The present invention refers to an antenna system for a mobile terminal and a portable communications device, according to the preamble of claim 1 and 7, respectively.
The patent application SE0003951-1, filed Oct. 27, 2000 the subject matter of which forms the preamble of claim 1, discloses an antenna system for a mobile terminal, comprising an end-fed antenna, having an extended shape, and a counterpoise element, located near the first end of the end-fed antenna, the end-fed antenna being adapted to be fed, during transmission, against the counterpoise element.
It is favorable for such an antenna having an electrical length corresponding approximately to the wavelength of the frequency, or frequencies, on which the antenna is intended to transmit or receive. Frequencies commonly used in mobile telephone communications are 900 and 1800 MHz. In mobile terminal technology, there has been, and continues to be, a trend towards decreasing the size of the terminals themselves. It is therefore difficult to meet requirements on the antenna's electrical length by adjusting its physical length, since this would result in the antenna being too large.
In the art different approaches has been made to accomplish the desired electrical length of the antenna. It is known to use a tuning inductor and a capacitive hat on antennas to get resonance and to change the current distribution, (see ARRL Antenna Handbook). In WO9954956 extentions in the form of conductive patterns on a movable flap are used to obtain a larger antenna. These extensions form an essential part of the radiating structure.
It is an object of the present invention to improve the efficiency of an antenna system for a mobile terminal.
The object is met by an antenna system and a portable communications device, having the characterizing features of claim 1 and 7, respectively.
Using a tuning network according to the invention makes it possible to achieve an antenna having an electrical length corresponding to multiples of half a wave-length of the frequency used, without having to utilize an antenna presenting dimensions being too large to meet demands on the terminal itself.
Preferably the tuning network comprises a conducting element, with an extended shape and oriented in the transverse direction of the end-fed antenna. This will be favorable for the goal to reduce the size of the mobile terminal, since the tuning network, being oriented in the transverse direction of the antenna, and therefore the terminal itself, will have only a minor effect on the length of the mobile terminal.
The invention will now be described in greater detail, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, on which
A terminal chassis 4, having an extended shape and serving as a structural frame for the mobile terminal 1, is located within the main casing 2. As is described in SE0003951-1 the terminal chassis can serve as an end-fed antenna EA. The end-fed antenna EA presents a first end EA1 and a second end EA2. A counterpoise element 5 for the end-fed antenna EA is located near the first end EA1. The radio electronic circuits REC are connected between the end-fed antenna EA and the counterpoise 5, as illustrated by the broken lines L1 and L2, respectively.
Near the second end EA2 of the end-fed antenna EA a tuning network TN is located. As will be described in more detail below, the tuning network TN is adapted to adjust the electrical length of the antenna so as to assume a value corresponding to a multiple of a half wave-length of the frequencies used.
In the first embodiment of the invention the tuning network TN comprises a conducting element CE and an inductor 6. The conductive element CE presents a relatively large capacitive reactance, but a small resistance. The conducting element CE consists of a metal plate, located at a small distance from the second end EA2.
The conducting element CE can be held in place in the mobile terminal 1 by means of a holder, not shown, secured on the chassis 4, the holder being made of an insulating material. Alternatively the counterpoise 5 can be secured against the screening compartment, or other suitable component of the mobile terminal 1, whereby the fastening means for the counterpoise element 5 is made out of a non-conductive material.
In
In
Furthermore the conducting element CE could be an extended metal plate having a curved cross section. It could also have the shape of a cylinder, having its axis transversely of the end-fed antenna EA.
The inductance 6 connects the conducting element CE to the second end EA2 of the end-fed antenna EA, at which the inductance 6 is connected in series with the conducting element CE.
In
Obtaining the current distribution shown in
It is important to note that the tuning network TN itself is not intended to provide radiation.
Near the second end EA2 of the end-fed antenna EA a tuning network TN is located, comprising a conducting element CE and two inductors 6. The conductive element CE presents similar features as the one described in connection to
The inductances 6 connects the conducting element CE to the second end EA2 of the end-fed antenna EA, at which the inductances 6 is connected in series with the conducting element CE. Alternatively, more than two inductances could be used. The object of having more than one inductance is to reduce the current concentration, thus reducing the local field strength, making the tuning of the electrical length of the antenna EA less sensitive to adjacent objects. The inductors be presented in the form of discrete inductors or a pattern on a printed circuit board.
The
As an alternative the casing of the mobile terminal, or part thereof, may serve as an end-fed antenna fed against a counterpoise element, at which a tuning network according to the present invention is provided.
Near a second end EA2 of the antenna EA a tuning network is provided with a conducting element CE and an inductor 6 similar to what has been described above. Preferably the conductive element CE is oriented transversely of the antenna EA, and extends the full width of the inner space of the mobile terminal casing.
In the case the end-fed antenna is intended to transmit and receive signals on more than one frequency band, the tuning network can be arranged to adjust the electrical length of the end-fed antenna individually for each band. This can be achieved by a tuning network comprising a conducting element, for example in the form of a metal strip with an extended shape, arranged at an end of the antenna being opposite to the one at which a counterpoise element is located, in the same manner as described above. A circuit connecting the conduction element with the antenna is adapted to allow the antenna to obtain, for each band, an electrical length corresponding thereto.
The features of the embodiments described above can be combined in any manner desired. Any of the antenna forms described above, whether it is separate, a chassis, screening or casing for the mobile terminal, can be arranged with any type of tuning network, whether it comprises one or more inductances or a circuit connecting a conducting element with the antenna.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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01109651 | Apr 2001 | EP | regional |
This patent application claims priority from and incorporates by reference the entire disclosure of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/287,082, which was filed on Apr. 26, 2001.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP02/04254 | 4/17/2002 | WO | 00 | 10/14/2003 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO02/08701 | 10/31/2002 | WO | A |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20040113852 A1 | Jun 2004 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60287082 | Apr 2001 | US |