Optically transmissive antenna break structures for wireless devices, and associated systems and processes
First Claim
1. An apparatus for a wireless device, wherein the wireless device includes a housing and an interior region defined within the housing, wherein the housing has an exterior surface, and an interior surface opposite the exterior surface, and wherein the wireless device includes an antenna, the apparatus comprising:
- a non-metallic antenna break extending between the interior region and the exterior surface of the housing; and
a light source located within the interior region proximal to the antenna break;
wherein the antenna break allows passage of wireless signals to or from the antenna; and
wherein the antenna break allows light from the light source to be transmitted from the interior region at least to the exterior surface of the housing for any of a display function or a sensing function.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed are structures, methods and systems for wireless devices that are configured to allow the transmission of light through an enhanced antenna break for a wide variety of purposes. In an illustrative embodiment, an antenna break is configured to allow the passage of both wireless communication signals and light, such as to notify the user of one or more conditions. The light transmission can be integrated with other functions of the wireless device, such as to provide a flash for operation of a camera, to provide a light source for scanning or 3D sensing, to provide light in conjunction to acoustic or vibration output, or to sense light for other integrated functions.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus for a wireless device, wherein the wireless device includes a housing and an interior region defined within the housing, wherein the housing has an exterior surface, and an interior surface opposite the exterior surface, and wherein the wireless device includes an antenna, the apparatus comprising:
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a non-metallic antenna break extending between the interior region and the exterior surface of the housing; and a light source located within the interior region proximal to the antenna break; wherein the antenna break allows passage of wireless signals to or from the antenna; and wherein the antenna break allows light from the light source to be transmitted from the interior region at least to the exterior surface of the housing for any of a display function or a sensing function. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for a wireless device, wherein the wireless device includes a housing and an interior region defined within the housing, wherein the housing has an exterior surface, and an interior surface opposite the exterior surface, and wherein the wireless device includes an antenna, the apparatus comprising:
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an antenna break extending between the interior region and the exterior surface of the housing, wherein the antenna break is configured to promote any of reception or transmission of wireless signals; a light source located within the interior region proximal to the antenna break; and an optical sensor located within the interior region proximal to the antenna break; wherein the antenna break allows passage of wireless signals to or from the antenna; wherein the antenna break allows light from the light source to be transmitted therethrough; and wherein the antenna break allows incoming light to be transmitted therethrough and be received by the optical sensor. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A process for a wireless device that includes a housing and an interior region defined within the housing, wherein the housing has an exterior surface, and an interior surface opposite the exterior surface, and wherein the wireless device includes a processor and a transceiver having an antenna, the process comprising:
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providing a non-metallic antenna break that is optically transmissive between the interior region and the exterior surface, wherein the antenna break allows passage of wireless signals to or from the antenna; determining a need to visually notify a user of the wireless device; and with the processor, controllably powering a light source located within the interior region proximal to the antenna break, to output a notification signal which is transmitted from the interior region at least to the exterior surface of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. An apparatus for a wireless device, wherein the wireless device includes a housing and an interior region defined within the housing, wherein the housing has an exterior surface, and an interior surface opposite the exterior surface, and wherein the wireless device includes an antenna, the apparatus comprising:
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an antenna break extending between the interior region and the exterior surface of the housing; and a light source located within the interior region proximal to the antenna break; wherein the antenna break allows passage of wireless signals to or from the antenna; and wherein the antenna break allows light from the light source to be transmitted from the interior region at least to the exterior surface of the housing.
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Specification