Design concept of antennas for small mobile terminals and the future perspective

With the recent progress and rapid increase in mobile terminals, the design of antennas for small mobile terminals is acquiring great importance. In view of this situation, the design concept of antenna systems for small mobile terminals and its future perspective are discussed, referring to the trends in modern mobile communications and the demands for the antenna system. The design concept of antenna systems has changed along with the progress of mobile systems. In the conventional design, the conducting material of the equipment case, existing near the antenna element, is included as a part of the radiator in the antenna system, without regard to whether or not it has been considered. In the latest mobile phones, the design concept has been advanced to aim at improving the antenna's performance, and the treatment of the case, etc., has become a part of this. Some particular considerations for the design are to relieve the degradation of the antenna's performance due to the human-body effect, to overcome the SAR problems, and yet to make the size small. Furthermore, it is now time to proceed to the more-advanced concept, in which implementation of adaptive control and software is considered, even in small mobile terminals. Typical trends in modern communications systems are discussed, and the demands of these trends - which are summarized as down-sizing, function, and intelligence - are taken up for future antenna structures. Small-antenna technology and the application of the integration technology to antenna systems are essential for realizing such future structures.