Patent Description:
<CIT> relates to millimeter wave packages with integrated antennas. <CIT> discloses that the package includes multiple layers including substrates and there is a rectangular ring cavity for all antennas to help the antenna to have wide bandwidth and high efficiency.

<CIT> D2 relates to a dual band antenna array and RF front end for automotive radars. <CIT> discloses that a <NUM>-D integrated dual-band RF front end of a radar is formed on a printed circuit board (PCB), and the packaging layer is made of LCP and is used for packaging the T/R module, and the packaging layer may have a cavity for holding the T/R module.

<CIT> relates to a wiring board used being connected to a waveguide. The wiring board includes a dielectric substrate, a signal transmission line, a grounded layer, and a connection portion for connecting the signal transmission line to a waveguide. The connection portion is formed on the grounded layer. The grounded layer has a slot at a position opposed to an end of the signal transmission line and the connection portion includes a first dielectric portion formed so as to cover the slot of the ground layer, a second dielectric portion laminated on the first dielectric portion, and a patch conductor provided at a position opposed to the slot on an interface between the first dielectric portion and the second dielectric portion.

<CIT> discloses an electronic device may be provided with wireless circuitry. The wireless circuitry may include one or more antennas. The antennas may include phased antenna arrays each of which includes multiple antenna elements. The phased antenna arrays may be used to handle millimeter wave wireless communications and may perform beam steering operations.

<CIT> relates to an antenna module. The antenna module comprises a control substrate having a semiconductor element mounted on a center part of an upper surface thereof, a frame-shape frame substrate joined to an outer periphery part of the control substrate through solder with a predetermined thickness, which has an opening part for storing the semiconductor element at a center part thereof, and an antenna substrate joined to an upper surface of the frame substrate through solder with a predetermined thickness so as to cover an opening part, which has an antenna pattern along an upper surface thereof.

Embodiments are illustrated by way of example, not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings.

Conventional antenna arrays for millimeter wave applications have utilized circuit boards with more than <NUM> (e.g., more than <NUM>) layers of dielectric/metal stack-up to achieve a desired performance. Such boards are typically expensive and low yield, as well as unbalanced in their metal density and dielectric thickness. Further, such boards may be difficult to test, and may not be readily capable of incorporating the shielding required to achieve regulatory compliance.

Disclosed herein are antenna boards, integrated circuit (IC) packages, antenna modules, and communication devices that may enable millimeter wave communications in a compact form factor. In some of the embodiments disclosed herein, an antenna module may include an antenna board and one or more IC packages that may be separately fabricated and assembled, enabling increased degrees of design freedom and improved yield. Various ones of the antenna modules disclosed herein may exhibit little to no warpage during operation or installation, ease of assembly, low cost, fast time to market, good mechanical handling, and/or good thermal performance. Various ones of the antenna modules disclosed herein may allow different antennas and/or IC packages to be swapped into an existing module.

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, embodiments that may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and structural or logical changes may be made, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense. Various operations may be described as multiple discrete actions or operations in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the claimed subject matter. However, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations may not be performed in the order of presentation. Operations described may be performed in a different order from the described embodiment. Various additional operations may be performed, and/or described operations may be omitted in additional embodiments.

For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase "A, B, and/or C" means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B, and C). Although many of the drawings illustrate rectilinear structures with flat walls and right-angle corners, this is simply for ease of illustration, and actual devices made using these techniques will exhibit rounded corners, surface roughness, and other features.

The description uses the phrases "in an embodiment" or "in embodiments," which may each refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments. As used herein, a "package" and an "IC package" are synonymous. When used to describe a range of dimensions, the phrase "between X and Y" represents a range that includes X and Y. For convenience, the phrase "<FIG>" may be used to refer to the collection of drawings of <FIG>, the phrase "<FIG>" may be used to refer to the collection of drawings of <FIG>, etc..

Any of the features discussed with reference to any of accompanying drawings herein may be combined with any other features to form an antenna board <NUM>, an antenna module <NUM>, or a communication device, as appropriate. A number of elements of the drawings are shared with others of the drawings; for ease of discussion, a description of these elements is not repeated, and these elements may take the form of any of the embodiments disclosed herein.

<FIG> is a side, cross-sectional view of an antenna module <NUM>, in accordance with various embodiments. The antenna module <NUM> may include an IC package <NUM> coupled to an antenna board <NUM>. Although a single IC package <NUM> is illustrated in <FIG>, an antenna module <NUM> may include more than one IC package <NUM> (e.g., as discussed below with reference to <FIG>). As discussed in further detail below, the antenna board <NUM> may include conductive pathways (e.g., provided by conductive vias and lines through one or more dielectric materials) and radio frequency (RF) transmission structures (e.g., antenna feed structures, such as striplines, microstriplines, or coplanar waveguides) that may enable one or more antenna units <NUM> (not shown) to transmit and receive electromagnetic waves under the control of circuitry in the IC package <NUM>. In some embodiments, the IC package <NUM> may be coupled to the antenna board <NUM> by second-level interconnects (not shown, but discussed below with reference to <FIG>). In some embodiments, at least a portion of the antenna board <NUM> may be fabricated using printed circuit board (PCB) technology, and may include between two and eight PCB layers. Examples of IC packages <NUM> and antenna boards <NUM> are discussed in detail below. In some embodiments, an antenna module <NUM> may include a different IC package <NUM> for controlling each different antenna unit <NUM>; in other embodiments, an antenna module <NUM> may include one IC package <NUM> having circuitry to control multiple antenna units <NUM>. In some embodiments, the total z-height of an antenna module <NUM> may be less than <NUM> millimeters (e.g., between <NUM> millimeters and <NUM> millimeters).

<FIG> are side, cross-sectional views of example antenna boards <NUM>, in accordance with various embodiments. <FIG> is a generalized representation of an example antenna board <NUM> including one or more antenna units <NUM> coupled to an antenna patch support <NUM>. In some embodiments, the antenna units <NUM> may be electrically coupled to the antenna patch support <NUM> by electrically conductive material pathways through the antenna patch support <NUM> that makes conductive contact with electrically conductive material of the antenna units <NUM>, while in other embodiments, the antenna units <NUM> may be mechanically coupled to the antenna patch support <NUM> but may not be in contact with an electrically conductive material pathway through the antenna patch support <NUM>. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the antenna patch support <NUM> may be fabricated using PCB technology, and may include between two and eight PCB layers. Although a particular number of antenna units <NUM> is depicted in <FIG> (and others of the accompanying drawings), this is simply illustrative, and an antenna board <NUM> may include fewer or more antenna units <NUM>. For example, an antenna board <NUM> may include four antenna units <NUM> (e.g., arranged in a linear array, as discussed below with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>), eight antenna units <NUM> (e.g., arranged in one linear array, or two linear arrays as discussed below with reference to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>), sixteen antenna units <NUM> (e.g., arranged in a 4x4 array, as discussed below with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>), or thirty-two antenna units <NUM> (e.g., arranged in two 4x4 arrays, as discussed below with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>). In some embodiments, the antenna units <NUM> may be surface mount components.

In some embodiments, an antenna module <NUM> may include one or more arrays of antenna units <NUM> to support multiple communication bands (e.g., dual band operation or tri-band operation). For example, some of the antenna modules <NUM> disclosed herein may support tri-band operation at <NUM> gigahertz, <NUM> gigahertz, and <NUM> gigahertz. Various ones of the antenna modules <NUM> disclosed herein may support tri-band operation at <NUM> gigahertz to <NUM> gigahertz, <NUM> gigahertz to <NUM> gigahertz, and <NUM> gigahertz to <NUM> gigahertz. Various ones of the antenna modules <NUM> disclosed herein may support <NUM> communications and <NUM> gigahertz communications. Various ones of the antenna modules <NUM> disclosed herein may support <NUM> gigahertz and <NUM> gigahertz communications. Various of the antenna modules <NUM> disclosed herein may support millimeter wave communications. Various of the antenna modules <NUM> disclosed herein may support high band frequencies and low band frequencies.

In some embodiments, an antenna board <NUM> may include an antenna unit <NUM> coupled to an antenna patch support <NUM> by an adhesive. <FIG> illustrates an antenna board <NUM> in which the antenna patch support <NUM> includes a circuit board <NUM> (e.g., including between two and eight PCB layers), a solder resist <NUM> and conductive contacts <NUM> at one face of the circuit board <NUM>, and an adhesive <NUM> at the opposite face of the circuit board <NUM>. As used herein, a "conductive contact" may refer to a portion of conductive material (e.g., metal) serving as an interface between different components; conductive contacts may be recessed in, flush with, or extending away from a surface of a component, and may take any suitable form (e.g., a conductive pad or socket). The circuit board <NUM> may include traces, vias, and other structures, as known in the art, formed of an electrically conductive material (e.g., a metal, such as copper). The conductive structures in the circuit board <NUM> may be electrically insulated from each other by a dielectric material. Any suitable dielectric material may be used (e.g., a laminate material). In some embodiments, the dielectric material may be an organic dielectric material, a fire retardant grade <NUM> material (FR-<NUM>), bismaleimide triazine (BT) resin, polyimide materials, glass reinforced epoxy matrix materials, or low-k and ultra low-k dielectric (e.g., carbon-doped dielectrics, fluorine-doped dielectrics, porous dielectrics, and organic polymeric dielectrics).

In the embodiment of <FIG>, the antenna units <NUM> may be adhered to the adhesive <NUM>. The adhesive <NUM> may be electrically non-conductive, and thus the antenna units <NUM> may not be electrically coupled to the circuit board <NUM> by an electrically conductive material pathway. In some embodiments, the adhesive <NUM> may be an epoxy. The thickness of the adhesive <NUM> may control the distance between the antenna units <NUM> and the proximate face of the circuit board <NUM>. When the antenna board <NUM> of <FIG> (and others of the accompanying drawings) is used in an antenna module <NUM>, an IC package <NUM> may be coupled to some of the conductive contacts <NUM>. In some embodiments, a thickness of the circuit board <NUM> of <FIG> may be less than <NUM> millimeter (e.g., between <NUM> millimeters and <NUM> millimeters). In some embodiments, a thickness of an antenna unit <NUM> may be less than <NUM> millimeter (e.g., between <NUM> millimeters and <NUM> millimeters).

In some embodiments, an antenna board <NUM> may include an antenna unit <NUM> coupled to an antenna patch support <NUM> by solder. <FIG> illustrates an antenna board <NUM> in which the antenna patch support <NUM> includes a circuit board <NUM> (e.g., including between two and eight PCB layers), a solder resist <NUM> and conductive contacts <NUM> at one face of the circuit board <NUM>, and a solder resist <NUM> and conductive contacts <NUM> at the opposite face of the circuit board <NUM>. The antenna units <NUM> may be secured to the circuit board <NUM> by solder <NUM> (or other second-level interconnects) between conductive contacts <NUM> of the antenna units <NUM> and the conductive contacts <NUM>. In some embodiments, the conductive contacts <NUM>/solder <NUM>/conductive contacts <NUM> may provide an electrically conductive material pathway through which signals may be transmitted to or from the antenna units <NUM>. In other embodiments, the conductive contacts <NUM>/solder <NUM>/conductive contacts <NUM> may be used only for mechanical coupling between the antenna units <NUM> and the antenna patch support <NUM>. The height of the solder <NUM> (or other interconnects) may control the distance between the antenna units <NUM> and the proximate face of the circuit board <NUM>. <FIG> is a top view of an example antenna unit <NUM> that may be used in an antenna board <NUM> like the antenna board <NUM> of <FIG>, in accordance with various embodiments. The antenna unit <NUM> of <FIG> may have a number of conductive contacts <NUM> distributed regularly on one face, close to the edges; other antenna units <NUM> with conductive contacts <NUM> may have other arrangements of the conductive contacts <NUM>.

In some embodiments, an antenna board may include an antenna unit <NUM> coupled to a bridge structure. <FIG> illustrates an antenna board <NUM> in which the antenna patch support <NUM> includes a circuit board <NUM> (e.g., including between two and eight PCB layers), a solder resist <NUM> and conductive contacts <NUM> at one face of the circuit board <NUM>, and a bridge structure <NUM> secured to the opposite face of the circuit board <NUM>. The bridge structure <NUM> may have one or more antenna units <NUM> coupled to an interior face of the bridge structure <NUM>, and one or more antenna units <NUM> coupled to an exterior face of the bridge structure <NUM>. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the antenna units <NUM> are coupled to the bridge structures <NUM> by an adhesive <NUM>. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the bridge structure <NUM> may be coupled to the circuit board <NUM> by an adhesive <NUM>. The thickness of the adhesive <NUM> and the dimensions of the bridge structure <NUM> (i.e., the distance between the interior face and the proximate face of the circuit board <NUM>, and the thickness of the bridge structure <NUM> between the interior face and the exterior face) may control the distance between the antenna units <NUM> and the proximate face of the circuit board <NUM> (including the distance between the "interior" antenna units <NUM> and the "exterior" antenna units <NUM>). The bridge structure <NUM> may be formed of any suitable material; for example, the bridge structure <NUM> may be formed of a non-conductive plastic. In some embodiments, the bridge structure <NUM> of <FIG> may be manufactured using three-dimensional printing techniques. In some embodiments, the bridge structure <NUM> of <FIG> may be manufactured as a PCB with a recess defining the interior face (e.g., using recessed board manufacturing technology). In the embodiment of <FIG>, the bridge structure <NUM> may introduce an air cavity <NUM> between the antenna units <NUM> and the circuit board <NUM>, enhancing the bandwidth of the antenna module <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an antenna board <NUM> similar to the antenna board <NUM> of <FIG>, but in which the bridge structure <NUM> is curved (e.g., has the shape of an arch). Such a bridge structure <NUM> may be formed from a flexible plastic or other material, for example. In the antenna board <NUM> of <FIG>, the antenna patch support <NUM> includes a circuit board <NUM> (e.g., including between two and eight PCB layers), a solder resist <NUM> and conductive contacts <NUM> at one face of the circuit board <NUM>, and a bridge structure <NUM> secured to the opposite face of the circuit board <NUM>. The bridge structure <NUM> may have one or more antenna units <NUM> coupled to an interior face of the bridge structure <NUM>, and one or more antenna units <NUM> coupled to an exterior face of the bridge structure <NUM>. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the antenna units <NUM> are coupled to the bridge structures <NUM> by an adhesive <NUM>. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the bridge structure <NUM> may be coupled to the circuit board <NUM> by an adhesive <NUM>. The thickness of the adhesive <NUM> and the dimensions of the bridge structure <NUM> (i.e., the distance between the interior face and the proximate face of the circuit board <NUM>, and the thickness of the bridge structure <NUM> between the interior face and the exterior face) may control the distance between the antenna units <NUM> and the proximate face of the circuit board <NUM> (including the distance between the "interior" antenna units <NUM> and the "exterior" antenna units <NUM>). The bridge structure <NUM> of <FIG> may be formed of any suitable material; for example, the bridge structure <NUM> may be formed of a non-conductive plastic. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the bridge structure <NUM> may introduce an air cavity <NUM> between the antenna units <NUM> and the circuit board <NUM>, enhancing the bandwidth of the antenna module <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an antenna board <NUM> similar to the antenna board <NUM> of <FIG>, but in which the bridge structure <NUM> is itself a planar circuit board or other structure with conductive contacts <NUM>; the bridge structure <NUM> may be coupled to the circuit board <NUM> by solder <NUM> (or other interconnects) between the conductive contacts <NUM> and the conductive contacts <NUM> on the circuit board <NUM>. In the antenna board <NUM> of <FIG>, the antenna patch support <NUM> includes a circuit board <NUM> (e.g., including between two and eight PCB layers), a solder resist <NUM> and conductive contacts <NUM> at one face of the circuit board <NUM>, and a bridge structure <NUM> secured to the opposite face of the circuit board <NUM>. The bridge structure <NUM> may have one or more antenna units <NUM> coupled to an interior face of the bridge structure <NUM>, and one or more antenna units <NUM> coupled to an exterior face of the bridge structure <NUM>. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the antenna units <NUM> are coupled to the bridge structures <NUM> by an adhesive <NUM>. The thickness of the adhesive <NUM>, the height of the solder <NUM>, and the dimensions of the bridge structure <NUM> (i.e., the thickness of the bridge structure <NUM> between the interior face and the exterior face) may control the distance between the antenna units <NUM> and the proximate face of the circuit board <NUM> (including the distance between the "interior" antenna units <NUM> and the "exterior" antenna units <NUM>). The bridge structure <NUM> of <FIG> may be formed of any suitable material; for example, the bridge structure <NUM> may be formed of a non-conductive plastic or a PCB. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the bridge structure <NUM> may introduce an air cavity <NUM> between the antenna units <NUM> and the circuit board <NUM>, enhancing the bandwidth of the antenna module <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an antenna board <NUM> similar to the antenna board <NUM> of <FIG>, but in which the bridge structure <NUM> is itself a planar circuit board or other structure, and the bridge structure <NUM> and the antenna units <NUM> coupled thereto are all coupled to the circuit board <NUM> by an adhesive <NUM>. In the antenna board <NUM> of <FIG>, the antenna patch support <NUM> includes a circuit board <NUM> (e.g., including between two and eight PCB layers), a solder resist <NUM> and conductive contacts <NUM> at one face of the circuit board <NUM>, and a bridge structure <NUM> secured to the opposite face of the circuit board <NUM>. The bridge structure <NUM> may have one or more antenna units <NUM> coupled to an interior face of the bridge structure <NUM>, and one or more antenna units <NUM> coupled to an exterior face of the bridge structure <NUM>. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the antenna units <NUM> are coupled to the bridge structures <NUM> by an adhesive <NUM>. The thickness of the adhesive <NUM> and the dimensions of the bridge structure <NUM> (i.e., the thickness of the bridge structure <NUM> between the interior face and the exterior face) may control the distance between the antenna units <NUM> and the proximate face of the circuit board <NUM> (including the distance between the "interior" antenna units <NUM> and the "exterior" antenna units <NUM>). The bridge structure <NUM> of <FIG> may be formed of any suitable material; for example, the bridge structure <NUM> may be formed of a non-conductive plastic or a PCB. In some embodiments, the circuit board <NUM> may be a <NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM> cored board, and the bridge structure <NUM> may be a <NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM> cored board. In some embodiments, the circuit board <NUM> may use a dielectric material different from a dielectric material of the bridge structure <NUM> (e.g., the bridge structure <NUM> may include polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or a PTFE-based formula), and the circuit board <NUM> may include another dielectric material).

In some embodiments, an antenna board <NUM> may include recesses "above" the antenna patches <NUM> to provide an air cavity <NUM> between the antenna patches <NUM> and other portions of the antenna board <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates an antenna board <NUM> similar to the antenna board <NUM> of <FIG>, but in which the circuit board <NUM> includes recesses <NUM> positioned "above" each of the antenna units <NUM>. These recesses <NUM> may provide air cavities <NUM> between the antenna units <NUM> and the rest of the antenna board <NUM>, which may improve performance. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the antenna patch support <NUM> includes a circuit board <NUM> (e.g., including between two and eight PCB layers), a solder resist <NUM> and conductive contacts <NUM> at one face of the circuit board <NUM>, and an adhesive <NUM> at the opposite face of the circuit board <NUM>. The antenna units <NUM> may be adhered to the adhesive <NUM>. The adhesive <NUM> may be electrically non-conductive, and thus the antenna units <NUM> may not be electrically coupled to the circuit board <NUM> by an electrically conductive material pathway. In some embodiments, the adhesive <NUM> may be an epoxy. The thickness of the adhesive <NUM> may control the distance between the antenna units <NUM> and the proximate face of the circuit board <NUM>. In some embodiments, the recesses <NUM> may have a depth between <NUM> microns and <NUM> microns.

In some embodiments, an antenna board <NUM> may include recesses that are not "above" the antenna patches <NUM>, but that are located between the attachment locations of different ones of the antenna units <NUM> to the circuit board <NUM>. For example, <FIG> illustrates an antenna board <NUM> similar to the antenna board <NUM> of <FIG>, but in which the circuit board <NUM> includes additional recesses <NUM> positioned "between" each of the antenna units <NUM>. These recesses <NUM> may help isolate different ones of the antenna units <NUM> from each other, thereby improving performance. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the antenna patch support <NUM> includes a circuit board <NUM> (e.g., including between two and eight PCB layers), a solder resist <NUM> and conductive contacts <NUM> at one face of the circuit board <NUM>, and an adhesive <NUM> at the opposite face of the circuit board <NUM>. The antenna units <NUM> may be adhered to the adhesive <NUM>. The adhesive <NUM> may be electrically non-conductive, and thus the antenna units <NUM> may not be electrically coupled to the circuit board <NUM> by an electrically conductive material pathway. In some embodiments, the adhesive <NUM> may be an epoxy. The thickness of the adhesive <NUM> may control the distance between the antenna units <NUM> and the proximate face of the circuit board <NUM>. In some embodiments, the recesses <NUM> may have a depth between <NUM> microns and <NUM> microns. In some embodiments, the recesses <NUM> may be through-holes (i.e., the recesses <NUM> may extend all the way through the circuit board <NUM>).

Any suitable antenna structures may provide the antenna units <NUM> of an antenna module <NUM>. In some embodiments, an antenna unit <NUM> may include one, two, three, or more antenna layers. For example, <FIG> are side, cross-sectional views of example antenna units <NUM>, in accordance with various embodiments. In <FIG>, the antenna unit <NUM> includes one antenna patch <NUM>, while in <FIG>, the antenna unit <NUM> includes two antenna patches <NUM> spaced apart by an intervening structure <NUM>.

The IC package <NUM> included in an antenna module <NUM> may have any suitable structure. For example, <FIG> illustrates an example IC package <NUM> that may be included in an antenna module <NUM>. The IC package <NUM> may include a package substrate <NUM> to which one or more components <NUM> may be coupled by first-level interconnects <NUM>. In particular, conductive contacts <NUM> at one face of the package substrate <NUM> may be coupled to conductive contacts <NUM> at faces of the components <NUM> by first-level interconnects <NUM>. The first-level interconnects <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> are solder bumps, but any suitable first-level interconnects <NUM> may be used. A solder resist <NUM> may be disposed around the conductive contacts <NUM>. The package substrate <NUM> may include a dielectric material, and may have conductive pathways (e.g., including conductive vias and lines) extending through the dielectric material between the faces, or between different locations on each face. In some embodiments, the package substrate <NUM> may have a thickness less than <NUM> millimeter (e.g., between <NUM> millimeters and <NUM> millimeters). Conductive contacts <NUM> may be disposed at the other face of the package substrate <NUM>, and second-level interconnects <NUM> may couple these conductive contacts <NUM> to the antenna board <NUM> (not shown) in an antenna module <NUM>. The second-level interconnects <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> are solder balls (e.g., for a ball grid array arrangement), but any suitable second-level interconnects <NUM> may be used (e.g., pins in a pin grid array arrangement or lands in a land grid array arrangement). A solder resist <NUM> may be disposed around the conductive contacts <NUM>. In some embodiments, a mold material <NUM> may be disposed around the components <NUM> (e.g., between the components <NUM> and the package substrate <NUM> as an underfill material). In some embodiments, a thickness of the mold material may be less than <NUM> millimeter. Example materials that may be used for the mold material <NUM> include epoxy mold materials, as suitable. In some embodiments, a conformal shield <NUM> may be disposed around the components <NUM> and the package substrate <NUM> to provide electromagnetic shielding for the IC package <NUM>.

The components <NUM> may include any suitable IC components. In some embodiments, one or more of the components <NUM> may include a die. For example, one or more of the components <NUM> may be a RF communication die. In some embodiments, one or more of the components <NUM> may include a resistor, capacitor (e.g., decoupling capacitors), inductor, DC-DC converter circuitry, or other circuit elements. In some embodiments, the IC package <NUM> may be a system-in-package (SiP). In some embodiments, the IC package <NUM> may be a flip chip (FC) chip scale package (CSP). In some embodiments, one or more of the components <NUM> may include a memory device programmed with instructions to execute beam forming, scanning, and/or codebook functions.

In some embodiments, a package substrate <NUM> of an IC package <NUM> in an antenna module <NUM> includes one or more recesses <NUM>. For example, <FIG> illustrates an IC package <NUM> like the IC package <NUM> of <FIG>, but in which the package substrate <NUM> includes a recess <NUM>. A bottom surface <NUM> of the recess <NUM> may be provided by solid material of the package substrate <NUM>. One or more antenna units <NUM> may be positioned "over" a recess <NUM> so that an air cavity <NUM> is present between the one or more antenna units <NUM> and solid material of the package substrate <NUM>. A number of examples of such embodiments are discussed below with reference to <FIG>. In these figures, a single recess <NUM> is shown for ease of illustration, but any of the IC packages <NUM> disclosed herein may include multiple recesses <NUM> in their package substrates <NUM>. For example, a single IC package <NUM> may include a package substrate <NUM> with multiple different recesses <NUM> over which corresponding different antenna boards <NUM> may be mounted. In another example, a single IC package <NUM> may include a package substrate <NUM> with multiple different recesses <NUM> and a single antenna board <NUM> having multiple different sets of one or more antenna units <NUM> may be mounted to the IC package <NUM> so that different sets of one or more antenna units <NUM> is mounted over different ones of the recesses <NUM>. Any of the antenna modules <NUM> disclosed herein may include recesses <NUM> in the package substrate <NUM>, and any of the antenna boards <NUM> disclosed herein, in any combination. A recess <NUM> may be formed in a package substrate <NUM> in any suitable manner (e.g., via three-dimensional printing, laser cutting or drilling the recess <NUM> into an existing package substrate, etc.).

<FIG> illustrates an antenna module <NUM> in which the package substrate <NUM> of the IC package <NUM> includes a recess <NUM>, and the antenna board <NUM> coupled to the IC package <NUM> includes two antenna units <NUM> (which may themselves each be a single antenna patch <NUM>). An air cavity <NUM>-<NUM> is present between the antenna units <NUM> and the bottom surface <NUM> of the recess <NUM>. Further, the antenna units <NUM> of the antenna board <NUM> has an air cavity <NUM>-<NUM> therebetween. In some embodiments, the top and bottom faces of the antenna board <NUM> may include openings <NUM> to act as vent holes between the air cavity <NUM>-<NUM> and the external environment.

Any suitable technique may be used to manufacture antenna board <NUM> like the antenna board <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>; an example process flow is illustrated in <FIG>. In particular, <FIG> illustrate various stages in the manufacture of the antenna board <NUM> of <FIG>, in accordance with various examples. Although the operations of <FIG> may be illustrated with reference to particular examples of the antenna boards <NUM> disclosed herein, these operations may be used to manufacture any suitable antenna boards <NUM>. Operations are illustrated once each and in a particular order in <FIG>, but the operations may be reordered and/or repeated as desired (e.g., with different operations performed in parallel when manufacturing multiple antenna boards <NUM> simultaneously).

<FIG> is a side, cross-sectional view of an assembly <NUM> including a first board portion <NUM>. An antenna unit <NUM> may be mounted (e.g., via solder or an adhesive) to the first board portion <NUM>; in otherexamples, the antenna unit <NUM> may be mounted at a later stage. The first board portion <NUM> may be a PCB, a plastic component, or may include any suitable material.

<FIG> is a side, cross-sectional view of an assembly <NUM> subsequent to forming a recess <NUM> in the first board portion <NUM> of the assembly <NUM> (<FIG>), and then bringing a second board portion <NUM> into proximity with the first board portion <NUM>. An antenna unit <NUM> may be mounted (e.g., via solder or an adhesive) to the second board portion <NUM>; in other embodiments, the antenna unit <NUM> may be mounted to the second board portion <NUM> at a later stage. In some embodiments, the recess <NUM> may be formed by mechanical drilling (e.g., landing on a metal plane when the first board portion <NUM> is a PCB). In some embodiments, the first board portion <NUM> may be manufactured (e.g., by three-dimensional printing) in the form illustrated in <FIG>, and thus no recess <NUM> need be separately formed.

<FIG> is a side, cross-sectional view of an assembly <NUM> subsequent to coupling the second board portion <NUM> and the first board portion <NUM> of the assembly <NUM> (<FIG>) together to form an initial patch support <NUM>. The coupling of the second board portion <NUM> and the first board portion <NUM> may be performed using any suitable technique (e.g., gluing, soldering, laminating, etc.).

<FIG> is a side, cross-sectional view of an assembly <NUM> subsequent to forming openings <NUM> in the top and bottom faces of the initial patch support <NUM> of the assembly <NUM> (<FIG>) to form the antenna patch support <NUM>. The openings <NUM> may provide an air hole for venting the interior of the antenna board <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates another example of an antenna module <NUM> in which the package substrate <NUM> of the IC package <NUM> includes a recess <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, the antenna board <NUM> coupled to the IC package <NUM> includes multiple antenna patches <NUM>, providing an antenna unit <NUM>. An air cavity <NUM> may be present between the antenna unit <NUM> and the bottom surface <NUM> of the recess <NUM>. The antenna patches <NUM> of <FIG> may be embedded in solid material of the antenna patch support <NUM>. For example, in examples in which the antenna patch support <NUM> includes a PCB, the antenna patches <NUM> may be portions of metallization layers in the antenna patch support <NUM> (with solid dielectric material therebetween). Although four antenna patches <NUM> are illustrated in <FIG>, an antenna board <NUM> may include any suitable number of antenna patches <NUM>, as discussed herein.

In some examples, an antenna unit <NUM> of an antenna board <NUM> may extend into the recess <NUM> of a package substrate <NUM>, while in other examples, the antenna unit <NUM> may not extend into the recess <NUM>. For example, <FIG> illustrates an example of an antenna module <NUM> in which the package substrate <NUM> of the IC package <NUM> includes a recess <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, the antenna board <NUM> coupled to the IC package <NUM> includes an antenna unit <NUM> that is secured in an opening in the antenna patch support <NUM> by an adhesive <NUM> (e.g., an epoxy). The antenna unit <NUM> of <FIG> may extend into the recess <NUM> of the package substrate <NUM>, and an air cavity <NUM> may be present between the antenna unit <NUM> and the bottom surface <NUM> of the recess <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates an antenna module <NUM> similar to that of <FIG>, but in which the antenna unit <NUM> does not extend into the recess <NUM>.

In an antenna module <NUM> that includes multiple antenna units <NUM>, these multiple antenna units <NUM> may be arranged in any suitable manner. For example, <FIG> are bottom views of example arrangements of antenna units <NUM> in an antenna board <NUM>, in accordance with various embodiments. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the antenna units <NUM> are arranged in a linear array in the x-direction, and the x-axes of each of the antenna units <NUM> (indicated in <FIG> by small arrows proximate to each antenna unit <NUM>) are aligned with the axis of the linear array. In other embodiments, the antenna units <NUM> may be arranged so that one or more of their axes are not aligned with the direction of the array. For example, <FIG> illustrates an embodiment in which the antenna units <NUM> are distributed in a linear array in the x-direction, but the antenna units <NUM> have been rotated in the x-y plane (relative to the embodiment of <FIG>) so that the x-axis of each of the antenna units <NUM> is not aligned with the axis of the linear array. In another example, <FIG> illustrates an embodiment in which the antenna units <NUM> are distributed in a linear array in the x-direction, but the antenna patches have been rotated in the x-z plane (relative to the embodiment of <FIG>) so that the x-axis of each of the antenna units <NUM> is not aligned with the axis of the linear array. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the antenna patch support <NUM> may include an antenna patch fixture <NUM> that may maintain the antenna units <NUM> at the desired angle. In some embodiments, the "rotations" of <FIG> may be combined so that an antenna unit <NUM> is rotated in both the x-y and the x-z plane when the antenna unit <NUM> is part of a linear array distributed in the x-direction. In some embodiments, some but not all of the antenna units <NUM> in a linear array may be "rotated" relative to the axis of the array. Rotating an antenna unit <NUM> relative to the direction of the array may reduce patch-to-patch coupling (by reducing the constructive addition of resonant currents between antenna units <NUM>), improving the impedance bandwidth and the beam steering range. The arrangements of <FIG> (and combinations of such arrangements) is referred to herein as the antenna units <NUM> being "rotationally offset" from the linear array.

Although <FIG> illustrate multiple antenna units <NUM> mounted on a common antenna patch support <NUM> in a single antenna board <NUM>, the rotationally offset arrangements of <FIG> may also be utilized when multiple antenna units <NUM> are divided among different antenna boards <NUM>. For example, in an embodiment in which multiple different antenna boards <NUM> are mounted to a common IC package <NUM> (e.g., as discussed below with reference to <FIG>), the antenna units <NUM> in each of the different antenna boards <NUM> may together provide a linear array, and may be rotationally offset from that linear array.

The antenna modules <NUM> disclosed herein may be included in any suitable communication device (e.g., a computing device with wireless communication capability, a wearable device with wireless communication circuitry, etc.). <FIG> is a side, cross-sectional view of a portion of a communication device <NUM> including an antenna module <NUM>, in accordance with various embodiments. In particular, the communication device <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> may be a handheld communication device, such as a smart phone or tablet. The communication device <NUM> may include a glass or plastic back cover <NUM> proximate to a metallic or plastic chassis <NUM>. In some embodiments, the chassis <NUM> may be laminated onto an inner face of the back cover <NUM>, or attached to the back cover <NUM> with an adhesive. In some embodiments, the portion of the chassis <NUM> adjacent to the back cover <NUM> may have a thickness between <NUM> millimeters and <NUM> millimeters; in some such embodiments, this portion of the chassis <NUM> may be formed of metal. In some embodiments, the back cover <NUM> may have a thickness between <NUM> millimeters and <NUM> millimeters; in some such embodiments, the back cover <NUM> may be formed of glass. The chassis <NUM> may include one or more windows <NUM> that align with antenna units <NUM> (not shown) of the antenna module <NUM> to improve performance. An air cavity <NUM>-<NUM> may space at least some of the antenna module <NUM> from the back cover <NUM>. In some embodiments, the height of the air cavity <NUM>-<NUM> may be between <NUM> millimeters and <NUM> millimeters. In some embodiments, the antenna module <NUM> may be mounted to a face of a circuit board <NUM> (e.g., a motherboard), and other components <NUM> (e.g., other IC packages) may be mounted to the opposite face of the circuit board <NUM>. In some embodiments, the circuit board <NUM> may have a thickness between <NUM> millimeters and <NUM> millimeter (e.g., between <NUM> millimeters and <NUM> millimeters). Another air cavity <NUM>-<NUM> may be located between the circuit board <NUM> and a display <NUM> (e.g., a touch screen display). In other embodiments, an antenna module <NUM> may not be mounted to a circuit board <NUM>; instead, the antenna module <NUM> may be secured directly to the chassis <NUM> (e.g., as discussed below). In some embodiments, the spacing between the antenna units <NUM> (not shown) of the antenna module <NUM> and the back cover <NUM> may be selected and controlled within tens of microns to achieve desired performance. The air cavity <NUM>-<NUM> may separate the antenna module <NUM> from the display <NUM> on the front side of the communication device <NUM>; in some embodiments, the display <NUM> may have a metal layer proximate to the air cavity <NUM>-<NUM> to draw heat away from the display <NUM>. A metal or plastic housing <NUM> may provide the "sides" of the communication device <NUM>.

The antenna modules <NUM> disclosed herein may be secured in a communication device in any desired manner. For example, as noted above, in some embodiments, the antenna module <NUM> may be secured to the chassis <NUM>. A number of the embodiments discussed below refer to fixtures that secure an antenna module <NUM> (or an antenna board <NUM>, for ease of illustration) to the chassis <NUM> of a communication device, but any of the fixtures discussed below may be used to secure an antenna module <NUM> to any suitable portion of a communication device.

In some embodiments, an antenna board <NUM> may include cutouts that may be used to secure the antenna board <NUM> to a chassis <NUM>. For example, <FIG> is a top view of an example antenna board <NUM> including two cutouts <NUM> at either longitudinal end of the antenna board <NUM>. The antenna board <NUM> of <FIG> may be part of an antenna module <NUM>, but only the antenna board <NUM> is depicted in <FIG> for ease of illustration. <FIG> is a side, cross-sectional view of the antenna board <NUM> of <FIG> coupled to an antenna board fixture <NUM>, in accordance with various embodiments. In particular, the antenna board fixture <NUM> of <FIG> may include two assemblies at either longitudinal end of the antenna board <NUM>. Each assembly may include a boss <NUM> (on or part of the chassis <NUM>), a spacer <NUM> on the top surface of the boss <NUM>, and a screw <NUM> that extends through a hole in the spacer <NUM> and screws into threads in the boss <NUM>. The antenna board <NUM> may be clamped between the spacer <NUM> and the top of the boss <NUM> by the tightened screw <NUM>; the boss <NUM> may be at least partially set in the proximate cutout <NUM>. In some embodiments, the outer dimensions of the antenna board <NUM> of <FIG> may be approximately <NUM> millimeters by approximately <NUM> millimeters.

In some embodiments, the screws <NUM> disclosed herein may be used to dissipate heat generated by the antenna module <NUM> during operation. In particular, in some embodiments, the screws <NUM> may be formed of metal, and the boss <NUM> and the chassis <NUM> may also be metallic (or may otherwise have a high thermal conductivity); during operation, heat generated by the antenna module <NUM> may travel away from the antenna module <NUM> through the screws <NUM> and into the chassis <NUM>, mitigating or preventing an over-temperature condition. In some embodiments, a thermal interface material (TIM), such as a thermal grease, may be present between the antenna board <NUM> and the screws <NUM>/boss <NUM> to improve thermal conductivity.

In some embodiments, the screws <NUM> disclosed herein may be used as additional antennas for the antenna module <NUM>. In some such embodiments, the boss <NUM> (and other materials with which the screws <NUM> come into contact) may be formed of plastic, ceramic, or another non-conducting material. The shape and location of the screws <NUM> may be selected so that the screws <NUM> act as antenna units <NUM> for the antenna board <NUM>.

An antenna board <NUM> may include other arrangements of cutouts. For example, <FIG> is a top view of an example antenna board <NUM> including a cutout <NUM> at one longitudinal end and a hole <NUM> proximate to the other longitudinal end. The antenna board <NUM> of <FIG> may be part of an antenna module <NUM>, but only the antenna board <NUM> is depicted in <FIG> for ease of illustration. <FIG> is a side, cross-sectional view of the antenna board <NUM> of <FIG> coupled to an antenna board fixture <NUM>, in accordance with various embodiments. In particular, the antenna board fixture <NUM> of <FIG> may include two assemblies at either longitudinal end of the antenna board <NUM>. The assembly proximate to the cutout <NUM> may include the boss <NUM>/spacer <NUM>/screw <NUM> arrangement discussed above with reference to <FIG>. The assembly proximate to the hole <NUM> may include a pin <NUM> extending from the chassis <NUM>. The antenna board <NUM> may be clamped between the spacer <NUM> and the top of the boss <NUM> by the tightened screw <NUM> at one longitudinal end (the boss <NUM> may be at least partially set in the proximate cutout <NUM>), and the other longitudinal end may be prevented from moving in the x-y plane by the pin <NUM> in the hole <NUM>.

In some embodiments, an antenna module <NUM> may be secured to a communication device at one or more locations along the length of the antenna board <NUM>, in addition to or instead of at the longitudinal ends of the antenna board <NUM>. For example, <FIG> are a top view and a side, cross-sectional view, respectively, of an antenna board <NUM> coupled to an antenna board fixture <NUM>, in accordance with various embodiments. The antenna board <NUM> of <FIG> may be part of an antenna module <NUM>, but only the antenna board <NUM> is depicted in <FIG> for ease of illustration. In the antenna board fixture <NUM> of <FIG>, a boss <NUM> (one or part of the chassis <NUM>), a spacer <NUM> on the top surface of the boss <NUM>, and a screw <NUM> that extends through a hole in the spacer <NUM> and screws into threads in the boss <NUM>. The exterior of the boss <NUM> of <FIG> may have a square cross-section, and the spacer <NUM> may have a square recess on its lower surface so as to partially wrap around the boss <NUM> while being prevented from rotating around the boss <NUM>. The antenna board <NUM> may be clamped between the spacer <NUM> and the top of the boss <NUM> by the tightened screw <NUM>. In some embodiments, the antenna board <NUM> may not have a cutout <NUM> along its longitudinal length (as shown); while in other embodiments, the antenna board <NUM> may have one or more cutouts <NUM> along its long edges.

In some embodiments, an antenna module <NUM> may be secured to a surface in a communication device so that the antenna module <NUM> (e.g., an array of antenna units <NUM> in the antenna module) is not parallel to the surface. Generally, the antenna units <NUM> may be positioned at any desired angle relative to the chassis <NUM> or other elements of a communication device. <FIG> illustrates an antenna board fixture <NUM> in which the antenna board <NUM> may be held at an angle relative to the underlying surface of the chassis <NUM>. The antenna board <NUM> of <FIG> may be part of an antenna module <NUM>, but only the antenna board <NUM> is depicted in <FIG> for ease of illustration. The antenna board fixture <NUM> may be similar to the antenna board fixtures of <FIG>, <FIG>, but may include a boss <NUM> having an angled portion on which the antenna board <NUM> may rest. When the screw <NUM> is tightened, the antenna board <NUM> may be held at a desired angle relative to the chassis <NUM>.

The antenna boards <NUM>, IC packages <NUM>, and other elements disclosed herein may be arranged in any suitable manner in an antenna module <NUM>. For example, an antenna module <NUM> may include one or more connectors <NUM> for transmitting signals into and out of the antenna module <NUM>. <FIG> are exploded, perspective views of example antenna modules <NUM>, in accordance with various embodiments.

In the embodiment of <FIG>, an antenna board <NUM> includes four antenna units <NUM>. These antenna units <NUM> may be arranged in the antenna board <NUM> in accordance with any of the embodiments disclosed herein (e.g., with recesses <NUM>/<NUM>, rotated relative to the axis of the array, on a bridge structure <NUM>, etc.). One or more connectors <NUM> may be disposed on the antenna board <NUM>; these connectors <NUM> may be coaxial cable connectors, as shown, or any other connectors (e.g., the flat cable connectors discussed below with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>). The connectors <NUM> may be suitable for transmitting radio frequency (RF) signals, for example. The IC package <NUM> may include a package substrate <NUM>, one or more components <NUM> coupled to the package substrate <NUM>, and a conformal shield <NUM> over the components <NUM> and the package substrate <NUM>. In some embodiments, the four antenna units <NUM> may provide a 1x4 array for <NUM>/<NUM> gigahertz communication, and a 1x8 array of <NUM> gigahertz dipoles.

In the embodiment of <FIG>, an antenna board <NUM> includes two sets of sixteen antenna units <NUM>, each set arranged in a 4x4 array. These antenna units <NUM> may be arranged in the antenna board <NUM> in accordance with any of the embodiments disclosed herein (e.g., with recesses <NUM>/<NUM>, rotated relative to the axis of the array, on a bridge structure <NUM>, etc.). The antenna module <NUM> of <FIG> includes two IC packages <NUM>; one IC package <NUM> associated with (and disposed over) one set of antenna units <NUM>, and the other IC package <NUM> associated with (and disposed over) the other set of antenna units <NUM>. In some embodiments, one set of antenna units <NUM> may support <NUM> gigahertz communications, and the other set of antenna units <NUM> may support <NUM> gigahertz communications. The IC package <NUM> may include a package substrate <NUM>, one or more components <NUM> coupled to the package substrate <NUM>, and a conformal shield <NUM> over the components <NUM> and the package substrate <NUM>. One or more connectors <NUM> may be disposed on the package substrate <NUM>; these connectors <NUM> may be coaxial cable connectors, as shown, or any other connectors (e.g., the flat cable connectors discussed below with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>). The conformal shields <NUM> may not extend over the connectors <NUM>. In some embodiments, the antenna module <NUM> of <FIG> may be suitable for use in routers and customer premises equipment (CPE). In some embodiments, the outer dimensions of the antenna board <NUM> may be approximately <NUM> millimeters by approximately <NUM> millimeters.

In the embodiment of <FIG>, an antenna board <NUM> includes two sets of four antenna units <NUM>, each set arranged in a 1x4 array. In some embodiments, one set of antenna units <NUM> may support <NUM> gigahertz communications, and the other set of antenna units <NUM> may support <NUM> gigahertz communications. These antenna units <NUM> may be arranged in the antenna board <NUM> in accordance with any of the embodiments disclosed herein (e.g., with recesses <NUM>/<NUM>, rotated relative to the axis of the array, on a bridge structure <NUM>, etc.). One or more connectors <NUM> may be disposed on the antenna board <NUM>; these connectors <NUM> may be coaxial cable connectors, as shown, or any other connectors (e.g., the flat cable connectors discussed below with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>). The antenna module <NUM> of <FIG> includes two IC packages <NUM>; one IC package <NUM> associated with (and disposed over) one set of antenna units <NUM>, and the other IC package <NUM> associated with (and disposed over) the other set of antenna units <NUM>. The IC package <NUM> may include a package substrate <NUM>, one or more components <NUM> coupled to the package substrate <NUM>, and a conformal shield <NUM> over the components <NUM> and the package substrate <NUM>. In some embodiments, the outer dimensions of the antenna board <NUM> may be approximately <NUM> millimeters by approximately <NUM> millimeters.

In the embodiment of <FIG>, an antenna board <NUM> includes two sets of sixteen antenna units <NUM>, each set arranged in a 4x4 array. These antenna units <NUM> may be arranged in the antenna board <NUM> in accordance with any of the embodiments disclosed herein (e.g., with recesses <NUM>/<NUM>, rotated relative to the axis of the array, on a bridge structure <NUM>, etc.). The antenna module <NUM> of <FIG> includes four IC packages <NUM>; two IC packages <NUM> associated with (and disposed over) one set of antenna units <NUM>, and the other two IC packages <NUM> associated with (and disposed over) the other set of antenna units <NUM>. The IC package <NUM> may include a package substrate <NUM>, one or more components <NUM> coupled to the package substrate <NUM>, and a conformal shield (not shown) over the components <NUM> and the package substrate <NUM>. One or more connectors <NUM> may be disposed on the antenna board <NUM>; these connectors <NUM> may be coaxial cable connectors, as shown, or any other connectors (e.g., the flat cable connectors discussed below with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>).

<FIG> are top and bottom perspective views, respectively, of another example antenna module <NUM>, in accordance with various embodiments. In the embodiment of <FIG>, an antenna board <NUM> includes two sets of four antenna units <NUM>, each set arranged in a 1x4 array. These antenna units <NUM> may be arranged in the antenna board <NUM> in accordance with any of the embodiments disclosed herein (e.g., with recesses <NUM>/<NUM>, rotated relative to the axis of the array, on a bridge structure <NUM>, etc.). One or more connectors <NUM> may be disposed on the antenna board <NUM>; these connectors <NUM> may be flat cable connectors (e.g., flexible printed circuit (FPC) cable connectors) to which a flat cable <NUM> may be coupled. The antenna module <NUM> of <FIG> includes two IC packages <NUM>; one IC package <NUM> associated with (and disposed over) one set of antenna units <NUM>, and the other IC package <NUM> associated with (and disposed over) the other set of antenna units <NUM>. The antenna module <NUM> of <FIG> may also include cutouts <NUM> at either longitudinal end; <FIG> illustrates the antenna module <NUM> secured by the antenna board fixtures <NUM> of <FIG> (at either longitudinal end) and by the antenna board fixture <NUM> of <FIG> (in the middle). In some embodiments, the antenna units <NUM> of the antenna module <NUM> of <FIG> may use the proximate edges of the antenna board <NUM> for vertical and horizontal polarized edge fire antennas; in such an embodiment, the conformal shield <NUM> of the IC packages <NUM> may act as a reference. More generally, the antenna units <NUM> disclosed herein may be used for broadside or edge fire applications, as appropriate.

Any suitable communication device may include one or more of the antenna modules <NUM> disclosed herein. For example, <FIG> is a perspective view of a handheld communication device <NUM> including an antenna module <NUM>, in accordance with various embodiments. In particular, <FIG> depicts the antenna module <NUM> (and associated antenna board fixtures <NUM>) of <FIG> coupled to a chassis <NUM> of the handheld communication device <NUM> (which may be the communication device <NUM> of <FIG>). In some embodiments, the handheld communication device <NUM> may be a smart phone.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a laptop communication device <NUM> including multiple antenna modules <NUM>, in accordance with various embodiments. In particular, <FIG> depicts an antenna module <NUM> having four antenna units <NUM> at either side of the keyboard of a laptop communication device <NUM>. The antenna units <NUM> may occupy an area on the outside housing of the laptop communication device <NUM> that is approximately equal to or less than the area required for two adjacent Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectors (i.e., approximately <NUM> millimeters (height) by <NUM> millimeters (width) by <NUM> millimeters (depth)). The antenna module <NUM> of <FIG> may be tuned for operation in the housing (e.g., ABS plastic) of the device <NUM>. In some embodiments, the antenna modules <NUM> in the device <NUM> may be tilted at a desired angle relative to the housing of the device <NUM>.

An antenna module <NUM> included in a communication device (e.g., fixed wireless access devices) may include an antenna array having any desired number of antenna units <NUM> (e.g., 4x8 antenna units <NUM>).

Any of the antenna modules <NUM> disclosed herein may include antenna boards <NUM> that have one or more narrowed portions that act as hinge(s) to allow the antenna module <NUM> to bend so that different sections of the antenna boards <NUM> are non-coplanar with each other. For example, <FIG> illustrate antenna modules <NUM> having multiple IC packages <NUM> disposed on an antenna board <NUM> (e.g., in accordance with any of the embodiments disclosed herein). The antenna board <NUM> includes an antenna patch support <NUM> on which multiple antenna units <NUM> are disposed (e.g., in accordance with any of the embodiments disclosed herein) and which includes a narrowed portion <NUM>. The material of the narrowed portion <NUM> may have adequate flexibility to allow the antenna patch support <NUM> to bend at the narrowed portion (e.g., from an initial configuration as shown in <FIG> to a bent configuration as shown in <FIG>) to a desired angle without significant damage to the antenna patch support <NUM>. The antenna module <NUM> may be mounted in an electronic component (e.g., in the communication device <NUM>) in its bent configuration (e.g., using any of the fixtures discussed above with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>), allowing the antenna units <NUM> on different sections of the antenna board <NUM> to radiate and receive at different angles, thereby increasing the range of coverage of the array of antenna units <NUM> relative to an embodiment in which the antenna units <NUM> are all mounted on a single plane of an antenna patch support <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the narrowed portion <NUM> may be formed by sawing or otherwise cutting through an initial antenna patch support <NUM> until the desired thickness of the narrowed portion <NUM> is reached; in other embodiments, the antenna patch support <NUM> may be fabricated with the narrowed portion <NUM> without any sawing or cutting required. Although <FIG>. illustrate a particular number of IC packages <NUM> and antenna units <NUM>, this is simply for illustrative purposes, and any of the antenna boards <NUM> or antenna modules <NUM> disclosed herein may include one or more narrowed portions <NUM> to allow multiple sections of the antenna board <NUM> to be oriented at different angles.

Although various ones of the accompanying drawings have illustrated the antenna board <NUM> as having a larger footprint than the IC package <NUM>, the antenna board <NUM> and the IC package <NUM> (which may be, e.g., an SiP) may have any suitable relative dimensions. For example, in some embodiments, the footprint of the IC package <NUM> in an antenna module <NUM> may be larger than the footprint of the antenna board <NUM>. Such embodiments may occur, for example, when the IC package <NUM> includes multiple dies as the components <NUM>. <FIG> illustrate various examples of antenna modules <NUM> in which the footprint of the IC package <NUM> is larger than the footprint of an antenna board <NUM>.

In the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the face of the IC package <NUM> to which the antenna board is attached may also have multiple connectors <NUM> disposed thereon. These connectors <NUM> may extend past side faces of the antenna board <NUM>, and may enable direct connection to the IC package <NUM> by cables <NUM> having connectors <NUM> that mate with the connectors <NUM>. The connectors <NUM> of <FIG> may take any suitable form (e.g., coaxial cable connectors, the flat cable connectors discussed below with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, any of the other forms disclosed herein, etc.).

In the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the antenna module <NUM> may have an asymmetric arrangement of the antenna board <NUM> and a connector <NUM>. Generally, an antenna module <NUM> may include any suitable arrangement of connectors <NUM> on the IC package <NUM> and/or the antenna board <NUM> (as discussed above).

In some embodiments, an antenna module <NUM> may include multiple antenna boards <NUM>. For example, <FIG> illustrates an embodiment in which multiple antenna boards <NUM> are coupled to a single IC package <NUM>. <FIG> also illustrates a connector <NUM> on the bottom face of the IC package <NUM>, but embodiments in which multiple antenna boards <NUM> are coupled to a single IC package <NUM> may include no connectors <NUM> on the IC package <NUM>, or one or more connectors <NUM> on the IC package <NUM>.

In some embodiments, an antenna board <NUM> may include holes through which connectors <NUM> on a face of the IC package <NUM> may be exposed, and cables <NUM> may couple to these connectors. For example, <FIG> illustrates an embodiment in which an antenna board <NUM> has one or more holes <NUM> therein; connectors <NUM> coupled to the bottom face of the IC package <NUM> may extend into the holes <NUM> (e.g., to couple with cables <NUM> with mating connectors <NUM>). Although <FIG> illustrates an antenna module in which the antenna board <NUM> has a smaller footprint than the IC package <NUM>, any of the antenna boards <NUM> disclosed herein may include holes <NUM> through which connectors <NUM> coupled to the IC package <NUM> may extend (e.g., antenna boards <NUM> having footprints that are larger than an IC package <NUM>).

The antenna modules <NUM> disclosed herein may include, or be included in, any suitable electronic component. <FIG> illustrate various examples of apparatuses that may include, or be included in, any of the antenna modules <NUM> disclosed herein.

<FIG> is a top view of a wafer <NUM> and dies <NUM> that may be included in any of the antenna modules <NUM> disclosed herein. For example, a die <NUM> may be included in an IC package <NUM> (e.g., as a component <NUM>) or in an antenna unit <NUM>. The wafer <NUM> may be composed of semiconductor material and may include one or more dies <NUM> having IC structures formed on a surface of the wafer <NUM>. Each of the dies <NUM> may be a repeating unit of a semiconductor product that includes any suitable IC. After the fabrication of the semiconductor product is complete, the wafer <NUM> may undergo a singulation process in which the dies <NUM> are separated from one another to provide discrete "chips" of the semiconductor product. The die <NUM> may include one or more transistors (e.g., some of the transistors <NUM> of <FIG>, discussed below) and/or supporting circuitry to route electrical signals to the transistors, as well as any other IC components. In some embodiments, the wafer <NUM> or the die <NUM> may include a memory device (e.g., a random access memory (RAM) device, such as a static RAM (SRAM) device, a magnetic RAM (MRAM) device, a resistive RAM (RRAM) device, a conductive-bridging RAM (CBRAM) device, etc.), a logic device (e.g., an AND, OR, NAND, or NOR gate), or any other suitable circuit element. Multiple ones of these devices may be combined on a single die <NUM>. For example, a memory array formed by multiple memory devices may be formed on a same die <NUM> as a processing device (e.g., the processing device <NUM> of <FIG>) or other logic that is configured to store information in the memory devices or execute instructions stored in the memory array.

<FIG> is a side, cross-sectional view of an IC device <NUM> that may be included in any of the antenna modules <NUM> disclosed herein. For example, an IC device <NUM> may be included in an IC package <NUM> (e.g., as a component <NUM>). The IC device <NUM> may be formed on a substrate <NUM> (e.g., the wafer <NUM> of <FIG>) and may be included in a die (e.g., the die <NUM> of <FIG>). The substrate <NUM> may be a semiconductor substrate composed of semiconductor material systems including, for example, n-type or p-type materials systems (or a combination of both). The substrate <NUM> may include, for example, a crystalline substrate formed using a bulk silicon or a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substructure. In some embodiments, the substrate <NUM> may be formed using alternative materials, which may or may not be combined with silicon, that include but are not limited to germanium, indium antimonide, lead telluride, indium arsenide, indium phosphide, gallium arsenide, or gallium antimonide. Further materials classified as group II-VI, III-V, or IV may also be used to form the substrate <NUM>. Although a few examples of materials from which the substrate <NUM> may be formed are described here, any material that may serve as a foundation for an IC device <NUM> may be used. The substrate <NUM> may be part of a singulated die (e.g., the dies <NUM> of <FIG>) or a wafer (e.g., the wafer <NUM> of <FIG>).

The IC device <NUM> may include one or more device layers <NUM> disposed on the substrate <NUM>. The device layer <NUM> may include features of one or more transistors <NUM> (e.g., metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs)) formed on the substrate <NUM>. The device layer <NUM> may include, for example, one or more source and/or drain (S/D) regions <NUM>, a gate <NUM> to control current flow in the transistors <NUM> between the S/D regions <NUM>, and one or more S/D contacts <NUM> to route electrical signals to/from the S/D regions <NUM>. The transistors <NUM> may include additional features not depicted for the sake of clarity, such as device isolation regions, gate contacts, and the like. The transistors <NUM> are not limited to the type and configuration depicted in <FIG> and may include a wide variety of other types and configurations such as, for example, planar transistors, non-planar transistors, or a combination of both. Planar transistors may include bipolar junction transistors (BJT), heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBT), or high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMT). Non-planar transistors may include FinFET transistors, such as double-gate transistors or tri-gate transistors, and wrap-around or all-around gate transistors, such as nanoribbon and nanowire transistors.

Each transistor <NUM> may include a gate <NUM> formed of at least two layers, a gate dielectric and a gate electrode. The gate dielectric may include one layer or a stack of layers. The one or more layers may include silicon oxide, silicon dioxide, silicon carbide, and/or a high-k dielectric material. The high-k dielectric material may include elements such as hafnium, silicon, oxygen, titanium, tantalum, lanthanum, aluminum, zirconium, barium, strontium, yttrium, lead, scandium, niobium, and zinc. Examples of high-k materials that may be used in the gate dielectric include, but are not limited to, hafnium oxide, hafnium silicon oxide, lanthanum oxide, lanthanum aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, zirconium silicon oxide, tantalum oxide, titanium oxide, barium strontium titanium oxide, barium titanium oxide, strontium titanium oxide, yttrium oxide, aluminum oxide, lead scandium tantalum oxide, and lead zinc niobate. In some embodiments, an annealing process may be carried out on the gate dielectric to improve its quality when a high-k material is used.

The gate electrode may be formed on the gate dielectric and may include at least one p-type work function metal or n-type work function metal, depending on whether the transistor <NUM> is to be a p-type metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) or an n-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) transistor. In some implementations, the gate electrode may consist of a stack of two or more metal layers, where one or more metal layers are work function metal layers and at least one metal layer is a fill metal layer. Further metal layers may be included for other purposes, such as a barrier layer. For a PMOS transistor, metals that may be used for the gate electrode include, but are not limited to, ruthenium, palladium, platinum, cobalt, nickel, conductive metal oxides (e.g., ruthenium oxide), and any of the metals discussed below with reference to an NMOS transistor (e.g., for work function tuning). For an NMOS transistor, metals that may be used for the gate electrode include, but are not limited to, hafnium, zirconium, titanium, tantalum, aluminum, alloys of these metals, carbides of these metals (e.g., hafnium carbide, zirconium carbide, titanium carbide, tantalum carbide, and aluminum carbide), and any of the metals discussed above with reference to a PMOS transistor (e.g., for work function tuning).

In some embodiments, when viewed as a cross-section of the transistor <NUM> along the source-channel-drain direction, the gate electrode may consist of a U-shaped structure that includes a bottom portion substantially parallel to the surface of the substrate and two sidewall portions that are substantially perpendicular to the top surface of the substrate. In other embodiments, at least one of the metal layers that form the gate electrode may simply be a planar layer that is substantially parallel to the top surface of the substrate and does not include sidewall portions substantially perpendicular to the top surface of the substrate. In other embodiments, the gate electrode may consist of a combination of U-shaped structures and planar, non-U-shaped structures. For example, the gate electrode may consist of one or more U-shaped metal layers formed atop one or more planar, non-U-shaped layers.

In some embodiments, a pair of sidewall spacers may be formed on opposing sides of the gate stack to bracket the gate stack. The sidewall spacers may be formed from materials such as silicon nitride, silicon oxide, silicon carbide, silicon nitride doped with carbon, and silicon oxynitride. Processes for forming sidewall spacers are well known in the art and generally include deposition and etching process steps. In some embodiments, a plurality of spacer pairs may be used; for instance, two pairs, three pairs, or four pairs of sidewall spacers may be formed on opposing sides of the gate stack.

The S/D regions <NUM> may be formed within the substrate <NUM> adjacent to the gate <NUM> of each transistor <NUM>. The S/D regions <NUM> may be formed using an implantation/diffusion process or an etching/deposition process, for example. In the former process, dopants such as boron, aluminum, antimony, phosphorous, or arsenic may be ion-implanted into the substrate <NUM> to form the S/D regions <NUM>. An annealing process that activates the dopants and causes them to diffuse farther into the substrate <NUM> may follow the ion-implantation process. In the latter process, the substrate <NUM> may first be etched to form recesses at the locations of the S/D regions <NUM>. An epitaxial deposition process may then be carried out to fill the recesses with material that is used to fabricate the S/D regions <NUM>. In some implementations, the S/D regions <NUM> may be fabricated using a silicon alloy such as silicon germanium or silicon carbide. In some embodiments, the epitaxially deposited silicon alloy may be doped in situ with dopants such as boron, arsenic, or phosphorous. In some embodiments, the S/D regions <NUM> may be formed using one or more alternate semiconductor materials such as germanium or a group III-V material or alloy. In further embodiments, one or more layers of metal and/or metal alloys may be used to form the S/D regions <NUM>.

Electrical signals, such as power and/or input/output (I/O) signals, may be routed to and/or from the devices (e.g., the transistors <NUM>) of the device layer <NUM> through one or more interconnect layers disposed on the device layer <NUM> (illustrated in <FIG> as interconnect layers <NUM>-<NUM>). For example, electrically conductive features of the device layer <NUM> (e.g., the gate <NUM> and the S/D contacts <NUM>) may be electrically coupled with the interconnect structures <NUM> of the interconnect layers <NUM>-<NUM>. The one or more interconnect layers <NUM>-<NUM> may form a metallization stack (also referred to as an "ILD stack") <NUM> of the IC device <NUM>.

The interconnect structures <NUM> may be arranged within the interconnect layers <NUM>-<NUM> to route electrical signals according to a wide variety of designs (in particular, the arrangement is not limited to the particular configuration of interconnect structures <NUM> depicted in <FIG>). Although a particular number of interconnect layers <NUM>-<NUM> is depicted in <FIG>, embodiments of the present disclosure include IC devices having more or fewer interconnect layers than depicted.

In some embodiments, the interconnect structures <NUM> may include lines 1628a and/or vias 1628b filled with an electrically conductive material such as a metal. The lines 1628a may be arranged to route electrical signals in a direction of a plane that is substantially parallel with a surface of the substrate <NUM> upon which the device layer <NUM> is formed. For example, the lines 1628a may route electrical signals in a direction in and out of the page from the perspective of <FIG>. The vias 1628b may be arranged to route electrical signals in a direction of a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the substrate <NUM> upon which the device layer <NUM> is formed. In some embodiments, the vias 1628b may electrically couple lines 1628a of different interconnect layers <NUM>-<NUM> together.

The interconnect layers <NUM>-<NUM> may include a dielectric material <NUM> disposed between the interconnect structures <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. In some embodiments, the dielectric material <NUM> disposed between the interconnect structures <NUM> in different ones of the interconnect layers <NUM>-<NUM> may have different compositions; in other embodiments, the composition of the dielectric material <NUM> between different interconnect layers <NUM>-<NUM> may be the same.

A first interconnect layer <NUM> may be formed above the device layer <NUM>. In some embodiments, the first interconnect layer <NUM> may include lines 1628a and/or vias 1628b, as shown. The lines 1628a of the first interconnect layer <NUM> may be coupled with contacts (e.g., the S/D contacts <NUM>) of the device layer <NUM>.

A second interconnect layer <NUM> may be formed above the first interconnect layer <NUM>. In some embodiments, the second interconnect layer <NUM> may include vias 1628b to couple the lines 1628a of the second interconnect layer <NUM> with the lines 1628a of the first interconnect layer <NUM>. Although the lines 1628a and the vias 1628b are structurally delineated with a line within each interconnect layer (e.g., within the second interconnect layer <NUM>) for the sake of clarity, the lines 1628a and the vias 1628b may be structurally and/or materially contiguous (e.g., simultaneously filled during a dual-damascene process) in some embodiments.

A third interconnect layer <NUM> (and additional interconnect layers, as desired) may be formed in succession on the second interconnect layer <NUM> according to similar techniques and configurations described in connection with the second interconnect layer <NUM> or the first interconnect layer <NUM>. In some embodiments, the interconnect layers that are "higher up" in the metallization stack <NUM> in the IC device <NUM> (i.e., farther away from the device layer <NUM>) may be thicker.

The IC device <NUM> may include a solder resist material <NUM> (e.g., polyimide or similar material) and one or more conductive contacts <NUM> formed on the interconnect layers <NUM>-<NUM>. In <FIG>, the conductive contacts <NUM> are illustrated as taking the form of bond pads. The conductive contacts <NUM> may be electrically coupled with the interconnect structures <NUM> and configured to route the electrical signals of the transistor(s) <NUM> to other external devices. For example, solder bonds may be formed on the one or more conductive contacts <NUM> to mechanically and/or electrically couple a chip including the IC device <NUM> with another component (e.g., a circuit board). The IC device <NUM> may include additional or alternate structures to route the electrical signals from the interconnect layers <NUM>-<NUM>; for example, the conductive contacts <NUM> may include other analogous features (e.g., posts) that route the electrical signals to external components.

<FIG> is a side, cross-sectional view of an IC device assembly <NUM> that may include one or more of the antenna modules <NUM> disclosed herein. In particular, any suitable ones of the antenna modules <NUM> disclosed herein may take the place of any of the components of the IC device assembly <NUM> (e.g., an antenna module <NUM> may take the place of any of the IC packages of the IC device assembly <NUM>).

The IC device assembly <NUM> includes a number of components disposed on a circuit board <NUM> (which may be, e.g., a motherboard). The IC device assembly <NUM> includes components disposed on a first face <NUM> of the circuit board <NUM> and an opposing second face <NUM> of the circuit board <NUM>; generally, components may be disposed on one or both faces <NUM> and <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the circuit board <NUM> may be a PCB including multiple metal layers separated from one another by layers of dielectric material and interconnected by electrically conductive vias. Any one or more of the metal layers may be formed in a desired circuit pattern to route electrical signals (optionally in conjunction with other metal layers) between the components coupled to the circuit board <NUM>. In other embodiments, the circuit board <NUM> may be a non-PCB substrate.

The IC device assembly <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> includes a package-on-interposer structure <NUM> coupled to the first face <NUM> of the circuit board <NUM> by coupling components <NUM>. The coupling components <NUM> may electrically and mechanically couple the package-on-interposer structure <NUM> to the circuit board <NUM>, and may include solder balls (as shown in <FIG>), male and female portions of a socket, an adhesive, an underfill material, and/or any other suitable electrical and/or mechanical coupling structure.

The package-on-interposer structure <NUM> may include an IC package <NUM> coupled to an interposer <NUM> by coupling components <NUM>. The coupling components <NUM> may take any suitable form for the application, such as the forms discussed above with reference to the coupling components <NUM>. Although a single IC package <NUM> is shown in <FIG>, multiple IC packages may be coupled to the interposer <NUM>; indeed, additional interposers may be coupled to the interposer <NUM>. The interposer <NUM> may provide an intervening substrate used to bridge the circuit board <NUM> and the IC package <NUM>. The IC package <NUM> may be or include, for example, a die (the die <NUM> of <FIG>), an IC device (e.g., the IC device <NUM> of <FIG>), or any other suitable component. Generally, the interposer <NUM> may spread a connection to a wider pitch or reroute a connection to a different connection. For example, the interposer <NUM> may couple the IC package <NUM> (e.g., a die) to a set of ball grid array (BGA) conductive contacts of the coupling components <NUM> for coupling to the circuit board <NUM>. In the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the IC package <NUM> and the circuit board <NUM> are attached to opposing sides of the interposer <NUM>; in other embodiments, the IC package <NUM> and the circuit board <NUM> may be attached to a same side of the interposer <NUM>. In some embodiments, three or more components may be interconnected by way of the interposer <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the interposer <NUM> may be formed as a PCB, including multiple metal layers separated from one another by layers of dielectric material and interconnected by electrically conductive vias. In some embodiments, the interposer <NUM> may be formed of an epoxy resin, a fiberglass-reinforced epoxy resin, an epoxy resin with inorganic fillers, a ceramic material, or a polymer material such as polyimide. In some embodiments, the interposer <NUM> may be formed of alternate rigid or flexible materials that may include the same materials described above for use in a semiconductor substrate, such as silicon, germanium, and other group III-V and group IV materials. The interposer <NUM> may include metal interconnects <NUM> and vias <NUM>, including but not limited to through-silicon vias (TSVs) <NUM>. The interposer <NUM> may further include embedded devices <NUM>, including both passive and active devices. Such devices may include, but are not limited to, capacitors, decoupling capacitors, resistors, inductors, fuses, diodes, transformers, sensors, electrostatic discharge (ESD) devices, and memory devices. More complex devices such as RF devices, power amplifiers, power management devices, antennas, arrays, sensors, and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices may also be formed on the interposer <NUM>. The package-on-interposer structure <NUM> may take the form of any of the package-on-interposer structures known in the art.

The IC device assembly <NUM> may include an IC package <NUM> coupled to the first face <NUM> of the circuit board <NUM> by coupling components <NUM>. The coupling components <NUM> may take the form of any of the embodiments discussed above with reference to the coupling components <NUM>, and the IC package <NUM> may take the form of any of the embodiments discussed above with reference to the IC package <NUM>.

The IC device assembly <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> includes a package-on-package structure <NUM> coupled to the second face <NUM> of the circuit board <NUM> by coupling components <NUM>. The package-on-package structure <NUM> may include an IC package <NUM> and an IC package <NUM> coupled together by coupling components <NUM> such that the IC package <NUM> is disposed between the circuit board <NUM> and the IC package <NUM>. The coupling components <NUM> and <NUM> may take the form of any of the embodiments of the coupling components <NUM> discussed above, and the IC packages <NUM> and <NUM> may take the form of any of the embodiments of the IC package <NUM> discussed above. The package-on-package structure <NUM> may be configured in accordance with any of the package-on-package structures known in the art.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an example communication device <NUM> that may include one or more antenna modules <NUM>, in accordance with any of the embodiments disclosed herein. The communication device <NUM> (<FIG>), the handheld communication device <NUM> (<FIG>), and the laptop communication device <NUM> (<FIG>) may be examples of the communication device <NUM>. Any suitable ones of the components of the communication device <NUM> may include one or more of the IC packages <NUM>, IC devices <NUM>, or dies <NUM> disclosed herein. A number of components are illustrated in <FIG> as included in the communication device <NUM>, but any one or more of these components may be omitted or duplicated, as suitable for the application. In some embodiments, some or all of the components included in the communication device <NUM> may be attached to one or more motherboards. In some embodiments, some or all of these components are fabricated onto a single system-on-a-chip (SoC) die.

Additionally, in various embodiments, the communication device <NUM> may not include one or more of the components illustrated in <FIG>, but the communication device <NUM> may include interface circuitry for coupling to the one or more components. For example, the communication device <NUM> may not include a display device <NUM>, but may include display device interface circuitry (e.g., a connector and driver circuitry) to which a display device <NUM> may be coupled. In another set of examples, the communication device <NUM> may not include an audio input device <NUM> or an audio output device <NUM>, but may include audio input or output device interface circuitry (e.g., connectors and supporting circuitry) to which an audio input device <NUM> or audio output device <NUM> may be coupled.

The communication device <NUM> may include a processing device <NUM> (e.g., one or more processing devices). As used herein, the term "processing device" or "processor" may refer to any device or portion of a device that processes electronic data from registers and/or memory to transform that electronic data into other electronic data that may be stored in registers and/or memory. The processing device <NUM> may include one or more digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), central processing units (CPUs), graphics processing units (GPUs), cryptoprocessors (specialized processors that execute cryptographic algorithms within hardware), server processors, or any other suitable processing devices. The communication device <NUM> may include a memory <NUM>, which may itself include one or more memory devices such as volatile memory (e.g., dynamic random access memory (DRAM)), nonvolatile memory (e.g., read-only memory (ROM)), flash memory, solid state memory, and/or a hard drive. In some embodiments, the memory <NUM> may include memory that shares a die with the processing device <NUM>. This memory may be used as cache memory and may include embedded dynamic random access memory (eDRAM) or spin transfer torque magnetic random access memory (STT-MRAM).

In some embodiments, the communication device <NUM> may include a communication module <NUM> (e.g., one or more communication modules). For example, the communication module <NUM> may be configured for managing wireless communications for the transfer of data to and from the communication device <NUM>. The term "wireless" and its derivatives may be used to describe circuits, devices, systems, methods, techniques, communications channels, etc., that may communicate data through the use of modulated electromagnetic radiation through a nonsolid medium. The communication module <NUM> may be, or may include, any of the antenna modules <NUM> disclosed herein.

The communication module <NUM> may implement any of a number of wireless standards or protocols, including but not limited to Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) standards including Wi-Fi (IEEE <NUM> family), IEEE <NUM> standards (e.g., IEEE <NUM>-<NUM> Amendment), Long-Term Evolution (LTE) project along with any amendments, updates, and/or revisions (e.g., advanced LTE project, ultra mobile broadband (UMB) project (also referred to as "3GPP2"), etc.). IEEE <NUM> compatible Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) networks are generally referred to as WiMAX networks, an acronym that stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, which is a certification mark for products that pass conformity and interoperability tests for the IEEE <NUM> standards. The communication module <NUM> may operate in accordance with a Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Evolved HSPA (E-HSPA), or LTE network. The communication module <NUM> may operate in accordance with Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE), GSM EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN), Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), or Evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN). The communication module <NUM> may operate in accordance with Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO), and derivatives thereof, as well as any other wireless protocols that are designated as <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and beyond. The communication module <NUM> may operate in accordance with other wireless protocols in other embodiments. The communication device <NUM> may include an antenna <NUM> to facilitate wireless communications and/or to receive other wireless communications (such as AM or FM radio transmissions).

In some embodiments, the communication module <NUM> may manage wired communications, such as electrical, optical, or any other suitable communication protocols (e.g., the Ethernet). As noted above, the communication module <NUM> may include multiple communication modules. For instance, a first communication module <NUM> may be dedicated to shorter-range wireless communications such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and a second communication module <NUM> may be dedicated to longer-range wireless communications such as global positioning system (GPS), EDGE, GPRS, CDMA, WiMAX, LTE, EV-DO, or others. In some embodiments, a first communication module <NUM> may be dedicated to wireless communications, and a second communication module <NUM> may be dedicated to wired communications. In some embodiments, the communication module <NUM> may include an antenna module <NUM> that supports millimeter wave communication.

The communication device <NUM> may include battery/power circuitry <NUM>. The battery/power circuitry <NUM> may include one or more energy storage devices (e.g., batteries or capacitors) and/or circuitry for coupling components of the communication device <NUM> to an energy source separate from the communication device <NUM> (e.g., AC line power).

The communication device <NUM> may include a display device <NUM> (or corresponding interface circuitry, as discussed above). The display device <NUM> may include any visual indicators, such as a heads-up display, a computer monitor, a projector, a touchscreen display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light-emitting diode display, or a flat panel display.

The communication device <NUM> may include an audio output device <NUM> (or corresponding interface circuitry, as discussed above). The audio output device <NUM> may include any device that generates an audible indicator, such as speakers, headsets, or earbuds.

The communication device <NUM> may include an audio input device <NUM> (or corresponding interface circuitry, as discussed above). The audio input device <NUM> may include any device that generates a signal representative of a sound, such as microphones, microphone arrays, or digital instruments (e.g., instruments having a musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) output).

The communication device <NUM> may include a GPS device <NUM> (or corresponding interface circuitry, as discussed above). The GPS device <NUM> may be in communication with a satellite-based system and may receive a location of the communication device <NUM>, as known in the art.

The communication device <NUM> may include an other output device <NUM> (or corresponding interface circuitry, as discussed above). Examples of the other output device <NUM> may include an audio codec, a video codec, a printer, a wired or wireless transmitter for providing information to other devices, or an additional storage device.

The communication device <NUM> may include an other input device <NUM> (or corresponding interface circuitry, as discussed above). Examples of the other input device <NUM> may include an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a compass, an image capture device, a keyboard, a cursor control device such as a mouse, a stylus, a touchpad, a bar code reader, a Quick Response (QR) code reader, any sensor, or a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader.

Claim 1:
An antenna module (<NUM>), including:
an integrated circuit, IC, package (<NUM>), wherein the IC package (<NUM>) includes a die and a package substrate (<NUM>), the package substrate (<NUM>) includes a first face and an opposing second face, the die is coupled to the first face of the package substrate (<NUM>), and the second face of the package substrate (<NUM>) has a recess (<NUM>) therein, and
a first antenna patch and a second antenna patch coupled to the IC package (<NUM>), wherein the first antenna patch is over or at least partially in the recess (<NUM>), the second antenna patch is between the first antenna patch and the package substrate (<NUM>), and a first air cavity (<NUM>-<NUM>) is present between the second antenna patch and a bottom surface of the recess (<NUM>) and a second air cavity (<NUM>-<NUM>) is present between the first antenna patch and the second antenna patch.