ANTENNAS AND ANTENNA CARRIER STRUCTURES FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20090174612A1
• Filed: 06/19/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: McDonald, Matthew Ian, Kough, Douglas B., Ayala, Enrique, Springer, Gregory Allen
• Granted Patent: US 8,264,412 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2266 disposed inside the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/42 with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength

Abstract

Antenna support structures and antennas are provided for wireless electronic devices such as portable electronic devices. Antenna resonating elements may be formed from conductive coatings on two-shot molded interconnect device dielectric antenna support structures. The conductive coatings may be formed from wet-plated copper or other conductive materials. The antenna support structure may have tabs that electrically connect antenna resonating elements to the case of a wireless electronic device that serves as an antenna ground plane. The antenna support structure may be curved about its longitudinal axis so that the antenna resonating elements on the support structure protrude upwards to enhance antenna performance. In a portable electronic device such as a portable computer, the antenna support structure may be mounted within a dielectric portion of the computer housing that is located between the display portion of the housing and the base of the housing.

Claims

1. A portable computer antenna, comprising:

a molded interconnect device dielectric antenna support structure;

a conductive coating on the molded interconnect device dielectric antenna support structure that defines at least one antenna resonating element for the antenna; and

a conductive case that serves as an antenna ground plane for the antenna.

2. The portable computer antenna defined in claim 1 wherein the molded interconnect device dielectric antenna support structure comprises a two-shot molded interconnect device antenna support structure having a portion that is coated with plated metal that forms the antenna resonating element.

3. The portable computer antenna defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one antenna resonating element comprises at least three antenna resonating elements on the molded interconnect device dielectric antenna support structure each of which forms a separate antenna with the antenna ground plane, wherein at least two of the separate antennas are multiband antennas.

4. The portable computer antenna defined in claim 1 wherein the conductive case comprises a portable computer base housing that has a top surface that lies in a plane and wherein the molded interconnect device dielectric antenna support structure and at least part of the antenna resonating element protrude above the plane.

5. The portable computer antenna defined in claim 1 wherein the molded interconnect device dielectric antenna support structure comprises a plurality of tabs each of which has a hole, wherein the tabs are coated with conductor that is electrically connected to the antenna resonating element.

6. The portable computer antenna defined in claim 1 wherein the molded interconnect device dielectric antenna support structure comprises a plurality of tabs that are coated with conductor and that are electrically connected to the antenna ground plane, the portable computer further comprising:

a transmission line that carries antenna signals; and

a conductive clip that grounds a ground conductor in the transmission line to the tabs.

7. An electronic device comprising:

a conductive base housing that forms an antenna ground plane;

a two-shot molded interconnect device dielectric antenna support structure having at least one antenna resonating element, wherein the antenna resonating element and the antenna ground plane form an antenna; and

a transmission line that feeds the antenna.

8. The electronic device defined in claim 7 wherein the at least one antenna resonating element comprises at least three antenna resonating elements and wherein at least two of the antenna resonating elements form multiband antennas with the antenna ground plane.

9. The electronic device defined in claim 8 wherein the molded interconnect device dielectric antenna support structure has metal-coated tabs with holes that are electrically connected to the antenna resonating element, the electronic device further comprising a metal clip that electrically connects the transmission line to the antenna resonating element at the tabs, wherein the antenna resonating element comprises a via to which a center conductor associated with the transmission line is connected to form a positive antenna feed terminal for the antenna.

10. A portable computer, comprising:

a conductive base housing that forms an antenna ground plane;

a display housing that is connected to the conductive base housing with hinges;

a dielectric housing portion that is located between the conductive base housing and the display housing and that is rigidly attached to the conductive base housing;

a dielectric antenna support structure that is mounted within the dielectric housing portion; and

at least one antenna resonating element on the dielectric antenna support structure, wherein the antenna resonating element and the antenna ground plane form an antenna for the portable computer.

11. The portable computer defined in claim 10 wherein the dielectric antenna support structure comprises a two-shot molded interconnect device dielectric antenna support structure having a portion that is coated with conductor that forms the antenna resonating element.

12. The portable computer defined in claim 10 comprising at least two antenna resonating elements on the dielectric antenna support structure each of which forms a separate antenna with the antenna ground plane.

13. The portable computer defined in claim 10 comprising at least three antenna resonating elements on the dielectric antenna support structure each of which forms a separate antenna with the antenna ground plane, wherein at least two of the antenna resonating elements are configured to operate in two communications bands.

14. The portable computer defined in claim 10 comprising at least three antenna resonating elements on the dielectric antenna support structure each of which forms a separate antenna with the antenna ground plane, wherein at least two of the antenna resonating elements are configured to operate at 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz communications bands.

15. The portable computer defined in claim 10 wherein the dielectric antenna support structure comprises a curved surface on which the antenna resonating element is formed.

16. The portable computer defined in claim 10 wherein the conductive base housing has a top surface that lies in a plane and wherein the dielectric antenna support structure protrudes above the plane.

17. The portable computer defined in claim 10 wherein the dielectric antenna support structure comprises a plurality of tabs that are coated with conductor and that are electrically connected to the antenna ground plane, the portable computer further comprising:

a transmission line that carries antenna signals; and

a metal clip that is crimped to a ground conductor in the transmission line and that electrically connects the ground conductor to the tabs.

18. The portable computer define in claim 10 wherein the dielectric antenna support structure comprises a plurality of tabs that are coated with conductor that is electrically connected to the dielectric antenna resonating element and that is electrically connected to the antenna ground plane using screws.

19. The portable computer define in claim 10 wherein the conductive base housing comprises a top case and a bottom case, wherein the top case has a plurality of tabs, wherein the dielectric antenna support structure comprises a plurality of tabs that are coated with conductor that is electrically connected to the antenna resonating element, and wherein the tabs of the dielectric antenna support structure are connected to the tabs of the top case using screws.

20. The portable computer define in claim 10 wherein the conductive base housing comprises a top case and a bottom case, wherein the top case has a plurality of tabs, wherein the dielectric antenna support structure comprises a plurality of tabs that are coated with conductor that is electrically connected to the antenna resonating element, wherein the tabs of the dielectric antenna support structure are connected to the tabs of the top case using screws, wherein the conductive base housing has a top surface that lies in a plane, and wherein the dielectric antenna support structure protrudes above the plane.