Mobile wireless communications device including spaced apart elongate members for reducing SAR and related methods

• US 8,285,350 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2010
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Wehrmann, Christopher, Kühn, Michael, Davis, Adrian Piseu
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Assistant Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Kashif
• Application Number:
  US12/900,929
• Publication Number:
  US 20120088560A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575, 455/63, 455/550.1, 455/562, 343700-702
• US Class Current: 455/575.7
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/245 with means for shaping the antenna pattern, e.g. in order to protect user against rf exposure
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3838 Arrangements for reducing RF exposure to the user, e.g. by changing the shape of the transceiver while in use
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing and wireless transceiver circuitry carried by the portable housing. The mobile wireless communications device may also include an antenna carried by the portable housing and coupled to the wireless transceiver circuitry, and a light source carried by the portable housing. The device may further include a keyboard assembly carried by the portable housing including a light guide coupled to the light source and having input key receiving openings therein, and a mask carried by the light guide and having input key receiving openings. The mask may include spaced apart electrically conductive elongate members positioned relative to the antenna to reduce a Specific Absorption Rate value for the mobile wireless communications device.

Claims

1. A mobile wireless communications device comprising:

a portable housing;

wireless transceiver circuitry carried by said portable housing;

an antenna carried by said portable housing and coupled to said wireless transceiver circuitry;

a light source carried by said portable housing; and

a keyboard assembly carried by said portable housing and comprising

a light guide coupled to said light source and having a plurality of input key receiving openings therein,

a mask carried by said light guide and having a plurality of input key receiving openings therein aligned with the plurality of input key receiving openings of said light guide, and

a plurality of input keys within respective input key receiving openings of said light guide and said mask,

said mask comprising a plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive elongate members positioned relative to said antenna so as to reduce a Specific Absorption Rate value of the mobile wireless communications device.

2. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein said mask comprises an opaque dielectric substrate supporting said plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive elongate members.

3. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive elongate members is positioned between selected ones of said plurality of input key receiving openings.

4. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 2, wherein said opaque dielectric substrate comprises at least one of paper and plastic.

5. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive elongate members comprises at least one of an electrically conductive ink and an electrically conductive paint.

6. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive elongate members comprises copper.

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

and wherein said antenna and said keyboard assembly are each carried by the lower portion of said portable housing.

8. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 7, further comprising a display carried by the upper portion of said portable housing.

9. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein said input keys are arranged in horizontal rows;

and wherein each of said plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive elongate members is positioned between adjacent rows of said input keys.

10. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein said wireless transceiver circuitry comprises an electrical ground;

and wherein said plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive elongate members is electrically floating with respect to said electrical ground.

11. A mobile wireless communications device comprising:

a portable housing;

wireless transceiver circuitry carried by said portable housing and comprising an electrical ground;

an antenna carried by said portable housing and coupled to said wireless transceiver circuitry;

a light source carried by said portable housing; and

a keyboard assembly carried by said portable housing and comprising

a light guide coupled to said light source and having a plurality of input key receiving openings therein,

a mask carried by said light guide and having a plurality of input key receiving openings therein aligned with the plurality of input key receiving openings of said light guide, and

a plurality of input keys within respective input key receiving openings of said light guide and said mask,

said mask comprising a plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive elongate members and an opaque dielectric substrate supporting said plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive elongate members positioned relative to said antenna so as to reduce a Specific Absorption Rate value of the mobile wireless communications device,

said plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive elongate members being electrically floating with respect to said electrical ground.

12. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 11, wherein said opaque dielectric substrate comprises at least one of paper and plastic.

13. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 11, wherein said plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive elongate members comprises at least one of an electrically conductive ink and an electrically conductive paint.

14. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 11, wherein said portable housing comprises an upper portion and a lower portion;

and wherein said antenna and said keyboard assembly are each carried by the lower portion of said portable housing.

15. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 11, wherein said input keys are arranged in horizontal rows;

and wherein each of said plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive elongate members is positioned between adjacent rows of said input keys.

16. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 11, wherein said wireless transceiver circuitry comprises an electrical ground;

and wherein said plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive elongate members is electrically floating with respect to said electrical ground.

17. A method of reducing a Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) value in a mobile wireless communications device comprising a portable housing, wireless transceiver circuitry carried by the portable housing, an antenna carried by the portable housing and coupled to the wireless transceiver circuitry, a light source carried by the portable housing, and a keyboard assembly carried by the portable housing and comprising a light guide coupled to the light source and having a plurality of input key receiving openings therein, a mask carried by the light guide and having a plurality of input key receiving openings therein aligned with the plurality of input key receiving openings of the light guide, and a plurality of input keys within respective input key receiving openings of the light guide and the mask, the method comprising:

forming the mask to include a plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive elongate members positioned relative to the antenna so as to reduce the SAR value of the mobile wireless communications device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein forming the mask further comprises forming the mask to include an opaque dielectric substrate supporting the plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive elongate members.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the opaque dielectric substrate comprises at least one of paper and plastic.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive elongate members comprises at least one of an electrically conductive ink and an electrically conductive paint.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein forming the mask to include the plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive elongate members comprises forming the mask to include the plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive elongate members so that it is floating with respect to an electrical ground.