Multi-frequency band antenna device for radio communication terminal

• US 7,477,195 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2006
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Vance, Scott La Dell
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, HoangAnh T
• Application Number:
  US11/498,043
• Publication Number:
  US 20070210969A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/702, 343/846
• US Class Current: 343/700.0MS
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/371 Branching current paths
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/378 Combination of fed elements with parasitic elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0457 electromagnetically coupled to the feed line

Abstract

A multi-band radio antenna device for a radio communication terminal includes an integral feed and ground structure electrically connected to a first radiating antenna element and a second radiating antenna element. The first radiating antenna element includes a first continuous trace of conductive material, wherein the first continuous trace has a first branch tuned to radiate at first frequencies in a first frequency band, and a second branch, which is tuned to radiate in a second frequency band at second frequencies approximately equal to or greater than two times the first frequencies. The said second radiating antenna element has a second continuous trace of conductive material, wherein the second continuous trace has a third branch capacitively coupled to the second branch. Such an antenna device is suitable for built-in antennas, at the same time having a wide high-frequency band bandwidth, which enables the antenna to be operable at a number of frequency bands.

Claims

1. A multi-band radio antenna device for a radio communication terminal, comprising:

a first radiating element;

a second radiating element; and

an integral feed and ground structure electrically connected to the first radiating antenna element and the second radiating antenna element,

said first radiating antenna element comprising a first continuous trace of conductive material, the first continuous trace comprising;

a first branch tuned to radiate at first frequencies in a first frequency band, and

a second branch tuned to radiate in a second frequency band at second frequencies approximately equal to or greater than two times the first frequencies, and

said second radiating antenna element comprising a second continuous trace of conductive material, the second continuous trace comprising a third branch capacitively coupled to said second branch, wherein said third branch is not capacitively coupled to said first branch.

2. The multi-band radio antenna device according to claim 1, wherein said third branch is a feeding branch of said multi-band radio antenna device, connected to a high frequency feeding connection point of said integral feed and ground structure.

3. The multi-band radio antenna device according to claim 2, further comprising a third radiating antenna element comprising a third continuous trace of conductive material, wherein the third continuous trace has a fourth branch tuned to resonate in a third frequency band at third frequencies that are higher than the second frequencies, and which is capacitively coupled to the feed and ground structure and arranged substantially adjacent to the second branch.

4. The multi-band radio antenna device according to claim 3, wherein said fourth branch is substantially arranged in the same plane as said first branch and said second branch.

5. The multi-band radio antenna device according to claim 3, wherein said fourth branch is a parasitic element that in use tunes a lower high-band resonance of the antenna device.

6. The multi-band radio antenna device according to claim 5, wherein the second branch is an inner high-band element of the antenna device, and the third branch is a capacitive feeding structure, and wherein a higher high-band resonance in use is tuned with the second branch and the third branch the third branch being assembled on a carrier element opposite said second branch, wherein said second branch and said third branch substantially overlap.

7. The multi-band radio antenna device according to claim 6, wherein said carrier element is a dielectric carrier element and said first, second and third conductive antenna traces are attached to said carrier element.

8. The multi-band radio antenna device according to claim 7, wherein said second branch and said third branch that substantially overlap are arranged on opposite surfaces of said dielectric carrier element, having a dielectric material of said carrier element in-between.

9. The multi-band radio antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the first branch is a U-shaped element having a lower resonance of the antenna device in said first frequency band, wherein said lower resonance is tuned with said U-shaped element.

10. The multi-band radio antenna device according to claim 1, wherein said first branch of said first continuous trace of conductive material of said first radiating antenna element is connected to a ground feed of said feed and ground structure, and wherein a series matching component is connected between said ground feed and ground, whereby said matching component in use tunes the lower resonance of the antenna device in said first frequency band and matches it to a predefined impedance.

11. The multi-band radio antenna device according to claim 10, wherein said matching element is a capacitor having a capacitance.

12. The multi-band radio antenna device according to claim 10, wherein said capacitance is between 1 pico Farad and 20 pico Farads and said impedance is 50 ohms.

13. The multi-band radio antenna device according to claim 1, further comprising a carrier element that comprises a substantially planar part having an upper surface, a lower surface, a lateral surface over the thickness of the planar part and around the outer edge thereof, and having a defined height.

14. The multi-band radio antenna device according to claim 13, wherein the substantially planar part comprises a wall entrance of the mobile terminal used for at least one of a through connection, a camera lens, or an external antenna connector.

15. The multi-band radio antenna device according to claim 14, wherein said carrier element further comprises a protruding part protruding over said upper surface, wherein said protruding part has said integral feed and ground structure arranged thereon.

16. The multi-band radio antenna device according to claim 15, wherein said protruding part is configured as part of a mechanical connector for said integral feed and ground structure.

17. The multi-band radio antenna device according to claim 13, wherein said first and second branches are arranged on said lower surface, and wherein said third branch is arranged on the upper surface, opposite to the second branch, and wherein said third branch and the second branch substantially overlap.

18. A radio communication terminal for multi-band radio communication, comprising:

an integral feed and ground structure electrically connected to a first radiating antenna element and a second radiating antenna element,

said first radiating antenna element comprising a first continuous trace of conductive material, the first continuous trace comprising;

a first branch tuned to radiate at first frequencies in a first frequency band, and

a second branch tuned to radiate in a second frequency band at second frequencies approximately equal to or greater than two times the first frequencies; and

said second radiating antenna element comprising a second continuous trace of conductive material, the second continuous trace having a third branch capacitively coupled to said second branch and not capacitively coupled to said first branch.

19. The radio communication terminal according to claim 18, wherein the radio communication terminal is a mobile telephone.

20. In a radio communication terminal including a multi-band radio antenna device comprising:

an integral feed and ground structure electrically connected to a first radiating antenna element and a second radiating antenna element,

said first radiating antenna element comprising a first continuous trace of conductive material, the first continuous trace comprising;

a first branch tuned to radiate at first frequencies in a first frequency band, and

a second branch, tuned to radiate in a second frequency band at second frequencies approximately equal to or greater than two times the first frequencies; and

said second radiating antenna element comprising a second continuous trace of conductive material, the second continuous trace having a third branch;

a method of tuning said second frequency band, said method comprising;

capacitively coupling said third branch to said second branch through a common dielectric carrier element; and

arranging said third branch to not be capacitively coupled to said first branch.