Patent ID: 12255386

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, there is provided an antenna package in which an antenna unit and a circuit board that may include circuit wirings and connection ports having different functions are combined with each other. Further, an image display device including the antenna package is also provided.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that such embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings are provided to further understand the spirit of the present invention and do not limit subject matters to be protected as disclosed in the detailed description and appended claims.

The terms “first”, “second”, “upper”, “lower”, “top”, “bottom”, etc., used in this application are not intended to designate an absolute position, but to relatively distinguish between different elements and positions.

FIG.1is a schematic top planar view illustrating an antenna package in accordance with exemplary embodiments.

Referring toFIG.1, an antenna package may include an antenna device100and a circuit board200. The circuit board200may include an antenna feeding line220and a power/data line230, and the antenna feeding line220may be electrically connected to an antenna unit included in the antenna device100.

The antenna device may include an antenna dielectric layer100and antenna units120and130disposed on the antenna dielectric layer100.

The antenna dielectric layer110may include, e.g., a transparent resin film such as a polyester-based resin such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene isophthalate, polyethylene naphthalate and polybutylene terephthalate; a cellulose-based resin such as diacetyl cellulose and triacetyl cellulose; a polycarbonate-based resin; an acrylic resin such as polymethyl (meth)acrylate and polyethyl (meth)acrylate; a styrene-based resin such as polystyrene and an acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer; a polyolefin-based resin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, a cycloolefin or polyolefin having a norbornene structure and an ethylene-propylene copolymer; a vinyl chloride-based resin; an amide-based resin such as nylon and an aromatic polyamide; an imide-based resin; a polyethersulfone-based resin; a sulfone-based resin; a polyether ether ketone-based resin; a polyphenylene sulfide resin; a vinyl alcohol-based resin; a vinylidene chloride-based resin; a vinyl butyral-based resin; an allylate-based resin; a polyoxymethylene-based resin; an epoxy-based resin; a urethane or acrylic urethane-based resin; a silicone-based resin, etc. These may be used alone or in a combination of two or more thereof.

The antenna dielectric layer110may include an adhesive film such as an optically clear adhesive (OCA), an optically clear resin (OCR), or the like. In some embodiments, the antenna dielectric layer110may include an inorganic insulating material such as glass, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, etc.

In some embodiments, a dielectric constant of the antenna dielectric layer110may be adjusted in a range from about 1.5 to about 12. When the dielectric constant exceeds about 12, a driving frequency may be excessively decreased, so that driving in a desired high frequency or ultrahigh frequency band may not be implemented.

The antenna units120and130may be formed on a top surface of the antenna dielectric layer110. For example, a plurality of the antenna units120and130may be formed in an array shape along a width direction of the antenna dielectric layer110or the antenna package to form an antenna unit row.

In some embodiments, the antenna units120and130may include first antenna units120and second antenna units130, and the first antenna unit120and the second antenna units130may have different resonance frequencies.

The first antenna unit120may include a first radiator122and a first transmission line124. The second antenna unit130may include a second radiator132and a second transmission line134. The radiators122and132have, e.g., a polygonal plate shape, and the first and second transmission lines124and134may extend from a side of the first and second radiators122and132, respectively. The transmission lines124and134may be formed as a single member substantially integral with the radiators122and132.

The first antenna unit120and the second antenna unit130may further include a first signal pad126and a second signal pad136, respectively. The first signal pad126and the second signal pad136may be connected to end portions of the first transmission line124and the second transmission line134, respectively.

In an embodiment, the signal pads126and136may be substantially integral with the transmission lines124and134, and the end portions of the transmission lines124and134may be provided as the signal pads126and136.

In some implementations, ground pads128and138may be disposed around the signal pads126and136. For example, a pair of first ground pads128may face each other with the first signal pad126interposed therebetween. A pair of second ground pads138may face each other with the second signal pad136interposed therebetween. The ground pads128and138may be electrically and physically separated from the transmission lines124and134and the signal pads126and136.

In exemplary embodiments, the first antenna unit120and the second antenna unit130may have different sizes. In an embodiment, an area of the first radiator122included in the first antenna unit120may be larger than an area of the second radiator132included in the second antenna unit130. In an embodiment, a length of the first transmission line124included in the first antenna unit120may be greater than a length of the second transmission line134included in the second antenna unit130.

In exemplary embodiments, the first antenna unit120and/or the second antenna unit130may include an antenna pattern or a radiator capable of radiating at a high or ultra-high frequency band of 3G, 4G, 5G or more.

As described above, the first antenna unit120and the second antenna unit130may have different resonance frequencies. In exemplary embodiments, a resonance frequency of the first antenna unit120may be smaller than a resonant frequency of the second antenna unit130.

As a non-limiting example, the resonance frequency of the first antenna unit120may be from about 20 to 30 GHz (e.g., 28 GHz), and a resonance frequency of the second antenna unit130may be from about 30 to 40 GHz (e.g., 38 GHz).

As illustrated inFIG.1, the first antenna units120and the second antenna units130having different sizes and/or resonance frequencies may be alternately and repeatedly arranged in, e.g., a row direction. Accordingly, uniformity of radiation coverage may be improved throughout an entire area of the antenna device100.

The first and second antenna units120and130may include silver (Ag), gold (Au), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), chromium (Cr), titanium (Ti), Tungsten (W), niobium (Nb), tantalum (Ta), vanadium (V), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), tin (Sn), molybdenum (Mo), calcium (Ca) or an alloy containing at least one of the metals. These may be used alone or in combination thereof.

In an embodiment, the first and second antenna units120and130may include silver (Ag) or a silver alloy (e.g., silver-palladium-copper (APC)), or copper (Cu) or a copper alloy (e.g., a copper-calcium (CuCa)) to implement a low resistance and a fine line width pattern.

The first and second antenna units120and130may include a transparent conductive oxide such indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), zinc oxide (ZnOx), indium zinc tin oxide (IZTO), etc.

In some embodiments, the first and second antenna units120and130may include a stacked structure of a transparent conductive oxide layer and a metal layer. For example, the first and second antenna units120and130may include a double-layered structure of a transparent conductive oxide layer-metal layer, or a triple-layered structure of a transparent conductive oxide layer-metal layer-transparent conductive oxide layer. In this case, flexible property may be improved by the metal layer, and a signal transmission speed may also be improved by a low resistance of the metal layer. Corrosive resistance and transparency may be improved by the transparent conductive oxide layer.

In some embodiments, the radiators122and132and the transmission lines124and134may include a mesh-pattern structure to improve transmittance. In this case, a dummy mesh pattern (not illustrated) may be formed around the radiators122and132and the transmission lines124and134.

The signal pads126and136and the ground pads128and138may be solid patterns formed of the above-described metal or alloy in consideration of reduction of a feeding resistance, improvement of noise absorption efficiency, horizontal radiation properties, etc.

The circuit board200may include a core layer210and circuit wirings formed on surfaces of the core layer210. For example, the circuit board200may be a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB).

In some embodiments, the antenna dielectric layer110may be provided as the circuit board200. In this case, the circuit board200(e.g., the core layer210of the circuit board200) may be provided as a member substantially integral with the antenna dielectric layer110. The antenna feeding line220that will be described later may be directly connected to the transmission lines124and134, and the pads126,128,136, and138may be omitted.

The core layer210may include, e.g., a flexible resin such as polyimide resin, Modified Polyimide (MPI), epoxy resin, polyester, cycloolefin polymer (COP), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), or the like. The core layer210may include an inner insulating layer included in the circuit board200.

The circuit wirings may include the antenna feeding line220and the power/data line230. The circuit wirings may be arranged on a surface of the core layer210(e.g., a surface facing the antenna units120and130).

For example, the circuit board200may further include a coverlay film formed on the surface of the core layer210to cover the circuit wirings.

The antenna feeding line220may be connected or bonded to the signal pads126and136of the antenna units120and130. For example, a portion of the coverlay film of the circuit board200may be removed to expose an end portion of the antenna feeding line220. The exposed end portion of the antenna feeding line220may be bonded onto the signal pads126and136.

For example, a conductive intermediate structure such as an anisotropic conductive film (ACF) may be attached to the signal pads126and136, and then a bonding region BR of the circuit board200in which the end portions of the antenna feeding lines220are located may be disposed on the conductive intermediate structure. Thereafter, the bonding region BR of the circuit board200may be attached to the antenna device100by heating and pressurizing process, and the antenna feeding line220may be electrically connected to the signal pads126and136.

The antenna feeding lines220may extend from the bonding region BR to a chip mounting region CR. The chip mounting region CR may be an area of the circuit board200in which an antenna driving integrated circuit (IC) chip280is mounted. Terminal ends of the antenna feeding lines220may be distributed in the chip mounting region CR.

In exemplary embodiments, an antenna feeding port240may be arranged in the chip mounting region CR. For example, a plurality of the antenna feeding ports240may be connected to each of the antenna feeding line220. Accordingly, a power feeding may be performed to each of the antenna units120and130through each of the antenna feeding ports240.

In some embodiments, a plurality of the antenna feeding ports240may form a first port row.

Power/data ports250may be further arranged in the chip mounting region CR. Each of the power/data ports250may be connected to the power/data line230. The power/data ports250may be divided into a power port and a data port, and the power/data lines230may be divided into a power line and a data line. The power line and the data line may be connected to the power port and the data port, respectively.

The power line may receive a power from, e.g., a main board or a battery of the image display device, and may provide a driving power of the antenna driving IC chip280. The data line may receive a control signal from a central processing unit (e.g., an application processor (AP) of a smartphone) mounted on the main board of the image display device to and may transfer to the antenna driving IC chip280.

For example, the control signal may include an on/off signal of the antenna units120and130, a switching signal (e.g., a switching signal between the first and second antenna units120and130), an antenna beam tilting signal, a phase control signal, or the like.

In some embodiments, a plurality of the power/data ports250may form a second port row.

In exemplary embodiments, the antenna feeding ports240may be disposed to be closer to the bonding region BR than the power/data ports250. For example, the first port row may be disposed at a front-end portion of the chip mounting area CR adjacent to the bonding region BR in a planar direction. The second port row may be disposed at a rear-end portion of the chip mounting region CR in the planar view.

Accordingly, a length of a feeding path transmitted from the antenna driving IC chip280to the antenna units120and130may be reduced, thereby suppressing a power loss occurring in the antenna feeding line220. Accordingly, an antenna radiation of a desired resonance frequency from the antenna units120and130may be implemented while maintaining a sufficient gain.

The second port row receiving signals and power from the main board may be disposed at the rear-end portion of the chip mounting region CR, so that a power/data path may also be shortened. Additionally, the first and second port rows may be divided or separated from each other, so that circuit independence/reliability may be improved without a mutual interference between the antenna feeding line220and the power/data line230.

The antenna driving IC chip280may be mounted on the chip mounting region CR, and may be electrically connected to the antenna units120and130and the main board (or AP) via the antenna feeding port240and the power/data port250.

The antenna feeding ports240and the power/data ports250may be arranged in, e.g., a form of a ball grid array (BGA).

The terms “antenna feeding ports240and power/data ports250” used in the present application refer to pads or ports included in the antenna driving IC chip280, or terminals or pads of the circuit wirings220and230included in the circuit board200.

In some embodiments, the circuit board200or the core layer210may include a first portion210aand a second portion210bhaving different widths, and the second portion210bt may have a smaller width than that of the first portion210a.

The chip mounting region CR may be included on the first portion210a. Accordingly, durability against a stress generated during a surface mounting process for mounting the antenna driving IC chip280may be enhanced, and a sufficient distribution space of the antenna feeding lines220may be achieved.

The power/data lines230may extend on the second portion210b. The second portion210bmay be bent toward, e.g., a rear portion of the image display device, and may be electrically connected to the main board. Accordingly, a circuit connection of the power/data lines230may be easily implemented by using the second portion210bhaving a reduced width.

In some embodiments, a distance between the bonding region BR and the chip mounting region CR, or a distance (e.g., the shortest distance) between an upper side of the antenna driving IC chip280and the signal pad126and136in a planar view may be about 20 mm or less. In the above range, a feeding loss to the antenna units120and130may be efficiently suppressed.

FIGS.2to4are schematic top planar views illustrating an antenna package according to exemplary embodiments. Detailed descriptions of elements and/or structures substantially the same as or similar to those described with reference toFIG.1are omitted.

Referring toFIG.2, the antenna feeding ports240may also be distributed in a lateral portion the chip mounting region CR or the antenna driving IC chip280. For example, the antenna feeding ports240may form at least two first port rows.

The power/data ports250may be disposed at a rear-end portion with respect to the first port rows to form a second port row.

Referring toFIG.3, the antenna driving IC chip285may have a quad flat package (QFP) chip form. For example, ports having a lead shape may protrude from four sides of the antenna driving IC chip285.

In some embodiments, the antenna feeding ports240in the form of the lead may protrude from the upper side (a side adjacent to the bonding area BR) and two lateral sides of the antenna driving IC chip285to be connected to each of the antenna feeding lines220.

The power/data ports250may protrude from a lower side of the antenna driving IC chip285(ae side facing the upper side and away from the bonding region BR), and may be connected to each of the power/data lines230.

Referring toFIG.4, as described above, the antenna driving IC chip285may be provided as a QFP chip. The lead-shaped antenna feeding ports240may be distributed at the upper side of the antenna driving IC chip285, and the lead-shaped power/data ports250may be distributed at the lower side of the antenna driving IC chip285.

The antenna feeding port240and the power/data port250may be distributed together at both lateral sides of the antenna driving IC chip285. In exemplary embodiments, the power/data ports250may be disposed behind the antenna feeding ports240in a planar view to be away from the bonding region BR.

In some embodiments, in addition to the above-described BGA or QFP type chip, various types of chips such as DIP (Dual In-line Package), SOP (Small Outline Package), QFN (Quad Flat No Lead), etc., may be employed as the antenna driving IC chip285.

FIG.5is a schematic plan view illustrating an image display device in accordance with exemplary embodiments.

Referring toFIG.5, the image display device300may be fabricated in the form of, e.g., a smart phone, andFIG.5shows a front face portion or a window surface of the image display device300. The front face portion of the image display device300may include a display area310and a peripheral area320. The peripheral area320may correspond to, e.g., a light-shielding portion or a bezel portion of an image display device.

The antenna device100included in the above-described antenna package may be disposed toward the front face portion of the image display device300, and may be disposed on, e.g., a display panel. In an embodiment, the radiators122and132may be at least partially superimposed over the display area310in a planar view.

In this case, the radiators122and132may have a mesh-pattern structure, and a decrease in transmittance due to the radiators122and132may be prevented. The antenna driving IC chip280included in the antenna package may be disposed in the peripheral area320to prevent an image quality from being degraded in the display area310.

In some embodiments, the antenna package may be bent by the circuit board200so that, e.g., the antenna driving IC chip280may be disposed on a rear portion of the image display device300. The power/data line230may be bent together with the circuit board200or the second portion210bof the core layer210to be connected to a main board, an antenna driving module or an application processor (AP) at the rear portion.

As described above, the high-frequency or ultra-high frequency antenna can be effectively applied to the image display device300without a signal loss and a mutual interference using the circuit wiring construction on the circuit board200.