feed line is patterned on the second surface of the substrate.

14. A Composite Right and Left Handed (CRLH) metamaterial antenna device, comprising:

a substrate; and

a unit cell, including;

a first portion of a radiating element patterned onto a first side of the substrate;

a second portion of the radiating element patterned onto a second side of the substrate;

a third portion located on an edge of the substrate between the first and second sides of the substrate;

a feed line capacitively coupled to the radiating element; and

a via line coupled to the radiating element, the via line further coupled to a reference ground,

wherein the radiating element is positioned outside of a footprint of the reference ground, and

wherein the first, second, and third portions of the radiating element are arranged as a continuous conductive element to provide a continuous cell patch of the unit cell.

15. A method for providing an antenna structure, comprising:

forming a reference ground on a substrate;

forming a first portion of a radiating element on a first side of a substrate;

forming a second portion of the radiating element on a second side of the substrate;

forming a third portion located on an edge of the substrate between the first and second sides of the substrate;

forming a feed line capacitively coupled to the radiating element; and

forming a via line coupled to the radiating element, the via line further coupled to the reference ground,

wherein the radiating element is positioned outside of a footprint of the reference ground, and

wherein the first, second, and third portions of the radiating element are arranged as a continuous conductive element.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein providing the antenna structure further comprises forming a Composite Right and Left Handed (CRLH) metamaterial antenna structure including a unit cell, the unit cell including the radiating element, the feed line, and the via line.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising forming a meander line coupled to the feed line.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising forming a component area on the substrate,

wherein the first portion of the radiating element located on the first side of the substrate includes regions formed proximate a first side of the component area and formed proximate a second side of the component area, and

wherein the second portion of the radiating element located on the second side of the substrate includes a region formed opposite the component area.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein forming the feed line further comprises forming a launch pad capacitively coupled to the radiating element.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein forming the radiating element further comprises conforming the radiating element to a shape of the substrate.