MOBILE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE WITH ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE CONTINUOUS RING AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20120019418A1
• Filed: 05/02/2011
• Published: 01/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Wong, Joshua Kwan Ho, Whitmore, John Alfred, Cooke, Adrian Matthew, Downs, Steven Eugene, van Wonterghem, Jari Kristian
• Granted Patent: US 8,774,880 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 9/0442 with particular tuning means
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0464 Annular ring patch
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/026 Details of the structure or mounting of specific components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0277 for a printed circuit board assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component

Abstract

A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing that may include an electrically conductive continuous ring defining a perimeter of the portable housing. The electrically conductive continuous ring may be configured to function as an antenna. The mobile wireless communications device may further include a printed circuit board (PCB) carried by the portable housing and may include an electrically conductive layer defining a ground plane. The mobile wireless communications device may further include wireless transceiver circuitry carried by the PCB and coupled to the antenna. The mobile wireless communications device may also include an electrically conductive shorting member coupled between the electrically conductive continuous ring and the ground plane.

Claims

1. A mobile wireless communications device comprising:

a portable housing comprising an electrically conductive continuous ring defining a perimeter of said portable housing, said electrically conductive continuous ring configured to function as an antenna;

a printed circuit board (PCB) carried by said portable housing and comprising an electrically conductive layer defining a ground plane;

wireless transceiver circuitry carried by said PCB and coupled to said antenna; and

at least one electrically conductive shorting member coupled between said electrically conductive continuous ring and said ground plane.

2. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one electrically conductive shorting member comprises a plurality of electrically conductive shorting members.

3. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of electrically conductive shorting members are spaced apart.

4. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one electrically floating member coupled between said electrically conductive continuous ring and said PCB.

5. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive continuous ring comprises metal.

6. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one electrically conductive shorting member comprises at least one mechanical fastener.

7. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one electrically conductive shorting member comprises at least one conductive trace.

8. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1, wherein said PCB and said electrically conductive continuous ring are positioned to define an air gap therebetween.

9. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1, further comprising a dielectric material body between said PCB and said electrically conductive continuous ring.

10. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1, wherein said wireless transceiver circuitry is configured to operate in the 800 MHz to 3.25 GHz frequency band.

11. A mobile wireless communications device comprising:

a portable housing comprising an electrically conductive continuous ring defining a perimeter of said portable housing, said electrically conductive continuous ring configured to function as an antenna;

a printed circuit board (PCB) carried by said portable housing and comprising an electrically conductive layer defining a ground plane;

wireless transceiver circuitry carried by said PCB and coupled to said antenna;

a plurality of electrically conductive shorting members coupled between said electrically conductive continuous ring and said ground plane; and

at least one electrically floating member coupled between said electrically conductive continuous ring and said PCB.

12. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 11, wherein said plurality of electrically conductive shorting members are spaced apart.

13. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 11, wherein said electrically conductive continuous ring comprises metal.

14. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 11, wherein said plurality of electrically conductive shorting members comprises at least one of a plurality of mechanical fasteners and conductive traces.

15. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 11, wherein said PCB and said electrically conductive continuous ring are positioned to define an air gap therebetween.

16. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 11, further comprising a dielectric material body between said PCB and said electrically conductive continuous ring.

17. A method of making a mobile wireless communications device comprising:

forming a portable housing having an electrically conductive continuous ring defining a perimeter thereof, the electrically conductive continuous ring being configured to function as an antenna;

positioning a printed circuit board (PCB) within the portable housing and comprising an electrically conductive layer defining a ground plane;

coupling wireless transceiver circuitry carried by the PCB to the antenna; and

coupling at least one electrically conductive shorting member between the electrically conductive continuous ring and the ground plane.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein coupling the at least one electrically conductive shorting member comprises coupling a plurality of electrically conductive shorting members.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the plurality of electrically conductive shorting members are spaced apart.

20. The method according to claim 17, further comprising positioning at least one electrically floating member between the electrically conductive continuous ring and the PCB.

21. The method according to claim 17, wherein the electrically conductive continuous ring comprises metal.

22. The method according to claim 17, further comprising positioning the PCB to define an air gap with the electrically conductive continuous ring.

23. The method according to claim 17, further comprising positioning a dielectric material body between the PCB and the electrically conductive continuous ring.