Antenna Design for an Attached Accessory

• US 20100026589A1
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Kopelman, Avi, Dou, Weiping, Babella, Mark, Matsuoka, Yomi
• Granted Patent: US 7,876,272 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2258 used with computer equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00

Abstract

Various embodiments are directed to antenna designs that may improve the performance of a mobile computing device. Some embodiments are directed to a mobile computing device assembly comprising accessory incorporating a supplemental antenna designed to be adjacent to at least one internal antenna of a mobile computing device when the accessory is attached to the mobile computing device. The supplemental antenna and the internal antenna may cooperatively form an antenna system for the mobile computing device resulting in improved performance. In various implementations, the use of the supplemental antenna in conjunction with the internal antenna may enhance antenna performance and/or increase antenna efficiency. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Claims

1. A mobile computing device assembly comprising:

a mobile computing device comprising a housing enclosing a printed circuit board including at least a first internal antenna; and

an accessory attached to the housing of the mobile computing, the accessory comprising a supplemental antenna adjacent to the internal antenna, the first internal antenna and the supplemental antenna cooperatively forming an antenna system for the mobile computing device.

2. The mobile computing device assembly of claim 1, the first internal antenna to allow voice communication.

3. The mobile computing device assembly of claim 1, the first internal antenna to allow data communication.

4. The mobile computing device assembly of claim 1, the printed circuit board comprising at least a second internal antenna, the first antenna to allow voice communication and the second internal antenna to allow data communication.

5. The mobile computing device assembly of claim 1, the supplemental antenna comprising at least one metal piece.

6. The mobile computing device assembly of claim 5, the metal piece comprising at least one of stainless steel, phosphor bronze, and flex copper.

7. The mobile computing device assembly of claim 1, wherein the supplemental antenna and the internal antenna are in direct contact.

8. The mobile computing device assembly of claim 1, the supplemental antenna to introduce a parasitic capacitor to reduce one or more resonances of the first internal antenna.

9. The mobile computing device assembly of claim 1, the supplemental antenna to retune one or more resonances of the first internal antenna at a lower frequency.

10. The mobile computing device assembly of claim 1, the supplemental antenna to extend radiation of the first internal antenna.

11. The mobile computing device assembly of claim 10, the supplemental antenna comprising a parasitic radiator for the first internal antenna.

12. The mobile computing device assembly of claim 10, the supplemental antenna to extend physical radiation length of the first internal antenna.

13. The mobile computing device assembly of claim 1, the supplemental antenna to increase efficiency of the first internal antenna.

14. The mobile computing device assembly of claim 1, the first antenna to serve as a feed to the supplemental antenna.

15. The mobile computing device assembly of claim 1, the first internal antenna comprising a first antenna arm of the antenna system and the supplemental antenna comprising a second antenna arm of the antenna system.

16. The mobile computing device assembly of claim 1, wherein the first internal antenna and the supplemental antenna are resonant at the same frequency.

17. The mobile computing device assembly of claim 1, wherein the first internal antenna and the supplemental antenna are resonant at different frequencies.

18. The mobile computing device assembly of claim 1, the accessory comprising an extended battery cover.

19. The mobile computing device assembly of claim 1, the accessory comprising at least one of a cradle, a car kit, and a holster.

20. The mobile computing device assembly of claim 1 further comprising an extended battery.

21. An accessory to attach to a mobile computing device, the accessory comprising:

a supplemental antenna, the supplemental antenna being adjacent to at least one internal antenna of the mobile computing device when the accessory is attached to the mobile computing device, the supplemental antenna and the internal antenna forming an antenna system for the mobile computing device.

22. An antenna system for a mobile computing device comprising:

a first internal antenna disposed on a printed circuit board within a housing of a mobile computing device; and

a supplemental antenna incorporated into an accessory to attach to the mobile computing device, the supplemental antenna being adjacent to the internal antenna when the accessory is attached to the mobile computing device.