KR102581398B1 - Antenna device and display device including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

Antenna elements of embodiments of the present invention include a dielectric layer, a main antenna pattern disposed on the dielectric layer, and a floating slot antenna pattern disposed to be spaced apart from the main antenna pattern in a different layer and partially overlapping the main antenna pattern in a planar direction. . An antenna element capable of radiating in multiple resonant frequency bands can be implemented through a floating slot antenna pattern.

Description

Antenna element and display device including same {ANTENNA DEVICE AND DISPLAY DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME}

The present invention relates to an antenna element and a display device including the same. More specifically, it relates to an antenna element including an electrode and a dielectric layer and a display device including the same.

Recently, as the information society has developed, wireless communication technologies such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth have been combined with display devices and are being implemented in the form of smartphones, for example. In this case, an antenna may be coupled to the display device to perform a communication function.

In addition, as thin, highly transparent, high-resolution display devices such as transparent displays and flexible displays have recently been developed, the antenna also needs to be developed to have improved transmission and reception sensitivity, gain characteristics, and broadband characteristics within a limited thickness.

However, as display devices on which antennas are mounted become thinner and lighter, the space occupied by the antennas may also decrease. Accordingly, it may become difficult to design an antenna to be sensitive to various types of signals in a wide band.

In addition, for example, in the case of high-frequency band antennas such as those used in recent 5G communications, they may be vulnerable to signal loss, and it may not be easy to implement high-gain and broadband characteristics.

Therefore, there is a need to develop an antenna that can implement characteristics such as broadband, high gain, and high frequency within a limited space. For example, Korean Patent Publication No. 2003-0095557 discloses an antenna structure built into a portable terminal, but the antenna structure cannot sufficiently implement the recent requirements for antennas described above.

Korean Patent Publication No. 2003-0095557

One object of the present invention is to provide a film antenna with improved radiation characteristics and space efficiency.

One object of the present invention is to provide a display device including a film antenna with improved radiation characteristics and space efficiency.

1. Dielectric layer; a main antenna pattern disposed on the dielectric layer; and a floating slot antenna pattern disposed to be spaced apart from the main antenna pattern in a different layer and partially overlapping the main antenna pattern in a planar direction.

2. In 1 above, the main antenna pattern includes a radiation electrode; a transmission line extending from one side of the radiation electrode; and a signal pad connected to one end of the transmission line.

3. The antenna element of 2 above, wherein the floating slot antenna pattern includes a body portion and a slot formed in the body portion, and the slot vertically intersects the transmission line in the planar direction.

4. The antenna element of 3 above, wherein the body portion of the floating slot antenna pattern overlaps only the transmission line among the main antenna patterns in the plane direction.

5. The antenna element of 3 above, wherein the body portion of the floating slot antenna pattern partially covers the radiation electrode in the plane direction.

6. The antenna element of 5 above, wherein the area of the radiation electrode portion covered by the body portion in the plane direction is less than 1/4 of the total area of the radiation electrode.

7. The antenna element of 3 above, wherein a plurality of the main antenna patterns are arranged on the dielectric layer, and the floating slot antenna pattern commonly overlaps the plurality of main antenna patterns in the plane direction.

8. The antenna element of 7 above, wherein the floating slot antenna patterns include a plurality of the slots, and each of the slots is aligned to intersect each transmission line included in the plurality of main antenna patterns.

9. The antenna element of 3 above, wherein the radiation electrode and the transmission line include a mesh structure, and the body portion of the floating slot antenna pattern has a solid metal pattern structure.

10. The antenna element of 9 above, wherein the signal pad has a solid metal pattern structure.

11. The antenna element according to item 9 above, further comprising a dummy mesh electrode formed around the radiation electrode and the transmission line.

12. The antenna element according to 1, wherein the radiation electrode and the floating slot antenna pattern have different resonance frequencies.

13. The antenna element of 1 above, further comprising an interlayer insulating layer formed between the main antenna pattern and the floating slot antenna pattern.

14. The antenna element of 1 above, further comprising a ground layer disposed below the dielectric layer.

15. A display device including the antenna element of any one of items 1 to 14 above.

In the antenna element according to embodiments of the present invention, for example, a floating slot antenna pattern can be placed on a patch-shaped thin antenna element or a main antenna pattern. The floating slot antenna pattern may provide auxiliary radiation/antenna driving through induced current generated by coupling with the radiation electrode and/or transmission line included in the main antenna pattern.

Therefore, a wideband antenna driven in multiple frequency bands, such as a dual resonance antenna, can be easily implemented through the main antenna pattern and the floating slot antenna pattern.

In some embodiments, the floating slot antenna pattern may overlap a transmission area where a transmission line is placed. Therefore, coupling from the transmission line can be selectively induced while suppressing electrical interference with the radiation electrode and signal pad/ground pad.

Since the floating slot antenna pattern is placed on a different layer from the main antenna pattern, a resonant frequency can be added freely without space constraints. Additionally, the radiation shape and frequency can be easily adjusted by adjusting the length/width of the slot included in the floating slot antenna pattern.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an antenna element according to example embodiments.
Figure 2 is a schematic plan view showing a first electrode layer of an antenna element according to example embodiments.
Figure 3 is a schematic plan view showing an antenna element according to example embodiments.
Figure 4 is a schematic plan view showing an antenna element according to some example embodiments.
Figure 5 is a schematic plan view showing a first electrode layer according to some example embodiments.
Figure 6 is a schematic plan view showing a display device according to example embodiments.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an antenna element capable of resonating or radiating in multiple frequency bands. According to example embodiments, the antenna element may be provided as a dual band resonant antenna.

Additionally, embodiments of the present invention provide a display device that includes the antenna element and is capable of implementing a broadband communication function. The application target of the antenna element is not limited to display devices, and may be applied to various objects or structures such as vehicles, home appliances, buildings, etc.

For example, the antenna element may be a microstrip patch antenna manufactured in the form of a transparent film. The film antenna can be applied to, for example, communication devices for high-frequency or ultra-high-frequency (e.g., 3G, 4G, 5G or higher) mobile communication. For example, the antenna element may be capable of operating in a high or ultra-high frequency band of about 1 GHz or more, in one embodiment, about 20 to 60 GHz. Additionally, the antenna element can be driven together in a frequency band of, for example, 1 GHz or less.

With reference to the drawings below, embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail. However, the following drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention, and serve to further understand the technical idea of the present invention along with the contents of the above-described invention, so the present invention is described in such drawings. It should not be interpreted as limited to the specifics.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an antenna element according to example embodiments.

1 and 2, two directions that are parallel to the top surface of the dielectric layer 100 and intersect each other are defined as the first direction and the second direction. For example, the first direction and the second direction may intersect each other perpendicularly. The direction perpendicular to the top surface of the dielectric layer 100 is defined as the third direction. For example, the first direction may correspond to the length direction of the antenna element, the second direction may correspond to the width direction of the antenna element, and the third direction may correspond to the thickness direction of the antenna element. The above definition of direction can be equally applied to the remaining drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, the antenna element may include a dielectric layer 100 and a first electrode layer 110 disposed on the dielectric layer 100. An interlayer insulating layer 130 may be formed on the first electrode layer 110, and a floating slot antenna pattern 140 may be disposed on the interlayer insulating layer 130. The antenna element may further include a second electrode layer 90 disposed below the dielectric layer 100.

The dielectric layer 100 may include, for example, a transparent resin material that has the flexibility to be folded. For example, the dielectric layer 100 is made of polyester resin such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene isophthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, and polybutylene terephthalate; Cellulose-based resins such as diacetylcellulose and triacetylcellulose; polycarbonate-based resin; Acrylic resins such as polymethyl (meth)acrylate and polyethyl (meth)acrylate; Styrene-based resins such as polystyrene and acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer; Polyolefin resins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyolefins with cyclo- or norbornene structures, and ethylene-propylene copolymers; Vinyl chloride-based resin; Amide resins such as nylon and aromatic polyamide; Imide-based resin; polyethersulfone-based resin; Sulfone-based resin; polyetheretherketone-based resin; Sulfated polyphenylene-based resin; Vinyl alcohol-based resin; Vinylidene chloride-based resin; Vinyl butyral resin; Allylate resin; polyoxymethylene-based resin; It may include thermoplastic resins such as epoxy resins. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

Additionally, a transparent film made of thermosetting resin or ultraviolet curable resin such as (meth)acrylic, urethane, acrylic urethane, epoxy, or silicone may be used as the dielectric layer 100. In some embodiments, an adhesive film such as an optically clear adhesive (OCA), an optically clear resin (OCR), etc. may be included in the dielectric layer 100 .

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

A capacitance or inductance is formed between the first electrode layer 110 and the second electrode layer 90 by the dielectric layer 100, so that the frequency band in which the film antenna can drive or sense can be adjusted. You can. In some embodiments, the dielectric constant of the dielectric layer 100 may be adjusted to a range of about 1.5 to 12. When the dielectric constant exceeds about 12, the driving frequency is excessively reduced, and driving in a desired high frequency band may not be implemented.

The first electrode layer 110 may be disposed on the top surface of the dielectric layer 100. The first electrode layer 110 may include the main antenna pattern of the antenna element. The configuration and structure of the first electrode layer 110 or the main antenna pattern will be described in more detail later with reference to FIG. 2.

According to example embodiments, the floating slot antenna pattern 140 may be disposed on the first electrode layer 110 with the interlayer insulating layer 130 interposed therebetween. The floating slot antenna pattern 140 may be coupled to the main antenna pattern included in the first electrode layer 110 to provide sub-radiation.

The interlayer insulating layer 130 may include materials that are substantially the same as or similar to those included in the dielectric layer 100 described above. The structure and arrangement of the floating slot antenna pattern 140 will be described in more detail later with reference to FIG. 3.

The second electrode layer 90 may be formed on the bottom of the dielectric layer 100. The second electrode layer 90 may overlap the main antenna pattern included in the first electrode layer 110 in the third direction with the dielectric layer 100 interposed therebetween. The second electrode layer 90 is, for example, provided as a ground layer of the antenna element, and substantially vertical radiation can be implemented by the second electrode layer 90.

In some embodiments, the second electrode layer 90 may be included as a separate component of the antenna element. In some embodiments, a conductive member of the display device on which the antenna element is mounted may serve 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 wiring such as a scan line or data line, or various electrodes such as a pixel electrode or a common electrode.

Figure 2 is a schematic plan view showing a first electrode layer of an antenna element according to example embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 2 , the first electrode layer 110 may include at least one main antenna pattern disposed on the top surface of the dielectric layer 100. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of main antenna patterns may be arranged along, for example, the second direction to form an antenna array.

The top surface of the antenna element or dielectric layer 100 may include a radiation area (RA), a transmission area (TA), and a bonding area (BA). For example, a bonding area (BA), a transmission area (TA), and a radiation area (RA) may be sequentially assigned or arranged from one end of the dielectric layer 100.

According to example embodiments, the main antenna pattern may include a radiation electrode 120, a transmission line 125, and a signal pad 130. The first electrode layer 110 or the main antenna pattern may further include a ground pad 135.

The radiation electrode 120 may have a polygonal plate shape, for example. The transmission line 125 extends from one side of the radiation electrode 120, for example, in the first direction, and the signal pad 130 may be connected to one end of the transmission line 125.

The ground pad 135 may be placed around the signal pad 130. In some embodiments, a pair of ground pads 135 may be arranged to face each other with the signal pad 130 sandwiched between them. The ground pad 135 may be electrically and physically separated from the signal pad 130 and the transmission line 125.

The signal pad 130 and the ground pad 135 may be disposed in the bonding area BA of the antenna element. The signal pad 130 and the antenna driving integrated circuit (IC) chip may be electrically connected to the bonding area BA. For example, in the bonding area BA, a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) may be heat-pressed on the signal pad 130 through a conductive intermediary structure such as an anisotropic conductive film (ACF).

The antenna driving IC chip may be mounted on the flexible printed circuit board and electrically connected to the signal pad 130 through wiring formed in the flexible printed circuit board. Accordingly, antenna feeding and radiation control signals can be transmitted through the signal pad 130. For example, the antenna driving IC chip may be surface mounted directly on the flexible printed circuit board.

The transmission line 125 may be placed on the transmission area (TA). The transmission line 125 is provided as a feed line, for example, and may be provided as an intermediate wiring between the signal pad 130 and the main radiation electrode 120.

The radiation electrode 120 may be disposed on the radiation area RA. For example, the radiation electrode 120 and the transmission line 125 may be formed as a single member integrally connected. The radiation electrode 120 may have a pattern shape extending from the transmission line 125 within the radiation area RA.

The above-mentioned main antenna patterns include silver (Ag), gold (Au), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), chromium (Cr), titanium (Ti), and tungsten (W). , niobium (Nb), tantalum (Ta), vanadium (V), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), molybdenum (Mo), calcium (Ca) It may include metals such as or alloys thereof. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

In one embodiment, the main antenna pattern may be made of silver (Ag) or a silver alloy (eg, silver-palladium-copper (APC) alloy) to implement low resistance. In one embodiment, the main antenna pattern may include copper (Cu) or a copper alloy (eg, copper-CuCa alloy) in consideration of low resistance and fine line width patterning.

The main antenna pattern may include a transparent conductive oxide such as indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), zinc oxide (ZnO), indium zinc tin oxide (IZTO), and cadmium tin oxide (CTO).

In some embodiments, the main antenna pattern may include a stacked structure of a transparent conductive oxide layer and a metal layer. For example, it may have a three-layer structure of a transparent conductive oxide layer, a metal layer, and a transparent conductive oxide layer. . In this case, as flexible characteristics are improved by the metal layer, signal transmission speed can be improved by lowering resistance, and corrosion resistance and transparency can be improved by the transparent conductive oxide layer.

In some embodiments, the radiation electrode 120 may include a stacked structure of the transparent conductive oxide layer and the metal layer to improve transparency. The signal pad 130 and the ground pad 135 may be made of the metal or alloy layer described above to prevent signal loss and reduce resistance (for example, the transparent conductive oxide layer is excluded).

Figure 3 is a schematic plan view showing an antenna element according to example embodiments. Specifically, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the floating slot antenna pattern 140 and the first electrode layer 110 (or main antenna pattern) projected together on the dielectric layer 100. For convenience of explanation, the interlayer insulating layer 130 is omitted in FIG. 3 .

Referring to FIG. 3, the floating slot antenna pattern 140 may include a body portion 142 and a slot 144 formed in an opening shape within the body portion 142. The body portion 142 may have a solid metal or alloy pattern shape for efficiency in generating an induced electric field through coupling with the main antenna pattern. In one embodiment, the body portion 142 may include a mesh structure.

The slot 144 may extend within the body portion 142, for example, in the second direction. According to example embodiments, the slot 144 may be aligned to intersect the transmission line 125 included in the main antenna pattern below the floating slot antenna pattern 140 when observed or projected in a planar direction.

As described above, the transmission line 125 extends in the first direction, and thus may intersect the slot 144 extending in the second direction substantially perpendicularly in the planar direction.

A plurality of slots 144 may be included in the body portion 142. The slots 144 may be repeatedly arranged to intersect each of the transmission lines 125 included in the plurality of main antenna patterns.

As described above, the feed current supplied through the antenna driving IC chip may flow through the transmission line 125. The floating slot antenna pattern 140 may be coupled to the transmission line 125 and the interlayer insulating layer 130 to generate an induced current within the body portion 142. An induced electric field is generated within the slot 144 by the induced current, so that antenna radiation can be implemented.

Accordingly, radiation can be implemented through the floating slot antenna pattern 140 at a frequency different from the resonance frequency of the main antenna pattern. Therefore, a substantially dual resonance or dual band type antenna element can be obtained.

The floating slot antenna pattern 140 can be electrically and physically spaced apart from the main antenna pattern using an interlayer insulating layer 130. Since the floating slot antenna pattern 140 is disposed on a different layer from the main antenna pattern, it can be formed without space or design restrictions from the main antenna pattern.

Additionally, the floating slot antenna pattern 140 can provide antenna radiation through electromagnetic coupling with the transmission line 125 of the main antenna pattern without separate power supply. Therefore, a practical dual resonance antenna can be implemented without expanding the bonding area (BA).

As shown in FIG. 3, the floating slot antenna pattern 140 can be selectively placed on the transmission area (TA) of the antenna element. In this case, the floating slot antenna pattern 140 may not extend above the bonding area BA and the radiation area RA.

Accordingly, the bonding process with the flexible printed circuit board in the bonding area BA may not be interrupted, and vertical radiation from the radiation electrode 120 may not be disturbed or interfered with.

In some embodiments, the driving/radiating type (eg, monopole type, dipole type, etc.) of the floating slot antenna pattern 140 may be changed by adjusting the length of the slot 144. In one embodiment, the length of the slot 144 may be adjusted to a half wavelength of the resonant frequency, and the floating slot antenna pattern 140 may be provided as a dipole antenna.

Figure 4 is a schematic plan view showing an antenna element according to some example embodiments. Detailed descriptions of configurations and/or structures that are substantially the same or similar to those described with reference to FIG. 3 will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 4, the floating slot antenna pattern 140 covers the transmission line 125 in the transmission area BA and may partially extend into the radiation area BA. Accordingly, the floating slot antenna pattern 140 may partially cover the radiation electrode 120 in the planar direction.

In the case of the embodiment of FIG. 4, as some coupling occurs from the radiation electrode 120, the generation of induced current/electric field in the floating slot antenna pattern 140 may be further promoted.

In some embodiments, in order to suppress signal and power loss in the radiation electrode 120, the area covered by the floating slot antenna pattern 140 in the planar direction of each radiation electrode 120 is ) can be adjusted to be less than 1/4 of the total area.

Figure 5 is a schematic plan view showing a first electrode layer according to some example embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 5, the radiation electrode 120 may include a mesh structure. In some embodiments, transmission line 125 may also include a mesh structure. The signal pads 130 connected to the transmission line 125 may have a solid metal pattern shape to reduce power supply resistance. The ground pad 135 may also be a solid metal pattern.

As the radiation electrode 120 includes the mesh structure, the transmittance of the antenna element can be improved. Accordingly, even when the radiation electrode 120 is located within the display area of the display device, image quality can be prevented from being deteriorated.

A dummy mesh electrode 127 may be disposed around the radiation electrode 120. For example, after forming a mesh conductive layer on the dielectric layer 100, the mesh conductive layer may be cut along the profiles of the radiation electrode 120 and the transmission line 125 to form the separation region SR. Accordingly, the dummy mesh electrode 127 and the radiation electrode 120 may be formed to be spaced apart from each other by the separation region SR.

As the dummy mesh electrode 127 is disposed around the radiation electrode 120, it is possible to suppress the visibility of the electrode due to the shape and distribution deviation of each region of the conductive patterns.

The dummy mesh electrode 127 may also be placed around the transmission line 125. In one embodiment, the dummy mesh electrode 127 may not be formed in the bonding area BA.

Figure 6 is a schematic plan view showing a display device according to example embodiments. For example, Figure 6 shows the shape of the front part including the window of the display device.

Referring to FIG. 6 , the display device 200 may include a display area 210 and a peripheral area 220. For example, the peripheral area 220 may be disposed on both sides and/or both ends of the display area 210 .

In some embodiments, the above-described antenna element may be inserted into the display device 200 in the form of a film or patch. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the main antenna patterns of the antenna element may overlap the display area 210 of the display device 200. In some embodiments, the radiation electrode 120 overlaps the display area 210, and the bonding area BA of the antenna element where the signal pad 130 and the ground pad 135 are formed is in the peripheral area 220. It can be arranged to correspond.

For example, the peripheral area 220 may correspond to a light blocking portion or a bezel portion of an image display device. Additionally, a driving circuit such as a driving IC chip of the display device 200 and/or an antenna may be disposed in the peripheral area 220.

By arranging the signal pad 130 of the antenna element adjacent to the driving circuit, signal loss can be suppressed by shortening the signal transmission and reception path. In addition, the ground pad 135 can be placed only in the peripheral area 220 and the floating slot antenna pattern 140 can be used to implement a dual resonance antenna without expanding the light blocking part/bezel part.

Since the antenna element includes a main antenna pattern and a dummy mesh electrode 127 including the mesh structure described above, transparency is improved and electrode visibility can be significantly reduced or suppressed. Accordingly, while maintaining or improving the desired communication reliability, image quality in the display area 210 can also be improved.

90: second electrode layer 100: dielectric layer
110: first electrode layer 120: radiation electrode
125: transmission line 127: dummy mesh electrode
130: signal pad 135: ground pad
130: Interlayer insulation layer 140: Floating slot antenna pattern
142: body part 144: slot

Claims (15)

dielectric layer;
a main antenna pattern disposed on the dielectric layer; and
An antenna element comprising a floating slot antenna pattern disposed to be spaced apart from the main antenna pattern in a different layer and partially overlapping the main antenna pattern in a planar direction.
The method of claim 1, wherein the main antenna pattern is:
radiation electrode;
a transmission line extending from one side of the radiation electrode; and
An antenna element comprising a signal pad connected to one end of the transmission line.
The method according to claim 2, wherein the floating slot antenna pattern includes a body portion and a slot formed in the body portion,
An antenna element, wherein the slot intersects the transmission line perpendicularly in the plane direction.
The antenna element of claim 3, wherein the body portion of the floating slot antenna pattern overlaps only the transmission line among the main antenna patterns in the plane direction.
The antenna element of claim 3, wherein the body portion of the floating slot antenna pattern partially covers the radiation electrode in the plane direction.
The antenna element according to claim 5, wherein an area of the radiation electrode portion covered by the body portion in the planar direction is less than 1/4 of the total area of the radiation electrode.
The antenna element of claim 3, wherein a plurality of the main antenna patterns are arranged on the dielectric layer, and the floating slot antenna pattern commonly overlaps the plurality of main antenna patterns in the plane direction.
The antenna element of claim 7, wherein the floating slot antenna patterns include a plurality of the slots, and each of the slots is aligned to intersect each transmission line included in the plurality of main antenna patterns.
The antenna element of claim 3, wherein the radiation electrode and the transmission line include a mesh structure, and the body portion of the floating slot antenna pattern has a solid metal pattern structure.
The antenna element of claim 9, wherein the signal pad has a solid metal pattern structure.
The antenna element according to claim 9, further comprising a dummy mesh electrode formed around the radiation electrode and the transmission line.
The antenna element of claim 2, wherein the radiation electrode and the floating slot antenna pattern have different resonance frequencies.
The antenna element according to claim 1, further comprising an interlayer insulating layer formed between the main antenna pattern and the floating slot antenna pattern.
The antenna element of claim 1 , further comprising a ground layer disposed beneath the dielectric layer.
A display device comprising the antenna element of claim 1.