Multiple resonant antenna unit, associated printed circuit board and radio communication

• US 8,816,911 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2006
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Huber, Stefan, Schreiber, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Levi, Dameon E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dawkins, Collin
• Application Number:
  US12/090,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20090219215A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,869 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/895, 343/700.MS
• 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 5/357 using a single feed point
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/50 Feeding or matching arrangements for broad-band or multi-band operation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/04 Resonant antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/42 with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength

Abstract

A multiple resonant antenna unit (AT2) comprises a current feed area (SPI) from which only a single, spiral-like antenna branch (AZI) emanates. The total course of this spiral-like antenna branch (AZI) forms a first resonant antenna structure for a low frequency range and at least one partial section (SE15) inside the total course of this spiral-like antenna structure (AZI) forms a second resonant antenna structure for a higher frequency range.

Claims

1. A multiple resonant antenna unit comprising:

an electrically conductive surface element coupled to a current feed region; and

a single, spiral antenna branch that is coplanar with and that extends from the surface element, the spiral antenna branch having a total length from the surface element to an end of the spiral antenna branch, wherein;

the entirety of the spiral antenna branch forms a first resonant antenna structure for a lower frequency range;

an end portion of the spiral antenna branch, having a partial length of the total length, forms a second resonant antenna structure for a higher frequency range;

the end portion is coplanar with the surface element and is electromagnetically coupled to the surface element; and

the electrically conductive surface element is interposed between the current feed region and the spiral antenna branch.

2. The multiple resonant antenna unit of claim 1, wherein the surface element is substantially rectangular in shape.

3. The multiple resonant antenna unit of claim 2, wherein each of a width and a length of the surface element is substantially larger than a width of the spiral antenna branch.

4. The multiple resonant antenna unit of claim 1, wherein the spiral antenna branch is composed of portions that are arranged at right angles to adjacent portions.

5. The multiple resonant antenna unit of claim 1, wherein the spiral antenna branch is formed by lamellar conductive tracks or wires.

6. The multiple resonant antenna unit of claim 4, wherein the spiral antenna branch is arranged to spiral inwards so that the end portion of the spiral antenna branch is at least partially encircled by other portions of the spiral antenna branch.

7. The multiple resonant antenna unit of claim 1, wherein a ratio of the partial length of the end portion to the total length of the spiral antenna branch is substantially equal to a ratio of the higher frequency range to the lower frequency range.

8. The multiple resonant antenna unit of claim 7, wherein the total length of the spiral antenna branch is between 70 and 90mm.

9. The multiple resonant antenna unit of claim 7, wherein the partial length of the end portion of the spiral antenna branch is between 10 and 25 mm.

10. A printed circuit board assembly comprising:

a printed circuit board; and

at least one multiple resonant antenna unit coupled to the printed circuit board, the multiple resonant antenna unit comprising;

an electrically conductive surface element coupled to a current feed region via a contact line; and

a single, spiral antenna branch that is coplanar with and that extends from the surface element, the spiral antenna branch having a total length from the surface element to an end of the spiral antenna branch, wherein;

the entirety of the spiral antenna branch forms a first resonant antenna structure for a lower frequency range;

an end portion of the spiral antenna branch, having a partial length of the total length, forms a second resonant antenna structure for a higher frequency range;

the end portion is coplanar with the surface element and is electromagnetically coupled to the surface element; and

the electrically conductive surface element is interposed between the current feed region and the spiral antenna branch.

11. The printed circuit board assembly of claim 10, wherein the multiple resonant antenna unit is fixed to a lower end face of the printed circuit board.

13. The radio communication device of claim 11, further comprising:

a housing; and

a printed circuit board, wherein the multiple resonant antenna unit is coupled to the printed circuit board within the housing of the radio communication device.

12. A radio communication device comprising:

at least one multiple resonant antenna unit comprising;

an electrically conductive surface element coupled to the current feed region; and

a single, spiral antenna branch that is coplanar with and that extends from the surface element, the spiral antenna branch having a total length from the surface element to an end of the spiral antenna branch, wherein;

the entirety of the spiral antenna branch forms a first resonant antenna structure for a lower frequency range;

an end portion of the spiral antenna branch, having a partial length of the total length, forms a second resonant antenna structure for a higher frequency range;

the end portion is coplanar with the surface element and is electromagnetically coupled to the surface element; and

the electrically conductive surface element is interposed between the current feed region and the spiral antenna branch.

14. The radio communication device of claim 12, wherein the surface element of the multiple resonant antenna unit is substantially rectangular in shape, and wherein each of a width and a length of the surface element is substantially larger than a width of the spiral antenna branch.

15. The radio communication device of claim 14, wherein the spiral antenna branch is arranged to spiral inwards so that the end portion of the spiral antenna branch is at least partially encircled by other portions of the spiral antenna branch.

16. The radio communication device of claim 12, wherein the spiral antenna branch of the multiple resonant antenna unit is formed by lamellar conductive tracks or wires.

17. The radio communication device of claim 12, wherein the spiral antenna branch is composed of portions that are arranged at right angles to adjacent portions.

18. The radio communication device of claim 12, wherein a ratio of the partial length of the end portion to the total length of the spiral antenna branch is substantially equal to a ratio of the higher frequency range to the lower frequency range.

19. The radio communication device of claim 18, wherein the total length of the spiral antenna branch is between 70 and 90 mm.

20. The radio communication device of claim 18, wherein the partial length of the end portion of the spiral antenna branch is between 10 and 25 mm.

21. A multiple resonant antenna unit comprising:

an electrically conductive surface element coupled to a current feed region;

a meandering conductive track that extends from the surface element, wherein the surface element is interposed between the current feed region and the meandering conductive track; and

a single, spiral antenna branch that extends from the meandering conductive track, wherein the meandering conductive track is interposed between the surface element and the spiral antenna branch, the spiral antenna branch having a total length from the surface element to an end of the spiral antenna branch;

wherein the entirety of the meandering conductive track and the entirety of the spiral antenna branch together form a first resonant antenna structure for a lower frequency range, wherein an end portion of the spiral antenna branch, having a partial length of the total length of the spiral antenna branch, forms a second resonant antenna structure for a higher frequency range, and wherein the end portion is coplanar with a portion of the meandering conductive track and is electromagnetically coupled to the meandering conductive track.