Electronic Device With Component Trim Antenna

• US 20130207851A1
• Filed: 02/14/2012
• Published: 08/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Dabov, Teodor
• Granted Patent: US 8,803,745 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 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop

Abstract

An optical component such as a camera, an acoustic component such as a speaker, or other electrical component may be mounted on the surface of an electronic device housing. A window structure may overlap the component. The window structure may be formed from an optically transparent material to allow light to pass or may be formed from an acoustically transparent material to allow acoustic signals to pass. A conductive structure such as a metal member may surround at least part of the periphery of the window structure. The conductive structure may serve as an antenna structure for an antenna. Radio-frequency transceiver circuitry may be coupled to an antenna feed for the antenna using a radio-frequency transmission line. The conductive structure may serve as a cosmetic trim for the electrical component.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a housing;

a component mounted in the housing;

a window structure that overlaps the component, wherein the component is configured to use signals that pass through the window structure; and

an antenna formed from an antenna resonating element that serves as a trim for the window.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the component comprises a camera and wherein the window structure comprises an optically transparent window.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the antenna resonating element comprises a metal member.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the component comprises an optical component and wherein the window structure comprises an optically transparent window.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the component comprises an acoustic component and wherein the window structure comprises an acoustically transparent structure.

6. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the component comprises a speaker and wherein the window structure comprises an acoustically transparent structure.

7. The electronic device defined in claim 1 further comprising:

a radio-frequency transceiver; and

a radio-frequency signal path coupled between the radio-frequency transceiver and the antenna resonating element.

8. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a planar rear wall and wherein the component is on the planar rear wall.

9. The electronic device defined in claim 8 further comprising a protruding structure that protrudes from the planar rear wall, wherein the window structure and the antenna resonating element are mounted on the protruding structure.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 9 wherein the protruding structure comprises protruding portions of the planar rear wall.

11. The electronic device defined in claim 9 wherein the protruding structure comprise a dielectric member that surrounds the window structure and that is mounted to the planar rear wall.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 9 wherein the antenna resonating element is at least partly embedded within the protruding structure.

13. Apparatus, comprising:

an electronic device housing having a protruding portion;

an electronic device component window on the protruding portion that is transparent to signals used by an electronic device component; and

an antenna resonating element structure mounted to the protruding portion that forms at least part of an antenna.

14. The apparatus defined in claim 13 wherein the electronic device component window comprises an optically transparent window and wherein the antenna resonating element structure surrounds at least part of the optically transparent window.

15. The apparatus defined in claim 14 wherein the antenna resonating element includes at least some exposed portions so that the antenna resonating element serves as cosmetic trim for the optically transparent window.

16. The apparatus defined in claim 14 wherein the antenna resonating element structure has at least some portions that are embedded within the protruding portion.

17. An electronic device comprising:

a housing having a front surface and a rear surface;

an optically transparent window on the rear surface that has a periphery; and

a conductive antenna structure that surrounds at least some of the periphery of the optically transparent window.

18. The electronic device defined in claim 17 wherein the conductive antenna structure has at least some portions that are exposed so that the conductive antenna structure serves as a cosmetic trim for the optically transparent window.

19. The electronic device defined in claim 17 further comprising a camera, wherein the optically transparent window is configured to allow light to reach the camera, and wherein the conductive antenna structure is configured to lie flush with the rear surface.

20. The electronic device defined in claim 17 further comprising a camera, wherein the optically transparent window is configured to allow light to reach the camera, wherein the rear surface has a protruding portion and wherein the optically transparent window and the conductive antenna structure are mounted on the protruding portion.