KR20090017907A - Antenna assembly and mobile terminal having same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an antenna assembly embedded in a terminal, and has a radiator operable in various communication bands in a space-constrained portable terminal, but has a separate feed structure for each band, thereby securing performance while being advantageous. Provided is an internal antenna assembly having excellent isolation characteristics and a portable terminal having the same.

Description

ANTENNA ASSEMBLY AND PORTABLE TERMINAL HAVING THE SAME}

The present invention relates to a built-in antenna assembly embedded in the terminal and a portable terminal having the same.

A portable terminal is a portable device that is portable and has one or more functions such as voice and video calling, information input and output, and data storage.

As the functions are diversified, the portable terminal may have complicated functions such as photographing a picture or video, playing a music or video file, receiving a game, or receiving a broadcast. With these features, it is possible to realize a comprehensive multimedia player.

In order to implement complex functions, various new attempts have been applied to portable terminals in terms of hardware or software. In addition, a user interface environment is provided for a user to search for or select a function easily and conveniently.

One aspect of the development of information and communication technology includes a dramatic increase in the amount of data that can be transmitted and received wirelessly and the transmission speed. An antenna for this purpose requires receiving wireless data with clean quality while moving.

The antenna mounted on the portable terminal has been developed to be exposed to the outside first, but the use of the built-in antenna is continuously increasing in consideration of the appearance.

Wireless services provided through mobile terminals are also increasing. For example, cellular mobile communication, digital broadcasting, near field communication including Bluetooth, high speed data communication, and the like. Accordingly, the number of antennas required may be increased. They differ in band and require multi-resonant antennas.

However, since the multi-band antenna embedded in the conventional portable terminal has a single feeding structure, there is a problem that isolation characteristics may be degraded.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a built-in antenna assembly having radiators operable in various communication bands in space-constrained portable terminals.

One aspect of the present invention is to facilitate tuning and performance implementation for a particular band of the operating communication bands.

An antenna assembly for this purpose is another object of the present invention so that isolation characteristics between antenna radiators are not impaired.

In order to realize the above object, the present invention is a carrier (carrier) formed in a form that can be embedded in a portable terminal; And a plurality of antenna radiators mounted to the carrier, wherein the antenna radiators include feeding portions corresponding to each antenna radiator so that they can be individually fed, wherein mutually facing portions between the antenna radiators are provided. Proposes an antenna assembly provided with a current canceling-out pattern in which currents can flow in opposite directions.

Accordingly, each antenna radiator is arranged to enable independent operation while reducing the impact on or from adjacent antenna radiators. In this process, the current canceling pattern part prevents current from flowing from one radiator to another in a similar direction in adjacent portions between the antenna radiators.

The antenna assembly of the present invention has a high utility in a form embedded in a portable terminal, and the antenna radiators may be made to be individually adjustable by being spaced apart from each other on a carrier.

Antenna radiators are formed to have a length that can be operated in different bands, it is possible to provide a variety of wireless services through the mobile terminal.

The current canceling pattern part may include a partial parallel section that is closest to each other between the antenna radiators, and may be formed so that the current flows in the opposite direction in the parallel section. The direction of the current flowing on the antenna radiator will depend on the pattern of the antenna radiator, the position of the feeder, and the like.However, in a close-to-facing part, a structure that can prevent mutual currents from being induced is partially parallel to the reverse current. The structure is presented.

The current canceling pattern portion may also include an open end of the antenna radiator.

The antenna assembly is implemented in a form that is embedded in the portable terminal. Therefore, an application example that can operate well in various bands in a limited space of a thin and light portable terminal can be obtained.

According to the antenna assembly and the portable terminal having the same according to the present invention configured as described above, since the bands which are in charge of each antenna radiator can be separately fed, the characteristics of the antenna radiator can be more directly understood and the overall antenna It is easy to adjust the performance.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, since these antenna radiators are mounted on one integrated carrier, it is possible to implement a small and slim portable terminal without requiring a separate space for antenna arrangement or a separate space for shielding. do.

Hereinafter, an antenna assembly and a portable terminal having the same according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic plan view of an antenna assembly in accordance with the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the antenna assembly 20 is disposed on an upper end of one side of the circuit board 10 on which the ground 11 is formed.

The antenna assembly 20 and the circuit board 10 may be of a size and shape that can be embedded in a portable terminal for wireless communication or data transmission and reception. Antenna assembly 20 may be applied to the arrangement to ensure good radiation performance. For example, the ground 11 is excluded from the periphery of the antenna assembly 20 to minimize the influence of other components or metal members, and the shielding member (shielding can, EMI paint, etc.) is also excluded. It is preferable.

The antenna assembly 20 provides a plurality of antenna radiators 21, 22, and 23 operating in each band, and the antenna radiators 21, 22, and 23 to provide a constant feeding position with respect to the circuit board 10. FIG. And a dielectric carrier 25 for supporting the antenna radiators 21, 22, 23.

FIG. 1 illustrates a form in which the first antenna radiator 21, the second antenna radiator 22, and the third antenna radiator 23 are arranged in a line, and each antenna radiator 21, 22, 23 is a portable terminal. They are arranged in close proximity to each other under conditions that need to be embedded in them. As a result, the distance between the first antenna radiator 21 and the second antenna radiator 22 or the distance between the second antenna radiator 22 and the third antenna radiator 23 has an influence in terms of isolation. It is going so close to give.

Each antenna radiator 21, 22, 23 may have a length and a pattern that can operate in different bands. However, the antenna radiators 21, 22, and 23 presented in FIG. 1 have been simplified to more clearly understand the isolation characteristics between the antenna radiators described in the present disclosure.

The antenna radiators 21, 22, and 23 include feed parts 31, 32, and 33 corresponding to each antenna radiator 21, 22, and 23 so as to be individually fed. That is, while the conventional antenna assembly operating in several frequency bands has an antenna radiator having one feed point in one carrier, in the present disclosure, a plurality of antenna radiators are installed in one carrier and they have separate feed structures. There is a difference in that. Accordingly, each frequency band is transmitted or received for each antenna radiator. Accordingly, if the first antenna radiator 21 is tuned, the first antenna 31 may be performed only through the first feed part 31, so that individual control may be easily performed.

As the antenna radiators 21, 22, and 23 are arranged in close proximity to each other for being embedded in the portable terminal, the antenna radiators 21, 22, and 23 are located at a portion where the distance between the antenna radiators 21, 22, and 23 is close. Due to the current flowing on the surface of the antenna may be induced to the adjacent antenna radiator. In the present disclosure, the influence of such a current is considered. According to FIG. 1, a current is applied to a portion facing each other between the first antenna radiator 21 and the second antenna radiator 22 and a portion facing each other between the second antenna radiator 22 and the third antenna radiator 23. There is formed a current canceling-out pattern (30) is formed so that can flow in the opposite direction to each other.

Referring to the current canceling pattern portion 30 in more detail through FIG. 1, the current canceling pattern portion 30 includes a nearest parallel section between the antenna radiators 21, 22, and 23. In the parallel section, the current flows in the opposite direction. That is, the current canceling pattern unit 30 is formed in a section in which a main current flows for operating in a band in charge of each antenna radiator 21, 22, 23, so that the leap of current to an adjacent antenna radiator does not occur. do.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram visually expressing a current flowing in an antenna radiator of the antenna assembly of FIG. 1. FIG.

The electric current fed from the feed sections 31, 32, 33 to the antenna radiators 21, 22, 23 flows along the conductive antenna radiators 21, 22, 23. Among them, the current flowing on the first antenna radiator 21 in the current canceling pattern part 30 is formed in the ↓ direction, and the current flowing on the second antenna radiator 22 in the corresponding section is formed in the ↑ direction. Can be seen. That is, the current flowing on the first antenna radiator 21 and the current flowing on the second antenna radiator 22 in the current canceling pattern portion 30 are formed opposite to each other. As a result, the current of the first antenna radiator 21 becomes a structure which is hard to jump to the second antenna radiator 22, and can secure isolation characteristics.

Similarly, in the current canceling pattern portion 30 between the second antenna radiator 22 and the third antenna radiator 23, a current flowing on the second antenna radiator 22 is formed in a ↓ direction, and in a corresponding section. The current flowing on the third antenna radiator 23 is formed in the ↑ direction.

Therefore, the current of the second antenna radiator 22 is difficult to jump to the third antenna radiator 23, so that the second antenna radiator 22 and the third antenna radiator 23 have isolation characteristics. It can be secured.

3 is a front perspective view of a portable terminal to which the antenna assembly according to the present invention is applied.

According to FIG. 3, the mobile terminal 100 includes a terminal body 140, and a case (which may be referred to as a casing, a housing, a cover, etc.) forming the exterior of the terminal body 140 may be the front case 141 and the rear. It is formed by the case 142. Various electronic components are built in the space formed by the front case 141 and the rear case 142.

At least one intermediate case may be further disposed between the front case 141 and the rear case 142. The cases 141 and 142 may be formed by injecting a synthetic resin, or may be formed to have a metal material such as stainless steel (STS) or titanium (Ti).

The front case 141 may include a display unit 145, a first sound output unit 143, a first image input unit 144, or a first manipulation unit 146.

The display unit 145 includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) module, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) module, and the like that visually express information. The display unit 145 may further include a touch screen to enable input of information by a user's touch.

The first sound output unit 143 may be implemented in the form of a receiver or a speaker. The first image input unit 144 may be implemented in the form of a camera module for capturing an image or a video of a user. The second manipulation unit 148, the sound input unit 147, and the external interface 149 may be disposed on at least one of the front case 141 and the rear case 142.

The first and second manipulators 146 and 148 may be collectively referred to as manipulating portions, and may be employed in any manner as long as the user is tactile in a tactile manner. For example, the operation unit may be implemented as a dome switch or a touch screen that can receive a command or information by a user's push or touch operation, a touch pad, a wheel that rotates keys, a jog method, or a method such as a joystick. It can also be implemented as. In functional terms, the first operator 146 may be configured to input a command such as a start, end, or scroll, and to input a number or letter, a symbol, and the like. The second manipulation unit 148 may operate as a hot-key that performs a special function such as activation of the first image input unit 144.

The sound input unit 147 may be implemented in the form of a microphone, for example, to receive a user's voice, other sounds, and the like.

The external interface 149 serves as a passage for allowing a portable terminal related to the present invention to exchange data with an external device. For example, the external interface 149 is a connection terminal for connecting to the earphone by wire or wirelessly, or a port for short-range communication (for example, an infrared port (IrDA port), a Bluetooth port, a wireless LAN port). (wireless LAN port) etc.}. The external interface 149 may be a card socket for receiving an external card such as a subscriber identification module (SIM) or a user identity module (UIM), a memory card for storing information.

On one side of the terminal body 140, an antenna 150 for receiving a broadcast signal may be disposed in addition to an antenna for a call. The antenna 150 may be installed to be withdrawn from the terminal body 140.

4 is a rear perspective view of the mobile terminal according to the present invention;

Referring to FIG. 4, a second image input unit 152 may be additionally mounted on the rear surface of the rear case 142. The second image input unit 152 may be a camera having a photographing direction substantially opposite to the first image input unit 278 and having different pixels from the first image input unit 144. For example, the first video input unit 144 has a low pixel so that it is easy to photograph a user's face and transmit it to a counterpart in a video call, and the second video input unit 152 immediately photographs a general subject. It is preferable to have a high pixel because it is not transmitted in many cases.

The flash 153 and the mirror unit 154 may be additionally disposed adjacent to the second image input unit 152. The flash 153 shines light toward the subject when the subject is photographed by the second image input unit 152. The mirror unit 154 allows the user to see his / her own face or the like when the user wants to photograph himself (self-photographing) using the second image input unit 152.

The second sound output unit 155 may be additionally disposed in the rear case 142. The added sound output unit 155 may implement a stereo function together with the first sound output unit 155 installed in the front case 141, and may be used for a call in the speakerphone mode.

The power supply unit 152 for supplying power to the mobile terminal 100 is mounted on the rear case 142 side. The power supply unit 152 may be detachably coupled for charging as a rechargeable battery, for example. The power supply unit 152 may include a rechargeable battery cell. The battery cell may be formed integrally with the case or may be formed separately from the case.

The portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the bar type illustrated in FIG. 3, and may be applied to various structures such as a slide type, a folder type, a swing type, and the like.

5 is an exploded perspective view of the portable terminal of FIG. 4, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the antenna assembly of FIG. 5 viewed from another side.

As shown in these figures, the terminal body 140 may be separated into a front case 141 and a rear case 142, and the antenna assembly 120 is installed inside the front case 141 and the rear case 142. It is disposed on one side of the circuit board 110 to be.

The antenna assembly 120 may be disposed at a corner so as to reduce electromagnetic interference by other components or conductors, and to reduce the influence of the user's hand or head.

The antenna assembly 120 includes a first antenna radiator 121 and a second antenna radiator 122 mounted on one carrier 125. The antenna radiators 121 and 122 include a signal feeder 131 and 133 and a ground feeder. 132 and 134, respectively. However, the ground feeders 132 and 134 may be excluded and should not be understood as essential elements of the present invention.

The antenna assembly 120 includes a first antenna radiator 121 and a second antenna radiator 122, and the first antenna radiator 121 has a low band, more specifically, a center frequency of about 800. The second antenna radiator 122 may operate in a high band, more specifically, a band having a center frequency of about 1900 MHz.

The dielectric constant? _R of the carrier 125 may be set higher than that of air to increase the resonance bandwidth between the first antenna radiator 121 and the ground 111 by increasing a capacitance component.

The first antenna radiator 121 and the second antenna radiator 122 may be formed in the form of a conductive metal sheet or a plated or printed metal thin film. The first antenna radiator 121 and the second antenna radiator 122 may be formed to have the same surface as the outer surface of the carrier 125. The first antenna radiator 121 and the second antenna radiator 122 may not only be in close contact with the mounting surface of the carrier 125, but may be disposed to proceed without being in contact with the carrier 125 in some sections.

The first antenna radiator 121 and the second antenna radiator 122 may be operated in one or more bands of several bands for mobile communication, for example, half wavelength (λ / 2) or one quarter wavelength. (λ / 4) or the like. In addition, the first antenna radiator 121 and the second antenna radiator 122 may additionally have a stub or pattern attached to the main strip vertically.

A current canceling pattern part 130 is formed at a portion in which the first antenna radiator 121 and the second antenna radiator 122 face each other so that current can flow in opposite directions. 8 to 11 visually show the densities of currents flowing on the surfaces of the first antenna emitter 121 and the second antenna emitter 122.

For example, when a current is applied to the port 1, that is, the signal feeder 131 of the first antenna radiator 121 in the low band, the direction of the current flowing in the pattern of the first antenna radiator 121 is It is like an arrow at each position, and the intensity of the current is proportional to the size of the arrow. 8 to 12, it can be seen that the current flowing on the first antenna radiator 121 and the current flowing on the second antenna radiator 122 are directed in opposite directions in the current canceling pattern unit 130. .

As a result, the radio performance of the first antenna radiator 121 and the second antenna radiator 122 may be confirmed in the S parameter diagrams of FIGS. 12 to 15. 12 is a wireless characteristic of a band transmitted and received through the signal feeder 131 of the first antenna emitter 121 as S11, and FIG. 13 is a signal feeder 133 of the second antenna emitter 122 as S22. 14 shows output characteristics of the band transmitted and received through S12, and output characteristics of the first antenna emitter 121 to the signal feeder 131 by the input of the signal feeder 133 of the second antenna emitter 122 as S12. 15 shows the output characteristic of the second antenna emitter 122 to the signal feeder 133 by the input of the signal feeder 131 of the first antenna emitter 121 as S21. The horizontal axis is frequency (MHz), and the vertical axis is signal magnitude (dB).

The radio characteristics shown in FIGS. 12 to 15 are clearly contrasted with the radio characteristics of the antenna assembly 220 of the type introduced in FIGS. 16 and 17. Here, FIGS. 16-25 were used to contrast with the antenna assembly of the present disclosure.

The antenna assembly 220 shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 also includes a first antenna radiator 221 and a second antenna radiator 222. However, it can be seen that the currents flowing on the surfaces of the first antenna radiator 221 and the second antenna radiator 222 are directed in the same direction in adjacent sections as shown in FIGS. 18 to 21. Therefore, it can be seen that currents that are leaped, such as A, B, C, and D of FIGS. 18 to 21, are generated.

The antenna assembly 220 shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 retains the radio characteristics shown in the Sparameter diagrams of FIGS. 22-25. 22 is a wireless characteristic of a band transmitted and received through the signal feeder 231 of the first antenna radiator 221 as S11, and FIG. 23 is a signal feeder 133 of the second antenna emitter 222 as S22. 24 is an output characteristic of the first antenna emitter 221 to the signal feeder 231 by the input of the signal feeder 233 of the second antenna emitter 222 as S12. FIG. 25 shows output characteristics of the second antenna emitter 222 to the signal feeder 233 by the input of the signal feeder 231 of the first antenna emitter 221 as S21. In particular, the signal feeder 233 of the second antenna emitter 222 is disposed on the right side of the carrier 225 in order to contrast how the isolation characteristics deteriorate, and the signal feeder of the first antenna emitter 221 ( It should be noted that the distance to 231 is also farther than that of the antenna assembly 120 shown in FIGS. 5 and 7.

It can be seen that S11, S22, S12 and S21 shown in FIGS. 22 to 25 are all numerically remarkably dropped in the resonance band compared to those shown in FIGS. 12 to 15. In particular, in the case of S12 and S21, the resonance band is shifted, making it more difficult to match the service frequency band.

As described above, it can be seen that the isolation characteristic due to the leap of the current between the first antenna radiator 221 and the second antenna radiator 222 is inhibited despite the distance.

6 is a block diagram of a portable terminal according to the present invention.

An example of the present invention is a plurality of wireless communication modules (181, 182, 183), the operation unit 146, 148, the first image input unit 144, the sound input unit 147, the display unit 145, the first sound output unit 143 , An external interface 149, a broadcast receiving module 185, a memory 184, a power supply unit 152, and a controller 180.

The controller 180 typically controls the overall operation of the mobile terminal. For example, perform related control and processing for voice calls, data communications, video calls, and the like.

Each wireless communication module 181, 182, 183 transmits / receives a radio signal with an external base station or server device through each antenna radiator 121, 122, 123. The wireless communication module (181, 182, 183) is responsible for the transmission and reception of voice data, text data, image data and control data under the control of the controller 180. For this purpose, a transmitter for modulating and transmitting a signal to be transmitted, and a receiver for demodulating the received signal. It includes.

The operation units 146 and 148 are configured as shown in FIG. 1 to provide the control unit 180 with key input data input by the user for controlling the operation of the terminal. The operation units 146 and 148 are composed of a dome switch, a touch pad (static pressure / capacitance), a jog wheel, a jog switch, and the like.

The first image input unit 144 processes an image frame such as a still image or a moving image obtained by the image sensor in a video call mode or a photographing mode. The processed image frame is converted into image data displayable on the display unit 145 and output to the display unit 145.

The image frame processed by the first image input unit 144 may be stored in the memory 184 or transmitted to the outside through the wireless communication modules 181, 182, and 183 under the control of the controller 180.

The sound input unit 147 receives an external sound signal by a microphone in a call mode, a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, etc., and processes the external sound signal into electrical voice data. The processed voice data is converted into a form transmittable to the mobile communication base station through the wireless communication modules 181, 182, and 183 in the call mode, and then output to the wireless communication module. In the recording mode, the processed voice data is output to be stored in the memory 184.

The sound input unit 147 may implement various noise removing algorithms for removing noise generated in the process of receiving an external sound signal.

The display unit 145 displays and outputs information processed by the portable terminal. For example, when the mobile terminal is in a call mode, the control unit 180 displays and outputs a user interface (UI) or a graphic user interface (GUI) related to the call. When the portable terminal is in the video call mode or the photographing mode, the mobile terminal displays and outputs the captured image, UI, or GUI under the control of the controller 180. When the display unit 145 is configured to include a touch screen, the display unit 145 is used as an input device in addition to the output device.

The first sound output unit 143 receives sound data or memory 184 received from the wireless communication modules 181, 182, and 183 under the control of the controller 180 in a call signal reception, a call mode or a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, a broadcast reception mode, and the like. ) Converts the sound data stored in) and outputs it to the outside.

In addition, the first sound output unit 143 outputs a sound signal associated with a function (eg, a call signal reception sound, a message reception sound, etc.) performed in the portable terminal. The first sound output unit 143 includes a speaker, a receiver, a buzzer, and the like.

The external interface 149 may be used to connect a mobile / wireless headset, an external charger, a wired / wireless data port, a card socket (for example, a memory card or a SIM / UIM card) to the mobile terminal. It serves as an interface with external devices. The external interface 149 receives data or power from an external device and transmits the data to each component inside the mobile terminal or transmits the data inside the mobile terminal to the external device.

The memory 184 may store a program for processing and controlling the controller 180, and provides a function for temporarily storing input / output data (for example, a phone book, a message, a still image, a video, etc.). It can also be done. This memory 184 includes the concepts of generally known hard disks, card type memory (eg SD or XD memory, etc.), flash memory, RAM, ROM, and the like.

The broadcast receiving module 185 receives a broadcast signal transmitted through a satellite or terrestrial wave, converts the broadcast signal into a broadcast data format that can be output to the first sound output unit 143 and the display unit 145, and outputs it to the controller 180. . In addition, the broadcast receiving module 185 receives additional data related to the broadcast (for example, an EPG (electric program guide), a channel list, etc.). The broadcast data and additional data converted by the broadcast receiving module 185 may be stored in the memory 184.

The power supply unit 152 receives an external power source and an internal power source under the control of the controller 180 to supply power for operation of each component.

As described above, the portable terminal 100 may include a plurality of wireless communication modules 181, 182, and 183 as the wireless service is provided, and the antenna radiator according to the present invention may be one as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5. Are individually fed on the carriers of the.

The antenna assembly and the portable terminal having the same described above are not limited to the configuration and method of the above-described embodiments, but the embodiments may be modified in whole or in part in order to enable various modifications. It may alternatively be configured in combination.

1 is a schematic plan view of an antenna assembly related to the present invention

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram visually expressing current flowing through an antenna radiator of the antenna assembly of FIG. 1; FIG.

3 is a front perspective view of a mobile terminal to which the antenna assembly according to the present invention is applied;

4 is a rear perspective view of the mobile terminal of FIG.

5 is an exploded perspective view of the mobile terminal of FIG. 4;

6 is a block diagram of a portable terminal related to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the antenna assembly of FIG. 5 viewed from another side. FIG.

8 to 11 are diagrams visually expressing the current density flowing in each antenna radiator of the antenna assembly according to the present invention

12 to 15 are diagrams showing the radio characteristics of the antenna assembly related to the present invention in terms of S parameters.

16 and 17 are perspective views of an antenna assembly in contrast to the present disclosure

18 to 21 are diagrams visually representing the current density flowing in each antenna radiator of the antenna assembly of FIGS. 16 and 17.

22 to 25 are diagrams showing radio characteristics of the antenna assembly of FIGS. 16 and 17 in terms of S parameters.

Claims (6)

A carrier formed in a form that can be embedded in a mobile terminal; And A plurality of antenna radiators mounted to the carrier, The antenna radiators include feeding portions corresponding to the respective antenna radiators so as to be individually fed, The antenna assembly, characterized in that the current canceling-out pattern is formed in the mutually opposite portions between the antenna radiators are formed so that the current can flow in the opposite direction. The method of claim 1, And the carrier is formed in one piece, and the antenna radiators are spaced apart from each other on the carrier. The method of claim 1, And the antenna radiators are each formed to have a length that can be operated in different bands. The method of claim 1, The current canceling pattern portion includes a closest partially parallel section between the antenna radiators, wherein the parallel section is formed so that the current flows in the opposite direction. The method of claim 1, And the current canceling pattern portion includes an open end of the antenna radiator. Portable terminal, characterized in that the antenna assembly of any one of claims 1 to 5.

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