Mobile wireless device with multi feed point antenna and audio transducer and related methods

• US 8,571,599 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2010
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Man, Ying Tong, Qi, Yihong, Wong, Joshua Kwan Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Fayyaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hanidu, Ganiyu A
• Application Number:
  US12/902,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20110111720A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/575.1, 455/575.7, 455/90.3, 455/269, 455/550, 455/562, 455/556.1, 455/422.1, 455/575.9, 455/67.13, 455/226.2, 455/226.4, 343/702, 343/795, 343/841, 343/906, 343/895, 343/772, 343/756, 343/788, 343/812, 343/878
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• 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 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/00 Arrangements for simultaneous operation of antennas on two or more different wavebands, e.g. dual-band or multi-band arrangements combinations of separate active antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system H01Q21/30
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/35 using two or more simultaneously fed points
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/40 Imbricated or interleaved structures; Combined or electromagnetically coupled arrangements, e.g. comprising two or more non-connected fed radiating elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers

Abstract

A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing, a circuit board carried by the portable housing, a wireless communications circuit carried by the circuit board, and an audio circuit carried by the circuit board. The mobile wireless communications device may further include an antenna assembly including an antenna carrier frame coupled to the circuit board and defining a cavity therein, and an antenna element carried on the antenna carrier frame and having a plurality of spaced apart signal feed points coupled to the wireless communications circuit. In addition, an audio transducer may be carried within the cavity of the antenna carrier frame and coupled to the audio circuit.

Claims

1. A mobile wireless communications device comprising:

a portable housing;

a circuit board carried by said portable housing;

a wireless communications circuit carried by said circuit board;

an audio circuit carried by said circuit board;

an antenna assembly comprising

an antenna carrier frame coupled to said circuit board and defining a cavity and an acoustic port therein, and

an antenna element carried on said antenna carrier frame and having a plurality of spaced apart signal feed points coupled to said wireless communications circuit; and

an audio transducer carried within the cavity of said antenna carrier frame and coupled to said audio circuit, said antenna carrier frame encapsulating the audio transducer within the cavity to provide an acoustic enclosure for the audio transducer.

2. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 further comprising a gasket carried by said antenna carrier frame within the acoustic port.

3. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said antenna element comprises a wrap-around antenna element carried on a plurality of surfaces of said antenna carrier frame.

4. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said antenna assembly further comprises a flexible substrate carried on at least one surface of said antenna carrier frame;

and wherein said antenna element is carried on said flexible substrate.

5. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 further comprising an audio output transducer carried in an upper portion of said portable housing and an audio input transducer carried in a lower portion of said portable housing each connected to said wireless communications circuit;

and wherein said antenna assembly is positioned in the lower portion of said portable housing.

6. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said wireless communications circuit comprises a cellular communications circuit.

7. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said audio transducer comprises an audio input transducer.

8. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said audio transducer comprises an audio output transducer.

9. A mobile wireless communications device comprising:

a portable housing having upper and lower portions;

a circuit board carried by said portable housing;

a wireless communications circuit carried by said circuit board;

an audio circuit carried by said circuit board;

an antenna assembly positioned in the lower portion of said portable housing and comprising

an antenna carrier frame coupled to said circuit board and comprising a plurality of surfaces defining a cavity and an acoustic port therein, and

a wrap-around antenna element carried on at least some of the plurality of surfaces of said antenna carrier frame and having a plurality of spaced apart signal feed points coupled to said wireless communications circuit;

an audio transducer carried within the cavity of said antenna carrier frame and coupled to said audio circuit, said antenna carrier frame encapsulating the audio transducer within the cavity to provide an acoustic enclosure for the audio transducer; and

an audio output transducer carried in the upper portion of said portable housing and an audio input transducer carried in a lower portion of said portable housing each connected to said wireless communications circuit.

10. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 9 further comprising a gasket carried by said antenna carrier frame within the acoustic port.

11. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 9 wherein said antenna assembly further comprises a flexible substrate, and wherein said antenna element is carried on said flexible substrate.

12. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 9 wherein said wireless communications circuit comprises a cellular communications circuit.

13. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 9 wherein said audio transducer also comprises an audio input transducer.

14. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 9 wherein said audio transducer also comprises an audio output transducer.

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

coupling a wireless communications circuit, an audio circuit, and an antenna assembly to a circuit board, the antenna assembly comprising

an antenna carrier frame defining a cavity and an acoustic port therein, and

an antenna element carried on the antenna carrier frame and having a plurality of spaced apart signal feed points coupled to the wireless communications circuit;

positioning an audio transducer within the cavity of the antenna carrier frame and coupling the audio transducer to the audio circuit, the antenna carrier frame encapsulating the audio transducer within the cavity to provide an acoustic enclosure for the audio transducer; and

coupling the circuit board to the portable housing.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising positioning a gasket within the acoustic port.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the antenna element comprises a wrap-around antenna element carried on a plurality of surfaces of the antenna carrier frame.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the antenna assembly further comprises a flexible substrate carried on at least one surface of the antenna carrier frame;

and wherein the antenna element is carried on the flexible substrate.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising positioning an audio output transducer in an upper portion of the portable housing and an audio input transducer in a lower portion of the portable housing each connected to the wireless communications circuit;

and wherein the antenna assembly is positioned in the lower portion of the portable housing.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the wireless communications circuit comprises a cellular communications circuit.