Antenna system and method of assembly for a wearable electronic device

• US 9,478,847 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2014
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Russell, Michael E., Coles, Katherine H., Sayem, Abu T.
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, TRINH VO
• Application Number:
  US14/339,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20150349410A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 60/06 Antennas attached to or integrated in clock or watch bodies
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/10 Resonant slot antennas
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4902 Electromagnet, transformer or inductor

Abstract

An antenna system for a wearable electronic device includes a first conductive surface constructed from a segment of outer housing of the wearable electronic device. The first conductive surface spans a first axis through the wearable electronic device. The antenna system also includes a second conductive surface that spans the first axis. The second conductive surface is constructed from a set of contacting metal components that are internal to the wearable electronic device. The first and second conductive surfaces are separated by a space. The antenna system also has a contact element having a feeding element that connects the first conductive surface to the second conductive surface along a plane that is normal to the first conductive surface.

Claims

1. An antenna system for a wearable electronic device, the antenna system comprising:

an outer housing of the wearable electronic device, the outer housing including a first conductive continuous surface, the first conductive continuous surface spanning a first axis through the wearable electronic device and extending along a same direction as the first axis, the first axis being normal to a plane that is parallel to a center opening in the outer housing; and

a set of contacting metal components and a contact element that are internal to the wearable electronic device, the set of contacting metal components including adjacent metal surfaces of each of the set of contacting metal components, the adjacent metal surfaces and the contact element forming a second conductive surface;

the second conductive surface spanning and extending along the first axis and separated by a space from the first conductive continuous surface, the second conductive surface being internal to the outer housing of the wearable electronic device; and

the contact element having a feeding element that connects the first conductive continuous surface to the second conductive surface.

2. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the contact element further comprises a set of legs that includes a first leg that is located coincident with a first end of a slot antenna formed from the first conductive continuous surface and the second conductive surface and a second leg that is located coincident with a second end of the slot antenna, wherein the feeding element is located between the first and second legs.

3. The antenna system of claim 2, wherein the first and second legs comprise first and second frequency setting elements the locations of which control a radiating frequency for the slot antenna.

4. The antenna system of claim 3, wherein the contact element further comprises at least one frequency suppression element configured to suppress one or more undesired radiating frequencies.

5. The antenna system of claim 4, wherein the first and second frequency setting elements and the at least one frequency suppression element are constructed into a single piece of metal.

6. The antenna system of claim 5, wherein the single piece of metal is curved.

7. The antenna system of claim 6, wherein the single piece of metal has a curvature that corresponds to a curvature of the outer housing of the wearable electronic device.

8. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the outer housing has a cylindrical shape such that the first conductive continuous surface is curved.

9. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the feeding element connects a segment of a printed circuit board, which is one of the contacting metal components, to the first conductive continuous surface.

10. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein at least one dimension of the space between the first conductive continuous surface and the second conductive surface changes.

11. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the plane parallel to the center opening comprises an X-Y plane and the first axis comprises a Z-axis normal to the X-Y plane.

12. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the first conductive continuous surface is constructed from a segment of the outer housing.

13. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the feeding element connects the first conductive continuous surface to the second conductive surface along a plane that is normal to the first conductive continuous surface.

14. A wearable electronic device comprising:

a rear housing component;

a front housing component connected to the rear housing component at a first edge, the front housing component having an opening at a second opposing edge and a first conductive continuous surface;

internal components at least partially enclosed by the front and rear housing components, the internal components including a display having a surface that spans the opening of the front housing component, a second conductive surface, and a contact element; and

an antenna system comprising;

the first conductive continuous surface disposed normal to the surface of the display;

the second conductive surface disposed normal to the surface of the display and separated by a space from the first conductive continuous surface, the second conductive surface comprising adjacent contacting metal surfaces of a set of contacting metal components of the internal components; and

the contact element having a feeding element that connects the first conductive continuous surface to the second conductive surface.

15. The wearable electronic device of claim 14 further comprising a metal component connected to an outside surface of the front housing component proximal to the first conductive continuous surface.

16. The wearable electronic device of claim 14, wherein the set of contacting metal components of the internal components comprises a printed circuit board disposed adjacent to the rear housing component, wherein the printed circuit board includes a communication element configured to wirelessly communicate using the antenna system, wherein the set of contacting metal components further comprises a shield disposed adjacent to the printed circuit board and a display bezel disposed adjacent to the shield and the display, wherein the feeding element connects the communication element on the printed circuit board to the first conductive continuous surface of the antenna system.

17. The wearable electronic device of claim 14, wherein the front housing component has a cylindrical shape, and the contact element has a semi-circular shape that conforms to the cylindrical shape of the front housing component and that sits within the rear housing component.

18. The wearable electronic device of claim 17, wherein the contact element further comprises at least first, second, and third extension members, wherein the first and second extension members are configured to set a desired radiating frequency for the antenna system, and the third extension member is configured to suppress an undesired radiating frequency.

19. A method for assembling a wearable electronic device having a slot antenna, the method comprising:

layering, along a first axis, a contact element, a printed circuit board, and a display onto at least one of a rear housing component or a front housing component, the front housing component including a first conductive continuous surface, the layering creating a second conductive surface from adjacent contacting metal surfaces of each of the contact element, the printed circuit board, and the display; and

connecting the front housing component to the rear housing component to assemble the wearable electronic device such that the first conductive continuous surface of the front housing component extends along the first axis, the connecting creating a slot antenna comprising;

the first conductive continuous surface;

the second conductive surface disposed along the first axis and separated by a space from the first conductive continuous surface; and

the contact element, the contact element including a feeding element that connects the first conductive continuous surface to the second conductive surface.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein layering the contact element comprises disposing adjacent to a cylindrical rear housing component a semi-circular metallic ring having formed therein the feeding element, and connecting the front housing component to the rear housing component comprises connecting a cylindrical front housing component to the cylindrical rear housing component to assemble a wrist-worn electronic device.