Optimization of PIFA-IFA combination in handset antenna designs

As commercial needs have expanded the functions of the wireless cellular handsets, multiantenna development in one handset has become more and more common. This paper addresses a multiantenna solution for the wireless handset application. A planar inverted "F" antenna (PIFA) was designed as the main antenna of the handset to cover the 800 MHz band (824 MHz-894 MHz) and the 1900 MHz band (1850 MHz-1990 MHz). A side-mounted inverted "F" antenna (IFA) was designed as the 1575.42 MHz global positioning system (GPS) antenna. The location of the feed/ground pins of both antennas affected not only the total antenna efficiency, but also the polarization of the GPS IFA. The length of the GPS IFA affected the isolation between the two antennas and the specific absorption rate (SAR) of the PIFA at the 1900 MHz band. A three-dimensional efficiency measurement of the prototypes in both free space and against-head position will be presented. Measurement of SAR and its distribution will also be presented to demonstrate the impact of the IFA on the near field of the PIFA.