US-12620714-B2 - Antenna module

US12620714B2US 12620714 B2US12620714 B2US 12620714B2US-12620714-B2

Abstract

An antenna module includes a first dielectric substrate at which a first radiating electrode with a flat plate shape is disposed and a second dielectric substrate at which a second radiating electrode shape is disposed. The first dielectric substrate has a first surface and a second surface that are opposite each other. The first radiating electrode is disposed on the second surface of the first dielectric substrate or at a position between the first and second surfaces of the first dielectric substrate. The second dielectric substrate includes a region that is arranged so as abut the first dielectric substrate and a region that is in contact with the first surface of the dielectric substrate. A normal direction of the radiating electrode is different from a normal direction of the radiating electrode.

Inventors

Kengo Onaka
Yosuke Sato
Hirotsugu Mori

Assignees

MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20241017
Priority Date: 20220427

Claims (20)

1 . An antenna module comprising: a first substrate at which a first radiating element with a flat plate shape is disposed, the first substrate having a first surface and a second surface that are opposite each other; and a second substrate at which a second radiating element is disposed, wherein the first radiating element is disposed on the second surface of the first substrate or at a position between the first surface and the second surface of the first substrate, wherein the second substrate includes: a first region that is arranged so as to abut the first substrate between the first surface of the first substrate and the second surface of the first substrate, and a second region that is in contact with the first surface of the first substrate, and wherein a normal direction of the second radiating element is different from a normal direction of the first radiating element.
2 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , wherein a recessed part that is recessed in a normal direction of the first surface is formed on the first surface of the first substrate, and wherein the first region of the second substrate is arranged so as to fit into the recessed part.
3 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , wherein the second radiating element has a flat shape.
4 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , wherein the second substrate includes a connection electrode that is disposed in the second region and allows electrical connection with the first substrate, and wherein a high frequency signal is transmitted via the connection electrode to the second radiating element.
5 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , wherein in a case where the antenna module is seen in a plan view from a normal direction of the first substrate, at least part of the second substrate projects outward relative to an outermost peripheral end portion of the first substrate.
6 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , wherein the second substrate projects out in a normal direction of the first substrate from the first surface.
7 . The antenna module according to claim 6 , wherein the second substrate projects out in the normal direction of the first substrate from the second surface.
8 . The antenna module according to claim 2 , wherein the recessed part is formed up to a side surface of the first substrate.
9 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , wherein an angle formed between the normal direction of the second radiating element and the normal direction of the first radiating element is larger than 90 degrees and smaller than 180 degrees.
10 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , further comprising: a first ground electrode that is disposed between the first surface and the first radiating element at the first substrate; and a second ground electrode that is disposed opposite the second radiating element at the second substrate.
11 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of: the first radiating element includes a first element capable of radiating a radio wave in a first frequency range and a second element capable of radiating a radio wave in a second frequency range lower than the first frequency range of the radio wave radiated from the first element, the first element and the second element being disposed opposite each other, or the second radiating element includes a third element capable of radiating a radio wave in a third frequency range and a fourth element capable of radiating a radio wave in a fourth frequency range lower than the third frequency range of the radio wave radiated from the third element, the third element and the fourth element being disposed opposite each other.
12 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , further comprising a power feed device that supplies a high frequency signal to the first radiating element and the second radiating element, wherein the power feed device is disposed on the first surface.
13 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , further comprising: a power feed device that supplies a high frequency signal to the first radiating element and the second radiating element; and a power feed wire that allows a high frequency signal to be transmitted from the power feed device to the second radiating element, wherein the second substrate includes a connection electrode that is disposed in the second region and allows electrical connection with the first substrate, and wherein the power feed wire passes through the first substrate and is connected via the connection electrode to the second radiating element.
14 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , further comprising: a third substrate at which a third radiating element with a flat plate shape is disposed, wherein the third substrate is disposed adjacent to the second substrate in a first direction, and wherein a normal direction of the third radiating element is the same as the normal direction of the second radiating element.
15 . The antenna module according to claim 14 , further comprising a fourth radiating element with a flat plate shape that is disposed adjacent to the first radiating element in the first direction at the first substrate.
16 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , wherein, in a case where a direction that is orthogonal to a direction going from the first region toward the first radiating element and is along the first surface is defined as a second direction, the second region extends from the first region toward the second direction.
17 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , wherein the second region extends in a third direction going from the first region toward the first radiating element.
18 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , further comprising a connector that is disposed on the first surface and electrically connects to an external apparatus.
19 . A kit for an antenna module comprising, a first substrate including an upper main surface and a lower main surface, wherein a first connecting electrode is mounted on the upper main surface, a first radiating element is mounted on the lower main surface, and a recess is formed in the first substrate; and a second substrate including a first portion and a second portion, wherein a second radiating element is mounted on the first portion, a second connecting electrode is mounted on the second portion, and a width of the first portion is smaller than width of the recess.
20 . A method for assembling an antenna module comprising: obtaining a first substrate including an upper main surface and a lower main surface, wherein a first connecting electrode is mounted on the upper main surface, a first radiating element is mounted on the lower main surface, and a recess is formed in the first substrate; obtaining a second substrate including a first portion and a second portion, wherein a second radiating element is mounted on the first portion, a second connecting electrode is mounted on the second portion, and a width of the first portion is smaller than width of the recess; mounting the second substrate onto the first substrate such that the first portion fits into the recess; and connecting the first connecting electrode and the second connecting electrode.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a continuation application of PCT International Application No. PCT/JP2023/005375 filed on Feb. 16, 2023, designating the United States of America, which is based on and claims priority to Japanese patent application JP 2022-073406, filed Apr. 27, 2022. The entire disclosures of the above-identified applications, including the specifications, the drawings, and the claims are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. BACKGROUND A configuration of an antenna module may include a bent dielectric substrate is disclosed. In the antenna module, radiating elements are disposed on two surfaces whose normal directions are different. SUMMARY An antenna module according to the present disclosure includes a first substrate at which a first radiating element with a flat plate shape is disposed, and a second substrate at which a second radiating element is disposed. The first substrate has a first surface and a second surface that are opposite each other. The first radiating element is disposed on the second surface of the first substrate or at a position between the first surface and the second surface of the first substrate. The second substrate includes a first region that is arranged so as to abut the first substrate between the first surface of the first substrate and the second surface of the first substrate and a second region that is in contact with the first surface of the first substrate. A normal direction of the second radiating element is different from a normal direction of the first radiating element. A kit for an antenna module according to the present disclosure includes a first substrate, and a second substrate. The first substrate includes an upper main surface and a lower main surface. A first connecting electrode is mounted on the upper main surface, a first radiating element is mounted on the lower main surface, and a recess is formed in the first substrate. The second substrate includes a first portion and a second portion. A second radiating element is mounted on the first portion, a second connecting electrode is mounted on the second portion, and a width of the first portion is smaller than width of the recess. A method for assembling an antenna module according to the present disclosure includes obtaining a first substrate including an upper main surface and a lower main surface, wherein a first connecting electrode is mounted on the upper main surface, a first radiating element is mounted on the lower main surface, and a recess is formed in the first substrate; obtaining a second substrate including a first portion and a second portion, wherein a second radiating element is mounted on the first portion, a second connecting electrode is mounted on the second portion, and a width of the first portion is smaller than width of the recess; mounting the second substrate onto the first substrate such that the first portion fits to the recess; and connecting the first connecting electrode and the second connecting electrode. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communication apparatus in which an antenna module according to a first exemplary embodiment is used. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the antenna module of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of the antenna module of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an antenna block. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an antenna block according to a modification. FIG. 6 is a perspective side view of an antenna module according to a second exemplary embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining antenna characteristics of a radiating element at a main substrate of the antenna modules according to the first exemplary embodiment and the second exemplary embodiment. FIG. 8 is a perspective side view of an antenna module according to a third exemplary embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining antenna characteristics of a radiating element at an antenna block of the antenna modules according to the second exemplary embodiment and the third exemplary embodiment. FIG. 10 is a perspective side view of an antenna module according to a fourth exemplary embodiment. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an antenna module according to a fifth exemplary embodiment. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an antenna module according to a modification. DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS The present disclosure relates to an antenna module, and more particularly, to a technique for reducing the size of an antenna module capable of radiating radio waves in two directions. The antenna module may be used in, for example, communication apparatuses represented by portable terminals such as cellular phones or smartphones. Further reductions in size and thickness of such communication apparatuses have been desired, and further reductions in size and height of antenna modules mounted on such communication apparatuses have also been required. Meanwhile, if a further reduction in