Electronic device with component trim antenna

• US 9,748,635 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2014
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Dabov, Teodor
• Primary Examiner(s): Levi, Dameon E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baltzell, Andrea Lindgren
• Application Number:
  US14/340,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20140333490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• 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

Abstract

An optical component such as a camera, an acoustic component such as a speaker, or other electrical component may be mounted on the surface of an electronic device housing. A window structure may overlap the component. The window structure may be formed form an optically transparent material to allow light to pass or may be formed from an acoustically transparent material to allow acoustic signals to pass. A conductive structure such as a metal member may surround at least part of the periphery of the window structure. The conductive structure may serve as an antenna structure for an antenna. Radio-frequency transceiver circuitry may be coupled to an antenna feed for the antenna using a radio-frequency transmission line. The conductive structure may serve as a cosmetic trim for the electrical component.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing;

an optically transparent window mounted to the housing, wherein the optically transparent window has a periphery;

a dielectric structure having first and second surfaces; and

a conductive antenna that runs along at least some of the periphery of the optically transparent window, wherein the conductive antenna comprises a conductive structure having a first portion formed on the first surface of the dielectric structure and having a second portion formed on the second surface of the dielectric structure.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the conductive antenna comprises a loop antenna that runs along substantially all of the periphery of the optically transparent window.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of light-emitting elements mounted within the housing that are configured to emit light through the optically transparent window.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 3, wherein the housing comprises a conductive housing.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 4, wherein the conductive antenna is configured to transmit and receive wireless signals through the optically transparent window.

6. The electronic device defined in claim 4, wherein the optically transparent window protrudes from the conductive housing.

7. The electronic device defined in claim 6, wherein the electronic device comprises a cellular telephone.

11. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the first surface of the dielectric structure is substantially perpendicular to the second surface of the dielectric structure.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 11, wherein the conductive structure comprises an antenna resonating element of the conductive antenna.

14. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the conductive antenna comprises an inverted-F antenna having an antenna ground plane, the conductive structure comprises an inverted-F antenna resonating element arm for the inverted-F antenna, the inverted-F antenna comprises an antenna feed having a first antenna feed terminal coupled to the inverted-F antenna resonating element arm and a second antenna feed terminal coupled to the antenna ground, and the inverted-F antenna comprises a short circuit branch coupled between the inverted-F antenna resonating element arm and the antenna ground.

8. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing having conductive side wall structures, wherein the conductive sidewall structures have an upper surface;

a plurality of optical components mounted in the housing;

an optically transparent window in the housing that overlaps the plurality of optical components, wherein the optical components emit light through the optically transparent window and the optically transparent window has a periphery and an internal surface;

a dielectric structure mounted to the upper surface of the conductive sidewall structures and that runs along the periphery of the optically transparent window; and

an antenna mounted in the housing, wherein the antenna comprises a metal antenna resonating element that runs along at least some of the periphery of the optically transparent window, and wherein a portion of the metal antenna resonating element is formed between the upper surface of the conductive sidewall structures and the internal surface of the optically transparent window.

9. The electronic device defined in claim 8, wherein the plurality of optical components is configured to process images.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 8, wherein the conductive antenna traces comprise a resonating element for a loop antenna.

13. The electronic device defined in claim 8, wherein the antenna comprises an inverted-F antenna having an antenna ground, the metal antenna resonating element comprises an inverted-F antenna resonating element arm for the inverted-F antenna, the inverted-F antenna comprises an antenna feed having a first antenna feed terminal coupled to the inverted-F antenna resonating element arm and a second antenna feed terminal coupled to the antenna ground, and the inverted-F antenna comprises a short circuit branch coupled between the inverted-F antenna resonating element arm and the antenna ground.