Antenna module and communication apparatus equipped with the same
An antenna module includes a first substrate, a first component and a second component, a first radiating element and a second radiating element, and a second substrate that is arranged between the first substrate and the first component. The first component is thinner than the second component. The second substrate is arranged to overlap the first radiating element. The second component is arranged to overlap the second radiating element.
1 . An antenna module comprising:
a first substrate including a first surface, and a second surface opposite to the first surface;
a multi-pole connector;
a system in package (SiP) including a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) arranged adjacent to the connector in a first direction near the second surface;
a first radiating patch element;
a second radiating patch element arranged symmetrically adjacent to the first radiating patch element in the first direction and at the first substrate; and
a second substrate arranged between the first substrate and the connector,
wherein power supply wires connect the RFIC to supply points of the first and second radiating patch elements,
wherein a thickness of the connector in a normal line direction of the first substrate is smaller than a thickness of the SiP in the normal line direction of the first substrate,
wherein the second substrate overlaps the first radiating patch element when the antenna module is seen in a plan view from the normal line direction of the first substrate, and
wherein the SiP overlaps the second radiating patch element when the antenna module is seen in the plan view.
2 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , wherein a dimension of the first substrate in a second direction is less than half a free space wavelength of radio waves emitted from the first radiating patch element and the second radiating patch element, the second direction being orthogonal to the first direction.
3 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first radiating patch element and the second radiating patch element has a planar shape.
4 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , wherein the connector overlaps the first radiating patch element when the antenna module is seen in the plan view from the normal line direction of the first substrate.
5 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , wherein the connector electrically connects an external substrate to the SiP.
6 . The antenna module according to claim 5 ,
wherein the second substrate is larger than the connector and includes an extension area that extends to at least part of an area around the connector when the antenna module is seen in the plan view,
wherein a part of the extension area that is formed on a side facing the SiP extends to a position closer to the second radiating patch element than to an intermediate position between the first radiating patch element and the second radiating patch element when the antenna module is seen in the plan view,
wherein the antenna module further includes a transmission line through which an intermediate frequency signal is transmitted from the connector to the SiP, the transmission line being arranged between the connector and the SiP, and
wherein the transmission line is covered with a part of the second substrate corresponding to the extension area.
7 . The antenna module according to claim 6 , wherein the transmission line is arranged on a bonding surface between the first substrate and the second substrate.
8 . The antenna module according to claim 6 , wherein the transmission line is arranged inside the second substrate.
9 . The antenna module according to claim 6 ,
wherein the connector includes a terminal connected to the SiP by the transmission line, and
wherein the SiP includes a pad that is arranged in the extension area, the pad being electrically connected to the terminal.
10 . The antenna module according to claim 9 , wherein the pad functions as a matching circuit.
11 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , wherein the SiP is connected to the first radiating patch element and the second radiating patch element.
12 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , wherein the first radiating patch element and the second radiating patch element are capable of emitting a radio wave that is polarized in the first direction and a radio wave that is polarized in a second direction different from the first direction.
13 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first radiating patch element and the second radiating patch element includes:
a first electrode emitting a radio wave of a first frequency band; and
a second electrode emitting a radio wave of a second frequency band different from the first frequency band of the first electrode.
14 . A communication apparatus including:
the antenna module according to claim 1 ; and
a base band integrated circuit (BBIC) configuring a baseband signal processing circuit.
15 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , wherein the connector is arranged below the second substrate.
16 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , wherein the second substrate includes a mounting surface, and
wherein the connector is mounted to the mounting surface of the second substrate.