Patent Application
20200091589
The subject matter herein generally relates to antenna structures, and more particularly to an antenna structure of a wireless communication device.
With the advancement of wireless communication technology, consumers have higher and higher requirements for the bandwidth of wireless communication products. Generally, a metal frame at upper and lower ends of a wireless communication device is used as an antenna. The metal frame is divided into several segments by setting a plurality of gaps in the metal frame for implementing antennas with different functions (for example, 4G Global Positioning System (GPS), and Wireless LAN (WLAN).
5G communication can add new communication frequency bands, but the original antenna space is already very crowded. If 5G antennas are added to the original antenna space, the performance of the original antenna may be affected, and a flexibility of antenna design may be reduced.
Implementations of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of embodiments only, with reference to the attached figures.
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 “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape, or other word that “substantially” modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, “substantially cylindrical” means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. 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.
The antenna structure 100 includes a housing 11. The housing 11 may be a housing of the wireless communication device 200. The housing 11 includes at least a backplane 12 and a metal frame 13. In one embodiment, the backplane 12 is made of a non-metallic material such as plastic, glass or ceramic. The metal frame 13 is made of a metal, and the metal frame 13 may be an outer frame of the wireless communication device 200. The backplane 12 and the metal frame 13 form an outer casing of the wireless communication device 200. The wireless communication device 200 also includes a display screen 10. In one embodiment, the display screen 10 can be a touch display screen, which can be used to provide an interactive interface to implement user interaction with the wireless communication device 200. The display screen 10 is substantially parallel to the backplane 12.
As shown in
In one embodiment, the metal frame 13 includes four frames 15. Each of the frames 15 includes a first surface 131, a second surface 132, and a third surface 133. The second surface 132 is opposite to the first surface 131. The third surface 133 is located between the first surface 131 and the second surface 132. The first surface 131 is perpendicularly coupled to the third surface 133, and the second surface 132 is perpendicularly coupled to the third surface 133. The first surface 131 is parallel to and spaced from the second surface 132. In other embodiments, the third surface 133 may be coupled to the first surface 131 and the second surface 132 at different angles.
In one embodiment, the first surface 131 is adjacent to the backplane 12, and the second surface 132 is adjacent to the display screen 10. The third surface 133 faces an inner side of the metal frame 13. The first surface 131 defines a recessed portion 134. The recessed portion 134 is elongated and recessed from the first surface 131.
At least one antenna 16 is formed on the metal frame 13. In one embodiment, the at least one antenna 16 includes a first antenna A1, a second antenna A2, a third antenna A3, and a fourth antenna A4. The first antenna A1, the second antenna A2, the third antenna A3, and the fourth antenna A4 have a similar structure. The first antenna A1 and the second antenna A2 are located and spaced apart on one of the border frames 15. The third antenna A3 and the fourth antenna A4 are located on another one of the border frames 15 opposite to the first antenna A1 and the second antenna A2. The first antenna A1, the second antenna A2, the third antenna A3, and the fourth antenna A4 may form a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna. In one embodiment, the first antenna A1, the second antenna A2, the third antenna A3, and the fourth antenna A4 provide 4×4 multiple inputs and multiple outputs.
In other embodiments, the first antenna A1, the second antenna A2, the third antenna A3, and the fourth antenna A4 are not limited to the foregoing configuration, and may be respectively mounted to the four border frames 15 or may be mounted on three of the frames 15. In other words, the antenna 16 may be entirely mounted on one of the border frames 15, mounted on some of the border frames 15, or equally mounted on all of the border frames 15. The number of antennas 16 on each of the border frames 15 is not necessarily the same. The number of the antennas 16 formed on the metal frame 13 is not limited to four, and may be one or any number.
As shown in
In one embodiment, the first gap 151, the second gap 152, and the feed portion 153 are elongated in shape. The first gap 151 and the second gap 152 may or may not be filled with an insulating material. The feed portion 153 can be a wire, such as a wire of a metal segment on a flexible printed circuit board.
In another embodiment, the first surface 131 is adjacent to the backplane 12, and the second surface 132 is adjacent to the display screen 10. The first surface 131 is a smooth surface and does not define the recessed portion 134. Instead, the recessed portion 134 is defined in the backplane 12 adjacent to the first surface 131. Thus, the feed portion 153 is mounted on the first surface 131 and is received in the recessed portion 134 of the backplane 12.
In a third embodiment, the first surface 131 is adjacent to the display screen 10, and the second surface 132 is adjacent to the backplane 12. The first surface 131 defines the recessed portion 134, and the feed portion 153 is received in the recessed portion 134 of the first surface 131.
In a fourth embodiment, the first surface 131 is adjacent to the display screen 10, and the second surface 132 is adjacent to the backplane 12. The first surface 131 is a smooth surface and does not define the recessed portion 134. Instead, the recessed portion 134 is defined in the display screen 10 adjacent to the first surface 131. The feed portion 153 is mounted on the first surface 131 and received in the recessed portion of the display screen 10.
In one embodiment, the third surface 133 faces an inner side of the metal frame 13, and the second gap 152 passes through the first gap 151 and the third surface 133. In other embodiments, the third surface 133 faces an outer side of the metal frame 13, such that the third surface 133 is a portion of the outer surface 135 of the wireless communication device 200. Thus, the second gap 152 passes through the first gap 151 and the third surface 133 (the outer surface 135).
In other embodiments, the first length L1 of the first gap 151 may be shorter than the second length L2 of the second gap 152. The first length L1 of the first gap 151 and the second length L2 of the second gap 152 can be adjusted according to requirements.
When the feed portion 153 supplies an electric current, the electric current is coupled to the first gap 151 and the second gap 152 such that the first gap 151 and the second gap 152 respectively excite a first resonance mode and a second resonance mode and generate a radiation signal in a first frequency band and a second frequency band, respectively.
In one embodiment, the first resonance mode and the second resonance mode are both 5G sub-6 GHz modes. The second frequency band is higher than the first frequency band. The first frequency band is 3.3 to 3.6 GHz, and the second frequency band is 4.8 to 5.0 GHz.
As described in the foregoing embodiments, the antenna structure 100 includes at least one antenna 16 mounted on the metal frame 13. Each of the antennas 16 includes a first gap 151, a second gap 152, and a feed portion 153. The first gap 151 passes through the first surface 131 and the second surface 132 of the metal frame 13. The second gap 152 passes through the first gap 151 and the third surface 133 of the metal frame 13. The feed portion 153 spans the first gap 151 and supplies an electric current into the first gap 151 and the second gap 152 in a coupled manner such that the first gap 151 and the second gap 152 respectively excite the first resonance mode and the second resonance mode are generate the radiation signals in the 3.3-3.6 GHz frequency band and the 4.8-5.0 GHz frequency band, respectively. Therefore, the wireless communication device 200 can increase the transmission bandwidth by adding a 5G sub-6 GHz antenna while maintaining the performance of the original antenna.
The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. 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, including 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.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201811070579.3 | Sep 2018 | CN | national |
