Multiple-antenna device having an isolation element

• US 7,592,969 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2007
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Proctor, James A. Jr., Gainey, Kenneth M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tan; Vibol
• Application Number:
  US12/000,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20080136736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 343/893, 343/844, 343/846, 455/11.1
• US Class Current: 343/893
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/007 specially adapted for indoor communication
• 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 1/521 reducing the coupling between adjacent antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/526 Electromagnetic shields
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/10 using reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/08 the units being spaced along or adjacent to a rectilinear path waveguide fed H01Q21/0037
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/24 Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction circularly polarised patch antennas H01Q9/0428; circularly polarised horns H01Q13/0241; cross-polarised horns H01Q13/0258; polarisation converters H01Q15/242; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; crossed polarisation dual antenna H01Q25/001
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/005 providing two patterns of opposite direction; back to back antennas H01Q25/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/50 Feeding or matching arrangements for broad-band or multi-band operation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40

Abstract

A multiple-antenna device is provided, comprising: a printed circuit board having a ground plane configured to provide electromagnetic isolation between a first side of the printed circuit board and a second side of the printed circuit board; a first non-conductive support member formed over the first side of the printed circuit board; a second non-conductive support member formed over the second side of the printed circuit board; a first antenna formed over the first non-conductive support member; and a second antenna formed over the second non-conductive support member, wherein the first antenna is electrically connected to a first feed point on a first portion of the printed circuit board that is not connected to the ground plane, and wherein the second antenna is electrically connected to a second feed point on a second portion of the printed circuit board that is not connected to the ground plane.

Claims

1. A multiple-antenna device comprising:

a printed circuit board having a ground plane configured to provide electromagnetic isolation between a first side of the printed circuit board and a second side of the printed circuit board;

a first non-conductive support member formed over the first side of the printed circuit board;

a second non-conductive support member formed over the second side of the printed circuit board;

a first antenna formed over the first non-conductive support member; and

a second antenna formed over the second non-conductive support member,

wherein the first antenna is electrically connected to a first feed point on a first portion of the printed circuit board that is not connected to the ground plane, and

wherein the second antenna is electrically connected to a second feed point on a second portion of the printed circuit board that is not connected to the ground plane.

2. The multiple-antenna device of claim 1, wherein the first and second non-conductive support elements are integral to the printed circuit board.

3. The multiple-antenna device of claim 1, wherein the first and second antennae are each one of:

a slot antenna, a patch antenna, a dipole antenna, and an inverted F antenna.

4. The multiple-antenna device of claim 1, further comprising:

a first transceiver circuit formed between the first side of the printed circuit board and the first non-conductive support member;

a second transceiver circuit formed between the second side of the printed circuit board and the second non-conductive support member;

a first electromagnetic isolation element formed between the first transceiver circuit and the first non-conductive support member, the first electromagnetic isolation element being connected to the ground plane; and

a second electromagnetic isolation element formed between the second transceiver circuit and the second non-conductive support member, the second electromagnetic isolation element being connected to the ground plane.

5. The multiple-antenna device of claim 1, further comprising a transceiver circuit formed apart from the printed circuit board and connected to the first and second antennae via wires on the printed circuit board.

6. The multiple-antenna device of claim 1,

wherein the first antenna has a first polarization, and

wherein the second antennas has a second polarization different from the first polarization.

7. The multiple-antenna device of claim 6, wherein the second polarization is ninety degrees shifted from the first polarization.

8. The multiple-antenna device of claim 1,

wherein the first antenna can be connected to a first transceiver using one of a first and a second polarization, and

wherein the second antenna can be connected to a second transceiver using one of the first and the second polarization.

9. The multiple-antenna device of claim 1, further comprising:

a first field-shaping element formed on the first side of the printed circuit board, proximate to an outer edge of the first antenna, the first field-shaping element being configured to shape first electromagnetic fields radiating from the first antenna; and

a second field-shaping element formed on the second side of the printed circuit board, proximate to an outer edge of the second antenna, the second field-shaping element being configured to shape second electromagnetic fields radiating from the second antenna.

15. The multiple-antenna device of claim 1,

wherein the first antenna can be connected to a first transceiver using one of a first and a second polarization,

wherein the second antenna can be connected to a second transceiver using one of the first and the second polarization,

wherein the third antenna can be connected to a third transceiver using one of a first and a second polarization, and

wherein the fourth antenna can be connected to a fourth transceiver using one of a first and a second polarization.

10. A multiple-antenna device comprising:

a printed circuit board having a ground plane configured to provide electromagnetic isolation between a first side of the printed circuit board and a second side of the printed circuit board;

a first non-conductive support member formed over the first side of the printed circuit board;

a second non-conductive support member formed over the second side of the printed circuit board;

a third non-conductive support member formed over the second side of the printed circuit board;

a fourth non-conductive support member formed over the first side of the printed circuit board;

a first antenna formed over the first non-conductive support member;

a second antenna formed over the second non-conductive support member,

a third antenna formed over the third non-conductive support member,

a fourth antenna formed over the fourth non-conductive support member.

11. The multiple-antenna device of claim 10, further comprising:

a first transceiver circuit formed between the first side of the printed circuit board and the first and fourth non-conductive support members;

a second transceiver circuit formed between the second side of the printed circuit board and the second and third non-conductive support members;

a first electromagnetic isolation element formed between the first transceiver circuit and the first and fourth non-conductive support members, the first electromagnetic isolation element being connected to the ground plane; and

a second electromagnetic isolation element formed between the second transceiver circuit and the second and third non-conductive support members, the second electromagnetic isolation element being connected to the ground plane.

12. The multiple-antenna device of claim 10, further comprising a transceiver circuit formed apart from the printed circuit board and connected to the first, second, third, and fourth antennae via wires on the printed circuit board.

13. The multiple-antenna device of claim 10,

wherein the first antenna has a first polarization,

wherein the second antenna has a second polarization,

wherein the third antenna has a third polarization,

wherein the fourth antenna has a fourth polarization,

wherein the first, second, third and fourth polarizations comprise at least a first polarization orientation and a second polarization orientation different from the first polarization orientation.

14. The multiple-antenna device of claim 13, wherein the second polarization orientation is ninety degrees shifted from the first polarization orientation.

16. The multiple-antenna device of claim 10, further comprising:

a first field-shaping element formed on the first side of the printed circuit board, proximate to an outer edge of at least one of the first and fourth antennae, the first field-shaping element being configured to shape first electromagnetic fields radiating from at least one of the first and fourth antennae; and

a second field-shaping element formed on the second side of the printed circuit board, proximate to an outer edge of at least one of the second and third antennae, the second field-shaping element being configured to shape second electromagnetic fields radiating from at least one of the second and third antennae.

17. A multiple-antenna device formed in a printed circuit board comprising:

a first antenna formed on a first side of the printed circuit board;

a second antenna formed on a second side of the printed circuit board;

a ground plane formed between the first antenna and the second antenna, the ground plane configured to provide electromagnetic isolation between the first and second antennae;

a first non-conductive support member formed between the first antenna and the ground plane;

a second non-conductive support member formed between the second antenna and the ground plane,

wherein the first antenna is electrically connected to a first feed point on the printed circuit board that is not connected to the ground plane, and

wherein the second antenna is electrically connected to a second feed point on the printed circuit board that is not connected to the ground plane.

18. The multiple-antenna device of claim 17, wherein the first and second antennae are each one of:

a slot antenna, a patch antenna, a dipole antenna, and an inverted F antenna.

19. The multiple-antenna device of claim 17,

wherein the first antenna has a first polarization, and

wherein the second antennas has a second polarization different from the first polarization.

20. The multiple-antenna device of claim 17,

wherein the first antenna has a first polarization, and

wherein the second antennas has a second polarization different from the first polarization.

21. The multiple-antenna device of claim 20, wherein the second polarization is ninety degrees shifted from the first polarization.