Thin chassis near field communication (NFC) antenna integration

• US 9,614,592 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2015
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Yang, Songnan, Hsu, Hao-Han, Karacaoglu, Ulun, Konanur, Anand S., Hong, Yee Wei Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HOANGANH T
• Application Number:
  US14/931,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20160191122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 343702, 343895, 343866, 343872
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2216 used in interrogator/reader equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2266 disposed inside the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• 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 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Described herein are techniques related one or more systems, apparatuses, methods, etc. for integrating a near field communications (NFC) coil antenna in a portable device. For example, the NFC antenna is integrated under a metal chassis of the portable device. The metal chassis and a conductive coating—that is integrated underneath the full metal chassis—are designed to include one or more slots to provide high impedance to Eddy current induced in the conductive coating.

Claims

1. A handheld communications device, comprising:

a housing enclosing an interior volume of the handheld communications device, wherein the housing includes at least one metallic surface that provides structural integrity to the handheld communications device;

one or more processors mounted within the interior volume of the housing; and

a near field antenna coil mounted within the interior volume of the housing and adjacent to the metallic surface,

wherein the metallic surface comprises at least one slot that extends through the metallic surface, that is positioned adjacent the near field antenna coil, and that reduces Eddy currents induced by electromagnetic fields radiated by the near field antenna coil and thereby increases the strength of the electromagnetic fields radiated by the near field antenna coil that propagate through the metallic housing, and

wherein the at least one slot runs perpendicular to an adjacent portion of the near field antenna coil.

2. The handheld communications device defined in claim 1 further comprising:

a near field communications (NFC) module that is mounted within the interior volume of the housing and that is coupled to the near field antenna coil.

3. The handheld communications device defined in claim 1 wherein the handheld communications device comprises a smartphone.

4. The handheld communications device defined in claim 1 wherein the handheld communications device comprises a tablet.

5. The handheld communications device defined in claim 1 wherein the handheld communications device comprises a laptop computer.

6. The handheld communications device defined in claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a full metal chassis that forms at least a majority of the exterior surface of the handheld communications device and that provides substantial structural integrity to the handheld communications device.

7. An electronic device, comprising:

a cover defining an exterior surface of the electronic device, wherein the cover includes at least one conductive portion;

one or more processors; and

a near field communications (NFC) loop antenna mounted adjacent to the at least one conductive portion of the cover,

wherein the at least one conductive portion of the cover comprises at least one aperture that extends through the conductive portion, that is positioned adjacent the NFC loop antenna, and that reduces Eddy currents induced by electromagnetic fields radiated by the NFC loop antenna and thereby increases the strength of the electromagnetic fields radiated by the NFC loop antenna that propagate through the conductive portion of the cover, and

wherein the at least one aperture runs perpendicular to an adjacent portion of the NFC loop antenna.

8. The electronic device defined in claim 7, wherein the at least one aperture comprises at least one slot.

9. The electronic device defined in claim 7 further comprising:

a near field communications (NFC) module coupled to the NFC loop antenna.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 7 wherein the cover defines at least a majority of the exterior surface of the electronic device.

11. The electronic device defined in claim 7 wherein the electronic device comprises a smartphone.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 7 wherein the electronic device comprises a tablet.

13. The electronic device defined in claim 7 wherein the electronic device comprises a laptop computer.

14. An electronic device, comprising:

a substantially planar metallic component;

one or more processors; and

a near field communications (NFC) loop antenna mounted adjacent to the metallic component,

wherein the metallic component comprises at least one aperture that extends through the metallic component, that is positioned adjacent the NFC loop antenna, and that reduces Eddy currents induced by electromagnetic fields radiated by the NFC loop antenna and thereby increases the strength of the electromagnetic fields radiated by the NFC loop antenna that propagate through the metallic component, and

wherein the at least one aperture runs perpendicular to an adjacent portion of the NFC loop antenna.

15. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the metallic component comprises a metallic housing.

16. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the metallic component comprises a cover member.

17. The electronic device defined in claim 14 further comprising:

a near field communications (NFC) module coupled to the NFC loop antenna.

18. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the metallic component defines at least a majority of the exterior surface of the electronic device.

19. The electronic device defined in claim 14, wherein the at least one aperture comprises at least one slot.

20. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the metallic component comprises a full metal chassis that forms at least a majority of the exterior surface of the electronic device and that provides substantial structural integrity to the electronic device.