Patent ID: 12230896

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. Additionally, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features. The description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein.

Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented.

The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term “comprising” means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in a so-described combination, group, series, and the like.

FIGS.1to3illustrate an antenna structure100in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The antenna structure100can be applied to an electronic device200. The electronic communication device200can transmit and receive radio waves to transmit and exchange radio signals. The electronic device200may be, but not limited to, a handheld communication device (such as a mobile phone), a foldable phone, an intelligent wearable device (such as a watch, headphones), a tablet computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA).

As shown inFIG.1, the antenna structure100can be applied to the electronic device200, and the electronic device200is a mobile phone. As shown inFIG.2, the antenna structure100can be applied to the electronic device200, and the electronic device200is a watch. As shown inFIG.3, the antenna structure100can be applied to the electronic device200, and the electronic device200is a tablet computer. As shown inFIGS.1to3, the antenna structure100is formed by a metal frame of the electronic device200, and the antenna structure100can be arranged in the area200ashown in the figures. The area200ais a position or area of gap200bwithin the electronic device200.

The electronic device200may adopt one or more of the following communication technologies: Bluetooth (BT) communication technology, global positioning system (GPS) communication technology, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) communication technology, global system for mobile communications (GSM) communication technology, wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) communication technology, long term evolution (LTE) communication technology, 5G communication technology, SUB-6G communication technology and other communication technologies in the future.

The embodiment of the present disclosure takes the electronic device200as a mobile phone as an example.

Referring toFIGS.4to6,FIG.4is a schematic side view of the electronic device200,FIG.5is a schematic diagram of the electronic device200at another angle,FIG.6is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electronic device200. The electronic device200includes a housing11(shown inFIG.6) and a display unit202. The housing11includes at least a frame110, a backplane111, a ground plane112, and a middle frame113(shown inFIG.5).

The frame110is made of metal or other conductive materials. The backplane111may be made of metal or other conductive materials. The frame110is disposed on the edge of the backplane111and forms a receiving space114(shown inFIG.5andFIG.6) together with the backplane111. One side of the frame110opposite to the backplane111defines an opening (not shown in the figure) for receiving the display unit202. The display unit202includes a display plane, and the display plane is exposed to the opening. The display unit202can be combined with a touch sensor to form a touch screen, or touch panel or touch sensitive panel.

In the embodiment, the display unit202has a high screen-to-body proportion. The area of the display plane of the display unit202is greater than 70% of the front area of the electronic device, and even a front full screen can be achieved. In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the full screen means that the left, right and lower sides of the display unit202can be seamlessly connected to the frame110except for the necessary slots defined on the antenna structure100.

The ground plane112may be made of metal or other conductive material. The ground plane112can be disposed in the receiving space114surrounded by the frame110and the backplane111, and the ground plane112is connected to the backplane111.

The middle frame113is made of metal or other conductive materials. The shape and size of the middle frame113may be smaller than those of the ground plane112. The middle frame113is superimposed on the ground plane112. In the embodiment, the middle frame113is a metal sheet disposed between the display unit202and the ground plane112. The middle frame113is used to support the display unit202, provide electromagnetic shielding, and improve the structural strength of the electronic device200.

In the embodiment, the frame110, the backplane111, the ground plane112, and the middle frame113form an integrated metal frame. The backplane111, the ground plane112, and the middle frame113are large areas of metal, and the backplane111, the ground plane112, and the middle frame113jointly form the system ground plane (not shown in the figure) of the electronic device200.

In other embodiment, the electronic device200may also include components, such as a processor, a circuit board, a memory, an input/output circuit, an audio component (such as a microphone, a speaker, etc.), a multimedia component (such as a front camera and/or a rear camera), and sensor components (such as proximity sensor, distance sensor, ambient light sensor, acceleration sensor, gyroscope, magnetic sensor, pressure sensor and/or temperature sensor, etc.).

Referring toFIG.5, the antenna structure100includes at least one radiation portion F1, a first feed source12, a second feed source13, a third feed source14, a first grounding portion15, and a second grounding portion16.

The radiation portion F1is made of metal material. In the embodiment, the radiation portion F1is a partial portion of the frame110of the electronic device200. The frame defines a slot118(shown inFIG.4). The slot118is integrally arranged on the side of the frame110close to the backplane111and extends in the direction towards the display unit202. In the embodiment, the slot118is filled with insulating materials, such as plastic, rubber, glass, wood, ceramics, etc., not limited to these. Therefore, the frame110is divided into a metal portion110aand an insulating portion110bby the setting of the slot118.

The frame110further defines at least one gap.

In the embodiment, the frame110defines at least two gaps, such as the first gap120and the second gap121. The first gap120and the second gap121are spaced apart and defined on the metal portion110aof the frame110, both the first gap120and the second gap121are connected to the slot118and cut off the metal portion110a. Therefore, the division created by the first gap120and the second gap121form at least one radiation portion (such as the radiation portion F1) from the metal portion110aof the frame110. In the embodiment, the frame110(i.e., the metal portion110a) between the first gap120and the second gap121forms the radiation portion F1.

In the embodiment, the first gap120and the second gap121are also filled with insulating materials, such as plastic, rubber, glass, wood, ceramics, etc., not limited thereto.

In the embodiment, the width of the first gap120and the second gap121can be set to 1 mm-2 mm.

In the embodiment, the first feed source12is arranged on the inner side of the radiation portion F1. One end of the first feed source12can be electrically connected to the side of the radiation portion F1close to the first gap120to feed a current and signal to the radiation portion F1.

The second feed source13is arranged on the inner side of the radiation portion F1and is arranged at intervals from the first feed source12. One end of the second feed source13can be electrically connected to the side of the radiation portion F1close to the second gap121by a spring sheet, a microstrip line, a strip line, a coaxial cable, etc., so as to feed a current and signal to the radiation portion F1.

The third feed source14is arranged on the inner side of the radiation portion F1and is spaced from the first feed source12and the second feed source. The third feed source14is arranged between the first feed source12and the second feed source13. In the embodiment, the first feed source12and the second feed source13are respectively arranged near the end of the radiation portion F1, the third feed source14is arranged between the first feed source12and the second feed source13, and the third feed source14is closer to the first feed source12than the second feed source13. One end of the third feed source14can be electrically connected to the side of the radiation portion F1by a spring sheet, a microstrip line, a strip line, a coaxial cable, etc., so as to feed a current and signal to the radiation portion F1.

In the embodiment, the first feed source12, the second feed source13and the third feed source14share the radiation portion F1. The three feed sources are spaced from each other and electrically connected to the radiation portion F1to feed their current signals to the radiation portion F1. The first feed source12, the second feed source13, and the third feed source14are monopole antenna feed sources, so that the antenna structure100forms a plurality of monopole antennas.

The first grounding portion15is arranged on the inner side of the radiation portion F1. The first grounding portion15is arranged between the first feed source12and the third feed source14. One end of the first grounding portion15can be electrically connected to the side of the ground plane112by a spring sheet, a microstrip line, a strip line, a coaxial cable, etc., other end of the first grounding portion15can be electrically connected to the radiation portion F1to provide grounding for the radiation portion F1.

The second grounding portion16is arranged on the inner side of the radiation portion F1. The second grounding portion16is arranged between the second feed source13and the third feed source14, and the second grounding portion16is closer to the second feed source13than the third feed source14. One end of the second grounding portion16can be electrically connected to the side of the ground plane112by a spring sheet, a microstrip line, a strip line, a coaxial cable, etc., other end of the second grounding portion16can be electrically connected to the radiation portion F1to provide grounding for the radiation portion F1.

FIG.7shows current paths of the antenna structure100.

When the current is fed from the first feed source12, the current will be fed into the radiation portion F1through a first matching circuit (not shown in the figure), and the current will flow to the first gap120(path P1), so as to excite a first working mode to generate a radiation signal of the first radiation frequency band.

When the current is fed from the first feed source12, the current will be fed into the radiation portion F1through the first matching circuit and the current will flow into the first grounding portion15(path P2), so as to excite a second working mode to generate a radiation signal of the second radiation frequency band.

When the current is fed from the second feed source13, the current will be fed into the radiation portion F1through a second matching circuit (not shown in the figure), and the current will flow to the second gap121(path P3), so as to excite a third working mode to generate a radiation signal of the third radiation frequency band.

When the current is fed from the second feed source13, the current will be fed into the radiation portion F1through the second matching circuit, and the current will flow into the second grounding portion16(path P4), so as to excite a fourth working mode to generate a radiation signal of the fourth radiation frequency band.

When the current is fed from the third feed source14, the current will be fed into the radiation portion F1through a third matching circuit (not shown in the figure), and the current will flow from the first grounding portion15to the second grounding portion16(path P5), so as to excite a fifth working mode to generate the radiation signal of the fifth radiation radio frequency band.

In the embodiment, the first radiation frequency band and the third radiation frequency band are in the radiation frequency band of Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz. The frequencies of the first radiation frequency band and the third radiation frequency band are 2400-2484 MHz. The second radiation frequency band and the fourth radiation frequency band are in the radiation frequency band of Wi-Fi 5 GHz. The frequencies of the second radiation frequency band and the fourth radiation frequency band are 5150-5850 MHz. The fifth radiation frequency band is in the radiation frequency band of global positioning system (GPS). The frequency of the fifth radiation band is 1575 MHz. That is, the paths P1and P3are the current paths for Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz mode. The paths P2and P4are current paths for Wi-Fi 5 GHz mode. The path P5is the current path for GPS mode.

FIG.8is a graph of S parameters (scattering parameters) of the antenna structure100.FIG.9is a graph of the overall efficiency of the antenna structure100.

In the embodiment, the radiation portion F1forms a multiple-feed antenna structure, such as being a 3-feed common antenna structure, the three feed sources (such as the first feed source12, the second feed source13and the third feed source14) being arranged at intervals on one side of the radiation portion F1, allowing the radiation portion F1to form a plurality of monopole antennas (such as GPS antenna, Wi-Fi 2.4G antenna and Wi-Fi 5G antenna), thereby the corresponding GPS frequency band, Wi-Fi 2.4G frequency band and Wi-Fi 5G frequency band are generated. In the embodiment, the radiation portion F1can form a dual Wi-Fi 2.4G antenna and a dual Wi-Fi 5G antenna. In addition, the embodiment of the present disclosure can set the first grounding portion15and the second grounding portion16at the appropriate positions of the radiation portion F1, so that multiple antennas can be fed into the same radiator (i.e. the radiation portion F1) at the same time, and better antenna performance and better isolation effect can be obtained.

In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the first working mode and the fifth working mode may be effectively adjusted by adjusting the positions of the first grounding portion15and the second grounding portion16.

For example, when the position of the first grounding portion15is adjusted so that the first grounding portion15is closer to the first feed source12compared to the third feed source14, the fifth working mode (such as GPS mode) is farther away from the first working mode (such as Wi-Fi 2.4G mode) and the second working mode (such as Wi-Fi 5G mode). When the first grounding portion15is arranged to be closer to the third feed source14compared to the first feed source12, the fifth working mode (such as GPS mode) becomes closer to the first working mode (such as Wi-Fi 2.4G mode) and the second working mode (such as Wi-Fi 5G mode).

When the position of the second grounding portion16is adjusted so that the second grounding portion16is closer to the second feed source13compared to the third feed source14, the fifth working mode (such as GPS mode) is farther away from the third working mode (such as Wi-Fi 2.4G mode) and the fourth working mode (such as Wi-Fi 5G mode). When the second grounding portion16is arranged to be closer to the third feed source14compared to the second feed source13, the fifth working mode (such as GPS mode) is closer to the third working mode (such as Wi-Fi 2.4G mode) and the fourth working mode (such as Wi-Fi 5G mode).

Referring toFIG.10andFIG.11, in the embodiment, the antenna structure100further includes a first filter unit17and a second filter unit18. The first filter unit17is a high pass filter (HPF). The second filter unit18is a low pass filter (LPF). The first end of the first filter unit17is electrically connected to the first feed source12and/or the second feed source13, and the second end of the first filter unit17is electrically connected to the radiation portion F1. The first end of the second filter unit18is electrically connected to the third feed source14, and the second end of the second filter unit18is electrically connected to the radiation portion F1. Therefore, the Wi-Fi 2.4G antenna and Wi-Fi 5G antenna radiate through the high pass filter and the radiation portion F1. The GPS antenna can radiate through the low pass filter and the radiation portion F1. The first feed source12, the second feed source13, and the third feed source14radiate through the corresponding filter unit and then through the radiation portion F1, so as to effectively improve the bandwidth and antenna efficiency of GPS, Wi-Fi 2.4G and Wi-Fi 5G.

In the embodiment, the antenna structure100greatly improves the bandwidth and antenna efficiency of GPS, Wi-Fi 2.4G and Wi-Fi 5G through the setting of the first filter unit17and the second filter unit18, and covers the application of GPS and Wi-Fi bands. The antenna structure100can obtain better performance, isolate the antenna structure100more effectively, and greatly improve bandwidth and efficiency.

Referring toFIG.5, in the embodiment, the metal portion110aof the frame110on both sides of the radiation portion F1can also be an antenna radiator or simply a metal frame. For example, when the metal portions110aon each side of the radiation portion F1are also provided with feeds, they can be used as radiators to work in a frequency band correspondingly.

In the embodiment, the metal portion110aof the frame110on both sides of the radiation portion F1may or may not exist depending on the required frequency bands. For example, in one embodiment, the antenna structure100without the first gap120and the second gap121, means that the radiation portion F1is composed of a metal portion110ain the complete frame110. When the antenna structure100needs to work in other frequency bands, the metal portions110aof the frame110on either side of the radiation portion F1can be used and feed sources can be arranged so that the metal portions110aon either side of the radiation portion F1serve as radiation portions.

Referring toFIG.5, in the embodiment, the metal portions110aof the frame110on either side of the radiation portion F1can also be electrically connected to the ground plane112(the metal portions110aare grounded) or left ungrounded. When the metal portions110aof the frame110on both sides of the radiation portion F1are grounded through a grounding portion (such as grounding portions19,20), the position of the grounding portion can be adjusted based on the required frequency.

In the embodiment, the shape, length, and width of the radiation portion F1in the antenna structure100can be adjusted based on the required frequencies. The arrangement of gaps, feed sources, and grounding portions in the antenna structure100can also be adjusted based on the required frequency. The antenna structure100is not limited to work in the GPS, Wi-Fi 2.4G and Wi-Fi 5G radiation frequency bands described above. It can also form a diversity antenna, ultra-intermediate frequency (1447.9-1510.9 MHz) antenna, ultra-high frequency (3400-3800 MHz) antenna, and N77, N78 and N79 antenna according to the demand, and work in corresponding radiation frequency band.

The antenna structure100forms a three-feed common antenna structure, and by setting the first grounding portion15and the second grounding portion16, the antenna structure100has good performance, better isolation of the antenna structure100, improved bandwidth, and optimal antenna efficiency. The antenna structure100improves isolation of the antenna structure100and greatly improves its bandwidth and antenna efficiency by applying the first filter unit17and the second filter unit18.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure, up to and including the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims. It will, therefore, be appreciated that the exemplary embodiments described above may be modified within the scope of the claims.