Antenna for wearable devices methods, apparatuses, and systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10879596-B2
Application number	US-201715421359-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 31, 2017
Priority date	Jan 31, 2017
Publication date	Dec 29, 2020
Grant date	Dec 29, 2020

Abstract

Embodiments include apparatuses, methods, and systems for an antenna for a wearable device that includes a bezel on the wearable device to include a conductive circuit path to transmit and receive radiofrequency (RF) signals to and from the wearable device. In some embodiments, the bezel may be formed of a substantially conductive material to form the conductive circuit path. In other embodiments the bezel may be formed of a substantially non-conductive material and may include a conductive antenna pattern located on a surface of the bezel to form the conductive circuit path. Other embodiments may also be described and claimed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for a wearable device, comprising:
an antenna for the wearable device including:
a bezel on the wearable device to include a conductive circuit path to transmit and receive radiofrequency (RF) signals to and from the wearable device, wherein the bezel is formed of a substantially non-conductive material and the bezel includes a conductive antenna pattern printed on a bottom surface of the bezel to form the conductive circuit path, and wherein the conductive circuit path is coupled at a first end to a first galvanic connection and at a second end to a second galvanic connection and follows a shape of the bezel to transmit and receive differential signals along the conductive circuit path and further wherein the conductive circuit path includes a gap that is non-conductive and the gap is integrated into the bezel to conceal the gap.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a display module coupled below the bezel and wherein the bezel is coupled to secure a glass covering over the display module.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the conductive circuit path follows a path along a substantially square or a ring shape of the bezel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a circuit board coupled to the first and second galvanic connections.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wearable device is wrist worn device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the wrist worn device is a smartwatch.

7. A method, comprising:
receiving radiofrequency (RF) signals via an antenna pattern embedded in a bezel of a wearable device; and
transmitting RF signals via the antenna pattern embedded in the bezel of the wearable device, wherein receiving and transmitting the respective RF signals includes receiving and transmitting the RF signals via an antenna pattern printed on a bottom surface of a substantially non-conductive bezel, and wherein receiving and transmitting RF signals includes receiving and transmitting differential RF signals via a conductive circuit path formed by the antenna pattern and coupled at a first end to a first galvanic connection and at a second end to a second galvanic connection and follows a shape of the bezel to transmit and receive the differential RF signals along the conductive circuit path and further wherein the conductive circuit path includes a gap that is non-conductive and the gap is integrated into the bezel to conceal the gap.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the bezel is located over a display of a smartwatch.

9. A smartwatch system, comprising:
a bezel;
a user interface; and
a circuit board coupled to the bezel and the user interface and including:
a processor;
a memory coupled to the processor, including a plurality of instructions, in response to execution by the processor, to provide a plurality of user functions that includes a watch function; and
a transceiver;

wherein the bezel is coupled to the transceiver and includes an antenna having a conductive circuit path to receive and transmit RF signals, wherein the bezel is formed of a substantially non-conductive material and the bezel includes a conductive antenna pattern printed on a bottom surface of the bezel to form the conductive circuit path coupled at a first end to a first galvanic connection and at a second end to a second galvanic connection to transmit differential signals, wherein the conductive circuit path follows a shape of the bezel to transmit and receive the differential signals along the conductive circuit path and further wherein the conductive circuit path includes a gap that is non-conductive and the gap is integrated into the bezel to conceal the gap.

10. The smartwatch system of claim 9 , wherein the bezel is to secure a covering of the user interface to a smartwatch.

11. The smartwatch system of claim 9 , wherein the user interface is at least one of a display module or mechanical watch face.

12. The smartwatch system of claim 9 , wherein the first and second galvanic connections are coupled to the circuit board to assist in receiving and transmitting the differential signals.

Assignees

• Intel Corp

Inventors

• Beaucourt Paul
• Erentok Aycan
• Camacho Perez Jose Rodrigo
• Groff John

Classifications

• H04B5/24

  Inductive coupling · CPC title

• H04B5/43

  Antennas · CPC title

• H01Q1/243

  with built-in antennas · CPC title

• H01Q1/38

  formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support {(patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface  H01Q15/142)} · CPC title

• H01Q7/00

  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 title