Protective cover for a wireless device

• US 9,838,060 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2013
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Penumbra Brands, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Antenna79, Inc.
• Inventors: McCaughey, Ryan Gerard, Nilakantan, Nikhil, Shields, Karl Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lam T
• Application Number:
  US14/071,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20140057686A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• Field of Search: 343702, 343872, 343873, 4555751, 4555755, 4555757, 455 903
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/245 with means for shaping the antenna pattern, e.g. in order to protect user against rf exposure
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/005 Patch antenna using one or more coplanar parasitic elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/28 using a secondary device in the form of two or more substantially straight conductive elements log- periodic antennas H01Q11/10; constituting a reflecting surface H01Q19/10
• 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 1/3838 Arrangements for reducing RF exposure to the user, e.g. by changing the shape of the transceiver while in use
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/185 Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks

Abstract

In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a protective cover configured to attach to a wireless device having an exterior surface. The surface includes a first portion and a second portion mutually exclusive from the first portion. The second portion of the surface is associated with at least a portion of an antenna of the wireless device that performs proximity sensing for the wireless device. The protective cover is configured to cover the first portion of the surface when the protective cover is attached to the wireless device. The protective cover is configured to not cover the second portion of the surface when the protective cover is attached to the wireless device. As a result, the proximity sensing and/or the power transmitted by the antenna are not affected by the protective cover when the protective cover is attached to the wireless device and when the wireless device is operational.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a protective cover shaped and structured to attach to a handheld wireless computing device having an exterior surface including a first portion and a second portion mutually exclusive from the first portion, the second portion of the exterior surface being associated with at least a portion of an antenna of the handheld wireless computing device that performs proximity sensing for the handheld wireless computing device,

the protective cover shaped and structured to attach to the handheld wireless computing device such that the first portion of the exterior surface of the handheld wireless computing device is covered by the protective cover,

the protective cover shaped and structured to attach to the handheld wireless computing device such that the second portion of the exterior surface of the handheld wireless computing device is not covered by the protective cover and such that at least one of (1) the proximity sensing during operation is not affected by the protective cover, or (2) power transmitted by the antenna during operation is not affected by the protective cover.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protective cover is transparent and shaped and structured to attach to the handheld wireless computing device such that the first portion of the exterior surface is visible to a user of the handheld wireless computing device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the exterior surface is a first exterior surface of the handheld wireless computing device, the first exterior surface not including a screen of the handheld wireless computing device and not including a touchscreen of the handheld wireless computing device, the handheld wireless computing device having a second exterior surface including at least one of the screen of the handheld wireless computing device or the touchscreen of the handheld wireless computing device, the first exterior surface abuts the second exterior surface at an edge of the handheld wireless computing device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protective cover is shaped and structured to be attached to the handheld wireless computing device such that the protective cover is disposed between the first portion of the exterior surface of the handheld wireless computing device during operation and at least a portion of a user of the handheld wireless computing device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protective cover is shaped and structured to be attached to the handheld wireless computing device such that the protective cover does not cover a portion of the antenna that is sensitive during operation to changes in local dielectric matching or local impedance matching.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the protective cover is shaped and structured to be attached to the handheld wireless computing device such that the protective cover does not cover a third portion of the exterior surface and such that a user can operate the handheld wireless computing device during operation by touching the third portion of the exterior surface,

the third portion of the exterior surface being mutually exclusive from the first portion and the second portion of the exterior surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protective cover is shaped and structured to be, in use, removably attached to the handheld wireless computing device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protective cover is shaped and structured to attach to the handheld wireless computing device such that a total radiated power (TRP) of the handheld wireless computing device during operation is not affected by the protective cover.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the second portion of the exterior surface is not associated with a component of the handheld wireless computing device that enables a user to operate the handheld wireless computing device by touching the component.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the second portion of the exterior surface of the handheld wireless computing device covers the portion of the antenna of the handheld wireless computing device,

the protective cover shaped and structured to attach to the handheld wireless computing device such that the second portion of the exterior surface of the handheld wireless computing device is not covered by the protective cover.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the protective cover shaped and structured to attach to the handheld wireless computing device such that the portion of the antenna of the handheld wireless computing device is not covered by the protective cover.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a protective cover shaped and structured to be disposed with a handheld wireless computing device having an antenna with at least a portion that functions as a proximity sensor such that the protective cover covers a portion of an exterior surface of the handheld wireless computing device without affecting the proximity sensor and without reducing a total radiated power (TRP) of the handheld wireless computing device during use,

at least a portion of the protective cover having a size and a shape that substantially correspond to a size and a shape of the portion of the exterior surface of the handheld wireless computing device,

the portion of the exterior surface is a first portion of the exterior surface, the exterior surface having a second portion mutually exclusive from the first portion, the second portion of the exterior surface being associated with the portion of the antenna,

the protective cover shaped and structured to be disposed with the handheld wireless computing device such that the protective cover does not cover the second portion of the exterior surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

at least the portion of the protective cover having an outer boundary that substantially corresponds to an outer boundary of the first portion of the exterior surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the exterior surface of the handheld wireless computing device is substantially planar,

at least the portion of the protective cover is substantially planar.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the second portion of the exterior surface not associated with a component of the handheld wireless computing device that enables a user to operate the handheld wireless computing device by touching the component.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the protective cover is configured to, in use, removably attach to the handheld wireless computing device.

22. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the second portion of the exterior surface of the handheld wireless computing device covers the portion of the antenna of the handheld wireless computing device,

the protective cover shaped and structured to attach to the handheld wireless computing device such that the second portion of the exterior surface of the handheld wireless computing device is not covered by the protective cover.

23. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the protective cover shaped and structured to attach to the handheld wireless computing device such that the portion of the antenna of the handheld wireless computing device is not covered by the protective cover.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a planar sheet of material having a first surface and a second surface, the planar sheet shaped and structured to be disposed with a handheld wireless computing device having an exterior surface including a first portion and a second portion that is associated with an antenna of the handheld wireless computing device that functions as a proximity sensor for the handheld wireless computing device,

the planar sheet shaped and structured to be disposed with the handheld wireless computing device such that the second surface of the planar sheet is disposed between the first surface of the planar sheet and the handheld wireless computing device,

the planar sheet shaped and structured to be disposed with the handheld wireless computing device such that the planar sheet of material covers the first portion of the exterior surface of the handheld wireless computing device and does not cover the second portion of the exterior surface of the handheld wireless computing device and such that at least one of (1) the proximity sensor is not affected by the planar sheet of material, or (2) power transmitted by the antenna is not affected by the planar sheet of material.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second portion of the exterior surface of the handheld wireless computing device is not associated with a screen and not associated a component of the handheld wireless computing device that enables a user to operate the handheld wireless computing device by touching the component.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the handheld wireless computing device is a mobile phone or a tablet computer device.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the planar sheet is shaped and structured to be disposed with the handheld wireless computing device such that the planar sheet is disposed between the handheld wireless computing device and at least a portion of a user of the handheld wireless computing device during operation.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the planar sheet is shaped and structured to be disposed with the handheld wireless computing device such that, in use, the second surface of the planar sheet is removably attached to the first portion of the exterior surface of the handheld wireless computing device.

24. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the second portion of the exterior surface of the handheld wireless computing device covers a portion of the antenna of the handheld wireless computing device,

the planar sheet shaped and structured to attach to the handheld wireless computing device such that the second portion of the exterior surface of the handheld wireless computing device is not covered by the planar sheet.

25. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the planar sheet shaped and structured to attach to the handheld wireless computing device such that the second portion of the antenna of the handheld wireless computing device is not covered by the planar sheet.