Patent ID: 12218406

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure are described below clearly with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Clearly, the described embodiments are some rather than all of the embodiments of the present disclosure. All other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present disclosure shall fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure.

Unless otherwise defined, the technical terms or scientific terms used in the present disclosure shall have the general meanings understood by a person having ordinary skill in the field in which the present disclosure falls. The “first”, “second” and similar words used in the present disclosure are only intended to distinguish different components, rather than to indicate any order, quantity or importance. Similarly, similar words such as “one piece” or “one” indicates the presence of at least one, rather than indicating a quantity limit. Similar words such as “connect” or “connection” are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but may include electrical connections, no matter it is direct or indirect. “Upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right”, and the like are only intended to indicate a relative positional relationship. When the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship changes accordingly as well.

Referring toFIG.1andFIG.2, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a display module applied to a mobile terminal, including a screen cover plate11, a first antenna array12, a first flexible circuit board13and a first radio frequency integrated circuit14; wherethe first antenna array12is arranged in a first region111of the screen cover plate11;the first radio frequency integrated circuit14is arranged on the first flexible circuit board13and is electrically connected to the first antenna array12through the first flexible circuit board13.

Generally, the foregoing screen cover plate is generally a glass cover plate. It may be made of other transparent non-metallic materials in the practical application. The foregoing first region is a region free of any metal component and only having glass medium or plastic medium, which is usually referred to as a clearance region, for example, in a mobile terminal. A position of the foregoing first region11I may be set according to an actual need, and may be set at an upper or lower end of the screen cover plate11. The upper and lower ends of the screen cover plate11are relative to the overall structure of a mobile terminal. Generally, a front-facing camera is set at an upper end of a mobile terminal and a microphone is set at a lower end of a mobile terminal. As shown inFIG.1, in this embodiment of the present disclosure, the foregoing first region1l1is located at the lower end of the screen cover plate11.

A width of the first region may be set according to an actual need. For example, in this embodiment, the foregoing first antenna array12may be set in a region with a width of less than 1 mm.

It should be understood that a frequency for the first antenna array12to receive and transmit a beam may be set according to an actual need. For example, in this embodiment of the present disclosure, the frequency for the first antenna array12to receive and transmit a beam may be 60 GHz. It should be noted that the foregoing first antenna array may be referred to as a millimeter-wave antenna array according to its wavelength.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, a connection point may be set on the first flexible circuit board13. After the first flexible circuit board13is fitted with the screen cover plate11, an electrical connection relationship between the first flexible circuit board13and a conductive wire on the screen cover plate11can be achieved based on this connection point, and an electrical connection between the first flexible circuit board13and the first antenna array12can be achieved at the same time. A conductive circuit is arranged on the first flexible circuit board13, and the first radio frequency integrated circuit14can be electrically connected to the first antenna array12through the conductive circuit and the connection point. In addition, in order to improve the stability of connection, the first flexible circuit board13may be welded and fixed to the screen cover plate11through the connection point.

In the embodiment of the present disclosure, a first antenna array12is arranged in a first region111of a screen cover plate11, and beam sweeping or beamforming is performed on a region above the screen by using the first antenna array12. The antenna array designed in the embodiment of the present disclosure does not need to occupy the space for other antennas arranged on a back cover of a mobile terminal, thereby improving the performance of an antenna. In addition, by designing an antenna array on the glass substrate material of the screen, and multiplexing the dielectric substrate of the screen cover plate, a size of the antenna can be further reduced due to the high dielectric constant of the glass substrate.

The foregoing mobile terminal may include at least one of: a mobile phone, a tablet computer, an e-book reader, an MP3 player, an MP4 player, a digital camera, a laptop computer, a vehicle-mounted computer, a desktop computer, a set-top box, a smart television set, and a wearable device.

Further, a first connector131is arranged on the foregoing first flexible circuit board13, and the first radio frequency integrated circuit14is electrically connected to the main board of the mobile terminal through the first connector131.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the foregoing first connector131may be a board to board (BTB) connector. The first connector131is configured to achieve electrical connection between the first flexible circuit board13and the main board, thereby ensuring the independence between the first flexible circuit board13and the main board while facilitating both disassembly and assembly.

Further, based on the foregoing embodiment, in this embodiment of the present disclosure, the foregoing first flexible circuit board13is further provided with a screen driver chip132and a touch detection chip133, and the screen driver chip132and the touch detection chip133are connected to the main board through the first connector131.

The foregoing screen driver chip132may be a driver chip for a display screen to drive the display of the display screen, and the foregoing touch detection chip133is electrically connected to the screen cover plate11to detect information that the screen cover plate11is touched. In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the screen driver chip132and the touch detection chip133are arranged on the first flexible circuit board13, and share the first connector131with the first radio frequency integrated circuit14to achieve a connection with the main board. For that reason, space can be saved in an effective way, which is advantageous to the miniaturization of the mobile terminal.

A structure of the foregoing first antenna array12may be set according to an actual need. As shown inFIG.2, in this embodiment of the present disclosure, the foregoing first antenna array12includes at least two first dipole antenna elements121, where the first dipole antenna element121includes two first dipole antennas1211arranged in parallel.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, a quantity of the foregoing first dipole antenna elements121may be set to four, where each of the first dipole antenna elements121includes two first dipole antennas1211. Among them, the two first dipole antennas1211in the first dipole antenna element121are arranged at intervals in the length direction of the first dipole antenna1211, and shapes and sizes of the two first dipole antennas1211may be consistent. A length of the first dipole antenna1211may be set to 0.55 mm, a width may be set to 0.2 mm, and a distance between the two first dipole antennas1211may be 0.1 mm.

Optionally, a first bonding region (not shown in the figure) and a first feeder line1212corresponding to each of the first dipole antenna elements1211are arranged on the screen cover plate11. One end of the first feeder line1212is electrically connected to a corresponding first dipole antenna element1211, and the other end is electrically connected to a corresponding first bonding region, where the first bonding region is electrically connected to the first flexible circuit board13.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, a connection point of the first flexible circuit board13may be electrically connected to the first bonding region through a process of thermal connection. For a specific connecting method, reference may be made to related technologies, which is not further limited herein. As shown inFIG.2, the first feeder line1212is led out from ends (that is, opposite ends) of two opposite arms of the two first dipole antennas1211, and extends to the first bonding region of the screen cover plate11. Optionally, differential feeding may be used for the two first dipole antennas1211of the foregoing first dipole antenna element121, that is, amplitudes of signals from a pin of the first radio frequency integrated circuit14are equal, with a phase difference of 180°. As a differential feeding method is adopted, the lengths of the two first feeder lines1212of the first dipole antenna element121are required to be the same as possible. If there is a difference, a phase of an output signal from the first radio frequency integrated circuit14may be compensated.

Further, as shown inFIG.3andFIG.4, the display module further includes a second antenna array15, a second flexible circuit board16, and a second radio frequency integrated circuit17, wherethe second antenna array15is arranged in a second region112of the screen cover plate11, and the second region112and the first region111are located at two opposite ends of the screen cover plate11; andthe second radio frequency integrated circuit17is arranged on the second flexible circuit board16and is electrically connected to the second antenna array15through the second flexible circuit board16.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the foregoing second region112is located at the upper end of the screen cover plate11, and a structure of this second region is consistent with that of the first region111, but they are located in different positions. A structure of the second antenna array15may be consistent with that of the first antenna array12. For example, the second antenna array15includes at least two second dipole antenna elements151, and the second dipole antenna element151includes two second dipole antennas1511arranged in parallel. The two second dipole antennas1511in the second dipole antenna element151are arranged at intervals in the length direction of the second dipole antenna1511, and shapes and sizes of the two second dipole antennas1511may be consistent. A length of the second dipole antenna1511may be set to 0.55 mm, a width may be set to 0.2 mm, and a distance between the two second dipole antennas1511may be 0.1 mm.

It should be noted that the second antenna array may be referred to as a millimeter-wave antenna array according to a wavelength of a beam transmitted and received by this second antenna array.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, as the second antenna array15is arranged, the spatial coverage of the antenna can be improved. In addition, the first antenna array12and the second antenna array15may be switched for use. For example, when a user touches the first region111, data may be transmitted and received through the second antenna array15; when a user touches the second region112, data may be transmitted and received through the first antenna array12; in this way, the quality of radio communications is improved.

Optionally, a second bonding region (not shown in the figure) and a second feeder line1512corresponding to each of the second dipole antenna elements1511are arranged on the screen cover plate11. One end of the second feeder line1512is electrically connected to a corresponding second dipole antenna element1511, and the other end is electrically connected to a corresponding second bonding region, where the second bonding region is electrically connected to the second flexible circuit board16.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, a connection point of the second flexible circuit board16may be electrically connected to the second bonding region through a process of thermal connection. For a specific connecting method, reference may be made to related technologies, which is not further limited herein. As shown inFIG.4, the second feeder line1512is led out from ends (that is, opposite ends) of two opposite arms of the two first dipole antennas1211, and extends to the second bonding region of the screen cover plate11. Optionally, differential feeding may be used for the two second dipole antennas1511of the foregoing second dipole antenna element151, that is, amplitudes of signals from a pin of the second radio frequency integrated circuit17are equal, with a phase difference of 180°. As a differential feeding method is adopted, the lengths of the two second feeder lines1512of the second dipole antenna element151are required to be the same as possible. If there is a difference, a phase of an output signal from the second radio frequency integrated circuit17may be compensated.

Further, a second connector161is arranged on the foregoing second flexible circuit board16, and the second radio frequency integrated circuit17is electrically connected to the main board of the mobile terminal through the second connector161.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the foregoing second connector161may be a board to board (BTB) connector. The second connector161is configured to achieve electrical connection between the second flexible circuit board16and the main board, thereby ensuring the independence between the second flexible circuit board16and the main board while facilitating both disassembly and assembly.

Further, as shown inFIG.1toFIG.5, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal includes a display module and a carrier18carrying the display module. The carrier18may be a front case or a middle frame. The foregoing display module is the display module in the foregoing embodiment. For a structure of this display module, reference may be made to the description of the foregoing embodiment, and details are not repeated herein. As the display module in the foregoing embodiment is adopted, a mobile terminal provided in this embodiment has all beneficial effects of the display module in the foregoing embodiment.

Further, the carrier18is a metal carrier, and the metal carrier is used as a reflector for the antenna array of the display module.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, there may be certain spacing between the foregoing metal carrier and the antenna array in the thickness direction of the mobile terminal.

This spacing may be understood as a vertical distance from each first dipole antenna element121in the first antenna array12to the carrier18in the thickness direction of the mobile terminal, and a vertical distance from each second dipole antenna element151in the second antenna array15to the carrier18in the thickness direction of the mobile terminal, and a size of such spacing may be set according to an actual need.

The foregoing carrier18may be made of metal material at a position corresponding to the first antenna array12and the second antenna array15in the thickness direction, or may be made of metal material as a whole, which is not further limited herein. As the carrier18is a metal carrier, it may act as a reflector for the antenna army, which can make the maximum radiation direction of the antenna array face the side of the screen, thereby increasing the gain of the first antenna array12and the second antenna array15, and enhancing the radio communications quality.

The foregoing spacing of different sizes imposes different influences on a parameter S of the antenna element. In this embodiment, the vertical distance from each first dipole antenna element121to the carrier18is set to 0.37 mm, and the vertical distance from each second dipole antenna element151to the carrier18is set to 0.37 mm. In this way, the beam for 60 GHz frequency can improve the communications quality to the greatest extent.

Further, based on the foregoing embodiment, in this embodiment, in the case that the display module includes a first antenna array12, a first radio frequency integrated circuit14, a second antenna array15and a second radio frequency integrated circuit17,the mobile terminal further includes a control chip, where the control chip is electrically connected to the first radio frequency integrated circuit14and the second radio frequency integrated circuit17respectively;where when a first region111is touched, the control chip controls the second radio frequency integrated circuit17to transmit and receive data through the second antenna array15; andwhen a second region112is touched, the control chip controls the first radio frequency integrated circuit14to transmit and receive data through the first antenna array12.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the foregoing control chip may be set on the main board and configured to control work states of the first radio frequency integrated circuit14and the second radio frequency integrated circuit17. Additionally, the control chip may further be electrically connected to a touch detection chip133, and determine touch states of the first region111and the second region112according to a user's touch position detected by the touch detection chip133, and thus control the work states of the first radio frequency integrated circuit14and the second radio frequency integrated circuit17.

When the user touches the first region111, data is transmitted and received through the second antenna array15; when the user touches the second region112, data is transmitted and received through the first antenna array12; in this way, the radio communications quality of the mobile terminal is enhanced.

The foregoing descriptions are merely specific implementations of the present disclosure, but the protection scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Any variation or replacement readily figured out by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present disclosure shall fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the protection scope of the present disclosure shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.