Patent Publication Number: US-2023163452-A1

Title: Antenna module including a flexible substrate

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/994,723, filed on May 31, 2018, which claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(a) of Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2017-0096446 filed on Jul. 28, 2017, and 10-2017-0115767 filed on Sep. 11, 2017, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     This application relates to an antenna module including a flexible substrate. 
     2. Description of the Background 
     Recently, millimeter wave (mmWave) communications including fifth generation (5G) communications are being actively studied, and research into the commercialization of a radio frequency (RF) module able to smoothly implement millimeter wave communications is being actively undertaken. 
     Since millimeter wave communications use a high frequency, a high level of antenna performance has been required. An antenna satisfying the antenna performance requirement may have a large size, which may hinder miniaturization of the antenna module. 
     The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the disclosure. 
     SUMMARY 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     In one general aspect, an antenna module includes an integrated circuit (IC), a first substrate having a first region having one or more first antenna disposed on a surface thereof and a second region flexibly bent and electrically connected to the IC to provide an electrical connection path to the one or more first antenna and the IC, a set substrate electrically connected to the IC, and a set module disposed on the set substrate between the set substrate and the first region. 
     The antenna module may further include a rigid substrate connected to the second region and disposed on the set substrate. The IC may be disposed on the rigid substrate. 
     The antenna module may further include an electronic component disposed on one surface or the other surface of the second region. The IC may be disposed on the one surface or the other surface of the second region and electrically connected to the electronic component. 
     The set module may be configured to generate a signal. The set substrate may be configured to transmit the signal to the IC. The IC may be configured to convert the signal into a radio frequency (RF) signal in a millimeter wave (mmWave) band. 
     The set module may include a DC-DC converter configured to generate power, and the set substrate may be configured to transmit the power to the IC. 
     At least one of the one or more first antenna may include a patch antenna, and a width of the first region may be greater than that of the second region. 
     The at least one first antenna may be disposed in an n by n array, where n is a natural number of 2 or more. 
     The antenna module may further include one or more second antenna disposed on the surface of the first region. The one or more second antenna may include one or more of a dipole antenna and a monopole antenna. 
     The antenna module may further include a second substrate including a third region including one or more second antenna disposed on a surface thereof and a fourth region flexibly bent and electrically connected to the IC to provide an electrical connection path to the one or more second antenna and the IC. 
     In another general aspect, an antenna module includes a connector connected to an integrated circuit (IC) configured to generate a radio frequency (RF) signal, a substrate having a first region having one or more antenna disposed on a surface thereof and a second region flexibly bent and electrically connected to the connector to provide an electrical connection path to the one or more antenna and the connector; a set substrate electrically connected to the connector; and a set module disposed on the set substrate between the set substrate and the first region. 
     The RF signal may include a frequency in a millimeter wave (mmWave) band. The set module may be configured to generate a signal comprising a frequency lower than a frequency of the RF signal. The set substrate may be configured to transmit the signal generated by the set module to the connector. 
     The set module may include a DC-DC converter configured to generate power. The set substrate may be configured to transmit the power to the connector. 
     The one or more antenna may include patch antennas disposed in an n by n array, where n is a natural number of 2 or more. A width of the first region may be greater than that of the second region. 
     In another general aspect, an antenna module includes a substrate including a first region connected to a flexibly bent second region, one or more first antennas and one or more second antennas disposed on the first region, and an integrated circuit (IC), spaced apart from the first region, connected to the second region and electrically connected to the one or more first antennas and the one or more second antennas. 
     The antenna module may further include a fold between the one or more first antennas and the one or more second antennas. 
     The antenna module may further include a set module disposed in a concave space of the flexibly bent second region and the folded first region. 
     The antenna module may further include a set substrate. The set module may be disposed on the set substrate. 
     The one or more first antenna may include a patch antenna and the one or more second antenna may include one or more of a dipole antenna and a monopole antenna. 
     The first region may include a rigid portion, the second region may include a flexible portion and the IC may be disposed on a rigid substrate. 
     Other features and aspects will be apparent from the following detailed description, the drawings, and the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a side view illustrating an example of an antenna module including a flexible substrate according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    is a side view illustrating an example of additional detail of the first embodiment of the antenna module including the flexible substrate of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is a side view illustrating an example of a form in which an integrated circuit (IC) is disposed on a flexible substrate in an example of an antenna module according to a second embodiment. 
         FIG.  4    is a plan view illustrating an example of a first form of the IC arrangement on an antenna module including the flexible substrate according to a third embodiment. 
         FIG.  5    is a plan view illustrating an example of a second form of the IC arrangement on the antenna module including the flexible substrate according to a fourth embodiment. 
         FIG.  6    is a plan view illustrating an example form in which an antenna module including the flexible substrate according to a fifth embodiment is applied to an electronic device. 
         FIG.  7    is a side view illustrating an example form in which an antenna module including the flexible substrate according to a sixth embodiment is applied to an electronic device, and  FIG.  8    is a side view illustrating an example form in which an antenna module including the flexible substrate according to a seventh embodiment is applied to an electronic device. 
       Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements. The drawings may not be to scale, and the relative size, proportions, and depiction of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity, illustration, and convenience. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description is provided to assist the reader in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described herein. However, various changes, modifications, and equivalents of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described herein will be apparent after an understanding of the disclosure of this application. For example, the sequences of operations described herein are merely examples, and are not limited to those set forth herein, but may be changed as will be apparent after an understanding of the disclosure of this application, with the exception of operations necessarily occurring in a certain order. Also, descriptions of features that are known in the art may be omitted for increased clarity and conciseness. 
     The features described herein may be embodied in different forms and are not to be construed as being limited to the examples described herein. Rather, the examples described herein have been provided merely to illustrate some of the many possible ways of implementing the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described herein that will be apparent after an understanding of the disclosure of this application. 
     An aspect of the present disclosure provides an antenna module including a flexible substrate having a structure which may be easily miniaturized. 
       FIG.  1    is a side view illustrating an example of an antenna module including a flexible substrate according to a first embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , the antenna module  70  includes a substrate  90 . The substrate  90  includes a first region  100 , a second region  200 , and an integrated circuit (IC)  300 . The substrate  90  may be a flexible substrate or a rigid-flexible substrate. 
     The flexible substrate is not particularly limited and may include a material such as paper, polymer, such as polyimide, TEFLON®, etc., the rigid-flexible substrate is not particularly limited and may include a flexible portion composed of a material such as paper, rubber, polymer, such as polyimide, TEFLON®, etc. and a rigid portion composed of a material such as semiconductor, glass, metal, ceramic, composite, rigid polymer, etc., for example, the rigid portion has a structure of a printed circuit board (PCB). 
     An antenna (described later with reference to  FIG.  2   ) configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal and/or transmit an RF signal generated by the IC  300  may be disposed on the first region  100  of the substrate  90 . The first region  100  of the substrate  90  provides an electrical path between the IC  300  and the antenna. 
     The second region  200  of the substrate  90  is electrically connected to the IC  300 , flexibly bent, and provides the electrical path between the IC  300  and the antenna. 
     When the substrate  90  is the rigid-flexible substrate, the first region  100  of the substrate  90  may have a rigid property and the second region  200  of the substrate  90  may have a flexible property. 
     The substrate  90  has an upper surface  51  and a lower surface S 2  in  FIG.  1   . According to a curved shape of the second region  200  of the substrate  90 , a space  210  on the lower surface S 2  of the first region  100  of the substrate  90  is secured. For example, the space  210  is covered and protected by the first region  100  so that an element may be securely disposed in the space  210  and the antenna module  70  having the flexible substrate according to the illustrated example of the first embodiment can be miniaturized. 
     For example, a set module  600  or an electronic device disposed on a set substrate  500  is disposed in the space through a solder ball  410  or similar coupling. 
     The IC  300  is configured to generate the RF signal and/or receive the RF signal received through the antenna. For example, the IC  300  receives a low frequency signal through the set module  600 , and performs at least some of a frequency conversion, amplification, a filtering phase control, and a power generation on the low frequency signal. 
     For example, the IC  300  can be electrically connected to the set substrate  500  through a solder ball and stably disposed on the set substrate  500  through a resin. 
     The set module  600  is disposed on the set substrate  500 . The set substrate  500  provides an electrical path between the set module  600  and the IC  300 . 
     The set module  600  is configured to generate the low frequency signal, power, and/or at least some of the resistance value, the capacitance, and the inductance provided to the IC  300 . 
     For example, the set module  600  includes a circuit configured to perform amplification, filtering, a frequency conversion, and an analog-to-digital conversion on a baseband signal or an intermediate frequency (IF) signal and includes a DC-DC converter configured to generate power. Here, the IC  300  receives a signal, which is amplified, filtered and/or converted by the set module  600 , through the set substrate  500 , and converts the received signal into the RF signal in a millimeter wave (mmWave) band. 
       FIG.  2    is a side view illustrating an example of additional detail the first embodiment of the antenna module including the flexible substrate of  FIG.  1   . 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   , the first region  100  of the substrate  90  includes feed lines  420  and cavities C 1 , C 2 , C 3 , and C 4 , and the antennas  111 ,  112 ,  113 , and  114  are disposed on the upper surface  51  of the first region  100  of the substrate  90 . 
     The feed lines  420  each electrically connect the corresponding antennas  114 ,  113 ,  112 ,  111  to the IC  300 . 
     The cavities C 1 , C 2 , C 3 , and C 4  provide the boundary condition for the operation of transmitting and/or receiving (hereinafter transmitting/receiving) the RF signal of the corresponding antennas  111 ,  112 ,  113 ,  114 . For example, the boundaries of the cavities C 1 , C 2 , C 3 , and C 4  are surrounded by a ground layer, a plating layer, or a via, and the ground layer is not substantially disposed inside the cavities C 1 , C 2 , C 3 , and C 4 . 
     Alternatively, the cavities C 1 , C 2 , C 3 , and C 4  may be omitted depending on the type of the corresponding antennas  111 ,  112 ,  113 ,  114 . For example, the cavities C 1 , C 2 , C 3 , and C 4  are not formed in a region where a dipole antenna or a monopole antenna is disposed in the first region  100  of the substrate  90 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   , the IC  300  is disposed on a rigid substrate  400  where the second region  200  of the substrate  90  is connected to a side surface of the IC  300 . The rigid substrate  400  may be composed of a material such as semiconductor, glass, metal, ceramic, composite, rigid polymer, etc., for example, the rigid portion has a structure of a printed circuit board (PCB). 
     The rigid substrate  400  includes the feed lines  420  and is disposed on the set substrate  500  through a solder ball  410  or similar coupling. 
     For example, the rigid substrate  400  has the same structure as a printed circuit board (PCB), and has a circuit pattern region that provides a ground region and/or a power supply region that supplies power to the IC  300 . 
     The first and second regions  100  and  200  of the substrate  90  have the structure of the rigid-flexible substrate together with the rigid substrate  400 . 
       FIG.  3    is a side view illustrating an example of a form in which an IC is disposed on a flexible substrate in an example of an antenna module  70  according to a second embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   , the IC  300  is disposed on the second region  200  of the substrate  90 . 
     The second region  200  of the substrate  90  is connected to a connector  450  disposed on the set substrate  500 . The connector  450  has a connector shape to be coupled to an outside, another module, or another substrate in a wired manner, and may be configured to be electromagnetically coupled to an outside, another module, or another substrate. 
       FIG.  4    is a plan view illustrating an example of a first form of the IC arrangement of the antenna module including the flexible substrate according to a third embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   , first antennas  111   a ,  111   b ,  111   c ,  111   d ,  111   e ,  111   f ,  111   g ,  111   h , and  111   i  have the structure of a patch antenna and are disposed on the first region  100  of the substrate  90 , and second antennas  112   a ,  112   b ,  112   c ,  112   d ,  112   e ,  112   f ,  112   g , and  112   h  have the structure of a dipole antenna or a monopole antenna and are also disposed on the first region  100  of the substrate  90 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   , the IC  300  and an electronic component  430  are disposed on the rigid substrate  400 . 
     An electronic component  430  provides at least some of a resistance value, capacitance, and inductance to the IC  300 . For example, the electronic component  430  includes a multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC). 
     The first region  100  of the substrate  90  may be folded between a patch region where the patch antennas are disposed and a pole region where the dipole antennas and/or monopole antennas are disposed. 
       FIG.  5    is a plan view illustrating an example of a second form of the IC arrangement of the antenna module including the flexible substrate according to a fourth embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG.  5   , antennas  113   a ,  113   b ,  113   c ,  113   d ,  113   e ,  113   f ,  113   g ,  113   h ,  113   i ,  113   j ,  113   k ,  113   l ,  113   m ,  113   n ,  113   o , and  113   p  have the structure of the patch antenna, and are disposed on the first region  100  of the substrate  90 . The patch antennas may have a circular shape, a polygonal shape, or a combination thereof, but the shape of the patch antennas is not particularly limited. 
     Referring to  FIG.  5   , the IC  300 , the electronic component  430 , and an interface pad  440  are disposed on an upper surface of the second region  200 . However, the IC  300 , the electronic component  430 , and the interface pad  440  may be disposed on the lower surface or both the upper and lower surfaces of the second region  200  of the substrate  90 . 
     The interface pad  440  is electrically connected to the connector  450  illustrated in  FIG.  3   . 
       FIG.  6    is a plan view illustrating an example form in which the antenna module including the flexible substrate according to a fifth embodiment is applied to an electronic device. 
     Referring to  FIG.  6   , an electronic device  1000  includes first regions  100   a ,  100   b  of first substrates  90   a ,  90   b , second regions  200   a ,  200   b  of the first substrates  90   a ,  90   b , third regions  100   c ,  100   d  of second substrates  90   c ,  90   d , fourth regions  200   c ,  200   d  of the second substrates  90   c ,  90   d , and ICs  300   a  and  300   b.    
       FIG.  7    is a side view illustrating an example form in which the antenna module including the flexible substrate according to a sixth embodiment is applied to an electronic device. 
     Referring to  FIG.  7   , the antenna module  70  including the flexible substrate according to the sixth embodiment includes a first region  100   e  of a first substrate  90   e , a second region  200   e  of the first substrate  90   e , a third region  100   f  of a second substrate  90   f , a fourth region  200   f  of the second substrate  90   f , and an IC  300   e.    
     The IC  300   e  is disposed between a rigid substrate  400   e  and a set substrate  500 . 
     Electronic components  430   e  and  430   f  and connectors  450   e  and  450   f  are disposed on the rigid substrate  400   e.    
     The connectors  450   e  and  450   f  and the IC  300   e  are electrically connected to the set substrate  500  through the solder ball  410 . 
     For example, the connectors  450   e  and  450   f , the IC  300   e , and the electronic components  430   e  and  430   f  are surrounded by an epoxy molding compound (EMC) to be protected from an external environment. In another example, the epoxy molding compound is omitted, for example, for reasons such as the ambient environment of the antenna module. 
     First and second set modules  600   e  and  600   f  are disposed on the set substrate  500 . The first set module  600   e  is disposed in a first space  210   e  below the first region  100   e  of the first substrate  90   e  and the second set module  600   f  is disposed in a second space  210   f  below the third region  100   f  of the second substrate  90   f . That is, the first and third regions  100   e  and  100   f  secure respective first and second spaces  210   e  and  210   f  for arrangement of the first and second set modules  600   e  and  600   f  below lower surfaces while providing arrangement space of the antennas on upper surfaces. 
     When the respective first and second spaces  210   e  and  210   f  of the set modules  600   e  and  600   f  are large, some of the operations performed by the IC  300   e  may be instead performed by the set modules  600   e  and  600   f , and the influence of heat and/or noise and the like generated due to the operation of the set modules  600   e  and  600   f  on the IC  300   e  or the antenna may also be reduced. 
     That is, the example of the antenna module including the flexible substrate according to the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure may not only have a structure that is easily miniaturized, but may also improve the performance of the antenna. 
     In a seventh embodiment of the antenna module  70 , when the set modules  600   e  and  600   f  are not disposed in at least a part of the first and/or second space  210   e ,  210   f  provided by the first and third regions  100   e  and  100   f , one or more surface S 3  of the first and third regions  100   e  and  100   f  faces the side direction of the electronic device  1000 , for example, as illustrated in  FIG.  8   . Accordingly, the transmission and/or reception direction of the antenna may be enlarged. 
     As set forth above, according to the first through seventh illustrated embodiments of the present disclosure, the antenna module including the flexible substrate, for example, has a structure that is easily miniaturized. 
     In addition, the antenna module including a flexible substrate, for example, enlarges the transmission and/or reception direction of the antenna. 
     While this disclosure includes specific examples, it will be apparent after an understanding of the disclosure of this application that various changes in form and details may be made in these examples without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims and their equivalents. The examples described herein are to be considered in a descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects in each example are to be considered as being applicable to similar features or aspects in other examples. Suitable results may be achieved if the described techniques are performed in a different order, and/or if components in a described system, architecture, device, or circuit are combined in a different manner, and/or replaced or supplemented by other components or their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the disclosure is defined not by the detailed description, but by the claims and their equivalents, and all variations within the scope of the claims and their equivalents are to be construed as being included in the disclosure.