WATCH WITH BEZEL ANTENNA CONFIGURATION

• US 20140225786A1
• Filed: 02/06/2014
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH (Garmin Limited)
• Inventors: Lyons, Justin R., Register, Todd P., Wilcher, Toby C., Simpson, Jesse R., Dorris, David L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,172,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/24 Acquisition or tracking or demodulation of signals transmitted by the system synchronisation aspects of direct sequence spread spectrum modulation H04B1/7073
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/02 Component assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/241 used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM H01Q1/247, H01Q1/248 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/08 Ferrite rod or like elongated core
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0414 in a stacked or folded configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0428 radiating a circular polarised wave
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0464 Annular ring patch
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/30 with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/40 Element having extended radiating surface

Abstract

A wrist-worn electronic device comprises a housing, a display, a location determining element, and a first antenna. The housing includes a lower surface configured to contact a wearer'"'"'s wrist, an opposing upper surface, and an internal cavity. The display is visible from the upper surface of the housing. The location determining element is configured to process a location signal to determine a current geolocation of the electronic device. The first antenna is configured to receive the location signal from a satellite-based positioning system and communicate the location signal to the location determining element. The first antenna is positioned on the upper surface of the housing adjacent a perimeter of the display and capacitively coupled with a conductive component positioned in the internal cavity.

Claims

1. A wrist-worn electronic device comprising:

a housing including a lower surface configured to contact a wearer'"'"'s wrist, an opposing upper surface, and an internal cavity;

a display positioned along the upper surface of the housing;

a location determining element configured to process a location signal to determine a current geolocation of the electronic device; and

a first antenna configured to receive the location signal from a satellite-based positioning system and communicate the location signal to the location determining element, the first antenna positioned on the upper surface of the housing and capacitively coupled with a conductive component positioned in the internal cavity.

2. The wrist-worn electronic device of claim 1, further comprising an annular bezel with an outer diameter and an inner diameter, the bezel positioned on the upper surface of the housing along a perimeter of the display, wherein the first antenna is integrated with at least a portion of the bezel.

3. The wrist-worn electronic device of claim 2, wherein the first antenna has an outer diameter and an inner diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter and the inner diameter of the bezel, but having a length that is less than a circumference of the bezel.

4. The wrist-worn electronic device of claim 1, wherein a length of the first antenna is determined by a frequency of the location signal.

5. The wrist-worn electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first antenna has a shape that is at least a portion of an annulus and is positioned adjacent a perimeter of the display.

6. The wrist-worn electronic device of claim 1, wherein the conductive component is a second antenna, which functions in cooperation with the first antenna to communicate the location signal to the location determining element.

7. The wrist-worn electronic device of claim 2, wherein the bezel is integral to the housing.

8. A wrist-worn electronic device comprising:

a housing including a lower surface configured to contact a wearer'"'"'s wrist, an opposing upper surface, and an internal cavity;

a display positioned along the upper surface of the housing;

a location determining element configured to process a location signal to determine a current geolocation of the electronic device;

a first antenna positioned on the upper surface of the housing along the perimeter of the display; and

a second antenna positioned in the internal cavity, the second antenna capacitively coupled with the first antenna such that the first antenna and the second antenna cooperatively are configured to receive the location signal from a satellite-based positioning system and communicate the location signal to the location determining element.

9. The wrist-worn electronic device of claim 8, wherein the first antenna is vertically aligned with the second antenna and overlaps a portion thereof.

10. The wrist-worn electronic device of claim 8, further comprising an annular bezel with an outer diameter and an inner diameter, the bezel positioned on the upper surface of the housing along a perimeter of the display, wherein the first antenna is integrated with at least a portion of the bezel.

11. The wrist-worn electronic device of claim 10, wherein the first antenna has an outer diameter and an inner diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter and the inner diameter of the bezel, but having a length that is less than a circumference of the bezel.

12. The wrist-worn electronic device of claim 11, wherein the second antenna is annular in shape and has an outer diameter and an inner diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter and the inner diameter of the first antenna.

13. The wrist-worn electronic device of claim 8, wherein the second antenna includes a metallic trace on a flexible printed circuit.

14. The wrist-worn electronic device of claim 8, wherein the bezel is integral to the housing.

15. A wrist-worn electronic device comprising:

a housing including a lower surface configured to contact a wearer'"'"'s wrist, an opposing upper surface, and an internal cavity;

a display positioned along the upper surface of the housing;

an annular bezel with an outer diameter and an inner diameter, the bezel positioned on the upper surface of the housing along a perimeter of the display;

a location determining element configured to process a location signal to determine a current geolocation of the electronic device;

a first antenna integrated with a portion of the bezel; and

a second antenna positioned in the internal cavity, the second antenna capacitively coupled with the first antenna such that the first antenna and the second antenna cooperatively are configured to receive the location signal from a satellite-based positioning system and communicate the location signal to the location determining element.

16. The wrist-worn electronic device of claim 15, wherein the first antenna is vertically aligned with the second antenna and overlaps a portion thereof.

17. The wrist-worn electronic device of claim 15, wherein the first antenna has an outer diameter and an inner diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter and the inner diameter of the bezel, but having a length that is less than a circumference of the bezel.

18. The wrist-worn electronic device of claim 17, wherein the second antenna is annular in shape and has an outer diameter and an inner diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter and the inner diameter of the first antenna.

19. The wrist-worn electronic device of claim 15, wherein the second antenna includes a metallic trace on a flexible printed circuit.

20. The wrist-worn electronic device of claim 15, wherein the bezel is integral to the housing.