CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0125144, filed in the Republic of Korea on Oct. 10, 2019, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The embodiments relate to a dual antenna.

2. Description of the Related Art

Electronic devices such as a smartphone have been providing more various services to users and are being equipped with more useful optional functions. Early electronic devices for a mobile communication service were equipped with only a voice call function. However, recent electronic devices for mobile communication are equipped with a wireless communication function as well as a voice call function.

Early wireless communication technology based on IEEE standard protocols (802.11 b, g, n) according to the related art is defined to use a frequency of 2.4 GHz, but recent wireless communication technology based on an improved IEEE standard protocol (802.11 a) uses a frequency of 5 GHz. In order to enable wireless communication based on multi-frequency bands, antennas capable of operating at a wider frequency band are required for electronic devices having a communication function.

On the other hand, miniaturization of electronic devices imposes a limitation on the size of an antenna that needs to be mounted inside an electronic device. Therefore, an antenna for a small electronic device tends to deal with a narrow frequency band. Thus, the development of a compact antenna capable dealing with a wide frequency band is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Various embodiments relate to a dual antenna capable of operating at a wide frequency band.

Various embodiments relate to a dual antenna having a reduced size that is achieved by minimizing electrical connection between adjacent antennas.

Various embodiments relate to a dual antenna capable of performing beamforming which is a technique by which an array of dual antennas operate to transmit a radio signal in a specific direction.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a dual antenna including a radiation circuit including: a first pattern having an L-shape; a second pattern having a meandering shape; a feed line electrically connected to the first pattern and the second pattern; and a ground line electrically connected to the first pattern and the second pattern and spaced apart from the feed line.

The first pattern can include: a first line extending in a first direction and having a first end electrically connected to the feed line; and a second line extending, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, from a second end of the first line.

The second pattern can include: a first line extending parallel to the first line of the first pattern and having a first end electrically connected to the feed line; and a second line having a meandering shape and extending in the second direction from a second end of the first line of the second pattern.

The second line of the first pattern can have a width larger than that of the first line of the first pattern.

The second line of the first pattern can be provided with at least one opening.

The at least one opening can be disposed relatively far from the first line of the first pattern compared to the middle of the second line of the first pattern in terms of the second direction.

The at least one opening can include: a first opening and a second opening that are circular openings and are arranged in the first direction; and a third opening that is an elliptical opening having a larger sized than each of the first and second openings and which is spaced apart from each of the first and second openings in the second direction.

The dual antenna can further include a third pattern having an extended bar shape and having a first end connected to the feed line and a second end connected to the ground line.

The first line of the second pattern can be connected to the first end of the third pattern, and the first line of the first pattern can be spaced apart from the first line of the second pattern and can be connected to the third pattern.

The second line of the first pattern can be disposed closer to the third pattern than the second line of the second pattern.

The dual antenna can further include: an input circuit configured to receive a data signal from an external circuit; a feeder circuit electrically connected to the input circuit and configured to convert the data signal into an electrical signal and to output the electrical signal to the feed line; and a ground pad for grounding the electrical signal supplied to the ground line.

The input circuit and the feeder circuit can be connected to each other via a first line extending in the first direction from the feeder circuit and a second line extending in the second direction from the first line, and the first line and the second line can have different resistances.

The ground pad can be arranged to surround the input circuit, the feeder circuit, and the first and second lines connected between the input circuit and the feeder circuit.

The first pattern can output a radiation signal having a first frequency band and the second pattern can output a radiation signal having a second frequency band lower than the first frequency band.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a dual antenna including a first radiation circuit and a second radiation circuit, each of the first and second radiation circuits including: a first pattern having an L-shape; a second pattern having a meandering shape; a feed line electrically connected to the first pattern and the second pattern; and a ground line electrically connected to the first pattern and the second pattern and spaced apart from the feed line.

The first radiation circuit and the second radiation circuit can be symmetrically arranged with respect to a first axis parallel to a first direction.

The first pattern can include a first line extending in the first direction and having a first end connected to the feed line and a second line extending, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, from a second end of the first line. The second pattern can include: a first line extending parallel to the first line of the first pattern and having a first end electrically connected to the feed line; and a second line extending in the second direction from a second end of the first line of the second pattern.

The dual antenna can further include: an input circuit configured to receive a data signal from an external circuit; a first feeder circuit and a second feeder circuit that are connected to the input circuit via lines, convert the data signal into electrical signals, and output the electrical signals to the feed line connected to the first pattern and the feed line connected to the second pattern, respectively; a ground pad for grounding the electrical signals supplied to the ground lines; and a first phase shifter connected between the first feeder circuit and the input circuit.

The first phase shifter can include a plurality of stages having different impedance values.

The input circuit can include a first switch that selectively connects one of the stages to the input circuit and a second switch that selectively connects one of the stages to the first feeder circuit.

The dual antenna can further include a second phase shifter connected between the second feeder circuit and the input circuit.

According to a further aspect, there is provided a dual antenna including a first layer, a second layer, a third layer, and a fourth layer that are stacked in a first direction. The first layer can include: an input circuit configured to receive a data signal from an external circuit; a feeder circuit that is electrically connected to the input circuit, converts the data signal into an electrical signal, and outputs the electrical signal; a radiation circuit that generates a radiation signal according the electrical signal output from the feeder circuit; and a first ground pad for grounding the electrical signal supplied to the radiation circuit. The second layer can include a second ground pad disposed to correspond to the first ground pad. The second layer can have openings respectively corresponding to positions of the input circuit and the feeder circuit. The third layer and the fourth layer can respectively include a third ground pad and a fourth ground pad that are arranged to correspond to the first ground pad.

The first, second, third and fourth ground pads can be electrically connected to each other through via holes.

According to various embodiments, the dual antenna enables an electronic device which is to be equipped with the dual antenna to have a reduced size and to support a wide frequency band. In addition, the dual antenna can improve performance of signal transmission by performing beamforming.

According to various embodiments, the dual antenna is provided with specifically designed openings, thereby operating at a wider frequency band.

