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EP-4360163-B1 - ISOLATION ELEMENT FOR DIVERSITY ANTENNAS

EP4360163B1EP 4360163 B1EP4360163 B1EP 4360163B1EP-4360163-B1

Inventors

  • BIGGINS, PAUL
  • CHEN, HUANYU
  • CHANEN, Lauren Francine

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20220912

Claims (14)

  1. A device (102; 502) comprising: a plurality of antennas (216-1, 216-2; 616-1, 616-2); transmission circuitry (637) coupled with the plurality of antennas configured to transmit a transmission signal; supporting circuitry (118; 618; 1218) configured to perform non-transmission functions in the device (102; 502) ; and a ground conductor (770; 870; 970; 1070; 1170) incorporated within the supporting circuitry (118; 618; 1218) and configured to be coupled to an electrical ground (746), the ground conductor (770; 870; 970; 1070; 1170) configured to receive and ground a portion of the transmission signal from at least one of the antennas (216-1, 216-2; 616-1, 616-2), wherein the supporting circuitry (118; 618; 1218) includes a wiring connector (660; 860; 960; 1060; 1160) said wiring connector (660; 860; 960; 1060; 1160) including the ground conductor (770; 870; 970; 1070; 1170) and a plurality of signal conductors (972; 1072; 1172) configured to conduct electrical signals other than the transmission signal.
  2. The device (102; 502) of claim 1, wherein a cross-section of the ground conductor is wider than a cross-section of another of the signal conductors.
  3. The device (102; 502) of claim 1, wherein the wiring connector (660; 860; 960; 1060; 1160) includes a flex connector.
  4. The device (102; 502) of any preceding claim, wherein the ground conductor (770; 870; 970; 1070; 1170) has a length that is a multiple of a quarter-wavelength of the transmission signal.
  5. The device (102; 502) of claim 4, wherein the wiring connector (660; 860; 960; 1060; 1160) includes an extension stub (1080; 1180) configured to extend the length of the ground conductor (770; 870; 970; 1070; 1170) to the multiple of the quarter-wavelength of the transmission signal.
  6. The device (102; 502) of claim 5, wherein the extension stub (1080; 1180) is disposed at a midpoint of the wiring connector (660; 860; 960; 1060; 1160) or at an end of the wiring connector (660; 860; 960; 1060; 1160).
  7. The device (102; 502) of claim 1, wherein the device (102; 502) comprises a housing (630, 650) in which the transmission circuitry (637), the plurality of antennas (216-1, 216-2; 616-1, 616-2), and the supporting circuitry (118; 618; 1218) are disposed.
  8. The device (102; 502) of claim 7, wherein: the housing (630, 650) of the device (102; 502) includes a first housing (630) and a second housing (650); a first section of the supporting circuitry (118; 618; 1218) is arranged in the first housing (630); and a second section of the supporting circuitry (118; 618; 1218) is arranged in the second housing (650).
  9. The device (102; 502) of claim 8, wherein: the wiring connector (660; 860; 960; 1060; 1160) connects the first and second sections.
  10. The device (102; 502) of claim 9, wherein, in a joint position of the first and second housings (630, 650), the conductor (770; 870; 970; 1070; 1170) of the wiring connector (660; 860; 960; 1060; 1160) is positioned within a predetermined distance range from each one of the antennas of the plurality of antennas (216-1, 216-2; 616-1, 616-2).
  11. The device (102; 502) of claim 8, wherein the plurality of antennas (216-1, 216-2; 616-1, 616-2) is located in the first housing (630) or the second housing (650); or at least one antenna of the plurality of antennas (216-1, 216-2; 616-1, 616-2) is located in the first housing (630) and at least one other antenna of the plurality of antennas (216-1, 216-2; 616-1, 616-2) is located in the second housing (650).
  12. A method comprising: coupling supporting circuitry (118; 618; 1218) within a device (102; 502) including a plurality of antennas (216-1, 216-2; 616-1, 616-2) with a wiring connector (660; 860; 960; 1060; 1160) that includes a plurality of signal conductors (972; 1072; 1172) configured to convey electrical signals other than a transmission signal to be generated by a transmission circuitry (637) coupled with the plurality of antennas in the device (102; 502); incorporating a ground conductor (770; 870; 970; 1070; 1170) within the wiring connector (660; 860; 960; 1060; 1160), the ground conductor (770; 870; 970; 1070; 1170) being sized to receive at least a portion of the transmission signal generated by at least one of the antennas (216-1, 216-2; 616-1, 616-2); and coupling the ground conductor (770; 870; 970; 1070; 1170) to an electrical ground (746) of the device (102; 502), wherein the portion of the transmission signal received by the ground conductor (770; 870; 970; 1070; 1170) is electrically grounded.
  13. The method of claim 12, wherein the ground conductor (770; 870; 970; 1070; 1170) has a length that is a multiple of a quarter-wavelength of the transmission signal.
  14. The method of claim 13, wherein the wiring connector (660; 860; 960; 1060; 1160) includes an extension stub (1080; 1180) configured to extend the length of the conductor (770; 870; 970; 1070; 1170) to the multiple of the quarter-wavelength of the transmission signal.

Description

BACKGROUND Wireless network communication devices that transmit data, such as Wi-Fi routers, commonly employ more than one antenna to improve signal coverage. Short wavelength signals, such as those used in common 2.4 GHz or 5.0 GHz signals, are on the order of 12.5 cm to 6 cm. Thus, multiple antennas separated by distances of even a short distance can significantly affect the radiation patterns of those antennas and, in turn, facilitate better communications with stationary or mobile devices through the differing radiation patterns of the antennas. However, when multiple antennas are placed within close proximity of one another, signal radiation matters transmitted by the antennas may merge or couple into a single pattern and thus undermine the value of including multiple antennas. EP 2 610 964 A1 discloses a multi-antenna device which includes a feeding element and a passive element. The feeding element has first and second antenna elements. The passive element is disposed between the first and second antenna elements. The passive element has a first portion that is grounded at one end, a second portion that is grounded at one end and a third portion that is grounded at one end via a serially connected member with inductance. The third portion is connected at the other end to the other ends of the first and second portions. US 2021/151871 A1 discloses an antenna module which includes a grounding conductor, a first radiator, a second radiator, and a grounding component. EP 2 565 983 A2 discloses an antenna device which includes first and second feed terminals. The distance between the first and second feed terminals is set to a distance less than or equal to almost one quarter a wavelength corresponding to a predetermined resonant frequency. A first end of the first antenna including a first band, as a communication band, including the resonant frequency is connected to the first feed terminal. A first end of the second antenna including a second band, as a communication band, including at least the resonant frequency of the first antenna is connected to the second feed terminal. A first protruding portion is provided between the first and second antennas so as to protrude from a ground pattern of an antenna board. SUMMARY The proposed solution relates to a device as stated in claim 1 of the accompanying claim set and a method as stated in claim 12. This document describes apparatus, devices, and methods for providing an isolation element for diversity antennas. The systems and techniques use supporting circuitry, such as wiring connectors, in a (transmission device) that uses separate diversity antennas to present a conductor connected to electrical ground to receive a portion of a transmission signal generated by at least one of the antennas to couple the signal to ground. In this manner, the conductor forms an isolation element that reduces interference between signals generated by the diversity antennas" and thereby supports the diversity antennas' capability of successfully transmitting a signal when an obstacle may impede the signal transmitted by one of the antennas. For example, an apparatus is described that includes supporting circuitry configured to perform non-transmission functions in a device including transmission circuitry coupled with a plurality of antennas configured to transmit a transmission signal. A conductor incorporated within the supporting circuitry and configured to be coupled to an electrical ground is configured to receive and ground a portion of the transmission signal from at least one of the antennas. In example embodiments, the conductor is part of a wiring connector of the supporting circuitry. The isolation element formed by the conductor may exist separately from the transmission circuitry including its antennas (and any interconnecting wiring). In example embodiment, the conductor is included in a wiring connector and may have a cross-section that is wider than a cross-section of any other signal conductor included in the wiring connector. Also described herein are devices that include an isolation element and methods for providing an isolation element in a device that includes transmission circuitry and supporting circuitry. A device described herein comprises transmission circuitry configured to transmit a transmission signal and a plurality of antennas coupled with the transmission circuitry. Such device includes supporting circuitry configured to perform non-transmission functions within the device and a conductor configured to receive and ground a portion of a transmission signal from the plurality antennas (thereby forming an isolation element reducing interference between the signals generated by the separate antennas). Methods for using supporting circuitry, such as a wiring connector, to provide an isolation element are also described. In example embodiments, the conductor (forming an isolation element for the antennas) is configured to be arranged in a housin