Antenna apparatus

An antenna apparatus may include: a substrate; two feed vias disposed in the substrate; and an antenna pattern disposed on one surface of the substrate, and including a central portion and wing portions protruding from the central portion. A first wing portion and a second wing portion adjacent to the first wing portion, among the wing portions, may be disposed over the two feed vias. The antenna apparatus may be configured to selectively provide a feed signal to either one or both of the two feed vias.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 USC § 119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0079870 filed on Jul. 3, 2019, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

The following description relates to an antenna apparatus.

2. Description of Related Art

Mobile communications data traffic is increasing rapidly on a yearly basis. Technological development to support such a leap in data transmissions in real time data traffic in wireless network is underway. For example, applications of the contents of Internet of Things (IoT) based data, live VR/AR in combination with augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and social networking services (SNS), autonomous navigation, a synch view for real-time image transmission from a user's view point using a subminiature camera, and the like, require communications for supporting the exchange of large amounts of data, for example, 5th generation (5G) communications, millimeter wave (mmWave) communications, or the like.

Thus, millimeter wave (mmWave) communications including 5G communications have been researched, and research into the commercialization/standardization of antenna apparatuses to smoothly implement such millimeter wave (mmWave) communications have been undertaken.

In order to support various frequency bands (e.g., 24 GHZ, 28 GHz, 36 GHz, 38.5 GHz, 60 GHz, and the like) of 5G communications, an antenna apparatus corresponding to the various frequency bands is required. However, in a limited space within a mobile device, there are physical limitations that may preclude mounting a plurality of antenna devices. Therefore, a single antenna device capable of supporting a plurality of frequency bands is desirable.

SUMMARY

In one general aspect, an antenna apparatus includes: a substrate; two feed vias disposed in the substrate; and an antenna pattern disposed on one surface of the substrate, and including a central portion and wing portions protruding from the central portion. A first wing portion and a second wing portion adjacent to the first wing portion, among the wing portions, are disposed over the two feed vias. The antenna apparatus is configured to selectively provide a feed signal to either one or both of the two feed vias.

The wing portions may be formed symmetrically with respect to the central portion.

The antenna pattern may include slits extending to a center of the antenna pattern.

The wing portions may be formed by the slits.

The first wing portion and the second wing portion may be respectively connected to different feed vias among the two feed vias.

The first wing portion and the second wing portion may be physically insulated from the two feed vias. The first wing portion and the second wing portion may be respectively electrically coupled to different feed vias among the two feed vias to receive the feed signal.

The first wing portion and the second wing portion may be spaced apart by an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the central portion.

The antenna pattern may be configured to generate an RF signal having right hand polarization characteristics in a first frequency band, and generate an RF signal having left hand polarization characteristics in a second frequency band having a higher frequency than the first frequency band, in response to the feed signal being provided to the first wing portion.

The antenna pattern may be configured to generate an RF signal having left hand polarization characteristics in a first frequency band, and generate an RF signal having right hand polarization characteristics in a second frequency band having a higher frequency than the first frequency band, in response to the feed signal being provided to the second wing portion.

In another general aspect, an antenna apparatus includes: a substrate; a first feed via and a second feed via, the first and second feed vias being disposed in the substrate; an antenna pattern disposed on one surface of the substrate, and configured to receive a first feed signal and a second feed signal from the first feed via and the second feed via, respectively. The antenna apparatus is configured to selectively alter phases of the first feed signal and the second feed signal.

The antenna pattern may include a central portion and wing portions protruding from the central portion.

The first feed via may be configured to provide the first feed signal to a first wing portion among the wing portions. The second feed via may be configured to provide the second feed signal to a second wing portion among the wing portions. The second wing portion may be spaced apart from the first wing portion by an angle of −90 degrees.

The antenna pattern may be configured to generate an RF signal having polarization characteristics in a first direction in which the first wing portion is extended in a first frequency band, and generate an RF signal having polarization characteristics in a second direction in which the second wing portion is extended in a second frequency band having a higher frequency than the first frequency band, in response to the first feed signal and the second feed signal. The second feed signal may be delayed from the first feed signal by 90 degrees.

The antenna pattern may be configured to generate an RF signal having polarization characteristics in a second direction in which the second wing portion is extended in a first frequency band, and generate an RF signal having polarization characteristics in a first direction in which the first wing portion is extended in a second frequency band having a higher frequency than the first frequency band, in response to the first feed signal and the second feed signal. The first feed signal may be delayed from the second feed signal by 90 degrees.

The antenna pattern may be configured to generate an RF signal having polarization characteristics in a +45 degree direction from the first direction in which the first wing portion is extended, in a first frequency band and in a second frequency band having a higher frequency than the first frequency band, in response to the first feed signal and the second feed signal. Phases of the first feed signal and the second feed signal may differ by 180 degrees.

The antenna pattern may be configured to generate an RF signal having polarization characteristics in a −45 degree direction from a first direction in which the first wing portion is extended, in a first frequency band and in a second frequency band having a higher frequency than the first frequency band, in response to the first feed signal and the second feed signal. Phases of the first feed signal and the second feed signal may be in-phase.

The antenna pattern may include slits extending to a center of the antenna pattern. The wing portions may be formed by the slits.

The slits may include a first slit extending in a first direction and a second slit extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to an aspect of the disclosure herein, an antenna apparatus is capable of supporting various frequency bands.

FIG. 1is a perspective view illustrating an antenna apparatus1, according to an embodiment.FIG. 2is a plan view illustrating the antenna apparatus1.FIG. 3is a partially cutaway cross-sectional view of the antenna apparatus, and illustrates a first patch antenna10aof the antenna apparatus1.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, the antenna apparatus1may include a substrate100and a plurality of antenna patterns200(antenna patterns200a,200b,200c, and200d). The antenna apparatus1has a length extending in an X-axis direction, a width extending in a Y-axis direction, and a thickness extending in a Z-axis direction.

The substrate100may include a printed circuit board (PCB). The substrate100may include layers. For example, as shown inFIG. 3, the substrate100may be formed by alternately stacking at least one insulating layer110and at least one wiring layer120. For example, the insulating layer110may be formed of an insulating material such as prepreg, Ajinomoto build-up film (ABF), FR-4, or bismaleimide triazine (BT). The insulating material may be formed by impregnating a thermosetting resin such as an epoxy resin, a thermoplastic resin such as polyimide, or the aforementioned resins, together, with an inorganic filler such as glass fiber, glass cloth, glass fabric, or the like, to form a core material. In addition, the insulating layer110may be formed of a photosensitive insulating resin. According to an embodiment, the substrate100may include a flexible substrate, a ceramic substrate, or a glass substrate.

Referring toFIG. 3, the wiring layer120may be formed of a conductive material such as copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), silver (Ag), tin (Sn), gold (Au), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), titanium (Ti), alloys of Cu, Al, Ag, Sn, Au, Ni, Pb, and Ti, or the like.

Still referring toFIG. 3, wiring vias are disposed in the insulating layer110. For example, the wiring vias may feed vias140connected to a feed wiring layer130and shielding vias160connected to a ground layer150.

The antenna patterns200a,200b,200c, and200dare disposed on one surface of the substrate100, as shown inFIGS. 1 to 3. The antenna patterns200a,200b,200c, and200dmay be disposed to be spaced apart in an X-axis direction.

Each of the antenna patterns200a,200b,200c, and200dmay be formed in a substantially circular shape. However, according to an embodiment, the antenna patterns200a,200b,200c, and200dmay be formed in a polygonal shape such as a quadrangle.

Each of the antenna patterns200a,200b,200c, and200dmay include slits S1, S2, S3, and S4extending toward centers the antenna patterns200a,200b,200cand200d, as shown inFIG. 2.

As an example, the slits S1, S2, S3, and S4may include a first slit S1and a second slit S2extending in a first cross direction, and a third slit S3and a fourth slit S4extending in a second cross direction. For example, the first cross direction and the second cross direction may be perpendicular to each other.

The first cross direction and the second cross direction are directions extending in an XY plane and crossing each other on the X-axis direction, in which the antenna patterns200a,200b,200c, and200dare spaced apart from each other. The X-axis direction may substantially divide an angle formed by the first cross direction and the second direction into equal parts.

As shown inFIG. 2, the antenna patterns200a,200b,200c, and200dmay be divided into a central portion Rc and wing portions Rw1, Rw2, Rw3, and Rw4by the slits S1, S2, S3, and S4. The wing portions Rw1, Rw2, Rw3, and Rw4correspond to regions located between the adjacent slits among the slits S1, S2, S3, and S4in a circumferential direction of each antenna pattern200a,200b,200c, and200d, and the central portion Rc corresponds to a region of an antenna pattern excluding the wing portions Rw1, Rw2, Rw3, and Rw4. The wing portions Rw1, Rw2, Rw3, and Rw4may be formed to protrude from the central portion Rc. The wing portions Rw1, Rw2, Rw3, and Rw4may be symmetrically formed about the central portion Rc.

A feed signal may be provided to two adjacent wing portions among the wing portions Rw1, Rw2, Rw3, and Rw4. For example, a feed signal may be provided to the first wing portion Rw1and the second wing portion Rw2, which are disposed adjacent to each other. The first wing portion Rw1is a wing portion extending in a Y-axis direction, and the second wing portion Rw2is a wing portion extending in an X-axis direction.

A separate patch antenna may be configured by the substrate100and each of the antenna patterns200a,200b,200c, and200ddisposed on the substrate100.

For example, as shown inFIGS. 1 to 3, a first patch antenna10ais formed by a first portion of the substrate100and the first antenna pattern200a, a second patch antenna10bis formed by a second portion of the substrate100and the second antenna pattern200b, a third patch antenna10cis formed by a third portion of the substrate100and the third antenna pattern200c, and a fourth patch antenna10dis formed by a fourth portion of the substrate100and the fourth antenna pattern200d.

Shielding vias160are disposed to surround each of the antenna patterns200a,200b,200c, and200d. For example, the shielding vias160may be provided in edge regions of the first patch antenna10a, the second patch antenna10b, the third patch antenna10c, and the fourth patch antenna10d. When viewed in a thickness direction of the substrate100, the shielding vias160may surround each of the antenna patterns200a,200b,200c, and200din an XY plane in a rectangular shape. However, according to an embodiment, the shielding vias160may surround each of the antenna patterns200a,200b,200c, and200din an XY plane in various shapes such as a circle, and the like. In addition, according to an embodiment, the shielding vias160may be interconnected to surround each of the antenna patterns200a,200b,200c, and200din plate form.

As shown inFIG. 3, the shielding via160may penetrate the substrate100in the thickness direction and may be connected to a ground layer150disposed on the other surface of the substrate100. The ground layer150electromagnetically acts as a reflector to the antenna patterns200a,200b,200c, and200d. Therefore, the ground layer150may concentrate an RF signal transmitted from the antenna patterns200a,200b,200c,200din a Z-axis direction corresponding to an aimed direction.

The ground layer150may provide a reference potential, for example, a ground potential, to the shielding via160. By the shielding via160being connected to the ground layer150, interference of the RF signal transmitted and received in the antenna pattern in each patch antenna may be reduced.

The RF signals described herein may be used in various communications protocols such as Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 family or the like), WiMAX (IEEE 802.16 family or the like), IEEE 802.20, Long Term Evolution (LTE), Ev-DO, HSPA+, HSDPA+, HSUPA+, EDGE, GSM, GPS, GPRS, CDMA, TDMA, DECT, Bluetooth, 3G, 4G, 5G and various wireless and wired protocols designated thereafter, but the disclosure is not limited to these examples.

Each of the antenna patterns200a,200b,200c, and200dmay receive a feed signal from feed vias140. The feed vias140include a first feed via141and a second feed via142.

The first feed via141and the second feed via142may be connected to the feed wiring via130to provide a feed signal to a respective antenna pattern among the antenna patterns200a,200b,200c, and200d. InFIG. 3, although the first feed via141and the second feed via142are illustrated as being connected to one feed wiring layer130, according to an embodiment, the first feed via141and the second feed via142may be connected to different feed wiring layers130to provide different feed signals to the respective antenna pattern among the antenna patterns200a,200b,200c, and200d.

The first feed via141and the second feed via142extend to the one surface of the substrate100on which the antenna patterns200a,200b,200c, and200dare disposed. The first feed via141and the second feed via142may be connected to the respective antenna pattern among the antenna patterns200a,200b,200c, and200dto provide a feed signal directly to the respective antenna pattern among the antenna patterns200a,200b,200c, and200d.

According to an embodiment, the first feed via141and the second feed via142extend to a position spaced apart from one surface of the substrate100by a predetermined distance, and are physically insulated from the respective antenna pattern among the antenna patterns200a,200b,200c, and200d. The first feed via141and the second feed via142extend to a sufficiently close position with respect to the respective antenna pattern among the antenna patterns200a,200b,200c, and200d, and may be electrically coupled to the respective antenna pattern to provide a feed signal indirectly.

The first feed via141and the second feed via142may be disposed to have an angle difference of 90 degrees, with respect to each other, from a center of the respective antenna pattern among the antenna patterns200a,200b,200c, and200d. The first feed via141is disposed in the Y-axis direction from the center of the antenna pattern, and the second feed via142is disposed in the X-axis direction from the center of the antenna pattern. The second feed via142may be disposed to have an angle difference of −90 degrees from the first feed via141based on the center of the respective antenna pattern among the plurality of antenna patterns200a,200b,200c, and200d.

For example, the first feed via141extends toward a first wing portion Rw1, among the wing portions Rw1, Rw2, Rw3, and Rw4, in the substrate100. In addition, the second feed via142extends toward a second wing portion Rw2, among the wing portions Rw1, Rw2, Rw3, and Rw4, having an angle difference of −90 degrees from the first wing portion Rw1in the substrate100. That is, the first wing portion Rw1may be disposed over the first feed via141, and the second wing portion Rw2may be disposed over the second feed via142. Therefore, the first feed via141may provide a first feed signal to the first wing portion Rw1, and the second feed via142may provide a second feed signal to the second wing portion Rw2.

Recently, a multi-input/multi-output (MIMO) system has been applied to mobile devices equipped with antenna apparatuses. MIMO is a technology that can increase a bandwidth in proportion to the number of antennas. If N antennas are used, N times frequency efficiency may be obtained compared to a single antenna. However, according to a trend of slimming and miniaturization of mobile devices, there is a limitation in a space in which the antenna is mounted, and in the condition in which the antennas used in the existing system exists, there are physical limitations in additionally implementing a plurality of antennas. Therefore, one antenna needs to support a plurality of frequency bands.

FIG. 4is an S-parameter graph illustrating a return loss of an antenna apparatus, according to an embodiment.

Typically, in the S-parameter graph, a region in which a value of the S-parameter is less than −10 dB may be used as a pass band of the antenna apparatus.

Referring toFIG. 4, the S-parameter graph has a value of the S-parameter less than −10 dB in a frequency band of about 26.85 GHZ to about 40.19 GHz.

Therefore, an antenna apparatus according to an embodiment disclosed herein may transmit and receive an RF signal from a 28 GHz band corresponding to the first frequency band to a 38.5 GHz band corresponding to the second frequency band. The antenna apparatus may support a plurality of frequency bands in a broad band from the 28 GHz band to the 38.5 GHz band.

The antenna apparatus1, according to an embodiment, may selectively provide a feed signal to either one or both of the first feed via141and the second feed via142. For example, the antenna apparatus1may provide a feed signal to the first feed via141, the antenna apparatus1may provide a feed signal to the second feed via142, and the antenna apparatus1may provide a feed signal to the first feed via141and the second feed via142.

When a feed signal is provided to one feed via among the first feed via141and the second feed via142, an RF signal having circular polarization characteristics is generated in an antenna pattern under an influence of the other feed via that is not provided with the feed signal.

Referring toFIG. 5A, when a feed signal is provided to the first feed via141, an RF signal having right hand circular polarization (RHCP) characteristics is generated in a first frequency band FB1, and an RF signal having left hand circular polarization (LHCP) characteristics is generated in a second frequency band FB2.

In addition, referring toFIG. 5B, when a feed signal is provided to the second feed via142, an RF signal having left hand circular polarization (LHCP) characteristics is generated in the first frequency band FB1, and an RF signal having right circular polarization (RHCP) characteristics is generated in the second frequency band FB2.

When a feed signal is provided to both the first feed via141and the second feed via142, the antenna apparatus1may selectively alter a phase of the feed signal provided to the first feed via141and the second feed via142.

The antenna apparatus1may selectively alter the phases of the feed signals provided to the first feed via141and the second feed via142, and an RF signal having various polarization characteristics may be generated.

Referring toFIG. 6A, when the phase of the feed signal provided to the second feed via142is 90 degrees later than that of the feed signal provided to the first feed via141, an RF signal having polarization characteristics in the Y-axis direction is generated in the first frequency band FB1, and an RF signal having polarization characteristics in the X-axis direction is generated in the second frequency band FB2.

Referring toFIG. 6B, when the phase of the feed signal provided to the second feed via142is 90 degrees ahead of the phase of the feed signal provided to the first feed via141, an RF signal having polarization characteristics in the X-axis direction is generated in the first frequency band FB1, and an RF signal having polarization characteristics in the Y-axis direction is generated in the second frequency band FB2.

Referring toFIG. 6C, when the phase of the feed signal provided to the first feed via141and the phase of the feed signal provided to the second feed via142differ by 180 degrees, an RF signal having polarization characteristics in a +45 degree direction from the Y-axis direction is generated in the first frequency band FB1and the second frequency band FB2.

Referring toFIG. 6D, when a feed signal provided to the first feed via141and a feed signal provided to the second feed via142are in-phase, an RF signal having polarization characteristics in a −45 degrees direction from the Y-axis direction is generated.

An antenna apparatus according to an embodiment disclosed herein may selectively provide a feed signal to either one or both of two feed vias, or may selectively alter a phase of two feed signals provided the two feed vias, thereby generating an RF signal having various polarization characteristics. Therefore, the disclosed antenna apparatus may be employed in mobile devices that require various polarization characteristics.

FIG. 7is a plan view illustrating an arrangement of the antenna apparatus1in an electronic device700, according to an embodiment.

Referring toFIG. 7, an antenna module including the antenna apparatus1may be disposed adjacent to a side surface edge of the electronic device700on a set substrate600of the electronic device700.

The electronic device700may be a smartphone, a personal digital assistant, a digital video camera, a digital still camera, a network system, a computer, a monitor, a tablet PC, a laptop computer, a netbook, a television set, a video game, a smartwatch, an automotive component, or the like, but is not limited to these examples.

A communications module610and a baseband circuit620may be disposed on the set substrate600. The antenna apparatus1may be electrically connected to the communications module610and/or the baseband circuit620via a coaxial cable630.

The communications module610may include at least a portion of a memory chip such as a volatile memory (for example, a dynamic random access memory (DRAM)), a nonvolatile memory (for example, a read only memory (ROM)), a flash memory, or the like; an application processor chip such as a central processor (for example, a central processing unit (CPU)), a graphics processor (for example, a graphics processing unit (GPU)), a digital signal processor, a cryptographic processor, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, or the like; and a logic chip such as an analog-to-digital (ADC) converter, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or the like, to perform digital signal processing.

The baseband circuit620may perform analog-to-digital conversion, amplification for an analog signal, filtering, and frequency conversion to generate a base signal. A base signal input/output from the baseband circuit620may be transmitted to the antenna module via a cable.

For example, the base signal may be transmitted to an IC through the electrical connection structure, the core via, and the wiring. The IC may convert the base signal into an RF signal in a millimeter wave (mmWave) band.

As set forth above, an antenna apparatus according to an embodiment disclosed herein may support various frequency bands. In addition, the antenna apparatus may generate an RF signal having various polarization characteristics.