Loosely-coupled radio antenna apparatus and methods
First Claim
1. A communications device, comprising:
- a metallic device enclosure comprising a main portion, a first antenna cover portion, and a second antenna cover portion, the first and second antenna cover portions disposed on opposing sides of the metallic device enclosure and separated from the main portion by a gap extending along the circumference of the communications device, the main portion connected to a ground at one or more predetermined locations;
a main antenna radiator disposed on a first end of the metallic device enclosure enclosed within the first antenna cover portion, the main antenna radiator comprising a C-element and a feed element connected to a feed structure of the communications device, the first antenna cover portion electromagnetically coupled to the feed element in order to form a parasitic antenna resonator, the main antenna radiator folded such that the feed element is disposed perpendicular to the C-element within the metallic device enclosure; and
a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna radiator disposed on a second end of the metallic device enclosure, the MIMO antenna radiator being enclosed within the second antenna cover portion;
wherein the first and second ends are disposed on opposing sides of the metallic device enclosure.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A multiband internal antenna apparatus and methods of tuning and utilizing the same. In one embodiment, the antenna configuration is used within a handheld mobile device (e.g., cellular telephone or smartphone). The device enclosure is fabricated from a conductive material and has two parts: the main portion, housing the device electronics and ground plane, and the antenna cap, which substantially envelops a directly fed radiator structure of the antenna. Electromagnetic coupling of the cap portion to the device feed effects formation of a parasitic antenna radiator in a lower frequency band. The cap portion is separated from the main portion by a narrow gap, extending along circumference of the device, and is grounded at a location selected to cause desired resonance and to widen antenna bandwidth. In one implementation, a second parasitic radiator is disposed proximate the directly feed radiator to further expand antenna frequency bands of operation.
475 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A communications device, comprising:
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a metallic device enclosure comprising a main portion, a first antenna cover portion, and a second antenna cover portion, the first and second antenna cover portions disposed on opposing sides of the metallic device enclosure and separated from the main portion by a gap extending along the circumference of the communications device, the main portion connected to a ground at one or more predetermined locations; a main antenna radiator disposed on a first end of the metallic device enclosure enclosed within the first antenna cover portion, the main antenna radiator comprising a C-element and a feed element connected to a feed structure of the communications device, the first antenna cover portion electromagnetically coupled to the feed element in order to form a parasitic antenna resonator, the main antenna radiator folded such that the feed element is disposed perpendicular to the C-element within the metallic device enclosure; and a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna radiator disposed on a second end of the metallic device enclosure, the MIMO antenna radiator being enclosed within the second antenna cover portion; wherein the first and second ends are disposed on opposing sides of the metallic device enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A radio frequency communications device, comprising:
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an electronics assembly comprising a ground plane, and a feed port; at least partially electrically conductive external enclosure comprising a main portion enclosing the electronics assembly, and a first end cap disposed proximate a first end of the device, the first end cap enclosing a first antenna radiator having a feed structure connected to the feed port; wherein; the first antenna radiator is configured to operate in at least a first frequency band, and the first end cap is physically connected to the ground plane at least at a first location, thereby forming a first parasitic radiator in a second frequency band; the at least partially electrically conductive enclosure further comprising a second end cap disposed proximate a second end of the device, the second end being opposite the first end, the second end cap enclosing a second antenna radiator having a feed structure connected to the feed port and being configured to operate in at least the first frequency band; the first end cap is separated from the main portion by a first gap that extends substantially around a circumference of the device; and the second end cap is separated from the main portion by a second gap that extends substantially around the circumference of the device. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A multiband antenna apparatus for use in a radio communications device having a partially conductive external enclosure, the antenna apparatus comprising a directly fed radiator structure, the multiband antenna apparatus having a feed portion configured to be connected to feed port of the radio communications device;
wherein; the directly fed radiator structure is operable in at least a first frequency band and configured to be electromagnetically coupled to an end cap of the external enclosure; the end cap is electrically connected to a ground plane of the radio communications device via a ground structure, the end cap being separated from a main portion of the external enclosure by a gap that extends around a circumference of the radio communications device; the grounding of the end cap is configured to widen an operating bandwidth of the multiband antenna apparatus; the directly fed radiator structure is enclosed by the end cap and the grounding of the end cap cooperate to form a parasitically-fed radiator of the antenna apparatus in a second frequency band; and the end cap is configured to substantially enclose the directly fed radiator structure on at least five sides. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
Specification