External case for redistribution of RF radiation away from wireless communication device user and wireless communication device incorporating RF radiation redistribution elements

• US 8,957,813 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2011
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Penumbra Brands, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pong Research Corporation
• Inventors: Shields, Karl Richard, Nilakantan, Nikhil, McCaughey, Ryan G
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Application Number:
  US13/287,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20120044115A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,203 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/702, 343/866, 343/834
• US Class Current: 343/702
• 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: H01Q 19/005 Patch antenna using one or more coplanar parasitic elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/28 using a secondary device in the form of two or more substantially straight conductive elements log- periodic antennas H01Q11/10; constituting a reflecting surface H01Q19/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• 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

Abstract

A case for a wireless tablet computer device includes a number of RF resonant loop elements and elongated RF director coupling strip elements mounted in the case and configured such that RF radiation is coupled from an internal antenna of the wireless device out of the device to the RF resonant and coupling elements. The case incorporates a cut-out section in a location leaving exposed a strip that covers an area proximate the internal antenna. The RF resonant loops and director coupling strip elements alternatively may be incorporated with the wireless tablet computer device itself.

Claims

1. A case for a wireless device, comprising:

a plurality of RF resonant elements mounted in the case and configured such that RF radiation is coupled from an internal antenna of the wireless device out of the wireless device to the plurality of RF resonant elements when the wireless device is operative;

the case having a cut-out section the exposes an area of the wireless device proximate to the internal antenna,

at least one of the RF resonant elements from the plurality of RF resonant elements is configured as a loop.

2. A case for a wireless device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the wireless device is a tablet computer device.

3. A case for a wireless device as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one RF resonant element from the plurality of RF resonant elements is tuned to approximately 1 wavelength of an emitted RF transmission from the internal antenna.

4. A case for a wireless device comprising:

a plurality of RF resonant elements mounted in the case and configured such that RF radiation is coupled from an internal antenna of the wireless device out of the wireless device to the plurality of RF resonant elements when the wireless device is operative,

the case having a cut-out section the exposes an area of the wireless device proximate to the internal antenna,

an RF coupling element configured as an elongated strip, which couples RF radiation from the internal antenna when the wireless device is operative.

5. A case for a wireless device as set forth in claim 4, wherein at least one RF resonant element from the plurality of RF resonant elements is tuned to approximately ½

wavelength of an emitted RF transmission from the internal antenna.

6. A case for a wireless device as set forth in claim 4, wherein at least one RF resonant element from the plurality of RF resonant elements is tuned to a multiple of ½

wavelength of an emitted RF transmission from the internal antenna.

7. A case for a wireless device comprising:

a plurality of RF resonant elements mounted in the case and configured such that RF radiation is coupled from an internal antenna of the wireless device out of the wireless device to the plurality of RF resonant elements when the wireless device is operative,

the case having a cut-out section the exposes an area of the wireless device proximate to the internal antenna,

said area of said wireless device proximate to said internal antenna is identified by an elongated strip of material for facilitating RF radiation to reach said internal antenna.

8. A case for a wireless device as set forth in claim 7, wherein the elongated strip is formed of plastic.

9. A case for a wireless device as set forth in claim 7, wherein the wireless device further includes a proximity sensor coupled to the elongated strip of material.

10. A case for a wireless device, comprising:

a plurality of RF resonant elements mounted in the case and configured such that RF radiation is coupled from an internal antenna of the wireless device out of the wireless device to the plurality of RF resonant elements when the wireless device is operative,

the case having a cut-out section the exposes an area of the wireless device proximate to the internal antenna,

the plurality of RF resonant elements being formed on a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB), the FPCB being mounted in a shell of the case.

11. A case for a wireless device as set forth in claim 10, further comprising a lining that covers the FPCB mounted in the shell.

12. A case for a wireless device as set forth in claim 11, wherein the case is made of a polycarbonate material.

13. A wireless device, comprising:

a plurality of RF resonant elements mounted in the wireless device and configured such that RF radiation is coupled from an internal RF antenna of the wireless device to the plurality of RF resonant elements, to redistribute RF radiation from the internal RF antenna over an extended area of the wireless device when the wireless device is operative; and

an RF coupling element configured as an elongated strip, which couples RF radiation from the internal antenna when the wireless device is operative.

14. A wireless device as set forth in claim 13, wherein the wireless device is a tablet computer device.

15. A wireless device as set forth in claim 13, wherein at least one RF resonant element from the plurality of RF resonant elements is tuned to approximately 1 wavelength of an emitted RF transmission from the RF antenna.

16. A wireless device as set forth in claim 13, wherein the RF coupling element is tuned to a multiple of ½

wavelength of an emitted RF transmission from the internal antenna.

17. A wireless device as set forth in claim 13, wherein the RF coupling element is tuned to approximately ½

wavelength of an emitted RF transmission from the internal antenna.