Patent Publication Number: US-2023163480-A1

Title: Diversity antenna and electronic device including the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0162591 filed on Nov. 23, 2021 and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0048952 filed on Apr. 20, 2022, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The disclosure relates to a diversity antenna and an electronic device including the same. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A monopole antenna has a simple structure and an omni-directional radiation characteristic, and accordingly, the monopole antenna can be used in a small or mobile electronic device. 
     Antenna diversity means that a plurality of antennas (e.g., a plurality of monopole antennas) is used in one electronic device for enhancing transmitting and receiving performance of the electronic device. A diversity antenna refers to an antenna that is used for antenna diversity. 
     The above description has been possessed or acquired by the inventor(s) in the course of conceiving the present disclosure and is not necessarily an art publicly known before the present application is filed. 
     SUMMARY 
     When using a plurality of antennas for the antenna diversity, each of the plurality of antennas may not have an omni-directional radiation characteristic due to interference between the plurality of antennas. 
     In various example embodiments, the omni-directional radiation characteristic may be obtained by arranging the plurality of antennas coaxially and locating a power supply line inside a radiation element. 
     In various example embodiments, a reference point may be set accurately by arranging the plurality of antennas coaxially, and therefore, it is possible to increase accuracy when searching for a location of an object by using a radio frequency (RF). 
     However, the technical problems are not limited to the technical problems described above and other technical problems may exist. 
     According to an aspect, there is provided a diversity antenna including a plurality of radiation elements having a tubular shape with apertured upper and lower portions, and a connection plate configured to connect the plurality of radiation elements to each other, in which the plurality of radiation elements is arranged in a vertical direction coaxially, and the connection plate includes an aperture configured to allow a power supply line to pass through. 
     The tubular shape may include a cylindrical shape. 
     The diversity antenna may further include a printed circuit board (PCB) configured to connect the power supply line to the plurality of radiation elements. 
     The PCB may be disposed on an upper surface of the connection plate. 
     The diversity antenna may further include an earth plate for earthing of the diversity antenna, and the earth plate may be disposed on a lower surface of the connection plate. 
     The diversity antenna may further include a connector configured to connect the power supply line to the PCB, and the connector may be formed to penetrate the connection plate and the earth plate. 
     The diversity antenna may further include a lower plate coupled to a lower aperture of a first radiation element that is disposed at a lowermost end among the plurality of radiation elements; and an upper plate coupled to an upper aperture of a second radiation element that is disposed at an uppermost end among the plurality of radiation elements, and the lower plate may include an aperture configured to allow the power supply to pass through. 
     The diversity antenna may further include a second power supply line configured to connect, to the plurality of radiation elements, a first power supply line that is connected to an electronic device, and the second power supply line may be disposed inside the plurality of radiation elements. 
     The diversity antenna may further include a PCB configured to connect the second power supply line to the plurality of radiation elements. 
     The PCB may be disposed on an upper surface of the connection plate. 
     The diversity antenna may further include an earth plate for earthing of the diversity antenna, and the earth plate may be disposed on a lower surface of the connection plate. 
     The diversity antenna may further include a first connector configured to connect the second power supply line to the PCB, and the first connector may be formed to penetrate the connection plate and the earth plate. 
     The diversity antenna may further include a lower plate coupled to a lower aperture of a first radiation element that is disposed at a lowermost end among the plurality of radiation elements, an upper plate coupled to an upper aperture of a second radiation element that is disposed at an uppermost end among the plurality of radiation elements, and a second connector configured to connect the first power supply line to the second power supply line, and the second connector may be formed to penetrate the lower plate. 
     According to another aspect, there is provided an electronic device including: a housing, and a diversity antenna that is disposed outside the housing, in which the diversity antenna includes: a plurality of radiation elements having a tubular shape with apertured upper and lower portion, and a connection plate configured to connect the plurality of radiation elements to each other, the plurality of radiation elements is arranged in a vertical direction coaxially, and the connection plate includes an aperture configured to allow a power supply line to pass through. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and/or other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of example embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG.  1    is a diagram illustrating an example of antenna diversity; 
         FIG.  2 A  and  FIG.  2 B  are diagrams illustrating an example of antenna diversity; 
         FIG.  3    is a diagram illustrating interference occurring between diversity antennas; 
         FIG.  4    is a diagram illustrating an example of an electronic device including a plurality of monopole antennas arranged coaxially; 
         FIG.  5    is a diagram illustrating an example of a diversity antenna according to various example embodiments; 
         FIG.  6 A  and  FIG.  6 B  are diagrams illustrating an example of the diversity antenna according to various example embodiments; 
         FIG.  7    is a diagram illustrating another example of a diversity antenna according to various example embodiments; and 
         FIG.  8    is a diagram illustrating an example of an electronic device including a coaxially arranged diversity antenna according to various example embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following structural or functional descriptions of example embodiments described herein are merely intended for the purpose of describing the example embodiments described herein and may be implemented in various forms. Therefore, the example embodiments are not construed as limited to the disclosure and should be understood to include all changes, equivalents, and replacements within the idea and the technical scope of the disclosure. Although terms of “first,” “second,” and the like are used to explain various components, the components are not limited to such terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one component from another component. For example, a first component may be referred to as a second component, or similarly, the second component may be referred to as the first component. 
     When it is mentioned that one component is “connected” to another component, it may be understood that the one component is directly connected to another component or that still other component is interposed between the two components. 
     The singular forms are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components or a combination thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     Unless otherwise defined herein, all terms used herein including technical or scientific terms have the same meanings as those generally understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Terms defined in dictionaries generally used should be construed to have meanings matching contextual meanings in the related art and are not to be construed as an ideal or excessively formal meaning unless otherwise defined herein. 
     Hereinafter, example embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. When describing the example embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals refer to like components and a repeated description related thereto will be omitted. 
       FIGS.  1 ,  2 A, and  2 B  are diagrams illustrating an example of antenna diversity. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the antenna diversity means that a plurality of antennas (e.g., a plurality of monopole antennas) Ant 1  and Ant 2  are used in one electronic device (e.g., a wireless communication device)  110  or  120 , in order to increase a transmitting and receiving rate of a wireless signal. 
       FIG.  1    may illustrate an example in which the plurality of antennas Ant 1  and Ant 2  are used for antenna diversity. As illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the plurality of antennas Ant 1  and Ant 2  may be disposed variously in order to reduce interference therebetween. For example, in the electronic device  110 , the plurality of antennas Ant 1  and Ant 2  may be disposed outside a housing  112  of the electronic device  110  in an orthogonal direction in order to reduce interference therebetween. In another example, in the electronic device  120 , the plurality of antennas Ant 1  and Ant 2  may be disposed outside a housing  122  of the electronic device  120  at a certain interval D therebetween in order to reduce interference therebetween. 
       FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  are diagrams illustrating an example of a method of transmitting and receiving signals using the plurality of antennas Ant 1  and Ant 2  for antenna diversity. For example, a method of selecting the antenna Ant  1  or Ant 2  having excellent transmitting and receiving characteristics among the plurality of antennas Ant 1  and Ant 2  through a switch (e.g., a radio frequency (RF) switch) for antenna diversity may be used. In another example, a method of performing phase shift of signals received by the plurality of antennas Ant 1  and Ant 2  and performing merging may be used. 
       FIG.  3    is a diagram illustrating interference occurring between the plurality of antennas. 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   , in a case of transmitting and receiving signals using all the plurality of antennas Ant 1  and Ant 2 , a radiation characteristic  301  or  303  of one antenna Ant 1  or Ant 2  may be affected (e.g., interfered) by the other antenna Ant 2  or Ant 1 . For example, the antenna Ant 1  may have the radiation characteristic  301  containing a null  311  formed by the other antenna Ant 2 . The antenna Ant 2  may also have the radiation characteristic  303  containing a null  313  formed by the other antenna Ant 1 . The nulls  311  and  313  may respectively disturb the antennas Ant 1  and Ant 2  from having the omni-directional radiation characteristics. 
       FIG.  4    is a diagram illustrating an example of an electronic device including a plurality of monopole antennas arranged coaxially. 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   , an electronic device  400  may include a housing  420 , a plurality of antennas  431  and  433 , and power supply lines  411  and  413 . The plurality of antennas  431  and  433  may be arranged in a vertical direction coaxially, in order to reduce interference between the plurality of antennas  431  and  433 . The plurality of antennas  431  and  433  may be disposed outside the housing  420  or disposed on a bracket  422  that is separately attached to the housing  420 . The power supply lines  411  and  413  may be respectively connected (e.g., electrically connected) to the plurality of antennas  431  and  433  from a module (e.g., communication module) (not illustrated) that is disposed inside the housing  420 . The plurality of antennas Ant 1  and Ant 2  may avoid interference between the plurality of antennas Ant 1  and Ant 2  due to the structural feature that the antennas Ant 1  and Ant 2  are arranged coaxially but may be interfered by the power supply lines  411  and  413 . 
       FIGS.  5 ,  6 A and  6 B  are diagrams illustrating an example of a diversity antenna according to various example embodiments.  FIG.  5    is a diagram illustrating an example of a diversity antenna according to various example embodiments, and  FIGS.  6 A and  6 B  are detailed views of a connection plate and a lower plate illustrated in  FIG.  5   . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  5 ,  6 A, and  6 B , according to various example embodiments, a diversity antenna  500  may include a plurality of radiation elements  511 ,  513 ,  515 , and  517 , a lower plate  521 , one or more connection plates  523 ,  525 , and  527 , an upper plate  529 , printed circuit boards (PCBs)  611  and  621 , connectors  617  and  627 , and earth plates  615  and  625 . Although four radiation elements  511 ,  513 ,  515 , and  517  are illustrated in  FIG.  5   , this is merely an example for illustrating the structure of the diversity antenna  500  and the number of radiation elements is not limited thereto. According to various example embodiments, the plurality of radiation elements  511 ,  513 ,  515 , and  517  may have a tubular shape (e.g., a cylindrical shape) with apertured upper and lower portions. Each of the plurality of radiation elements  511 ,  513 ,  515 , and  517  may be arranged in a vertical direction coaxially and transmit and receive a wireless signal. 
     According to various example embodiments, the plates (e.g., connection plates of a nonmetallic material such as plastic)  521 ,  523 ,  525 ,  527 , and  529  may be provided to connect (or couple) the radiation elements  511 ,  513 ,  515 , and  517  to each other or block the aperture. The lower plate  521  may be coupled to a lower aperture of the radiation element  511  that is disposed on a lowermost end among the plurality of radiation elements  511 ,  513 ,  515 , and  517 . The lower plate  521  may include an aperture  630  for allowing the power supply lines  533 ,  535 , and  537  connected (e.g., electrically connected) to an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device  800  of  FIG.  8   ) to pass through the inside of the diversity antenna  500 . The upper plate  529  may be coupled to an upper aperture of the radiation element  517  that is disposed on an uppermost end among the plurality of radiation elements  511 ,  513 ,  515 , and  517 . The connection plates  523 ,  525 , and  527  may be provided to connect the plurality of radiation elements  511 ,  513 ,  515 , and  517  to each other. The connection plates  523 ,  525 , and  527  may include an aperture  600  for allowing the power supply lines  535  and  537  that are connected to the electronic device (e.g., electronic device  800  of  FIG.  8   ) to pass through. 
     According to various example embodiments, the PCBs  611  and  621  and the connectors  617  and  627  may be provided to connect (e.g., electrically connect) the power supply lines  531 ,  533 ,  535 , and  537  to the radiation elements  511 ,  513 ,  515 , and  517 . The PCBs  611  and  621  (e.g., power supply lines  613  and  623  included in the PCBs  611  and  621 ) may be connected to the connectors  615  and  625 . The PCBs  611  and  621  may be disposed on upper surfaces of the plates  521 ,  523 ,  525 , and  527 . The connectors  617  and  627  may be formed to penetrate the plates  521 ,  523 ,  525 , and  527  and the earth plates  615  and  625 . 
     According to various example embodiments, the power supply lines  531 ,  533 ,  535 , and  537  that are connected (e.g., electrically connected) to the electronic device (e.g., the electronic device  800  of  FIG.  8   ) may be connected (e.g., electrically connected) to the corresponding radiation elements  511 ,  513 ,  515 , and  517 , respectively, while not interfering with the diversity antenna  500 . For example, the power supply line  531  may be connected to the radiation element  511  through the connector  627  and the PCB  621  (e.g., power supply line  623  included in the PCB  621 ). The power supply line  533  may pass through the lower plate  521  (e.g., the aperture  630  of the lower plate  521 ) and the radiation element  511  (e.g., the empty space inside the radiation element  511 ), and may be connected to the radiation element  513  through the connector  617  and the PCB  611  (e.g., the power supply line  613  included in the PCB  611 ). The power supply line  535  may pass through the lower plate  521  (e.g., the aperture  630  of the lower plate  521 ), the radiation element  511  (e.g., the empty space inside the radiation element  511 ), the connection plate  523  (e.g., the aperture  600  of the connection plate  523 ), and the radiation element  513  (e.g., the empty space inside the radiation element  513 ), and may be connected to the radiation element  515  through the connector  617  and the PCB  611  (e.g., the power supply line  613  included in the PCB  611 ). The power supply line  537  may pass through the lower plate  521  (e.g., the aperture  630  of the lower plate  521 ), the radiation element  511  (e.g., the empty space inside the radiation element  511 ), the connection plate  523  (e.g., the aperture  600  of the connection plate  523 ), the radiation element  513  (e.g., the empty space inside the radiation element  513 ), the connection plate  525  (e.g., the aperture  600  of the connection plate  525 ), and the radiation element  515  (e.g., the empty space inside the radiation element  515 ), and may be connected to the radiation element  517  through the connector  617  and the PCB  611  (e.g., the power supply line  613  included in the PCB 
     According to various example embodiments, the earth plates  615  and  625  may be provided for earthing of the diversity antenna  500 . The earthing plates  615  and  625  may be respectively formed on lower surfaces of the plates  521 ,  523 ,  525 , and  527 . 
     According to various example embodiments, the diversity antenna  500  may have the omni-directional radiation characteristic with the structural characteristics described above. 
       FIG.  7    is a diagram illustrating another example of a diversity antenna according to various example embodiments. 
     Referring to  FIG.  7   , according to various example embodiments, a diversity antenna  700  may be substantially the same as the diversity antenna  500  of  FIG.  5   . However, the diversity antenna  700  may further include power supply lines  721 ,  723 , and  725 , while the diversity antenna  500  of  FIG.  5    does not include the power supply lines  531 ,  533 ,  535 , and  537 . Hereinafter, the description provided above is not repeated and a difference between the diversity antenna  500  of  FIG.  5    and the diversity antenna  700  is described in detail. 
     According to various example embodiments, the diversity antenna  700  may include the power supply lines  721 ,  723 , and  725  in an inner portion (e.g., empty space inside) of the diversity antenna  700 . 
     According to various example embodiments, the power supply lines  721 ,  723 , and  725  may be respectively connected (e.g., electrically connected) to the power supply lines  711 ,  713 , and  715  that are connected (e.g., electrically connected) to the electronic device (e.g., the electronic device  800  of  FIG.  8   ) through a connector  740  that is disposed on a lower plate  751  (e.g., penetrates the lower plate  751 ). For example, the power supply line  721  may be connected to the power supply line  711  through the connector  740  (e.g., connector disposed on the left in the connector  740 ). The power supply line  723  may be connected to the power supply line  713  through the connector  740  (e.g., connector disposed in the middle in the connector  740 ). The power supply line  725  may be connected to the power supply line  715  through the connector  740  (e.g., connector disposed on the right in the connector  740 ). 
       FIG.  8    is a diagram illustrating an example of an electronic device including a coaxially arranged diversity antenna according to various example embodiments. 
     Referring to  FIG.  8   , according to various example embodiments, an electronic device  800  may include a housing  820 , a diversity antenna  840 , and power supply lines  862 ,  864 ,  866 , and  868 . 
     According to various example embodiments, the housing  820  may form the appearance of the electronic device  800 . The diversity antenna  840  may be substantially the same as the diversity antennas  500  and  700  of  FIGS.  5  and  7   . The diversity antenna  840  may be disposed outside the housing  820  of the electronic device  800  or disposed at a bracket  822  that is separately attached to the housing  820 . The power supply lines  862 ,  864 ,  866 , and  868  may be connected (e.g., electrically connected) to the diversity antenna  840  from a module (e.g., communication module) (not illustrated) that is disposed inside the housing  820 . 
     According to various example embodiments, in a case of searching for a location of an object by using a radio frequency (RF), the electronic device  800  may set a reference point accurately and increase accuracy, by using the diversity antenna  840  that is arranged coaxially. 
     The components described in the example embodiments may be implemented by hardware components including, for example, at least one digital signal processor (DSP), a processor, a controller, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic element, such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), other electronic devices, or combinations thereof. At least some of the functions or the processes described in the example embodiments may be implemented by software, and the software may be recorded on a recording medium. The components, the functions, and the processes described in the example embodiments may be implemented by a combination of hardware and software. 
     The described hardware devices may be configured to act as one or more software modules in order to perform the operations of the above-described example embodiments, or vice versa. 
     Although the example embodiments have been described with the limited drawings as above, those skilled in the art may apply various technical changes and modifications based on the related art. Suitable results may be achieved if the described techniques are performed in a different order, and/or if components in a described system, architecture, device, or circuit are combined in a different manner and/or replaced or supplemented by other components or their equivalents. 
     Thus, the scope of the following claims includes other implements, other example embodiments, and equivalents of the claims.