MM wave antenna array integrated with cellular antenna
View Patent ↗Wireless electronic devices may include a millimeter Wave (mmW) antenna array integrated with a cellular antenna. The devices may also include a package or module on the cellular antenna that integrates the mmW antenna array and an mmW circuit. The devices may also include a grounding element that includes an mmW antenna control and a power trace.
1. A wireless electronic device, comprising:
a ground plane;
a cellular antenna;
a millimeter wave (mmW) antenna array coupled to a surface of a radiating element of the cellular antenna, the radiating element of the cellular antenna being a radiating element for signals transmitted or received by the cellular antenna; and
an mmW circuit attached to the surface of the cellular antenna and coupled to the mmW antenna array, the mmW circuit comprising circuit logic for feeding signals to mmW antennas of the mmW antenna array.
2. The wireless electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the mmW circuit further comprises an mmW transceiver.
3. The wireless electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the mmW circuit further comprises phase control circuit logic.
4. The wireless electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a grounding element extending between the ground plane and the cellular antenna.
5. The wireless electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the grounding element further comprises a power trace to provide power from circuitry on the ground plane to the mmW circuit.
6. The wireless electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the grounding element further comprises an mmW control line to provide mmW control signals from circuitry on the ground plane to the mmW circuit.
7. The wireless electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the power trace and the mmW control line are integrated on a flexible film.
8. The wireless electronic device of claim 4 , further comprising a feeding element coupled between the ground plane and the cellular antenna, wherein the cellular antenna, the grounding element, the feeding element and the ground plane form an antenna loop.
9. The wireless electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the mmW circuit logic is located within a perimeter of the surface of the cellular antenna.
10. The wireless electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a grounding element extending between the ground plane and the cellular antenna and a feeding element coupled between the ground plane and the cellular antenna, wherein the mmW antenna array and the mmW circuit are on the surface of the cellular antenna between the grounding element and the feeding element.
11. The wireless electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the cellular antenna comprises a continuous metal ring, plate or strip that contacts the grounding element and the feeding element, wherein the mmW circuit is on the cellular antenna within a perimeter of the continuous metal ring, plate or strip.
12. The wireless electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the mmW antenna array comprises a plurality of mmW antennas that are configured to send and receive mmW signals and that overlap the surface of the radiating element of the cellular antenna.
13. The wireless electronic device of claim 12 , wherein ones of the plurality of mmW antennas comprise respective portions that extend beyond the surface of the radiating element of the cellular antenna.
14. An antenna of a wireless electronic device, comprising:
a support layer;
a radiating element layer on the support layer;
an attachment layer on the radiating element layer;
a package support layer on the attachment layer;
a millimeter wave (mmW) antenna array on the package support layer; and
an mmW circuit on the package support layer, the mmW circuit comprising circuit logic for feeding signals to mmW antennas of the mmW antenna array.
15. The antenna of claim 14 , wherein the mmW circuit further comprises an mmW transceiver.
16. The antenna of claim 15 , wherein the mmW circuit further comprises phase control circuit logic.
17. The antenna of claim 16 , wherein the mmW circuit further comprises radio frequency front end circuit logic.
18. The antenna of claim 14 , further comprising a grounding element attached to the radiating element layer, wherein the grounding element further comprises a power trace to provide power to the mmW circuit and a control line to provide control signals to the mmW circuit.
19. The antenna of claim 14 , wherein the mmW circuit is printed within a perimeter of the surface of the package support layer and wherein the package support layer is positioned with a perimeter of the surface of the radiating element layer.
20. The wireless electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the mmW antenna array and the mmW circuit are on a portion of the package support layer that is on a radiating element of the radiating element layer for signals transmitted or received by the radiating element of the antenna.
21. The wireless electronic device of claim 14 , further comprising a grounding element attached to the radiating element layer and extending to a ground plane and a feeding element coupled between the ground plane and the radiating element layer, wherein the mmW antenna array and the mmW circuit are on the package support layer between the grounding element and the feeding element.
22. The wireless electronic device of claim 21 , wherein the radiating element layer comprises a continuous metal ring, plate or strip that contacts the grounding element and the feeding element, wherein the mmW circuit is on the package support layer within a perimeter of the continuous metal ring, plate or strip.