Patent Application
20240266733
This application claims the benefit of priority to Taiwan Patent Application No. 112103560, filed on Feb. 2, 2023. The entire content of the above identified application is incorporated herein by reference.
Some references, which may include patents, patent applications and various publications, may be cited and discussed in the description of this disclosure. The citation and/or discussion of such references is provided merely to clarify the description of the present disclosure and is not an admission that any such reference is “prior art” to the disclosure described herein. All references cited and discussed in this specification are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties and to the same extent as if each reference was individually incorporated by reference.
The present disclosure relates to an antenna structure and an electronic device, and more particularly to an antenna structure capable of covering multiple frequency bands and an electronic device having the antenna structure.
Currently, exterior designs of electronic devices, such as notebook computers, are developed toward being thinner and more lightweight, while needing to maintain high levels of performance. Since there is a tendency for an outer appearance of the notebook computer to be designed with a narrow screen frame, an internal space of the notebook computer that is available for placement of an antenna is very limited. Thus, due to the requirement of having a narrow screen frame on the electronic device, an issue of decreasing or insufficient bandwidth is likely to occur in the antenna.
Therefore, how to design an antenna structure capable of simultaneously transmitting and receiving multiple wireless frequency bands and having good antenna efficiency within the limited internal space of the electronic device has become an important issue to be addressed in the related art.
In response to the above-referenced technical inadequacy, the present disclosure provides an antenna structure and an electronic device, which can address an issue of the antenna structure not having a sufficient bandwidth due to miniaturization requirements of the electronic device.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, one of the technical aspects adopted by the present disclosure is to provide an electronic device, which includes a housing and an antenna structure. The antenna structure is disposed on the housing. The antenna structure includes a grounding element, a feeding radiation element, a feeding element, a switching circuit, and a first parasitic radiation element. The feeding radiation element includes a feeding portion, a first radiating portion, and a second radiating portion. The feeding portion is connected between the first radiating portion and the second radiating portion. The feeding element is used to feed a signal. The feeding element includes a grounding end and a feeding end. The grounding end is connected to the grounding element. The feeding end is connected to the feeding portion or the second radiating portion. The switching circuit is electrically connected to the grounding element. The first parasitic radiation element includes a first grounding branch and a second grounding branch. The first grounding branch and the second grounding branch are electrically connected to the switching circuit. A length of the first grounding branch is greater than a length of the second grounding branch. In response to the switching circuit being switched to a first mode, the signal passes through the first grounding branch, and the first radiating portion and the first parasitic radiation element are coupled with each other. In response to the switching circuit being switched to a second mode, the signal passes through the second grounding branch, and the first radiating portion and the first parasitic radiation element are coupled with each other.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, another one of the technical aspects adopted by the present disclosure is to provide an antenna structure, which includes a grounding element, a feeding radiation element, a feeding element, a switching circuit, and a first parasitic radiation element. The feeding radiation element includes a feeding portion, a first radiating portion, and a second radiating portion. The feeding portion is connected between the first radiating portion and the second radiating portion. The feeding element is used to feed a signal. The feeding element includes a grounding end and a feeding end. The grounding end is connected to the grounding element. The feeding end is connected to the feeding portion or the second radiating portion. The switching circuit is electrically connected to the grounding element. The first parasitic radiation element includes a first grounding branch and a second grounding branch. The first grounding branch and the second grounding branch are electrically connected to the switching circuit. A length of the first grounding branch is greater than a length of the second grounding branch. In response to the switching circuit being switched to a first mode, the signal passes through the first grounding branch, and the first radiating portion and the first parasitic radiation element are coupled with each other. In response to the switching circuit being switched to a second mode, the signal passes through the second grounding branch, and the first radiating portion and the first parasitic radiation element are coupled with each other.
Therefore, in the electronic device and the antenna structure provided by the present disclosure, by virtue of “the first parasitic radiation element including a first grounding branch and a second grounding branch,” “the first grounding branch and the second grounding branch being electrically connected to the switching circuit,” and “a length of the first grounding branch being greater than a length of the second grounding branch,” the antenna structure can satisfy requirements of multiple frequency bands despite miniaturization of the electronic device.
These and other aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of the embodiment taken in conjunction with the following drawings and their captions, although variations and modifications therein may be affected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure.
The described embodiments may be better understood by reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:
The present disclosure is more particularly described in the following examples that are intended as illustrative only since numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Like numbers in the drawings indicate like components throughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, the meaning of “a,” “an” and “the” includes plural reference, and the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.” Titles or subtitles can be used herein for the convenience of a reader, which shall have no influence on the scope of the present disclosure.
The terms used herein generally have their ordinary meanings in the art. In the case of conflict, the present document, including any definitions given herein, will prevail. The same thing can be expressed in more than one way. Alternative language and synonyms can be used for any term(s) discussed herein, and no special significance is to be placed upon whether a term is elaborated or discussed herein. A recital of one or more synonyms does not exclude the use of other synonyms. The use of examples anywhere in this specification including examples of any terms is illustrative only, and in no way limits the scope and meaning of the present disclosure or of any exemplified term. Likewise, the present disclosure is not limited to various embodiments given herein. Numbering terms such as “first,” “second” or “third” can be used to describe various components, signals or the like, which are for distinguishing one component/signal from another one only, and are not intended to, nor should be construed to impose any substantive limitations on the components, signals or the like.
In addition, the term “connect” or “connected” in the context of the present disclosure means that there is a physical connection between two elements, and the two elements are directly or indirectly connected. The term “couple” or “coupled” in the context of the present disclosure means that two elements are separate from each other and have no physical connection therebetween, and an electric field energy generated by one of the two elements excites an electric field energy generated by another one of the two elements.
Referring to
Referring to
The second radiating portion 22 includes a first branch 221, a second branch 222, and a third branch 223. The first branch 221 is connected to the feeding portion 20, and the third branch 223 is connected to the second branch 222. The antenna structure M further includes a first inductor L1 that is connected between the first branch 221 and the second branch 222. For example, an inductance of the first inductor L1 is 2.7 nH, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. It is worth mentioning that the feeding end 32 of the feeding element 3 needs to be connected to the first branch 221, but cannot be connected to the second branch 222.
The feeding radiation element 2 further includes a third radiating portion 23 that is connected to the feeding portion 20. The first radiating portion 21 extends along a first direction (a positive X-axis direction), the third radiating portion 23 extends along a second direction (a negative X-axis direction), and the first direction is different from the second direction. Furthermore, the antenna structure M further includes a second parasitic radiation element 6 that is connected to the grounding element 1. The feeding radiation element 2 further includes a fourth radiating portion 24 that is connected to the feeding portion 20. Specifically, as shown in
The first parasitic radiation element 5 includes a first grounding branch 51 and a second grounding branch 52. The first grounding branch 51 and the second grounding branch 52 are electrically connected to the switching circuit 4, and the switching circuit 4 is electrically connected to the grounding element 1. The first parasitic radiation element 5 further includes a first extension arm 53 and a second extension arm 54 that are connected to each other. The first grounding branch 51 is connected to a position J connected between the first extension arm 53 and the second extension arm 54, and the second grounding branch 52 is connected to the first extension arm 53.
In the antenna structure M of the present disclosure, at least one radiating portion of the feeding radiation element 2 and the first parasitic radiation element 5 are coupled with each other. For example, the first radiating portion 21 and the first parasitic radiation element 5 are separate from and coupled with each other, and generate operating frequency bands ranging from 617 MHz to 960 MHz and from 3,300 MHz to 4,200 MHz through the switching circuit 4 being switched to different modes. The third branch 223 and the second extension arm 54 are separated from and coupled with each other, and generate operating frequency bands ranging from 1,400 MHz to 1,600 MHz and from 3,300 MHz to 3,800 MHz. The feeding portion 20 and the third radiating portion 23 can be excited to generate an operating frequency band ranging from 2,200 MHz to 2,690 MHz. The fourth radiating portion 24 and the second parasitic radiation element 6 are separated from and coupled with each other, and generate an operating frequency band ranging from 4,200 MHz to 6,000 MHz. The first branch 221, the second branch 222, and the first inductor L1 that is connected between the first branch 221 and the second branch 222 can be excited to generate operating frequency bands ranging from 1,600 MHz to 2,200 MHz and from 5,500 MHz to 6,000 MHz.
Moreover, a length of the first grounding branch 51 is greater than a length of the second grounding branch 52. Thus, in the antenna structure M of the present disclosure, the signal can travel signal coupling paths of different lengths by the switching circuit 4 being switched among different modes, such that the generated operating frequency band can cover a low frequency range of from 617 MHz to 960 MHz. For example, as shown in
Referring to
Then, a switching mechanism of the switching circuit 4 among different modes is further described. It should be noted that, when describing one of the modes below, only the switch in a conducting state will be mentioned, and the other switches not mentioned are all in a non-conducting state.
The electronic device D further includes a control circuit R. The control circuit R can control the switches of the switching circuit 4, and switch the switching circuit 4 to one of the modes, so as to adjust the operating frequency band generated by the antenna structure M. For example, in response to the switching circuit 4 being switched to a first mode, the first switch SW1 is in the conducting state. The signal passes through the first grounding branch 51 and is grounded through the first path 41, such that the feeding radiation element 2 is coupled with the first parasitic radiation element 5 to generate a first operating frequency band. On the other hand, in response to the switching circuit 4 being switched to a second mode, the second switch SW2 is in the conducting state. The signal passes through the second grounding branch 52 and is grounded through the second path 42, such that the feeding radiation element 2 is coupled with the first parasitic radiation element 5 to generate a second operating frequency band. A center frequency of the first operating frequency band is lower than a center frequency of the second operating frequency band.
Moreover, the switching circuit 4 is configured to be switched to a third mode. In response to the switching circuit 4 being switched to the third mode, the first switch SW1 and the second switch SW2 are both in the conducting state. Thus, the signal simultaneously passes through the first grounding branch 51 and the second grounding branch 52 and is grounded through the first path 41 and the second path 42, such that the feeding radiation element 2 is coupled with the first parasitic radiation element 5 to generate a third operating frequency band. A center frequency of the third operating frequency band is different from the center frequency of the first operating frequency and the center frequency of the second operating frequency. For example, in the first embodiment, the first operating frequency band includes LTE band 71, the second operating frequency band includes LTE band 8, and the third operating frequency band includes LTE band 28.
It should be noted that the quantity of the paths of the switching circuit 4 is not limited in the present disclosure. As shown in
Through the design of the third path 43 and the fourth path 44, the switching circuit 4 can be further switched to a fourth mode, a fifth mode, and a sixth mode. In response to the switching circuit 4 being switched to the fourth mode, the third switch SW3 is in the conducting state, and the signal passes through the first grounding branch 51 and is grounded through the third path 43, such that the feeding radiation element 2 is coupled with the first parasitic radiation element 5 to generate a fourth operating frequency band. In response to the switching circuit 4 being switched to the fifth mode, the fourth switch SW4 is in the conducting state, and the signal passes through the second grounding branch 52 and is grounded through the fourth path 44, such that the feeding radiation element 2 is coupled with the first parasitic radiation element 5 to generate a fifth operating frequency band.
In response to the switching circuit 4 being switched to the sixth mode, the first switch SW1 and the fourth switch SW4 are both in the conducting state. Thus, the signal simultaneously passes through the first grounding branch 51 and the second grounding branch 52 and is grounded through the first path 41 and the fourth path 44, such that the first radiating portion 21 is coupled with the first grounding branch 51, the second grounding branch 52, and the first extension arm 53 of the first parasitic radiation element 5 to generate a sixth operating frequency band. A center frequency of the fourth operating frequency band is lower than a center frequency of the fifth operating frequency band, and a center frequency of the sixth operating frequency band is different from the center frequency of the fourth operating frequency band and the center frequency of the fifth operating frequency band. For example, the fourth operating frequency band includes LTE band 12, the fifth operating frequency band includes LTE band 5, and the sixth operating frequency band includes LTE band 14.
The aforementioned details are disclosed for exemplary purposes only, and are not meant to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In another embodiment, the switching circuit 4 is configured to be switched to a seventh mode. In response to the switching circuit 4 being switched to the seventh mode, all of the switches (i.e., the first switch SW1, the second switch SW2, the third switch SW3, and the fourth switch SW4) are in the non-conducting state. Thus, the antenna structure M can only generate radiation through the feeding radiation element 2 and the first parasitic radiation element 5, and the operating frequency band generated by the antenna structure M is higher than the first to the sixth operating frequency bands.
The first path 41, the second path 42, the third path 43, and the fourth path 44 are respectively connected to a first passive element E1, a second passive element E2, a third passive element E3, and a fourth passive element E4. The different paths of the switching circuit 4 can achieve different equivalent impedances by connecting to different passive elements. The passive elements (i.e., the first passive element E1, the second passive element E2, the third passive element E3, and the fourth passive element E4) can be inductors, capacitors, or resistors, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, in the first embodiment, the first passive element E1 and the fourth passive element E4 are resistors having resistances of 0 ohm, the second passive element E2 is an inductor having an inductance of 15 nH, and the third passive element E3 is a capacitor having a capacitance of 33 pF. However, the aforementioned details are disclosed for exemplary purposes only, and are not meant to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the antenna structure M is able to adjust the operating frequency band, impedance matching, a value of return loss, and the efficiency of radiation through configuration of the first passive element E1, the second passive element E2, the third passive element E3, and the fourth passive element E4.
The signal coupling paths of the antenna structure M can be diversified through the design of the first grounding path 51 and the second grounding path 52, and through switching of the switches (i.e., the first switch SW1, the second switch SW2, the third switch SW3, and the fourth switch SW4). The signal can travel one of the coupling paths, or travel the multiple coupling paths simultaneously, so as to improve the adjustability of the operating frequency band of an antenna and optimize antenna matching. Accordingly, the operating frequency band of the antenna structure M of the present disclosure can cover an LTE full frequency range (from 617 MHz to 5,925 MHz) that includes a low frequency band (from 617 MHz to 960 MHz).
Referring to
Referring to
Specifically, the antenna structure M further includes a second inductor 2, a first capacitor C1, and a second capacitor C2. The proximity sensing circuit P is electrically connected between the first grounding branch 51 and the grounding element 1, and the proximity sensing circuit P is further electrically connected to a mainboard (not shown in the figures). The second inductor L2 is electrically connected between the first grounding branch 51 and the proximity sensing circuit P, the first capacitor C1 is electrically connected between the first grounding branch 51 and the switching circuit 4, and the second capacitor C2 is electrically connected between the second grounding branch 52 and the switching circuit 4. The position of each of the first capacitor C1 and the second capacitor C2 is not limited in the present disclosure. In other embodiments, the first capacitor C1 and the second capacitor C2 can be disposed in the switching circuit 4. The second inductor L2 can serve as an RF choke to prevent the RF signal generated by the feeding element 3 from flowing into the proximity sensing circuit P. The first capacitor C1 and the second capacitor C2 can serve as DC blocks to prevent a DC signal generated by the proximity sensing circuit P from flowing to ground through the switching circuit 4. For example, an inductance of the second inductor L2 is 56 nH, and capacitances of the first capacitor C1 and the second capacitor C2 are 47 pF. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Moreover, the connection portion 511 connected between the proximity sensing circuit P and the first grounding branch 51 is more adjacent to the grounding element 1 than the second grounding branch 52, so as to reduce influences of the proximity sensing circuit P on antenna characteristics of the antenna structure M.
The specific position of the proximity sensing circuit P is not limited in the present disclosure. For example, the proximity sensing circuit P can be integrated into the switching circuit 4. The proximity sensing circuit P can also be independently disposed outside the switching circuit 4, such as being disposed on the substrate S of the antenna structure M or adjacent to the antenna structure M. Alternatively, the proximity sensing circuit P can be independently disposed on the mainboard.
It should be noted that, in the implementations of
In conclusion, in the electronic device D and the antenna structure M provided by the present disclosure, by virtue of “the first parasitic radiation element 5 including a first grounding branch 51 and a second grounding branch 52,” “the first grounding branch 51 and the second grounding branch 52 being electrically connected to the switching circuit 4,” and “a length of the first grounding branch 51 being greater than a length of the second grounding branch 52,” the signal can travel the signal coupling paths of different lengths by the switching circuit 4 being switched among different modes. Accordingly, the operating frequency band of the antenna structure M of the present disclosure can include the low frequency band (from 617 MHz to 960 MHz). Referring to
In addition, the signal coupling paths of the antenna structure M can be diversified through the design of the first grounding path 51 and the second grounding path 52, and through switching of the switches (i.e., the first switch SW1, the second switch SW2, the third switch SW3, and the fourth switch SW4). The signal can travel one of the coupling paths, or travel the multiple coupling paths simultaneously, so as to improve the adjustability of the operating frequency band of the antenna and optimize the antenna matching. Thus, the antenna structure M of the present disclosure can be used as a main antenna and can meet more stringent antenna characteristic requirements.
The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure has been presented only for the purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.
The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the disclosure and their practical application so as to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the disclosure and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing from its spirit and scope.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 112103560 | Feb 2023 | TW | national |
