Antenna in a shielded enclosure

• US 20070109208A1
• Filed: 11/16/2005
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Turner, James
• Application Number:
  US11/280,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20070109208A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/718
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals

Abstract

An antenna disposed within a shielded enclosure, the antenna being disposed adjacent an electromagnetically transmissive closure member which covers a non-shielded aperture in the shielded enclosure. The electromagnetically transmissive closure member may, depending upon its dielectric properties, provide electromagnetic amplification for the antenna disposed thereunder to increase the effective signal propagation or reception.

Claims

1. An electronic device adapted for wireless communication, the electronic device comprising:

a shielded enclosure with an aperture;

an electromagnetically transmissive cover adapted to close the aperture of the enclosure;

electrical circuitry which provides for wireless communication, the electrical circuitry disposed within the shielded enclosure; and

,

an antenna disposed within the shielded enclosure in an electromagnetically exposed disposition relative to the aperture and the electromagnetically transmissive cover, the antenna also being disposed in electrical communication with the electrical circuitry and to provide for one or both of electromagnetic signal transmission or reception through the electromagnetically transmissive cover and the aperture of the enclosure.

2. An electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the antenna is one of a loop, a dipole or a monopole.

3. An electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the shielded enclosure and the electromagnetically transmissive cover are adapted to create a sealed compartment therewithin, and wherein the sealed compartment is one or more of waterproof, water tight, water resistant, or resistant to ingress of moisture.

4. An electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the electromagnetically transmissive cover is one or more of electromagnetically magnifying or amplifying.

5. An electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the electromagnetically transmissive cover has a dielectric constant greater than that of air and wherein the electromagnetically transmissive cover is cooperative with the antenna to create an antenna system.

6. An electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the antenna is one of disposed in contact with the electromagnetically transmissive cover and disposed adjacent to, yet not in contact with the electromagnetically transmissive cover.

7. An electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the antenna is disassociated from the electrical circuitry and electrically connected thereto by an electrically conductive stem.

8. An electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the antenna is electrically connected to the electrical circuitry by an electrically conductive stem, the electrically conductive stem being one of fixedly attached to the antenna and spring contact attached to the antenna.

9. An electronic device according to claim 1 further including a display element disposed within the shielded enclosure and below both the electromagnetically transmissive cover and the antenna.

10. An antenna adapted to be disposed within a shielded enclosure, the shielded enclosure having an unshielded aperture and a non-shielding cover adapted to close the unshielded aperture of the shielded enclosure, the antenna comprising:

an electromagnetically active material disposed in an electromagnetically exposed disposition relative to one or both the unshielded aperture and the non-shielding cover when the non-shielding cover is disposed in closed position relative to the unshielded aperture;

wherein the antenna is disposed to one or both receive or transmit electromagnetic signals through the non-shielding cover and the unshielded aperture.

11. An antenna according to claim 10 wherein the shielded enclosure has disposed therewithin electronic circuitry which provides for wireless communication, and, wherein the antenna is disposed in electrical communication with the electronic circuitry.

12. An antenna according to claim 10 wherein the antenna is one of a loop, a dipole or a monopole.

13. An antenna according to claim 10 wherein the shielded enclosure and the non-shielding cover are adapted to create a sealed compartment therewithin, and wherein the sealed compartment is one or more of waterproof, water tight, water resistant, or resistant to ingress of moisture;

and, wherein the antenna is disposed entirely within the sealed compartment.

14. An antenna according to claim 10 wherein the non-shielding cover is one or more of electromagnetically transmissive, electromagnetically magnifying and electromagnetically amplifying.

15. An antenna according to claim 10 wherein the non-shielding cover has a dielectric constant greater than that of air, and wherein the non-shielding cover is cooperative with the antenna disposed adjacent thereto to create an antenna system.

16. An antenna according to claim 10 wherein the antenna is disposed in one of in contact with the non-shielding cover and disposed adjacent to yet not in contact with the non-shielding cover.

17. An antenna according to claim 10 wherein the shielded enclosure has disposed therewithin electronic circuitry, and, wherein the antenna is disposed in electrical communication with the electronic circuitry, and wherein the antenna is disassociated from the electrical circuitry and electrically connected thereto by an electrically conductive stem.

18. An antenna according to claim 10 wherein the shielded enclosure has disposed therewithin electronic circuitry, and, wherein the antenna is disposed in electrical communication with the electronic circuitry, and wherein the antenna is electrically connected to the electrical circuitry by an electrically conductive stem, the electrically conductive stem being one of fixedly attached to the antenna and spring contact attached to the antenna.

19. An antenna according to claim 10 further including a display element disposed within the shielded enclosure and below both the non-shielding cover and the antenna.

20. A method of manufacture of an electronic device adapted for wireless communication, the electronic device including a shielding enclosure with an aperture, a non-shielding cover adapted to close the aperture, electronic circuitry, and, an antenna adapted to be disposed within the shielding enclosure adjacent the non-shielding cover, the antenna being adapted to communicate with the electronic circuitry and to provide for one or both of electromagnetic signal transmission or reception through the aperture of the enclosure;

the method comprising;

disposing the electronic circuitry within the shielded enclosure;

depositing the antenna on the inner surface of the non-shielding cover; and

,

closing the enclosure by setting the non-shielding cover in place relative to the aperture of the enclosure, wherein the antenna is brought into electrical connection with the electrical circuitry via contact with an electrically conductive stem, the electrically conductive stem becoming one of fixedly attached to the antenna and spring contact-attached to the antenna.