Patent ID: 12212060

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure is more particularly described in the following examples that are intended as illustrative only since numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Like numbers in the drawings indicate like components throughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, the meaning of “a”, “an”, and “the” includes plural reference, and the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on”. Titles or subtitles can be used herein for the convenience of a reader, which shall have no influence on the scope of the present disclosure.

The terms used herein generally have their ordinary meanings in the art. In the case of conflict, the present document, including any definitions given herein, will prevail. The same thing can be expressed in more than one way. Alternative language and synonyms can be used for any term(s) discussed herein, and no special significance is to be placed upon whether a term is elaborated or discussed herein. A recital of one or more synonyms does not exclude the use of other synonyms. The use of examples anywhere in this specification including examples of any terms is illustrative only, and in no way limits the scope and meaning of the present disclosure or of any exemplified term. Likewise, the present disclosure is not limited to various embodiments given herein. Numbering terms such as “first”, “second” or “third” can be used to describe various components, signals or the like, which are for distinguishing one component/signal from another one only, and are not intended to, nor should be construed to impose any substantive limitations on the components, signals or the like.

In addition, the term “or”, as used herein, should include any one or a combination of the associated enlisted items, as the case may be. The term “connect” in the context of the present disclosure means there is a physical connection between two elements and is directly or indirectly connected. The term “couple” in the context of the present disclosure means there is no physical connection between two separated elements, and the two elements are instead connected by their electric field energy where the electric field energy generated by the current of one element excites the electric field energy of the other element.

First Embodiment

Referring toFIG.1, the present disclosure provides an electronic device D, and the electronic device is, for example but not limited to, a notebook computer. The electronic device D includes a metal housing M and an antenna module A, and the antenna module A is arranged in the metal housing M. The metal housing M is provided with a slot S, and the slot S is located at a side bezel of the electronic device D as shown inFIG.1. More specifically, the metal housing M has a first side M1, a second side M2, and a third side M3, and the slot S is provided on the second side M2.

Referring toFIG.2andFIG.3, which are enlarged views of the slot S part inFIG.1to show the relative positioning of the slot S and the antenna module A in a first embodiment, the slot S has an inverted T-shape, which includes an open end S0, a first closed end S1, and a second closed end S2. The open end S0is located between the first closed end S1and the second closed end S2and faces toward a top cover of the electronic device D. In other words, the open end S0faces the first side M1as shown inFIG.1. There is a set distance H between the first closed end S1and the second closed end S2. The metal housing M includes a first upper edge portion E1, and the first upper edge portion E1is a part of the second side M2of the metal housing M. The specific location of the first upper edge portion E1is at the upper edge of where the slot is opened/provided in the metal housing M. More specifically, the first upper edge portion E1is located between the open end S0and the first closed end S1.

The antenna module A includes a carrier board1, a feeding element2, a radiating element3, and a first parasitic radiating element4. The carrier board1is arranged in the metal housing M. The radiating element3is arranged on the carrier board1, and a vertical projection of the radiating element3on the metal housing M at least partially overlaps the slot S. The first parasitic radiating element4is arranged on the carrier board1. The radiating element3includes a feeding portion30, and the feeding portion30is connected to the feeding element2. The radiating element3is therefore fed with a signal through the feeding element2to generate a resonant mode, and the radiating element is further coupled to the slot S to excite another resonant mode. The carrier board1in this embodiment, as shown inFIG.2, is a cuboid, but the present disclosure is not limited thereby. The radiating element3is arranged on the side surface of the carrier board1, and the first parasitic radiating element4is arranged on the top surface of the carrier board1. The side surface of the carrier board1faces the slot S. For example, the carrier board1is an FR4 substrate, the feeding element2is a coaxial cable, and the radiating element3and the first parasitic radiating element4can be a metal sheet, a micro strip, a metal wire, or other electrical conductive member, but the present disclosure is not limited thereby.

Referring toFIG.1andFIG.3, the first side M1has a non-metallic region, and a vertical projection of the first parasitic radiating element4on the first side M1completely overlaps the non-metallic region. The slot S is provided on the second side M2, and the third side M3has a metallic region. A vertical projection of the non-metallic region on the third side M3completely overlaps the metallic region. Thus, the antenna module A of the present disclosure can be located in a non-clearance region, and as such the antenna module A of the present disclosure is more flexible to the requirements of surrounding environment such as housing of the electronic device D, so that there are more options when designing the appearance of the electronic device D.

Referring toFIG.2andFIG.3, the radiating element3further includes a first radiating portion31and a second radiating portion32. The feeding portion30is connected between the first radiating portion31and the second radiating portion32. The first radiating portion31extends in a first direction relative to the feeding portion30, and the second radiating portion32extends in a second direction relative to the feeding portion30. The first direction and the second direction are opposite each other, which makes the radiating element3into a T-shape.

Moreover, the radiating element3is fed with a signal through the feeding element2to generate a first resonant mode P1and a second resonant mode P2. The resonant path of the first resonant mode P1is formed by the feeding portion30and the first radiating portion31, and the resonant path of the second resonant mode P2is formed by the feeding portion30and the second radiating portion32. The first resonant mode P1and the second resonant mode P2cover an operating frequency band that ranges from 3300 MHz to 5925 MHz. In addition, the center frequency of the first resonant mode P1is 5500 MHz, and the length of the resonant path of the first resonant mode P1is equal to a quarter of the wavelength of the center frequency (5500 MHz) of the operating frequency band covered by the first resonant mode P1. The center frequency of the second resonant mode P2is 4000 MHz, and the length of the resonant path of the second resonant mode P2is equal to a quarter of the wavelength of the center frequency (4000 MHz) of the operating frequency band covered by the second resonant mode P2.

Furthermore, there is a gap G between the radiating element3and the first upper edge portion E1. The gap G is the shortest distance between the radiating element3and the inner surface of the metal housing M, and the width of the gap is preferably between 0.5 mm and 2 mm. The radiating element3excites the slot S through the gap G so as to form an open slot antenna structure with the slot S. In particular, the radiating element3is coupled to the slot S to excite a third resonant mode P3and a fourth resonant mode P4. The resonant path of the third resonant mode P3is formed in the slot S along the region between the open end S0and the first closed end S1. The resonant path of the fourth resonant mode P4is formed in the slot S along the region between the open end S0and the second closed end S2. In other words, the resonant path of the third resonant mode P3is the resonant path between the open end S0and the first closed end S1, and the resonant path of the fourth resonant mode P4is the resonant path between the open end S0and the second closed end S2. The third resonant mode P3and the fourth resonant mode P4cover an operating frequency band with a frequency range between 1805 MHz and 2690 MHz. The operating frequency band of the fourth resonant mode P4is higher than the operating frequency band of the third resonant mode P3, and thus the length of the resonant path of the third resonant mode P3is greater than the length of the resonant path of the fourth resonant mode P4. Furthermore, the lowest frequency of the third resonant mode P3is 1805 MHz, and the length of the resonant path of the third resonant mode P3is equal to one quarter of the wavelength of the lowest frequency (1805 MHz) in the operating frequency band covered by the third resonant mode P3. The lowest frequency of the fourth resonant mode P4is 2600 MHz, and the length of the resonant path of the fourth resonant mode P4is equal to one quarter of the wavelength of the lowest frequency (2600 MHz) in the operating frequency band covered by the fourth resonant mode P4. Additionally, the set distance H between the first closed end S1and the second closed end S2is less than one quarter of the wavelength of the lowest frequency covered by the third resonant mode P3.

It should be noted that a vertical projection of the first radiating portion31on the metal housing M at least partially overlaps the open end S0of the slot S. Thus, the operating frequency band of the fourth resonant mode P4excited by the radiating element3coupling the slot S meets the range of 1805 MHz to 2690 MHz, and the fourth resonant mode P4has a better gain.

The corresponding center frequencies of the first resonant mode P1, the second resonant mode P2, the third resonant mode P3, and the fourth resonant mode P4can be adjusted by changing the positioning of the open end S0, the first closed end S1, and the second closed end S2, namely changing the size of the slot S, or by changing the lengths of the first radiating portion31and the second radiating portion32of the radiating element3. Hence, through the configuration of the antenna module A and the slot S in the metal housing M, the operating frequency bands ranging from 1805 MHz to 2690 MHz and from 3300 MHz to 5925 MHz are provided to meet the broadband operating requirement of LTC and sub-6G frequencies.

As shown inFIG.2andFIG.3, the first parasitic radiating element4includes a first body portion40, a first connecting portion41connected to the first body portion40, and a second connecting portion42connected to the first body portion40. The first parasitic radiating element4is annular or U-shaped. The segment401of the first body portion40is connected to the first connecting portion41, and the other segment402of the first body portion40is connected to the second connecting portion42. The first parasitic radiating element4is grounded by connecting or coupling to the first upper edge portion E1through the first connecting portion41and the second connecting portion42and forms a first enclosed region, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the first parasitic radiating element4can be shaped as a whole sheet to connect or couple to the first upper edge portion E1, and so the first enclosed region is considered to be the first parasitic radiating element4. More particularly, one side of the first parasitic radiating element4is close to or even aligned with the edge of the open end S0, and the first connecting portion41is also connected to the edge of the open end S0. As such, through the first enclosed region formed by connecting or coupling the first parasitic radiating element4to the first upper edge portion E1, the upper edge area of the open slot antenna structure is increased, and so the radiation characteristic of the open slot antenna structure is improved, which obtains better radiation efficiency.

Referring toFIG.5, the solid line represents the state where the antenna module A of the present disclosure is provided with the first parasitic radiating element4, and the dotted line represents the state where the antenna module A without the first parasitic radiating element4. As shown inFIG.5, when the antenna module A has been arranged with the first parasitic radiating portion4, the radiation efficiencies of the four resonant modes P1˜P4generated thereby are significantly better than that of the antenna module A without the parasitic radiating element4, and the radiation efficiency optimization is even more obvious in the third resonant mode P3and the fourth resonant mode P4.

Referring toFIG.3andFIG.5, the frequency range of the third resonant mode P3generated by the antenna module A with the first parasitic radiating element4is relatively lower than the frequency range of the resonant mode generated by the antenna module A without the first parasitic radiating element4. In other words, the present disclosure is able to adjust the frequency range of the third resonant mode P3through the placement of the first parasitic radiating element4, so that the frequency range of the third resonant mode P3shifts toward lower frequency, and in turn the size of the slot S can be reduced. Therefore, by placing the first parasitic radiating element4, the set distance H between the first closed end S1and the second closed end S2can be less than one quarter of the wavelength of the lowest frequency (1805 MHz) covered by the third resonant mode P3.

However, the aforementioned details are disclosed for exemplary purposes only, and are not meant to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

Second Embodiment

Referring toFIG.4, the antenna module A in a second embodiment of the present disclosure further includes a second parasitic radiating element5. The second parasitic radiating element5is arranged on the carrier board1. The second parasitic radiating element5and the first parasitic radiating element4are respectively arranged at two sides of the open end S0, and the structure of the second parasitic radiating element5is similar to that of the first parasitic radiating element4. Moreover, the vertical projection of the second parasitic radiating element5on the first side M1of the metal housing M overlaps the non-metallic region. The metal housing M further includes a second upper edge portion E2, and the second upper edge portion E2is a part of the second side M2of the metal housing M. The second upper edge portion E2is located at the upper edge above where the slot is positioned in the metal housing M, and in specific, the second upper edge portion E2is located between the open end S0and the second closed end S2. The second upper edge portion E2and the first upper edge portion E1are respectively arranged at two sides of the open end S0. The second parasitic radiating element5includes a second body portion50, a third connecting portion51, and a fourth connecting portion52, and the third connecting portion51and the fourth connecting portion52are respectively connected to two ends of the second body portion50. The second parasitic radiating element5may be U-shaped and is grounded by connecting or coupling to the second upper edge portion E2through the third connecting portion51and the fourth connecting portion52, thereby forming a second enclosed region. Alternatively, the second parasitic radiating element5may be shaped as a whole sheet for connecting or coupling to the second upper edge portion E2. In addition, one side of the second parasitic radiating element5is close to or even aligned with the edge of the open end S0, and the third connecting portion51is also connected to the edge of the open end S0. Equally, the present disclosure adjusts the frequency range of the fourth resonant mode P4through the placement of the second parasitic radiating element5, so as to shift the frequency range of the fourth resonant mode P4toward lower frequency range, and thereby achieving size reduction of the slot S.

It is to be noted that even though the present disclosure is able to achieve the slot S size reduction by adjusting the frequency range of the third resonant mode P3or the fourth resonant mode P4to shift toward lower frequency through the placement of the parasitic radiating element on the first upper edge portion E1or the second upper edge portion E2, placing the parasitic radiating element on the first upper edge portion E1would be more optimal in reducing the slot S size than placing the parasitic radiating element on the second upper edge portion E2. As shown inFIG.4, because the length of the resonant path of the third resonant mode P3is relatively longer than the length of the resonant path of the fourth resonant mode P4due to the operating frequency band of the fourth resonant mode P4is higher than the operating frequency band of the third resonant mode P3, the length of the first upper edge portion E1between the open end S0and the first closed end S1is greater than the length of the second upper edge portion between the open end S0and the second closed end S2. Therefore, when the parasitic radiating element is placed on the first upper edge portion E1, the length of the slot S between the open end S0and the first closed end S1is dramatically reduced, and thereby achieving a better effect in the size reduction of the slot S.

Beneficial Effects of the Embodiments

In conclusion, by placing the first parasitic radiating element4on the carrier board1with one side of the first parasitic radiating element4close to the open end S0and connecting or coupling the first parasitic radiating element4to the first upper edge portion E1, the electronic device D and the antenna module A provided by the present disclosure are able to utilize the parasitic radiating element4to increase the upper edge area of the open slot antenna structure so that the radiation characteristic of the antenna module A is improved to obtain better radiation efficiency.

Furthermore, because the slot S is provided on the side bezel, namely the second side M2, of the metal housing M in the present disclosure, the area of the upper edge of the slot S can only include the area of the first upper edge portion E1and the second upper edge portion E2in this configuration, which is less than half of the second side M2. However, the lower edge area of the slot S includes the remaining area of the second side M2area less the slot S area and plus the bottom side area, namely the area of the third side M3with the metallic region. In other words, the difference between the upper edge area and the lower edge area of the slot S is so great that the radiation characteristic of the open slot antenna structure would be poor. Hence, through the placement of the first parasitic radiating element4, and also the placement of the second parasitic radiating element5, the upper edge area of the open slot antenna structure is increased with the region enclosed by the first parasitic radiating element4and the second parasitic radiating element5. Hence, the radiation characteristic of the open slot antenna structure is improved, and better radiation efficiency is obtained.

The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure has been presented only for the purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.

The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the disclosure and their practical application, so as to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the disclosure and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing from its spirit and scope.