Antenna structure for a wireless device with a ground plane shaped as a loop

• US 9,054,418 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2013
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fractus SA
• Original Assignee: Fractus SA
• Inventors: Soler Castany, Jordi, Puente Baliarda, Carles
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Application Number:
  US13/925,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20140002321A1
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/702, 343/846, 343/848, 343/718
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/242 specially adapted for hand-held use
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/48 Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/42 with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength

Abstract

This invention refers to an antenna structure for a wireless device comprising a ground plane and an antenna element, wherein the ground plane has the shape of an open loop. The invention further refers to an antenna structure for a wireless device, such as a light switch or a wrist sensor or wristwatch, comprising an open loop ground plane having a first end portion and a second end portion, the open loop ground plane defining an opening between the first end portion and the second end portion;

and an antenna component positioned within the opening defined between the first end portion and the second end portion and overlapping at least one of the first end portion or the second end portion. Further the invention refers to a corresponding wireless device and to a method for integrating such an antenna structure in a wireless device.

Claims

1. A wireless wearable device comprising:

a first and a second band portions having a substantially elongated shape and being flexible;

a housing portion attached to the first and second band portions;

an antenna structure configured to operate in at least one frequency band, the antenna structure comprising;

a ground plane layer comprising a first end portion and a second end portion;

an antenna element arranged within the first band portion and being arranged substantially parallel to the first end portion of the ground plane layer; and

the antenna element is provided in proximity to the first end portion of the ground plane layer.

2. The wireless wearable device of claim 1, wherein the antenna element comprises at least one contact point that connects the antenna element to the ground plane layer by direct electrical contact.

3. The wireless wearable device of claim 1, wherein the ground plane layer is flexible to define a shape that is curved like a part of a circle or ellipse.

4. The wireless wearable device of claim 1, wherein the ground plane layer is bent and fits within an area having a longest dimension smaller than a quarter of a free-space wavelength of operation of the antenna structure.

5. The wireless wearable device of claim 1, wherein the ground plane layer is integrated into the central portion.

6. The wireless wearable device of claim 1, wherein the ground plane layer is at least partially arranged in the first band portion.

7. The wireless wearable device of claim 1, wherein the antenna structure overlaps with the ground plane layer.

8. A wireless wearable device comprising:

a first and a second band portions having a substantially elongated shape and being flexible;

a housing portion attached to the first and second band portions;

an antenna structure configured to operate in at least one frequency band, the antenna structure comprising;

a ground plane layer comprising a first end portion and a second end portion and integrated into the first band portion, the first end portion having a first width and the second end portion having a second width;

an antenna element arranged within the first band portion;

a width of the antenna element is smaller than the first width; and

the antenna element overlaps with the ground plane layer.

9. The wireless wearable device of claim 8, wherein the antenna element is in partial overlap with the first end portion of the ground plane layer.

10. The wireless wearable device of claim 8, wherein a projection of the antenna element onto the ground plane layer in a direction orthogonal to the ground plane layer overlaps with the ground plane layer in at least 50% of the projection.

11. The wireless wearable device of claim 10, wherein a projection of the antenna element onto the ground plane layer in a direction orthogonal to the ground plane layer completely overlaps with the ground plane layer.

12. The wireless wearable device of claim 8, wherein the first width is different than the second width.

13. A wireless wearable device comprising:

at least one strap portion having a substantially elongated shape and being flexible;

a housing portion attached to the at least one strap portion;

an antenna structure configured to operate in at least one frequency band, the antenna structure comprising;

a ground plane layer comprising a first end portion and a second end portion and being at least partially arranged in the housing portion; and

an antenna element being arranged within the housing portion and in proximity to the first end portion of the ground plane layer.

14. The wireless device of claim 13, wherein the antenna element is arranged substantially perpendicular to the ground plane layer.

15. The wireless device of claim 13, wherein the perimeter of the ground plane layer comprises five segments that are connected in such a way that each segment forms an angle with any adjacent segments, such that no pair of adjacent segments define larger straight segment and the five segments are shorter than one fifth of a free-space operating wavelength.

16. The wireless device of claim 13, wherein the antenna element is provided in a distance from the first end portion of the ground plane layer not further than 0.25 times the largest extension of the antenna element.

17. The wireless device of claim 13, wherein the antenna element is provided in a distance from the first end portion of the ground plane layer not further than 0.25 times the largest extension of the ground plane layer.

18. The wireless device of claim 13, wherein a diameter of a smallest sphere that completely encloses the ground plane layer is smaller than one fifth of a free space operating wavelength of the antenna structure.

19. The wireless device of claim 13, wherein a ratio between a contour of the ground plane layer and a diameter of a smallest circle which encloses the ground plane layer is larger than 2.75.

20. The wireless device of claim 13, wherein the ground plane layer comprises an opening entirely surrounded by a conductive material of the ground plane layer.