WEARABLE APPARATUS AND ANTENNA CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

• US 20190312340A1
• Filed: 07/25/2017
• Published: 10/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goertek Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Goertek Incorporated
• Inventors: LI, Yan, JIN, Xinghui, ZHU, Yuge
• Granted Patent: US 11,196,149 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/04 Mounting of electronic components
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/48 Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/005 using remotely controlled antenna positioning or scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching

Abstract

A wearable device comprises a body (1) and an outer casing (2) detachably mounted on the body (1). The body (1) is provided therein with a first printed circuit board (PCB) and a body antenna connected to each other, and the first PCB is provided thereon with a control circuit. The outer casing (2) is provided thereon with an outer casing antenna (201), and when the outer casing (2) and the body (1) are assembled, the outer casing antenna (201) is connected to the first PCB. The control circuit controls switching between the outer casing antenna (201) and the body antenna to use the outer casing antenna (201) or the body antenna as a working antenna. Also provided are an outer casing and a method for controlling an antenna of a wearable device.

Claims

1. A wearable device, comprising:

a body, and

an outer casing detachably mounted on the body,

wherein the body is provided therein with a first printed circuit board (PCB) and a body antenna connected to each other, and the first PCB is provided thereon with a control circuit,

the outer casing is provided thereon with an outer casing antenna, and, when the outer casing and the body are assembled, the outer casing antenna is connected to the first PCB, and

the control circuit controls switching between the outer casing antenna and the body antenna to use the outer casing antenna or the body antenna as a working antenna.

2. The wearable device according to claim 1, wherein

the body is provided thereon with a switching detection contact connected to a control terminal of the control circuit,

the outer casing is provided thereon with a connector that is connected to the switching detection contact when the outer casing and the body are assembled, and

when the switching detection contact is connected to the connector, the control circuit controls to switch on the outer casing antenna and use the outer casing antenna as a working antenna.

3. The wearable device according to claim 2, wherein

the body is further provided thereon with an antenna contact connected to the first PCB, and the antenna contact is connected to the outer casing antenna when the outer casing and the body are assembled,

the switching detection contact and the antenna contact are both disposed on an outer surface of the body,

the switching detection contact is disposed on one side of the outer surface of the body, the antenna contact is disposed on the other side of the outer surface of the body, and the distance between the switching detection contact and the antenna contact is greater than or equal to a first predetermined distance threshold.

4. The wearable device according to claim 3, wherein

the control circuit comprises:

a first switching element and a second switching element that are capable of being connected to an antenna signal source;

the first switching element controls switching on/off of the outer casing antenna;

the second switching element controls switching on/off of the body antenna; and

the switching detection contact is connected to control terminals on the first switching element and the second switching element.

5. The wearable device according to claim 4, wherein

the first switching element comprises a first movable contact Com1, a first stationary contact NO1, a first stationary contact NC1 and a first control terminal Ctr1,

the second switching element comprises a second movable contact Com2, a second stationary contact NO2, a second stationary contact NC2 and a second control terminal Ctr2,

the first control terminal Ctr1 of the first switching element and the second control terminal Ctr2 of the second switching element are connected to the switching detection contact,

the first movable contact Com1 of the first switching element is connected to the antenna signal source, the first stationary contact NO1 of the first switching element is connected to the antenna contact capable of being connected to the outer casing antenna, and the first stationary contact NC1 is connected to the second stationary contact NC2 of the second switching element, and

the second movable contact Com2 of the second switching element is connected to the body antenna, and the second stationary contact NO2 of the second switching element is grounded;

when the first movable contact Com1 of the first switching element is connected to the first stationary contact NC1 that is connected to the second stationary contact NC2 of the second switching element, and the second movable contact Com2 of the second switching element is connected to the second stationary contact NC2 that is connected to the first stationary contact NC1 of the first switching element, the body antenna works; and

when the first movable contact Com1 of the first switching element is connected to the first stationary contact NO1 that is connected to the antenna contact of the outer casing antenna, and the second movable contact Com2 of the second switching element is connected to the grounded second stationary contact NO2, the outer casing antenna works.

6. The wearable device according to claim 3, wherein

the number of the switching detection contact is two, which are a first switching detection contact and a second switching detection contact, wherein one end of the first switching detection contact is connected to a power supply, and one end of the second switching detection contact is grounded,

the connector, disposed on the outer casing and connected to the first switching detection contact and the second switching detection contact when the outer casing and the body are assembled, is a first elastic member;

and

the first elastic member is connected to the first switching detection contact and the second switching detection contact when the outer casing and the body are assembled, so that the first switching detection contact and the second switching detection contact are connected.

7. The wearable device according to claim 6, wherein

the outer casing is provided therein with a second PCB, the second PCB is provided thereon with a second elastic member, and the second elastic member is connected to the outer casing antenna,

the second elastic member is further connected to the antenna contact when the outer casing and the body are assembled;

and

the second PCB is further provided thereon with a surface acoustic wave filter, and the surface acoustic wave filter is connected to one of the first stationary contacts of the first switching element and the outer casing antenna when the outer casing and the body are assembled.

8. The wearable device according to claim 1, wherein

a distance between a feeding point of the outer casing antenna and a feeding point of the body antenna is less than or equal to a second predetermined distance threshold;

a wiring direction of a long side of the outer casing antenna is opposite to a wiring direction of a long side of the body antenna; and

the wearable device is a smart wristband device.

9. A wearable device, comprising a body, wherein

the body is provided therein with a first printed circuit board (PCB) and a body antenna connected to each other, and the first PCB is provided thereon with a control circuit,

the body is further provided thereon with a switching detection contact and an antenna contact, and the switching detection contact and the antenna contact are both connected to the control circuit, and, when the outer casing and the body are assembled, connected to a connector on a second PCB in an outer casing and an outer casing antenna of the outer casing, and

the control circuit controls switching between the outer casing antenna and the body antenna to use the outer casing antenna or the body antenna as a working antenna.

10. A method for controlling an antenna of a wearable device, comprising:

detecting whether a switching detection contact on an outer surface of a body of the wearable device is connected to a connector on an outer casing;

wherein the connector is disposed on the outer casing and, when the body and the outer casing are assembled, capable of being connected to the switching detection contact, and

when it is detected that the switching detection contact is connected to the connector, controlling the outer casing antenna on the outer casing to be switched on, and using the outer casing antenna as a working antenna of the wearable device; and

when it is detected that the switching detection contact is not connected to the connector, controlling the body antenna on the body of the wearable device to be switched on, and using the body antenna as a working antenna of the wearable device.

11. The method for controlling an antenna according to claim 10, wherein the step of detecting whether a switching detection contact on an outer surface of a body of the wearable device is connected to a connector on an outer casing comprises:

providing a first switching element and a second switching element on a first printed circuit board (PCB) of the body of the wearable device, wherein both the first switching element and the second switching element are connected to an antenna signal source; and

connecting a control terminal of the first switching element and a control terminal of the second switching element to the switching detection contact; and

the step of when it is detected that the switching detection contact is connected to the connector, controlling the outer casing antenna on the outer casing to be switched on, and using the outer casing antenna as a working antenna of the wearable device;

when it is detected that the switching detection contact is not connected to the connector, controlling the body antenna on the body of the wearable device to be switched on, and using the body antenna as a working antenna of the wearable device comprises;

connecting a first movable contact of the first switching element to the antenna signal source, connecting one of first stationary contacts of the first switching element to an antenna contact capable of being connected to the outer casing antenna, and connecting another first stationary contact to one of second stationary contacts of the second switching element;

connecting a second movable contact of the second switching element to the body antenna, and grounding another second stationary contact of the second switching element;

when the first movable contact of the first switching element is connected to the first stationary contact that is connected to the one of second stationary contacts of the second switching element, and the second movable contact of the second switching element is connected to the second stationary contact that is connected to the one of first stationary contacts of the first switching element, making the body antenna work; and

when the first movable contact of the first switching element is connected to the first stationary contact that is connected to the antenna contact of the outer casing antenna, and the second movable contact of the second switching element is connected to the grounded second stationary contact, making the outer casing antenna work.