Robust antenna configurations for wireless connectivity of smart home devices

• US 10,090,596 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2014
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Daniels, Eric, Warren, Daniel Adam, Honjo, Hirofumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Levi, Dameon E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lotter, David
• Application Number:
  US14/328,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20160013560A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,545 Days
• Field of Search: 343700 MS
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/42 with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength

Abstract

Various methods related to antennas and embodiments of antennas are presented. The antenna may include an upper arm, wherein the upper arm is substantially parallel to a ground plane and is electrically coupled with at least a ground shorting structure, a support structure, and a feed structure. The antenna may include the ground shorting structure, which may be at a first end of the upper arm. The antenna may include the support structure, which may be at a second end of the length of the upper arm and may support the upper arm. The antenna may also include the feed structure, which is configured to provide a signal for wireless transmission, the feed structure may be attached to a side of the length of the upper arm.

Claims

1. An antenna of an electronic device, comprising:

an upper arm having a length, being arranged substantially parallel to a ground plane, and being mechanically and electrically coupled to a ground shorting structure, a support structure, and a feed structure;

the ground shorting structure being configured to electrically couple the upper arm to the ground plane, being arranged at a first end of the length of the upper arm and extending from the upper arm to a direction perpendicular to the upper arm;

the support structure being configured to be mechanically coupled to a circuit board, being arranged at a second end of the length of the upper arm opposite the first end, and extending from the upper arm in a direction perpendicular to the upper arm;

the feed structure being mechanically coupled to a side of the upper arm that is perpendicular to the first end and the second end, and extending from the upper arm in a direction perpendicular to the upper arm; and

a first longitudinal support structure that is substantially perpendicular to the upper arm, the first longitudinal support structure extending along the length of the upper arm starting from the second end and ending at the feed structure, wherein the first longitudinal support structure and the upper arm are formed from a single piece of conductive material.

2. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the ground shorting structure comprises a through-hole portion, the feed structure comprises a through-hole portion such that the antenna is configured to be surface mounted to the circuit board.

3. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a foot for surface mounting to a surface of the circuit board.

4. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the antenna is a planar inverted-f antenna.

5. The antenna of claim 1, the antenna further comprising a second longitudinal support structure, wherein the second longitudinal support structure extends along the length of the upper arm between the first end and the second end.

6. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the upper arm is configured to decrease interference with airflow over a surface of the upper arm farthest from the ground plane.

7. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the upper arm, the ground shorting structure, the support structure, and the feed structure are a single piece of metal folded to form the antenna.

8. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the ground shorting structure is configured to be electrically coupled to a layer of the circuit board farthest from the upper arm, wherein at least a portion of the layer serves as the ground plane.

9. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the feed structure and the ground shorting structure are configured to be through-hole mounted to the circuit board.

10. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the upper arm has a width that is at least twice as wide as a width of the support structure.

11. A method for forming an antenna, the method comprising:

folding a first portion of a conductive material to create an upper arm having a length, being arranged substantially parallel to a ground plane, and being mechanically and electrically coupled to a ground shorting structure, a support structure, and a feed structure;

folding a second portion of the conductive material to create the ground shorting structure being configured to electrically couple the upper arm to the ground plane, being arranged at a first end of the length of the upper arm and extending from the upper arm to a direction perpendicular to the upper arm;

folding a third portion of the conductive material to create the support structure being configured to be mechanically coupled to a circuit board, being arranged at a second end of the length of the upper arm opposite the first end, and extending from the upper arm in a direction perpendicular to the upper arm;

folding a fourth portion of the conductive material to create the feed structure that is mechanically coupled to a side of the upper arm that is perpendicular to the first end and the second end, and extending from the upper arm in a direction perpendicular to the upper arm; and

folding a fifth portion of the conductive material to create a first longitudinal support structure that extends along the length of the upper arm starting at the second end and ending at the feed structure, is substantially perpendicular to the upper arm, and is distinct from the ground shorting structure, support structure, and feed structure.

12. The method for forming the antenna of claim 11, further comprising:

mounting the antenna to the circuit board via a surface mount process.

13. The method for forming the antenna of claim 12, wherein mounting the antenna to the circuit board comprises electrically coupling a layer of the circuit board farthest from the upper arm with the ground shorting structure, wherein at least a portion of the layer serves as the ground plane.

14. The method for forming the antenna of claim 11, wherein creating the support structure comprises configuring the support structure to be surface mounted to a surface of the circuit board proximate to the upper arm.

15. The method for forming the antenna of claim 11, wherein creating the upper arm comprises configuring a height of the upper arm to decrease interference with airflow over the surface of the upper arm farthest from the ground plane.

16. The method for forming the antenna of claim 11, wherein creating the feed structure and the ground shorting structure comprises configuring the feed structure and the ground shorting structure to be through-hole mounted to the circuit board.

17. The method for forming the antenna of claim 11, further comprising:

forming a metallic mounting pad on the circuit board for the support structure;

covering the entire surface edge of the metallic mounting pad with a solder mask, leaving a portion of the metallic mounting pad exposed; and

attaching the support structure to the portion of the metallic mounting pad exposed from the solder mask.

18. An electronic device, comprising:

an antenna, comprising;

an upper arm having a length, being arranged substantially parallel to a ground plane, and being mechanically and electrically coupled to a ground shorting structure, a support structure, and a feed structure;

the ground shorting structure being configured to electrically couple the upper arm to the ground plane, and being arranged at a first end of the length of the upper arm;

the support structure being configured to be mechanically coupled to a circuit board, and being arranged at a second end of the length of the upper arm opposite the first end;

the feed structure mechanically coupled to a side of the upper arm that is perpendicular to the first end and the second end, and extending from the upper arm in a direction perpendicular to the upper arm; and

a longitudinal support structure that is substantially perpendicular to the upper arm, the longitudinal support structure extending along the upper arm starting at the second end and ending at the feed structure, wherein the longitudinal support structure and the upper arm are formed from a single piece of conductive material; and

a printed circuit board (PCB) on which the antenna is mounted, the PCB comprising;

a plurality of layers; and

a keep-out region that excludes ground and signal traces around the support structure from the plurality of layers of the PCB.

19. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the ground plane is part of a layer of the plurality of layers of the PCB.

20. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the antenna is mounted to the top of the PCB and the ground plane is part of a lowest layer of the plurality of layers of the PCB.

21. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the antenna is mounted to the top of the PCB and the ground plane is part of all of the plurality of layers of the PCB.

22. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the antenna is mounted to the top of the PCB and the ground plane is the top layer of the PCB.

23. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the ground plane is separate from the PCB.

24. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the PCB further comprises:

a metallic mounting pad for the support structure, wherein the metallic mounting pad comprises;

a metallic pad to mount the support structure to the circuit board; and

solder mask that overlaps the entire surface edge of the metallic pad on the PCB.

25. The electronic device of claim 18, further comprising:

a second keep-out region that excludes ground and signal traces around the feed structure from the plurality of layers of the PCB.