Patent Publication Number: US-2011074647-A1

Title: Antenna module

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to an antenna module, and more particularly to a built-in antenna module for a portable wireless terminal. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Generally, there are two kinds of antennas for portable wireless terminals: built-in antennas and external antennas. In contrast to the external antenna, the size of the built-in antenna is smaller, protected, and not easily damaged. Thus, the built-in antenna is commonly employed in portable wireless terminals. 
     Recently, more attention has been paid to developing smaller portable wireless terminals. Antennas, as key elements of portable wireless terminals, must be miniaturized accordingly. 
     Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the present antenna module can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the various drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present antenna module 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic structure diagram of one embodiment of an antenna module. 
         FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1  but shown from another angle. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the antenna module shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , an antenna module  100  according to one embodiment includes an insulating carrier  20  and an antenna  30  formed on the carrier  20 . A circuit board  10  is disposed under the carrier  20  and the antenna  30 . The circuit board  10  includes a feed terminal  11  and a ground terminal  13 . 
     The carrier  20  includes a first surface  27 , a second surface  29  substantially parallel to the first surface  27 , and a side surface  21  substantially perpendicular to the first surface  27  and the second surface  29 . A first feed wire  23  and a second feed wire  25  are formed on the side surface  21 . When assembling the antenna module  100 , the first feed wire  23  is connected to the feed terminal  11  and the second feed wire  25  is connected to the ground terminal  13 . 
     The antenna  30  includes a first antenna portion  31  and a second antenna portion  33 . The first antenna portion  31  can be used for sending and receiving high-frequency electromagnetic signals. In the present embodiment, the first antenna portion  31  includes a first radiation segment  311  formed on the first surface  27  and a second radiation segment  319  formed on the side surface  21 . The first radiation segment  311  includes an L-shaped first bend portion  313 , a connecting portion  315 , and an L-shaped second bend portion  317 . The first bend portion  313  and the second bend portion  317  are substantially parallel with each other. The first bend portion  313  connects the first feed wire  23  to the connecting portion  315 . The second bend portion  317  connects the second radiation segment  319  to the connecting portion  315 . 
     The second antenna portion  33  can be used for sending and receiving low-frequency electromagnetic signals. The length of the second antenna portion  33  is much greater than the length of the first antenna portion  31 . In the present embodiment, the second antenna portion  33  includes a third radiation segment  331  formed on the first surface  27  and a fourth radiation segment  333  formed on the second surface  29 . The third radiation segment  331  is roughly an incomplete rectangle and is located along the edge of the first surface  27 . One terminal of the third radiation segment  331  connects to the second feed wire  25 . The fourth radiation segment  333  is roughly shaped like a paper clip. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a through-hole (not labeled) is formed in the carrier  20 . The through hole is filled with conductive material to form a conductive portion  22 . The conductive material may be the same material as the second antenna portion  33 . The third radiation segment  331  connects to the fourth radiation segment  333  through the conductive portion  22 . 
     The electromagnetic signals of the antenna  30  radiate through the first radiation segment  311 , the second radiation segment  319 , and the third radiation segment  331 . The fourth radiation segment  333  can be used to increase the length of the second antenna portion  33 . The circuit board  10  acts to shield electromagnetic radiation under the fourth radiation segment  333 , therefore there is no electromagnetic signal radiating from the fourth radiation segment  333 . 
     As detailed above, part of the antenna  30  is disposed on the second surface  29  and the side surface  21 , thus the antenna  30  saves space. The second radiation segment  319  on the side surface  21  increases the effective radiation area and improves the radiation efficiency of the antenna  30 . 
     It is to be understood that the first antenna portion  31  and a second antenna portion  33  may be shaped according to actual needs. The carrier  20  is a dielectric layer, and the dielectric constant of the carrier  20  can be greater than or equal to 8. The thickness of the carrier  20  is about 1 mm. 
     It is to be further understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of structures and functions of various embodiments. The disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.