Devices and methods related to a display assembly including an antenna

• US 9,559,405 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2010
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Sorrell, David J., Hillan, John, Frankland, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): SHERMAN, STEPHEN G
• Application Number:
  US12/779,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20100315389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,455 Days
• Field of Search: 345/169, 345 76-104, 345204-206, 455/566, 455/573, 455/575.1, 455/575.5, 36167921-6793
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/248 provided with an AC/DC converting device, e.g. rectennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/43 Antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to a display assembly. A display assembly may comprise a display unit and at least one antenna at least partially surrounding at least a portion of the display unit. The at least one antenna may be configured for at least one of receiving wireless power, transmitting data, and receiving data.

Claims

1. A display assembly, comprising:

a display unit comprising a front surface comprising a display screen, a rear surface positioned opposite from the front surface, and a plurality of side surfaces positioned between the front surface and the rear surface;

non-conductive material positioned over and at least partially surrounding the plurality of side surfaces and positioned between the front and rear surfaces, wherein a width of the non-conductive material between the front and rear surfaces is less than a distance separating the front surface and the rear surface; and

an antenna comprising a coil having at least one winding separated from the display unit by and positioned over the non-conductive material, the at least one winding positioned between the front surface and the rear surface and surrounding the non-conductive material, the display unit at least indirectly supporting the antenna, the antenna configured to wirelessly transmit or receive charging power at a level sufficient to power or charge an electronic device, the antenna further configured to transmit or receive data, and the charging power and the data configured to be transmitted or received via a magnetic field.

2. The display assembly of claim 1, wherein a perimeter of the display unit substantially defines a circumference of at least one winding of the antenna.

3. The display assembly of claim 1, wherein the display unit comprises at least one of one or more display drivers, one or more lighting devices, one or more sensors, one or more connectors, or one or more feedback elements.

4. The display assembly of claim 1, further comprising a connector operably coupled to each of the display unit and the antenna.

5. The display assembly of claim 4, wherein the display unit and the antenna share one or more connections of the connector.

6. The display assembly of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive material comprises a ring comprising ferrite material.

7. The display assembly of claim 1, further comprising a shell comprising magnetically transparent material surrounding the antenna and at least a portion of the display unit.

8. The display assembly of claim 1, wherein the display unit is configured to enable a magnetic flux to radiate through each of a front side and a backside of the display assembly.

9. The display assembly of claim 1, further comprising a near-field communication system configured to transmit or receive the data via the antenna.

10. The display assembly of claim 1, further comprising a wireless charging system configured to wirelessly transmit or receive the charging power via the antenna, wherein the antenna has a resonant frequency, and wherein the wireless charging system is configured to drive the antenna with a signal having a frequency that is substantially equal to the resonant frequency to wirelessly transmit the charging power.

11. The display assembly of claim 1, wherein the display unit is integrated within the electronic device.

12. The display assembly of claim 11, wherein the electronic device comprises one of a cellular telephone, a portable media player, a camera, a gaming device, a navigation device, a tool, or a toy.

13. The display assembly of claim 1, wherein the antenna comprising the coil having at least one winding is positioned on an area being smaller than the display screen.

14. A method for wireless power and data transfer, comprising:

forming a display assembly including an antenna comprising a coil having at least one winding;

positioning non-conductive material over and at least partially surrounding a plurality of side surfaces of a display unit and between a front surface and a rear surface of the display unit, wherein a width of the non-conductive material between the front and rear surfaces is less than a distance separating the front surface and the rear surface; and

positioning the at least one winding to be separated from the display unit by and positioned over the non-conductive material, the at least one winding positioned between the front surface and the rear surface and surrounding the non-conductive material, the front surface comprising a display screen, the rear surface positioned opposite from the front surface, the plurality of side surfaces positioned between the front surface and the rear surface, the non-conductive material supporting the antenna, the antenna configured to wirelessly transmit or receive charging power at a level sufficient to charge or power an electronic device, the antenna further configured to transmit or receive data, and the charging power and the data configured to be transmitted or received via a magnetic field.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the display unit further comprises at least one of one or more display drivers, one or more lighting devices, one or more sensors, one or more connectors, and one or more feedback elements.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising coupling a connector to each of the display unit and the antenna.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the non-conductive material comprises a ring comprising ferrite material.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising encasing the antenna and at least a portion of the display unit in a magnetically transparent shell.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising positioning a near-field communication system in the display assembly for transmitting or receiving data via the antenna.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising positioning a wireless charging system in the display assembly for wirelessly transmitting or receiving the charging power via the antenna, wherein the antenna has a resonant frequency, and wherein the wireless charging system is provided to drive the antenna with a signal having a frequency that is substantially equal to the resonant frequency to wirelessly transmit the charging power.

21. An electronic device for wirelessly receiving and transmitting power, comprising:

means for displaying information having a plurality of side surfaces, a front surface and a rear surface, the front surface comprising a display screen, the rear surface positioned opposite from the front surface, and the plurality of side surfaces positioned between the front surface and the rear surface;

non-conductive means positioned over and at least partially surrounding the plurality of side surfaces and positioned between the front and rear surfaces, wherein a width of the non-conductive means between the front and rear surfaces is less than a distance separating the front surface and the rear surface;

means for wirelessly receiving or transmitting charging power at a level sufficient to power or charge a battery and for transmitting or receiving data, the receiving or transmitting means configured to surround the non-conductive means, the receiving or transmitting means comprising means for wirelessly receiving or transmitting charging power and for transmitting or receiving data via a magnetic field; and

means for supporting the receiving or transmitting means and the non-conductive means, the supporting means positioned between the front surface and the rear surface, and the non-conductive means separating the receiving or transmitting means from the displaying means.

22. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein a perimeter of the supporting means substantially defines a circumference of at least one winding of the receiving or transmitting means.

23. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein the non-conductive means comprises a ring comprising ferrite material.

24. The electronic device of claim 21, further comprising a shell comprising magnetically transparent material surrounding the receiving or transmitting means and at least a portion of the supporting means and the displaying means.

25. The electronic device of claim 21, further comprising a near-field communication system and a wireless charging system.

26. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein the receiving or transmitting means comprises a coil antenna comprising one or more windings, and wherein the displaying means comprises a display unit.