Antenna module and wireless communication device employing same

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to antenna modules and wireless communication devices employing the antenna modules.

2. Description of Related Art

Many wireless communication devices (such as mobile phones) have multiple frequency bands. Thus, multiple antennas are secured inside the devices, such as a GSM/CDMA wireless communication antenna, a WIFI antenna, and a GPS antenna. These antennas are located at different positions inside the devices to prevent mutual interference. However, multiple antennas require an increased manufacturing cost. Moreover, multiple antennas occupy more space, making it difficult to miniaturize the wireless communication devices.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an antenna module in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the antenna module of FIG. 1 viewed from another angle.

FIG. 3 is an assembled, isometric view of the antenna module of FIG. 1 in a first state.

FIG. 4 is an assembled, isometric view of the antenna module of FIG. 1 in a second state.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an exemplary embodiment of a wireless communication device 100 incorporating an antenna module (not labeled). The wireless communication device 100 comprises a circuit board 10 , a cover board 40 , and the antenna module.

The circuit board 10 defines a notch 12 at one edge. The notch 12 has a sidewall 14 having an electrical feed point (not shown) and a grounding point (not shown) formed thereon. The feed point is configured for feeding current into the antenna module and the grounding point is configured for grounding the antenna module, enabling the antenna module to form a current loop.

The cover board 40 may be a portion of a housing of the wireless communication device 100 . The cover board 40 is positioned opposite to the circuit board 10 . The cover board 40 includes an outer surface 42 and an inner surface 44 opposite to the outer surface 42 and facing the circuit board 10 . The outer surface 42 defines a recess 422 which includes a bottom wall 424 . The bottom wall 424 defines an opening 426 through the inner surface 44 .

The antenna module comprises an antenna 20 , a connecting member 30 , a sliding board 50 , and a radiation member 60 .

The antenna 20 is made of conductive materials, such as metal. In the exemplary embodiment, the antenna 20 is a planar sheet parallel to the circuit board 10 and positioned in the notch 12 of the circuit board 10 , to save space. The antenna 20 includes a feeding end 22 , a grounding end 24 , and a radiation portion 26 . The feeding end 22 , the grounding end 24 , and the radiation portion 26 are all coplanar. The feeding end 22 is electronically connected to the feed point of the circuit board 10 , for feeding current into the antenna module. The grounding end 24 is electronically connected to the grounding point of the circuit board 10 , for grounding the antenna module. The radiation portion 26 has a first section 262 , a connecting section 264 , and a second section 266 . The first section 262 connects to the grounding end 24 . The connecting section 264 extends perpendicularly from the first section 262 . The second section 266 extends perpendicularly from the connecting section 264 and is located on a same side of the connecting section 264 as the first section 262 . The feeding end 22 connects to a substantially middle portion of the second section 266 and is substantially parallel to the connecting section 264 .

The connecting member 30 is made of conductive materials, such as metal. The connecting member 30 detachably and electronically connects the antenna 20 and the radiation member 60 . In the exemplary embodiment, the connecting member 30 is a flexible sheet which perpendicularly connects to an end of the second section 266 furthest from the connecting section 264 and extends towards the cover board 40 . Length of the connecting member 30 is substantially equal to distance between the circuit board 10 and the cover board 40 .

The sliding board 50 is made of plastic or some other non-conductive material. The sliding board 50 is slidably received in the recess 422 of the cover board 40 and opposite to the antenna 20 . In the exemplary embodiment, length of the sliding board 50 is smaller than length of the recess 422 , enabling the sliding board 50 to be pushed in one direction or another in the recess 422 . To ensure the sliding board 50 does not come out of the recess 422 , the sliding board 50 may further engage with other body portions of the wireless communication device incorporating the antenna module 100 .

The radiation member 60 is made of conductive materials, such as metal. The radiation member 60 is attached to a surface of sliding board 50 facing the circuit board 10 and is exposed from the opening 426 . The radiation member 60 may be formed by plating copper coating on the sliding board 50 , or by attaching metal sheet to the sliding board 50 . The radiation member 60 can also be formed by attaching flexible circuit board on the sliding board 50 .

In the exemplary embodiment, the radiation member 60 includes a main radiation section 62 and a contacting section 64 . The main radiation section 62 includes a first portion 621 , a second portion 623 , and a third portion 625 . The first and third portions 621 , 625 perpendicularly extend from the ends of the second portion 623 , and are located on the same side of the second portion 623 . Length of the third portion 625 is greater than length of the first portion 621 . The contacting section 64 perpendicularly extends from an end of the third portion 625 away from the second portion 623 . The contacting section 64 is substantially parallel to the second portion 623 . When the sliding board 50 slides in the recess 422 , the contacting section 64 makes contact with or separates from the connecting member 30 . When the contacting section 64 is in contact with the connecting member 30 , length of the current path formed in the antenna 20 , the connecting member 30 , and the radiation member 60 is in a certain proportion to the wavelength of GPS signals. Thus, the antenna 20 , the connecting member 30 , and the radiation member 60 cooperatively receive and transmit GPS signals. To ensure a good contact between the connecting member 30 and the contacting section 64 , the contacting section 64 may be gold-plated. When the contacting section 64 separates from the connecting member 30 , length of the current path formed in the antenna 20 and the connecting member 30 is in a certain proportion to the wavelength of Bluetooth (BT) signals. Thus, the antenna 20 and the connecting member 30 cooperatively receive and transmit BT signals.

The operating principle of the antenna module 100 is as follows.

Referring to FIG. 4 , when the antenna module 100 is required to receive and transmit BT signals, the sliding board 50 slides to separate the contacting section 64 from the connecting member 30 . At this time, the antenna 20 and the connecting member 30 cooperatively form a BT antenna for receiving and transmitting BT signals. When the antenna module 100 is required to receive and transmit GPS signals, the sliding board 50 can be slid to bring the contacting section 64 into contact with the connecting member 30 , as shown in FIG. 3 . At this time, the antenna 20 , the connecting member 30 , and the radiation member 60 cooperatively form a GPS antenna for receiving and transmitting GPS signals.

The BT antenna and the GPS antenna share the same feeding end 22 and the same grounding end 24 , without defining independent and separate feeding ends and grounding ends for each of the BT antenna and the GPS antenna, thus effectively decreasing the space required for the antenna module 100 inside the wireless communication device.

It should be understood, that the antenna module 100 is not limited to receiving and transmitting BT and GPS signals. The antenna module 100 can also receive and transmit other signals, such as WIFI signals, by changing the effective size of the antenna 20 and the radiation member 60 . In addition, the antenna 20 and the radiation member 60 are not limited to the structures as set forth in the foregoing description, so long as the one or more lengths of current path formed therein is in a certain proportion to the wavelength of a desired wireless signal.

In addition, the antenna module 100 is not limited to receiving and transmitting only two kinds of signals. The antenna module 100 can also be used to receive and transmit more than two different kinds of signals by increasing the number of radiation members corresponding to wireless signals to be received to the sliding board 50 .

It is to be understood, however, that even through numerous characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of assembly and function, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.