CN113725609A

CN113725609A - Antenna device and display device

Info

Publication number: CN113725609A
Application number: CN202110571633.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 李元熙; 金瀯宙; 李在显
Original assignee: Dongwoo Fine Chem Co Ltd
Current assignee: Dongwoo Fine Chem Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-05-25
Filing date: 2021-05-25
Publication date: 2021-11-30
Also published as: CN215418600U; KR20210145350A; WO2021241962A1

Abstract

The invention provides an antenna device and a display device. The antenna device includes a base dielectric layer, a feeder line disposed on the base dielectric layer, and a decoration film disposed on the base dielectric layer and spaced apart from the feeder line. The decoration film includes a slit crossing the feeder line in a plan view. The slot antenna characteristic is realized in the bezel area or the non-display area by the decoration film.

Description

Antenna device and display device

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application claims priority from korean patent application No. 10-2020-0062075, filed on the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) at 25.5.2020, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an antenna device and a display device. In particular, the present invention relates to an antenna device including an electrode and a dielectric layer and a display device including the antenna device.

Background

With the development of information technology, wireless communication technologies such as Wi-Fi, bluetooth, etc. are combined with display devices in the form of, for example, smart phones. In this case, the antenna may be combined with the display device to provide a communication function.

Further, with the development of thin, high transparency, and high resolution display devices such as transparent displays, flexible displays, and the like, there is a need for an antenna having improved transmission/reception sensitivity, enhanced gain, and broadband characteristics within a limited thickness.

However, as display devices equipped with antennas become thinner and lighter in weight, the space for the antennas may also be reduced. Therefore, it may not be easy to implement a broadband antenna having sensitivity to various types of signals.

Further, in a high frequency or ultra high frequency antenna used for, for example, the latest 5G high frequency band communication, signal loss may easily occur and high gain and broadband characteristics may not be easily achieved.

Therefore, it may be necessary to develop an antenna capable of realizing a wide band, a high gain, and high frequency/ultra high frequency characteristics in a limited space. For example, korean patent laid-open application No. 2003-0095557 discloses an antenna structure embedded in a portable terminal, but the antenna structure disclosed therein cannot sufficiently satisfy the above-mentioned recent requirements.

Disclosure of Invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an antenna device having improved coverage and space efficiency.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display device including an antenna device having improved coverage and space efficiency.

(1) An antenna device, comprising: a base dielectric layer; a feed line disposed on the base dielectric layer; and a decoration film disposed on the base dielectric layer and spaced apart from the feeder line, the decoration film including a slit intersecting the feeder line in a plan view.

(2) The antenna device according to the above (1), further comprising a first dielectric layer formed on the base dielectric layer for separating the feeder line and the decoration film from each other.

(3) The antenna device according to the above (2), wherein the first dielectric layer includes an adhesive layer.

(4) The antenna device according to the above (3), further comprising a window sheet on which the decoration film is formed, wherein the window sheet is attached on the first dielectric layer so that the decoration film overlaps with the power feeding line.

(5) The antenna device according to the above (1), wherein the slot extends in the horizontal direction and the feed line extends in the vertical direction.

(6) The antenna device according to the above (1), wherein the slot extends in a vertical direction, and the power feeding line includes a portion extending in a horizontal direction.

(7) The antenna device according to the above (6), wherein the power feeding line includes a first portion extending in the horizontal direction and a second portion protruding from the first portion in the vertical direction.

(8) The antenna device according to the above (1), wherein the slot includes a first slot extending in the horizontal direction and a second slot extending in the vertical direction.

(9) The antenna device according to the above (8), wherein the power feeding line includes: a first feed line extending in a vertical direction and crossing the first slit; and a second power feeding line including a portion extending in a horizontal direction so as to cross the second slot.

(10) The antenna device according to the above (1), further comprising a patch antenna element provided on the base dielectric layer.

(11) The antenna device according to the above (10), wherein the patch antenna element includes a radiation pattern and a transmission line extending from the radiation pattern.

(12) The antenna device according to the above (11), wherein the decoration film includes an upper side portion and a lower side portion, the radiation pattern is located outside the upper side portion of the decoration film in a plan view, and the power feeding line does not extend beyond the upper side portion of the decoration film in a plan view.

(13) The antenna device according to the above (1), wherein the power feeding line is provided on the top surface or the bottom surface of the base dielectric layer.

(14) The antenna device according to the above (13), further comprising a second dielectric layer provided on the bottom surface of the base dielectric layer.

(15) The antenna device according to the above (14), wherein the second dielectric layer comprises an adhesive layer or a polarizing layer.

(16) A display device, comprising: a display panel; and the antenna device according to the above embodiment stacked on the display panel.

(17) The display device according to the above (16), wherein the display panel includes a display region and a non-display region, and the power feeding line and the decoration film are provided in the non-display region.

In the antenna device according to the embodiment of the present invention, for example, a slit may be formed in a decorative film of a display device, and a power feeding line crossing the slit in a plan view may be provided below the decorative film. A slot antenna may be provided by coupling between a feed line and a slot.

The slot antenna may be implemented using, for example, a light-shielding region or a bezel region of a display device, so that improved radiation characteristics may be provided without degrading image quality of the display device. In addition, the radiation shape and frequency can be easily controlled by adjusting the length and width of the slot.

In some embodiments, the patch antenna unit may be disposed around the slot antenna. Accordingly, a broadband antenna, such as a dual resonant antenna, operating at multiple frequency bands can be implemented by a patch antenna unit and a slot antenna.

Drawings

Fig. 1 and 2 are a schematic top plan view and a schematic cross-sectional view, respectively, illustrating an antenna device according to an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an antenna device according to some exemplary embodiments.

Fig. 4 is a schematic top plan view illustrating an antenna apparatus according to some example embodiments.

Fig. 5 and 6 are schematic top plan views illustrating antenna devices according to some example embodiments.

Fig. 7 and 8 are a schematic cross-sectional view and a schematic top plan view illustrating a display device according to an exemplary embodiment.

Detailed Description

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an antenna device that may provide a slot antenna using a decorative film.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is also provided a display device including the antenna device and capable of providing a broadband communication function. The application of the antenna device is not limited to the display device, and the antenna device may be applied to various objects or structures such as vehicles, home appliances, buildings, and the like.

The antenna device may be, for example, a microstrip patch antenna manufactured in the form of a transparent film. The antenna device can be applied to, for example, a communication device for mobile communication in a high frequency band or an ultra high frequency band corresponding to mobile communication of 3G, 4G, 5G, or higher.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that such embodiments, described with reference to the accompanying drawings, are provided for further understanding of the spirit of the invention and are not meant to limit the claimed subject matter disclosed in the detailed description and the appended claims.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, the antenna device may include a power feeding line 110 and a decoration film 130 disposed at an upper layer of the power feeding line 110.

The power feed line 110 may be disposed on the base dielectric layer 100. For example, the power feed line 110 may be formed on the top surface of the base dielectric layer 100.

The base dielectric layer 100 may include, for example, a transparent resin material. For example, the base dielectric layer 100 may include polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene isophthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, and polybutylene terephthalate; cellulose-based resins such as diacetyl cellulose and triacetyl cellulose; a polycarbonate-series resin; acrylic resins such as polymethyl (meth) acrylate and polyethyl (meth) acrylate; styrenic resins such as polystyrene and acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer; polyolefin-based resins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, cycloolefin or polyolefin having a norbornene structure and ethylene-propylene copolymer; vinyl chloride-based resins; amide-based resins such as nylon and aramid; an imide resin; polyether sulfone resins; sulfone resins; polyether ether ketone resin; polyphenylene sulfide resin; a vinyl alcohol resin; vinylidene chloride resin; vinyl butyral resins; an allylic resin; a polyoxymethylene resin; an epoxy resin; polyurethane or acrylic urethane resins; silicone resins, and the like. They may be used alone or in combination of two or more. For example, the base dielectric layer 100 may include a Cyclic Olefin Polymer (COP) for achieving sufficient flexibility.

In some embodiments, the base dielectric layer 100 may include an inorganic insulating material such as glass, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, or the like.

In some embodiments, the dielectric constant of the base dielectric layer 100 may be adjusted to be in the range of about 1.5 to about 12. When the dielectric constant exceeds about 12, the driving frequency may be excessively lowered, so that driving at a desired high frequency band or ultra high frequency band may not be achieved.

For example, the power feed line 110 may be physically spaced apart from the decoration film 130 with the first dielectric layer 120 interposed therebetween. As shown in fig. 1, the decoration film 130 may include a slit 135 therein. The slot 135 may intersect the feed line 110 substantially perpendicularly in a plan view.

The slit 135 may have a slit shape or an opening shape formed by partially removing the inside of the decoration film 130.

As shown in fig. 1, the power feeding line 110 may extend in a vertical direction (or a length direction), and the slit 135 may extend in a horizontal direction (or a width direction) above the power feeding line 110.

In an exemplary embodiment, the decoration film 130 and the power feeding line 110 may include a conductive material, and may include a metal or an alloy of low resistance to facilitate generation of an electric field through mutual coupling.

For example, the decoration film 130 and the power feeding line 110 may include silver (Ag), gold (Au), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), chromium (Cr), titanium (Ti), tungsten (W), niobium (Nb), tantalum (Ta), vanadium (V), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), tin (Sn), molybdenum (Mo), calcium (Ca), or an alloy containing at least one of them. They may be used alone or in combination.

In one embodiment, the decoration film 130 and the power feeding line 110 may include silver (Ag) or a silver alloy (e.g., silver-palladium-copper (APC)) or copper (Cu) or a copper alloy (e.g., (copper-calcium (CuCa)) to achieve a low resistance and a fine line width pattern.

For example, the decoration film 130 may be disposed in a non-display area or a bezel area of the display device. In this case, the decoration film 130 may be formed on a rim portion of the window sheet 160 (see fig. 7) and attached to the first dielectric layer 120 so as to overlap the power feeding line 110.

The first dielectric layer 120 may serve as a medium for generating an electric field between the slits 135 of the decoration film 130 and the power feeding line 110. The first dielectric layer 120 may include, for example, an adhesive layer such as an Optically Clear Adhesive (OCA), an Optically Clear Resin (OCR), or the like.

In one embodiment, the first dielectric layer 120 may include a transparent resin material, an inorganic insulating material, etc. mentioned in the base dielectric layer 100.

In some embodiments, a ground layer 50 may be disposed on the bottom surface of the base dielectric layer 100. The ground plane 50 may absorb or shield noise, for example, from the feed line 110. In addition, the ground layer 50 may facilitate the generation of an electric field through the power feed line 110.

The ground layer 50 may include the above-described metal or alloy. In one embodiment, an adhesive layer such as OCA may be formed between the base dielectric layer 100 and the ground layer 50.

In some embodiments, the ground plane 50 may be included as a separate element of the antenna device. In some embodiments, a conductive member of a display device to which the antenna device is applied may be used as a ground layer.

The conductive member may include, for example, a gate electrode of a Thin Film Transistor (TFT) included in the display panel, various wirings such as a scan line or a data line, or various electrodes such as a pixel electrode and a common electrode.

In one embodiment, various structures including a conductive material disposed under the display panel may be used as the ground layer 50. For example, a metal plate (e.g., a stainless steel plate such as a SUS plate), a pressure sensor, a fingerprint sensor, an electromagnetic wave shielding layer, a heat sink, a digitizer, or the like may be used as the ground layer 50.

The terminal portion of the power feeding line 110 may be electrically connected to the circuit board 170. The circuit board 170 may include, for example, a Flexible Printed Circuit Board (FPCB).

For example, an antenna driving Integrated Circuit (IC) chip (not shown) may be mounted on the circuit board 170. Therefore, power supply and signal transmission can be performed from the antenna driving IC chip to the power feeding line 110 via the circuit board 170.

In one embodiment, the antenna driving IC chip may be mounted on a chip mounting board (e.g., a rigid PCB), and the chip mounting board may be combined with the circuit board via a connector.

According to the above-described exemplary embodiments, the slot antenna may be implemented using the decoration film 130 included in the non-display area or the bezel area of the display device. Therefore, the antenna radiation can be easily added without disturbing the image display in the display area of the display device. For example, the power feeding line 110 may not extend to the outside of the upper side portion of the decoration film 130 in a plan view, and thus may not overlap with the display region of the display device.

In addition, the length of the slot 135 can be adjusted to easily control the resonant frequency band of the slot antenna. For example, the length of the slot 135 may be adjusted to be substantially half the wavelength of the resonant frequency.

In one embodiment, the length of the slot 135 may be adjusted to be in a range of about 2mm to 3mm to enable the latest mobile communication in the 5G band. In this case, the resonant frequency generated by the slot antenna may be in the range of about 20GHz to 30 GHz.

Referring to fig. 3, the power feed line 110 may be formed on the bottom surface of the base dielectric layer 100. In this case, the first dielectric layer 120 and the base dielectric layer 100 may be disposed between the decoration film 130 and the power feeding line 110 so that the decoration film 130 and the power feeding line 110 may be spaced apart from each other.

A second dielectric layer 90 may be formed on the bottom surface of the base dielectric layer 100. For example, the second dielectric layer 90 may include the above-described adhesive layer and may cover the power feeding line 110. The ground layer 50 may be disposed on a bottom surface of the second dielectric layer 90.

According to the embodiment shown in fig. 3, the first dielectric layer 120 and the base dielectric layer 100 may together serve as an electric field generating medium between the decoration film 130 and the power feeding line 110, and may provide sufficient dielectric characteristics.

Referring to fig. 4, the antenna device may further include a patch antenna unit 150 in addition to the slot antenna described above.

The patch antenna unit 150 may include a radiation pattern 152 and a transmission line 154. The radiation pattern 152 may have, for example, a polygonal plate shape, and the transmission line 154 may protrude from a side of the radiation pattern 152. The transmission line 154 may be formed as a single member substantially integrated with the radiation pattern 152.

Patch antenna unit 150 may also include signal pad 156. The signal pad 156 may be connected to an end of the transmission line 154. In one embodiment, the signal pad 156 may be formed as a substantially integral member with the transmission line 154, and an end of the transmission line 154 may serve as the signal pad 156.

In some embodiments, the ground pad 158 may be disposed around the signal pad 156. For example, a pair of ground pads 158 may face each other with the signal pad 156 interposed therebetween. The ground pad 158 may be electrically and physically separated from the transmission line 154 around the signal pad 156.

The patch antenna unit 150 may include the above-described metal or alloy (e.g., APC alloy or CuCa alloy). The patch antenna unit 150 may include a transparent conductive oxide, such as Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), Indium Zinc Oxide (IZO), zinc oxide (ZnO), Indium Zinc Tin Oxide (IZTO), Cadmium Tin Oxide (CTO), and the like.

In some embodiments, the patch antenna unit 150 may include a stacked structure of a transparent conductive oxide layer and a metal layer. For example, the patch antenna unit 150 may include a double-layer structure of a transparent conductive oxide layer-metal layer, or a triple-layer structure of a transparent conductive oxide layer-metal layer-transparent conductive oxide layer. In this case, flexibility can be improved by the metal layer, and the signal transmission speed can be improved by the low resistance of the metal layer. The corrosion resistance and transparency can be improved by the transparent conductive oxide layer.

The radiation pattern 152 may be disposed in a display area of the display device. In some embodiments, a portion of the transmission line 154 may also be disposed in the display area.

Accordingly, the radiation pattern 152 and the transmission line 154 may be formed to include a mesh pattern structure to prevent the light transmittance in the display region from being lowered.

The signal pad 156 and the ground pad 158 may be formed as a solid metal pattern to reduce and prevent feed resistance and signal loss by the circuit board 170.

In one embodiment, the radiation pattern 152 may be located in the display area. The transmission line 154 may be completely covered by the decoration film 130 in a plan view, and may be disposed in a non-display area or a bezel area.

In this case, the radiation pattern 152 may include a mesh pattern structure, and the transmission line 154, the signal pad 156, and the ground pad 158 may be formed as a solid metal pattern. Therefore, the loss of the power supply and the signal transmission generated by the transmission line 154 can be suppressed.

The patch antenna unit 150 may be disposed at the same level or on the same layer as the power feed line 110. For example, the patch antenna unit 150 may be formed on the top or bottom surface of the base dielectric layer 100 together with the power feed line 110. In this case, the circuit board 170 may be bonded together on the

pads

156 and 158 of the patch antenna unit 150 and the end of the power feeding line 110.

In some embodiments, the patch antenna unit 150 may be disposed at a different level or at a different layer than the power feed line 110. For example, the patch antenna unit 150 may be disposed on the top surface of the base dielectric layer 100, and the power feed line 110 may be disposed on the bottom surface of the base dielectric layer 100.

As described above, the patch antenna unit 150 and the slot antenna having different radiation types or resonant frequencies may be included in a single antenna device to expand radiation coverage. For example, the antenna device may be used as a dual resonant frequency antenna.

In one embodiment, the patch antenna unit 150 may function as a vertical radiation antenna, and the power feed line 110 may function as a monopole or dipole antenna.

Referring to fig. 5, a slot 135 included in the antenna device may extend in a vertical direction. In this case, the power feeding line 110 may include a portion extending in a horizontal direction so as to substantially perpendicularly cross the slot 135.

In some embodiments, the feed line 110 can have a dogleg shape. For example, the power feeding line 110 may include a first portion 112 extending in a horizontal direction so as to intersect the slit 135 and a second portion 114 protruding from one end portion of the first portion 112 in a vertical direction.

Referring to fig. 6, the antenna device may include a plurality of slot antennas in an array form. Therefore, the gain characteristic produced by the antenna device can be enhanced.

For example, the antenna device may include a first slot 135a extending in a horizontal direction and a second slot 135b extending in a vertical direction as described with reference to fig. 5.

A first power feed line 110a extending in a vertical direction may be disposed under the first slot 135a to define a first slot antenna. As described with reference to fig. 5, the second power feeding line 110b including the first portion 112 extending in the horizontal direction may be disposed below the second slot 135b to define a second slot antenna.

As described above, the first slot antenna and the second slot antenna extending in different directions may be disposed together to increase radiation coverage while also improving gain characteristics. In addition, polarization characteristics in different directions (for example, vertical polarization and horizontal polarization) can also be achieved, and thus the beam coverage can be expanded.

The shape of the slot antenna shown in fig. 5 and 6 may be appropriately modified according to the logo or aesthetic aspect of the decorative film 130. For example, the slit 135 may be formed in a shape having a pattern shape such as a letter or a logo.

Fig. 7 and 8 are a schematic cross-sectional view and a schematic top plan view illustrating a display device according to an exemplary embodiment. For example, fig. 8 shows the appearance of a window including a display device.

Referring to fig. 7, the display device 200 may include a display panel 230 and the above-described antenna device stacked on the display panel 230.

The display panel 230 may include a panel substrate, a TFT circuit structure formed on the panel substrate, a pixel electrode connected to the TFT circuit structure, a display layer (e.g., an organic light emitting layer or a liquid crystal layer) formed on the pixel electrode, and a common electrode covering the display layer, an encapsulation layer covering the common electrode, and the like. For example, the display panel 230 may be an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) panel.

The decoration film 130 including the slit 135 of the antenna device may be formed in a non-display region or a bezel region of the window sheet 160 and may be attached on the first dielectric layer 120 including, for example, an adhesive layer.

A touch sensor layer 240 and a polarization layer 250 may also be included between the display panel 230 and the antenna device. For example, the touch sensor layer 240, the polarizing layer 250, and the antenna device may be sequentially stacked from the display panel 230. In this case, the user may be prevented from visually recognizing the sensing electrode included in the touch sensor layer 240. In addition, the polarizing layer 250 may be included together as the second dielectric layer 90.

Referring to fig. 8, the display device 200 may include a display area 210 and a peripheral area 220. For example, the peripheral region 220 may be positioned on both lateral portions and/or both end portions of the display region 210.

In some embodiments, the antenna device may be inserted into the outer peripheral area 220 of the display device 200 in the form of a patch or a film. In some embodiments, the radiation pattern 152 of the patch antenna unit 150 in the antenna device may be arranged to at least partially correspond to the display area 210 of the display device 200.

The outer peripheral region 220 may correspond to, for example, a light shielding portion or a frame portion of the image display device. In addition, a driving circuit such as a driving Integrated Circuit (IC) chip for the display device 200 and/or the antenna may be disposed in the peripheral region 220. The decoration film 130 may be included in the outer circumferential region 220, and the slot antenna may also be disposed in the outer circumferential region 220.

Accordingly, the outer peripheral region 220 can be utilized to prevent visual recognition of the antenna electrode, and the antenna radiation characteristic in the display device 200 can be expanded.

The circuit board 170 may be disposed in the outer circumferential region 220, and may be bent toward the rear of the display device 200 so as to be electrically connected with the main board or the antenna driving IC chip.

Claims

1. An antenna device, characterized in that it comprises:

a base dielectric layer;

a feed line disposed on the base dielectric layer; and

a decoration film disposed on the base dielectric layer and spaced apart from the power feed line, the decoration film including a slit intersecting the power feed line in a plan view.

2. The antenna device according to claim 1, further comprising a first dielectric layer formed on the base dielectric layer for separating the feeder line and the decoration film from each other.

3. The antenna device of claim 2, wherein the first dielectric layer comprises an adhesive layer.

4. The antenna device according to claim 3, characterized by further comprising a window sheet on which the decorative film is formed, wherein the window sheet is attached on the first dielectric layer so that the decorative film overlaps with the feeder line.

5. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the slot extends in a horizontal direction and the feed line extends in a vertical direction.

6. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the slot extends in a vertical direction, and the feed line includes a portion extending in a horizontal direction.

7. The antenna device according to claim 6, wherein the power feed line includes a first portion extending in a horizontal direction and a second portion protruding from the first portion in a vertical direction.

8. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the slots include a first slot extending in a horizontal direction and a second slot extending in a vertical direction.

9. The antenna device according to claim 8, wherein the feeder line includes: a first feed line extending in a vertical direction and crossing the first slit; and a second power feed line including a portion extending in a horizontal direction so as to cross the second slot.

10. The antenna device of claim 1, further comprising a patch antenna element disposed on the base dielectric layer.

11. The antenna device according to claim 10, wherein the patch antenna element comprises a radiation pattern and a transmission line extending from the radiation pattern.

12. The antenna device according to claim 11, wherein the decorative film includes an upper side portion and a lower side portion, the radiation pattern is located outside the upper side portion of the decorative film in a plan view, and the power feed line does not extend beyond the upper side portion of the decorative film in a plan view.

13. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the feed line is provided on a top surface or a bottom surface of the base dielectric layer.

14. The antenna device of claim 13, further comprising a second dielectric layer disposed on the bottom surface of the base dielectric layer.

15. The antenna device according to claim 14, wherein the second dielectric layer comprises an adhesive layer or a polarizing layer.

16. A display device, characterized in that it comprises:

a display panel; and

the antenna device according to claim 1 stacked on the display panel.

17. The display device according to claim 16, wherein the display panel includes a display region and a non-display region, and wherein the power feeding line and the decoration film are provided in the non-display region.