Mobile wireless communications device comprising multi-frequency band antenna and related methods

• US 7,982,677 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2009
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Qi, Yihong, Jarmuszewski, Perry, Man, Ying Tong, Cooke, Adrian
• Primary Examiner(s): Wimer; Michael C
• Application Number:
  US12/358,054
• Publication Number:
  US 20090160714A1
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/702, 343/828, 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 9/0421 with a shorting wall or a shorting pin at one end of the element H01Q9/0414 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

A mobile wireless communications device may include a housing and a multi-frequency band antenna carried within the housing. The multi-frequency band antenna may include a main loop conductor having a gap therein defining first and second ends of the main loop conductor, a first branch conductor having a first end connected adjacent the first end of the main loop conductor and having a second end defining a first feed point, and a second branch conductor having a first end connected adjacent the second end of the main loop conductor and a second end defining a second feed point. A third branch conductor has a first portion within the main loop conductor, and a second portion connected to the second feed point. A tuning branch conductor may have a first end connected to the main loop conductor between the respective first ends of the first and second branches.

Claims

1. A mobile wireless communications device comprising:

a housing; and

an antenna carried by said housing and comprising

a main loop conductor defining an interior area and also having a gap therein defining first and second ends of said main loop conductor,

a first branch conductor having a first end connected adjacent the first end of said main loop conductor and having a second end defining a first feed point,

a second branch conductor having a first end connected adjacent the second end of said main loop conductor and a second end defining a second feed point, and

a third branch conductor having a first portion within the interior area of said main loop conductor, and a second portion extending outwardly from said main loop conductor.

2. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said antenna further comprises a tuning branch conductor having a first end connected to said main loop conductor between the respective first ends of said first and second branches.

3. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second portions of said third branch conductor defines a loop.

4. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein the first portion of said third branch conductor comprises a patch.

5. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said main loop conductor has a generally rectangular shape with opposing first and second sides and opposing first and second ends;

and wherein the gap is in the first side of said main loop conductor.

6. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 5 wherein the respective first ends of said first branch conductor, and said second branch conductor are connected to the first side of said main loop conductor.

7. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said main loop conductor includes non-planar portions.

8. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said main loop conductor has at least one tuning feature therein.

9. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first, second, and third branch conductors comprises a tuning feature therein.

10. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 further comprising a dielectric substrate supporting said band antenna;

and wherein said main loop conductor, and first, second and third branch conductors each comprises a respective conductive trace on said dielectric substrate.

11. A mobile wireless communications device comprising:

a housing; and

an antenna carried by said housing and comprising

a main loop conductor defining an interior area and also having a gap therein defining first and second ends of said main loop conductor, said main loop conductor including non-planar portions,

a first branch conductor having a first end connected adjacent the first end of said main loop conductor and having a second end defining a first feed point,

a second branch conductor having a first end connected adjacent the second end of said main loop conductor and a second end defining a second feed point,

a third branch conductor having a first portion within the interior area of said main loop conductor, and a second portion extending outwardly from said main loop conductor, and

at least one of said first, second, and third branch conductors comprising a tuning feature therein.

12. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 11 further comprising a tuning branch conductor having a first end connected to said main loop conductor between the respective first ends of said first and second branches.

13. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 11 wherein at least one of the first and second portions of said third branch conductor defines a loop.

14. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 11 wherein the first portion of said third branch conductor comprises a patch.

15. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 11 wherein said main loop conductor has at least one tuning feature therein.

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

providing a housing; and

positioning an antenna within the housing and comprising

a main loop conductor defining an interior and also having a gap therein defining first and second ends of the main loop conductor,

a first branch conductor having a first end connected adjacent the first end of the main loop conductor and having a second end defining a first feed point,

a second branch conductor having a first end connected adjacent the second end of the main loop conductor and a second end defining a second feed point, and

a third branch conductor having a first portion within the interior area of the main loop conductor, and a second portion extending outwardly from the main loop conductor.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the antenna further comprises a tuning branch conductor having a first end connected to the main loop conductor between the respective first ends of the first and second branches.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein at least one of the first and second portions of the third branch conductor defines a loop.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the first portion of the third branch conductor comprises a patch.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the main loop conductor has a generally rectangular shape with opposing first and second sides and opposing first and second ends;

and wherein the gap is in the first side of the main loop conductor.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein at least one of the first, second, and third branch conductors comprises a tuning feature therein.

22. The method of claim 16 wherein the main loop conductor has at least one tuning feature therein.