Mobile wireless communications device comprising integrated antenna and keyboard and related methods

• US 20060172785A1
• Filed: 02/01/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Yule, Robert Campbell, Phillips, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,383,067 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.100
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22

Abstract

A mobile wireless communications device includes a housing and main circuit board carried by the housing and having circuitry thereon. A keyboard circuit board is carried by the lower portion of the housing and has a keyboard section and keyboard circuitry thereon connected to circuitry on the main circuit board. An antenna section on the keyboard circuit board is configured as an antenna and positioned at the lower portion of the housing and has a pattern of conductive traces forming an antenna circuit and connected to the circuitry on the main circuit board. The keyboard circuit board preferably comprises a flex circuit.

Claims

1. A mobile wireless communications device comprising:

a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion;

a main circuit board carried by the housing and having circuitry thereon;

a keyboard circuit board carried by the lower portion of the housing and having keyboard and antenna sections, wherein keyboard circuitry is positioned on the keyboard section and connected to circuitry on the main circuit board and an antenna section configured as an antenna and positioned at the lower portion in the housing and having a pattern of conductive traces forming an antenna circuit and connected to said circuitry on the main circuit board.

2. A mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1, wherein said keyboard circuit board comprises a flex circuit.

3. A mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1, wherein said keyboard section is substantially planar configured.

4. A mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1, wherein said main circuit board has a lower portion and said antenna section straddles both sides of the lower portion of the main circuit board.

5. A mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1, wherein said circuitry on said main circuit board is disposed on one side.

6. A mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1, and further comprising an audio output transducer carried by the upper portion of said housing and connected to said circuitry on said main circuit board.

7. A mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1, and further comprising a keyboard support that engages the main circuit board and the keyboard circuit board and supports the keyboard section and antenna section.

8. A mobile wireless communications device according to claim 7, and further comprising contact arms on the antenna section that engage said keyboard support to aid in securing together the keyboard circuit board to the keyboard support.

9. A mobile wireless communications device according claim 1, and further comprising a compression connector that connects keyboard circuitry to circuitry on the main circuit board.

10. A mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1, and further comprising pins that align together the keyboard circuit board and the main circuit board.

11. A mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1, and further comprising conductive contacts positioned on the antenna section that interconnect the antenna circuit to circuitry on the main circuit board.

12. A mobile wireless communications device according to claim 11, wherein said conductive contacts comprise spring contacts.

13. A mobile wireless communications device comprising:

a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion;

a keyboard frame carried by the housing within the lower portion and having a substantially planar keyboard support section and antenna support section;

a main circuit board carried by the housing and having circuitry thereon and having a lower portion secured to the antenna support section of the keyboard frame;

a keyboard circuit board supported by the keyboard support and having keyboard and antenna sections, wherein keyboard circuitry is positioned on the keyboard section and connected to circuitry on the main circuit board and engaging and supported by the keyboard support section, and an antenna section configured as an antenna and having a pattern of conductive traces forming an antenna circuit and connected to said circuitry on the main circuit board, wherein said antenna section is supported by the antenna frame.

14. A mobile wireless communications device according to claim 13, wherein said keyboard circuit board comprises a flex circuit.

15. A mobile wireless communications device according to claim 13, wherein said main circuit board has a lower portion and said antenna section straddles both sides of the lower portion of the main circuit board.

16. A mobile wireless communications device according to claim 13, wherein said circuitry on said main circuit board is disposed on one side.

17. A mobile wireless communications device according to claim 13, and further comprising an audio output transducer carried by the upper portion of said housing and connected to said circuitry on said main circuit board.

18. A mobile wireless communications device according to claim 13, and further comprising contact arms on the antenna section that engage said keyboard support to aid in securing together the keyboard circuit board and keyboard support.

19. A mobile wireless communications device according to claim 13, and further comprising a compression connector that connects keyboard circuitry to circuitry on the main circuit board.

20. A mobile wireless communications device according to claim 13, and further comprising pins that align together the keyboard circuit board and the main circuit board.

21. A mobile wireless communications device according to claim 13, and further comprising conductive contacts positioned on the antenna section that interconnect the antenna circuit to circuitry on the main circuit board.

22. A mobile wireless communications device according to claim 21, wherein said conductive contacts comprise spring contacts.

23. A method for making a mobile wireless communications device, which comprises:

providing a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion;

connecting together a main circuit board having circuitry thereon and a keyboard circuit board having keyboard and antenna sections, wherein keyboard circuitry is on the keyboard section and connects to circuitry on the main circuit board and an antenna section configured as an antenna and having a pattern of conductive traces forming an antenna circuit and connected to said circuitry on the main circuit board and positioning the main circuit board and connected keyboard circuit board within the housing such that the keyboard circuit board is positioned at the lower portion of the housing.

24. A method according to claim 23, which further comprises forming the keyboard circuit board as a flex circuit board.

25. A method according to claim 23, which further comprises connecting the main circuit board and keyboard circuit board such that the antenna section straddles the main circuit board.

26. A method according to claim 23, which further comprises connecting a keyboard support to the main support board for supporting the keyboard circuit board.