Mobile wireless communications device having dual antenna system for cellular and WiFi

• US 8,564,487 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2011
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Man, Ying Tong, Qi, Yihong
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoang V
• Application Number:
  US13/103,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20110210894A1
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/725, 343/700.MS, 343/893, 455/575.1, 455/575.3, 455/575.4, 455/575.7
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2291 used in bluetooth or WI-FI devices of Wireless Local Area Networks [WLAN] H01Q1/241 takes precedence; WLAN in general H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/521 reducing the coupling between adjacent antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/523 between antennas of an array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0087 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing antenna arrays manufacturing waveguides H01P11/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/00 Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/045 with particular feeding means for circular polarisation H01Q9/0428
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/026 Details of the structure or mounting of specific components
• 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 includes a housing and circuit board carried by the housing. Radio Frequency (RF) circuitry is mounted on the circuit board. A first antenna is supported by the circuit board within the housing and operatively connected to the RF circuitry and configured for cellular phone communications. A second antenna is supported by the circuit board within the housing and operatively connected to the RF circuitry and configured for WiFi communications. The second antenna comprises an inverted-F or monopole antenna having an opening gap that is pointed away from the first antenna.

Claims

1. A mobile wireless communications device comprising:

a housing;

first and second circuit boards within said housing;

circuitry within said housing;

a first antenna supported by said first circuit board and extending in a lateral direction within said housing, said first antenna operatively connected to said circuitry for cellular communications in at least one first frequency band; and

a second antenna supported by said second circuit board and operatively connected to said circuitry for WiFi communications in at least one second frequency band;

said second antenna comprising an inverted-F antenna defining an opening gap pointed in a longitudinal direction within said housing and away from said first antenna.

2. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second circuit boards comprises an antenna ground plane.

3. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1 wherein said housing comprises first and second opposing housing portions;

and wherein said first antenna is supported within the first housing portion, and said second antenna is supported within the second housing portion.

4. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 3 wherein the first housing portion comprises a lower housing portion, and the second housing portion comprises an upper housing portion.

5. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1 wherein said housing comprises at least one of a static housing, a flip housing, and a sliding housing.

6. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1 wherein the at least one first frequency band comprises at least one Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications frequency band.

7. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1 wherein the at least one second frequency band comprises at least one 802.11 standards frequency band.

8. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1 wherein the opening gap is directed towards an adjacent end of said housing.

9. A mobile wireless communications device comprising:

a housing;

first and second circuit boards within said housing;

circuitry within said housing;

a first antenna supported by said first circuit board and extending in a lateral direction within said housing, said first antenna operatively connected to said circuitry for cellular communications in at least one Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications frequency band; and

a second antenna supported by said second circuit board and operatively connected to said circuitry for WiFi communications in at least one 802.11 standards frequency band;

said second antenna comprising an inverted-F antenna defining an opening gap pointed in a longitudinal direction within said housing and away from said first antenna.

10. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 9 wherein at least one of said first and second circuit boards comprises an antenna ground plane.

11. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 9 wherein said housing comprises first and second opposing housing portions;

and wherein said first antenna is supported within the first housing portion, and said second antenna is supported within the second housing portion.

12. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 11 wherein the first housing portion comprises a lower housing portion, and the second housing portion comprises an upper housing portion.

13. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 9 wherein said housing comprises at least one of a static housing, a flip housing, and a sliding housing.

14. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 9 wherein the opening gap is directed towards an adjacent end of said housing.

15. A method of making a mobile wireless communications device comprising:

providing a housing with circuitry therein;

positioning first and second circuit boards within the housing;

forming a first antenna supported by the first circuit board and extending a lateral direction within the housing, the first antenna operatively connected to the circuitry for cellular phone communications in at least one first frequency band; and

forming a second antenna supported by the second circuit board and operatively connected to the circuitry for WiFi communications in at least one second frequency band, the second antenna comprising an inverted-F antenna defining an opening gap pointed in a longitudinal direction within the housing and away from the first antenna.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein at least one of said first and second circuit boards comprises an antenna ground plane.

17. The method according to claim 15 wherein the housing comprises first and second opposing housing portions;

and wherein the first antenna is supported within the first housing portion, and the second antenna is supported within the second housing portion.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the first housing portion comprises a lower housing portion, and the second housing portion comprises an upper housing portion.

19. The method according to claim 15 wherein the housing comprises at least one of a static housing, a flip housing, and a sliding housing.

20. The method according to claim 15 wherein the at least one first frequency band comprises at least one Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications frequency band.

21. The method according to claim 15 wherein the at least one second frequency band comprises at least one 802.11 standards frequency band.

22. The method according to claim 15 wherein the opening gap is directed towards an adjacent end of the housing.