Triple-band Internal Antenna for Clamshell type Mobilephone

Takahiro Sugiyama* Hitoshi Horita** Youhei Shirakawa** Morihiko Ikegaya* Shinichi Takaba*** Hisashi Tate***
ABSTRACT: We have developed the triple-band internal antenna for Clamshell type mobile phone. The frequency range was suitable for European Mobile Phone system: 900MHz and 1800MHz, and USA Mobile Phone system: 1900MHz. To develop the triple band antenna, we increased the bandwidth at 1800MHz ~ 1900MHz. We concentrated on optimizing the relation between internal antenna and print circuit board, and found the best antenna position and design. Also we determined the influence of varying the LCD panel position on Clamshell type mobile phone.

[1] Introduction

Mobile phone use is steadily increasing. Especially in China, the increase is drastic in the last couple of years. The mass production mobile phone amounted to more than 400,000,000 units. GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) type is used in more than 160 countries in the world, and is the current standard system. This system is using 900MHz (GSM) and 1800MHz (DCS; Digital Cellar System) dual band system, and we can use the same mobile phone in Europe and Asia. In United States, the mobile phone system is using 850MHz (IS-95) and 1900MHz (PCS; Personal Communication Service) dual band system. To achieve world roaming, we need the triple band mobile phone suitable for 900MHz, 1800MHz and 1900MHz and/or Quadruple band mobile phone suitable for 850MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz and 1900MHz. We, Hitachi-Cable, have developed the internal antenna, and are producing commercially the Dual Band internal antenna for European system. Internal antenna has several advantages over usual outside antennas: the rod antenna and helical antenna1) 2) . - There is more scope to designing a more fashionable, sleeker looking phone. - Another important advantage is the SAR (Specific Absorption Ratio) issues. You will be able to design a mobile phone that reduces SAR. - The next advantage is that mechanically the phone is stronger/more robust because everything is contained and protected on the inside. - And the assembly is much easier because there are no additional parts needed to connect the antenna to the Printed Circuit Board (PCB).
* Advanced Research Center, Hitachi Cable, Ltd. ** Research & Development Center, Hitachi Cable, Ltd. *** Electric Wires & Cables Production Center, Hitachi Cable, Ltd.

Now the internal antenna has been adopted for most European dual band cellular phones. From now on, there be demand for an internal antenna, also with the cellular phone of the triple band whose spread is expected, and development of an antenna with an internal triple band was the subject of pressing need. We have developed the design technology of the bandwidth, and triple band internal antenna. Also, we solved the main issue problem: influence of the position of LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panel, using the same technology. The techniques for designing an internal antenna are described in this paper.
[2] Triple band technology
2.1Development target

Fig. 1 shows the standard mobile phone (called Strait type) using internal antenna. Usually the internal antenna is set on the PCB. The position of the internal antenna was behind LCD panel and the top of mobile phone to avoid the influence of hand and head. Table 1 shows the frequency range and normalized bandbattery Back Cover

Antenna

PCB

Front Cover

Fig. 1 Image drawing of decomposed Mobile Phone with Internal antenna fixed on PCB. The position of antenna is behind LCD.

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Table 1 Frequency Band of each system

Frequency Band(MHz) GSM DCS PCS DCS-PCS 880 1710 1850 1710 960 1880 1990 1990 Normalized Bandwidth 8.7% 9.4% 7.3% 15.1%

40mm and length at 15mm. Fig. 3 shows the measurement result. Fig. 3 shows that minimum antenna thickness is 8mm to keep the normalized bandwidth of 15%. However, with current mobile phones thin body, we cannot install an 8mm thick antenna.

fw:Bandwidthfc:Center frequency 25

width (= bandwidth / Center frequency) of each system. In general, VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio) should be under 3 in this frequency range. The return loss properties should be under -6dB also. Fig. 2 shows the measurement results of return loss properties of current dual band internal antenna. GSM band (880MHz ~ 960MHz) and DCS band (1710MHz ~ 1880MHz) return loss was lower than -6dB, which means VSWR is lower than 3. Normalized bandwidth is 8.7% at GSM, 9.4% at DCS, and total 18.1%. In case of triple band antenna, we should increase the bandwidth (1710MHz ~ 1990MHz) and normalized bandwidth 15.1% with the same bandwidth as GSM field (8.7%). As Fig. 2 shows, return loss is higher than 6dB at PCS band, and transmission becomes unstable. To realize the triple band antenna, we need to increase the bandwidth on 1800MHz field drastically.

20

fw/fc(%)

15

10

0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 Anntena hight(mm)

Fig. 3 Relation between antenna volume and Bandwidth 2.3 Increasing Bandwidth using reduced Ground area

GSM 0

DCS

Returnloss(dB)

-5

VSWR=3

-10

-15 PCS -20 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5 Frequency(GHz) 1.8

As mentioned above, the bandwidth is in proportion to the antenna volume. When we define "antenna volume" as strong electrical field area, antenna volume became the area that is enclosed by the antenna radiator and ground plane. When we cannot increase the volume of antenna in this way (we cannot increase the distance from radiator to ground plane), we found another way to increase the antenna volume. We consider that if we shift the position of radiator as shown in Fig. 4, we can increase the volume equivalently. And if we reduce the ground plane under the radiator, we can increase the bandwidth. We confirmed the influence of this phenomenon using real samples. Fig. 5 shows the measurement result. The antenna was

Fig. 2 Return Loss Properties of Dual band antenna Return loss in GSM and DCS band is lower than 6dB, but not in PCS .
E

Antenna PCB (a) Case of PCB with complete ground plane Antenna

2.2 Relation between bandwidth and antenna volume

In general, there is a relationship between the antenna bandwidth and gain3). G B V ( G:Gain, B:Bandwidth, V:Antenna Volume) (1)
E

PCB

This expression shows that we should increase the antenna volume to widen the bandwidth without drop in gain. The antenna volume is fixed by the area of radiator and thickness of antenna. Hence we confirm the relationship between antenna thickness and normalized bandwidth. In actual measurement, we prepared many samples of several thicknesses, and measured the bandwidth. On this study, we fixed the antenna width at

Area of Removed GND (b) Case of PCB with partial removed ground plane

Fig.4 Effect of reducing ground plane This figure shows the cross section of internal antenna and PCB, and display Lines of electric force.
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35 GSM 30 25 DCS GM+DCS

LCD Side

fw/fc(%)

20 15 10 5 0 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Key-Pad Side Hinge

Width of removed GND(mm)

Fig. 5 Relation between ground reduced area and normalized bandwidth

Fig. 7 Sketch of Clam Shell type Mobile Phone

35mm x 12mm x 5mm(t) and PCB was 40mm x 100mm. Horizontal axis of Fig. 5 was the width of the reduced area of ground. This result shows that bandwidth increased with the width of reduced area of ground. When we reduce the ground area more than 10mm, the normalized bandwidth becomes 25%. This result shows that if we can reduce the ground plane under radiator, we can achieve the triple band antenna. Fig. 6 shows the return loss properties using this method. We can confirm that the bandwidth of 1.9GHz field is wide enough for triple band antenna.

Table2 Comparison of antenna installing area

Position Top of LCD side Bottom of LCD side Top of Key-Pad side Bottom of Key-Pad side Cable length 90mm 50mm 0mm 0mm Influence for human body Near the head, large SAR value Little influence of head and hand Little influence of head and hand Great influence of hand

Returnloss(dB)

-5 GSM -10

VSWR=3

DCS Dual Triple PCS 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5 Frequency(GHz) 1.8 2.1

-15

-20

Fig. 6 Return Loss Properties of triple band antenna

3. Internal Antenna for Clamshell type Mobile Phone

Recently, Clamshell type Mobile Phone has spread in the market. This Mobile Phone was combined with Key-Pad side and LCD panel side, and we can fold up the hinge as shown in Fig. 7. LCD side and Key-Pad side include the PCBs and each PCB is connected with FPC(Flexible Printed Circuit). The installing area of internal antenna has 4 options. Table 2 shows the advan28
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tage and disadvantage of each option. "Influence of hand" means that holding of users hand will cause the shift of the resonance frequency, and transmitting and receiving become unstable. "Influence of head" includes the shifting of resonance frequency and increasing of SAR. The length of cable has influence on the loss between the antenna and PCB. When we use a long cable, the power of signal will become low. Table 2 shows that the best position of antenna setting is "Top of Key-Pad side". Regarding the influence of the position of LCD, the characteristics of internal antenna depend on not only the radiator design but also the design of PCB strongly. In case of Clamshell type mobile phone, the shape of ground plane is changed from "OPEN" position to "CLOSED" position: therefore we cannot avoid the influence of the LCD position. Fig. 8 shows the measurement result of the return loss properties on the open mode of LCD and close mode of LCD. In this study, ground plane was not eliminated from under radiator. The resonance frequency shifted drastically. The reason for this shift is that the current distribution on the radiator was changed on the "OPEN" position and "CLOSED" position. We cannot avoid this phenomenon for clamshell type mobile phone. Regarding the design of the internal antenna for clamshell mobile phone, we have to keep the bandwidth according to two methods: One of them is solving of the shift of resonance frequency, and the other is increasing the bandwidth to cover the two positions; "OPEN" position and "CLOSED" position. Table 3 shows the many parameters of radiator shape and tendency of

Returnloss(dB)

-5 GSM -10 CLOSE OPEN PCS -20 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5 Frequency(GHz) 1.8 2.1 VSWR=3 DCS

-15

Fig. 8 Return loss properties of clamshell mobile phone

Table 3 Parameter of antenna design

Parameter Eliminating ground plane Tendency Increasing of band width

Fig. 10 Test internal antenna for clamshell type The antenna is planer inverted F antenna, consists of Cu film and plastic stay.

Increasing of FPC length Variation of resonance frequency becomes small Increasing of FPC width Variation of resonance frequency becomes large Increasing of PCB length Variation of resonance frequency becomes small

them. Regarding the actual design of internal antenna, we combine many parameters to keep the bandwidth of GSM, DCS and PCS.
4. Result and discussion

Fig. 9 shows the test mobile phone, and Fig. 10 shows test internal antenna. The internal antenna was installed in the Top of Key-Pad side, and dummy FPC was inserted in the hinge. The size of antenna was 30mm x 20mm x 5mm, and the ground plane under radiator was removed. Semi-rigid cable was set on the PCB to feed the signal. The feed point was 10mm from edge

of PCB, and the contact point of ground plane was located 3mm from the edge Fig. 11 shows the measurement result of return loss properties of internal antenna. Both measurement results of "OPEN" position and "CLOSED" position were dual mode and had wider bandwidth compared with usual straight type mobile phone shown in Fig. 1. The bandwidth under VSWR: 3 was 98MHz at GSM, and 598MHz at DCS-PCS, achieving the target. The resonance frequency was shifted from 1815MHz at "OPEN" position to 1860MHz at "CLOSED" position. Also third peak appeared at 1190MHz on the "CLOSED" position, but bandwidth at GSM was 94MHz, and DCS-PCS was 371MHz, both values satisfying the specification. The bandwidth was increasing by the eliminating of ground plane under radiator. Fig. 12 and 13 show the measurement results of radiation pattern. The radiation pattern shown in Fig. 12 was the same as current dual band internal antenna. Also, the deviation between the LCD positions was negligible. Fig. 13 shows average gain vs. frequency curve. The average gain of GSM and DCS was the same level as current dual band antenna, and PCS was improved drastically.
GSM DCS

Open
Returnloss(dB)

0 -5

VSWR=3

LCD Side

Closed

-10 -15 -20 -25 -30 0.60 PCS 0.9 1.2 1.5 1.8 2.1 CLOSE OPEN DualReference

KEY Side Antenna Position

Fig. 9 Test Clamshell type mobile phone This test-set is foldable like actual clamshell type mobile phone. Antenna position is Top of Key-Pad side.

Frequency(GHz)

Fig. 11 Return loss properties of developed triple band internal antenna for clamshell type mobile phone
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0 5 0 -5 -10 -15 300 60 330 30

CLOSE(Vertical) CLOSE(Horizon) OPEN(Vertical) OPEN(Horizon)

0 5 330 0 -5 -10 -15 300 60 30

CLOSE(Vertical) CLOSE(Horizon) OPEN(Vertical) OPEN(Horizon)

Gain(dBi)

Gain(dBi)

-20 -25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 210 180 150 240 120 270 90

-20 -25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 210 5 180 150 240 120 270 90

(a-1)920MHz/ XY-Plane

(b-1)920MHz/ XZ-Plane

0 5 330 0 -5 -10 -15 300 60 30

CLOSE(Vertical) CLOSE(Horizon) OPEN(Vertical) OPEN(Horizon)

0 5 330 0 -5 -10 -15 300 60 30

CLOSE(Vertical) CLOSE(Horizon) OPEN(Vertical) OPEN(Horizon)

Gain(dBi)

Gain(dBi)

-20 -25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 210 5 180 150 240 120 270 90

-20 -25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 210 5 180 150 240 120 270 90

(a-2)1880MHz/ XY-Plane

(b-2)1880MHz/ XZ-Plane

Fig. 12 Measurement results of radiation pattern

0 -2
Gain(dBi)

CLOSE OPEN Dual

Gain(dBi)

0 -2 -4 -6 -8 -10 CLOSE OPEN Dual

-4 -6 -8 -10 860 880 900 920 940 Frequency(MHz) 960 980

1650

1750

1850 1950 Frequency(MHz)

2050

Fig. 13 AverageGain vs. frequency curve (GSM)

Fig. 14 Average-gain vs. frequency curve (DCS & PCS)

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5. Conclusion

Takahiro Sugiyama Semiconductor Research Dept., Advanced Research Center Received a M.E. degree in Electronics from Nagoya University in 1993 Currently in research and development of internal antennas for mobile phones Member of Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers Hitoshi Horita Industrial Electronics Systems Dept., Research & Development Center Received a M.E. degree in Electrical Engineering from Hokkaido University in 2000 Currently in research and development of internal antenna for mobile phones

We have developed a triple band internal antenna for Europe, 900MHz and 1800MHz and USA, 1900MHz. By eliminating of the ground under radiator, the bandwidth of 1800 ~ 1900MHz was increased, and triple band antenna was achieved. Also we have solved the peculiar problem (deviation of resonance frequency from open mode to close mode) for clamshell type mobile phone by widening bandwidth. We would like to develop the quad band antenna with USA 850MHz.
References
(1) H. Tate et al. : Internal antenna for Mobile phone", HITACHI DENSEN, No.21 (2002) (2) H. Tate et al. : "Development of Internal Antenna Suitable for Mobile Phone", Hitachi Cable Review, No.20 (2001) (3) Arai : "New Antenna technology", SOUGOU- DENSHISYUPPAN

Youhei Shirakawa Industrial Electronics Systems Dept., Research & Development Center Received a B.E. degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sience from Kyushu University in 2002 Currently developing internal antennas for mobile phones

Morihiko Ikegaya Semicondutor Research Dept., Advanced Research Center Received a B.E. degree in Electric Engineering from Hosei University in 1992 Currently in researching planer antennas Member of Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers Shinichi Takaba Production Dept., Electric Wires & Cables Production Center Received a B.E. degree in Metallurgical Engineering from Ibaraki University in 1991 Currently developing internal antennas for mobile phones

Hisashi Tate Production Dept., Electric Wires & Cables Production Center Received a B.E. degree in Industrial Chemistry from Ibaraki University in 1985 Currently developing internal antennas for the mobile phones and wireless communication systems

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