Patent Publication Number: US-9419325-B2

Title: Spring antenna structure

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     1. Field of the Disclosure 
     The instant disclosure relates to an antenna structure; in particular, to a spring antenna structure. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1 , which shows a side view of a conventional antenna structure  1   a . The cross-section of the conventional antenna structure  1   a  is U-shaped. Specifically, the conventional antenna structure  1   a  has two side sheets  11   a approximately parallel to each other and a base sheet  12   a  connecting the ends of the side sheets  11   a.  That is to say, the side sheets  11   a  are formed by respectively bending in two opposite rotating directions. However, when assembling or getting the conventional antenna structure  1   a , the user always presses on the parallel side sheets  11   a  so as to generate two torsions respectively in two opposite directions, thus the connections of the base sheet  12   a  and the side sheets  11   a  are easily subjected to irreversible deformation. That is to say, the conventional antenna structure  1   a  does not have enough elasticity based on the construction design thereof, such that the conventional antenna structure  1   a  is easily broken. 
     Moreover, the improved method is disposing a frame  13   a  (e.g., sponge or plastic) between the side sheets  11   a , thus when assembling or getting the conventional antenna structure  1   a,  the side sheets  11   a can be supported by the frame  13   a  for preventing the side sheets  11   a  from being irreversibly deformed. However, the improved method will increase the assembly steps and the material of the antenna structure  1   a  so as to increase the cost. 
     To achieve the abovementioned improvement, the inventors strive through industrial experience and academic research to present the instant disclosure, which can provide additional improvement as mentioned above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     One embodiment of the instant disclosure provides a spring antenna structure for solving the problems of the conventional antenna structure, such as the susceptibility of the conventional antenna structure to irreversible deformation and metal fatigue and the corresponding increased cost. 
     The spring antenna structure of the instant disclosure integrally formed by bending a metallic sheet, comprises: a supporting portion having a feeding point, wherein the supporting portion has a first end and an opposite second end; a grounding radiating portion connected to the first end of the supporting portion, wherein the connection of the grounding radiating portion and the supporting portion defines a first bending line, the grounding radiating portion is formed by bending the supporting portion with respect to the grounding radiating portion along the first bending line, wherein a first angle is defined between the grounding radiating portion and the supporting portion, and the first angle is θ 1 ; and an antenna radiating portion connected to the second end of the supporting portion, wherein a connection of the antenna radiating portion and the supporting portion defines a second bending line, the antenna radiating portion is formed by bending the supporting portion with respect to the antenna radiating portion along the second bending line, wherein a second angle is defined between the antenna radiating portion and the supporting portion, the second angle is θ 2 , and the following formula applies regarding the first angle and the second angle: 0°&lt;θ 1 &lt;90° and 0°&lt;θ 2 &lt;θ 1 +90°; wherein the spring antenna structure is provided with resilience, so that when the spring antenna structure is pressed from an original shape to a pressed shape by an external force, the spring antenna structure generates a returning force for restoring itself to the original shape. 
     The spring antenna structure of the instant disclosure integrally formed by bending a metallic sheet, comprises: a supporting portion having a feeding point, wherein the supporting portion has a first end and an opposite second end; a grounding radiating portion connected to the first end of the supporting portion, wherein the connection of the grounding radiating portion and the supporting portion defines a first bending line, the grounding radiating portion is formed by bending the supporting portion with respect to the grounding radiating portion along the first bending line, wherein a first angle is defined between the grounding radiating portion and the supporting portion, and the first angle is θ 1 , wherein the supporting portion has two legs, and the supporting portion is connected to the grounding radiating portion only via the legs, wherein the orthogonal projection of the feeding point onto the first bending line falls between the legs; and an antenna radiating portion connected to the second end of the supporting portion, wherein the connection of the antenna radiating portion and the supporting portion defines a second bending line, the antenna radiating portion is formed by bending the supporting portion with respect to the antenna radiating portion along the second bending line, wherein a second angle is defined between the antenna radiating portion and the supporting portion, and the second angle is θ 2 ; wherein the following formula applies regarding the first angle and the second angle: 30°&lt;θ 1 &lt;75° and 30°&lt;θ 2 &lt;75°; wherein the spring antenna structure is provided with resilience, so that when the spring antenna structure is pressed from an original shape to a pressed shape by an external force, the spring antenna structure generates a returning force for restoring itself to the original shape. 
     Base on the above, the spring antenna structure of the instant disclosure has better elasticity by the structural design, thus when the spring antenna structure is pressed to the pressed shape by the external force, the spring antenna structure generates the returning force for returning to the original shape (i.e., the angles between the portions of the spring antenna structure return to the first angle and the second angle) after the external force is withdrawn. 
     In order to further appreciate the characteristics and technical contents of the instant disclosure, references are hereunder made to the detailed descriptions and appended drawings in connection with the instant disclosure. However, the appended drawings are merely shown for exemplary purposes, rather than being used to restrict the scope of the instant disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view showing a conventional antenna structure; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a spring antenna structure according to the instant disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the spring antenna structure in another viewing angle according to the instant disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view showing a first bending process of the spring antenna structure; 
         FIG. 6  is a planar view showing a second bending process of the spring antenna structure; 
         FIG. 7  is a planar view showing the spring antenna structure pressed by an external force; 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of the antenna structure of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the antenna structure of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , which show an embodiment of the instant disclosure. References are hereunder made to the detailed descriptions and appended drawings in connection with the instant disclosure. However, the appended drawings are merely shown for exemplary purposes, rather than being used to restrict the scope of the instant disclosure. 
     The instant embodiment provides a spring antenna structure  100  being integrally formed in one piece by bending a metallic sheet (as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ). The spring antenna structure  100  is provided with resilience, so that when the spring antenna structure  100  is pressed and deformed by an external force F (as shown in  FIG. 7 ), the spring antenna structure  100  generates a returning force for returning to the original shape. One possible construction of the spring antenna structure  100  is disclosed as follows. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 2  through  FIG. 4 . The spring antenna structure  100  has a supporting portion  1 , a grounding radiating portion  2 , and an antenna radiating portion  3 . The supporting portion  1  has a first end (i.e., the bottom end of the supporting portion  1  as shown in  FIG. 2 ) and an opposite second end (i.e., the top end of the supporting portion  1  as shown in  FIG. 2 ), and the first end and the second end of the supporting portion  1  are respectively connected to the grounding radiating portion  2  and the antenna radiating portion  3 . The first end and the second end of the supporting portion  1  in the instant embodiment are curved. 
     Moreover, the connection of the grounding radiating portion  2  and the supporting portion  1  defines a first bending line C 1 , and the connection of the antenna radiating portion  3  and the supporting portion  1  defines a second bending line C 2 . The first bending line C 1  in the instant embodiment is substantially parallel to the second bending line C 2 , in other words, the first and second bending lines C 1 , C 2  are substantially and lie in the same plane,but is not limited thereto. 
     Specifically, the grounding radiating portion  2  is formed by bending the supporting portion  1  with respect to the grounding radiating portion  2  along the first bending line C 1  in a rotating direction R (i.e., the counter-clockwise direction as shown in  FIG. 5 ), and a first angle θ 1  is defined between the grounding radiating portion  2  and the supporting portion  1 . The antenna radiating portion  3  is formed by bending the supporting portion  1  with respect to the antenna radiating portion  3  along the second bending line C 2  in the rotating direction R (i.e., the counter-clockwise direction as shown in  FIG. 6 ), and a second angle θ 2  is defined between the antenna radiating portion  3  and the supporting portion  1 . In the instant embodiment, the above two steps of bending the supporting portion  1  with respect to the grounding radiating portion  2  and the antenna radiating portion  3 , respectively, are in the same rotating direction R, so as to form the Z-shaped spring antenna structure  100 . 
     In more detail, the first angle θ 1  and the second angle θ 2  conform to the following formulas: 0°&lt;θ 1 &lt;90° and 0°&lt;θ 2 &lt;θ 1 +90°, under the above conditions, the elasticity of the spring antenna structure  100  is greater than that of the conventional antenna structure (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). Preferably, the first angle θ 1  and the second angle θ 2  of the instant embodiment conform to the following formulas: 30°&lt;θ 1 &lt;75° and 30°&lt;θ 2 &lt;75°. The grounding radiating portion  2  in the instant embodiment is approximately parallel to the antenna radiating portion  3 , and the first angle θ 1  is identical to the second angle θ 2 . 
     Thus, the spring antenna structure  100  has better elasticity based on the above construction design. When the spring antenna structure  100  is pressed and deformed by the external force F (i.e., the dotted line as shown in  FIG. 7 , that is to say, the supporting portion  1  and the antenna radiating portion  3  are displaced with respect to the grounding radiating portion  2 ), the spring antenna structure  100  generates the returning force for returning to the original shape (i.e., the relative angles of the portions of the spring antenna structure  100  return to the first angle θ 1  and the second angle θ 2 ) after the external force F is withdrawn. 
     The construction design of the spring antenna structure  100  and the relationship between the portions have been disclosed in the above description, and the following description discloses the possible construction of each one of the supporting portion  1 , the grounding radiating portion  2 , and the antenna radiating portion  3 . 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , which respectively show the front view and the top view of the spring antenna structure  100 . The supporting portion  1  has a first tuning portion  11  and a second tuning portion  12  connected to the first tuning portion  11 . The first end and the second end are respectively arranged on the first tuning portion  11  and the second tuning portion  12 . The first tuning portion  11  is connected to the grounding radiating portion  2 , and the second tuning portion  12  is connected to the antenna radiating portion  3 . 
     The first tuning portion  11  has two legs  111 , two extending segments  112 , a connecting segment  113 , and a feeding segment  114 . The first tuning portion  11  is connected to the grounding radiating portion  2  only via the legs  111 . Each extending segment  112  is L shaped, and the extending segments  112  are respectively extended from the top ends of the legs  111  in two directions, in which the two directions are away from each other and then away from the grounding radiating portion  2 . The connecting segment  113  having an elongated shape connects two ends of the extending segments  112  distal from the grounding radiating portion  2  (i.e., the top end of each extending segment  112  as shown in  FIG. 8 ). 
     Moreover, the extending segments  112  and the connecting segment  113  are connected in a C-shape, and the feeding segment  114  is inwardly extended from the inner edge of the connecting segment  113  toward the grounding radiating portion  2 . The feeding segment  114  is formed with a feeding point  1141  for providing connection of a signal wire (not shown). 
     It should be noted that the feeding point  1141  is arranged at the feeding segment  14  as an example, and the orthogonal projection of the feeding point  1141  onto the first bending line C 1  is arranged between the legs  111  (i.e., in the middle between the legs  111 ). However, in practice, the feeding point  1141  can be arranged at a suitable position of the supporting portion  1  according to the designer&#39;s request, and the position of the feeding point  1141  is not limited to the figures of the instant embodiment. 
     Accordingly, the quantity of the leg  111  of the first tuning portion  11  connected to the grounding radiating portion  2  is two, so that the connection of the first tuning portion  11  and the grounding radiating portion  2  is more stable and has better structural strength. Two portions of the first tuning portion  11  defined between the feeding segment  114  and the legs  111 , respectively, are equivalent to two parallel inductors, such that the designer can adjust the value of the inductance by changing the shape of the first tuning portion  11 . Additionally, the shape and the width of the extending segments  112  and the connecting segment  113  can be changed according to the designer&#39;s demand. For example, the connecting segment  113  can be wave-shaped so as to increase the value of the inductance. 
     The second tuning portion  12  has a neck segment  121 , a first expansion segment  122 , and a second expansion segment  123 . Two opposite ends of the first expansion segment  122  (i.e., the top end and the bottom end of the first expansion segment  122  as shown in  FIG. 8 ) are respectively connected to the neck segment  121  and the connecting segment  113  of the first tuning portion  11 , and the width of the first expansion segment  122  gradually increases from the neck segment  121  to the first tuning portion  11 . Two opposite ends of the second expansion segment  123  (i.e., the bottom end and the top end of the second expansion segment  123  as shown in  FIG. 8 ) are respectively connected to the neck segment  121  and the antenna radiating portion  3 , and the width of the second expansion segment  123  gradually increases from the neck segment  121  to the antenna radiating portion  3 . Specifically, a connective line of the first expansion segment  122  of the second tuning portion  12  and the first tuning portion  11  is longer than a connective line of the second expansion segment  123  of the second tuning portion  12  and the antenna radiating portion  3 . 
     That is to say, the width of the second tuning portion  12  gradually increases from the neck segment  121  respectively toward the antenna radiating portion  3  and the first tuning portion  11 , and the length of the top end of the second expansion segment  123  is smaller than the length of the bottom end of the first expansion segment  122 . Besides, the first expansion segment  122  and the second expansion segment  123  are each a trapezoid as an example, but is not limited thereto. 
     Additionally, in order to enhance the structural strength of the supporting portion  1 , the supporting portion  1  has a rib  1131  formed on the connecting segment  113  of the first tuning portion  11 , and the rib  1131  is arranged adjacent to the connective line of the second tuning portion  12  and the first tuning portion  11 . Moreover, the rib  1131  of the instant embodiment is punched from the surface of the first tuning portion  11  facing away from the grounding radiating portion  2  (the top surface of the first tuning portion  11  of the supporting portion as shown in  FIG. 4 ). The length of the rib  1131  is substantially identical to the length of the connective line of the second tuning portion  12  and the first tuning portion  11  (i.e., the length of the bottom end of the second tuning portion  12 ), but is not limited thereto. 
     The grounding radiating portion  2  is provided for mounting on a predetermined position or element, thus the construction of the grounding radiating portion  2  can be changed according to the designer&#39;s request for easily implementing the installation of the grounding radiating portion  2 . That is to say, the grounding radiating portion  2  does not have a specific construction. 
     The antenna radiating portion  3  is approximately a planar U shape, and the antenna radiating portion  3  is formed with a notch  31  on an inner edge thereof. The top end of the second expansion segment  123  of the second tuning portion  12  of the supporting portion  1  is connected to the inner edge of the notch  31  of the antenna radiating portion  3 . Specifically, the antenna radiating portion  3  has an elongated main segment  32  and two protruding segments  33 . The protruding segments  33  are respectively and integrally extended from two opposite ends of the main segment  32  (i.e., the left end and the right end of the main segment  32  as shown in  FIG. 9 ). The protruding segments  33  are substantially arranged above the grounding radiating portion  2  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ). 
     Moreover, in order to enhance the structural strength of the antenna radiating portion  3 , the antenna radiating portion  3  has an U-shaped rib  34 . The rib  34  is punched from the surface of the antenna radiating portion  3  adjacent to the supporting portion  1  (i.e., the bottom surface of the antenna radiating portion  3  as shown in  FIG. 4 ). Specifically, the U-shaped rib  34  formed by punching the main segment  32  and the protruding segments  33 enhances the structural strength of the antenna radiating portion  3 . 
     [The Possible Effect of the Instant Disclosure] 
     In summary, the spring antenna structure of the instant disclosure has better elasticity due to the structural design, thus when the spring antenna structure is pressed and deformed by an external force, the spring antenna structure generates the returning force for returning to the original shape (i.e., the relative angles of the portions of the spring antenna structure return to the first angle and the second angle) after the external force dissipated. 
     The descriptions illustrated supra set forth simply the preferred embodiments of the instant disclosure; however, the characteristics of the instant disclosure are by no means restricted thereto. All changes, alternations, or modifications conveniently considered by those skilled in the art are deemed to be encompassed within the scope of the instant disclosure delineated by the following claims.