# US 8,786,507 B2 · Antenna assembly utilizing metal-dielectric structures > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,786,507 B2 - Document ID: US8786507B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/095,338 - Filed: 2011-04-27 - Published: 2012-11-01 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-04-27 - Assignees: BlackBerry Limited - Applicants: Mina Ayatollahi - Inventors: Mina Ayatollahi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8786507B2 ## CPC - H01Q 1/38: formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support {(patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142)} - H01Q 1/48: Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises - H01Q 9/0421: {with a shorting wall or a shorting pin at one end of the element (H01Q9/0414 takes precedence)} - H01Q 15/0013: {said selective devices working as frequency-selective reflecting surfaces, e.g. FSS, dichroic plates, surfaces being partly transmissive and reflective} - H01Q 21/28: Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems {(multiple beam H01Q25/00)} - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) ## Abstract An antenna assembly for a wireless communication device includes a substrate of dielectric material that has opposing first and second surfaces. A ground plane formed by a layer of electrically conductive material on the first surface. An antenna with a physical length is disposed on the substrate. At least one metal-dielectric structure is disposed on the substrate. The metal-dielectric structures resonate so as to interact with the antenna and thereby alter the effective electrical length of the antenna. That interaction causes the antenna to function as though it had a greater physical length. In one embodiment, that interaction enables an antenna, that is shorter than one-fourth the wavelength of a radio frequency signal applied thereto, to function as through the physical length of the antenna was one-fourth that wavelength. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An antenna assembly for a wireless communication device that produces a radio frequency signal, said antenna assembly comprising: a substrate of dielectric material and having a first surface and a second surface; a ground plane formed by a layer of electrically conductive material on the first surface; an antenna disposed on the substrate proximate to the ground plane and having a structure that is resonant at a first frequency, wherein the antenna has a port for receiving the radio frequency signal; and at least one metal-dielectric structure disposed proximate to the antenna and resonating at a given frequency, wherein each metal-dielectric structure is located at a position at which an electric current produced by a signal from the antenna has a current density greater than eighty percent of a maximum current density level resulting from the signal, and wherein the at least one metal-dielectric structure alters resonance of the antenna to resonate at a second frequency instead of the first frequency. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The antenna assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein each metal-dielectric structure comprises a pattern of slots in the layer of electrically conductive material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The antenna assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein each metal-dielectric structure comprises a pattern of metal on the second surface of the substrate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The antenna assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one metal-dielectric structure comprises a pattern of electrically conductive material on a surface of a dielectric body. ### Claim 5 An antenna assembly for a wireless communication device that produces a radio frequency signal, said antenna assembly comprising: a substrate of dielectric material and having a first surface and a second surface; a ground plane formed by a layer of electrically conductive material on the first surface; an antenna disposed on the substrate proximate to the ground plane and having a structure that is resonant at a first frequency, wherein the antenna has a port for receiving the radio frequency signal; and at least one metal-dielectric structure disposed proximate to the antenna and resonating at a given frequency, wherein each metal-dielectric structure comprises an electrically conductive pattern on the second surface of the substrate, a via connected to the electrically conductive pattern, and a switch coupling the via to the layer of electrically conductive material on the first surface, and wherein the at least one metal-dielectric structure alters resonance of the antenna to resonate at a second frequency instead of the first frequency. ### Claim 6 An antenna assembly for a wireless communication device that produces a radio frequency signal, said antenna assembly comprising: a ground plane; an antenna disposed proximate to the ground plane and having a structure that is resonant at a first frequency, wherein the antenna has a port for receiving the radio frequency signal; and at least one metal-dielectric structure disposed proximate to the antenna and resonating at a given frequency, wherein each metal-dielectric structure comprises a pair of concentric rings each having a gap, and wherein the at least one metal-dielectric structure alters resonance of the antenna to resonate at a second frequency instead of the first frequency. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The antenna assembly as recited in claim 6 further comprising a layer of liquid crystal polymer between the substrate and the at least one metal-dielectric structure for dynamically varying the given frequency at which the at least one metal-dielectric structure resonates. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The antenna assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein the gap is on a side of one ring that is opposite to a side of the other ring at which another gap is located. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The antenna assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein the pair of concentric rings are either circular or rectilinear. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The antenna assembly as recited in claim 6 further comprising a switch for selectively creating an electrical path between the pair of concentric rings that alters the given frequency of the at least one metal-dielectric structure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The antenna assembly as recited in claim 6 further comprising a device for dynamically varying the given frequency of the at least one metal-dielectric structure. ### Claim 12 An antenna assembly for a wireless communication device that produces a radio frequency signal, said antenna assembly comprising: a ground plane; an antenna disposed proximate to the ground plane and having a structure that is resonant at a first frequency, wherein the antenna has a port for receiving the radio frequency signal; and at least one metal-dielectric structure disposed proximate to the antenna and resonating at a given frequency, wherein each metal-dielectric structure comprises a rectilinear ring within which is an element shaped like a Jerusalem cross, and wherein the at least one metal-dielectric structure alters resonance of the antenna to resonate at a second frequency instead of the first frequency. ### Claim 13 An antenna assembly for a wireless communication device comprising: a substrate of dielectric material and having a first surface and a second surface on opposite sides of the substrate; a ground plane formed by a layer of electrically conductive material on the first surface; an antenna disposed on the substrate and having a physical length; and a plurality of metal-dielectric structures forming a non-periodic array disposed on the substrate, wherein each metal-dielectric structure interacts with the antenna wherein as a result the antenna has an effective electrical length that is greater than the physical length. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The antenna assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein each of the plurality of metal-dielectric structures is located at a position at which an electric current density greater than a predefined threshold. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The antenna assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein each of the plurality of metal-dielectric structures comprises a pattern of slots in the layer of electrically conductive material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The antenna assembly as recited in claim 15 further comprising a switch for selectively creating an electrical path across a slot in the pattern. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The antenna assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein each of the plurality of metal-dielectric structures comprises a pattern of metal on the second surface of the substrate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The antenna assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein each of the plurality of metal-dielectric structures comprises a pair of either circular or rectilinear concentric rings, each having a gap. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The antenna assembly as recited in claim 18 wherein the gap is on a side of one ring that is opposite to a side of the other ring at which another gap is located. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The antenna assembly as recited in claim 18 wherein each of the plurality of further comprises a switch for selectively creating an electrical path between the pair of concentric rings. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The antenna assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein each of the plurality of metal-dielectric structures comprises a rectilinear ring within which is an element shaped like a Jerusalem cross. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) The antenna assembly as recited in claim 13 further comprising a device for varying a resonate frequency of each of the plurality of metal-dielectric structures. ### Claim 23 (depends on 13) The antenna assembly as recited in claim 13 further comprising a layer of liquid crystal polymer between the substrate and the plurality of metal-dielectric structures for dynamically varying a frequency at which the plurality of metal-dielectric structures resonates.