Patent Application
20220140484
The present disclosure generally relates to antennas. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for antennas integrated with a metallic body.
Various devices utilize antennas for wireless communication, such as wireless Access Points (APs), streaming media devices, laptops, tablets, and the like (collectively “wireless devices”). Further, the design trend for such devices is focused on aesthetics, compact form factors, etc., causing difficulty in antenna design. These wireless devices require communication utilizing Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Zwave, and the like, which can require multiple antennas for their implementation. Typical wireless devices generally include three hardware sections for transmitting and receiving wireless signals. These three hardware sections are illustrated in
The radio 13 is typically located on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) or a flex and is accompanied by other components, such as Front End Modules (FEMs), filters, switches, a Local Oscillator (LO), mixers, fans, coolers, heatsinks, and the like. The bridge 12 connects the radio to the antenna and is typically formed of coaxial cable, flex, spring clips, contact pads, and the like. The antenna 11 is typically formed of stamped and/or shaped sheet metal, flex with electrically conductive layer, plastic with printed electrically conductive layer, open or closed slots and cuts in metal, and the like.
The physical connections between each antenna 11, the corresponding bridge 12, and the corresponding radio 13 are typically made one at a time in a wireless device. Individually forming the connections for each antenna 11 and corresponding bridge 12 of a wireless device can require a significant amount of time, and thus can increase manufacturing time and costs for the wireless device.
In an embodiment, an integrated metallic component is disclosed. The integrated metallic component includes a metallic body and an antenna. The metallic body is adapted to at least one of act as a heat exchanger and at least partially enclose electronic components on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). The antenna includes an antenna element, a short wall, and an antenna feed leg. The antenna element is offset from the metallic body and includes a length extending along a perimeter of the metallic body. The short wall connects the antenna element to the metallic body. The antenna feed leg is offset from the short wall in a direction of the length of the antenna element and adapted to extend from the antenna element to the PCB and to form an electrical connection with an electrical contact for a Radio Frequency (RF) signal trace on the PCB.
In embodiments, the metallic body forms a continuous shield around circuitry in a device including the integrated metallic component.
In embodiments, the metallic body is adapted to both act as a heat sink.
In embodiments, the integrated metallic component includes a plurality of the antenna positioned about the perimeter of the metallic body, each connected thereto by a corresponding short wall. Optionally, each of the plurality of antennas is adapted to operate at a different frequency. Optionally, the plurality of antennas is operating at a same frequency in a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) configuration. Optionally, adjacent antennas of the plurality of antennas are separated by less than a quarter wavelength of operating frequencies thereof.
In embodiments, the antenna feed leg forms a cavity in a feed contact end therein, and wherein the cavity is adapted to receive the electrical contact therein with a surface forming the cavity contacting the electrical contact to form the electrical connection while the feed contact end is in contact with the PCB.
In embodiments, the integrated metallic component is a unitary structure with the metallic body, the antenna element, the short wall, and the antenna feed leg being a single structurally formed unibody. The unitary structure is unitarily formed by one of molding, stamping and folding, and Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining a single piece of material into the integrated metallic component.
In embodiments, a length of the antenna element is from 10 to 20 percent of a wavelength that the antenna is adapted to receive, a width of the antenna element is from 20 to 30 percent of the length of the antenna element, and a thickness of the antenna element is from 70 to 80 percent of the length of the antenna element.
In embodiments, the antenna further includes at least one antenna termination leg offset from the antenna feed leg in a direction of the length of the antenna element and adapted to extend from the antenna element to the PCB and to form an electrical connection with an electrical contact for an RF signal return on the PCB.
In another embodiment, an integrated antenna system is disclosed. The integrated antenna system includes a PCB and an integrated metallic component. The PCB includes an RF signal trace and electronic components. The integrated metallic component includes a metallic body and an antenna. The metallic body at least partially enclosing the electronic components. The antenna includes an antenna element, a short wall, and an antenna feed leg. The antenna element is offset from the metallic body and including a length extending along a perimeter of the metallic body. The short wall connects the antenna element to the metallic body. The antenna feed leg is offset from the short wall in a direction of the length of the antenna element and extends from the antenna element to the PCB. The antenna feed leg forms an electrical connection with an electrical contact for the RF signal trace.
In embodiments, the antenna feed leg forms a cavity in a feed contact end therein, and wherein the electrical contact is received in the cavity with a surface forming the cavity contacting the electrical contact to form the electrical connection with the PCB.
In embodiments, the integrated metallic component is a unitary structure with the metallic body, the antenna element, the short wall, and the antenna feed leg being a single structurally formed unibody. The unitary structure is unitarily formed by one of molding, stamping and folding, and Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining a single piece of material into the integrated metallic component.
In embodiments, a length of the antenna element is from 10 to 20 percent of a wavelength that the antenna is adapted to receive, a width of the antenna element is from 20 to 30 percent of the length of the antenna element, and a thickness of the antenna element is from 70 to 80 percent of the length of the antenna element.
In embodiments, the antenna further includes at least one antenna termination leg offset from the antenna feed leg in a direction of the length of the antenna element, the at least one antenna termination leg extending from the antenna element to the PCB and forms an electrical connection with an electrical contact for an RF signal return on the PCB.
In embodiments, the integrated metallic component includes a plurality of the antenna, the plurality of the antenna positioned around a perimeter of the metallic body, and wherein the metallic body and the plurality of the antenna are a unitary structure that is unitarily formed.
In a further embodiment, a wireless device is enclosed. The wireless device includes a PCB and at least one integrated metallic component. The PCB includes at least on RF signal trace and electronic components. The at least one integrated metallic component includes a metallic body and at least one antenna. The metallic body is at least partially enclosing the electronic components. The at least one antenna includes an antenna element, a short wall, and an antenna feed leg. The antenna element is offset from the metallic body and includes a length extending along a perimeter of the metallic body. The short wall connects the antenna element to the metallic body. The antenna feed leg is offset from the short wall in a direction of the length of the antenna element and extending from the antenna element to the PCB. The antenna feed leg forms an electrical connection with an electrical contact for the RF signal trace.
In embodiments, the antenna feed leg forms a cavity in a feed contact end therein, and wherein the electrical contact is received in the cavity with a surface forming the cavity contacting the electrical contact to form the electrical connection with the PCB.
In embodiments, each of the at least one integrated metallic component is a unitary structure with the metallic body, the antenna element, the short wall, and the antenna feed leg being a single structurally formed unibody. The unitary structure is unitarily formed by one of molding, stamping and folding, and Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining a single piece of material into the integrated metallic component.
In embodiments, a length of the antenna element, for each of the at least one antenna, is from 10 to 20 percent of a wavelength that the antenna element is adapted to receive, a width of the antenna element is from 20 to 30 percent of the length of the antenna element, and a thickness of the antenna element is from 70 to 80 percent of the length of the antenna element.
In embodiments, the at least one antenna further includes at least one antenna termination leg offset from the antenna feed leg in a direction of the length of the antenna element, the at least one antenna termination leg extending from the antenna element to the PCB and forms an electrical connection with an electrical contact for an RF signal return on the PCB.
In embodiments, each of the at least one metallic components comprises a heat sink.
The present disclosure is illustrated and described herein with reference to the various drawings, in which like reference numbers are used to denote like system components/method steps, as appropriate, and in which:
In various embodiments, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for integrated antenna systems. The integrated antenna systems include a PCB and an integrated metallic component. The integrated metallic component includes a metallic body that at least one of shields electronic components on the PCB and is adapted to act as a heat exchanger. The integrated metallic component also includes an antenna. The antenna element of the antenna is offset from a perimeter of the metallic enclosure, extends along the perimeter, and is integrally connected to the metallic enclosure by a short wall.
By integrating the antenna with the metallic body, such as by unitarily forming the metallic body and the antenna by one of molding, stamping and folding, and Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining a single piece of material, the entirety of the integrated metallic component can be installed in a single step, which includes connecting the antenna element signal traces on the PCB, such as by aligning feed legs of the antenna with contact elements of the signal traces.
Further, the metallic body can both shield the electronic components and act as a heat exchanger, such as a heat sink integrated in a shield. As such, the integrated metallic component is a shield for the electronic components, a heat sink, and an antenna, blurring the lines between an RF PCB, heat sinks, and antennas.
The metallic body 120 is adapted to at least one of enclose electronic components of an electronic device therein act as a heat exchanger, such as a heat sink or a cold plate. In some embodiments, the metallic body 120 forms a continuous shield around circuitry of a respective device, such as the electronic components mounted on the PCB 130. In embodiments, the metallic body 120 is also connected to a Radio Frequency (RF) ground of the PCB 130. In some embodiments, the metallic body 120 is adapted to both shield the electronic components and act as a heat exchanger.
Each of the one or more antennas 110 includes an antenna element 112, a short wall 114, and an antenna feed leg 116. The antenna element 112 is positioned and oriented adjacent to and offset from a perimeter edge of the metallic body 120. In the embodiment illustrated, the antenna element 112 extends along the perimeter edge of the metallic body 120, such as lengthwise, parallel, or tangential to the perimeter edge of the metallic body 120. In embodiments, the antenna element 112 generally matches a contour of the perimeter edge of the metallic body 120 along the length of the antenna element 112.
The antenna element 112 can be adapted for use with various technologies and standards, such as short-range radio (such as Bluetooth), Zigbee, Ultra-Wide Band (UWB), Cellular, Dual band Wi-Fi, and the like.
The gap between the perimeter edge of the metallic body 120 and the antenna element 112 is selected to minimize a profile of the antenna 110. In embodiments, the gap is approximately a quarter of the length of the antenna element 112. In embodiments, the gap is from 20 percent to 30 percent of the length of the antenna element 112.
In embodiments, the length of the antenna element 112 is less than a quarter of the wavelength that the antenna 110 is adapted to receive. In some embodiments, the antenna element 112 is approximately one-sixth of the wavelength, such as from ten percent to twenty percent of the wavelength. For example, a wavelength for a 5 GHz signal is approximately 60 millimeters and the length of the antenna element 112 is from 6 millimeters to 12 millimeters, such as 10 millimeters.
In embodiments, a width of the antenna element 112 is similar to that of the gap and is approximately a quarter of the length of the antenna element 112, such as from 20 percent to 30 percent of the length of the antenna element 112. In the 5 GHz example above, where the length of the antenna element is 10 millimeters, the width of the antenna element 112 is from 2 millimeters to 3 millimeters, such as 2.5 millimeters.
In embodiments, a thickness of the antenna element 112 is approximately three-quarters of the length of the antenna element 112, such as from 70 percent to 80 percent of the length of the antenna element 112. In the 5 GHz example above, where the length of the antenna element is 10 millimeters, the thickness of the antenna element 112 is from 7 millimeters to 8 millimeters, such as 7.5 millimeters. In some embodiments, the width and the thickness dimensions are interchanged.
The short wall 114 connects the antenna element 112 to the metallic body 120. In embodiments, the width of the short wall 114 from the metallic body 120 to the antenna element 112 is that of the gap, such as approximately a quarter of the length of the antenna element 112. In embodiments, the width of the short wall 114 is from 20 percent to 30 percent of the length of the antenna element 112. In the embodiment illustrated, the short wall 114 is positioned at an end of the antenna element 112. In other embodiments, the short wall 114 is positioned between the ends of the antenna element 112 along a length of the antenna element 112.
In some embodiments, a length of the antenna element 112 is less than one-fifth of a wavelength that the antenna 110 is adapted to receive, a width of the antenna element 112 is less than one-twentieth of the wavelength, and a thickness of the antenna element 112 is less than one-fifth of the wavelength, wherein a sum of the length, the width and the thickness is less than one-half of the wavelength. In embodiments, a surface area of the antenna element is more than one-fifth by one-fifth squared wavelengths.
The antenna feed leg 116 is offset from the short wall 114 along the length of the antenna element 112. In the embodiment illustrated, the antenna feed leg 116 is positioned distal to the short wall 114 with regards to the antenna element 112, such as at or adjacent to an end of the antenna element 112. The antenna feed leg 116 extends from the antenna element 112 to the PCB 130 and includes a feed contact end 117 that is adapted to receive an electrical current from the PCB 130.
In embodiments, such as the embodiment illustrated in
While two additional antenna termination legs 115, 118 are shown in the illustrated embodiment, additional antenna termination legs 115 can also be included. In embodiments, the number of antenna termination legs 115, 118 and the positioning thereof, along with the antenna feed leg 116 and the position thereof, is based on one or more of physical support requirements for the integrated metallic component 105 and tuning requirements for the antenna element 110.
Referring to
In embodiments including one or more antenna termination legs 115, 118, the PCB 130 also includes an RF signal return 138. In embodiments, the RF signal return 138 includes a matching network 137. The matching network 137 can include inductors (L) and/or capacitors (C), or may be left open. In the embodiment illustrated, the electrical connection between the RF signal return 138 and the termination contact end 119 is facilitated by an electrical contact 134.
The integrated antenna system 100 also includes electronic components on the PCB 130. In embodiments, these electronic components include one or more FEMs 140, one or more radios 141, memory 142, AC/DC 143, electronics 144, switches 145, storage 146, and the like. The RF signal traces 146 and the RF signal returns 138 electrically connect the antenna feed legs 116 and the antenna termination legs 115, 118 to a corresponding radio 140.
In the embodiment illustrated in
In some embodiments, the multiple antennas 110 operate at a same frequency and are configured to operate in a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) configuration. In other embodiments, the multiple antennas 110 operate at different frequencies. The multiple antennas 110 are disposed around a perimeter of the metallic body 120. In some embodiments, adjacent antennas are separated by less than a quarter wavelength of operating frequencies thereof.
As can be seen in
In the embodiment illustrated, the wireless device 200 also includes a mid-heatsink 220 and a bottom heatsink 225, each of which can include antennas 110 integrally formed therein.
It will be appreciated that some embodiments described herein may include or utilize one or more generic or specialized processors (“one or more processors”) such as microprocessors; Central Processing Units (CPUs); Digital Signal Processors (DSPs): customized processors such as Network Processors (NPs) or Network Processing Units (NPUs), Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), or the like; Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs); and the like along with unique stored program instructions (including both software and firmware) for control thereof to implement, in conjunction with certain non-processor circuits, some, most, or all of the functions of the methods and/or systems described herein. Alternatively, some or all functions may be implemented by a state machine that has no stored program instructions, or in one or more Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), in which each function or some combinations of certain of the functions are implemented as custom logic or circuitry. Of course, a combination of the aforementioned approaches may be used. For some of the embodiments described herein, a corresponding device in hardware and optionally with software, firmware, and a combination thereof can be referred to as “circuitry configured to,” “logic configured to,” etc. perform a set of operations, steps, methods, processes, algorithms, functions, techniques, etc. on digital and/or analog signals as described herein for the various embodiments.
Moreover, some embodiments may include a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for programming a computer, server, appliance, device, processor, circuit, etc. to perform functions as described and claimed herein. Examples of such non-transitory computer-readable medium include, but are not limited to, a hard disk, an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a Programmable ROM (PROM), an Erasable PROM (EPROM), an Electrically EPROM (EEPROM), Flash memory, and the like. When stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium, software can include instructions executable by a processor or device (e.g., any type of programmable circuitry or logic) that, in response to such execution, cause a processor or the device to perform a set of operations, steps, methods, processes, algorithms, functions, techniques, etc. as described herein for the various embodiments.
Although the present disclosure has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, are contemplated thereby, and are intended to be covered by the following claims.
