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

• US 8,478,372 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2012
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Wehrmann, Christopher, Kuhn, Michael, Davis, Adrian Piseu
• Primary Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Kashif
• Application Number:
  US13/488,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20120244919A1
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 4555751-5759, 455561-5621, 455/550.1, 455 631- 634, 343700 R-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:

wireless transceiver circuitry;

an antenna coupled to said wireless transceiver circuitry;

a light source;

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

a mask adjacent 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, said mask comprising a plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive members and being electrically isolated from one another, at least one of said plurality of electrically conductive members having a different shape from at least one other of said plurality of electrically conductive members; and

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

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

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

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

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

7. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein said antenna is adjacent said plurality of spaced apart conductive members.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. A mobile wireless communications device comprising:

wireless transceiver circuitry and comprising an electrical ground;

an antenna coupled to said wireless transceiver circuitry;

a light source;

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

a mask adjacent 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, said mask comprising a dielectric substrate and plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive members adjacent thereto and electrically floating with respect to said electrical ground, said plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive members also being electrically isolated from one another, at least one of said plurality of electrically conductive members having a different shape from at least one other of said plurality of electrically conductive members; and

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

11. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 10, wherein said plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive members is positioned between selected ones of said plurality of input key receiving openings.

12. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 10, wherein said dielectric substrate comprises at least one of paper and plastic.

13. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 10, wherein said plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive members comprises at least one of an electrically conductive ink and an electrically conductive paint.

14. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 10, wherein said plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive members comprises copper.

15. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 10, wherein said antenna is adjacent said plurality of spaced apart conductive members.

16. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 10, 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.

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

coupling an antenna to wireless transceiver circuitry;

coupling a light guide to a light source, the light guide having a plurality of input key receiving openings therein;

positioning a mask adjacent 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, the mask comprising a plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive members and being electrically isolated from one another, at least one of the plurality of electrically conductive members having a different shape from at least one other of the plurality of electrically conductive members; and

positioning a plurality of input keys within respective input key receiving openings of the light guide and the mask.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the mask comprises a dielectric substrate supporting the plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive members.

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

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive members is positioned between selected ones of the plurality of input key receiving openings.

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

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive members comprises copper.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the antenna is adjacent the plurality of spaced apart conductive members.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the input keys are arranged in horizontal rows;

and

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

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the wireless transceiver circuitry comprises an electrical ground;

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

26. A mobile wireless communications device comprising:

wireless transceiver circuitry;

an antenna coupled to said wireless transceiver circuitry;

a light source;

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

a mask adjacent 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, said mask comprising a plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive members and being electrically isolated from one another, at least one of said plurality of electrically conductive members having a different length from at least one other of said plurality of electrically conductive members; and

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

27. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 26, wherein said mask comprises a dielectric substrate supporting said plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive members.

28. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 26, wherein said plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive members is positioned between selected ones of said plurality of input key receiving openings.

29. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 26, wherein said plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive members comprises at least one of an electrically conductive ink and an electrically conductive paint.

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

coupling an antenna to wireless transceiver circuitry;

coupling a light guide to a light source, the light guide having a plurality of input key receiving openings therein;

positioning a mask adjacent 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, the mask comprising a plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive members and being electrically isolated from one another, at least one of the plurality of electrically conductive members having a different length from at least one other of the plurality of electrically conductive members; and

positioning a plurality of input keys within respective input key receiving openings of the light guide and the mask.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the mask comprises a dielectric substrate supporting the plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive members.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive members is positioned between selected ones of the plurality of input key receiving openings.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive members comprises at least one of an electrically conductive ink and an electrically conductive paint.