Antennaless wireless device comprising one or more bodies

• US 9,147,929 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2012
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ignion SL
• Original Assignee: Fractus SA
• Inventors: Anguera, Jaume, Andujar, Aurora
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, TRINH VO
• Application Number:
  US13/552,311
• Publication Number:
  US 20120299786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/48 Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises

Abstract

An antennaless wireless handheld or portable device includes first and second bodies and a hinge mechanically connecting the two bodies. The hinge allows at least one of the two bodies to pivotally move about an axis so that the wireless device can be switched between a closed position in which one of the bodies is substantially arranged on top of the other and an open position in which the first body extends away from the hinge along a first direction and the second body extends away from the hinge along a second direction. A communication module of the wireless device includes a radiating system capable of transmitting and receiving electromagnetic wave signals in a first frequency region and in a second frequency region, wherein the highest frequency of the first frequency region is lower than the lowest frequency of the second frequency region.

Claims

1. A wireless handheld or portable device, comprising:

a first body;

a second body;

a hinge mechanically connecting the first and second bodies, the hinge allowing at least one of the first and second bodies to pivotally move about an axis such that the wireless device is switchable between a closed position in which one of the first and second bodies is substantially arranged on top of the other of the first and second bodies and an open position in which the first body extends away from the hinge along a first direction and the second body extends away from the hinge along a second direction different from the first direction; and

a communication module including a radiating system capable of transmitting and receiving electromagnetic wave signals in a first frequency region and in a second frequency region, wherein the highest frequency of the first frequency region is lower than the lowest frequency of the second frequency region;

wherein the radiating system comprises a radiating structure comprising;

a first ground plane layer capable of supporting at least one radiation mode, the first ground plane layer being contained within the first body of the wireless device and including at least one connection point;

a second ground plane layer contained within the second body of the wireless device;

a ground connector electrically connecting the first ground plane layer and the second ground plane layer;

at least one radiation booster configured to couple electromagnetic energy to/from the first ground plane layer, the at least one radiation booster including a connection point;

at least one internal port defined between the connection point of one of the at least one radiation booster and one of the at least one connection point of the first ground plane layer, wherein the second ground plane layer establishes electrical contact with one or more of the at least one radiation booster when the wireless device is in the open position but not when the wireless device is in the closed position; and

a radiofrequency system, and an external port, the radiofrequency system comprising a port connected to each of the at least one internal port of the radiating structure and a port connected to the external port of the radiating system;

wherein, when the wireless device is in the closed position, the input impedance of the radiating structure at each of the at least one internal port when disconnected from the radiofrequency system has an imaginary part not equal to zero for any frequency of the first frequency region; and

wherein said radiofrequency system modifies the impedance of the radiating structure, providing impedance matching to the radiating system in the at least two frequency regions of operation of the radiating system both when the wireless device is in the closed position and in the open position.

2. The wireless handheld or portable device of claim 1, wherein operation of the second ground plane layer as a radiating element, when the wireless device is in the open position, complements operation of the at least one radiation booster.

3. The wireless handheld or portable device of claim 1, wherein the at least one radiation booster is located substantially close to the hinge such that, when the wireless device is in the open position, the at least one radiation booster lies between the first ground plane layer and the second ground plane layer.

4. The wireless handheld or portable device of claim 1, wherein the at least one radiation booster is substantially close to a short edge of the first ground plane layer, said short edge being a same edge to which the ground connector is connected.

5. The wireless handheld or portable device of claim 1, wherein the radiating structure comprises first and second radiation boosters.

6. The wireless handheld or portable device of claim 5, wherein each of the first and second radiation boosters is substantially close to one end of two opposite ends of a short edge of the first ground plane layer,

wherein said short edge is proximate to the hinge and is a same edge to which the ground connector is connected.

7. The wireless handheld or portable device of claim 1, wherein, when the wireless device is in the open position, each of the at least one radiation booster is operable only to drive the second ground plane layer and not to couple electromagnetic energy to/from the first ground plane layer.

8. The wireless handheld or portable device of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one radiation booster has a volumetric geometry.

9. The wireless handheld or portable device of claim 1, wherein the ground connector is located proximate to the hinge of the wireless device and electrically connects a short edge of the first ground plane layer with a short edge of the second ground plane layer.

10. The wireless handheld or portable device of claim 1, wherein the ground connector comprises a choke to effectively disconnect the second ground plane layer from the first ground plane layer for the frequencies of the first and second frequency ranges.

11. The wireless handheld or portable device of claim 1, wherein the radiofrequency system comprises as many matching networks as there are radiation boosters in the radiating structure.

12. A wireless handheld or portable device, comprising:

a first body;

a second body;

a hinge mechanically connecting the first and second bodies, the hinge allowing at least one of the first and second bodies to pivotally move about an axis such that the wireless device is switchable between a closed position in which one of the first and second bodies is substantially arranged on top of the other of the first and second bodies and an open position in which the first body extends away from the hinge along a first direction and the second body extends away from the hinge along a second direction different from the first direction; and

a communication module including a radiating system configured to transmit and receive electromagnetic wave signals in a first frequency region and in a second frequency region, wherein the highest frequency of the first frequency region is lower than the lowest frequency of the second frequency region;

wherein the radiating system comprises a radiating structure comprising;

a first ground plane layer capable of supporting at least one radiation mode, the first ground plane layer being contained within the first body of the wireless device and including a connection point;

a second ground plane layer contained within the second body of the wireless device;

a ground connector electrically connecting the first ground plane layer and the second ground plane layer;

a first radiation booster configured to couple electromagnetic energy to/from the first ground plane layer, the first radiation booster including a connection point;

a first internal port defined between the connection point of the first radiation booster and the connection point of the first ground plane layer; and

a radiofrequency system and at least one external port, the radiofrequency system comprising a port connected to the first internal port, and a port connected to one of the at least one external port of the radiating system;

wherein the first radiation booster is substantially proximate to an end of a first edge of the first ground plane layer;

wherein the ground connector is connected to the first ground plane layer at the first edge of the first ground plane layer;

wherein, when the wireless device is in the open position, the second ground plane layer makes electrical contact with the first radiation booster, and the second ground plane layer operates as a radiating element; and

wherein the radiofrequency system modifies the impedance of the radiating structure providing impedance matching to the radiating system in the at least two frequency regions of operation of the radiating system both when the wireless device is in the closed position and in the open position.

13. The wireless handheld or portable device of claim 12, wherein the first radiation booster has a volumetric geometry.

14. The wireless handheld or portable device of claim 12, wherein the radiofrequency system comprises as many matching networks as there are frequency regions of operation of the radiating system.

15. The wireless handheld or portable device of claim 12, wherein:

the second ground plane layer includes a connection point;

the radiating structure comprises;

a second radiation booster configured to couple electromagnetic energy to/from the second ground plane layer, the second radiation booster including a connection point; and

a second internal port defined between the connection point of the second radiation booster and the connection point of the second ground plane layer; and

the radiofrequency system comprises a port connected to the second internal port of the radiating structure and a port connected to one of the at least one external port of the radiating system.

16. A wireless handheld or portable device, comprising:

a first body;

a second body;

at least one hinge mechanically connecting the first and second bodies, the at least one hinge allowing at least one of the first and second bodies to pivotally move about an axis such that the wireless device is switchable between a closed position in which one of the first and second bodies is substantially arranged on top of the other of the first and second bodies and an open position in which the first body extends away from the at least one hinge along a first direction and the second body extends away from the at least one hinge along a second direction different from the first direction; and

a communication module including a radiating system configured to transmit and receive electromagnetic wave signals in a first frequency region and in a second frequency region, wherein the highest frequency of the first frequency region is lower than the lowest frequency of the second frequency region;

wherein the radiating system comprises a radiating structure comprising;

a first ground plane layer contained within the first body, a second ground plane layer contained within the first body, and a third ground plane layer contained within the second body;

a ground connector electrically connecting the first ground plane layer with the second ground plane layer;

a first radiation booster configured to couple electromagnetic energy to/from one of the first and second ground plane layers, the first radiation booster including a connection point;

a second radiation booster configured to couple electromagnetic energy to/from one of the first and second ground plane layers, the second radiation booster including a connection point;

a first internal port defined between the connection point of the first radiation booster and a connection point of the one of the first and second ground plane layers that the first radiation booster is configured to couple electromagnetic energy to/from;

a second internal port defined between the connection point of the second radiation booster and a connection point of the one of the first and second ground plane layers that the second radiation booster is configured to couple electromagnetic energy to/from; and

a radiofrequency system and at least one external port, the radiofrequency system comprising a first port connected to the first internal port, a second port connected to the second internal port, and a third port connected to the at least one external port of the radiating system;

wherein, when the wireless device is in the open position, the third ground plane layer is electrically connected to at least one of the first and second radiation boosters;

wherein, when the wireless device is in the closed position, the input impedance of the radiating structure at each of the first and second internal ports when disconnected from the radiofrequency system has an imaginary part not equal to zero for any frequency of the first frequency region;

wherein, when the wireless device is in the closed position, the third ground plane layer does not act as a radiating element; and

wherein the radiofrequency system modifies the impedance of the radiating structure, providing impedance matching to the radiating system in the at least two frequency regions of operation of the radiating system both when the wireless device is in the closed position and in the open position.

17. The wireless handheld or portable device of claim 16, wherein:

the third ground plane layer includes a connection point;

the radiating structure comprises;

a third radiation booster configured to couple electromagnetic energy to/from the third ground plane layer, the third radiation booster including a connection point; and

a third internal port defined between the connection point of the third radiation booster and the connection point of the third ground plane layer; and

the radiofrequency system comprises a port connected to the third internal port.

18. The wireless handheld or portable device of claim 17, wherein operation of the third radiation booster, when the wireless device is in the open position, is complemented by operation of the third ground plane layer as a radiating element.

19. The wireless handheld or portable device of claim 16, wherein each of the first and second radiation boosters has a volumetric geometry.

20. The wireless handheld or portable device of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first and second radiation boosters is located substantially close to the hinge such that, when the wireless device is in the open position, the at least one of the first and second radiation boosters lies between the third ground plane layer and the first or second ground plane layer.