WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS ANTENNA ASSEMBLY

• US 20140028502A1
• Filed: 11/07/2012
• Published: 01/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Cariou, Laurent, Fortin, Frdric, Luttrell, Darragh, Vilaylack, Vilasinh
• Granted Patent: US 9,844,149 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/700.MS
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2275 associated to expansion card or bus, e.g. in PCMCIA, PC cards, Wireless USB
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/42 with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/18 Printed circuits structurally associated with non-printed electric components H05K1/0201, H05K1/023, H05K1/0243, and H05K1/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09063 Holes or slots in insulating substrate not used for electrical connections
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10098 Components for radio transmission, e.g. radio frequency identification [RFID] tag, printed or non-printed antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10287 Metal wires as connectors or conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10446 Mounted on an edge soldering edge mounted components H05K3/3405; edge terminals H05K2201/1034
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/30 Assembling printed circuits with electric components, e.g. with resistor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/3405 Edge mounted components, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49144 by metal fusion

Abstract

A method for constructing a wireless communications apparatus includes attaching a three dimensional antenna having a first end and a second end to a printed circuit board (PCB) using a spring-loaded attachment mechanism. The three dimensional antenna is attached in an orientation that is perpendicular to a mounting surface of the PCB. The first end of the three dimensional antenna is further soldered to the PCB.

Claims

1. A method for constructing a wireless communications apparatus, the method comprising:

attaching a three dimensional antenna having a first end and a second end to a printed circuit board (PCB) using a spring-loaded attachment mechanism, wherein the three dimensional antenna is attached in an orientation that is perpendicular to a mounting surface of the PCB; and

soldering the first end of the three dimensional antenna to the PCB.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising placing the PCB into a bracket.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising encasing the three dimensional antenna within a plastic end cap that snaps into the bracket.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising encasing a portion of the PCB within a metallic shell, wherein the three dimensional antenna comprises a loop portion adjacent to the second end of the three dimensional antenna and oriented perpendicular to the mounting surface of the PCB, wherein the loop portion is not encased within the metallic shell.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the antenna is a wire antenna.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the one end of the PCB has one or more notches;

and

further comprising laterally compressing the wire antenna as a spring; and

inserting particular vertical portions of the antenna into the one or more notches.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

after inserting the particular vertical portions of the antenna into the one or more notches, releasing the antenna;

wherein a spring force of the compressed antenna exerted against edges of the notches causes the antenna to be joined to the PCB.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the antenna is a 3D antenna.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the antenna is a two-dimensional antenna.

10. A wireless communications apparatus comprising:

a PCB notched at one end with one or more notches;

an antenna that is spring-loaded into the one or more notches on the PCB, a portion of the antenna adhered to the PCB to form a subassembly;

a housing that encases the subassembly, the housing comprising a plug operable for insertion into a socket housed in an electronic device.

11. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 10, wherein the antenna is a wire antenna.

12. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the antenna is a spring.

13. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 10, wherein one end of the antenna is soldered to the PCB.

14. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 10, wherein the antenna is a 3D antenna.

15. A method for constructing a wireless communications apparatus, the method comprising:

locking a first portion of an antenna device to a printed circuit board (PCB) by placing the antenna device into grooves inset into the PCB; and

attaching a second portion of the antenna device to a bracket housing the PCB to form a subassembly.