Reduced surface area antenna apparatus and mobile communications devices incorporating the same
First Claim
1. An antenna apparatus with a reduced metal surface area, comprising:
- an antenna structure disposed on a three-dimensional substrate, the antenna structure, comprising;
three or more discrete conductive connection structures; and
a radiator portion comprising one or more cross-hatch structures, the radiator portion comprising;
an outline structure configured to define a conductive closed-loop external periphery for the radiator portion;
a plurality of conductive portions disposed within the conductive closed-loop external periphery, a first portion of the plurality of conductive portions being separated from a second portion of the plurality of conductive portions by a plurality of non-conductive portions that are also disposed within the external periphery, the first portion and the second portion being interconnected by the three or more discrete conductive connection structures.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Space- and cost-efficient antenna apparatus and methods of making and using the same. Antenna may comprise one or more planar radiator elements fabricated from an electrically conductive material. Surface area of the antenna radiator metallized portion may be reduced by utilizing a crosshatch pattern. The pattern may comprise of one or more metal-free elements disposed within the outline of the radiator. The elements may be interconnected by conductive crosslinks. The antenna may be coupled to radio electronics at one or more connection points. At least one of a size and/or a placement of the crosslinks may be configured based on distance from the connecting points. Crosslink size and/or placement may be configured to provide a prescribed current flow within the antenna. Reducing surface area of the antenna radiator may reduce manufacturing time and/or cost compared with prior art antenna design approaches.
461 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An antenna apparatus with a reduced metal surface area, comprising:
an antenna structure disposed on a three-dimensional substrate, the antenna structure, comprising; three or more discrete conductive connection structures; and a radiator portion comprising one or more cross-hatch structures, the radiator portion comprising; an outline structure configured to define a conductive closed-loop external periphery for the radiator portion; a plurality of conductive portions disposed within the conductive closed-loop external periphery, a first portion of the plurality of conductive portions being separated from a second portion of the plurality of conductive portions by a plurality of non-conductive portions that are also disposed within the external periphery, the first portion and the second portion being interconnected by the three or more discrete conductive connection structures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A reduced-area antenna element, comprising:
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an outline structure that defines a conductive closed-loop external periphery for the reduced-area antenna element; a first radiating element having a first branch, a second branch, and a connecting point configured to connect the first branch and the second branch of the first radiating element, the first radiating element being disposed within the conductive closed-loop external periphery; and a plurality of connecting elements disposed substantially between the first and the second branches; wherein the first branch and the second branch of the first radiating element are separated by a plurality of non-conductive blank portions and the plurality of connecting elements, the plurality of non-conductive blank portions also being disposed within the external periphery. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A mobile communications device, comprising:
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a device enclosure and a substrate disposed within the device enclosure; a radio transceiver; and a reduced-area antenna element disposed on the substrate, the reduced-area antenna element, comprising; an outline structure that defines a conductive closed-loop external periphery for the reduced-area antenna element; a first radiating element having first and second branches, and a connecting point, the first and second branches of the first radiating element being separated by a plurality of non-conductive portions, the first radiating element being disposed within the conductive closed-loop external periphery; and a plurality of connecting elements disposed at a plurality of corresponding locations substantially between the first and the second branches, the plurality of corresponding locations being determined by a respective distance of each connecting element from the connecting point, the plurality of connecting elements being disposed within the conductive closed-loop external periphery. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification