Patent Grant
11664581
This application is a national stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2017/083832, filed on Dec. 20, 2017. The disclosures of the aforementioned application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Aspects of the present invention relate to a communication device comprising a millimetre wave antenna arrangement. Aspects of the present invention also relate to a method in a communication device. Further, aspects of the present invention relate to a computer program.
In the fifth-generation millimetre wave mobile communication, the radio application requires the use of antenna arrays with multiple radiating elements to meet the requirements of high gain and beam forming. In general, the antenna array is integrated into a module or package together with the Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC), or a uniform array is placed at the edges of the communication device. According to the 3GPP definition of performance parameters for the fifth generation (5G) New Radio (NR) User Equipment (UE) beam-forming, the 5G UE shall use omni-coverage millimetre wave antennas to achieve stable communication in all directions and orientations. By “omni-coverage” is meant that an antenna radiates equally well in all directions. It is difficult to provide omni-coverage for 5G UE due to the limited space in the UE.
It has been found by the inventors that the millimetre wave radiation can be easily blocked by the human body, e.g. the hand and/or head. An improved millimetre wave antenna for a mobile device such as a UE is thus required.
An object of the embodiments of the invention is thus to provide an improved millimetre wave antenna arrangement for a mobile device (or communication device).
Another object of the embodiments of the invention is to counteract the effect of the human body's blocking of the millimetre wave radiation.
According to various embodiments, at least one of the above-mentioned objects of the present invention is attained by providing a communication device comprising:
a millimetre wave antenna arrangement comprising a distributed millimetre wave antenna radiating element and a corresponding fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating element;
a Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit;
wherein the fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating element is arranged together with the Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit on a first substrate;
wherein the distributed millimetre wave antenna radiating element is arranged on at least one second substrate spaced apart from the first substrate; and
a switching arrangement configured to selectively connect either the fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating element to the Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit or the distributed millimetre wave antenna radiating element to the Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit.
Embodiments of the present invention can improve the antenna coverage performance of the millimetre wave antenna arrangement and can counteract the influence of the human body effect which is caused by a user's body (e.g. hands or head) blocking antenna elements of a mobile device. In alternative wording, the radiation coverage is expanded, and the human body effect is reduced. When the human body, e.g. a hand, blocks a fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating element, the switching arrangement can disconnect the blocked fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating element and instead connect a distributed millimetre wave antenna radiating element to the RFIC. Further, the total power consumption will not increase or not significantly increase. Hence, the embodiments of the present invention, an improved millimetre wave antenna arrangement with improved omni-coverage is provided.
In one embodiment, the communication device comprises a housing accommodating the millimetre wave antenna arrangement, the Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit, the switching arrangement and a processing unit, wherein the Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit is connected to the processing unit. An advantage with this implementation form is that an improved millimetre wave antenna arrangement for a communication device is provided.
In one embodiment, the processing unit comprises a baseband processor on a main Printed Circuit Board. The main Printed Circuit Board may be spaced apart from the first and second substrates. Consequently, the baseband processor may be spaced apart from the first and second substrates. An advantage with this implementation form is that the flexibility of the antenna arrangement is further improved.
In one embodiment, the millimetre wave antenna arrangement comprises a plurality of distributed millimetre wave antenna radiating elements including the distributed millimetre wave antenna radiating element, and a plurality of corresponding fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating elements including the fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating element. The plurality of distributed millimetre wave antenna radiating elements may be at least two distributed millimetre wave antenna radiating elements. The plurality of corresponding fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating elements may be at least two corresponding fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating elements. By having at least two distributed millimetre wave antenna radiating elements and at least two fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating elements, the flexibility and efficiency in transmitting and receiving signals to/from a base station is further improved. Advantageously, the switching arrangement is arranged to control the number of distributed millimetre wave antenna radiating elements and the number of fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating elements connected to the RFIC. An advantage with this implementation form is that the flexibility of the antenna arrangement is further improved. Further, the millimetre wave omni-coverage of the communication device is further assured.
In one embodiment, the millimetre wave antenna arrangement comprises a plurality of second substrates including the at least one second substrate, the second substrates being spaced apart from one another, and each second substrate is provided with at least one distributed millimetre wave antenna radiating element. An advantage with this implementation form is that the flexibility and efficiency of the antenna arrangement is further improved.
In one embodiment, each distributed millimetre wave antenna radiating element is connected to the switching arrangement by a flexible transmission line. An advantage with this implementation form is that the flexibility and efficiency of the antenna arrangement is further improved.
In one embodiment, the switching arrangement comprises a plurality of switches, wherein each switch is configured to connect a distributed millimetre wave antenna radiating element to the Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit while disconnecting a fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating element from the Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit, and each switch is configured to disconnect a distributed millimetre wave antenna radiating element from the Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit while connecting a fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating element to the Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit. An advantage with this implementation form is that a further efficient switching arrangement is provided, providing a further improved communication device.
In one embodiment, the Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit comprises a plurality of Radio Frequency channels, wherein each Radio Frequency channel is connected to a switch of the switching arrangement. An advantage with this implementation form is that a further efficient switching arrangement is provided, providing a further improved communication device.
In one embodiment, the switching arrangement is arranged on the first substrate. An advantage with this implementation form is that the switching arrangement is close to the Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit, providing a compact and efficient antenna solution for the communication device.
In one embodiment, the communication device comprises a plurality of Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits, wherein the communication device comprises at least one module, each module comprising a millimetre wave antenna arrangement, a Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit and a switching arrangement. An advantage with this implementation form is that the assembly of the communication device is facilitated.
In one embodiment, the communication device comprises a plurality of modules including the at least one module. An advantage with this implementation form is that the assembly of the communication device is further facilitated.
In one embodiment, the housing comprises a front, a back cover and a surrounding frame which mounts the back cover to the front, wherein the surrounding frame has four corners, wherein the first substrate of a first module is located at a first corner whereas the at least one second substrate of the first module is spaced apart from the first corner. An advantage with this implementation form is that a good antenna coverage performance is provided.
In one embodiment, the at least one second substrate of the first module is arranged adjacent to the surrounding frame. An advantage with this implementation form is that a good antenna coverage performance is provided.
In one embodiment, the first substrate of a second module is located at a second corner diagonally opposite the first corner, whereas the at least one second substrate of the second module is spaced apart from the second corner and arranged adjacent to the surrounding frame. An advantage with this implementation form is that a good antenna coverage performance is provided, and the human body effect can be counteracted in an efficient manner.
It is to be understood that the first and second modules and their parts may be arranged in other suitable ways.
In one embodiment, the processing unit is configured to control the switching arrangement to connect a distributed millimetre wave antenna radiating element and disconnect a fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating element when a change of a user scenario is detected. An advantage with this implementation form is that a good antenna coverage performance is provided, and the human body effect can be counteracted in an efficient manner.
In one embodiment, the change of the user scenario is the blocking of the fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating element by the user's hand or body, which may be called the human body effect. An advantage with this implementation form is that a further improved antenna coverage performance is provided, and the human body effect can be further counteracted in an efficient manner.
In one embodiment, the change of the user scenario is the change of the orientation of the fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating element in relation to a base station antenna to which the communication device connects. An advantage with this implementation form is that a further improved antenna coverage performance is provided.
According to various embodiments, at least one of the above-mentioned objects of the present invention is attained by providing a method for a communication device, comprising:
Connecting a fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating element which is arranged on the same substrate as a Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit to the Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit;
Detecting a change of a user scenario;
Disconnecting the fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating element from the Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit and connecting a corresponding distributed millimetre wave antenna radiating element which is arranged on a separate substrate as the Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit to the Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit.
By this method, a further improved antenna coverage performance is provided, and the effect of the human body's blocking of the millimetre wave radiation can be counteracted.
According various embodiments, at least one of the above-mentioned objects of the present invention is attained by providing at least one computer program with a program code for performing a method according to the second aspect of the invention when the computer program runs on a computer or processing unit.
Embodiments of the invention also relate to a computer program, characterized in code means, which when run by processing means causes said processing means to execute any method according to the present invention. Further, the invention also relates to a computer program product comprising a computer readable medium and said mentioned computer program, wherein said computer program is included in the computer readable medium, and comprises of one or more from the group: ROM (Read-Only Memory), PROM (Programmable ROM), EPROM (Erasable PROM), Flash memory, EEPROM (Electrically EPROM) and hard disk drive.
“Arranged on” is to be understood as mounted on, formed onto or attached to the respective substrate or board etc. By “spaced apart from” is meant that two, or more, entities or units are separated from one another, i.e. a distance is formed between the two entities. However, they may still be electrically connected, directly or indirectly, to one another. By “connected” is meant that two connected units can be electrically connected directly to one another, e.g. via an electrically conductive path, or indirectly connected/coupled to one another through some electrical means, for example a transformer or capacitor.
The above-mentioned features and implementations, respectively, may be combined in various possible ways providing further advantageous implementations. Further applications and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.
The appended drawings are intended to clarify and explain different embodiments of the present invention, in which:
The communication device 102, 202, 302 herein disclosed may be denoted as a user device, a User Equipment (UE), a mobile station, an internet of things (lIT) device, a sensor device, a wireless terminal and/or a mobile terminal, enabled to communicate wirelessly in a wireless communication system, sometimes also referred to as a cellular radio system and especially a LTE or New Radio (NR/5G) radio system. The UEs may further be referred to as mobile telephones or cellular telephones with wireless capability. The UEs in the present context are for example portable, pocket-storable, hand-held, computer-comprised enabled to communicate voice and/or data, via the radio access network, with another entity, such as another receiver or a server.
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
When the user is talking into the communication device, the processing unit 214 receives information that two fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating elements 422, 424 are blocked. The two fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating elements 422, 424 may be blocked by the user's head or hand. Thus, the processing unit 214 controls the switching arrangement 402 to disconnect said fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating elements 422, 424 from the RFIC 408 and instead to connect two distributed millimetre wave antenna radiating element 412, 414 to the RFIC 408. This scenario is shown in
When the user ends the conversation and hangs up, he grabs the communication device with his both hands to watch a video or read something on the screen of the communication device. The processing unit 214 receives information that the two fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating elements 426, 428, which still are connected, are blocked. The two fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating elements 426, 428 may be blocked by the user's hands. Thus, the processing unit 214 controls the switching arrangement 402 to disconnect said remaining fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating elements 426, 428 from the RFIC 408 and instead to connect two distributed millimetre wave antenna radiating element 416, 418 to the RFIC 408. This scenario is shown in
With reference to
With reference to
Connecting, 501, a fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating element which is arranged on the same substrate as a RFIC to the RFIC;
Detecting, 502, a change of a user scenario (which can be a scenario disclosed above);
Disconnecting, 503, the fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating element from the RFIC and connecting, 504, a corresponding distributed millimetre wave antenna radiating element which is arranged on a seperate substrate as the RFIC to the RFIC.
Provided is also at least one computer program product directly loadable into the internal memory of at least one digital computer or processing unit, comprising software code portions for performing the operations of the above-mentioned method when the product is/are run on the computer or processing unit.
It is to be understood that the millimetre wave antenna arrangement may include a plurality of distributed millimetre wave antenna radiating elements including the distributed millimetre wave antenna radiating element. It is to be understood that the millimetre wave antenna arrangement may include a plurality of corresponding fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating elements including the fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating element. It is to be understood that the millimetre wave antenna arrangement may include a plurality of second substrates including the at least one second substrate, the second substrates being spaced apart from one another. Each second substrate may be provided with at least one distributed millimetre wave antenna radiating element.
The fixed millimetre wave antenna radiating elements may be have a broadside radiation pattern and/or an end-fire radiation pattern.
Each of the above-mentioned antenna radiating elements may e.g. be a patch antenna, a printed antenna, a dipole antenna or a slot antenna etc. Different mixtures of the mentioned antenna versions, and others, are possible.
The features of the different embodiments of the communication device, method and the at least one computer program disclosed above may be combined in various possible ways providing further advantageous embodiments.
Finally, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but also relates to and incorporates all embodiments within the scope of the appended independent claims.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2017/083832 | 12/20/2017 | WO |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2019/120519 | 6/27/2019 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20100240327 | Lambrecht | Sep 2010 | A1 |
| 20140285378 | Hong et al. | Sep 2014 | A1 |
| 20150116169 | Zhinong et al. | Apr 2015 | A1 |
| 20160087348 | Ko et al. | Mar 2016 | A1 |
| 20160093939 | Kim et al. | Mar 2016 | A1 |
| 20160134323 | Bengtsson et al. | May 2016 | A1 |
| 20160172761 | Garcia et al. | Jun 2016 | A1 |
| 20160308563 | Ouyang et al. | Oct 2016 | A1 |
| 20170012359 | Jung et al. | Jan 2017 | A1 |
| 20170110787 | Ouyang et al. | Apr 2017 | A1 |
| 20170214121 | Ganchrow | Jul 2017 | A1 |
| 20180026341 | Mow et al. | Jan 2018 | A1 |
| 20190207323 | Joung et al. | Jul 2019 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 101809814 | Aug 2010 | CN |
| 102393536 | Mar 2012 | CN |
| 103178345 | Jun 2013 | CN |
| 104275698 | Jan 2015 | CN |
| 106684575 | May 2017 | CN |
| 107534223 | Jan 2018 | CN |
| 108496276 | Sep 2018 | CN |
| 202017003830 | Nov 2017 | DE |
| 2017132373 | Aug 2017 | WO |
| Entry |
|---|
| R4-1711036 Samsung et al.,“Consideration of EIRP spherical coverage requirement”,3GPP TSG-RAN WG4 Meeting #84-Bis,Dubrovnik, Croatia, Oct. 9-13, 2017,total 3 pages. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20210013587 A1 | Jan 2021 | US |
