Electronic device with component trim antenna

• US 10,193,216 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2017
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Dabov, Teodor
• Primary Examiner(s): Baltzell, Andrea Lindgren
• Application Number:
  US15/795,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20180048053A1
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: 343702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop

Abstract

An optical component such as a camera, an acoustic component such as a speaker, or other electrical component may be mounted on the surface of an electronic device housing. A window structure may overlap the component. The window structure may be formed form an optically transparent material to allow light to pass or may be formed from an acoustically transparent material to allow acoustic signals to pass. A conductive structure such as a metal member may surround at least part of the periphery of the window structure. The conductive structure may serve as an antenna structure for an antenna. Radio-frequency transceiver circuitry may be coupled to an antenna feed for the antenna using a radio-frequency transmission line. The conductive structure may serve as a cosmetic trim for the electrical component.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a housing having a camera window;

a camera aligned with the camera window;

an antenna resonating element that extends at least partially along a periphery of the camera window; and

radio-frequency transceiver circuitry coupled to the antenna resonating element.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a display having a display cover layer.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 2, wherein the electronic device has opposing front and rear faces, the display cover layer forms the front face of the electronic device, and the camera window forms part of the rear face of the electronic device.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 3, wherein the housing comprises a conductive housing wall that forms part of the rear face of the electronic device and wherein the camera window is formed in the conductive housing wall.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 3, wherein the display comprises a touch screen.

6. The electronic device defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor aligned with the camera window.

7. The electronic device defined in claim 6, wherein the sensor and the camera are both configured to sense light received through the camera window.

8. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the antenna resonating element extends along two opposing sides of the camera window.

9. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the antenna resonating element comprises a loop antenna resonating element in a loop antenna.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 9, wherein the loop antenna comprises a positive antenna feed terminal and a ground antenna feed terminal, the electronic device further comprising:

a radio-frequency transmission line having a ground conductor coupled between the radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and the ground antenna feed terminal and having a signal conductor coupled between the radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and the positive antenna feed terminal.

11. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the antenna resonating element is interposed between the camera window and the camera.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the antenna resonating element contacts the camera window.

13. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises conductive housing sidewalls that extend around the camera window and the antenna resonating element.

21. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the camera is configured to generate image data in response to light received by the camera through the camera window.

14. An electronic device comprising:

a housing having a protruding portion;

first and second image sensors mounted in the housing;

an antenna resonating element in the housing that runs around both the first and second image sensors; and

a window on the protruding portion, wherein the first and second image sensors are configured to receive light through the window and the window overlaps at least some of the antenna resonating element.

15. The electronic device defined in claim 14, wherein the housing comprises a conductive wall and the protruding portion of the housing protrudes from the conductive wall.

16. The electronic device defined in claim 15, wherein the electronic device has opposing front and rear faces and wherein the conductive wall and the window form part of the rear face of the electronic device, the electronic device further comprising:

a display having a cover layer that forms the front face of the electronic device.

17. The electronic device defined in claim 16, wherein the display comprises a touch screen and the antenna resonating element comprises a loop antenna resonating element in a loop antenna.

18. A cellular telephone having opposing front and rear surfaces, comprising:

a display on the front surface;

a housing having a housing wall on the rear surface;

an optically-transparent window on the housing wall;

first and second cameras in the housing that are aligned with the optically-transparent window; and

an antenna resonating element that is attached to the housing wall and that runs around a periphery of the optically-transparent window.

19. The cellular telephone defined in claim 18, wherein the housing wall comprises a conductive housing wall.

20. The cellular telephone defined in claim 19, wherein the antenna resonating element comprises a loop antenna resonating element.

22. The cellular telephone defined in claim 18, wherein the display comprises a transparent cover layer at the front face of the cellular telephone, and wherein the rear housing wall and the optically transparent window are formed at the rear face of the cellular telephone, the front and rear faces being located at opposing sides of the cellular telephone.

23. The cellular telephone defined in claim 18, wherein the first and second cameras are configured to generate image data in response to light received through the optically-transparent window.