Antenna assemblies

• US 9,680,214 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2015
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: van Niekerk, Carlo
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HOANG V
• Application Number:
  US14/803,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20150325909A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/007 specially adapted for indoor communication
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/48 Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/521 reducing the coupling between adjacent antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/10 Resonant slot antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system

Abstract

Embodiments are provided for antenna assemblies. An example apparatus includes a first plate forming a first ground plane for an antenna; a second plate forming a second ground plane for a circuit, wherein a first edge of the first plate is orthogonally adjacent to a second edge of the second plate; and a coupler to form a capacitive coupling between the first ground plane and the second ground plane.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first plate forming a first ground plane for an antenna;

a second plate forming a second ground plane for a circuit; and

a coupler to form a capacitive coupling between the first ground plane and the second ground plane, wherein the coupler comprises metallic tape.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1,

wherein a first edge of the first plate is orthogonally adjacent to a second edge of the second plate.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the first plate includes a first insulator and the second plate includes a second insulator, and wherein the first and second insulators prevent direct contact between the first and second ground planes.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the metallic tape is adhered to the first insulator and the second insulator.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the metallic tape comprises a conductive adhesive.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the metallic tape extends along the first plate and along the second plate.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the metallic tape is positioned on first and second sides of the first plate, wherein the antenna is located between the first and second sides of the first plate.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the metallic tape is positioned on first and second sides of the second plate, wherein the circuit is located between the first and second sides of the second plate.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

an antenna assembly arranged on a first surface corresponding to a first ground plane of the antenna assembly;

a sensing circuit arranged on a second surface corresponding to a second ground plane of the sensing circuit, wherein the first ground plane is not in direct contact with the second ground plane; and

a capacitive coupler to capacitively couple the first ground plane to the second ground plane to extend the first ground plane to the second surface.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the first surface is orthogonal to the second surface.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the capacitive coupler is to capacitively couple a first portion of the first surface to a second portion of the second surface.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, further comprising a second capacitive coupler to capacitively couple a third portion of the first surface to a fourth portion of the second surface.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the capacitive coupler comprises metallic tape having conductive adhesive.

14. A playback device, comprising:

a metallic grill having an aperture to be covered by a plastic cover;

an antenna assembly comprising a first slot antenna opposing a second slot antenna along a first ground plane, wherein first and second radiation patterns of the first and second slot antennas are aligned with the aperture;

a printed circuit board having a second ground plane positioned orthogonal to the first ground plane; and

metallic tape capacitively coupling the first ground plane to the second ground plane, wherein the first and second ground planes are not in direct contact.

15. A playback device as defined in claim 14, wherein the first ground plane is insulated by a first insulation layer and the second ground plane is insulated by a second insulated layer.

16. A playback device as defined in claim 15, wherein the metallic tape is adhered to the first and second insulation layers.

17. A playback device as defined in claim 14, wherein the metallic tape comprises a first piece of metallic tape adhered to a first portion of the antenna assembly and a second piece of metallic tape adhered to a second portion of the antenna assembly.

18. A playback device as defined in claim 17, wherein the first and second slot antennas are positioned between the first and second pieces of metallic tape.

19. A playback device as defined in claim 14, wherein the printed circuit board comprises a sensing circuit.

20. A playback device as defined in claim 14, wherein the first and second ground planes are prevented from direct contact.