Antenna with an integral RF circuit, antenna module and communication apparatus incorporating the same

摘要

An antenna with an integral RF circuit includes a dielectric base 2, a plurality of radiation electrodes 3a, 3b disposed on a top surface 2a of the dielectric base 2 and a plurality of RF circuits 4. The RF circuits 4 include circuit patterns 5 disposed partially in a gap between the radiation electrodes 3a, 3b. On a bottom surface of the dielectric base 2, a concavity 7 is formed in a region corresponding to where the circuit patterns 5 are located. The circuit patterns 5 are disposed on a thin portion of the dielectric base 2, associated with the concavity 7, while the radiation electrodes 3a, 3b are disposed on thick portions thereof. Accordingly, radiation loss of the circuit patterns 5 is reduced, and the radiation electrodes 3a, 3b favorably transmit or receive radio waves. The antenna with an integral RF circuit is constructed efficiently using the gap between the radiation electrodes 3a, 3b to define the RF circuits 4. Reduction in the size of a communication apparatus is facilitated because the RF circuits 4 need not be disposed on a circuit board thereof. IMAGE IMAGE