Smartphone Antenna In Flexible Pcb
Patent No. US11303011 (titled "Smartphone Antenna In Flexible Pcb") was filed by Aq Corp on Nov 25, 2020.
What is this patent about?
’011 is related to the field of antenna design, specifically addressing the challenge of integrating multiple antennas, such as those for Near Field Communication (NFC) and Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST), into the limited space of a smartphone. The background highlights the increasing demand for wireless communication capabilities in smartphones, coupled with the constraints imposed by existing components like batteries and metal housings, which can interfere with antenna performance.
The underlying idea behind ’011 is to create a compact, flexible antenna module that integrates multiple antennas on a single substrate while mitigating interference. This is achieved by strategically arranging coils on a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) and incorporating a magnetic sheet to enhance antenna performance and direct electromagnetic fields. The design aims to optimize space utilization and minimize the impact of surrounding components on antenna efficiency.
The claims of ’011 focus on a smartphone antenna module comprising a substrate with first and second major surfaces. A first antenna pattern is formed on the first major surface and includes an inner coil and an outer coil . A second antenna pattern is formed on the second major surface and includes an NFC antenna pattern, an inner antenna pattern, and an outer antenna pattern. The inner and outer antenna patterns comprise C-shaped lines forming radially extending gaps. NFC antenna extension lines, an inner extension line, and an outer extension line extend through these gaps. The NFC antenna extension lines, the inner extension line, and the outer extension lines are extending substantially in parallel and overlap the outer coil. The inner coil and the outer coil are electrically connected in parallel.
In practice, the antenna module is implemented by fabricating the coil patterns on a flexible PCB using standard printing techniques. The magnetic sheet, composed of a material with high magnetic permeability, is then attached to the PCB, strategically positioned to overlap specific coil segments. This arrangement allows for the concentration of magnetic flux, improving the antenna's ability to transmit and receive signals, particularly in the low-frequency bands used by MST and NFC.
This design differentiates itself from prior approaches by integrating multiple antennas into a single, flexible module, reducing the overall footprint and simplifying assembly. The use of a magnetic sheet in conjunction with strategically placed coils allows for improved antenna performance in the presence of interfering components. The parallel connection of the inner and outer coils further optimizes the antenna's impedance matching and radiation characteristics, enhancing its overall efficiency and effectiveness within the constrained environment of a smartphone.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the late 2010s when ’011 was filed, smartphones commonly relied on multiple antennas to support various wireless communication standards such as LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, and MST. At a time when antenna space within devices was limited, hardware constraints made it non-trivial to integrate multiple antennas, especially for low-frequency applications like NFC and MST, without signal interference or performance degradation.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner approved the application because the prior art, whether considered individually or in combination, did not reasonably teach or suggest all the elements of the claimed antenna arrangement. Specifically, the examiner emphasized that the claim recitation of "the inner antenna pattern comprising a plurality of concentric C-shaped lines forming a radially-extending inner gap on the second inner ring portion; the outer antenna pattern comprising a plurality of concentric C-shaped lines forming a radially-extending outer gap on the second outer ring portion; wherein the radially-extending outer gap on the second outer ring portion and the radially-extending inner gap on the second inner ring portion are connected and aligned in a radial direction; two NFC antenna extension lines formed on the second major surface, in which the two NFC antenna extension lines connect to the NFC antenna pattern and extend along the radial direction through both the radially-extending inner gap and the radially-extending outer gap" was not found in the prior art.
Claims
The patent includes 6 claims, with claim 1 being the only independent claim. Independent claim 1 is directed to a smartphone antenna module with a specific configuration of antenna patterns and extension lines on a substrate. The dependent claims elaborate on specific features and configurations of the antenna module described in claim 1, such as electrical connections, additional extension lines, coil wire widths, coil turn numbers, and integration of the antenna module into a smartphone for wireless charging.
Key Claim Terms New
Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.
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Date
Description
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US11303011
- Application Number
- US17105012
- Filing Date
- Nov 25, 2020
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Nov 25, 2040
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents