Electronic device with component trim antenna

• US 10,608,326 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2019
• Issued: 03/31/2020
• 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:
  US16/281,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20190190123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 404 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 an optically transparent window;

a camera aligned with the optically transparent window;

an antenna resonating element in the housing and surrounding a periphery of the camera; 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 mounted to the housing.

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, the display is configured to emit image light through the display cover layer and the front face of the electronic device, and the optically transparent window forms part of the rear face of the electronic device.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 3, wherein the housing comprises a dielectric housing wall that forms part of the rear face of the electronic device.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 4 wherein the optically transparent window protrudes from the dielectric housing wall.

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

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

a sensor aligned with the optically transparent window and configured to receive light through the optically transparent window.

8. The electronic device defined in claim 7, wherein the antenna resonating element extends around the sensor and the camera.

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

10. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the antenna resonating element comprises a loop-shaped element that extends around the periphery of the camera.

11. The electronic device defined in claim 10, wherein the antenna resonating element comprises a first antenna feed terminal coupled to a first end of the loop-shaped element and a second antenna feed terminal coupled to a second end of the loop-shaped element.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the loop-shaped element comprises a loop antenna resonating element.

13. An electronic device comprising:

a housing having a housing wall;

a window in the housing wall;

first and second image sensors in the housing and configured to receive light through the window; and

an antenna in the housing and having a conductive loop that extends around both the first and second image sensors.

14. The electronic device defined in claim 13, further comprising:

a first antenna feed terminal coupled to a first end of the conductive loop; and

a second antenna feed terminal coupled to a second end of the conductive loop.

15. The electronic device defined in claim 14, wherein the window has a lateral area and wherein the conductive loop lies within a plane parallel to the lateral area of the window.

16. The electronic device defined in claim 15, wherein the housing wall comprises a dielectric housing wall.

17. The electronic device defined in claim 16, further comprising:

a touch screen display mounted to the housing on a side of the housing opposite to the dielectric housing wall.

18. The electronic device defined in claim 17, wherein the window protrudes from the dielectric housing wall.

19. The electronic device defined in claim 18, further comprising:

radio-frequency transceiver circuitry in the housing; and

a radio-frequency transmission line that couples the radio-frequency transceiver circuitry to the first and second antenna feed terminals, wherein the radio-frequency transceiver, the radio-frequency transmission line, and the antenna are configured to convey radio-frequency signals at a frequency below 700 MHz.

20. 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 and aligned with the optically transparent window; and

an antenna that runs around the first and second cameras.

21. The cellular telephone defined in claim 20, wherein the first and second cameras are configured to receive light through the optically transparent window, and wherein the antenna is configured to receive radio-frequency signals through at least the optically transparent window.