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

• US 9,042,949 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2013
• Issued: 05/26/2015
• 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): Hanidu, Ganiyu A
• Application Number:
  US14/034,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20140024417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.1, 455/575.5, 455/575.7, 455/550.1, 455/90.3, 455/269, 455/550, 455/562, 455/556.1, 455/422.1, 455/575.9, 455/462, 455/67.13, 343/895, 343/772, 343/781, 343/872, 343/756, 343/812, 343/878, 343/788, 343/901, 343/702, 343/713, 343/715
• US Class Current: 455/575.7
• 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 housing having an upper portion and a lower portion;

a wireless communications circuit in said housing;

an audio circuit in said housing;

a first audio transducer in the upper portion of said housing and coupled to said audio circuit;

an antenna carrier frame in the lower portion of said housing and defining a cavity and an acoustic port coupled thereto;

an antenna element on said antenna carrier frame and coupled to said wireless communications circuit; and

a second audio transducer coupled to said audio circuit and positioned within the cavity so that said antenna carrier frame defines an acoustic enclosure for said second audio transducer.

2. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 further comprising a gasket associated with the acoustic port.

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

4. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1 further comprising a flexible substrate on said antenna carrier frame;

and wherein said antenna element is on said flexible substrate.

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

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

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

8. A mobile wireless communications device comprising:

a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion;

a wireless communications circuit in said housing;

an audio circuit in said housing;

a first audio output transducer in the upper portion of said housing and coupled to said audio circuit;

an antenna carrier frame in the lower portion of said housing and defining a cavity and an acoustic port coupled thereto;

an antenna element on said antenna carrier frame and coupled to said wireless communications circuit; and

a second audio output transducer coupled to said audio circuit and positioned within the cavity so that said antenna carrier frame defines an acoustic enclosure for said second audio transducer.

9. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 8 further comprising a gasket associated with the acoustic port.

10. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 8 wherein said antenna element comprises a wrap-around antenna element extending on a plurality of surfaces of said antenna carrier frame.

11. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 8 further comprising a flexible substrate on said antenna carrier frame;

and wherein said antenna element is on said flexible substrate.

12. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 8 wherein said wireless communications circuit comprises a cellular communications circuit.

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

positioning a wireless communications circuit and an audio circuit in a housing, the housing having an upper portion and a lower portion;

positioning a first audio transducer in the upper portion of the housing;

positioning an antenna element on an antenna carrier frame;

positioning the antenna carrier frame in the lower portion of the housing to define a cavity and an acoustic port coupled thereto;

positioning a second audio transducer in the cavity so that the antenna carrier frame defines an acoustic enclosure for the second audio transducer; and

coupling the antenna element to the wireless communications circuit, and coupling the first and second audio transducers to the audio circuit.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising positioning a gasket within the acoustic port.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein positioning the antenna element comprises positioning a wrap-around antenna element on a plurality of surfaces of the antenna carrier frame.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein positioning the antenna element comprises positioning the antenna element on a flexible substrate and positioning the flexible substrate on the antenna carrier frame.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the wireless communications circuit comprises a cellular communications circuit.