A Diplexer-Based Dual-Slot LTE Antenna Design for Laptops with Metal Housing

Due to the compact form factor and widely used metal enclosures in state-of-the-art laptops, the design of LTE antennas, which require several broad operation bands, is rather challenging. In this paper, a dual-slot antenna, which is aimed to be placed on the corner of the laptop base, is proposed. In order to cover low and high LTE bands with a common feed, a diplexer integrated with matching networks is employed. The slots are placed at the joints between the metal base and the rim. The T-shaped slot comprises two shorted ends and an opening on the rim to provide two resonant modes. To meet the LTE operation needs, the two modes can be joined to form a broader matching band. Simulations and measurements are executed to demonstrate that the proposed design can suffice the WWAN antenna need on laptop platforms.

I. Introduction

Mobile computing devices such as handsets and laptops usually come with WWAN and WLAN antennas. Conventional solutions are electrical antennas, which includes monopole, IFA, meander line, and branched antennas [1]. However, as mobile terminals adopt metal housings, the electrical antenna, which is subject to interference from image currents on nearby metal objects, is difficult to use. On the other hand, the magnetic antennas, which include slots [2] and patches, are compatible with metal enclosures.