Patent Grant
10784577
This Non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 107110309 filed in Taiwan, Republic of China on Mar. 26, 2018, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The present invention relates to a dual-band antenna module and particularly relates to a dual-band antenna module capable of avoiding mutual interference between signals using two frequency bands.
As the needs of users for network communication increase, electronic products often need to support network transmission protocols of different standards, and therefore, different antenna modules are often required to correspond to different types of network signals. For examples, the electronic products need to support wireless communications such as third-generation mobile telecommunication technology (3G), Bluetooth and wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi); and because the frequency bands of all wireless communications are different, different antennas are required to receive and transmit signals.
However, as the users have higher and higher requirements for the portability of the electronic products, the electronic products are also required to be lightweight and thin, so that the electronic products with increasingly complicated functions are difficult to provide a large amount of space for accommodating antennas. Under strict space limitation, the design and arrangement of the antennas become more difficult. In the prior art, although the dual-band antenna can resonate to generate signals of different frequency bands in a smaller space to solve the problem of insufficient space, during practical use, in order to avoid mutual interference of the signals of different frequency bands, it is difficult to willfully control the directivity of the signals of different frequency bands, resulting in inconvenience in use.
One embodiment of the present invention provides a dual-band antenna module, and the dual-band antenna module comprises a substrate, a dual-band omnidirectional antenna, a low-frequency reflection module and a high-frequency reflection module.
The dual-band omnidirectional antenna has a feed-in end disposed on the substrate, and the dual-band omnidirectional antenna is disposed perpendicular to the substrate and is used for resonating to generate a first radio-frequency signal with a first frequency and a second radio-frequency signal with a second frequency, wherein the second frequency is higher than the first frequency.
The low-frequency reflection module is disposed on the substrate and is used for selectively reflecting the first radio-frequency signal with the first frequency when the dual-band omnidirectional antenna operates in a directional mode. The low-frequency reflection module includes a first low-frequency reflection unit, a second low-frequency reflection unit and a third low-frequency reflection unit. The first low-frequency reflection unit is activated according to a first low-frequency directional control signal to reflect the first radio-frequency signal with the first frequency. The second low-frequency reflection unit is activated according to a second low-frequency directional control signal to reflect the first radio-frequency signal with the first frequency. The third low-frequency reflection unit is activated according to a third low-frequency directional control signal to reflect the first radio-frequency signal with the first frequency.
The high-frequency reflection module is disposed on the substrate and is used for selectively reflecting the second radio-frequency signal with the second frequency when the dual-band omnidirectional antenna operates in the directional mode. The high-frequency reflection module comprises a first high-frequency reflection unit, a second high-frequency reflection unit and a third high-frequency reflection unit. The first high-frequency reflection unit is activated according to a first high-frequency directional control signal to reflect the second radio-frequency signal with the second frequency. The second high-frequency reflection unit is activated according to a second high-frequency directional control signal to reflect the second radio-frequency signal with the second frequency. The third high-frequency reflection unit is activated according to a third high-frequency directional control signal to reflect the second radio-frequency signal with the second frequency.
The first low-frequency reflection unit, the second low-frequency reflection unit, the third low-frequency reflection unit, the first high-frequency reflection unit, the second high-frequency reflection unit and the third high-frequency reflection unit are disposed around the dual-band omnidirectional antenna.
The dual-band omnidirectional antenna 120 is capable of resonating to generate a first radio-frequency signal with a first frequency and a second radio-frequency signal with a second frequency, and transmitting the first and second radio-frequency signals in an omnidirectional mode. The second frequency and the first frequency occupy different radio frequency bands, and for example, the second frequency can be higher than the first frequency. For example, in wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), the second frequency may be within 5 GHz frequency band, and the first frequency may be within 2.4 GHz frequency band.
In
The extension support arms 124 are also coupled to the feed-in end 120A and symmetrically disposed at two sides of the bottom of the T-shaped support arm 122. For example, the extension support arms 124 are disposed in the +X direction and the −X direction of the T-shaped support arm 122 and are capable of resonating to generate the second radio-frequency signal with the second frequency.
Although the dual-band omnidirectional antenna 120 transmits the signals in an omnidirectional mode, the dual-band antenna module 100 is capable of controlling the directivity of the signals of different frequency bands through the low-frequency reflection module 130 and the high-frequency reflection module 140.
In
In addition, the first low-frequency reflection unit 132, the second low-frequency reflection unit 134, the third low-frequency reflection unit 136 and the fourth low-frequency reflection unit 138 could be disposed on the substrate 110 around the dual-band omnidirectional antenna 120. Because the first low-frequency reflection unit 132, the second low-frequency reflection unit 134, the third low-frequency reflection unit 136 and the fourth low-frequency reflection unit 138 are positioned in different directions of the dual-band omnidirectional antenna 120, when the first low-frequency reflection unit 132, the second low-frequency reflection unit 134, the third low-frequency reflection unit 136 or the fourth low-frequency reflection unit 138 is activated and reflects the first radio-frequency signal with the first frequency, the intensity of the first radio-frequency signal with the first frequency in that direction could be reduced. Therefore, by activating the specific low-frequency reflection unit according to the low-frequency directional control signal, the directivity of the first radio-frequency signal transmitted by the dual-band antenna module 100 is effectively adjusted.
For example, in
In such cases, when the first low-frequency reflection unit 132 and the second low-frequency reflection unit 134 are activated to reflect the first radio-frequency signal with the first frequency and the third low-frequency reflection unit 136 but the fourth low-frequency reflection unit 138 are not activated, the first radio-frequency signal transmitted by the dual-band antenna module 100 points to a direction between the third side and the fourth side of the dual-band omnidirectional antenna 120, that is, at the 225-degree direction, which is between 180 degrees and 270 degrees. In other words, if the first radio-frequency signal transmitted by the dual-band antenna module 100 wants to point to a specific direction, the low-frequency reflection unit in the opposite direction of the specific direction may be activated through the corresponding low-frequency directional control signal, so that the intensity of the radio-frequency signal in the opposite direction may be weakened, and the dual-band antenna module 100 is capable of transmitting the first radio-frequency signal, pointing to the specific direction.
Similarly, the high-frequency reflection module 140 may include a first high-frequency reflection unit 142, a second high-frequency reflection unit 144, a third high-frequency reflection unit 146 and a fourth high-frequency reflection unit 148. The first high-frequency reflection unit 142 is activated according to a first high-frequency directional control signal to reflect the second radio-frequency signal with the second frequency, the second high-frequency reflection unit 144 is activated according to a second high-frequency directional control signal to reflect the second radio-frequency signal with the second frequency, the third high-frequency reflection unit 146 is activated according to a third high-frequency directional control signal to reflect the second radio-frequency signal with the second frequency, and the fourth high-frequency reflection unit 148 is activated according to a fourth high-frequency directional control signal to reflect the second radio-frequency signal with the second frequency. In addition, the first high-frequency reflection unit 142, the second high-frequency reflection unit 144, the third high-frequency reflection unit 146 and the fourth high-frequency reflection unit 148 could be disposed on the substrate 110 around the dual-band omnidirectional antenna 120.
Because the first high-frequency reflection unit 142, the second high-frequency reflection unit 144, the third high-frequency reflection unit 146 and the fourth high-frequency reflection unit 148 are positioned in the respective directions of the dual-band omnidirectional antenna 120, when the first high-frequency reflection unit 142, the second high-frequency reflection unit 144, the third high-frequency reflection unit 146 and the fourth high-frequency reflection unit 148 is activated and reflects the second radio-frequency signal with the second frequency, the intensity of the radio-frequency signal with the second frequency in a certain direction could be reduced. Therefore, by activating the specific high-frequency reflection unit according to the high-frequency directional control signal, the directivity of the second radio-frequency signal transmitted by the dual-band antenna module 100 is effectively adjusted.
For example, in
In such cases, when the first high-frequency reflection unit 142 and the second high-frequency reflection unit 144 are activated to reflect the second radio-frequency signal with the second frequency, but the third high-frequency reflection unit 146 and the fourth high-frequency reflection unit 148 are not activated, the second radio-frequency signal transmitted by the dual-band antenna module 100 points to a direction between the third side and the fourth side of the dual-band omnidirectional antenna 120.
In other words, if it is desired that the second radio-frequency signal transmitted by the dual-band antenna module 100 points to a specific direction, the high-frequency reflection unit in the opposite direction of the specific direction may be activated through the corresponding high-frequency directional control signal, so that the intensity of the second radio-frequency signal in the opposite direction may be weakened, and the dual-band antenna module 100 is capable of transmitting the second radio-frequency signal in a mode of pointing to the specific direction.
In addition, because the low-frequency reflection module 130 and the high-frequency reflection module 140 may operate independently, in some embodiments, when the dual-band antenna module 100 operates in the directional mode, the first radio-frequency signal and the second radio-frequency signal which are transmitted by the dual-band antenna module 100 is capable of simultaneously pointing to different directions according to the needs of a user. For example, when the first low-frequency reflection unit 132 and the second low-frequency reflection unit 134 are activated but the third low-frequency reflection unit 136 and the fourth low-frequency reflection unit 138 are not activated, the first radio-frequency signal transmitted by the dual-band antenna module 100 points to the 225-degree direction between the third side and the fourth side of the dual-band omnidirectional antenna 120. Meanwhile, if the third high-frequency reflection unit 146 and the fourth high-frequency reflection unit 148 are activated but the first high-frequency reflection unit 142 and the second high-frequency reflection unit 144 are not activated, the second radio-frequency signal transmitted by the dual-band antenna module 100 points to the 45-degree direction between the first side and the second side of the dual-band omnidirectional antenna 120. In other words, the first radio-frequency signal and the second radio-frequency signal point to different directions. In other embodiments of the present invention, the first radio-frequency signal and the second radio-frequency signal which are transmitted by the dual-band antenna module 100 is capable of simultaneously pointing to the identical direction according to the needs of the user.
In the embodiment of
In addition, the first low-frequency reflection unit 132, the first high-frequency reflection unit 142, the third low-frequency reflection unit 136 and the third high-frequency reflection unit 146 may be formed on the first printed circuit board 150, and the second low-frequency reflection unit 134, the second high-frequency reflection unit 144, the fourth low-frequency reflection unit 138 and the fourth high-frequency reflection unit 148 may be formed on the second printed circuit board 160.
In
When a user intends to activate the first high-frequency reflection unit 142 to reflect the second radio-frequency signal with the second frequency, the corresponding first high-frequency directional control signal SIGHC1 is outputted to turn on the first diode 142D. At this moment, a voltage loop is formed between the first bias end 142B and the ground terminal GND, and the convex reflection element 142A is grounded. Thus, the first high-frequency reflection unit 142 is activated to reflect the second radio-frequency signal with the second frequency. In addition, the first inductor 142C prevents an external radio-frequency signal from causing circuit damage through the first bias end 142B, and allows the first high-frequency directional control signal SIGHC1 to pass through to turn on or off the first diode 142D.
The first low-frequency reflection unit 132 may include an L-shaped reflection element 132A, a second bias end 132B, a second inductor 132C and a second diode 132D. The second bias end 132B is capable of receiving a first low-frequency directional control signal SIGLC1. The second inductor 132C has a first end and a second end, and the first end of the second inductor 132C is coupled to the second bias end 132B to receive the first low-frequency directional control signal SIGLC1. The second diode 132D has an anode and a cathode, and the cathode of the second diode 132D is coupled to the ground terminal GND. A short arm 132A1 of the L-shaped reflection element 132A is coupled to the anode of the second diode 132D and the second end of the second inductor 132C and is perpendicular to the substrate 110, and a long arm 132A2 of the L-shaped reflection element 132A is parallel to the substrate 110.
When the user intends to activate the first low-frequency reflection unit 132 to reflect the first radio-frequency signal with the first frequency, the corresponding first low-frequency directional control signal SIGLC1 is outputted to turn on the second diode 132D. At this moment, a voltage loop is formed between the second bias end 132B and the ground terminal GND, and the L-shaped reflection element 132A is grounded. Thus, the first low-frequency reflection unit 132 is activated to reflect the first radio-frequency signal with the first frequency. In addition, the second inductor 132C prevents the external radio-frequency signal from causing circuit damage through the second bias end 132B, and allows the first low-frequency directional control signal SIGLC1 to pass through to turn on or off the second diode 132D.
In order to effectively reflect the signals, the low-frequency reflection module 130 and the high-frequency reflection module 140 could be disposed in a position corresponding to a quarter of wavelength of the dual-band omnidirectional antenna 120. For example, if the first frequency of the first radio-frequency signal has a center frequency of 2.4 GHz, the distance between the first high-frequency reflection unit 142 and the feed-in end 120A of the dual-band omnidirectional antenna 120 may be between 16 mm and 18 mm, and the distance between the first low-frequency reflection unit 132 and the feed-in end 120A of the dual-band omnidirectional antenna 120 may be between 36 mm and 38 mm. In other words, the first low-frequency reflection unit 132, the second low-frequency reflection unit 134, the third low-frequency reflection unit 136 and the fourth low-frequency reflection unit 138 could be disposed at the outer sides of the first high-frequency reflection unit 142, the second high-frequency reflection unit 144, the third high-frequency reflection unit 146 and the fourth high-frequency reflection unit 148, respectively.
In addition, in order to avoid the influence on the high-frequency signal when the low-frequency reflection module 130 is activated, the height of the low-frequency reflection unit of the low-frequency reflection module 130 may be between 0.09 times and 0.12 times the wavelength of the first radio-frequency signal, thereby preventing the radiation pattern of the high-frequency signal from being blocked when the height is too high, and also avoiding the poor reflection effect when the height is too low. For example, if the first frequency of the first radio-frequency signal has a center frequency of 2.4 GHz, the height of the first low-frequency reflection unit is 10 mm. In other words, the short arm 132A1 of the L-shaped reflection element 132A may extend from the dual-band omnidirectional antenna 120 at a distance of 36 mm towards the Z-axis direction by 10 mm, and the long arm 132A2 of the L-shaped reflection element 132A extends towards the dual-band omnidirectional antenna 120 by 12 mm, along a direction parallel to a plane of the substrate 110.
In embodiments of
In addition, in some embodiments of the present invention, in order to have the dual-band antenna module 100 more accurately adjust the directivity of the transmitted signal, the low-frequency reflection module 130 and the high-frequency reflection module 140 may further include a greater number of low-frequency reflection units and high-frequency reflection units which are disposed around the dual-band omnidirectional antenna 120. Therefore, when a low-frequency reflection unit or a high-frequency reflection unit of the dual-band omnidirectional antenna 120 disposed in a specific direction is activated to reflect the corresponding radio-frequency signal, the radio-frequency signal in the specific direction is reflected, so that the signal transmitted by the dual-band omnidirectional antenna 120 points to the opposite direction of the specific direction.
Furthermore, in some embodiments of the present invention, the number of the low-frequency reflection units and the number of the high-frequency reflection units in the low-frequency reflection module 130 and the high-frequency reflection module 140 may be reduced according to the needs of a system.
The first low-frequency reflection unit 232, the second low-frequency reflection unit 234, the third low-frequency reflection unit 236, the first high-frequency reflection unit 242, the second high-frequency reflection unit 244 and the third high-frequency reflection unit 246 are disposed on a substrate 210 and are disposed around a dual-band omnidirectional antenna 220.
In
In such cases, when the first high-frequency reflection unit 242 and the second high-frequency reflection unit 244 are activated but the third high-frequency reflection unit 246 is not activated, the second radio-frequency signal transmitted by the dual-band antenna module 200 points to the third side of the dual-band omnidirectional antenna 220, namely, the 240-degree direction shown in
Similarly, when the first low-frequency reflection unit 232 and the second low-frequency reflection unit 234 are activated but the third low-frequency reflection unit 236 is not activated, the first radio-frequency signal transmitted by the dual-band antenna module 200 points to the third side of the dual-band omnidirectional antenna 220, namely, the 240-degree direction shown in
In other words, the dual-band antenna module 200 is still capable of independently controlling the directivity of the signals of different frequency bands through the low-frequency reflection module 230 and the high-frequency reflection module 240.
In conclusion, the dual-band antenna module provided by the embodiments of the present invention includes the low-frequency reflection module and the high-frequency reflection module. The low-frequency reflection module and the high-frequency reflection module could be disposed around the dual-band omnidirectional antenna and activate the low-frequency reflection unit or the high-frequency reflection unit in a specific direction, which allows the radio-frequency signal transmitted to the specific direction to be reflected, thereby controlling the directivity of the transmitted signal. In addition, because the low-frequency reflection module and the high-frequency reflection module is capable of operating independently, the signals of different frequency bands point to different directions, thereby further increasing the flexibility in use.
The above embodiments are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention, and all changes and modifications made to the patent scope of the present invention should be within the scope of the present invention.
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