Patent Publication Number: US-2022224020-A1

Title: Arrayed antenna module

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority to Taiwan Patent Application No. 110200230, filed on Jan. 8, 2021. The entire content of the above identified application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     Some references, which may include patents, patent applications and various publications, may be cited and discussed in the description of this disclosure. The citation and/or discussion of such references is provided merely to clarify the description of the present disclosure and is not an admission that any such reference is “prior art” to the disclosure described herein. All references cited and discussed in this specification are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties and to the same extent as if each reference was individually incorporated by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates to an antenna module, and more particularly to an arrayed antenna module. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     In the related art, a conventional wireless module can be used to wirelessly transmit signals, so that an electronic device can use the wireless module to receive or emit the signals. However, the conventional wireless module still has room for improvement. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     In response to the above-referenced technical inadequacy, the present disclosure provides an arrayed antenna module. 
     In one aspect, the present disclosure provides an arrayed antenna module including a carrier substrate, a first antenna group, a second antenna group, a front conductive connecting assembly and a rear conductive connecting assembly. The first antenna group includes a plurality of first antenna structures disposed on the carrier substrate, a first left conductive connecting element electrically connected to the first antenna structures, and a first right conductive connecting element electrically connected to the first antenna structures. The second antenna group includes a plurality of second antenna structures disposed on the carrier substrate, a second left conductive connecting element electrically connected to the second antenna structures, and a second right conductive connecting element electrically connected to the second antenna structures. The front conductive connecting assembly includes a first front conductive connecting element electrically connected to the first left conductive connecting element, a second front conductive connecting element electrically connected to the second left conductive connecting element, and a front signal feeding element electrically connected between the first front conductive connecting element and the second front conductive connecting element. The rear conductive connecting assembly includes a first rear conductive connecting element electrically connected to the first right conductive connecting element, a second rear conductive connecting element electrically connected to the second right conductive connecting element, and a rear signal feeding element electrically connected between the first rear conductive connecting element and the second rear conductive connecting element. The first antenna structure includes a first support element disposed on the carrier substrate, a first upper plate supported by the first support element, and a first lower plate supported by the first support element, the first upper plate and the first lower plate are separate from each other, and the first lower plate is connected between the first left conductive connecting element and the first right conductive connecting element. The second antenna structure includes a second support element disposed on the carrier substrate, a second upper plate supported by the second support element, and a second lower plate supported by the second support element, the second upper plate and the second lower plate are separate from each other, and the second lower plate is connected between the second left conductive connecting element and the second right conductive connecting element. 
     In another aspect, the present disclosure provides an arrayed antenna module including a first antenna group, a second antenna group, a front conductive connecting assembly and a rear conductive connecting assembly. The first antenna group includes a plurality of first antenna structures, a first left conductive connecting element electrically connected to the first antenna structures, and a first right conductive connecting element electrically connected to the first antenna structures. The second antenna group includes a plurality of second antenna structures, a second left conductive connecting element electrically connected to the second antenna structures, and a second right conductive connecting element electrically connected to the second antenna structures. The front conductive connecting assembly includes a first front conductive connecting element electrically connected to the first left conductive connecting element, and a second front conductive connecting element electrically connected to the second left conductive connecting element. The rear conductive connecting assembly includes a first rear conductive connecting element electrically connected to the first right conductive connecting element, and a second rear conductive connecting element electrically connected to the second right conductive connecting element. 
     In yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides an arrayed antenna module including a first antenna group, a second antenna group, a front conductive connecting assembly and a rear conductive connecting assembly. The first antenna group includes a plurality of first antenna structures arranged in parallel thereon. The second antenna group includes a plurality of second antenna structures arranged in parallel thereon. The front conductive connecting assembly includes a first front conductive connecting element electrically connected to the first antenna group, and a second front conductive connecting element electrically connected to the second antenna group. The rear conductive connecting assembly includes a first rear conductive connecting element electrically connected to the first antenna group, and a second rear conductive connecting element electrically connected to the second antenna group. 
     Therefore, by virtue of “the first antenna group including a plurality of first antenna structures arranged in parallel thereon”, “the second antenna group including a plurality of second antenna structures arranged in parallel thereon”, “the front conductive connecting assembly including a first front conductive connecting element electrically connected to the first antenna group, and a second front conductive connecting element electrically connected to the second antenna group” and “the rear conductive connecting assembly including a first rear conductive connecting element electrically connected to the first antenna group, and a second rear conductive connecting element electrically connected to the second antenna group”, the arrayed antenna module provided by the present disclosure can be applied to a portable electronic device so as to receive or transmit signals. 
     These and other aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of the embodiment taken in conjunction with the following drawings and their captions, although variations and modifications therein may be affected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The described embodiments may be better understood by reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic perspective view of an arrayed antenna module according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  shows another schematic perspective view of the arrayed antenna module according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  shows a schematic top view of the arrayed antenna module according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  shows a schematic top view of a first antenna group of the arrayed antenna module electrically connected between a front conductive connecting assembly and a rear conductive connecting assembly according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  shows a schematic top view of a second antenna group of the arrayed antenna module electrically connected between the front conductive connecting assembly and the rear conductive connecting assembly according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 10  shows a schematic perspective view of an arrayed antenna module according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 11  shows another schematic perspective view of the arrayed antenna module according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 12  shows a schematic top view of the arrayed antenna module according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     The present disclosure is more particularly described in the following examples that are intended as illustrative only since numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Like numbers in the drawings indicate like components throughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, the meaning of “a”, “an”, and “the” includes plural reference, and the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on”. Titles or subtitles can be used herein for the convenience of a reader, which shall have no influence on the scope of the present disclosure. 
     The terms used herein generally have their ordinary meanings in the art. In the case of conflict, the present document, including any definitions given herein, will prevail. The same thing can be expressed in more than one way. Alternative language and synonyms can be used for any term(s) discussed herein, and no special significance is to be placed upon whether a term is elaborated or discussed herein. A recital of one or more synonyms does not exclude the use of other synonyms. The use of examples anywhere in this specification including examples of any terms is illustrative only, and in no way limits the scope and meaning of the present disclosure or of any exemplified term. Likewise, the present disclosure is not limited to various embodiments given herein. Numbering terms such as “first”, “second” or “third” can be used to describe various components, signals or the like, which are for distinguishing one component/signal from another one only, and are not intended to, nor should be construed to impose any substantive limitations on the components, signals or the like. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 12 , the present disclosure provides an arrayed antenna module M including a first antenna group  1 , a second antenna group  2 , a front conductive connecting assembly  3  and a rear conductive connecting assembly  4 . More particularly, the first antenna group  1  includes a plurality of first antenna structures  10  arranged in parallel thereon, and the second antenna group  2  includes a plurality of second antenna structures  20  arranged in parallel thereon. In addition, the front conductive connecting assembly  3  includes a first front conductive connecting element  31  electrically connected to the first antenna group  1 , and a second front conductive connecting element  32  electrically connected to the second antenna group  2 , and the rear conductive connecting assembly  4  includes a first rear conductive connecting element  41  electrically connected to the first antenna group  1 , and a second rear conductive connecting element  42  electrically connected to the second antenna group  2 . Therefore, the arrayed antenna module M provided by the present disclosure can be applied to a portable electronic device (not shown, such as a wireless access point) so as to receive or transmit (or emit) signals. 
     First Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 9 , a first embodiment of the present disclosure provides an arrayed antenna module M including a carrier substrate B, a first antenna group  1 , a second antenna group  2 , a front conductive connecting assembly  3  and a rear conductive connecting assembly  4 . For example, the carrier substrate B can serve as a grounding substrate electrically connected to a ground, and there can be no antenna circuit layout configured on a bottom surface of the carrier substrate B. In addition, the first antenna group  1 , the second antenna group  2 , the front conductive connecting assembly  3  and the rear conductive connecting assembly  4  can be made of conductive material, and the first antenna group  1 , the second antenna group  2 , the front conductive connecting assembly  3  and the rear conductive connecting assembly  4  are disposed on a top surface of the carrier substrate B. In addition, the arrayed antenna module M can be a dual-polarised arrayed antenna module that is able to receive and transmit 5G signals. However, the aforementioned description is merely an example and is not meant to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Firstly, referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , the first antenna group  1  includes a plurality of first antenna structures  10  disposed on the carrier substrate B, a first left conductive connecting element  11  electrically connected to the first antenna structures  10 , and a first right conductive connecting element  12  electrically connected to the first antenna structures  10 . More particularly, the first antenna structure  10  includes a first support element  100  disposed on the carrier substrate B, a first upper plate  101  supported by the first support element  100 , and a first lower plate  102  supported by the first support element  100 . In addition, the first upper plate  101  and the first lower plate  102  are separate from each other, and the first lower plate  102  is disposed between the carrier substrate B and the first upper plate  101 . Moreover, the first lower plate  102  is connected between the first left conductive connecting element  11  and the first right conductive connecting element  12 , and the first lower plate  102 , the first left conductive connecting element  11  and the first right conductive connecting element  12  are disposed on the same plane. 
     Furthermore, referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , the second antenna group  2  includes a plurality of second antenna structures  20  disposed on the carrier substrate B, a second left conductive connecting element  21  electrically connected to the second antenna structures  20 , and a second right conductive connecting element  22  electrically connected to the second antenna structures  20 . More particularly, the second antenna structure  20  includes a second support element  200  disposed on the carrier substrate B, a second upper plate  201  supported by the second support element  200 , and a second lower plate  202  supported by the second support element  200 . In addition, the second upper plate  201  and the second lower plate  202  are separate from each other, and the second lower plate  202  is disposed between the carrier substrate B and the second upper plate  201 . Moreover, the second lower plate  202  is connected between the second left conductive connecting element  21  and the second right conductive connecting element  22 , and the second lower plate  202 , the second left conductive connecting element  21  and the second right conductive connecting element  22  are disposed on the same plane. 
     Moreover, referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , the front conductive connecting assembly  3  includes a first front conductive connecting element  31  electrically connected to the first left conductive connecting element  11 , a second front conductive connecting element  32  electrically connected to the second left conductive connecting element  21 , and a front signal feeding element  33  electrically connected between the first front conductive connecting element  31  and the second front conductive connecting element  32 . In addition, the rear conductive connecting assembly  4  includes a first rear conductive connecting element  41  electrically connected to the first right conductive connecting element  12 , a second rear conductive connecting element  42  electrically connected to the second right conductive connecting element  22 , and a rear signal feeding element  43  electrically connected between the first rear conductive connecting element  41  and the second rear conductive connecting element  42 . More particularly, the front signal feeding element  33  and the rear signal feeding element  43  are respectively disposed at two opposite positions of the arrayed antenna module M, and two signal feeding wires (not shown) are respectively electrically connected to the front signal feeding element  33  and the rear signal feeding element  43  for receiving feeding signals. It should be noted that signals can be transmitted along the front conductive connecting assembly  3  and the rear conductive connecting assembly  4 , and a transmitting direction of the signals along the first front conductive connecting element  31  (or the second front conductive connecting element  32 ) is exactly opposite to a transmitting direction of the signals along the first rear conductive connecting element  41  (or the second rear conductive connecting element  42 ). 
     More particularly, referring to  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 5 , the first left conductive connecting element  11  includes two first left conductive portions  111  and a first left three-way connecting portion  112 . One of the two first left conductive portions  111  is electrically connected between two of the first antenna structures  10 , and another one of the two first left conductive portions  111  is electrically connected between another two of the first antenna structures  10 . The first left three-way connecting portion  112  is electrically connected between the two first left conductive portions  111  and the first front conductive connecting element  31 , so that the first antenna structures  10  can electrically connect to the first front conductive connecting element  31  of the front conductive connecting assembly  3  by cooperation of the two first left conductive portions  111  and the first left three-way connecting portion  112 . Moreover, the first right conductive connecting element  12  includes two first right conductive portions  121  and a first right three-way connecting portion  122 . One of the two first right conductive portions  121  is electrically connected between the two of the first antenna structures  10 , and another one of the two first right conductive portions  121  is electrically connected between the another two of the first antenna structures  10 . The first right three-way connecting portion  122  is electrically connected between the two first right conductive portions  121  and the first rear conductive connecting element  41 , so that the first antenna structures  10  can electrically connect to the first rear conductive connecting element  41  of the rear conductive connecting assembly  4  by cooperation of the two first right conductive portions  121  and the first right three-way connecting portion  122 . 
     More particularly, referring to  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 5 , each of the first left conductive portions  111  includes two first left straight sections  1111 , two first left bent sections  1112  and a first left offset section  1113 . The two first left bent sections  1112  are respectively connected to the two adjacent first antenna structures  10 , one of the two first left straight sections  1111  is connected between the first left offset section  1113  and one of the two first left bent sections  1112 , and another one of the two first left straight sections  1111  is connected between the first left offset section  1113  and another one of the two first left bent sections  1112 . Moreover, each of the first right conductive portions  121  includes two first right straight sections  1211 , two first right bent sections  1212  and a first right offset section  1213 . The two first right bent sections  1212  are respectively connected to the two adjacent first antenna structures  10 , one of the two first right straight sections  1211  is connected between the first right offset section  1213  and one of the two first right bent sections  1212 , and another one of the two first right straight sections  1211  is connected between the first right offset section  1213  and another one of the two first right bent sections  1212 . It should be noted that a bent angle of the first left bent section  1112  and a bent angle of the first right bent sections  1212  relative to the first antenna structure  10  are changeable or adjustable according to different requirements before manufacturing of the arrayed antenna module M is complete, and an inward offset of the first left offset section  1113  from (or relative to) the first left straight section  1111  and an inward offset of the first right offset section  1213  from (or relative to) the first right straight section  1211  are changeable or adjustable according to different requirements before manufacturing of the arrayed antenna module M is complete. 
     More particularly, referring to  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 5 , the first left three-way connecting portion  112  includes a first left three-way straight section  1121  and three first left widened sections  1122 , and each of the three first left widened sections  1122  has a width larger than that of the first left three-way straight section  1121 . One of the three first left widened sections  1122  is connected to the first left three-way straight section  1121  and the first front conductive connecting element  31 , another one of the three first left widened sections  1122  is connected to the first left three-way straight section  1121  and one of the two first right conductive portions  121 , and a remaining one of the three first left widened sections  1122  is connected to the first left three-way straight section  1121  and another one of the two first right conductive portions  121 . Moreover, the first right three-way connecting portion  122  includes a first right three-way straight section  1221  and three first right widened sections  1222 , and each of the three first right widened sections  1222  has a width larger than that of the first right three-way straight section  1221 . One of the three first right widened sections  1222  is connected to the first right three-way straight section  1221  and the first front conductive connecting element  31 , another one of the three first right widened sections  1222  is connected to the first right three-way straight section  1221  and one of the two first right conductive portions  121 , and a remaining one of the three first right widened sections  1222  is connected to the first right three-way straight section  1221  and another one of the two first right conductive portions  121 . It should be noted that a width of the first left widened section  1122  and a width of the first right widened section  1222  are changeable or adjustable according to different requirements before manufacturing of the arrayed antenna module M is complete. 
     More particularly, referring to  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 5 , the second left conductive connecting element  21  includes two second left conductive portions  211  and a second left three-way connecting portion  212 . One of the two second left conductive portions  211  is electrically connected between two of the second antenna structures  20 , and another one of the two second left conductive portions  211  is electrically connected between another two of the second antenna structures  20 . The second left three-way connecting portion  212  is electrically connected between the two second left conductive portions  211  and the second front conductive connecting element  32 , so that the second antenna structures  20  can electrically connect to the second front conductive connecting element  32  of the front conductive connecting assembly  3  by cooperation of the two second left conductive portions  211  and the second left three-way connecting portion  212 . Moreover, the second right conductive connecting element  22  includes two second right conductive portions  221  and a second right three-way connecting portion  222 . One of the two second right conductive portions  221  is electrically connected between the two of the second antenna structures  20 , and another one of the two second right conductive portions  221  is electrically connected between the another two of the second antenna structures  20 . The second right three-way connecting portion  222  is electrically connected between the two second right conductive portions  221  and the second rear conductive connecting element  42 , so that the second antenna structures  20  can electrically connect to the second rear conductive connecting element  42  of the rear conductive connecting assembly  4  by cooperation of the two second right conductive portions  221  and the second right three-way connecting portion  222 . 
     More particularly, referring to  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 5 , each of the second left conductive portions  211  includes two second left straight sections  2111 , two second left bent sections  2112  and a second left offset section  2113 . The two second left bent sections  2112  are respectively connected to two adjacent ones of the second antenna structures  20 , one of the two second left straight sections  2111  is connected between the second left offset section  2113  and one of the two second left bent sections  2112 , and another one of the two second left straight sections  2111  is connected between the second left offset section  2113  and another one of the two second left bent sections  2112 . Moreover, each of the second right conductive portions  221  includes two second right straight sections  2211 , two second right bent sections  2212  and a second right offset section  2213 . The two second right bent sections  2212  are respectively connected to another two adjacent ones of the second antenna structures  20 , one of the two second right straight sections  2211  is connected between the second right offset section  2213  and one of the two second right bent sections  2212 , and another one of the two second right straight sections  2211  is connected between the second right offset section  2213  and another one of the two second right bent sections  2212 . It should be noted that a bent angle of the second left bent section  2112  and a bent angle of the second right bent sections  2212  relative to the second antenna structure  10  are changeable or adjustable according to different requirements before manufacturing of the arrayed antenna module M is complete, and an inward offset of second left offset section  2113  from (or relative to) the second left straight section  2111  and an inward offset of the second right offset section  2213  from (or relative to) the second right straight section  2211  are changeable or adjustable according to different requirements before manufacturing of the arrayed antenna module M is complete. 
     More particularly, referring to  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 5 , the second left three-way connecting portion  212  includes a second left three-way straight section  2121  and three second left widened sections  2122 , and each of the three second left widened sections  2122  has a width larger than that of the second left three-way straight section  2121 . One of the three second left widened sections  2122  is connected to the second left three-way straight section  2121  and the second front conductive connecting element  32 , another one of the three second left widened sections  2122  is connected to the second left three-way straight section  2121  and one of the two second right conductive portions  221 , and a remaining one of the three second left widened sections  2122  is connected to the second left three-way straight section  2121  and another one of the two second right conductive portions  221 . Moreover, the second right three-way connecting portion  222  includes a second right three-way straight section  2221  and three second right widened sections  2222 , and each of the three second right widened sections  2222  has a width larger than that of the second right three-way straight section  2221 . One of the three second right widened sections  2222  is connected to the second right three-way straight section  2221  and the second front conductive connecting element  32 , another one of the three second right widened sections  2222  is connected to the second right three-way straight section  2221  and one of the two second right conductive portions  221 , and a remaining one of the three second right widened sections  2222  is connected to the second right three-way straight section  2221  and another one of the two second right conductive portions  221 . It should be noted that a width of the second left widened section  2122  and a width of the second right widened section  2222  are changeable or adjustable according to different requirements before manufacturing of the arrayed antenna module M is complete. 
     For example, referring to  FIG. 6  to  FIG. 9 , the first lower plate  102 , the first left conductive connecting element  11 , the first right conductive connecting element  12 , the second lower plate  202 , the second left conductive connecting element  21 , the second right conductive connecting element  22 , the front conductive connecting assembly  3  and the rear conductive connecting assembly  4  can be disposed on the same plane and integrally formed as a single plate-shaped component, and the single plate-shaped component can be structurally supported by the first support element  100  and the second support element  200 . However, the aforementioned description is merely an example and is not meant to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIG. 10  to  FIG. 12 , a second embodiment of the present disclosure provides an arrayed antenna module M. Comparing  FIG. 10  with  FIG. 1 , comparing  FIG. 11  with  FIG. 2 , and comparing  FIG. 12  with  FIG. 3 , the difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is as follows: in the second embodiment, the arrayed antenna module M includes two first antenna groups  1 , two second antenna groups  2 , two front conductive connecting assemblies  3  and two rear conductive connecting assemblies  4 . That is to say, the number of the first antenna groups  1 , the second antenna group  2 , the front conductive connecting assembly  3  and the rear conductive connecting assembly  4  can be changeable or adjustable according to different requirements. 
     Beneficial Effects of the Embodiments 
     In conclusion, by virtue of “the first antenna group  1  includes a plurality of first antenna structures  10  arranged in parallel thereon”, “the second antenna group  2  includes a plurality of second antenna structures  20  arranged in parallel thereon”, “the front conductive connecting assembly  3  includes a first front conductive connecting element  31  electrically connected to the first antenna group  1 , and a second front conductive connecting element  32  electrically connected to the second antenna group  2 ” and “the rear conductive connecting assembly  4  includes a first rear conductive connecting element  41  electrically connected to the first antenna group  1 , and a second rear conductive connecting element  42  electrically connected to the second antenna group  2 ”, the arrayed antenna module M provided by the present disclosure can be applied to a portable electronic device so as to receive or transmit signals. 
     The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure has been presented only for the purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. 
     The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the disclosure and their practical application so as to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the disclosure and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing from its spirit and scope.