Focused antenna, multi-purpose antenna, and methods related thereto

• US 9,008,574 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2010
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Frankland, Stephen, Hillan, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Fayyaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rachedine, Mohammed
• Application Number:
  US12/852,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20110065383A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,712 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• 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

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to a device including a focused antenna. A device may include a minor plane surface and an antenna positioned proximate the minor plane surface. The antenna may be configured for generating a field focused around the minor plane surface. The antenna may further include an element extending from the minor plane surface toward another minor plane surface of the device.

Claims

1. A device configured to wirelessly receive charging power, comprising:

a coil configured to generate a magnetic field with an intensity level at a center of an upper or a lower first device edge that is greater than an intensity level of the magnetic field at a center of a second device edge, a center of a third device edge and a center of a fourth device edge, the coil being further configured to wirelessly communicate with an external device substantially through the first device edge using the magnetic field at the first device edge, the coil centered around a first axis;

a loop antenna electrically connected to the coil and centered around a second axis different than the first axis, the loop antenna configured to wirelessly receive charging power via a wireless field, a portion of the loop antenna at least partially enclosing the coil; and

a battery electrically connected to and configured to be charged with charging power received from the loop antenna.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first device edge is positioned closer to the external device than a distance between each of the second device edge, the third device edge and the fourth device edge and the external device.

3. The device of claim 1, the coil comprising a plurality of coils.

4. The device of claim 1, the coil coplanar with the loop antenna.

5. The device of claim 4, the coil configured to communicate via near-field communication (NFC).

6. The device of claim 1, the coil and the loop antenna forming an integrated antenna.

7. The device of claim 1, the coil configured to operate over a first area, and the loop antenna configured to operate over a second area greater than the first area.

8. A method of wirelessly receiving charging power, comprising:

generating a magnetic field with an intensity level at a center of an upper or a lower first device edge that is greater than an intensity level of the magnetic field at a center of a second device edge, a center of a third device edge and a center of a fourth device edge;

wirelessly communicating with an external device substantially through the first device edge using the magnetic field at the first device edge, via a coil centered around a first axis;

receiving charging power via a wireless field at a loop antenna electrically connected to the coil, the loop antenna centered around a second axis different than the first axis, a portion of the loop antenna at least partially enclosing the coil; and

charging a battery with charging power received from loop antenna, the battery electrically connected to the coil.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first device edge is positioned closer to the external device than a distance between each of the second device edge, the third device edge and the fourth device edge and the external device.

10. The method of claim 8, the coil comprising a plurality of coils.

11. The method of claim 8, the coil coplanar with the loop antenna.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the coil is further configured to receive near-field communication (NFC).

13. The method of claim 8, the coil and the loop antenna forming an integrated antenna.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the coil is further configured to wirelessly communicate over a first area , and

the receiving charging power at the loop antenna comprises receiving power over a second area greater than the first area.

15. An apparatus for wirelessly receiving charging power, comprising:

means for generating a magnetic field with an intensity level at a center of an upper or a lower first device edge that is greater than an intensity level of the magnetic field at a center of a second device edge, a center of a third device edge and a center of a fourth device edge, the means for generating a magnetic field being further configured to wirelessly communicate with an external device substantially through the first device edge using the magnetic field at the first device edge, the means for generating a magnetic field centered around a first axis;

means for receiving charging power via a wireless field, the means for receiving charging power centered around a second axis different than the first axis, a portion of the means for receiving charging power at least partially enclosing the means for generating a magnetic field; and

means for charging a battery with charging power received from the means for receiving power.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first device edge is positioned closer to the external device than a distance between each of the second device edge, the third device edge and the fourth device edge and the external device.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, the means for generating a magnetic field comprising a plurality of means for wireless communication.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, the means for generating a magnetic field coplanar with the means for receiving charging power via a wireless field.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, the means for generating a Magnetic field comprising means for near-field communication (NFC).

20. The apparatus of claim 15, the means for generating a magnetic field and the means for receiving power forming an integrated means both for wireless communication and receiving charging power.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, the means for generating a magnetic field comprising means for operating over a first area, and the means for receiving power comprising means for operating over a second area greater than the first area.