Small-Size LTE/WWAN Two-Strip Monopole Exciter Antenna Integration With Metal Covers

A novel small-size LTE/WWAN two-strip monopole exciter antenna integration with metal covers for ultrabook computer applications is presented. The monopole exciter antenna is placed in the hinge slot between metal covers and hinges. By integrating the monopole exciter antenna with the metal covers and hinges, not only several modes of the monopole structure but those of the hinge slot are also excited to cover the desired eight-band LTE/WWAN operation (LTE700/GSM850/900 and GSM1800/ 1900/UMTS/LTE2300/2500 bands). The exciter antenna comprises a feeding strip and a folded strip to form a two-strip monopole structure. The proposed exciter antenna can be integrated with the surrounding metal planes (metal covers) to enhance the operating bandwidth to cover LTE/WWAN band with good radiation efficiency. The exciter antenna has a simple two-strip structure that is easy to be fabricated on a 0.8-mm thin FR4 substrate with a small area of only 25 × 8 mm
²
. Over the lower and upper bands, the antenna efficiencies are about 65%-88% and 55%-78%, respectively.