Patent Publication Number: US-11024955-B2

Title: Antenna module and communication apparatus

Description:
This is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/JP2018/026614 filed on Jul. 13, 2018 which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-147314 filed on Jul. 31, 2017. The contents of these applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to an antenna module and a communication apparatus. 
     Antenna modules for wireless communication are disclosed, which include an antenna conductor layer arranged on the front face of a dielectric substrate, a ground layer and a transmission line arranged in inner layers of the dielectric substrate, and a radio-frequency semiconductor device arranged on the rear face of the dielectric substrate (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). 
     Patent Document 1: International Publication No. 2016/067969 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     However, in the antenna module disclosed in Patent Document 1, the ground layer (ground electrode) is positioned between a dipole antenna (radiation electrode) and a line component of the transmission line (power supply line), which is parallel to a mounting face. Accordingly, the distance between the dipole antenna (radiation electrode) and the ground layer (ground electrode) is shorter than the thickness of the dielectric substrate. In other words, there is a problem in that the antenna volume defined by the above distance is made relatively small and, thus, it is not possible to ensure antenna characteristics, such as a frequency bandwidth and a gain that are required. 
     The present invention provides an antenna module and a communication apparatus having improved antenna characteristics through an increase in the antenna volume. 
     An antenna module according to an aspect of the present invention includes a dielectric substrate having a first main surface and a second main surface, which are opposed to each other with their back surfaces; a radiation electrode formed at the first main surface side of the dielectric substrate; a radio-frequency circuit element formed at the second main surface side of the dielectric substrate; a ground electrode formed at the second main surface side of the dielectric substrate; a ground line arranged in the dielectric substrate along a direction parallel to the first main surface and the second main surface; and a power supply line that electrically connects the radiation electrode to the radio-frequency circuit element. The power supply line includes a first power supply line portion arranged in the dielectric substrate along the direction parallel to the first main surface and the second main surface and a second power supply line portion arranged in the dielectric substrate along a direction vertical to the first main surface and the second main surface. The ground electrode is arranged between the first power supply line portion and the radio-frequency circuit element in a cross-sectional view of the dielectric substrate. The ground line is arranged between the first power supply line portion and the radiation electrode in the cross-sectional view. The ground electrode includes the radiation electrode and part of the first power supply line portion in a plan view of the dielectric substrate. The ground line includes part of the first power supply line portion in the plan view. The area in which the ground line is formed is smaller than the area in which the ground electrode is formed in the plan view. 
     With the above configuration, the radiation electrode and the ground electrode are capable of being arranged with no restriction of the arrangement of the first power supply line portion. In addition, the ground line arranged between the radiation electrode and the first power supply line portion is smaller than the ground electrode in the above plan view. Accordingly, the antenna volume defined by the effective volume of the dielectric body between the radiation electrode and the ground electrode is capable of being ensured without necessarily increasing the thickness of the dielectric substrate itself. Consequently, the antenna characteristics, such as the frequency bandwidth and the gain, which are determined by the antenna volume, are improved, compared with the antenna module having the configuration in which the ground electrode is arranged between the radiation electrode and the first power supply line portion. 
     The ground line may be formed along a direction in which the first power supply line portion extends and may be overlapped with part of the radiation electrode in the plan view. 
     With the above configuration, a so-called strip line structure in which the first power supply line portion is sandwiched between the ground line and the ground electrode is capable of being ensured close to a feeding point of the radiation electrode. Accordingly, the impedance of the power supply line is capable of being set with high accuracy to reduce radio-frequency propagation loss. 
     The radiation electrode may have a rectangular shape in the plan view and may have a feeding point for transmitting a radio-frequency signal between the radiation electrode and the power supply line. In the plan view, the first power supply line portion may intersect with an end side closest to the feeding point, among multiple end sides composing an outer perimeter of the radiation electrode. 
     With the above configuration, in the plan view, the ratio of the area of the power supply line and the ground line to the area in which the radiation electrode is formed is capable of being minimized. Accordingly, it is possible to maximize the antenna volume to further improve the antenna characteristics. 
     The radiation electrode may include multiple radiation electrodes discretely arranged on the dielectric substrate along the direction parallel to the first main surface and the second main surface. The ground electrode may include the multiple radiation electrodes and part of the first power supply line portion in the plan view of the dielectric substrate. 
     With the above configuration, the multiple radiation electrodes and the ground electrode are capable of being arranged with no restriction of the arrangement of the first power supply line portion. In addition, the ground line arranged between the multiple radiation electrodes and the first power supply line portion is smaller than the ground electrode in the above plan view. Accordingly, it is possible to realize an array antenna in which the antenna volume defined by the effective volume of the dielectric body between the multiple radiation electrodes and the ground electrode is ensured. Consequently, the antenna characteristics, such as the frequency bandwidth and the gain, which are determined by the antenna volume, are improved, compared with the antenna module having the configuration in which the ground electrode is arranged between the multiple radiation electrodes and the first power supply line portion. 
     An antenna module according to an aspect of the present invention includes a substrate having a first flat plate portion and a second flat plate portion the normal directions of which intersect with each other and which are connected with each other; a first dielectric substrate that has a first main surface and a second main surface, which are opposed to each other with their back surfaces, the second main surface being in contact with a front face of the first flat plate portion; a second dielectric substrate that has a third main surface and a fourth main surface, which are opposed to each other with their back surfaces, the fourth main surface being in contact with a front face of the second flat plate portion; a first radiation electrode formed at the first main surface side of the first dielectric substrate; a second radiation electrode formed at the third main surface side of the second dielectric substrate; a radio-frequency circuit element formed at a rear face side of the first flat plate portion; a first ground electrode formed on the first flat plate portion; a second ground electrode formed on the second flat plate portion; a first ground line arranged in the first dielectric substrate along a direction parallel to the first main surface and the second main surface; a first power supply line that electrically connects the first radiation electrode to the radio-frequency circuit element; and a second power supply line that electrically connects the second radiation electrode to the radio-frequency circuit element. At least one of the first power supply line and the second power supply line includes a first power supply line portion arranged in the first dielectric substrate along the direction parallel to the first main surface and the second main surface and a second power supply line portion arranged in the first dielectric substrate along a direction vertical to the first main surface and the second main surface. The first ground electrode is arranged between the first power supply line portion and the radio-frequency circuit element in a cross-sectional view of the first dielectric substrate. The first ground line is arranged between the first power supply line portion and the first radiation electrode in the cross-sectional view. The first ground electrode includes the first radiation electrode and part of the first power supply line portion in a plan view of the first dielectric substrate. The first ground line includes part of the first power supply line portion in the plan view. The area in which the first ground line is formed is smaller than the area in which the first ground electrode is formed in the plan view. 
     With the above configuration, the antenna module includes a first patch antenna composed of the first radiation electrode, the first dielectric substrate, the first power supply line, and the first ground electrode and a second patch antenna composed of the second radiation electrode, the second dielectric substrate, the second power supply line, and the second ground electrode. The first patch antenna and the second patch antenna have different directivities. Accordingly, the antenna characteristics are improved. In addition, in the first patch antenna, the first radiation electrode and the first ground electrode are capable of being arranged with no restriction of the arrangement of the first power supply line portion. Furthermore, the first ground line arranged between the first radiation electrode and the first power supply line portion is smaller than the first ground electrode in the plan view of the first dielectric substrate. Accordingly, the antenna volume defined by the effective volume of the dielectric body between the first radiation electrode and the first ground electrode is capable of being ensured without necessarily increasing the thickness of the first dielectric substrate itself. Consequently, the antenna characteristics, such as the frequency bandwidth and the gain, which are determined by the antenna volume, are improved, compared with the antenna module having the configuration in which the first ground electrode is arranged between the first radiation electrode and the first power supply line portion. 
     The first ground line may be formed along a direction in which the first power supply line portion extends and may be overlapped with part of the first radiation electrode in the plan view of the first dielectric substrate. 
     With the above configuration, a so-called strip line structure in which the first power supply line portion is sandwiched between the first ground line and the first ground electrode is capable of being ensured close to the feeding point of the first radiation electrode. Accordingly, the impedance of the power supply line is capable of being set with high accuracy to reduce the radio-frequency propagation loss. 
     The antenna module may further include a third power supply line that electrically connects the first radiation electrode to the radio-frequency circuit element. A first patch antenna composed of the first radiation electrode, the first dielectric substrate, the first power supply line, the third power supply line, and the first ground electrode may form first polarization and second polarization different from the first polarization. The first polarization and the second polarization may have directivity in a direction perpendicular to the first flat plate portion. 
     With the above configuration, it is possible to compose a so-called dual polarization antenna module in the radiation direction of the first patch antenna composed of the first radiation electrode, the first dielectric substrate, the first power supply line, and the first ground electrode. 
     The antenna module may further include a second ground line arranged in the second dielectric substrate along a direction parallel to the third main surface and the fourth main surface. The second power supply line may include the first power supply line portion arranged in the first dielectric substrate along the direction parallel to the first main surface and the second main surface, the second power supply line portion arranged in the first dielectric substrate along the direction vertical to the first main surface and the second main surface, a third power supply line portion arranged in the second dielectric substrate along the direction parallel to the third main surface and the fourth main surface, and a fourth power supply line portion arranged in the second dielectric substrate along a direction vertical to the third main surface and the fourth main surface. The second ground electrode may be arranged between the second power supply line portion and a rear face of the second flat plate portion in a cross-sectional view of the second dielectric substrate. The second ground line may be arranged between the third power supply line portion and the second radiation electrode in the cross-sectional view. The second ground electrode may include the second radiation electrode and part of the third power supply line portion in a plan view of the second dielectric substrate. The second ground line may include part of the third power supply line portion in the plan view. The area in which the second ground line is formed may be smaller than the area in which the second ground electrode is formed in the plan view. The first power supply line portion may be continuously connected with the third power supply line portion in a boundary area between the first dielectric substrate and the second dielectric substrate. (1) The first ground electrode and the second ground electrode may be integrally arranged on the substrate across the first flat plate portion and the second flat plate portion and the first ground line and the second ground line may not be formed in a boundary area between the first flat plate portion and the second flat plate portion or (2) the first ground electrode and the second ground electrode may not be formed in the boundary area and the first ground line may be integrally connected with the second ground line in the boundary area between the first dielectric substrate and the second dielectric substrate. 
     With the above configuration, also in the second patch antenna, the second radiation electrode and the second ground electrode are capable of being arranged with no restriction of the arrangement of the third power supply line portion. In addition, the second ground line arranged between the second radiation electrode and the third power supply line portion is smaller than the second ground electrode in the plan view of the second dielectric substrate. Accordingly, the antenna volume defined by the effective volume of the dielectric body between the second radiation electrode and the second ground electrode is capable of being ensured without necessarily increasing the thickness of the second dielectric substrate itself. Consequently, the antenna characteristics, such as the frequency bandwidth and the gain, which are determined by the antenna volume, are improved, compared with the antenna module having the configuration in which the second ground electrode is arranged between the second radiation electrode and the third power supply line portion. In addition, the second power supply line forms the microstrip line composed of the first ground electrode and the second ground electrode or the microstrip line composed of the first ground line and the second ground line in a boundary area between the first patch antenna and the second patch antenna. Accordingly, since unnecessary resonance does not occur in the side face direction of the first dielectric substrate and the second dielectric substrate in the above boundary area, compared with the strip line in which the second power supply line is sandwiched between the first ground electrode and the second ground electrode and the first ground line and the second ground line, it is possible to reduce the propagation loss of the second power supply line to improve the antenna characteristics of the second patch antenna. 
     The second ground line may be formed along a direction in which the third power supply line portion extends and may be overlapped with part of the second radiation electrode in the plan view of the second dielectric substrate. 
     With the above configuration, a so-called strip line structure in which the third power supply line portion is sandwiched between the second ground line and the second ground electrode is capable of being ensured close to the feeding point of the second radiation electrode. Accordingly, the impedance of the second power supply line is capable of being set with high accuracy to reduce the radio-frequency propagation loss. 
     The antenna module may further include a fourth power supply line that electrically connects the second radiation electrode to the radio-frequency circuit element. A second patch antenna composed of the second radiation electrode, the second dielectric substrate, the second power supply line, the fourth power supply line, and the second ground electrode may form third polarization and fourth polarization different from the third polarization. The third polarization and the fourth polarization may have directivity in a direction perpendicular to the second flat plate portion. 
     With the above configuration, it is possible to compose a so-called dual polarization antenna module in the radiation direction of the second patch antenna composed of the second radiation electrode, the second dielectric substrate, the second power supply line, and the second ground electrode. 
     A communication apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes any of the antenna modules described above and a baseband integrated circuit (BBIC). The radio-frequency circuit element is an RFIC that performs at least one of transmission-system signal processing in which a signal supplied from the BBIC is subjected to up-conversion and the signal is supplied to the radiation electrode or the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode and reception-system signal processing in which a radio-frequency signal supplied from the radiation electrode is subjected to down-conversion and the signal is supplied to the BBIC. 
     With the above configuration, it is possible to provide the communication apparatus having the improved antenna characteristics through an increase in the antenna volume. 
     According to the antenna module and the communication apparatus according to the present invention, it is possible to improve the antenna characteristics because of an increase in the antenna volume. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a structural cross-sectional view of an antenna module according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 1B  is an exploded perspective view of the antenna module according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 1C  is a perspective plan view of the antenna module according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2A  is a structural cross-sectional view of an antenna module according to a comparative example. 
         FIG. 2B  is an exploded perspective view of the antenna module according to the comparative example. 
         FIG. 3A  is a graph representing reflection characteristics of an antenna module according to a first example. 
         FIG. 3B  is a graph representing the reflection characteristics of an antenna module according to a first comparative example. 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view illustrating the structure of power supply lines of the antenna modules according to the first example and the first comparative example. 
         FIG. 5A  is a structural cross-sectional view of an antenna module according to a modification of the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 5B  is a perspective plan view of the antenna module according to the modification of the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 6A  is an external perspective view of an antenna module according to a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 6B  is a structural cross-sectional view of the antenna module according to the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 7A  is a diagram illustrating the structure of the power supply line of a first patch antenna according to the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 7B  is a diagram illustrating the structure of the power supply line of a second patch antenna according to the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 7C  is a diagram illustrating the structure of the power supply line in a boundary area according to the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a development view of the power supply lines in an antenna module. 
         FIG. 9A  is a graph representing the reflection characteristics of the power supply lines in an antenna module. 
         FIG. 9B  is a graph representing bandpass characteristics of the power supply lines in the antenna module. 
         FIG. 10  is a circuit configuration diagram of a communication apparatus according to a third embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention will herein be described in detail with reference to the drawings. All the embodiments described below indicate comprehensive or specific examples. Numerical values, shapes, materials, components, the arrangement of the components, the connection mode of the components, and so on, which are indicated in the embodiments described below, are only examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. Among the components in the embodiments described below, the components that are not described in the independent claims are described as optional components. In addition, the sizes or the ratios of the sizes of the components illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily strictly indicated. The same reference numerals are used in the respective drawings to identify substantially the same components and a duplicated description of such components may be omitted or simplified. 
     First Embodiment 
     [1.1 Structure of Antenna Module  1  According to Embodiment] 
     The configuration of an antenna module  1  according to a first embodiment will now be described with reference to  FIG. 1A  to  FIG. 1C . 
       FIG. 1A  is a structural cross-sectional view of the antenna module  1  according to the first embodiment.  FIG. 1B  is an exploded perspective view of the antenna module  1  according to the first embodiment.  FIG. 1C  is a perspective plan view of the antenna module  1  according to the first embodiment. As illustrated in  FIG. 1A , the antenna module  1  according to the present embodiment includes a dielectric substrate  14 , radiation electrodes  11   a ,  11   b , and  11   c , a radio-frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)  400 , a ground electrode  13 , a ground line  15 , and power supply lines  12   a ,  12   b , and  12   c.    
     The dielectric substrate  14  has a first main surface and a second main surface, which are opposed to each other with their back surfaces. The radiation electrodes  11   a ,  11   b , and  11   c  are formed at the first main surface side of the dielectric substrate  14 . The RFIC  400  is a radio-frequency signal processing circuit and is a radio-frequency circuit element formed at the second main surface side of the dielectric substrate  14 . The ground electrode  13  is formed at the second main surface side of the dielectric substrate  14 . 
     The ground line  15  is arranged in the dielectric substrate  14  along a direction parallel to the first main surface and the second main surface (along the X-axis direction in  FIG. 1A  to  FIG. 1C ). The power supply lines  12   a ,  12   b , and  12   c  electrically connects the radiation electrodes  11   a ,  11   b , and  11   c , respectively, to the RFIC  400 . The power supply line  12   a  includes a power supply line portion  12   a   1  (a first power supply line portion) arranged in the dielectric substrate  14  along the X-axis direction and a power supply line portion  12   a   2  (a second power supply line portion) arranged in the dielectric substrate  14  along a direction vertical to the first main surface and the second main surface (along the Z-axis direction in  FIG. 1A  to  FIG. 1C ). The power supply line  12   b  includes a power supply line portion  12   b   1  (the first power supply line portion) arranged in the dielectric substrate  14  along the X-axis direction and a power supply line portion  12   b   2  (the second power supply line portion) arranged in the dielectric substrate  14  along the Z-axis direction. The power supply line  12   c  includes a power supply line portion  12   c   1  (the first power supply line portion) arranged in the dielectric substrate  14  along the X-axis direction and a power supply line portion  12   c   2  (the second power supply line portion) arranged in the dielectric substrate  14  along the Z-axis direction. 
     The RFIC  400  may be a radio-frequency circuit element, such as a radio-frequency filter, an inductor, or a capacitor, instead of the radio-frequency signal processing circuit (RFIC). In addition, the radio-frequency signal processing circuit (RFIC) and the radio-frequency circuit element may be arranged in one package to form the RFIC  400  or the RFIC  400  may be packaged on one chip (in one integrated circuit). 
     With the above configuration, since the radiation electrodes  11   a ,  11   b , and  11   c  are opposed to the RFIC  400  in the Z-axis direction with the dielectric substrate  14  sandwiched therebetween, it is possible to shorten the power supply lines  12   a ,  12   b , and  12   c  with which the RFIC  400  is connected to the radiation electrodes  11   a ,  11   b , and  11   c . Accordingly, propagation loss of radio-frequency signals is capable of being reduced. 
     Next, a characteristic configuration of the antenna module  1  according to the first embodiment will be described. 
     The ground electrode  13  is arranged between the power supply line portions  12   a   1 ,  12   b   1 , and  12   c   1  and the RFIC  400  in a cross-sectional view of the dielectric substrate  14  (when the dielectric substrate  14  is viewed from the Y-axis direction), as illustrated in  FIG. 1A . The ground line  15  is arranged between the power supply line portion  12   a   1  and the radiation electrodes  11   a ,  11   b , and  11   c  in the above cross-sectional view, as illustrated in  FIG. 1A . 
     The ground electrode  13  includes the radiation electrode  11   a  and part of the power supply line portion  12   a   1  in a plan view of the dielectric substrate  14  (when the dielectric substrate  14  is viewed from the Z-axis direction), as illustrated in  FIG. 1C . The ground line  15  includes part of the power supply line portion  12   a   1  in the above plan view. 
     In the above plan view, a formation area A 15  of the ground line  15  is smaller than a formation area A 13  of the ground electrode  13 . 
     In addition, the ground line  15  is formed along a direction in which the power supply line portion  12   a   1  extends and is overlapped with part of the radiation electrode  11   a  in the above plan view. 
     Although the antenna module  1  according to the present embodiment is described so as to include the multiple radiation electrodes  11   a  to  11   c , the number of the radiation electrodes is not limited and it is sufficient for the antenna module  1  to include at least one radiation electrode. 
     [1.2 Structure of Antenna Module  500  According to Comparative Example] 
     Next, the configuration of an antenna module  500  according to a comparative example will be described. 
       FIG. 2A  is a structural cross-sectional view of the antenna module  500  according to the comparative example.  FIG. 2B  is an exploded perspective view of the antenna module  500  according to the comparative example. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2A , the antenna module  500  according to the comparative example includes the dielectric substrate  14 , the radiation electrodes  11   a ,  11   b , and  11   c , the RFIC  400 , a ground electrode  513 , and the power supply lines  12   a ,  12   b , and  12   c . The configuration of the antenna module  500  according to the present example differs from that of the antenna module  1  according to the first embodiment in that (1) the ground line is not arranged and in (2) the position where the ground electrode  513  is arranged. As for the antenna module  500  according to the present comparative example, a description of the points common to the antenna module  1  according to the first embodiment is omitted herein and points different from the antenna module  1  according to the first embodiment will be mainly described. 
     The ground electrode  513  is arranged in the dielectric substrate  14  along the X-axis direction, as illustrated in  FIG. 2A , and is arranged between the power supply line portions  12   a   1 ,  12   b   1 , and  12   c   1  and the radiation electrodes  11   a ,  11   b , and  11   c  in a cross-sectional view of the dielectric substrate  14  (when the dielectric substrate  14  is viewed from the Y-axis direction). 
     [1.3 Comparison of Characteristics Between Antenna Modules According to First Example and First Comparative Example and Advantages] 
     In the antenna module  500  according to the comparative example, the ground electrode  513  is arranged between the radiation electrodes  11   a ,  11   b , and  11   c  and the power supply line portions  12   a   1 ,  12   b   1 , and  12   c   1 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2A . Accordingly, a thickness t ANT500  of the dielectric body between the radiation electrode  11   a  and the ground electrode  513  is smaller than the thickness of the dielectric substrate  14 , and the antenna volume defined by the volume of the dielectric body between the radiation electrode and the ground electrode is smaller than the volume of the dielectric substrate  14 . 
     In contrast, in the antenna module  1  according to the first embodiment, the ground electrode  13  is arranged between the power supply line portions  12   a   1 ,  12   b   1 ,  12   c   1  and the RFIC  400 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1A . In the present embodiment, the radiation electrodes  11   a ,  11   b , and  11   c  and the ground electrode  13  are arranged on the first main surface and the second main surface, respectively, of the dielectric substrate  14 . In addition, as illustrated in  FIG. 1C , the ground line  15  arranged between the radiation electrode  11   a  and the power supply line portion  12   a   1  is smaller than the ground electrode  13  in the above plan view. More specifically, the ground line  15  is not arranged in the area excluding the area in which the ground line  15  is overlapped with the power supply line portion  12   a   1  in the above plan view. Accordingly, an effective thickness t ANT1  of the dielectric body between the radiation electrode  11   a  and the ground electrode  13  is equivalent to the thickness of the dielectric substrate  14 . In other words, the antenna volume defined by the volume of the dielectric body between the radiation electrode and the ground electrode is capable of being made greater than the antenna volume of the antenna module  500  according to the comparative example without necessarily increasing the thickness of the dielectric substrate  14  itself. Accordingly, since a frequency bandwidth determined by the antenna volume is capable of being widely ensured and high gain is capable of being ensured in the antenna module  1  according to the present embodiment, compared with those in the antenna module  500  according to the comparative example, antenna characteristics, such as the frequency bandwidth and the gain, are improved. 
     Furthermore, the ground line  15  is formed along the direction in which the power supply line portion  12   a   1  extends and is overlapped with part of the radiation electrode  11   a  in the above plan view. Accordingly, a so-called strip line structure in which the power supply line portion  12   a   1  is sandwiched between the ground line  15  and the ground electrode  13  is capable of being ensured close to a feeding point of the radiation electrode  11   a . Consequently, the impedance of the power supply line  12   a  is capable of being set with high accuracy to reduce radio-frequency propagation loss. In addition, since the ground line  15  is arranged between the radiation electrode  11   a  and the power supply line  12   a  due to the strip line structure, it is possible to suppress an occurrence of a defect, such as oscillation of a power amplifier in the RFIC  400 , which is caused by unnecessary coupling between the radiation electrode  11   a  and the power supply line  12   a . As described above, the strip line structure is effective as the structure to improve the effect of shielding the power supply line  12   a.    
       FIG. 3A  is a graph representing reflection characteristics of an antenna module  1 A according to a first example.  FIG. 3B  is a graph representing the reflection characteristics of an antenna module  500 A according to a first comparative example. The configurations of the antenna module  1 A according to the first example in  FIG. 3A  and the antenna module  500 A according to the first comparative example in  FIG. 3B  differ from those of the antenna module  1  according to the first embodiment and the antenna module  500  according to the comparative example in that two feeding points are arranged for each radiation electrode and in that the power supply line is connected to each of the two feeding points. 
       FIG. 4  is a plan view illustrating the structure of the power supply lines of the antenna module  1 A according to the first example and the antenna module  500 A according to the first comparative example. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the antenna module  1 A according to the first example and the antenna module  500 A according to the first comparative example, each includes two feeding points F 1  and F 2  arranged on the radiation electrode  11   a , a power supply line portion  12   a   1 Y for connecting the feeding point F 1  to the RFIC  400 , a power supply line portion  12   a   1 X for connecting the feeding point F 2  to the RFIC  400 , a power supply line portion  12   b   1 Y for connecting a feeding point F 3  to the RFIC  400 , and a power supply line portion  12   b   1 X for connecting a feeding point F 4  to the RFIC  400 . 
     The feeding point F 1  is arranged at a position shifted from the center point of the radiation electrode  11   a  in the Y-axis positive direction in a plan view of the dielectric substrate  14 . The feeding point F 2  is arranged at a position shifted from the center point of the radiation electrode  11   a  in the X-axis positive direction in the above plan view. Accordingly, on the radiation electrode  11   a , a radiation pattern having two polarization directions: the Y-axis direction and the X-axis direction is created. The feeding point F 3  is arranged at a position shifted from the center point of the radiation electrode  11   b  in the Y-axis positive direction in the above plan view. The feeding point F 4  is arranged at a position shifted from the center point of the radiation electrode  11   b  in the X-axis positive direction in the above plan view. Accordingly, on the radiation electrode  11   b , a radiation pattern having two polarization directions: the Y-axis direction and the X-axis direction is created. 
     In other words, the antenna module  1 A according to the first example and the antenna module  500 A according to the first comparative example, each composes a dual polarization antenna module having the two polarization directions: the Y-axis direction and the X-axis direction. 
     The arrangement relationship between the radiation electrode, the ground line, the power supply line, and the ground electrode in a cross-sectional view in the antenna module  1 A according to the first example is the same as the arrangement relationship in the antenna module  1  according to the first embodiment. In addition, the arrangement relationship between the radiation electrode, the power supply line, and the ground electrode in a cross-sectional view in the antenna module  500 A according to the first comparative example is the same as the arrangement relationship in the antenna module  500  according to the comparative example. 
     With the above configurations, in the antenna module  1 A according to the first example, for example, the bandwidth at which S(1,1) representing the reflection characteristic at the feeding point F 1  is −6 dB or less was 4.636 GHz (voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR)&lt;3), as illustrated in  FIG. 3A . In addition, S(1,1) to S(4,4) were capable of ensuring −10 dB or less near the center frequency of the band in which S(1,1) to S(4,4) are −6 dB or less. 
     In contrast, in the antenna module  500 A according to the first comparative example, for example, the bandwidth at which S(1,1) representing the reflection characteristic at the feeding point F 1  is −6 dB or less was 4.151 GHz (VSWR&lt;3), as illustrated in  FIG. 3B . In addition, S(3,3) was −10 dB or more near the center frequency of the band in which S(1,1) to S(4,4) are −6 dB or less. 
     In other words, with the above configurations, since the antenna volume of the antenna module  1 A according to the first example is greater than the antenna volume of the antenna module  500 A according to the first comparative example, the wide frequency bandwidth determined by the antenna volume is capable of being ensured and higher gain is capable of being ensured in the antenna module  1 A according to the first example, compared with those in the antenna module  500 A according to the first comparative example. Accordingly, the antenna characteristics are improved in the antenna module  1 A according to the first example. 
     In the antenna module  1 A according to the first example having the above configuration, the radiation electrodes  11   a  and  11   b  have rectangular shapes in the above plan view and the power supply line portion  12   a   1 Y intersects with an end side L 11  closest to the feeding point F 1 , among multiple end sides L 11 , L 12 , L 13 , and L 14  composing the outer perimeter of the radiation electrode  11   a . The power supply line portion  12   a   1 X intersects with the end side L 12  closest to the feeding point F 2 , among the multiple end sides L 11  to L 14 . The power supply line portion  12   b   1 Y intersects with an end side L 21  closest to the feeding point F 3 , among multiple end sides L 21 , L 22 , L 23 , and L 24  composing the outer perimeter of the radiation electrode  11   b . The power supply line portion  12   b   1 X intersects with the end side L 22  closest to the feeding point F 4 , among the multiple end sides L 21  to L 24 . 
     With the above configuration, in the above plan view, the ratio of the area of the power supply line portions  12   a   1 Y and  12   a   1 X and the ground line  15  overlapped with the power supply line portions  12   a   1 Y and  12   a   1 X to the area in which the radiation electrode  11   a  is formed is capable of being minimized. In addition, the ratio of the area of the power supply line portions  12   b   1 Y and  12   b   1 X and the ground line  15  overlapped with the power supply line portions  12   b   1 Y and  12   b   1 X to the area in which the radiation electrode  11   b  is formed is capable of being minimized. Accordingly, it is possible to maximize the antenna volume without necessarily increasing the thickness of the dielectric substrate  14  itself to further improve the antenna characteristics. 
     [1.4 Structure of Antenna Module  2  According to Modification] 
       FIG. 5A  is a structural cross-sectional view of an antenna module  2  according to a modification of the first embodiment.  FIG. 5B  is a perspective plan view of the antenna module  2  according to the modification of the first embodiment. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5A , the antenna module  2  according to the present modification includes the dielectric substrate  14 , the radiation electrodes  11   a ,  11   b , and  11   c , the RFIC  400 , the ground electrode  13 , a ground line  16 , and the power supply lines  12   a ,  12   b , and  12   c . The antenna module  2  illustrated in  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B  differs from the antenna module  1  according to the first embodiment only in the arrangement configuration of the ground line  16 . As for the antenna module  2  according to the present modification, a description of the points common to the antenna module  1  according to the first embodiment is omitted herein and points different from the antenna module  1  according to the first embodiment will be mainly described. 
     The ground line  16  is arranged in the dielectric substrate  14  along a direction parallel to the first main surface and the second main surface (along the X-axis direction in  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B ). 
     In addition, the ground line  16  is arranged between the power supply line portion  12   a   1  and the radiation electrodes  11   a ,  11   b , and  11   c  in the above cross-sectional view, as illustrated in  FIG. 5A , and includes part of the power supply line portion  12   a   1  in the above plan view. 
     Furthermore, although the ground line  16  is formed along the direction in which the power supply line portion  12   a   1  extends in the above plan view, the ground line  16  is not overlapped with the radiation electrode  11   a.    
     In the above plan view, a formation area A 16  of the ground line  16  is smaller than the formation area A 13  of the ground electrode  13 . 
     With the above configuration, the ground line  16  arranged between the radiation electrode  11   a  and the power supply line portion  12   a   1  is smaller than the ground electrode  13  in the above plan view, as illustrated in  FIG. 5B . More specifically, the ground line  16  is not arranged in the area excluding the area overlapped with the power supply line portion  12   a   1  in the above plan view. Accordingly, the effective thickness of the dielectric body between the radiation electrode  11   a  and the ground electrode  13  is not restricted by the arrangement of the power supply line portion  12   a   1 . Consequently, the antenna volume defined by the volume of the dielectric body between the radiation electrode and the ground electrode in the antenna module  2  according to the modification is greater than the antenna volume of the antenna module  500 A according to the first comparative example. In addition, since the ground line  16  is not overlapped with the radiation electrode  11   a  in the above plan view, the large antenna volume is capable of being ensured, compared with that in the antenna module  1  according to the first embodiment. Accordingly, the antenna characteristics, such as the frequency bandwidth and the gain, are further improved. 
     However, in the antenna module  2  according to the present modification, the strip line structure is not realized in which the power supply line portion  12   a   1  is sandwiched between the ground line  16  and the ground electrode  13  in the area in which the radiation electrode  11   a  is overlapped with the ground line  16 . Accordingly, the antenna module  1  according to the first embodiment is advantageous, compared with the antenna module  2  according to the present modification, in terms of the accuracy of the impedance of the power supply line  12   a.    
     Second Embodiment 
     An antenna module according to the present embodiment is characterized in that the antenna module includes two patch antennas the normal directions of which intersect with each other and in that at least one of the two patch antennas has the configuration of the antenna module according to the first embodiment. 
     [2.1 Structure of Antenna Module  3  According to Second Embodiment] 
       FIG. 6A  is an external perspective view of an antenna module  3  according to a second embodiment.  FIG. 6B  is a structural cross-sectional view of the antenna module  3  according to the second embodiment. A cross-sectional view in a state in which the antenna module  3  according to the second embodiment is mounted on a mounting board  600  is illustrated in  FIG. 6B . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B , the antenna module  3  according to the present embodiment includes a substrate  100 ; the dielectric substrate  14  (a first dielectric substrate) and a dielectric substrate  24  (a second dielectric substrate); the radiation electrode  11   a  (a first radiation electrode), the radiation electrode  11   b  (the first radiation electrode), the radiation electrode  11   c  (the first radiation electrode), and a radiation electrode  11   d  (the first radiation electrode); a radiation electrode  21   a  (a second radiation electrode), a radiation electrode  21   b  (the second radiation electrode), a radiation electrode  21   c  (the second radiation electrode), and a radiation electrode  21   d  (the second radiation electrode); the RFIC  400 ; a ground electrode  13   a  (a first ground electrode) and a ground electrode  13   b  (a second ground electrode); the ground line  15  (a first ground line) and a ground line  25  (a second ground line); and the power supply line  12   a  (a first power supply line) and a power supply line  22   a  (a second power supply line). 
     The substrate  100  has a first flat plate portion  100   a  and a second flat plate portion  100   b  the normal directions of which intersect with each other and which are connected with each other. In the present embodiment, the substrate  100  has an L-shaped form in which the substrate  100  is folded along a boundary B at approximately 90 degrees to form the first flat plate portion  100   a  and the second flat plate portion  100   b.    
     The dielectric substrate  14  has a first main surface and a second main surface, which are opposed to each other with their back surfaces, and the second main surface of the dielectric substrate  14  is in contact with the front face of the first flat plate portion  100   a . The dielectric substrate  24  has a third main surface and a fourth main surface, which are opposed to each other with their back surfaces, and the fourth main surface of the dielectric substrate  24  is in contact with the front face of the second flat plate portion  100   b.    
     The radiation electrodes  11   a  to  11   d  are formed at the first main surface side of the dielectric substrate  14 . The radiation electrodes  21   a  to  21   d  are formed at the third main surface side of the dielectric substrate  24 . 
     The RFIC  400  is formed at the rear face side of the first flat plate portion  100   a . The RFIC  400  is covered with a resin member  40  filled between the substrate  100  (the ground electrode  13   a ) and the mounting board  600 . The RFIC  400  is connected to lines formed in or on the substrate  100  and so on to receive and output power supply voltage, a control signal, and so on through the lines. The RFIC  400  performs at least one of transmission-system signal processing in which a signal supplied from a baseband signal processing circuit (not illustrated) through the lines is subjected to up-conversion and the signal is supplied to the radiation electrodes  11   a  to  11   d  and  21   a  to  21   d  and reception-system signal processing in which radio-frequency signals supplied from the radiation electrodes  11   a  to  11   d  and  21   a  to  21   d  are subjected to down-conversion and the signals are supplied to the baseband signal processing circuit. As the join mode between the RFIC  400  and the mounting board  600 , a Cu face formed on the rear face of the RFIC  400  may be joined to the mounting board  600 . 
     The ground electrode  13   a  is arranged on the front face of the first flat plate portion  100   a  or over the first flat plate portion  100   a . The ground electrode  13   b  is arranged on the front face of the second flat plate portion  100   b  or over the second flat plate portion  100   b . The ground electrode  13   a  and the ground electrode  13   b  are integrally arranged on the substrate  100  across the first flat plate portion  100   a  and the second flat plate portion  100   b.    
     The ground line  15  is arranged in the first dielectric substrate  14  along the direction parallel to the first main surface and the second main surface (along the Y-axis direction). The ground line  25  is arranged in the dielectric substrate  24  along the direction parallel to the third main surface and the fourth main surface (along the X-axis direction). 
     The power supply line  12   a  electrically connects the radiation electrode  11   a  to the RFIC  400 . The power supply line  22   a  electrically connects the radiation electrode  21   a  to the RFIC  400 . 
     The power supply line  22   a  includes a power supply line portion  22   a   1  (the first power supply line portion) arranged in the dielectric substrate  14  along a direction parallel to the Y-axis direction and a power supply line portion  22   a   2  (the second power supply line portion) arranged in the dielectric substrate  14  along the Z-axis direction. The power supply line  22   a  further includes a power supply line portion  22   a   3  (a third power supply line portion) arranged in the dielectric substrate  24  along a direction parallel to the Z-axis direction and a power supply line portion  22   a   4  (a fourth power supply line portion) arranged in the dielectric substrate  24  along the Y-axis direction. 
     In the above configuration, the radiation electrodes  11   a  to  11   d , the dielectric substrate  14 , the power supply lines  12   a  and  22   a  (the power supply line portions  22   a   1  and  22   a   2 ), and the ground electrode  13   a  compose a first patch antenna. The radiation electrodes  21   a  to  21   d , the dielectric substrate  24 , the power supply line  22   a  (the power supply line portions  22   a   3  and  22   a   4 ), and the ground electrode  13   b  compose a second patch antenna. 
     In the antenna module  3  according to the present embodiment, the first patch antenna has the following characteristic configuration. 
     The ground electrode  13   a  is arranged between the power supply line portion  22   a   1  and the RFIC  400  in a cross-sectional view of the dielectric substrate  14 . The ground line  15  is arranged between the power supply line portion  22   a   1  and the radiation electrode  11   a  in the above cross-sectional view. 
     The ground electrode  13   a  includes the radiation electrode  11   a  and part of the power supply line portion  22   a   1  in a plan view of the dielectric substrate  14 . The ground line  15  includes part of the power supply line portion  22   a   1  in the above plan view. 
     In the above plan view, the area in which the ground line  15  is formed is smaller than the area in which the ground electrode  13   a  is formed. 
     In the above configuration, the antenna module  3  includes the first patch antenna and the second patch antenna and the first patch antenna and the second patch antenna have different directivities. Accordingly, the antenna characteristics are improved. In addition, in the first patch antenna, the radiation electrodes  11   a  to  11   d  and the ground electrode  13   a  are capable of being arranged with no restriction of the arrangement of the power supply line portion  22   a   1 . Furthermore, the ground line  15  arranged between the radiation electrode  11   a  and the power supply line portion  22   a   1  is smaller than the ground electrode  13   a  in the above plan view. More specifically, the ground line  15  is not arranged in the area excluding the area overlapped with the power supply line portion  22   a   1  in the above plan view. Accordingly, the antenna volume defined by the effective volume of the dielectric body between the radiation electrode  11   a  and the ground electrode  13   a  is capable of being ensured without necessarily increasing the thickness of the dielectric substrate  14 . Consequently, the antenna characteristics, such as the frequency bandwidth and the gain, of the first patch antenna, which are determined by the antenna volume, are improved, compared with the antenna module having the configuration in which the ground electrode is arranged between the radiation electrode  11   a  and the power supply line portion  22   a   1 . 
     The ground line  15  is formed along the direction in which the power supply line portion  22   a   1  extends and is overlapped with part of the radiation electrode  11   a  in the above plan view. 
     With the above configuration, since a so-called strip line structure in which the power supply line portion  22   a   1  is sandwiched between the ground line  15  and the ground electrode  13   a  is capable of being ensured close to the feeding point of the radiation electrode  11   a , the impedance of the power supply line  22   a  is capable of being set with high accuracy to reduce the radio-frequency propagation loss. 
     Although the ground line  15  is formed along the direction in which the power supply line portion  22   a   1  extends in the above plan view, the ground line  15  may not be overlapped with the radiation electrode  11   a.    
     With the above configuration, since the ground line  15  is not overlapped with the radiation electrode  11   a  in the above plan view, the larger antenna volume is capable of being ensured. Accordingly, the antenna characteristics, such as the frequency bandwidth and the gain, are further improved. 
     Each of the radiation electrodes  11   a  to  11   d  composing the first patch antenna may include two feeding points. More specifically, the first patch antenna may further include a third power supply line that electrically connects the radiation electrode  11   a  to the RFIC  400  and may form first polarization and second polarization different from the first polarization. In this case, the first polarization and the second polarization have the directivity in a direction perpendicular to the first flat plate portion  100   a . The radiation electrodes  11   b  to  11   d  may have the same configuration. 
     With the above configuration, a so-called dual polarization antenna module is capable of being composed in the radiation direction of the first patch antenna. 
     In addition, in the antenna module according to the present embodiment, the second patch antenna has the following characteristic configuration. 
     The ground electrode  13   b  is arranged between the power supply line portion  22   a   3  and the rear face of the second flat plate portion  100   b  in a cross-sectional view of the dielectric substrate  24 . The ground line  25  is arranged between the power supply line portion  22   a   3  and the radiation electrode  21   a  in the above cross-sectional view. 
     The ground electrode  13   b  includes the radiation electrode  21   a  and part of the power supply line portion  22   a   3  in a plan view of the dielectric substrate  24 . The ground line  25  includes part of the power supply line portion  22   a   3  in the above plan view. 
     In the above plan view, the area in which the ground line  25  is formed is smaller than the area in which the ground electrode  13   b  is formed. 
     With the above configuration, in the second patch antenna, the radiation electrodes  21   a  to  21   d  and the ground electrode  13   b  are capable of being arranged with no restriction of the arrangement of the power supply line portion  22   a   3 . In addition, the ground line  25  arranged between the radiation electrode  21   a  and the power supply line portion  22   a   3  is smaller than the ground electrode  13   b  in the above plan view. More specifically, the ground line  25  is not arranged in the area excluding the area overlapped with the power supply line portion  22   a   3  in the above plan view. Accordingly, the antenna volume defined by the effective volume of the dielectric body between the radiation electrode  21   a  and the ground electrode  13   b  is capable of being ensured without necessarily increasing the thickness of the dielectric substrate  24 . Consequently, the antenna characteristics, such as the frequency bandwidth and the gain, of the second patch antenna, which are determined by the antenna volume, are improved, compared with the antenna module having the configuration in which the ground electrode is arranged between the radiation electrode  21   a  and the power supply line portion  22   a   3 . 
     The ground line  25  is formed along the direction in which the power supply line portion  22   a   3  extends and is overlapped with part of the radiation electrode  21   a  in the above plan view. 
     With the above configuration, since a so-called strip line structure in which the power supply line portion  22   a   3  is sandwiched between the ground line  25  and the ground electrode  13   b  is capable of being ensured close to the feeding point of the radiation electrode  21   a , the impedance of the power supply line  22   a  is capable of being set with high accuracy to reduce the radio-frequency propagation loss. 
     Although the ground line  25  is formed along the direction in which the power supply line portion  22   a   3  extends in the above plan view, the ground line  25  may not be overlapped with the radiation electrode  21   a.    
     With the above configuration, since the ground line  25  is not overlapped with the radiation electrode  21   a  in the above plan view, the larger antenna volume is capable of being ensured. Accordingly, the antenna characteristics, such as the frequency bandwidth and the gain, are further improved. 
     Each of the radiation electrodes  21   a  to  21   d  composing the second patch antenna may include two feeding points. More specifically, the second patch antenna may further include a fourth power supply line that electrically connects the radiation electrode  21   a  to the RFIC  400  and may form third polarization and fourth polarization different from the third polarization. In this case, the third polarization and the fourth polarization have the directivity in a direction perpendicular to the second flat plate portion  100   b . The radiation electrodes  21   b  to  21   d  may have the same configuration. 
     With the above configuration, a so-called dual polarization antenna module is capable of being composed in the radiation direction of the second patch antenna. 
     The mounting board  600  is a board on which the RFIC  400  and the baseband signal processing circuit are mounted and is, for example, a printed circuit board. The mounting board  600  may be the housing of a communication apparatus, such as a mobile phone. As illustrated in  FIG. 6B , in the antenna module  3 , for example, the main surface of the first flat plate portion  100   a  is arranged so as to be opposed to the main surface of the mounting board  600  and the main surface of the second flat plate portion  100   b  is arranged so as to be opposed to the side face at an end portion of the mounting board  600 . 
     With the above configuration, the antenna module  3  is capable of being arranged at an end portion of the mobile phone or the like. Accordingly, it is possible to decrease the thickness of the communication apparatus, such as the mobile phone, while improving the antenna characteristics, such as the antenna radiation and the reception coverage. 
     Although both the first patch antenna and the second patch antenna have the configuration of the antenna module  1  according to the first embodiment in the present embodiment, only one of the first patch antenna and the second patch antenna may have the characteristic configuration of the antenna module  1  according to the first embodiment. 
     [2.2 Line Structure of the Antenna Module  3  According to Second Embodiment] 
     A characteristic line structure of the antenna module  3  according to the second embodiment will now be described. 
       FIG. 7A  is a diagram illustrating the structure of the power supply line of the first patch antenna according to the second embodiment.  FIG. 7B  is a diagram illustrating the structure of the power supply line of the second patch antenna according to the second embodiment.  FIG. 7C  is a diagram illustrating the structure of the power supply line in a boundary area according to the second embodiment. 
     The structure of the power supply line portion  22   a   1 , the ground line  15 , and the ground electrode  13   a  in an area A in  FIG. 6B  is illustrated in  FIG. 7A . The power supply line portion  22   a   1  has a strip line structure in which the power supply line portion  22   a   1  is sandwiched between the ground line  15  and the ground electrode  13   a  in the Z-axis direction. The ground line  15  is connected to the ground electrode  13   a  with multiple ground via conductors  130  with which the power supply line portion  22   a   1  is surrounded and which are formed along the power supply line portion  22   a   1 . With this configuration, the power supply line portion  22   a   1  is capable of propagating a radio-frequency signal with low loss. 
     The structure of the power supply line portion  22   a   3 , the ground line  25 , and the ground electrode  13   b  in an area B in  FIG. 6B  is illustrated in  FIG. 7B . The power supply line portion  22   a   3  has a strip line structure in which the power supply line portion  22   a   3  is sandwiched between the ground line  25  and the ground electrode  13   b  in the Y-axis direction. The ground line  25  is connected to the ground electrode  13   b  with the multiple ground via conductors  130  with which the power supply line portion  22   a   3  is surrounded and which are formed along the power supply line portion  22   a   3 . With this configuration, the power supply line portion  22   a   3  is capable of propagating a radio-frequency signal with low loss. 
     The structure of the power supply line  22   a  and the ground electrode  13  in an area C in  FIG. 6B  is illustrated in  FIG. 7C . The area C is a boundary area between the first patch antenna and the second patch antenna and is a boundary area between the dielectric substrate  14  and the dielectric substrate  24 . In this boundary area, the power supply line portion  22   a   1  is continuously connected with the power supply line portion  22   a   3 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6B . In addition, in this boundary area, the ground electrode  13   a  is integrally and continuously connected with the ground electrode  13   b  and the ground line  15  and the ground line  25  are not formed in the above boundary area. With this arrangement configuration, the power supply line  22   a  has a so-called microstrip line structure in which a dielectric layer  19  is sandwiched between the power supply line  22   a  and the ground electrode  13 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7C . The advantages when the microstrip line structure is adopted for the power supply line in the boundary area will now be described. 
       FIG. 8  is a development view of the power supply lines in an antenna module. The layout of the power supply lines in the antenna module having the same configuration as that of the antenna module  3  according to the present embodiment is illustrated in  FIG. 8 . The radiation electrode  11   a  has the two feeding points F 1  and F 2 . The radiation electrode  11   b  has the two feeding points F 3  and F 4 . The feeding point F 1  is connected to a terminal F 5  of the RFIC  400  via a power supply line of the microstrip type in the boundary area (the strip type in the other area). The feeding point F 2  is connected to a terminal F 6  of the RFIC  400  via a power supply line of the microstrip type in the boundary area (the strip type in the other area). The feeding point F 3  is connected to a terminal F 7  of the RFIC  400  via a power supply line of the microstrip type in the boundary area (the strip type in the other area). The feeding point F 4  is connected to a terminal F 8  of the RFIC  400  via a power supply line of the strip type also in the boundary area (the strip type also in the other area). 
     In other words, the microstrip structure is used for the F 1 -F 5  power supply line, the F 2 -F 6  power supply line, and the F 3 -F 7  power supply line and the strip structure is used for the F 4 -F 8  power supply line in the boundary area in order to evaluate the relative merits of the structures of the power supply lines in the boundary area. Since the boundary area has a structure in which the boundary area is curved with a certain radius of curvature, as illustrated in  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B , it is not possible to provide the ground via conductors in the strip structure of the F 4 -F 8  power supply line. 
       FIG. 9A  is a graph representing the reflection characteristics of the power supply lines in an antenna module.  FIG. 9B  is a graph representing bandpass characteristics of the power supply lines in the antenna module. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9A , at the feeding points F 1  to F 4 , all of S(1,1) to S(4,4) are capable of ensuring −15 dB. In contrast, in the bandpass characteristics in  FIG. 9B , unnecessary resonance occurs in S(4,8). This may be because, since the ground via conductors are not provided in the strip structure of the F 4 -F 8  power supply line, a slot antenna is composed due to the coupling between the lines at a side face of the strip structure to cause unnecessary radiation in the X-axis direction. 
     As described above, in the antenna module  3  according to the present embodiment, the power supply lines in the boundary area between the first patch antenna and the second patch antenna desirably have the microstrip structure. With this structure, since the unnecessary resonance does not occur at the side face of the antenna module  3  in the above boundary area, it is possible to reduce the propagation loss of the power supply lines to improve the antenna characteristics of the second patch antenna. 
     Although the configuration is adopted in the present embodiment, in which the ground electrode  13   a  and the ground electrode  13   b  are integrally and continuously formed in the boundary area and the ground line is not formed in the boundary area, a configuration may be adopted in which the ground line  15  and the ground line  25  are integrally and continuously formed in the boundary area and the ground electrode is not formed in the boundary area. In other words, the power supply lines in the boundary area may have the microstrip structure in which the dielectric layer  19  is sandwiched between the power supply lines and the ground electrode or the microstrip structure in which the dielectric layer  19  is sandwiched between the power supply lines and the ground line. 
     Third Embodiment 
     A communication apparatus including the antenna module according to the first or second embodiment will be described in the present embodiment. 
       FIG. 10  is a circuit configuration diagram of a communication apparatus  60  according to a third embodiment. As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the communication apparatus  60  includes an antenna module  10  and a baseband integrated circuit (BBIC)  50  composing a baseband signal processing circuit. The antenna module  10  includes an array antenna  20  and an RFIC  30 . Only the circuit blocks corresponding to four radiation electrodes  11 , among the multiple radiation electrodes  11  in the array antenna  20 , are illustrated as the circuit blocks in the RFIC  30  in  FIG. 10  for simplicity and illustration of the other blocks is omitted herein. In addition, the circuit blocks corresponding to these four radiation electrodes  11  will be described below and a description of the other blocks is omitted herein. 
     The antenna module  10  is mounted on a mother board, such as a printed circuit board, using its bottom face as the mounting face and, for example, is capable of composing the communication apparatus with the BBIC  50  mounted on the mother board. In this regard, the antenna module  10  according to the present embodiment is capable of controlling the phase and the signal strength of a radio-frequency signal radiated from each radiation electrode  11  to realize sharp directivity. Such an antenna module  10  is capable of being used in, for example, a communication apparatus supporting Massive Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), which is one wireless transmission technology promising in the fifth-generation mobile communication system (5G). Such a communication apparatus will be described below with the processing in the RFIC  30  in the antenna module  10 . 
     Any of the antenna module  1  according to the first embodiment, the antenna module  2  according to the modification of the first embodiment, and the antenna module  3  according to the second embodiment is applied to the array antenna  20 . Although each radiation electrode composing the array antenna  20  has two feeding points in  FIG. 10 , the number of the feeding points is not limited to this. Each radiation electrode composing the array antenna  20  may have one feeding point. 
     The RFIC  30  includes switches  31 A to  31 D,  33 A to  33 D, and  37 , power amplifiers  32 AT to  32 DT, low noise amplifiers  32 AR to  32 DR, attenuators  34 A to  34 D, phase shifters  35 A to  35 D, a signal multiplexer-demultiplexer  36 , a mixer  38 , and an amplifier circuit  39 . 
     The switches  31 A to  31 D and  33 A to  33 D are switch circuits that switch between transmission and reception on the respective signal paths. 
     A signal transmitted from the BBIC  50  to the RFIC  30  is amplified in the amplifier circuit  39  and is subjected to up-conversion in the mixer  38 . The radio-frequency signal subjected to the up-conversion is demultiplexed in the signal multiplexer-demultiplexer  36  and the demultiplexed signals are supplied to different radiation electrodes  11  through four transmission paths. At this time, the levels of phase shift in the phase shifters  35 A to  35 D arranged on the respective signal paths are individually adjusted to enable adjustment of the directivity of the array antenna  20 . 
     In addition, radio-frequency signals received with the respective radiation electrodes  11  in the array antenna  20  pass through different four reception paths and are multiplexed in the signal multiplexer-demultiplexer  36 . The multiplexed signal is subjected to down-conversion in the mixer  38 , is amplified in the amplifier circuit  39 , and is supplied to the BBIC  50 . 
     Any of the switches  31 A to  31 D,  33 A to  33 D, and  37 , the power amplifiers  32 AT to  32 DT, the low noise amplifiers  32 AR to  32 DR, the attenuators  34 A to  34 D, the phase shifters  35 A to  35 D, the signal multiplexer-demultiplexer  36 , the mixer  38 , and the amplifier circuit  39  described above may not be provided in the RFIC  30 . The RFIC  30  may have either of the transmission paths and the reception paths. The communication apparatus  60  according to the present embodiment is applicable to a system that not only transmits and receives radio-frequency signals in a single frequency band but also transmits and receives radio-frequency signals in multiple frequency bands (multiband). 
     As described above, the RFIC  30  includes the power amplifiers  32 AT to  32 DT that amplify the radio-frequency signals and the multiple radiation electrodes  11  radiates the signals amplified in the power amplifiers  32 AT to  32 DT. 
     Application of any of the antenna module  1  according to the first embodiment, the antenna module  2  according to the modification of the first embodiment, and the antenna module  3  according to the second embodiment to the array antenna  20  in the communication apparatus  60  having the above configuration increases the antenna volume defined by the distance between the radiation electrodes  11  and the ground electrode to provide the communication apparatus having the improved antenna characteristics. 
     Other Modifications 
     Although the antenna modules and the communication apparatus according to the embodiments and the examples of the embodiments of the present invention are described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and the examples of the embodiments. Other embodiments realized by combining arbitrary components in the above embodiments, modifications resulting from making changes supposed by the persons skilled in the art to the above embodiments without necessarily departing from the scope of the present invention, and various devices incorporating the antenna module and the communication apparatus of the present disclosure are also included in the present invention. 
     For example, although the RFIC  30  is exemplified as the radio-frequency circuit element in the above description, the radio-frequency circuit element is not limited to this. For example, the radio-frequency circuit element may be a power amplifier that amplifies a radio-frequency signal and the multiple radiation electrodes  11  may radiate the signal amplified by the power amplifier. Alternatively, for example, the radio-frequency circuit element may be a phase adjustment circuit that adjusts the phases of radio-frequency signals transmitted between the multiple radiation electrodes  11  and the radio-frequency element. 
     The configuration including one pattern conductor having the feeding points is exemplified as the radiation electrode in the antenna modules according to the above embodiments and the examples of the embodiments. In contrast, the radiation electrode in the antenna module according to the present invention may include a feed pattern conductor having the feeding points and a non-feed pattern conductor that has no feeding point and that is arranged at the upper face side of the feed pattern conductor so as to be apart from the feed pattern conductor. Even with this configuration, advantages similar to those in the antenna modules according to the above embodiments and the examples of the embodiments are achieved. 
     For example, the antenna module  3  according to the second embodiment not only has the L-shaped form in which the substrate  100  is folded along the boundary B to form the first flat plate portion  100   a  and the second flat plate portion  100   b  but also may include a third flat plate portion which is connected with the second flat plate portion  100   b  and the normal direction of which intersects with that of the second flat plate portion  100   b . In this case, the first flat plate portion  100   a  and the third flat plate portion are typically opposed to each other so as to be substantially parallel to each other and a third patch antenna may be arranged in the third flat plate portion. With this configuration, for example, arranging the first flat plate portion  100   a  on the first main surface (the front face) of a mobile phone to be thinned, arranging the third flat plate portion on the second main surface (the rear face) opposed to the first main surface with its back surface, and arranging the second flat plate portion on the side face of an end portion with which the first main surface is connected with the second main surface enable the low profile to be realized. 
     Although the configuration in which the four radiation electrodes are arranged in the column direction, which is along the boundary B, is exemplified as the configuration of the first patch antenna and the second patch antenna in the second embodiment, it is sufficient for the number of the radiation electrodes arranged on one column to be one or more. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present invention is widely usable for a millimeter band mobile communication system and a communication device as the antenna module having excellent antenna characteristics, such as the frequency bandwidth and the gain. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       1 ,  1 A,  2 ,  3 ,  10 ,  500 ,  500 A antenna module 
       11 ,  11   a ,  11   b ,  11   c ,  11   d ,  21   a ,  21   b ,  21   c ,  21   d  radiation electrode 
       12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c ,  22   a  power supply line 
       12   a   1 ,  12   a   1 X,  12   a   1 Y,  12   a   2 ,  12   b   1 ,  12   b   1 X,  12   b   1 Y,  12   b   2 ,  12   c   1 ,  12   c   2 ,  22   a   1 ,  22   a   2 ,  22   a   3 ,  22   a   4  power supply line portion 
       13 ,  13   a ,  13   b ,  513  ground electrode 
       14 ,  24  dielectric substrate 
       15 ,  16 ,  25  ground line 
       19  dielectric layer 
       20  array antenna 
       30 ,  400  RFIC 
       31 A,  31 B,  31 C,  31 D,  33 A,  33 B,  33 C,  33 D,  37  switch 
       32 AR,  32 BR,  32 CR,  32 DR low noise amplifier 
       32 AT,  32 BT,  32 CT,  32 DT power amplifier 
       34 A,  34 B,  34 C,  34 D attenuator 
       35 A,  35 B,  35 C,  35 D phase shifter 
       36  signal multiplexer-demultiplexer 
       38  mixer 
       39  amplifier circuit 
       40  resin member 
       50  BBIC 
       100  substrate 
       100   a  first flat plate portion 
       100   b  second flat plate portion 
       130  ground via conductor 
       600  mounting board 
     L 11 , L 12 , L 13 , L 14 , L 21 , L 22 , L 23 , L 24  end side