Patent ID: 12261354

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In order to illustrate the purposes, features and advantages of the invention, the embodiments and figures of the invention are shown in detail as follows.

Certain terms are used throughout the description and following claims to refer to particular components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, manufacturers may refer to a component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. In the following description and in the claims, the terms “include” and “comprise” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “include, but not limited to . . . ”. The term “substantially” means the value is within an acceptable error range. One skilled in the art can solve the technical problem within a predetermined error range and achieve the proposed technical performance. Also, the term “couple” is intended to mean either an indirect or direct electrical connection. Accordingly, if one device is coupled to another device, that connection may be through a direct electrical connection, or through an indirect electrical connection via other devices and connections.

The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the provided subject matter. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed between the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.

Furthermore, spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The apparatus may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may likewise be interpreted accordingly.

FIG.1is a top view of an antenna structure100according to an embodiment of the invention. The antenna structure100may be applied to a mobile device, such as a smart phone, a tablet computer, or a notebook computer. In the embodiment ofFIG.1, the antenna structure100includes a ground element110, a feeding radiation element120, a first radiation element130, a second radiation element140, a first coupling branch150, an inductive element160, and a dielectric substrate170. The ground element110, the feeding radiation element120, the first radiation element130, the second radiation element140, the first coupling branch150, and the inductive element160may all be made of metal materials, such as copper, silver, aluminum, iron, or their alloys.

The dielectric substrate170may be an FR4 (Flame Retardant 4) substrate, a PCB (Printed Circuit Board), or an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit). The ground element110, the feeding radiation element120, the first radiation element130, the second radiation element140, the first coupling branch150, and the inductive element160are all disposed on the same surface E1of the dielectric substrate170. In some embodiments, at least one portion of the first coupling branch150does not directly touch the aforementioned surface E1of the dielectric substrate170.

The ground element110may be implemented with a ground copper foil, which may extend beyond the dielectric substrate170and may be coupled to a system ground plane (not shown).

The feeding radiation element120has a first end121and a second end122. A feeding point FP is positioned at the first end121of the feeding radiation element120. The feeding point FP may be further coupled to a signal source (not shown). For example, the aforementioned signal source may be an RF (Radio Frequency) module for exciting the antenna structure100. The first radiation element130has a first end131and a second end132. The first end131of the first radiation element130is coupled to the second end122of the feeding radiation element120. The second end132of the first radiation element130is an open end. The second radiation element140has a first end141and a second end142. The first end141of the second radiation element140is coupled to the second end122of the feeding radiation element120. The second end142of the second radiation element140is an open end. For example, the second end142of the second radiation element140and the second end132of the first radiation element130may substantially extend in opposite directions and away from each other. In some embodiments, the combination of the feeding radiation element120, the first radiation element130, and the second radiation element140substantially has a T-shape.

The shape and type of the inductive element160are not limited in the invention. In some embodiments, the inductive element160is a lumped inductor. In alternative embodiments, the inductive element160is a variable inductor for providing a variable inductance.

The first coupling branch150has a first end151and a second end152. The first end151of the first coupling branch150is coupled through the inductive element160to a first grounding point GP1on the ground element110. The second end152of the first coupling branch150is an open end. In some embodiments, the first coupling branch150includes an elevated portion154adjacent to the first end151, and a coupling portion155adjacent to the second end152. The elevated portion154of the first coupling branch150extends across the first radiation element130. The elevated portion154of the first coupling branch150does not directly touch the first radiation element130at all. That is, the elevated portion154of the first coupling branch150has a vertical projection on the surface E1of the dielectric substrate170, and the vertical projection at least partially overlaps the first radiation element130. In addition, the coupling portion155of the first coupling branch150is disposed on the surface E1of the dielectric substrate170, and is also adjacent to the first radiation element130. A coupling gap GC1may be formed between the coupling portion155of the first coupling branch150and the first radiation element130. For example, the coupling portion155of the first coupling branch150may be substantially parallel to the first radiation element130. It should be noted that the term “adjacent” or “close” throughout the disclosure means that the distance (spacing) between two corresponding elements is smaller than a predetermined distance (e.g., 5 mm or shorter), or it means that the two corresponding elements touch each other directly (i.e., the aforementioned distance/spacing therebetween is reduced to 0). In some embodiments, the first coupling branch150substantially has a relatively long L-shape.

According to practical measurements, the antenna structure100can cover a low-frequency band and a high-frequency band. For example, the low-frequency band may be from 600 MHz to 960 MHz, and the high-frequency band may be from 1100 MHz to 6000 MHz. Therefore, the antenna structure100can cover at least the wideband operations of LTE (Long Term Evolution) and/or next 5G (5th Generation Mobile Network) communication.

In some embodiments, the operational principles of the antenna structure100are described below. The feeding radiation element120and the first radiation element130are excited to generate the aforementioned low-frequency band. The feeding radiation element120and the second radiation element140are excited to generate the aforementioned high-frequency band. Also, the first coupling branch150is excited by the feeding radiation element120and the first radiation element130using a coupling mechanism. According to practical measurements, the incorporation of the first coupling branch150and the inductive element160can help to increase the operational bandwidth of the aforementioned low-frequency band, and to fine-tune the impedance matching of the aforementioned high-frequency band.

In some embodiments, the element sizes and parameters of the antenna structure100are as follows. The total length L1of the feeding radiation element120and the first radiation element130may be shorter than or equal to 0.5 wavelength (λ/2) of the low-frequency band of the antenna structure100. The total length L2of the feeding radiation element120and the second radiation element140may be shorter than or equal to 0.5 wavelength (λ/2) of the high-frequency band of the antenna structure100. The width of the first coupling gap GC1may be shorter than or equal to 2 mm. The inductance of the inductive element160may be from 1 nH to 30 nH. The overall length LT of the antenna structure100may be shorter than or equal to 100 mm. The overall width WT of the antenna structure100may be shorter than or equal to 10 mm. The above ranges of element sizes and parameters are calculated and obtained according to many experiment results, and they help to optimize the operational bandwidth and impedance matching of the antenna structure100.

The following embodiments will introduce other configurations and detailed structural features of the antenna structure100. It should be understood that these figures and descriptions are merely exemplary, rather than limitations of the invention.

FIG.2Ais a perspective view of an antenna structure200according to an embodiment of the invention.FIG.2Bis a sectional view of the antenna structure200according to an embodiment of the invention. Please refer toFIG.2AandFIG.2Btogether, which are similar toFIG.1. In the embodiment ofFIG.2AandFIG.2B, the antenna structure200further includes an insulation layer256disposed between the elevated portion154of the first coupling branch150and the first radiation element130. For example, the insulation layer256may be implemented with insulation ink, insulation film, or insulation adhesive. Generally, the insulation layer256is configured to separate the elevated portion154of the first coupling branch150from the first radiation element130. For example, the thickness H1of the insulation layer256may be merely greater than or equal to 0.01 mm, so as to reduce the overall antenna size. Furthermore, a coupling amount between the first coupling branch150and the first radiation element130can be adjusted by changing the thickness H1of the insulation layer256. In some embodiments, the antenna structure200further includes a first soldering element257and a second soldering element258, which are respectively coupled to two ends of the elevated portion154of the first coupling branch150. Specifically, among the first coupling branch150, one end of the elevated portion154is coupled through the first soldering element257to the coupling portion155, and the other end of the elevated portion154is coupled through the second soldering element258to a terminal161of the inductive element160. In some embodiments, the insulation layer256can be disposed between the elevated portion154of the first coupling branch150and the inductive element160. For example, the insulation layer256may be positioned between the first soldering element257and the second soldering element258. The insulation layer256, the first soldering element257, and the second soldering element258may all disposed on the same plane. However, the invention is not limited thereto. In alternative embodiments, the first soldering element257and the second soldering element258are replaced with two terminal extension elements of the elevated portion154of the first coupling branch150, so as to achieve an all-in-one design. Other features of the antenna structure200ofFIG.2AandFIG.2Bare similar to those of the antenna structure100ofFIG.1. Accordingly, the two embodiments can achieve similar levels of performance.

FIG.3Ais a perspective view of an antenna structure300according to an embodiment of the invention.FIG.3Bis a sectional view of the antenna structure300according to an embodiment of the invention. Please refer toFIG.3AandFIG.3Btogether, which are similar toFIG.2AandFIG.2B. In the embodiment ofFIG.3AandFIG.3B, a first coupling branch350of the antenna structure300includes an elevated portion354, a coupling portion355, and a supporting portion359. The coupling portion355of the first coupling branch350is mainly implemented with a 3D (Three Dimensional) metal plate. For example, the 3D metal plate may be substantially perpendicular to the dielectric substrate170, and it may be used to increase the coupling amount between the first coupling branch350and the first radiation element130. Furthermore, among the first coupling branch350, the supporting portion359is disposed on the dielectric substrate170, and the coupling portion355is coupled through the first soldering element257to the supporting portion359, so as to enhance the stability of the first coupling branch350. However, the invention is not limited thereto. In alternative embodiments, both the supporting portion359and the first soldering element257are optional element, which are removable from the first coupling branch350. Other features of the antenna structure300ofFIG.3AandFIG.3Bare similar to those of the antenna structure200ofFIG.2AandFIG.2B. Accordingly, the two embodiments can achieve similar levels of performance.

FIG.4Ais a perspective view of an antenna structure400according to an embodiment of the invention.FIG.4Bis a sectional view of the antenna structure400according to an embodiment of the invention. Please refer toFIG.4AandFIG.4Btogether, which are similar toFIG.1. In the embodiment ofFIG.4AandFIG.4B, a first coupling branch450of the antenna structure400includes an elevated portion454and a coupling portion455. The elevated portion454of the first coupling branch450may substantially have an inverted U-shape. The coupling portion455of the first coupling branch450is mainly implemented with a 3D metal plate. As shown inFIG.4B, the elevated portion454of the first coupling branch450has an internal maximum height H2on the first radiation element130, and the internal maximum height H2may be greater than or equal to 0.3 mm. Furthermore, as shown inFIG.4A, the coupling portion455of the first coupling branch450can directly touch the surface E1of the dielectric substrate170. With such a design, even if the antenna structure400does not use any insulation layer, the elevated portion454of the first coupling branch450will not negatively affect the radiation performance of the first radiation element130so much. Other features of the antenna structure400ofFIG.4AandFIG.4Bare similar to those of the antenna structure100ofFIG.1. Accordingly, the two embodiments can achieve similar levels of performance.

FIG.5is a top view of an antenna structure500according to an embodiment of the invention.FIG.5is similar toFIG.1. In the embodiment ofFIG.5, an inductive element560of the antenna structure500is a distributed inductor. For example, the inductive element560may substantially have a spiral shape, which may be considered as a circular coil. Specifically, the inductive element560has a first terminal561coupled to the first grounding point GP1on the ground element110, and a second terminal562coupled to the elevated portion154of the first coupling branch150. Thus, the first coupling branch150is also coupled through the inductive element560to the ground element110. Other features of the antenna structure500ofFIG.5are similar to those of the antenna structure100ofFIG.1. Accordingly, the two embodiments can achieve similar levels of performance.

FIG.6is a top view of an antenna structure600according to an embodiment of the invention.FIG.6is similar toFIG.5. In the embodiment ofFIG.6, the antenna structure600further includes an insulation layer656, which can cover at least one portion of the first radiation element130and also cover the whole inductive element560. For example, the insulation layer656may be implemented with insulation ink, insulation film, or insulation adhesive. The insulation layer656is configured to separate the elevated portion154of the first coupling branch150from the first radiation element130and the inductive element560. For example, the elevated portion154of the first coupling branch150may be positioned above the insulation layer656, and both the first radiation element130and the inductive element560may be positioned below the insulation layer656. Furthermore, the insulation layer656may have some openings. Thus, there may be a current path from the coupling portion155through the elevated portion154of the first coupling branch150to the inductive element560. Other features of the antenna structure600ofFIG.6are similar to those of the antenna structure500ofFIG.5. Accordingly, the two embodiments can achieve similar levels of performance.

FIG.7Ais a top view of an inductive element761according to an embodiment of the invention.FIG.7Bis a top view of an inductive element762according to an embodiment of the invention.FIG.7Cis a top view of an inductive element763according to an embodiment of the invention. It should be understood that in addition to the above circular coils, the shape of each inductive element of the invention is adjustable according to different requirements. For example, a square coil, a hexagonal coil, or an octagonal coil may be applied to any embodiment of the invention.

FIG.8is a top view of an antenna structure800according to an embodiment of the invention.FIG.8is similar toFIG.5. In the embodiment ofFIG.8, the antenna structure800further includes a second coupling branch890, which may be made of a metal material. The second coupling branch890may substantially have an L-shape. Specifically, the second coupling branch890has a first end891and a second end892. The first end891of the second coupling branch890is coupled to a second grounding point GP2on the ground element110. The second end892of the second coupling branch890is an open end. The second grounding point GP2may be different from the aforementioned first grounding point GP1. For example, if the first grounding point GP1is positioned at one side of the feeding radiation element120, the second grounding point GP2may be positioned at the opposite side of the feeding radiation element120. The second end892of the second coupling branch890, the second end152of the first coupling branch150, and the second end132of the first radiation element130may substantially extend toward the same direction. In addition, the second coupling branch890is disposed adjacent to the second radiation element140. A second coupling gap GC2may be formed between the second coupling branch890and the second radiation element140. For example, the width of the second coupling gap GC2may be shorter than or equal to 2 mm. According to practical measurements, the incorporation of the second coupling branch890can help to increase the operational bandwidth of the high-frequency band of the antenna structure800. Other features of the antenna structure800ofFIG.8are similar to those of the antenna structure500ofFIG.5. Accordingly, the two embodiments can achieve similar levels of performance.

The invention proposes a novel antenna structure. In comparison to the conventional design, the invention has at least the advantages of small size, wide bandwidth, single circuit board, and low manufacturing cost. Therefore, the invention is suitable for application in a variety of mobile communication devices.

Note that the above element sizes, element shapes, element parameters, and frequency ranges are not limitations of the invention. An antenna designer can fine-tune these settings or values according to different requirements. It should be understood that the antenna structure of the invention is not limited to the configurations ofFIGS.1-8. The invention may merely include any one or more features of any one or more embodiments ofFIGS.1-8. In other words, not all of the features displayed in the figures should be implemented in the antenna structure of the invention.

Use of ordinal terms such as “first”, “second”, “third”, etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having the same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim elements.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.