Analysis of integrated antenna positions on a laptop computer for mobile data communication

The next generation of portable computer users will want wireless LAN capability built into their units. These integrated wireless systems will allow users to exchange data at high speeds without having to contend with awkward antenna structures or install specialized PCMCIA cards. However, communication systems integration in laptop computers will create several problems in the implementation and performance of antennas. One of the most important issues associated with the design of integrated communication systems for laptop computers is antenna placement. An integrated system design provides the opportunity to place an antenna in a position that will maximize its ´visibility´ to incoming signals while still remaining cost- and aesthetically-effective. This paper reports on a study of the electromagnetic ´visibility´ of several different positions on a laptop computer using the finite difference time domain (FDTD) technique. This visibility is approximated by relative measures of current density induced on the computer´s conducting chassis by incoming plane waves in the 2.4-2.484 GHz frequency band.