阅读说明：本技术 一种天线模块及其制造方法和电子设备 (Antenna module, manufacturing method thereof and electronic equipment ) 是由 于睿 张湘辉 贾文平 于 2020-04-10 设计创作，主要内容包括：本申请提供一种天线模块及其制造方法和电子设备。天线模块包括：集成电路,用于产生射频信号；第一绝缘介质基板,包括设置有第一槽体的第一区段以及第二区段,集成电路设置在第一槽体内；包括导电结构的柔性基板,层叠设置在第一绝缘介质基板上且位于第一区段和第二区段之间的部分能折弯；天线结构,包括设置在第一区段上的与导电结构和集成电路连接的第一金属结构及设置在第二区段上的与导电结构连接的第二金属结构。本申请的天线模块及其制造方法和电子设备,无需进行塑封工艺,避免了塑封材料和基板热膨胀系数不同而导致的翘曲问题的发生,降低了产品失效风险,能实现更多方向的信号覆盖,不会限制天线结构的形状,能制作高增益的天线结构。(The application provides an antenna module, a manufacturing method thereof and an electronic device. The antenna module includes: an integrated circuit for generating a radio frequency signal; the first insulating medium substrate comprises a first section and a second section, wherein the first section and the second section are provided with a first groove body; the flexible substrate comprises a conductive structure, and the part which is stacked on the first insulating medium substrate and is positioned between the first section and the second section can be bent; the antenna structure comprises a first metal structure arranged on the first section and connected with the conductive structure and the integrated circuit, and a second metal structure arranged on the second section and connected with the conductive structure. According to the antenna module, the manufacturing method of the antenna module and the electronic device, a plastic package process is not needed, the warping problem caused by different thermal expansion coefficients of a plastic package material and a substrate is avoided, the product failure risk is reduced, signal coverage in more directions can be achieved, the shape of an antenna structure cannot be limited, and a high-gain antenna structure can be manufactured.)

1. An antenna module, characterized in that the antenna module comprises:

an integrated circuit for generating a radio frequency signal;

the first insulating medium substrate comprises a first section provided with a first groove body and a second section arranged at intervals with the first section, and the integrated circuit is arranged in the first groove body;

the flexible substrate is stacked on the first insulating medium substrate, the middle part of the flexible substrate between the first section and the second section can be bent, and the flexible substrate comprises a conductive structure;

an antenna structure comprising a first metal structure disposed on the first section and a second metal structure disposed on the second section, the first metal structure being connected to the conductive structure and the integrated circuit, the second metal structure being connected to the conductive structure.

2. The antenna module of claim 1, wherein the antenna structure is formed by plating copper on the outer surface and the inner portion of the first dielectric substrate and connected to the integrated circuit.

3. The antenna module of claim 1, wherein a second slot is disposed on the flexible substrate, the second slot disposed opposite the first slot, the integrated circuit disposed within the first slot and the second slot.

4. The antenna module of claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate further comprises a substrate film, and wherein the conductive structure comprises first and second metal layers disposed on either side of the substrate film and a connecting metal layer disposed through the substrate film, the connecting metal layer connecting the first and second metal layers.

5. The antenna module of claim 1, wherein a first protective layer is disposed on an outer surface of the conductive structure of the flexible substrate on which other structures are not stacked.

6. The antenna module of claim 1, wherein the first dielectric substrate comprises a first layer of substrate having the first slot and the first through hole disposed thereon, wherein:

the first metal structure comprises a first layer of metal arranged on the outer surface of the first section of the first layer of substrate and a first connecting part arranged in the first through hole and connecting the first layer of metal and the conductive structure of the flexible substrate;

the second metal structure includes a first layer of metal disposed on an outer surface of the second section of the first layer of substrate and a first connection disposed within the first via and connecting the first layer of metal with the conductive structure of the flexible substrate.

7. The antenna module of claim 6, wherein the first dielectric substrate comprises a second layer substrate stacked on a side of the first layer substrate remote from the flexible substrate, the first layer metal being disposed within the second layer substrate, the second layer substrate having a second via disposed thereon, wherein:

the first metal structure further comprises a second layer of metal disposed on an outer surface of the first section of the second layer of substrate and a second connection portion disposed within the second via and connecting the second layer of metal and the first layer of metal;

the second metal structure further includes a second layer of metal disposed on an outer surface of a second section of the second layer of substrate and a second connection disposed within the second via and connecting the second layer of metal and the first layer of metal.

8. The antenna module of claim 1, comprising a second dielectric substrate disposed on a side of the flexible substrate distal from the first dielectric substrate, wherein the second dielectric substrate comprises:

a third section arranged corresponding to the first section, wherein a third metal structure connected with the conductive structure of the flexible substrate is arranged on the third section, and the antenna structure further comprises the third metal structure; and/or the presence of a gas in the gas,

a fourth section disposed corresponding to the second section, wherein a fourth metal structure connected to the conductive structure of the flexible substrate is disposed on the fourth section, and the antenna structure further includes the fourth metal structure.

9. The antenna module of claim 8, wherein a third via is disposed on the second insulating dielectric substrate, wherein:

the third metal structure comprises a third layer of metal positioned on the outer surface of a third section of the second insulating medium substrate and a third connecting part arranged in the third through hole and connecting the third layer of metal and the conductive structure of the flexible substrate; and/or

The fourth metal structure comprises a third layer of metal positioned on the outer surface of the fourth section of the second insulating medium substrate and a third connecting part arranged in the third through hole and connecting the third layer of metal and the conductive structure of the flexible substrate.

10. The antenna module of claim 8, wherein the third and/or fourth metal structures and the outer surface of the second insulating dielectric substrate away from the flexible substrate are provided with a second protective layer.

11. The antenna module of claim 1, wherein the first metal structure, the second metal structure and the outer side surface of the first insulating dielectric substrate away from the flexible substrate are provided with a second protective layer.

12. The antenna module of claim 11, wherein the second passivation layer has a slot formed therein to expose a portion of the first metal structure, and wherein the slot has a solder disposed therein to connect to the exposed first metal structure.

13. An antenna module according to claim 1, characterized in that one end of the flexible substrate is arranged protruding the first section and that the protruding part of the flexible substrate is bendable and that a connector is connected to the conductive structure at the protruding part.

14. The antenna module of any one of claims 1-13, wherein the integrated circuit comprises at least one of a radio frequency chip and a power management chip.

15. An electronic device, characterized in that it comprises an antenna module according to any one of claims 1-14.

16. A method of manufacturing an antenna module, the method comprising:

cutting a first insulating medium substrate into a first section and a second section which are arranged at intervals, and arranging a first groove body on the first section;

disposing an integrated circuit within the first pocket;

arranging a flexible substrate with a conductive structure on the first section and the second section in a laminating way;

a first metal structure is disposed on the first section and a second metal structure is disposed on the second section, the first metal structure being connected to the conductive structure and the integrated circuit, the second metal structure being connected to the conductive structure, the antenna structure including the first metal structure and the second metal structure.

17. The method of manufacturing an antenna module according to claim 16, comprising:

before the step of arranging the flexible substrate on the first section and the second section in a laminated manner, arranging a second groove body on the flexible substrate and arranging a first protective layer on the outer surface of the conductive structure of the flexible substrate, on which other structures are not arranged in a laminated manner;

and when the flexible substrate is arranged on the first section and the second section in a stacking manner, the second groove body is opposite to the first groove body, and the integrated circuit is placed in the first groove body and the second groove body.

18. The method for manufacturing an antenna module according to claim 16, wherein the antenna structure is formed by plating copper on an outer surface and an inner portion of the first dielectric substrate and connected to the integrated circuit.

19. The method of manufacturing an antenna module according to claim 16, comprising:

arranging a third section of a second insulating medium substrate on the flexible substrate in a stacking mode corresponding to the first section, and arranging a third metal structure on the third section, wherein the third metal structure is connected with the conductive structure of the flexible substrate, and the antenna structure further comprises the third metal structure; and/or the presence of a gas in the gas,

and a fourth section of a second insulating medium substrate is arranged on the flexible substrate in a laminating way corresponding to the second section, and a fourth metal structure is arranged on the fourth section, wherein the fourth metal structure is connected with the conductive structure of the flexible substrate, and the antenna structure further comprises the fourth metal structure.

20. The method of manufacturing an antenna module according to claim 19, comprising: and arranging a second protective layer on the outer side surfaces of the third metal structure and/or the fourth metal structure and the second insulating medium substrate far away from the flexible substrate.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the first dielectric substrate comprises a first layer of substrate provided with the first slot, and wherein providing the first metal structure on the first section and providing the second metal structure on the second section comprises:

arranging a first through hole on the first layer substrate;

providing a first layer of metal on an outer surface of the first section of the first layer of substrate and providing a first connection connecting the first layer of metal with the conductive structure within the first via, the first metal structure comprising the first layer of metal and the first connection;

and arranging a first layer of metal on the outer surface of the second section of the first layer of substrate and arranging a first connecting part for connecting the first layer of metal and the conductive structure in the first through hole, wherein the second metal structure comprises the first layer of metal and the first connecting part.

22. The method of manufacturing an antenna module of claim 21, wherein the first dielectric substrate further comprises a second layer substrate, wherein disposing the first metal structure on the first section and disposing the second metal structure on the second section further comprises:

arranging a second through hole on the second layer substrate;

pressing the second layer of substrate on the side surface of the first layer of substrate, where the first layer of metal is arranged;

providing a second layer of metal on an outer surface of the first section of the second layer of substrate and providing a second connection connecting the first layer of metal and the second layer of metal within the second via, the first metal structure further comprising the second layer of metal and the second connection;

providing a second layer of metal on an outer surface of the second section of the second layer of substrate and providing a second connection connecting the first layer of metal and the second layer of metal within the second via, the second metal structure further comprising the second layer of metal and the second connection.

23. The method of manufacturing an antenna module according to claim 16, comprising: and arranging a second protective layer on the outer side surfaces of the first metal structure, the second metal structure and the first insulating medium substrate far away from the flexible substrate.

24. The method of manufacturing an antenna module according to claim 23, comprising:

providing a trench on the second protective layer at the first section exposing a portion of the first metal structure;

and arranging solder connected with the exposed first metal structure at the notch.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to an antenna module, a manufacturing method thereof, and an electronic device.

Background

An Antenna In Package (AiP) mainly includes an Antenna, a radio frequency chip, and a substrate. The antenna is arranged on the first surface of the substrate, and the radio frequency chip is attached to the second surface of the substrate through the solder balls and is connected with the antenna through a circuit in the substrate. During plastic packaging protection, due to the fact that the plastic packaging material and the substrate are different in thermal expansion coefficient, warping is prone to occurring, processing difficulty of subsequent processes such as packaging and connection with a PCB is large, and product failure risk is high. In addition, the shielding layer is formed by electroplating metal outside the plastic package layer to prevent electromagnetic interference, and the manufacturing process of the shielding layer is complex and expensive, such as sputtering metal, electroplating metal, etc., which results in a large processing difficulty and time consumption, and is not favorable for reducing the cost. Further, since the coverage direction of the antenna pattern disposed on the substrate is limited due to the planar structure of the substrate, the single package internal antenna cannot achieve excellent gains of both the front and side surfaces of the terminal device. Namely, the antenna can be realized only in the direction of the substrate plane parallel to the radio frequency chip, and the gain effect of the antenna in other directions is poor.

Disclosure of Invention

The antenna module, the manufacturing method thereof and the electronic device are provided for overcoming the problems in the prior art, a plastic package process is not needed, the warping problem caused by different thermal expansion coefficients of a plastic package material and a substrate is avoided, the product failure risk is reduced, signal coverage in more directions can be realized, the shape of the antenna structure is not limited, and the high-gain antenna structure can be manufactured.

Therefore, the embodiment of the application adopts the following technical scheme:

in a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an antenna module, where the antenna module includes: an integrated circuit for generating a radio frequency signal; the first insulating medium substrate comprises a first section provided with a first groove body and a second section arranged at intervals with the first section, and the integrated circuit is arranged in the first groove body; the flexible substrate is stacked on the first insulating medium substrate, the middle part of the flexible substrate between the first section and the second section can be bent, and the flexible substrate comprises a conductive structure; an antenna structure comprising a first metal structure disposed on the first section and a second metal structure disposed on the second section, the first metal structure being connected to the conductive structure and the integrated circuit, the second metal structure being connected to the conductive structure.

Optionally, the antenna structure is formed by plating copper on the outer surface and the inner part of the first insulating medium substrate and is connected with the integrated circuit.

Optionally, a second groove body is arranged on the flexible substrate, the second groove body is arranged right opposite to the first groove body, and the integrated circuit is arranged in the first groove body and the second groove body.

Optionally, the flexible substrate further includes a substrate film, the conductive structure includes a first metal layer and a second metal layer disposed on two sides of the substrate film, and a connection metal layer disposed through the substrate film, and the connection metal layer connects the first metal layer and the second metal layer.

Optionally, a first protective layer is disposed on an outer surface of the conductive structure of the flexible substrate on which other structures are not stacked.

Optionally, the first insulating medium substrate includes a first layer substrate, the first layer substrate is provided with the first groove and a first through hole, wherein: the first metal structure comprises a first layer of metal arranged on the outer surface of the first section of the first layer of substrate and a first connecting part arranged in the first through hole and connecting the first layer of metal and the conductive structure of the flexible substrate; the second metal structure includes a first layer of metal disposed on an outer surface of the second section of the first layer of substrate and a first connection disposed within the first via and connecting the first layer of metal with the conductive structure of the flexible substrate.

Optionally, the first insulating medium substrate includes a second substrate layer stacked on a side of the first substrate layer far from the flexible substrate, the first metal layer is disposed in the second substrate layer, and a second through hole is disposed in the second substrate layer, where: the first metal structure further comprises a second layer of metal disposed on an outer surface of the first section of the second layer of substrate and a second connection portion disposed within the second via and connecting the second layer of metal and the first layer of metal; the second metal structure further includes a second layer of metal disposed on an outer surface of a second section of the second layer of substrate and a second connection disposed within the second via and connecting the second layer of metal and the first layer of metal.

Optionally, the antenna module includes a second insulating dielectric substrate disposed on a side of the flexible substrate away from the first insulating dielectric substrate, where the second insulating dielectric substrate includes: a third section arranged corresponding to the first section, wherein a third metal structure connected with the conductive structure of the flexible substrate is arranged on the third section, and the antenna structure further comprises the third metal structure; and/or a fourth section arranged corresponding to the second section, wherein a fourth metal structure connected with the conductive structure of the flexible substrate is arranged on the fourth section, and the antenna structure further comprises the fourth metal structure.

Optionally, a third through hole is provided on the second insulating dielectric substrate, wherein: the third metal structure comprises a third layer of metal positioned on the outer surface of a third section of the second insulating medium substrate and a third connecting part arranged in the third through hole and connecting the third layer of metal and the conductive structure of the flexible substrate; and/or the fourth metal structure comprises a third layer of metal positioned on the outer surface of the fourth section of the second insulating medium substrate and a third connecting part arranged in the third through hole and connecting the third layer of metal and the conductive structure of the flexible substrate.

Optionally, a second protective layer is disposed on the outer side surface of the third metal structure and/or the fourth metal structure and the second insulating medium substrate away from the flexible substrate.

Optionally, a second protective layer is disposed on the outer side surfaces of the first metal structure, the second metal structure and the first insulating medium substrate far away from the flexible substrate.

Optionally, a slot exposing a portion of the first metal structure is disposed on the second protective layer, and a solder connected to the exposed first metal structure is disposed in the slot.

Optionally, one end of the flexible substrate is disposed to protrude out of the first section, and a protruding portion of the flexible substrate is bendable, and a connector is connected to the conductive structure at the protruding portion.

Optionally, the integrated circuit includes at least one of a radio frequency chip and a power management chip.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an electronic device, which includes the antenna module of the first aspect.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a manufacturing method of an antenna module, where the manufacturing method includes: cutting a first insulating medium substrate into a first section and a second section which are arranged at intervals, and arranging a first groove body on the first section; disposing an integrated circuit within the first pocket; arranging a flexible substrate with a conductive structure on the first section and the second section in a laminating way; a first metal structure is disposed on the first section and a second metal structure is disposed on the second section, the first metal structure being connected to the conductive structure and the integrated circuit, the second metal structure being connected to the conductive structure, the antenna structure including the first metal structure and the second metal structure.

Optionally, before the step of laminating the flexible substrate on the first section and the second section, providing a second groove on the flexible substrate and providing a first protective layer on the outer surface of the conductive structure of the flexible substrate on which other structures are not laminated; when the flexible substrate is arranged on the first section and the second section in a stacking manner, the second groove body is opposite to the first groove body, and the integrated circuit is placed in the first groove body and the second groove body

Optionally, the antenna structure is formed by plating copper on the outer surface and the inner part of the first insulating medium substrate and is connected with the integrated circuit.

Optionally, the manufacturing method comprises: arranging a third section of a second insulating medium substrate on the flexible substrate in a stacking mode corresponding to the first section, and arranging a third metal structure on the third section, wherein the third metal structure is connected with the conductive structure of the flexible substrate, and the antenna structure further comprises the third metal structure; and/or laminating a fourth section of a second insulating medium substrate on the flexible substrate corresponding to the second section, and arranging a fourth metal structure on the fourth section, wherein the fourth metal structure is connected with the conductive structure of the flexible substrate, and the antenna structure further comprises the fourth metal structure.

Optionally, the manufacturing method comprises: and arranging a second protective layer on the outer side surfaces of the third metal structure and/or the fourth metal structure and the second insulating medium substrate far away from the flexible substrate.

Optionally, the first insulating medium substrate includes a first layer substrate provided with the first groove, and the providing the first metal structure on the first section and the providing the second metal structure on the second section include: arranging a first through hole on the first layer substrate; providing a first layer of metal on an outer surface of the first section of the first layer of substrate and providing a first connection connecting the first layer of metal with the conductive structure within the first via, the first metal structure comprising the first layer of metal and the first connection; and arranging a first layer of metal on the outer surface of the second section of the first layer of substrate and arranging a first connecting part for connecting the first layer of metal and the conductive structure in the first through hole, wherein the second metal structure comprises the first layer of metal and the first connecting part.

Optionally, the first insulating dielectric substrate further comprises a second layer substrate, and the disposing the first metal structure on the first section and the disposing the second metal structure on the second section further comprises: arranging a second through hole on the second layer substrate; pressing the second layer of substrate on the side surface of the first layer of substrate, where the first layer of metal is arranged; providing a second layer of metal on an outer surface of the first section of the second layer of substrate and providing a second connection connecting the first layer of metal and the second layer of metal within the second via, the first metal structure further comprising the second layer of metal and the second connection; providing a second layer of metal on an outer surface of the second section of the second layer of substrate and providing a second connection connecting the first layer of metal and the second layer of metal within the second via, the second metal structure further comprising the second layer of metal and the second connection.

Optionally, the manufacturing method comprises: and arranging a second protective layer on the outer side surfaces of the first metal structure, the second metal structure and the first insulating medium substrate far away from the flexible substrate.

Optionally, the manufacturing method comprises: providing a trench on the second protective layer at the first section exposing a portion of the first metal structure; and arranging solder connected with the exposed first metal structure at the notch.

In the technical scheme, the first groove body is arranged on the first insulating medium substrate, and the integrated circuit (such as a radio frequency chip and/or a power management chip) generating the radio frequency signal is arranged in the first groove body, so that the first insulating medium substrate can surround the integrated circuit to protect the integrated circuit, a plastic package process is not needed, the warping problem caused by different thermal expansion coefficients of a plastic package material and the substrate is avoided, the product failure risk is reduced, the processing is convenient, the cost is reduced, the time is saved, and meanwhile, the weight and the volume can be reduced. In addition, the antenna module that flexible substrate and rigid substrate (insulating medium base plate) combined together that this application provided, the number of piles of flexible substrate is less, and alignment effect is better when bending, can realize the signal coverage of more directions, and antenna structure sets up on first insulating medium, can set up the thickness and/or the number of piles of first insulating medium according to required antenna structure, consequently can not produce the restriction to antenna structure's shape, and then can not produce the restriction to antenna structure's gain and bandwidth.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.

Drawings

The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows.

Fig. 1 is a simplified structural diagram of an antenna module according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is a detailed structural diagram of an antenna module according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3 is a detailed structural diagram of an antenna module according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4 is a detailed structural diagram of an antenna module according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a flowchart of a method of manufacturing an antenna module according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6 to 14 are process diagrams of a method of manufacturing an antenna module according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

In the description of the present application, the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on those shown in the drawings, and are only for convenience of description and simplicity of description, but do not indicate or imply that the device or element being referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and thus, should not be construed as limiting the present application.

In the description of the present application, it should be noted that unless otherwise explicitly stated or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" are to be construed broadly, and may include, for example, a fixed connection, a detachable connection, an interference connection, or an integral connection; the specific meaning of the above terms in the present application can be understood in a specific case by those of ordinary skill in the art.

In the description herein, particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

Fig. 1 is a simplified structural diagram of an antenna module according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 1, the antenna module includes an integrated circuit 1 for generating a radio frequency signal, a first insulating dielectric substrate 2, a flexible substrate 4 and an antenna structure 3, the first insulating dielectric substrate 2 includes a first section Z1 provided with a first slot and a second section Z2 provided at a distance from the first section Z1, the integrated circuit 1 is provided in the first slot, the flexible substrate 4 is stacked on the first insulating dielectric substrate 2, a middle portion T of the flexible substrate 4 between the first section Z1 and the second section Z2 is bendable, the flexible substrate 4 includes a conductive structure 41, the antenna structure 3 includes a first metal structure J1 provided on the first section Z1 and a second metal structure J2 provided on the second section Z2, the first metal structure J1 is connected with the conductive structure 41 and the integrated circuit 1, and the second metal structure J2 is connected with the conductive structure 41. That is, the first metal structure J1 can be directly connected to the integrated circuit 1, and the second metal structure J2 is indirectly connected to the integrated circuit 1 by being connected to the conductive structure 41 and the first metal structure J1, so as to radiate the radio frequency signal generated by the integrated circuit 1. The integrated circuit 1 may include at least one of a radio frequency chip and a power management chip. For example, the integrated circuit 1 may comprise a radio frequency chip; alternatively, the integrated circuit 1 may include a radio frequency chip and a power management chip. In addition, the first insulating dielectric substrate 2 may be an insulating dielectric layer of a rigid substrate, and the material thereof may be a prepreg.

In the technical scheme, the first groove body is arranged on the first insulating medium substrate 2, and the integrated circuit 1 generating the radio-frequency signal is arranged in the first groove body, so that the first insulating medium substrate 2 can be arranged around the integrated circuit 1 to protect the integrated circuit, a plastic package process is not needed, the warping problem caused by different thermal expansion coefficients of a plastic package material and the substrate is avoided, and the product failure risk is reduced; and the processing is convenient, which is beneficial to reducing the cost and saving the time. Specifically, the antenna module only needs to be processed in a substrate factory, and does not need to be transferred to a packaging factory for packaging operation, so that the transfer between factories is avoided; while also enabling weight and volume reduction.

In addition, although the scheme of mounting the rf chip on the flexible substrate and printing the antenna pattern on the flexible substrate can realize more directional signal coverage when the flexible substrate is bent. However, the flexible substrate has a large restriction on the thickness and the number of layers relative to the rigid substrate, that is, if the flexible substrate is bent, the flexible substrate has a large thickness and/or a large number of layers, which may cause misalignment, and the thickness and the number of layers are required to achieve the gain and the bandwidth of the antenna, so that the gain and the bandwidth of the antenna are limited. The application provides an antenna module that flexible substrate and rigid substrate (insulating medium base plate) combined together, the number of piles of flexible substrate is less, it is better to align the effect during bending, can realize the signal coverage of more directions, and antenna structure sets up on first insulating medium, can set up the thickness and/or the number of piles of first insulating medium according to required antenna structure, consequently can not produce the restriction to antenna structure's shape, and then can not produce the restriction to antenna structure's gain and bandwidth, can make high-gain antenna structure.

Considering that the rf chip is connected to the substrate through the solder balls, the rf chip may cause large loss, and especially in high frequency applications, the loss is large, which may seriously affect the gain of the antenna. Therefore, in the present application, the antenna structure 3 may be formed by plating copper on the outer surface and the inside of the first insulating dielectric substrate 2 and connected to the integrated circuit 1. Like this antenna structure 3 is connected better with integrated circuit 1 and first insulating medium base plate 2, has reduced the interconnection loss, can promote the turn-on performance, and signal transmission performance is better, and the product reliability increases. Meanwhile, extra cables or connecting pieces are not needed, the number of parts is reduced, assembly is convenient, and cost reduction is facilitated. Alternatively, the antenna structure 3 may be formed by etching a copper layer.

With continued reference to fig. 1, an end of the flexible substrate 4 may be disposed protruding the first section Z1, and the protruding portion S of the flexible substrate 4 may be bent, and the connector 6 is connected with the conductive structure 41 at the protruding portion S. Wherein the connector 6 can be connected with a PCB or the like. In this way, when the intermediate portion T and the protruding portion S of the flexible substrate 4 are bent, the first metal structure J1 and the second metal structure J2 as the antenna structure 3 can be oriented in different directions so as to cover different directions.

Fig. 2 is a detailed structural diagram of an antenna module according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 2, wherein the flexible substrate 4 may further include a substrate film 42, the conductive structure 41 may include a first metal layer 411 and a second metal layer 412 disposed at both sides of the substrate film 42 and a connection metal layer 413 disposed through the substrate film 42, the connection metal layer 413 connecting the first metal layer 411 and the second metal layer 412. Further, the first protective layer P1 is provided on the outer surface of the conductive structure 41 of the flexible substrate 4 on which the other structures are not stacked. Specifically, the first protective layer P1 may be a physical protective film, an electromagnetic shielding film, or the like, and may be adhered to the conductive structure 41 by an adhesive N. When the first protective layer P1 is an electromagnetic shielding film, it can play an electromagnetic shielding role for the integrated circuit. In addition, the "other structure" herein may refer to the first section Z1 and the second section Z2 of the first insulating dielectric substrate 2 and the third section Z3 and the fourth section Z4 of the second insulating dielectric substrate 5, which will be described below (as shown in fig. 4). Further, in order to better protect the conductive structure 41 of the flexible substrate 4, a first protective layer P1 provided on the outer surface of the bendable middle portion T of the flexible substrate 4 overlaps the first and second sections Z1 and Z22, respectively, and a third and fourth sections Z3 and Z4 of the second insulating dielectric substrate 5 to be described below. Similarly, the first protective layer P1 provided on the outer surface of the projecting portion S of the above-mentioned flexible substrate 4 overlaps the first section Z1 and the third section Z3 of the second insulating dielectric substrate 5, which will be described later, respectively (as shown in fig. 4).

With continued reference to fig. 2, the first insulating dielectric substrate 2 may include a first layer substrate 21, a first groove and a first through hole are provided on the first layer substrate 21, and the first groove may penetrate the first layer substrate 21 in a thickness direction. The first metal structure J1 may include a first layer metal M1 disposed on an outer surface of the first section Z1 of the first layer substrate 21 and a first connection portion L1 disposed in the first via and connecting the first layer metal M1 and the conductive structure 41 of the flexible substrate 4. And the second metal structure J2 includes a first layer metal M1 ' disposed on the outer surface of the second section Z2 of the first layer substrate 21 and a first connection portion L1 ' disposed in the first via and connecting the first layer metal M1 ' with the conductive structure 41 of the flexible substrate 4. At this time, the pattern shape of the first-layer metal M1 of the first metal structure J1 may be different from the pattern shape of the first-layer metal M1' of the second metal structure J2. Accordingly, the number of the first connection portions L1 of the first metal structure J1 and the number of the first connection portions L1' of the second metal structure J2 may also be different.

Optionally, the first insulating medium substrate 2 may further include a second layer substrate 22 stacked on the side of the first layer substrate 21 away from the flexible substrate 4, the first layer metal M1 is disposed in the second layer substrate 22, and the second layer substrate 22 is provided with a second through hole. The first metal structure J1 further includes a second layer metal M2 disposed on an outer surface of the second layer substrate 22 and a second connection portion L2 disposed in the second through hole and connecting the second layer metal M2 and the first layer metal M1. And the second metal structure J2 further includes a second layer metal M2 'disposed on an outer surface of the second section Z2 of the second layer substrate 22 and a second connection portion L2' disposed in the second through hole and connecting the second layer metal M2 'and the first layer metal M1'. At this time, the pattern shape of the second layer metal M2 of the first metal structure J1 may be different from the pattern shape of the second layer metal M2' of the second metal structure J2. Accordingly, the number of the second connection portions L2 of the first metal structure J1 and the number of the second connection portions L2' of the second metal structure J2 may also be different.

In the above scheme, the first metal structure J1 includes two layers of metals M1, M2 and two connecting portions LI, L2. The second metal structure J2 includes two layers of metal M1 ', M2' and two connections LI ', L2'. It is understood that the first and second metal structures J1 and J2 may also include more layers of metal and connection portions connecting adjacent layers of metal, if desired.

In addition, in order to better protect the antenna module, as shown in fig. 2, a second protective layer P2 is provided on the outer side surfaces of the first metal structure J1, the second metal structure J2, and the first insulating dielectric substrate 2 away from the flexible substrate 4. Wherein, the second protective layer P2 can be green paint.

Fig. 3 is a detailed structural diagram of an antenna module according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 3, the second passivation layer P2 is provided with a slot exposing a portion of the first metal structure J1, and the slot is provided with solder 7 connected to the exposed first metal structure J1 for soldering connection to a structure such as a PCB. The solder 7 may be tin or nickel-gold. At this time, one end of the flexible substrate 4 is not disposed to extend beyond the first section Z1 (both are flush).

Fig. 4 is a detailed structural diagram of an antenna module according to a third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 4, when the thickness of the integrated circuit 1 is large, for example, the integrated circuit 1 includes a radio frequency chip and a power management chip, and the radio frequency chip and the power management chip are stacked, optionally, a second slot is disposed on the flexible substrate 4, the second slot is disposed opposite to the first slot, and the integrated circuit 1 is disposed in the first slot and the second slot. Wherein, the second groove body can penetrate through the flexible substrate 4.

Further, in order to provide as many antenna structures as possible, the antenna module may further include a second insulating dielectric substrate 5 disposed on a side of the flexible substrate 4 away from the first insulating dielectric substrate 2, the second insulating dielectric substrate 5 may include a fourth section Z4 disposed corresponding to the second section Z2, a fourth metal structure J4 connected to the conductive structure 41 of the flexible substrate 4 is disposed on the fourth section Z4, and the antenna structure 3 further includes a fourth metal structure J4, as shown in fig. 3. Optionally, the second insulating dielectric substrate 5 may further include a third section Z3 disposed corresponding to the first section Z1, a third metal structure J3 connected to the conductive structure 41 of the flexible substrate 4 is disposed on the third section Z3, and the antenna structure 3 further includes a third metal structure J3, as shown in fig. 4. Of course, the second insulating dielectric substrate 5 may also include only the third section Z3, and the third section Z3 is provided with the third metal structure J3.

With continued reference to fig. 4, a third through hole is provided on the second insulating dielectric substrate 5. The third metal structure J3 includes a third layer metal M3 located on the outer surface of the third section Z3 of the second insulating dielectric substrate 5 and a third connection portion L3 disposed in the third through hole and connecting the third layer metal M3 and the conductive structure 41 of the flexible substrate 4. And the fourth metal structure J4 includes a third layer metal M3 ' located on the outer surface of the fourth section Z4 of the second insulating dielectric substrate 5 and a third connection portion L3 ' disposed in the third through hole and connecting the third layer metal M3 ' with the conductive structure 41 of the flexible substrate 4.

And, in order to protect the antenna module better, the third metal structure J3 and/or the fourth metal structure J4 and the outer side surface of the second insulating dielectric substrate 5 away from the flexible substrate 4 are provided with a second protective layer P2.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing an antenna module according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6 to 14 are process diagrams of a method of manufacturing an antenna module according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Wherein, the sequence of each step can be adjusted according to the working requirement. In addition, the flow of the manufacturing method of the antenna module according to the first, second, and third embodiments of the present invention is similar to that shown in fig. 5, and will not be described in detail herein. As shown in fig. 5, the method for manufacturing the antenna module of the fourth embodiment may specifically include the following steps:

in step S1401, the first layer substrate 21 of the first insulating medium substrate 2 is cut into a first section Z1 and a second section Z2 arranged at intervals, and a first groove C1 is arranged on the first section Z1, as shown in fig. 6.

In step S1402, a second groove C2 is provided on the flexible substrate 4 and a first protective layer P1 is provided on the outer surface of the conductive structure 41 of the flexible substrate 4 on which other structures are not stacked, as shown in fig. 7. For example, a protective layer P1 is provided in the bendable intermediate portion T. And the second groove C2 may penetrate the flexible board 4 in the thickness direction. In addition, the flexible substrate 4 may include a substrate film 42, and the conductive structure 41 may include first and second metal layers 411 and 412 disposed at both sides of the substrate film 42 and a connection metal layer 413 disposed through the substrate film 42, the connection metal layer 413 connecting the first and second metal layers 411 and 412. Further, the first metal layer 411 and the second metal layer 412 may be provided in different pattern shapes according to the working requirement.

Step S1403, the first section Z1 and the second section Z2 of the first layer substrate 21 of the first insulating medium substrate 2 are placed on the carrier B coated with the glue layer, the flexible substrate 4 is stacked on the first section Z1 and the second section Z2, the second tank C2 faces the first tank C1, and the integrated circuit 1 is disposed in the first tank C1 and the second tank C2, as shown in fig. 8. Therefore, the first insulating medium substrate 2 and the flexible substrate 4 can be arranged around the integrated circuit 1 to protect the integrated circuit, a plastic package process is not needed, the warping problem caused by different thermal expansion coefficients of a plastic package material and the substrate is avoided, the product failure risk is reduced, the processing is convenient, and the cost is reduced and the time is saved. Moreover, the glue layer coated on the carrier plate B can fix the integrated circuit 1.

Further, when the flexible substrate 4 is stacked and disposed on the first insulating dielectric substrate 2, the first protective layer P1 disposed on the opposite outer surfaces of the bendable middle portion T of the flexible substrate 4 may overlap the first section Z1 and the second section Z2, which makes the connection therebetween more reliable and can better protect the conductive structure of the flexible substrate 4.

In step S1404, the third section Z3 of the second insulating dielectric substrate 5 is disposed on the flexible substrate 4 in a stacked manner corresponding to the first section Z1, and the fourth section Z4 of the second insulating dielectric substrate 5 is disposed on the flexible substrate 4 in a stacked manner corresponding to the second section Z2, as shown in fig. 9. Wherein the third section Z3 and the fourth section Z4 overlap with the first protective layer P1 provided on the opposite outer surfaces of the intermediate portion T of the flexible substrate 4.

Step S1405, removing the carrier board B, disposing a first metal structure J1 on the first section Z1 and disposing a second metal structure J2 on the second section Z2, where the first metal structure J1 is connected to the conductive structure 41 and the integrated circuit 1, and the second metal structure J2 is connected to the conductive structure 41; a third metal structure J3 is disposed on the third section Z3, and a fourth metal structure J4 is disposed on the fourth section Z4, the third metal structure J3 and the fourth metal structure J4 are both connected to the conductive structure 41 of the flexible substrate 4, and the antenna structure 3 includes a first metal structure J1, a second metal structure J2, a third metal structure J3, and a fourth metal structure J4, as shown in fig. 10. Wherein, part of the antenna structure 3 can be formed by steps of laser drilling, seed layer sputtering, photoresist coating, exposure, development, electroplating, etching, and the like.

When the intermediate portion T of the flexible substrate 4 between the first section Z1 and the second section Z2 is bent, the second metal structure J2 and the fourth metal structure J4 as the antenna structure 3 can cover different directions.

Alternatively, the first metal structure J1 and the second metal structure J2 are formed by plating copper on the outer surface and inside of the first insulating dielectric substrate 2, and the first metal structure J1 is connected to the integrated circuit 1 when the first metal structure J1 is formed by plating copper. Therefore, the integrated circuit 1 is better connected with the antenna structure 3, the conduction performance can be improved, and the reduction of interconnection loss is facilitated. The third metal structure J3 and the fourth metal structure J4 can also be formed by means of copper plating on the outer surface and the inner portion of the second insulating dielectric substrate 5.

Specifically, when the first metal structure J1 is provided on the first section Z1 and the second metal structure J2 is provided on the second section Z2, a first via hole may be provided on the first layer substrate 21 of the first insulating dielectric substrate 2 first. Next, a first-layer metal M1 is provided on an outer surface of the first section Z1 of the first-layer substrate 21 and a first connection portion L1 is provided in the first via hole to connect the first-layer metal M1 and the conductive structure 41, and the first metal structure J1 includes a first-layer metal M1 and a first connection portion L1. Also, a first-layer metal M1 ' is provided on an outer surface of the second section Z2 of the first-layer substrate 21 and a first connection portion L1 ' connecting the first-layer metal M1 ' and the conductive structure 41 is provided in the first via hole, and the second metal structure J2 includes a first-layer metal M1 ' and a first connection portion L1 '.

Similarly, when the third metal structure J3 is disposed on the third section Z3 and the fourth metal structure J4 is disposed on the fourth section Z4, a third via may be disposed on the second insulating dielectric substrate 5 first. Next, a third layer metal M3 is provided on the outer surface of the third section Z3 of the second insulating dielectric substrate 5, and a third connection portion L3 connecting the third layer metal M3 and the conductive structure 41 of the flexible substrate 4 is provided in the third through hole, and the third metal structure J3 includes a third layer metal M3 and a third connection portion L3. And, a third layer metal M3 ' is provided on the outer surface of the fourth section Z4 of the second insulating dielectric substrate 5 and a third connection portion L3 ' connecting the third layer metal M3 ' and the conductive structure 41 of the flexible substrate 4 is provided in the third via hole, and the fourth metal structure J4 includes a third layer metal M3 ' and a third connection portion L3 '.

In step S1406, the second layer substrate 22 of the first insulating dielectric substrate 2 is pressed on the side of the first layer substrate 21 away from the flexible substrate 4, and the first metal structure J1 and the second metal structure J2 are disposed on the second layer substrate 22, as shown in fig. 11 and 12. Specifically, the second through hole may be provided on the second layer substrate 22 of the first insulating dielectric substrate 2. Next, a second layer metal M2 is disposed on an outer surface of the first section Z1 of the second layer substrate 22, and a second connection portion L2 connecting the first layer metal M1 and the second layer metal M2 is disposed in the second through hole, and the first metal structure J1 further includes a second layer metal M2 and a second connection portion L2. And, a second layer metal M2 'is disposed on an outer surface of the second section Z2 of the second layer substrate 22 and a second connection portion L2' connecting the first layer metal M1 'and the second layer metal M2' is disposed in the second through hole, and the second metal structure J2 further includes a second layer metal M2 'and a second connection portion L2'.

It should be noted that, the above description is only made in the case where the first insulating dielectric substrate 2 includes one layer substrate and two layers substrate, and the second insulating dielectric substrate 5 includes one layer substrate, it is understood that the first insulating dielectric substrate 2 and the second insulating dielectric substrate 5 may also include more layers of substrates. Specifically, the number of layers of the first insulating dielectric substrate 2 and the second insulating dielectric substrate 5 may be selected according to the shape of the antenna structure 3 to be provided.

In step S1407, a second protective layer P2 is disposed on the first metal structure J1, the second metal structure J2, the third metal structure J3, the fourth metal structure J4, and the outer side surfaces of the first insulating dielectric substrate 2 and the second insulating dielectric substrate 5 away from the flexible substrate 4, as shown in fig. 13, so as to better protect the antenna module. Wherein, the second protective layer P2 can be green paint.

Step S1408, providing a groove exposing a portion of the first metal structure J1 on the second protective layer P2 located at the first section Z1; solder 7 is provided at the slot to connect to the exposed first metal structure J1, as shown in fig. 14. Fig. 14 is a detailed structural diagram of an antenna module according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The solder 7 connected to the first metal structure J1 may be, for example, tin or nickel gold, and may be used for connection to a structure such as a PCB board. At this time, one end of the flexible substrate 4 is not disposed to protrude out of the first section Z1, but both are flush, and the first metal structure J1 may be used only for conducting electricity and not for radiating a signal. Whereas in fig. 4, one end of the flexible substrate 4 is disposed to protrude from the first section Z1, the connector 6 is disposed on the conductive structure 41 at the protruding portion S for connection with a PCB board or the like, and the first metal structure J1 is not connected with the solder 7, and at this time, the first metal structure J1 can be used for radiating a signal.

In addition, the embodiment of the invention also provides electronic equipment, and the electronic equipment comprises the antenna module in the embodiment. Since the electronic device comprises the antenna module, all or at least part of the advantages of the antenna module are achieved.

Finally, the description is as follows: the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, but not to limit the same; although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that: the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments may still be modified, or some technical features may be equivalently replaced; and the modifications or the substitutions do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions depart from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.