Mobile wireless communications device comprising a satellite positioning system antenna with active and passive elements and related methods

• US 7,656,353 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2005
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Cooke, Adrian, Qi, Yihong, Jarmuszewski, Perry, Man, Ying Tong
• Primary Examiner(s): Wimer; Michael C
• Application Number:
  US11/288,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20070120745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,526 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/825, 343/828, 343/833, 343/841, 343/834, 455/575.7
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• 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 19/00 Combinations of primary active antenna elements and units with secondary devices, e.g. with quasi-optical devices, for giving the antenna a desired directional characteristic combination of horns with slotted waveguide array H01Q13/0233
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/29 Combinations of different interacting antenna units for giving a desired directional characteristic H01Q25/00 takes 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: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component

Abstract

A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing, at least one wireless transceiver carried by the portable housing, and a satellite positioning signal receiver carried by the portable housing. Moreover, a satellite positioning antenna may be carried by the portable housing. The satellite positioning antenna may include an active element connected to the satellite positioning signal receiver, and a passive element connected to a voltage reference and positioned in spaced apart relation from the active element and operatively coupled thereto for directing a beam pattern thereof.

Claims

1. A mobile wireless communications device comprising:

a portable housing;

at least one wireless transceiver carried by said portable housing;

a satellite positioning signal receiver carried by said portable housing;

a satellite positioning antenna carried by said portable housing and comprising

an active element connected to said satellite positioning signal receiver, and

a passive element connected to a voltage reference and positioned in spaced apart relation from said active element and operatively coupled thereto for directing a beam pattern thereof;

a printed circuit board (PCB) carried by said portable housing; and

a dielectric extension extending outwardly from said PCB;

said active and passive elements being carried by a skyward facing portion of said dielectric extension;

said satellite positioning antenna and said PCB being relatively positioned so that said PCB further directs the beam pattern of said antenna skyward.

2. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said active and passive elements comprises a tuning feature.

3. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said passive element defines a U-shaped portion;

and wherein a portion of said active element is positioned within the U-shaped portion of said active element.

4. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said passive element comprises a pair of parallel branches;

and wherein a portion of said active element is positioned between the parallel branches of said passive element.

5. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said active and passive elements each comprises first end portions;

and wherein the first end portions of said active and passive elements are substantially parallel.

6. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said active and passive elements comprise electrically conductive traces on said PCB.

7. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said portable housing has an upper portion and a lower portion;

and wherein said satellite positioning antenna is positioned adjacent the upper portion of said portable housing.

8. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said at least one wireless transceiver comprises a cellular transceiver;

and further comprising a cellular antenna carried by said portable housing and connected to said cellular transceiver.

9. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 further comprising a controller carried by said portable housing and connected to said satellite positioning signal receiver, and a display carried by said portable housing and cooperating with said controller for displaying satellite positioning information.

10. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said active and passive elements comprise monopole antenna elements.

11. A mobile wireless communications device comprising:

a portable housing having an upper portion and a lower portion;

a cellular transceiver carried by said portable housing;

a cellular antenna carried by said portable housing adjacent the lower portion thereof and connected to said cellular transceiver;

a satellite positioning signal receiver carried by said portable housing; and

a satellite positioning system antenna carried by said portable housing adjacent the upper portion thereof and comprising

an active element connected to said satellite positioning signal receiver, and

a passive element connected to a voltage reference and positioned in spaced apart relation from said active element and operatively coupled thereto for directing a beam pattern thereof;

a printed circuit board (PCB) carried by said portable housing; and

a dielectric extension extending outwardly from said PCB;

said active and passive elements being carried by a skyward facing portion of said dielectric extension;

said satellite positioning antenna and said PCB being relatively positioned so that said PCB further directs the beam pattern of said antenna skyward.

12. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 11 wherein at least one of said active and passive elements comprises a tuning feature.

13. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 11 wherein said passive element defines a U-shaped portion;

and wherein a portion of said active element is positioned within the U-shaped portion of said active element.

14. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 11 wherein said passive element comprises a pair of parallel branches;

and wherein a portion of said active element is positioned between the parallel branches of said passive element.

15. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 11 wherein said active and passive elements each comprises first end portions;

and wherein the first end portions of said active and passive elements are substantially parallel.

16. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 11 further comprising a controller carried by said portable housing and connected to said satellite positioning signal receiver, and a display carried by said portable housing and cooperating with said controller for displaying satellite positioning information.

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

positioning a satellite positioning signal receiver and at least one wireless transceiver in a portable housing;

connecting an active element of a satellite positioning antenna and carried by the portable housing to the satellite positioning signal receiver;

positioning a passive element of the satellite positioning antenna connected to a voltage reference in spaced apart relation from the active element and operatively coupled thereto for directing a beam pattern thereof; and

positioning a printed circuit board (PCB) with a dielectric extension extending outwardly therefrom in the portable housing;

the active and passive elements being carried by a skyward facing portion of the dielectric extension;

the satellite positioning antenna and the PCB being relatively positioned so that the PCB further directs the beam pattern of the antenna skyward.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein at least one of the active and passive elements comprises a tuning feature.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the passive element defines a U-shaped portion;

and wherein a portion of the active element is positioned within the U-shaped portion of the active element.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the passive element comprises a pair of parallel branches;

and wherein a portion of the active element is positioned between the parallel branches of the passive element.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein the active and passive elements each comprises first end portions;

and wherein the first end portions of the active and passive elements are substantially parallel.