Antenna for wearable device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10879597-B2
Application number	US-201816117179-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 30, 2018
Priority date	Aug 30, 2017
Publication date	Dec 29, 2020
Grant date	Dec 29, 2020

Abstract

A wearable device which is mountable on a wrist of a user includes a housing including a metal structure, a display positioned within the housing, wherein the display includes a metal layer positioned within the metal structure and spaced apart from the metal structure by a given gap, a printed circuit board (PCB) positioned within the housing and including a ground region, and a control circuit positioned on the PCB and configured to feed a first point of the metal structure. The metal layer is electrically connected with the ground region of the PCB at a second point spaced from the first point by a given angle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wearable electronic device comprising:
a housing comprising a metal structure;
a display positioned within the housing, the display including a metal layer positioned within the metal structure and spaced apart from the metal structure by a gap;
a printed circuit board (PCB) positioned within the housing and including a ground region and a control circuit configured to feed a first point of the metal structure; and
at least one conductive connection member comprising a conductive material electrically connected with a third point of the metal structure;
wherein the metal layer is electrically connected with the ground region of the PCB at a second point spaced apart from the first point by a given angle,
wherein at least a portion of the at least one conductive connection member is positioned to be coupled with the ground region of the PCB.

2. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a bracket interposed between the display and the PCB within the housing,
wherein the at least one conductive connection member includes: a first C-clip being in contact with the third point of the metal structure and the bracket; and a second C-clip being in contact with the first C-clip and a surface of the PCB.

3. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein at least a partial region of the PCB includes: a first layer including at least a portion of a non-conductive material; and a second layer including a portion of the ground region,
wherein the at least a portion of the at least one conductive connection member is coupled with the portion of the ground region included in the second layer by making contact with at least a portion of a non-conductive material region of the first layer.

4. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the PCB includes: a first region comprising a dielectric; and a second region including a ground region,
wherein the at least a portion of the at least one conductive connection member is in contact with the first region, and
wherein the at least a portion of the at least one conductive connection member and the ground region of the second region are electrically connected through a capacitor.

5. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to:
receive a GPS signal through a first electrical path formed by the metal structure and the metal layer, and
receive a Bluetooth signal through a second electrical path formed by the metal structure and the at least one conductive connection member.

6. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the metal structure is ring shaped.

7. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the metal structure is electrically connected to a control circuit and is configured to operate as at least part of an antenna.

8. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the metal structure has a circular, elliptical, or substantially rectangular shape.

9. A wearable electronic device comprising:
a housing including an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface surrounding a space between the upper surface and the lower surface,
wherein the side surface includes a ring-shaped member which is ring-shaped, when viewed from above the upper surface, and comprises a conductive material;
a binding structure connected to the housing;
a display disposed within the space and exposed through the upper surface and including a first ground plane substantially parallel to the upper surface;
a printed circuit board interposed between the display and the lower surface and including a second ground plane;
a wireless communication circuit positioned on the printed circuit board and electrically connected to a first point positioned at the ring-shaped member;
a first conductive path electrically connected between a second point positioned at an edge of the first ground plane and the second ground plane;
a second conductive path electrically connected between a third point positioned at the ring-shaped member and the second ground plane; and
a processor positioned within the space and electrically connected to the display and the communication circuit,
wherein, when viewed from above the upper surface, a first imaginary line extending from the center of the upper surface to the first point is substantially at right angles to a second imaginary line extending from the center of the upper surface to the second point, and
wherein the second conductive path includes at least one conductive connection member positioned to be coupled with the second ground plane.

10. The wearable electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the wireless communication circuit is configured to receive a GPS signal and a Bluetooth signal.

11. The wearable electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the second conductive path includes a capacitor.

12. The wearable electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the binding structure is configured to be removably mountable on a portion of a body of a user.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kang Woo Suk
• Yoo Chae Up
• Lee In Young
• Sim Jae Kwang
• Ahn Jeong Ho
• Jung Jin Woo
• Kim Se Woong
• Chun Jae Bong

Classifications

• H01Q9/0407

  Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna (dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40) · CPC title

• H01Q1/50

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

• H01Q1/273 Primary

  Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals · CPC title

• G04R60/02

  Antennas also serving as components of clocks or watches, e.g. motor coils · CPC title

• G04R20/02

  the radio signal being sent by a satellite, e.g. GPS · CPC title