1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a kind of printed antenna, more particularly a printed antenna suitable for MIMO wireless networking device and a wireless networking device having the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Antenna design that complies with the MIMO spec wireless networking device uses three antennas to form a three transmitter/two receiver antenna unit. For example, in the conventional MIMO antenna unit 24 as shown in
The first object of the present invention is to provide a printed antenna with better radiation pattern to improve gain and reduce dead space and having better antenna-to-antenna isolation to avoid interference and enhance antenna performance.
The second object of the present invention is to provide a printed antenna which uses a dipole antenna coupled with a monopole antenna on each side to form a three transmission/two receiver antenna configuration for use in MIMO wireless networking device.
The third object of the present invention is to provide a printed antenna for MIMO wireless networking device which includes three antennas with two adjacent antennas extending in approximately vertical arrangement to improve the antenna-to-antenna isolation.
The fourth object of the present invention is to provide a wireless networking device having a printed antenna of the invention.
To achieve the aforesaid objects, the printed antenna of the present invention changes its middle antenna in the three-antenna configuration of the MIMO antenna unit to a T-dipole antenna and arranges the two monopole antennas on each side of the T-dipole in a direction generally vertical to the T-dipole. Such arrangement is different from the conventional three-antenna system where all three antennas are adjacent to each other and face the same direction. As such, in the printed antenna of the invention, the T-dipole antenna which itself is a radiator and the grounding member configured between the T-dipole and the monopole antenna helps enhance the isolation between two adjacent antennas. In addition, the design of a T-dipole antenna coupled with a monopole antenna on each side extending in different direction can produce better radiation pattern on X-Y plane and higher gain, hence greatly improving the antenna performance.
The details of the present invention will be more readily understood from a detailed description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the following figures.
FIGS. 5˜7 disclose a preferred embodiment of the printed antenna 60 and a wireless networking device 50 having printed antenna 60 according to the invention.
As shown in
The base plate 51 is made of dielectric material in the shape of a generally flat rectangle. In a preferred embodiment, the base plate 51 is a FR4 circuit board. The base plate 51 has a component side surface disposed with a plurality of electronic circuits (called first surface 511 or top surface below) and a solder side surface disposed with a plurality of solder points (called second surface 512 or bottom surface below as shown in
The control circuit 52 is generally provided on the first surface 511 of base plate 51 and comprises a plurality of IC components and a plurality of electronic components to provide the function of wireless network transmission. The control circuit 52 can be implemented using prior art.
The grounding member 53 is electrically grounded (GND) and covers at least partial area on the first surface 511 and the second surface 512 of base plate 51, in particular the area on first surface 511 adjacent to the printed antenna 60 and extensively a major part of second surface 512 other than the part opposing the printed antenna 60. The grounding member 513 also provides the function of resonance with printed antenna 60 in addition to grounding. In a preferred embodiment, the grounding member 53 is a first space (not numbered) apart from the first edge 513 in the first direction (X direction), a second space (not numbered) apart from the second edge 514 in the second direction (Y direction), and a third space (not numbered) apart from the third edge 515 in the second direction (Y direction). In the area adjoining printed antenna 60, the areas on first surface 511 and second surface 512 covered by the grounding member 53 generally correspond to each other and have the same contour.
The printed antenna 60 is arranged on base plate 51 at a place uncovered by grounding member 53. The printed antenna 60 connects to control circuit 52 by means of a plurality of feedlines 541, 542, 543 so as to provide the function of wireless signal receiving/transmission. In a preferred embodiment, the printed antenna further comprises: a first antenna 61, a second antenna 62, and a third antenna 63. The first antenna 61 extends from a front edge 531 of grounding member 53 generally towards the first edge 513 and is positioned exactly in the first space. The second antenna 62 extends from a first side edge 532 of grounding member 53 generally towards the second edge 514 and is positioned exactly in the second space. The third antenna 63 extends from a second side edge 533 of grounding member 53 generally towards the third edge 515 and is positioned exactly in the third space. The grounding member 53 on the first surface 511 also comes with a first rear edge 534 extending from the end of first side edge 532 to the second edge 514, and a second rear edge 535 extending from the end of second side edge 533 to the third side edge 515. As shown in
As shown in
The microstrip line 612 is positioned on the first surface 511 of base plate 51 and adjoins the long narrow slot 614. The microstrip line 612 comprises: a first long narrow member 617, a bend member 618, and a second long narrow member 619. The first long narrow member 617 extends from the grounding member 53 in a direction roughly parallel to the direction of long narrow slot 614 to a place near the first edge 513. One end of the bend member 618 is connected to one end of the first long narrow member 617 and extends along the second direction to cross over the long narrow slot 614. One end of the second long narrow member 619 is connected to the other end of bend member 618 and extends in a direction roughly parallel to the long narrow slot 614 towards the grounding member 53. The body 613 and the extension members 615, 616 at its end that extend towards the sides visually constitute a T-shape. The microstrip line 612 and T-shaped radiating element 611 combined together possess the properties of a dipole antenna, thus called T-dipole antenna.
Again referring to
In a preferred embodiment, the second antenna 62 comprises: an end-section member 621, a first bend section 622, a second bend section 623, a third bend section 624, and a fourth bend section 624. One end of the end-section member 621 adjoins the first side edge 532 of grounding member 53 and protrudes a small length towards the second direction. One end of the first bend section 622 is connected to the other end of said end-section member 621 and extends a first length roughly along the first direction away from the first edge 513. One end of the second bend section 623 is connected to the other end of first bend section 622 and extends a second length roughly along the second direction towards the second edge 514. One end of the third bend section 624 is connected to the other end of second bend section 623 and extends a third length roughly along the first direction towards the first edge 513. One end of the fourth bend section 625 is connected to the other end of third bend section 624 and extends a fourth length roughly along the second direction away from the second edge 514. As shown in
As shown in
In the example of wireless networking device 50 for WLAN that complies with IEEE802.11g, the operating frequency range of its printed antenna 60 must be in the range of 2.4 GHz˜2.5 GHz. In a preferred embodiment, the lengths and relative positions of antennas 61, 62, 63 of the printed antenna 60 can be designed in the following manner:
1. The length of the two extension members 615, 616 of the T-shaped radiating element 611 of first antenna 61 (measured from the end of long narrow slot 614) is respectively ¼ wavelength of the operating frequency range of first antenna 61, and the shapes of the two extension members 615, 616 are symmetrical to each other.
2. The total length of the long narrow slot 614 of the T-shaped radiating element 611 of first antenna 61 is approximately ¼ wavelength of the operating frequency range of first antenna 61.
3. The first and the second long narrow members 617, 619 of the microstrip line 612 of first antenna 61 are respectively 50 ohm microstrips and their length is respectively ¼ wavelength of the operating frequency range of first antenna 61, while the bend member 618 is relatively shorter. Thus substantially the total length of microstrip line 612 is equal to ½ wavelength of the operating frequency range of first antenna 61.
4. The point at where feedline 542, 543 is connected to second antenna 62 and third antenna 63 respectively is called the feedpoint of the second antenna 62 and the third antenna 63. The feedpoint of first antenna 61 is located at where its bend member 618 crosses over the long narrow slot 614. As such, the distance between the feedpoint of first antenna 61 and that of second antenna 62 is approximately ¼ wavelength of the operating frequency range of first antenna 61.
5. In the second antenna 62, the combined length of first bend section 622 and second bend section 623 is approximately ⅛ wavelength of the operating frequency range of second antenna 62, and the combined length of the third bend section 624 and fourth bend section 625 is also approximately ⅛ wavelength of the operating frequency range of second antenna 62.
In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of feedlines 541, 542, 543 are 50 ohm microstrips to provide better power shift function.
As shown in FIGS. 5˜7, the unique design of printed antenna 60 of the invention enable the second antenna 62 and the third antenna 63 to be isolated from each other by grounding member 53. In addition, the radiating element 611 of the first antenna 61 (T-dipole antenna) and the grounding member 53 situated between the first antenna 61 and second antenna 62 will enhance the isolation between two antennas 61, 62. Also, the design of T-dipole antenna (first antenna 61) coupled with two monopole antennas (second antenna 62 and third antenna 63) on each side extending in different directions also produces better radiation pattern and higher gain on X-Y plane, thereby greatly enhancing the antenna performance.
Referring to
It is seen from the radiation pattern in
While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the present invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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095200898 | Jan 2006 | TW | national |