Keys and Keylines Used For Antenna Purposes

• US 20110193749A1
• Filed: 02/05/2010
• Published: 08/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: CVIKO, Mirsad
• Granted Patent: US 8,519,895 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/46 Electric supply lines or communication lines

Abstract

An apparatus has a data input device arrangement and an electrical circuit. The data input device arrangement includes at least one user input key and at least two keylines configured to provide a data input to the apparatus. The electrical circuit has at least a first electrically conductive component configured to decouple the data input device arrangement at a predetermined radio frequency band to provide an antenna. In an embodiment the predetermined frequency is an operational frequency of the provided antenna. In various embodiments when the data input device is decoupled one of the keylines provides an antenna radiator component, and in another it provides an antenna parasitic short to ground. In various embodiments the first electrically conductive component exhibits a high impedance at the predetermined radio frequency band, and in another it is a notch filter which passes the predetermined radio frequency band.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a data input device arrangement, the data input device arrangement comprising at least one user input key and at least two keylines configured to provide a data input to the apparatus, and

an electrical circuit,

wherein the electrical circuit comprises at least a first electrically conductive component configured to decouple the data input device arrangement at a predetermined radio frequency band to provide an antenna.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which the apparatus comprises a portable electronic device.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which at least one of the keylines provides an antenna radiating element when the first electrically conductive component decouples the data input device.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which at least one of the keylines provides a parasitic antenna further comprising a short to ground when the first electrically conductive component decouples the data input device.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which the first electrically conductive component exhibits a high impedance at the predetermined radio frequency band.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which the first electrically conductive component comprises a notch filter which passes the predetermined radio frequency band.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, in which the notch filter is disposed along a first one of the at least two keylines and a second one of the at least two keylines extends from the user input key.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, in which a first one of the at least two keylines extends from the key, a second one of the at least two keylines extends from the first keyline, and the notch filter is disposed along the first keyline between the key and the second keyline.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which the electrical circuit comprises a decoupling coil disposed along one of the keylines in series with the first electrically conductive component.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, in which the electrical circuit comprises a cellular decoupling coil and a non-cellular decoupling coil in series with one another along the said one of the keylines.

11. A method comprising:

providing a data input device arrangement, the data input device arrangement comprising at least one user input key and at least two keylines configured to provide a data input to the apparatus, and

adapting the data input device arrangement with an electrical circuit comprising at least a first electrically conductive component that is configured to decouple the data input device arrangement at a predetermined radio frequency band to provide an antenna.

12. The method according to claim 11, in which the apparatus comprises a portable electronic device.

13. The method according to claim 11, in which at least one of the keylines provides an antenna radiating element when the first electrically conductive component decouples the data input device.

14. The method according to claim 11, in which at least one of the keylines provides a parasitic antenna further comprising a short to ground when the first electrically conductive component decouples the data input device.

15. The method according to claim 11, in which the first electrically conductive component exhibits a high impedance at the predetermined radio frequency band.

16. The method according to claim 11, in which the first electrically conductive component comprises a notch filter which passes the predetermined radio frequency band.

17. The method according to claim 16, in which adapting the data input device arrangement comprises disposing the notch filter along a first one of the at least two keylines, wherein a second one of the at least two keylines extends from the user input key.

18. The method according to claim 16, in which a first one of the at least two keylines extends from the key, and a second one of the at least two keylines extends from the first keyline, and in which adapting the data input device arrangement comprises disposing the notch filter along the first keyline between the key and the second keyline.

19. The method according to claim 11, and in which adapting the data input device arrangement comprises disposing a decoupling coil along one of the keylines in series with the first electrically conductive component.

20. The method according to claim 19, in which the electrical circuit comprises a cellular decoupling coil and a non-cellular decoupling coil in series with one another along the said one of the keylines.