Co-Existing Antennas in Modern Handsets

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School of Electrical Engineering | Doctoral thesis (article-based) | Defence date: 2020-08-28
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Authors

Kurvinen, Joni

Date

2020

Department

Elektroniikan ja nanotekniikan laitos
Department of Electronics and Nanoengineering

Major/Subject

Mcode

Degree programme

Language

en

Pages

74 + app. 66

Series

Aalto University publication series DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS, 114/2020

Abstract

Fifth generation (5G) mobile networks significantly increase the data transfer rates of wireless communications. This increase is achieved by utilizing multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems at sub-6 GHz frequencies. Furthermore, 5G introduces new millimeter-wave (mm-wave) frequencies in which more bandwidth is available for high-capacity communications. A common factor for both frequency ranges is that handsets should be equipped with more antennas than before. Another challenge for antenna designers is the limitations set by the phone industry. Current smartphones are already densely packed, with a maximized screen-to-body ratio. Due to the limited volume, antennas must be integrated into the handset body. However, phone manufacturers are strict about the visual appearance of the device, which further restricts the placement of the antennas. The first part of this thesis presents methods to integrate antennas into the handset body at both the sub-6 GHz and the mm-wave frequencies. The sub-6 GHz antennas are implemented in the metal frame of a handset with a fully metallic back cover according to industry requirements. The antenna performance is confirmed with antenna measurements. 5G mm-wave antennas are desired to be dual-polarized and to operate at two frequency bands. The effect of the handset chassis on the antenna performance is investigated. The second part of the thesis considers the co-existence of mm-wave and sub-6 GHz antennas with a focus on effective volume utilization. To fit all the required antennas into a handset, antennas must be able to perform in a shared volume. A mm-wave antenna is designed and located within the same space as the traditional LTE antenna, and the mm-wave antenna is enclosed with plastic and radiates through an opening in the metal frame of the phone. The plastic isolates the two antennas and allows adequate performance for both. The presented co-design method is verified, and the beam-steering capability of the mm-wave antenna is demonstrated experimentally. Integrating mm-wave antennas into the metal frame of a phone might short-circuit the sub-6 GHz antennas and thus destroy the LTE performance. To prevent the short-circuiting, a design method for a capacitively-loaded feed line is developed. The loaded feed line behaves like a transmission line at mm-waves frequencies but presents as a small common-mode capacitance at the sub-6 GHz range. This behavior allows sub-6 GHz antennas to operate normally. The presented method enables improved integration of mm-wave antennas into the metal frame of a phone.

Description

Supervising professor

Viikari, Ville, Assoc. Prof., Aalto University, Department of Electronics and Nanoengineering, Finland

Thesis advisor

Lehtovuori, Anu, Dr., Aalto University, Finland

Keywords

antenna co-existence, handset antennas, metal frame, millimeter-waves, sub-6 GHz, alle 6 GHz, antennien yhteensopivuus, matkapuhelinantennit, metallireunus, millimetriaallot

Other note

Parts

  • [Publication 1]: J. Kurvinen, A. Lehtovuori, J. Mai, C. Wang, V. Viikari. Metal-covered Handset with LTE MIMO, Wi-Fi MIMO, and GPS Antennas, Progress In Electromagnetics Research C, vol. 80, pp. 89–101, 2018.
    Full text in Acris/Aaltodoc: http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-201902251925
    DOI: 10.2528/PIERC17082303 View at publisher
  • [Publication 2]: J. Kurvinen, A. Lehtovuori, J.-M. Hannula, V. Viikari. MIMO Performance of Today’s Metal-Covered Handset, in Proceedings of the 12th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP), London, United Kingdom, 9–13 April 2018, 5 pages.
    Full text in Acris/Aaltodoc: http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-201812216664
    DOI: 10.1049/cp.2018.0407 View at publisher
  • [Publication 3]: J. Kurvinen, A. Lehtovuori, V. Viikari. Dual-Band Dual-Polarized mm-Wave Slot Antenna Array for Mobile Handsets, in Proceedings of the 14th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP), Copenhagen, Denmark, 15–20 March 2020, 5 pages.
    Full text in Acris/Aaltodoc: http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202008124665
    DOI: 10.23919/EuCAP48036.2020.9135623 View at publisher
  • [Publication 4]: J. Kurvinen, H. Kähkönen, A. Lehtovuori, J. Ala-Laurinaho, V. Viikari. Co-Designed mm-Wave and LTE Handset Antennas, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, vol. 67, no. 3, pp. 1545–1553, March 2019.
    Full text in Acris/Aaltodoc: http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202008124723
    DOI: 10.1109/TAP.2018.2888823 View at publisher
  • [Publication 5]: J. Kurvinen, H. Kähkönen, A. Lehtovuori, J. Ala-Laurinaho, V. Viikari. Co-Designed Handset Antennas with Wide Angular mm-Wave Coverage and LTE MIMO, in Proceedings of the 49th European Microwave Conference (EuMC), Paris, France, 1–3 October 2019, pp. 730–733.
    Full text in Acris/Aaltodoc: http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202001021157
    DOI: 10.23919/EuMC.2019.8910823 View at publisher
  • [Publication 6]: J. Kurvinen, R. Montoya Moreno, A. Lehtovuori, J. Ala-Laurinaho, A. Khripkov, J. Ilvonen, J. van Wonterghem, V. Viikari. Capacitively-Loaded Feed Line to Improve mm-Wave and Sub-6 GHz Antenna Co-Existence, accepted for publication in IEEE Access, 11 pages, 2020.
    Full text in Acris/Aaltodoc: http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202008124714
    DOI: 10.1109/ACCESS.2020.3012773 View at publisher

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https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-60-3981-7

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[diss] Sähkötekniikan korkeakoulu / ELEC