Antenna device and display antenna

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024178576-A1
Application number	US-202318517462-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 22, 2023
Priority date	Nov 30, 2022
Publication date	May 30, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided is an antenna device including an antenna array including a plurality of patch antennas arrayed in a grid, a first switch group including a first switch disposed on a wiring line connecting two adjacent patch antennas, and a second switch group including a second switch disposed on a wiring line between an antenna assembly formed by at least four adjacent patch antennas and a signal source connected to at least one patch antenna constituting the antenna assembly.

First claim

1 . An antenna device comprising:
an antenna array including a plurality of patch antennas arrayed in a grid; a first switch group including a first switch disposed on a wiring line connecting two adjacent patch antennas; and a second switch group including a second switch disposed on a wiring line connecting an antenna assembly formed by at least four adjacent patch antennas with a signal source connected to at least one patch antenna constituting the antenna assembly.

2 . The antenna device according to claim 1 , wherein
each of the patch antennas has a square shape, the plurality of patch antennas are arrayed in a diamond shaped pattern, at least four adjacent patch antennas constitute the antenna assembly, the first switch is disposed on a wiring line connecting vertexes of two adjacent patch antennas, and the second switch is disposed on a wiring line connecting at least one patch antenna constituting the antenna assembly with the signal source.

3 . The antenna device according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a controller that includes a memory storing instructions, and a processor connected to the memory and configured to execute the instructions to control opening and closing of the plurality of the first switches to combine the plurality of patch antennas in such a way that the antenna assembly is configured with a size matching a frequency band of a radio wave to be transmitted and received.

4 . The antenna device according to claim 3 , wherein
the processor is configured to execute the instructions to configure a touch panel in which a plurality of the antenna assemblies functioning as a touch sensor is arrayed in a row direction and a column direction by closing the first switch connected to a patch antenna at a position of a vertex of the antenna assembly functioning as the touch sensor in a state where the second switch connected to the plurality of patch antennas constituting the antenna assembly functioning as the touch sensor is opened, and detect a contact position on the touch panel according to a change in capacitance at an intersection of a row formed by the plurality of the antenna assemblies arrayed in the row direction and a column formed by the plurality of the antenna assemblies arrayed in the column direction.

5 . The antenna device according to claim 4 , further comprising
a phase shifter that phase-shifts a radio wave to be transmitted and received, wherein the phase shifter is disposed between each of the plurality of patch antennas and a signal line through which a signal to be transmitted and received propagates, the processor is configured to execute the instructions to receive, in reception of a radio wave to be received, the radio wave to be received in a state where the second switch connected to at least one patch antenna constituting the antenna assembly functioning as a phased array antenna is opened, and close, in transmission of a radio wave to be transmitted, the second switch connected to the at least one patch antenna constituting the antenna assembly functioning as the phased array antenna and transmits a signal to be transmitted propagating through the signal line.

6 . The antenna device according to claim 5 , wherein
the processor is configured to execute the instructions to configure an antenna assembly that functions as the touch sensor and an antenna assembly that functions as the phased array antenna with different sizes.

7 . The antenna device according to claim 4 , wherein
the processor is configured to execute the instructions to make a patch antenna adjacent to a portion where an antenna assembly that functions as the touch sensor and an antenna assembly that functions as an antenna intersect inactive.

8 . The antenna device according to claim 7 , wherein
the processor is configured to execute the instructions to make a patch antenna adjacent to the antenna assembly that functions as the touch sensor inactive.

9 . A display antenna comprising:
the antenna device according to claim 4 ; and a display configured by a plurality of light emitters arrayed in a grid, wherein the patch antenna is transparent to light in a visible region, and the light emitters are disposed below the patch antenna.

10 . The display antenna according to claim 9 , wherein
a processor of a controller included in the antenna device is configured to execute the instructions to configure a touch panel by controlling a plurality of first switches and a plurality of second switches, display, on the display, a user interface associated with a position on the touch panel, detect a contact position on the touch panel according to a change in capacitance at an intersection of a row formed by a plurality of the antenna assemblies arrayed in the row direction and a column formed by a plurality of the antenna assemblies arrayed in the column direction, and determine input information selected by associating the detected contact position with the input information displayed at the contact position on the display.

11 . The display antenna according to claim 9 , wherein
each of the light emitters includes a micro light-emitting diode (LED).

12 . The display antenna according to claim 11 , wherein
each of the light emitters includes the micro LEDs that emit light in red, green, and blue wavelength bands.

Assignees

• Nec Corp

Inventors

• Nihei Ryota
• Funada Junichi
• Wakafuji Kenji
• Hayashi Kazuyuki
• Yoshida Kohei
• Watanabe Shingo
• Sugyo Kazushi
• Ono Masakazu
• Okumura Fujio

Classifications

• H01Q1/22

  by structural association with other equipment or articles · CPC title

• H01Q21/065 Primary

  Patch antenna array · CPC title

• G06F3/0488

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title

• G06F3/0446

  using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes · CPC title

• G06F3/0416 Primary

  Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers · CPC title