Antenna integration in hinge shroud

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10446908-B2
Application number	US-201615192785-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 24, 2016
Priority date	Jun 24, 2016
Publication date	Oct 15, 2019
Grant date	Oct 15, 2019

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for positioning an antenna in a portable information handling system. A portable information handling system includes a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion. The portable information handling system also includes a hinge assembly coupling the first and second housing portions, the hinge assembly comprising at least one gear to rotate the first and second housing portions relative to each other. In addition, the system includes an antenna frame coupled to the gear. The portable information handling system also includes an antenna coupled to the antenna frame, the antenna operable to communicate wirelessly with a wireless-enabled device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A portable information handling system comprising:
a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion;
a hinge assembly coupling the first and second housing portions, the hinge assembly comprising a first gear and a second gear to rotate the first and second housing portions relative to each other;
a first antenna frame coupled to the first gear of a hinge of the hinge assembly, and coupled within the hinge assembly;
a first antenna coupled to the first antenna frame, the first antenna operable to communicate wirelessly with a wireless-enabled device, wherein the first antenna frame is coupled to the first gear such that the first antenna rotates synchronously with the first gear;
a second antenna frame coupled to the second gear of the hinge of the hinge assembly, and coupled within the hinge assembly; and
a second antenna coupled to the second antenna frame, the second antenna operable to communicate wirelessly with the wireless-enabled device, wherein the second antenna frame is coupled to the second gear such that the second antenna remains substantially fixed as the second gear rotates.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hinge assembly further comprises a pin coupled to the first gear, wherein the first antenna frame is coupled to the pin such that the first antenna frame rotates synchronously with the pin and the first gear.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hinge assembly further comprises a pin fixedly coupled to the hinge assembly, wherein the second antenna frame is coupled to the pin such that the second antenna frame remains substantially fixed as the second gear rotates.

4. A method of positioning an antenna in a portable information handling system, comprising:
rotationally coupling a first housing portion and a second housing portion of the portable information handling system with a hinge assembly, the hinge assembly comprising a first gear and a second gear to rotate the first and second housing portions relative to each other;
coupling a first antenna frame to the first gear of a hinge of the hinge assembly such that the first antenna frame is coupled within the hinge assembly;
coupling a second antenna frame to the second gear of the hinge of the hinge assembly such that the second antenna frame is coupled within the hinge assembly;
coupling a first antenna to the first antenna frame, the first antenna operable to communicate wirelessly with a wireless-enabled device, wherein the first antenna frame is coupled to the first gear such that the first antenna rotates synchronously with the first gear; and
coupling a second antenna to the second antenna frame, the second antenna operable to communicate wirelessly with the wireless-enabled device, wherein the second antenna frame is coupled to the second gear such that the second antenna remains substantially fixed as the second gear rotates.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the hinge assembly further comprises a pin coupled to the first gear, wherein the first antenna frame is coupled to the pin such that the first antenna frame rotates synchronously with the pin and the first gear.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the hinge assembly further comprises a pin fixedly coupled to the hinge assembly, wherein the second antenna frame is coupled to the pin such that the second antenna frame remains substantially fixed as the second gear rotates.

7. A hinge assembly for a portable information handling system, the hinge assembly comprising:
a first gear and a second gear, the first and second gears rotating a first housing portion relative to a second housing portion of the portable information handling system;
a first antenna frame coupled to the first gear;
a second antenna frame coupled to the second gear;
a first antenna coupled to the first antenna frame, the first antenna operable to communicate wirelessly with a wireless-enabled device, wherein the first antenna frame is coupled to the first gear such that the first antenna rotates synchronously with the first gear; and
a second antenna coupled to the second antenna frame, the second antenna operable to communicate wirelessly with the wireless-enabled device, wherein the second antenna frame is coupled to the second gear such that the second antenna remains substantially fixed as the second gear rotates.

8. The hinge assembly of claim 7 , wherein the first antenna is a different type of antenna than the second antenna.

9. The hinge assembly of claim 7 , wherein the first antenna is oriented in a different direction than the second antenna.

Assignees

• Dell Products Lp

Inventors

• Bologna Benny J
• Hampton Patrick A

Classifications

• H01Q3/04

  for varying one co-ordinate of the orientation · CPC title

• H01Q1/2266 Primary

  disposed inside the computer · CPC title

• H01Q1/50

  Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors · CPC title