Mobile wireless device with multi-band antenna and related methods

• US 8,644,894 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2010
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Qiu, Meide
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay A
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEREZ, ANGELICA
• Application Number:
  US12/945,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20110223873A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90.2, 455/575.7, 455/575.1, 455/550.1, 29600-601, 343/702, 343/726, 343/728
• US Class Current: 455/575.7
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/357 using a single feed point
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/371 Branching current paths
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/40 Element having extended radiating surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49105 Switch making

Abstract

A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing, and a printed circuit board (PCB) carried by the housing and having opposing upper and lower portions. The device may also include at least one wireless transceiver carried by the portable housing, and a satellite positioning signal receiver carried by the portable housing. An antenna assembly may be carried adjacent the upper portion of the PCB. The antenna assembly may include a horizontal conductor extending along the upper portion of the PCB in spaced relation therefrom. The horizontal conductor may be coupled to the satellite positioning receiver. The antenna assembly may also include a loop conductor extending from the horizontal conductor toward the lower portion of the PCB and in spaced relation from the PCB. The loop conductor may be coupled to the wireless transceiver.

Claims

1. A mobile wireless communications device comprising:

a portable housing;

a printed circuit board (PCB) carried by said housing and having opposing upper and lower portions;

at least one wireless transceiver carried by said portable housing;

a satellite positioning signal receiver carried by said portable housing; and

an antenna assembly carried adjacent the upper portion of said PCB and comprising

a horizontal conductor extending along the upper portion of said PCB in spaced relation therefrom, said horizontal conductor being coupled to said satellite positioning receiver, and

a closed loop conductor extending from said horizontal conductor toward the lower portion of said PCB and in spaced relation from said PCB, said loop conductor being coupled to said at least one wireless transceiver.

2. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1, further comprising a cellular antenna carried adjacent the lower portion of said PCB and coupled to said at least one wireless transceiver.

3. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 2, wherein said closed loop conductor is configured to provide a diversity antenna for said cellular antenna, and configured to provide a Personal Communications Service (PCS) antenna.

4. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1, wherein said horizontal conductor is configured to provide a Global Positioning System (GPS) antenna.

5. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1, wherein said antenna assembly further comprises an additional conductor extending from said horizontal conductor toward the lower portion of said PCB and in spaced relation from said PCB and adjacent portions of said closed loop conductor.

6. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1, wherein said antenna assembly comprises a tri-band antenna assembly.

7. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1, wherein said PCB comprises an antenna coupling area;

and further comprising a coupling member configured to couple said antenna assembly to said PCB at said antenna coupling area.

8. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one additional component carried by said PCB beneath said antenna assembly.

9. A mobile wireless communications device comprising:

a portable housing;

a printed circuit board (PCB) carried by said housing and having opposing upper and lower portions;

at least one wireless transceiver carried by said portable housing;

a satellite positioning signal receiver carried by said portable housing;

a cellular antenna carried adjacent the lower portion of said PCB and coupled to said at least one wireless transceiver; and

an antenna assembly carried adjacent the upper portion of said PCB and comprising

a horizontal conductor extending along the upper portion of said PCB in spaced relation therefrom, said horizontal conductor being coupled to said satellite positioning receiver,

a closed loop conductor extending from said horizontal conductor toward the lower portion of said PCB and in spaced relation from said PCB, said closed loop conductor being coupled to said at least one wireless transceiver, and

an additional conductor extending from said horizontal conductor toward the lower portion of said PCB and in spaced relation from said PCB and adjacent portions of said closed loop conductor.

10. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 9, wherein said closed loop conductor is configured to provide a diversity antenna for said cellular antenna, and configured to provide a Personal Communications Service (PCS) antenna.

11. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 9, wherein said horizontal conductor is configured to provide a Global Positioning System (GPS) antenna.

12. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 9, wherein said antenna assembly comprises a tri-band antenna assembly.

13. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 9, wherein said PCB comprises an antenna coupling area;

and further comprising a coupling member configured to couple said antenna assembly to said PCB at said antenna coupling area.

14. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 9, further comprising at least one additional component carried by said PCB beneath said antenna assembly.

15. A method for making an antenna assembly for a mobile wireless communications device comprising a portable housing, a printed circuit board (PCB) carried by the housing and having opposing upper and lower portions, at least one wireless transceiver carried by the portable housing, and a satellite positioning signal receiver carried by the portable housing, the method comprising:

forming a horizontal conductor to extend along the upper portion of the PCB in spaced relation therefrom, the horizontal conductor to be coupled to the satellite positioning receiver; and

forming a closed loop conductor extending from the horizontal conductor toward the lower portion of the PCB and in spaced relation from the PCB, the closed loop conductor to be coupled to the at least one wireless transceiver.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the mobile wireless communications device further comprises a cellular antenna carried adjacent the lower portion of the PCB and coupled to the at least one wireless transceiver, and wherein the closed loop conductor is configured to provide a diversity antenna for said cellular antenna and a Personal Communications Service (PCS) antenna.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising forming an additional conductor extending from the horizontal conductor toward the lower portion of the PCB and in spaced relation from the PCB and adjacent portions of the closed loop conductor.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the horizontal conductor is configured to provide a Global Positioning System (GPS) antenna.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein the antenna assembly comprises a tri-band antenna assembly.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein the PCB comprises an antenna coupling area;

and wherein the mobile wireless communications device further comprises a coupling member to couple the antenna assembly to the PCB at the antenna coupling area.

21. The method according to claim 15, wherein the mobile wireless communications device further comprises at least one additional component carried by the PCB beneath the antenna assembly.