WO2021241962A1

WO2021241962A1 - Antenna element and display device including same

Info

Publication number: WO2021241962A1
Application number: PCT/KR2021/006423
Authority: WO
Inventors: 이원희; 김영주; 이재현
Original assignee: 동우화인켐 주식회사
Priority date: 2020-05-25
Filing date: 2021-05-24
Publication date: 2021-12-02
Also published as: KR20210145350A; CN113725609A; CN215418600U

Abstract

An antenna element and a display device including same are provided. The antenna element comprises: a base dielectric layer; a feeding line arranged on the base dielectric layer; and a deco film which is arranged on the base dielectric layer so as to be spaced from the feeding line, and which includes a slot that traverses the feeding line in the planar direction. Through the deco film, slot antenna properties can be provided in a bezel area or a non-display area.

Description

Antenna element and display device including same

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

With the recent development of an information society, wireless communication technologies such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are combined with a display device and implemented in the form of, for example, a smart phone. In this case, an antenna may be coupled to the display device to perform a communication function.

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

However, as the display device on which the antenna is mounted becomes thinner and lighter, the space occupied by the antenna may also be reduced. Accordingly, it may be difficult to design an antenna to have sensitivity to various types of signals in a broadband.

In addition, for example, in the case of a high-frequency or ultra-high frequency band antenna such as the recent 5G communication, it may be vulnerable to signal loss, and it may not be easy to implement high-gain and wide-band characteristics.

Therefore, it is necessary to develop an antenna capable of realizing broadband, high gain, and high frequency/ultra-high frequency characteristics in a limited space. For example, Korean Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-0095557 discloses an antenna structure built into a portable terminal, but the antenna structure cannot sufficiently implement the above-mentioned recent antenna requirements.

One object of the present invention is to provide an antenna element having improved coverage characteristics and space efficiency.

An object of the present invention is to provide a display device including an antenna element having improved coverage characteristics and space efficiency.

1. base dielectric layer; a feed line disposed on the base dielectric layer; and a decorative film disposed on the base dielectric layer so as to be spaced apart from the feed line and including a slot intersecting the feed line in a planar direction.

2. The method of 1 above, further comprising a first dielectric layer formed on the base dielectric layer to space the feed line and the decor film apart, the antenna element.

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

4. The above 3, further comprising a window sheet on which the decorative film is formed,

The window sheet is attached on the first dielectric layer so that the decorative film overlaps the feed line, the antenna element.

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

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

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

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

9. The second feeding line according to 8 above, wherein the feeding line includes a first feeding line intersecting the first slot and extending in the vertical direction, and a second feeding line intersecting the second slot and extending in the horizontal direction. Including, the antenna element.

10. The antenna element according to 1 above, further comprising a patch antenna unit disposed on the base dielectric layer.

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

12. The method of 11 above, wherein the decorative film includes an upper side and a lower side, the radiation pattern is located outside the upper side of the decorative film in the planar direction, and the feed line is the decorative film in the planar direction. An antenna element that does not extend beyond the phase side.

13. The antenna element according to the above 1, wherein the feed line is disposed on a top surface or a bottom surface of the base dielectric layer.

14. The antenna element according to 13 above, further comprising a second dielectric layer disposed on the bottom surface of the base dielectric layer.

15. The antenna element according to 14 above, wherein the second dielectric layer includes an adhesive layer or a polarizing layer.

16. Display panel; and the antenna element according to the above-described embodiments stacked on the display panel.

17. The display device according to the above 16, wherein the display panel includes a display area and a non-display area, and the feeding line and the decoration film are disposed in the non-display area.

In the antenna element according to the embodiments of the present invention, for example, a slot may be formed in a deco film of a display device, and a feeding line that intersects the slot and the slot in a planar direction may be disposed under the deco film. . A slot antenna may be provided through a coupling between the feed line and the slot.

Since the slot antenna is implemented using, for example, a light blocking area or a bezel area of the display apparatus, radiation characteristics may be provided without impairing image quality of the display apparatus. In addition, the radiation shape and frequency can be easily adjusted by adjusting the length/width of the slot.

In some embodiments, a patch antenna unit may be arranged around the slot antenna. Accordingly, a wideband antenna driven in a plurality of frequency bands like a dual resonant antenna may be implemented through the patch antenna unit and the slot antenna.

1 and 2 are schematic plan and cross-sectional views, respectively, of antenna elements according to exemplary embodiments.

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

4 is a schematic plan view illustrating an antenna element according to some exemplary embodiments.

5 and 6 are schematic plan views illustrating an antenna element according to some exemplary embodiments.

7 and 8 are schematic cross-sectional views and plan views, respectively, of display apparatuses according to exemplary embodiments.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an antenna element providing a slot antenna utilizing a decorative film.

In addition, embodiments of the present invention provide a display device including the antenna element and capable of implementing a broadband communication function. An application target of the antenna element is not limited to a display device, and may be applied to various objects or structures such as vehicles, home appliances, and buildings.

The antenna element may be, for example, a microstrip patch antenna manufactured in the form of a transparent film. The antenna element may be applied to, for example, a communication device for high-frequency or ultra-high frequency (eg, 3G, 4G, 5G or higher) mobile communication.

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail. However, the following drawings attached to the present specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention, and serve to further understand the technical spirit of the present invention together with the above-described content of the present invention, so the present invention is described in such drawings It should not be construed as being limited only to the matters.

1 and 2 , the antenna element may include a feeding line 110 and a decor film 130 disposed on an upper layer of the feeding line 110 .

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

The base dielectric layer 100 may include a transparent resin material. For example, the base dielectric layer 100 may include a polyester-based resin such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene isophthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, and polybutylene terephthalate; Cellulose resins, such as a diacetyl cellulose and a triacetyl cellulose; polycarbonate-based 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, polyolefin having a cyclo-based or norbornene structure, and an ethylene-propylene copolymer; vinyl chloride-based resin; amide-based resins such as nylon and aromatic polyamide; imide-based resin; polyether sulfone-based resin; sulfone-based resins; polyether ether ketone resin; sulfide polyphenylene-based resin; vinyl alcohol-based resin; vinylidene chloride-based resin; vinyl butyral-based resin; allylate-based resin; polyoxymethylene-based resins; epoxy resin; urethane-based or acrylic urethane-based resin; and silicone-based resins. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. For example, the base dielectric layer 100 may include a cycloolefin polymer (COP) to ensure 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 in a range of about 1.5 to 12. When the permittivity exceeds about 12, the driving frequency is excessively reduced, so that driving in a desired high frequency or very high frequency band may not be realized.

The feeding line 110 may be physically spaced apart from the decor film 130 with the first dielectric layer 120 interposed therebetween. As shown in Fig. 1, the decorative film 130 may include a slot 135 that substantially perpendicularly intersects the feed line 110 and the planar direction therein.

The slot 135 may have a slit or opening shape formed by partially removing the interior of the decorative film 130 .

As shown in FIG. 1 , for example, the feed line 110 extends in a vertical direction (or a longitudinal direction), and the slot 135 may extend in a horizontal direction (or a width direction) on the feed line 110 . have.

According to exemplary embodiments, the decorative film 130 and the feeding line 110 may include a conductive material, and may include a low-resistance metal or alloy to promote generation of an electric field through mutual coupling.

For example, the decorative film 130 and the feed line 110 are 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 may be included. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

In one embodiment, the decorative film 130 and the feeding line 110 are silver (Ag) or a silver alloy (eg, silver-palladium-copper (APC) alloy) for low resistance and fine line width patterning implementation; or copper (Cu) or a copper alloy (eg, a copper-calcium (CuCa) alloy).

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 decor film 130 may be formed on the bezel portion of the window sheet 160 (see FIG. 7 ) and attached to the first dielectric layer 120 to overlap the feed line 110 .

The first dielectric layer 120 may serve as a medium for generating an electric field between the slot 135 of the decor film 130 and the feed 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 an embodiment, the first dielectric layer 120 may include the transparent resin material described in the base dielectric layer 100 , an inorganic insulating material, or the like.

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

The ground layer 50 may include the aforementioned metal or alloy. In an 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 layer 50 may be included as a separate component of the antenna element. In some embodiments, a conductive member of the display device to which the antenna element is applied may be provided as a ground layer.

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

In an embodiment, for example, various structures including a conductive material disposed under the display panel may be provided as the ground layer 50 . For example, a metal plate (eg, a stainless steel plate such as a SUS plate), a pressure sensor, a fingerprint sensor, an electromagnetic wave shielding layer, a heat dissipation sheet, a digitizer, etc. may be provided as the ground layer 50 .

The distal end of the feed 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).

An antenna driving integrated circuit (IC) chip (not shown) may be mounted on the circuit board 170 . Accordingly, power supply, signal application, etc. may be performed to the power supply line 110 via the circuit board 170 through the antenna driving IC chip.

In an embodiment, the antenna driving IC chip may be mounted on a chip mounting board (eg, a rigid PCB), and the chip mounting board may be coupled to the circuit board 170 through a connector.

According to the above-described exemplary embodiments, a slot antenna may be implemented using the decoration film 130 included in the non-display area or the bezel area of the display device. Accordingly, antenna radiation can be easily added without interfering with image implementation in the display area of the display device. For example, in the planar direction, the feeding line 110 may not extend out of the upper side of the decorative film 130 , and thus may not overlap the display area of the display device.

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

In one embodiment, the length of the slot 135 may be adjusted in the range of about 2 to 3 mm in order to implement the latest 5G band mobile communication, and in this case, the resonant frequency through the slot antenna is in the range of about 20 to 30 GHz can be adjusted in

Referring to FIG. 3 , the 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 decor film 130 and the feeding line 110 to 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 cover the power supply line 110 . A ground layer 50 may be disposed on the 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 are provided together as an electric field generating medium between the decor film 130 and the feed line 110 , to ensure sufficient dielectric properties. can

Referring to FIG. 4 , the antenna element may further include a patch antenna unit 150 together with the above-described slot antenna.

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 extend from one side of the radiation pattern 152 . The transmission line 154 may be formed as a single member substantially integral with the radiation pattern 152 .

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

According to some embodiments, a ground pad 158 may be disposed around the signal pad 156 . For example, a pair of ground pads 158 may be disposed to 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 (eg, APC alloy or CuCa alloy). The patch antenna pattern 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), or the like. have.

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, a two-layer structure of a transparent conductive oxide layer-metal layer or a transparent conductive oxide layer-metal layer. - It may have a three-layer structure of a transparent conductive oxide layer. In this case, while the flexible characteristic is improved by the metal layer, the signal transmission speed may be improved by lowering the resistance, and corrosion resistance and transparency may be improved by the transparent conductive oxide layer.

The radiation pattern 152 may be disposed in the 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, in order to prevent a decrease in transmittance in the display area, the radiation pattern 152 and the transmission line 154 may be formed to include a mesh-pattern structure.

The signal pad 156 and the ground pad 158 may be formed of a solid metal pattern in order to reduce a power supply resistance through the circuit board 170 and prevent signal loss.

In an embodiment, the radiation pattern 152 may be positioned in the display area, and the transmission line 154 may entirely overlap the decoration film 130 and be disposed in the non-display area or the bezel area.

In this case, the radiation pattern 152 includes the mesh-pattern structure, and the transmission line 154 , the signal pad 156 , and the ground pad 158 may be formed of a solid metal pattern. Accordingly, power feeding/signal loss through the transmission line 154 can be suppressed.

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

pads

156 and 158 of the patch antenna unit 150 and one end of the feed line 110 .

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

As described above, by including the patch antenna unit 150 and the slot antenna having different radiation types or resonant frequencies in one antenna element, radiation coverage can be expanded. For example, the antenna element may be provided as a dual resonant frequency antenna.

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

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

In some embodiments, the feeding line 110 may have a bent line shape. For example, the feed line 110 includes a first portion 112 extending in a horizontal direction to intersect the slot 135 and a second portion 114 extending in a vertical direction from one end of the first portion 112 . may include

Referring to FIG. 6 , the antenna element may include a plurality of slot antennas in an array form. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the gain characteristic through the antenna element.

For example, the antenna element 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 feeding 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 , a second feeding line 110b including a first portion 112 extending in a horizontal direction is disposed below the second slot 135b to define a second slot antenna.

As described above, by arranging the first and second slot antennas extending in different directions together to increase radiation coverage, gain characteristics may be improved together. In addition, polarization characteristics in different directions may be implemented together (eg, vertical polarization and horizontal polarization), thereby extending beam coverage.

The shape of the slot antenna shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 may be appropriately changed according to the logo included in the decor film 130 and aesthetic characteristics. For example, the shape of the slot 135 may be formed to have a pattern shape such as a character or a logo.

7 and 8 are schematic cross-sectional views and plan views, respectively, of display apparatuses according to exemplary embodiments. For example, FIG. 8 shows a front part of a display device implemented in the form of a smart phone.

Referring to FIG. 7 , the display apparatus 200 may include a display panel 230 and the aforementioned antenna element stacked on the display panel 230 .

The display panel 230 includes a panel substrate, a TFT circuit structure formed on the panel substrate, a pixel electrode connected to the TFT circuit structure, a display layer (eg, an organic light emitting layer or a liquid crystal layer) formed on the pixel electrode, and the It may include 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 slot 135 of the antenna element is formed in the non-display area or the bezel area of the window sheet 160, and is attached on the first dielectric layer 120 including, for example, an adhesive layer. can be

A touch sensor layer 240 and a polarization layer 250 may be further included between the display panel 230 and the antenna element. For example, the touch sensor layer 240 , the polarization layer 250 , and the antenna element may be sequentially stacked from the display panel 230 . In this case, it is possible to effectively prevent the sensing electrodes included in the touch sensor layer 240 from being recognized by the user. In addition, the polarization layer 250 may be included as the second dielectric layer 90 together.

Referring to FIG. 8 , the display apparatus 200 may include a display area 210 and a peripheral area 220 . 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 apparatus 200 in the form of a film or a patch. In some embodiments, the radiation pattern 152 of the patch antenna unit 150 of the antenna element may overlap the display area 210 of the display apparatus 200 .

The peripheral region 220 may correspond to, for example, a light blocking part or a bezel part of the image display device. In addition, a driving circuit such as a driving IC chip of the display device 200 and/or an antenna may be disposed in the peripheral region 220 . The decorative film 130 is included in the peripheral region 220 , and the slot antenna may also be disposed in the peripheral region 220 .

Accordingly, recognition of the antenna electrode may be prevented by utilizing the peripheral region 220 , and antenna radiation characteristics in the display apparatus 200 may be expanded.

The circuit board 170 may be disposed in the peripheral area 220 , for example, may be bent toward the rear surface of the display apparatus 200 to be electrically connected to the main board or the antenna driving IC chip.

Claims

base dielectric layer;

a feed line disposed on the base dielectric layer; and

It is disposed on the base dielectric layer so as to be spaced apart from the feed line, comprising a decorative film including a slot intersecting the feed line in a planar direction, the antenna element.
The antenna element of claim 1, further comprising a first dielectric layer formed on the base dielectric layer to space the feed line and the decor film apart.
The antenna element of claim 2 , wherein the first dielectric layer comprises an adhesive layer.
The method according to claim 3, further comprising a window sheet on which the decorative film is formed,

The window sheet is attached on the first dielectric layer so that the decorative film overlaps the feed line, the antenna element.
The antenna element according to claim 1, wherein the slot extends in a horizontal direction and the feed line extends in a vertical direction.
The antenna element according to claim 1, wherein the slot extends in a vertical direction, and the feed line includes a portion extending in a horizontal direction.
The antenna element according to claim 6, wherein the feed line includes a first portion extending in the horizontal direction and a second portion extending in the vertical direction from the first portion.
The antenna element according to claim 1, wherein the slot includes a first slot extending in a horizontal direction and a second slot extending in a vertical direction.
The method according to claim 8, wherein the feed line includes a first feed line that intersects the first slot and extends in the vertical direction, and a second feed line that intersects the second slot and includes a portion extending in the horizontal direction. which is an antenna element.
The antenna element of claim 1 , further comprising a patch antenna unit disposed on the base dielectric layer.
The antenna element of claim 10 , wherein the patch antenna unit includes a radiation pattern and a transmission line extending from the radiation pattern.
The method according to claim 11, wherein the decorative film includes an upper side and a lower side, the radiation pattern is located outside the upper side of the decorative film in the planar direction, the feed line is the upper side of the decorative film in the planar direction The antenna element, which does not extend beyond it.
The antenna element according to claim 1, wherein the feed line is disposed on a top surface or a bottom surface of the base dielectric layer.
The antenna element of claim 13 , further comprising a second dielectric layer disposed on the bottom surface of the base dielectric layer.
The antenna element of claim 14 , wherein the second dielectric layer comprises an adhesive layer or a polarization layer.
display panel; and

A display device comprising the antenna element of claim 1 stacked on the display panel.
The method according to claim 16, wherein the display panel comprises a display area and a non-display area,

The feeding line and the decorative film are disposed in the non-display area, a display device.