Patent Description:
The described technology provides a communication device including two antennas operational within a first frequency range in the communication device. An integrated isolating antenna array component is positioned between the two antennas in the communication device to reduce radiofrequency coupling between the two antennas. The integrated isolating antenna array component includes an interconnection substrate and an antenna array adjacent to the interconnection substrate and including one or more radiating elements. The antenna array is configured to drive the one or more radiating elements within a second frequency range in the communication device. The second frequency range is higher than the first frequency range. The integrated isolating antenna array component also includes an isolator affixed to the interconnection substrate and configured to be connected to electrical ground. The isolator is configured to reduce the radiofrequency coupling between the two antennas within the first frequency range.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that is further described below in the Detailed Description.

<FIG> illustrates an example communication device <NUM> including two antennas <NUM> and <NUM> and an isolating antenna array component <NUM>. The antennas <NUM> and <NUM>, and the isolating antenna array component <NUM> are positioned in the bezel area of the communication device <NUM>, between a display <NUM> and an edge of the communication device <NUM>. In many implementations, the design of the bezel area and the overall size of such communication devices continue to shrink in light of industrial design and other considerations.

The antenna <NUM> and the antenna <NUM> are each driven to radiate in a first radiofrequency (RF) range (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM>). In contrast, the isolating antenna array component <NUM> is driven to radiate in a second RF range (e.g., > <NUM>).

The size of the communication device <NUM> and the operational characteristics of the first frequency range can introduce coupling between the antennas <NUM> and <NUM>. Accordingly, the isolating antenna array component <NUM> includes an isolator structure integrated into the isolating antenna array component <NUM> such that the geometry and placement of the isolator decreases coupling between the antennas <NUM> and <NUM> in their operational frequency range (e.g., by moving a radiofrequency null of one antenna to coincide with the position of the other antenna and/or by canceling edge currents along a ground plane between the two antennas). As shown, the isolator of the isolating antenna array component <NUM> is electrically grounded.

<FIG> illustrates a perspective view of an example isolating antenna array component <NUM> with an isolator <NUM> separated from an antenna array <NUM>. The antenna array <NUM> includes multiple radiating elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, the type, size, number, and placement of which may vary according to design objectives. In at least one implementation, an antenna array may include only a single radiating element. In various implementations, the individual antenna elements may be various combinations of dipole antennas, patch antennas, and slot antennas, although other antenna types may also be used. The isolator <NUM> includes a highly conductive material (shown with hash lines) and is configured to be connected to electrical ground (e.g., the isolator <NUM> may include a ground connection or terminal).

The multiple radiating elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are driven by transceiver circuitry <NUM> via conductive interconnects <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> (e.g., antenna feeds) routed through an interconnection substrate <NUM>. In at least one implementation, transceiver circuitry may drive only a single radiating element (such as via a single conductive interconnect). In various implementations, the radiating elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be driven via a direct electrical feed connection or via capacitive coupling (e.g., parasitic feeding). In the illustrated implementation, the interconnection substrate <NUM> is positioned adjacent to the isolator <NUM> and the antenna array <NUM>, wherein the interconnection substrate <NUM> may include intermediate layers between, for example, a multi-layer interconnection structure and the isolator <NUM> and/or the antenna array <NUM>.

In one implementation, the transceiver circuitry <NUM> is embedded in the interconnection substrate <NUM> and includes a transceiver element for each radiating element. An example transceiver element may include a phase shifter, transmitting channel (e.g., including a transmitting amplifier and a transmitting mixer), and a receiving channel (e.g., including a receiving amplifier and a receiving mixer), although other configurations are contemplated. The carrier signal communicated through the multiple radiating elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are received in the transmitting channel in an intermediate frequency (IF) and increased to a high frequency (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM>) for driving the antenna array <NUM> to radiate (e.g., in mmWave radio solutions). The transceiver circuitry <NUM> may be connected to ground, power, and digital control logic through a connector <NUM>, although in other implementations, the transceiver circuitry <NUM> may be connected to electrical ground through the grounded isolator <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a cross-sectional view of an example isolating antenna array component <NUM> with an isolator <NUM> separated from an antenna array <NUM>. The antenna array <NUM> includes multiple radiating elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, the type, size, number, and placement of which may vary according to design objectives. In at least one implementation, an antenna array may include only a single radiating element. In various implementations, the individual antenna elements may be various combinations of dipole antennas, patch antennas, and slot antennas, although other antenna types may also be used. The isolator <NUM> includes a highly conductive material and is configured to be connected to electrical ground (e.g., the isolator <NUM> may include a ground connection or terminal).

In one implementation, the interconnection substrate <NUM> is formed as a multilayer substrate, such as a multi-layer low-temperature co-fired ceramic substrate or a multi-layer RF substrate, although other interconnection substrates may be employed. Each conductive interconnect <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> is connected or coupled to transceiver circuitry <NUM> for a corresponding radiating element of the antenna array <NUM>.

In one implementation, the transceiver circuitry <NUM> is embedded in the interconnection substrate <NUM> and includes a transceiver element for each radiating element. An example transceiver element may include a phase shifter, transmitting channel (e.g., including a transmitting amplifier and a transmitting mixer), and a receiving channel (e.g., including a receiving amplifier and a receiving mixer), although other configurations are contemplated. The carrier signal communicated through the multiple radiating elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> is received in the transmitting channel in an intermediate frequency (IF) and increased to a high frequency (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM>) for driving the antenna array <NUM> to radiate (e.g., in mmWave radio solutions). The transceiver circuitry <NUM> may be connected to ground, power, and digital control logic through a connector <NUM>, although in other implementations, the transceiver circuitry <NUM> may be connected to electrical ground through the grounded isolator <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a cross-sectional view of an example isolating antenna array component <NUM> with an isolator <NUM> separated from two different antenna arrays <NUM> and <NUM>. The antenna array <NUM> includes multiple radiating elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, the type, size, number, and placement of which may vary according to design objectives. In at least one implementation, an antenna array may include only a single radiating element. In various implementations, the individual antenna elements may be various combinations of dipole antennas, patch antennas, and slot antennas, although other antenna types may also be used. The isolator <NUM> includes a highly conductive material and is configured to be connected to electrical ground (e.g., the isolator <NUM> may include a ground connection or terminal).

In one implementation, the interconnection substrate <NUM> is formed as a multilayer substrate, such as a multi-layer low-temperature co-fired ceramic substrate or a multi-layer RF substrate, although other interconnection substrates may be employed. Each conductive interconnect <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> is connected to transceiver circuitry for a corresponding radiating element of the antenna array <NUM>.

The other antenna array <NUM> is positioned on the opposite side of the isolator <NUM> relative to the antenna array <NUM>. The other antenna array <NUM> includes multiple radiating elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, which are connected through another interconnection substrate <NUM> to other transceiver circuitry <NUM> via conductive interconnects <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> (e.g., antenna feeds). In at least one implementation, an antenna array may include only a single radiating element. In various implementations, the radiating elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be driven via a direct electrical feed connection or via capacitive coupling (e.g., parasitic feeding). In the illustrated implementation, the interconnection substrate <NUM> is positioned adjacent to the isolator <NUM> and the antenna array <NUM>, wherein the interconnection substrate <NUM> may include intermediate layers between, for example, a multi-layer interconnection structure and the isolator <NUM> and/or the antenna array <NUM>.

The transceiver circuitry <NUM> is embedded in the interconnection substrate <NUM> and may be connected to ground, power, and digital control logic through a connector <NUM>, although in other implementations, the transceiver circuitry <NUM> may be connected to electrical ground through the grounded isolator <NUM>. In one implementation, the transceiver circuitry <NUM> includes a transceiver element for each radiating element. An example transceiver element may include a phase shifter, transmitting channel (e.g., including a transmitting amplifier and a transmitting mixer), and a receiving channel (e.g., including a receiving amplifier and a receiving mixer), although other configurations are contemplated.

<FIG> illustrates a perspective view of an example isolating antenna array component <NUM> with an antenna array <NUM> formed in an isolator <NUM>. The antenna array <NUM> includes four slot antennas (e.g., radiating elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>) formed as apertures in the isolator <NUM>, although the number, placement, size, and shape of the apertures may vary according to design objectives. In at least one implementation, an antenna array may include only a single radiating element. The isolator <NUM> includes a highly conductive material (shown with hash lines) and is configured to be connected to electrical ground (e.g., the isolator <NUM> may include a ground connection or terminal).

The multiple radiating elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are driven by transceiver circuitry <NUM> via conductive interconnects (e.g., antenna feeds - not shown) routed through an interconnection substrate <NUM>. In at least one implementation, transceiver circuitry may drive only a single radiating element (such as via a single conductive interconnect). In the illustrated implementation, the interconnection substrate <NUM> is positioned adjacent to the isolator <NUM> and the antenna array <NUM>, wherein the interconnection substrate <NUM> may include intermediate layers between, for example, a multi-layer interconnection structure and the isolator <NUM> and/or the antenna array <NUM>.

In one implementation, the transceiver circuitry <NUM> is embedded in the interconnection substrate <NUM> and includes a transceiver element for each radiating element. An example transceiver element may include a phase shifter, transmitting channel (e.g., including a transmitting amplifier and a transmitting mixer), and a receiving channel (e.g., including a receiving amplifier and a receiving mixer), although other configurations are contemplated. In one implementation, each conductive interconnect couples the phase shifter, transmitting channel, and receiving channel to its corresponding radiating element (e.g., to drive the slot antenna via capacitive coupling).

The carrier signal communicated through the multiple radiating elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> is received in the transmitting channel in an intermediate frequency (IF) and increased to a high frequency (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM>) for driving the antenna array <NUM> to radiate (e.g., in mmWave radio solutions). The transceiver circuitry <NUM> may be connected to ground, power, and digital control logic through a connector <NUM>, although in other implementations, the transceiver circuitry <NUM> may be connected to electrical ground through the grounded isolator <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a cross-sectional view of an example isolating antenna array component <NUM> with an antenna array <NUM> formed in an isolator <NUM>. The antenna array <NUM> includes four slot antennas (e.g., radiating elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>) formed as apertures in the isolator <NUM>, although the number, placement, size, and shape of the apertures may vary according to design objectives. In at least one implementation, an antenna array may include only a single radiating element. The isolator <NUM> includes a highly conductive material (shown with hash lines) and is configured to be connected to electrical ground (e.g., the isolator <NUM> may include a ground connection or terminal).

The multiple radiating elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are driven by transceiver circuitry <NUM> via conductive interconnects <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> (e.g., antenna feeds) routed through an interconnection substrate <NUM>. In at least one implementation, transceiver circuitry may drive only a single radiating element (such as via a single conductive interconnect). In the illustrated implementation, the interconnection substrate <NUM> is positioned adjacent to the isolator <NUM> and the antenna array <NUM>, wherein the interconnection substrate <NUM> may include intermediate layers between, for example, a multi-layer interconnection structure and the isolator <NUM> and/or the antenna array <NUM>.

The carrier signal communicated through the multiple radiating elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> is received in the transmitting channel in an intermediate frequency (IF) and increased to a high frequency (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM>) for driving the antenna array <NUM> to radiate (e.g., in mmWave radio solutions). The transceiver circuitry <NUM> may be connected to ground, power, and digital control logic through a connector <NUM>, although in other implementations, the transceiver circuitry <NUM> may be connected to ground through the grounded isolator <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates example operations <NUM> for reducing coupling between two antennas using an isolating antenna array component. A driving operation <NUM> drives two antennas to radiate within a first frequency range (e.g., <NUM>) in a communication device (such as from transceiver circuitry via conductive interconnects). While driving the two antennas, an isolation operation <NUM> reduces radiofrequency coupling between the two driven antennas within the first frequency range using an isolator affixed to an interconnection substrate of an integrated isolating antenna array component in the communication device (e.g., by moving a radiofrequency null of one antenna to coincide with the position of the other antenna and/or by canceling edge currents along a ground plane between the two antennas). Another driving operation <NUM> drives multiple radiating elements on an antenna array of the integrated isolating antenna array component to radiate within a second RF range (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM>) in the communication device, wherein the second RF range is higher than the first frequency range. In at least one implementation, an antenna array may include only a single radiating element. In at least one implementation, transceiver circuitry may drive only a single radiating element (such as via a single conductive interconnect).

Example isolating antenna array components that can be operated by this example method are disclosed and suggested herein.

<FIG> illustrates an example communication device <NUM> for implementing the features and operations of the described technology. The communication device <NUM> is an example charging receiver device and may be a client device, such as a laptop, mobile device, desktop, tablet; a server/cloud device; internet-of-things device; an electronic accessory; or other chargeable electronic devices. The communication device <NUM> includes one or more processor(s) <NUM> and a memory <NUM>. The memory <NUM> generally includes both volatile memory (e.g., RAM) and non-volatile memory (e.g., flash memory). An operating system <NUM> resides in the memory <NUM> and is executed by the processor(s) <NUM>.

In an example communication device <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, one or more modules or segments, such as communication software <NUM>, application modules, and other modules, are loaded into the operating system <NUM> on the memory <NUM> and/or storage <NUM> and executed by processor(s) <NUM>. The storage <NUM> may store communication parameters and other data and be local to the communication device <NUM> or may be remote and communicatively connected to the communication device <NUM>.

The communication device <NUM> includes a power supply <NUM>, which is powered by one or more batteries or other power sources and which provides power to other components of the communication device <NUM>. The power supply <NUM> may also be connected to an external power source that overrides or recharges the built-in batteries or other power sources.

The communication device <NUM> may include one or more communication transceivers <NUM> which may be connected to one or more antenna(s) <NUM> to provide network connectivity (e.g., mobile phone network, Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®) to one or more other servers and/or client devices (e.g., mobile devices, desktop computers, or laptop computers). The communication device <NUM> may further include a network adapter <NUM>, which is a type of communication device. The communication device <NUM> may use the adapter and any other types of communication devices for establishing connections over a wide-area network (WAN) or local-area network (LAN). It should be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and that other communication devices and means for establishing a communications link between the communication device <NUM> and other devices may be used.

The communication device <NUM> may include one or more input devices <NUM> such that a user may enter commands and information (e.g., a keyboard or mouse). These and other input devices may be coupled to the server by one or more interfaces <NUM>, such as a serial port interface, parallel port, or universal serial bus (USB). The communication device <NUM> may further include a display <NUM>, such as a touch screen display.

The communication device <NUM> may include a variety of tangible processor-readable storage media and intangible processor-readable communication signals. Tangible processor-readable storage can be embodied by any available media that can be accessed by the communication device <NUM> and includes both volatile and nonvolatile storage media, removable and non-removable storage media. Tangible processor-readable storage media excludes intangible communications signals and includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable storage media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as processor-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Tangible processor-readable storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CDROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other tangible medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by the communication device <NUM>. In contrast to tangible processor-readable storage media, intangible processor-readable communication signals may embody processor-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data resident in a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other signal transport mechanism. By way of example, and not limitation, intangible communication signals include signals traveling through wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared, and other wireless media.

While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any inventions or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments of particular described technology.

Thus, particular embodiments of the subject matter have been described. Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. In certain implementations, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous.

Claim 1:
A communication device (<NUM>) comprising:
a first antenna (<NUM>) and a second antenna (<NUM>) both positioned adjacent to an edge of the communication device, the first antenna being positioned at one end of the communication device and the second antenna being positioned at another end of the communication device, the first and second antennas being operational within a first frequency range in the communication device; and
an integrated isolating antenna array component (<NUM>) positioned adjacent to the edge of the communication device and positioned between the first antenna (<NUM>) and the second antenna (<NUM>) in the communication device (<NUM>) to reduce radiofrequency coupling between the first antenna (<NUM>) and the second antenna (<NUM>), the integrated isolating antenna array component (<NUM>) including
an interconnection substrate (<NUM>),
an antenna array (<NUM>) adjacent to the interconnection substrate (<NUM>) and including one or more radiating elements (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>), the antenna array (<NUM>) configured to drive the one or more radiating elements (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>) within a second frequency range in the communication device (<NUM>), the second frequency range being higher than the first frequency range, and
an isolator (<NUM>) affixed to the interconnection substrate (<NUM>) and configured to be connected to electrical ground, the isolator (<NUM>) being configured to reduce the radiofrequency coupling between the first antenna (<NUM>) and the second antenna (<NUM>) within the first frequency range.