Modular eyewear antenna assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11495876-B2
Application number	US-202017068319-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2020
Priority date	Oct 12, 2020
Publication date	Nov 8, 2022
Grant date	Nov 8, 2022

Abstract

Apparatuses, methods, and systems for a modular eyewear antenna assembly, are disclosed. One modular eyewear antenna assembly includes an eyewear housing including a front frame and a pair of eyewear temple arms, wherein a physical size and shape of each of the temple arms is selectable from a plurality eyewear assembly SKU sizes and shapes, a printed circuit board (PCB) including a controller and a radio, wherein the PCB extends along at least one of the temple arms, wherein the PCB has a fixed size that is adapted for placement within one of the temple arms, and a modular antenna structure including a planar antenna, wherein the modular antenna structure interfaces with the PCB for providing a wireless propagation path for the radio, wherein the modular antenna structure has a fixed size that is adapted for placement along with the PCB within one of the temple arms.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A modular eyewear antenna assembly, comprising:
an eyewear housing comprising a front frame and a pair of eyewear temple arms, wherein a physical size and shape of each of the temple arms is selectable from a plurality eyewear assembly sizes and shapes;
a printed circuit board (PCB), wherein the PCB extends along at least one of the temple arms, wherein the PCB has a fixed size that is adapted for placement within the at least one of the temple arms for each of the eyewear assembly sizes and shapes; and
a modular antenna structure comprising a planar antenna, wherein the modular antenna structure interfaces with the PCB for providing a wireless propagation path for the radio to an external wireless device, wherein the modular antenna structure has a fixed size that is adapted for placement along with the PCB within the at least one of the temple arms for each of the eyewear assembly sizes and shapes;
wherein the modular antenna structure comprises an inner portion and an outer portion, wherein the PCB is sandwiched between the inner portion and the outer portion when assembled within the at least one of the temple arms for each of the eyewear assembly sizes and shapes.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the PCB comprises a planar structure, and wherein the outer portion of the modular antenna structure comprises a curved surface adapted for placement between the PCB and a curved surface of the at least one of the temple arms for each of the eyewear assembly sizes and shapes.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the curved surface of the modular antenna structure conforms to an inner surface of the temple arm, thereby allowing a volume of an antenna formed by the modular antenna structure to be large enough that the formed antenna is operable to support radiation of electromagnetic signals having a required frequency channel bandwidth.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the modular antenna structure comprises an antenna carrier that includes a mechanical slot formed between the outer portion and the inner portion, wherein the mechanical slot is adapted to receive the PCB.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the mechanical slot forms a sandwich-shaped mechanical structure, and wherein a width of the mechanical slot is dimensioned to provide a fit of a tilt of the PCB along with spring clips located on both sides of the PCB.

6. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the mechanical slot formed between the outer portion and the inner portion of the modular antenna structure includes a rib operative to hook the PCB upon receiving the PCB into the mechanical slot.

7. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the PCB further comprises one or more mechanical holes for aligning the modular antenna structure with the PCB, wherein the mechanical holes lock in with the ribs of the mechanical slot of the modular antenna structure, providing alignment of a plurality of spring clips of one of the PCB and the modular antenna structure with conductive pads of the other of the PCB and the planar antenna module.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of spring clips is soldered onto both a top and a bottom surface of the PCB before assembly, wherein when assembled by inserting the PCB along the mechanical slot, tips of the plurality of spring clips are deformed ensuring equilibrium of force on the PCB.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the modular antenna structure forms a planar inverted-F antenna which is configured to generate an antenna pattern having a null radiation pattern in a direction of a head of a user of the eyewear housing.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the planar inverted-F antenna is terminated on the PCB with a reactive capacitance.

11. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the modular antenna structure further comprises a conductive patch formed on a first surface of the modular antenna structure, a conductive side wall that extends through the modular antenna structure, a ground plane formed on a second surface of the modular antenna structure, and a feeding trace located on the first surface which is capacitively coupled to an RFIC (radio frequency integrated circuit) of the PCB, wherein the conductive patch, the conductive sidewall, the ground plane, and the feeding trace form the planar inverted-F antenna.

12. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the conductive patch includes an L-shaped cutout that allows for a reduced size of the conductive patch, thereby allowing for a reduction in a size of the planar inverted-F antenna.

13. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the planar inverted-F antenna is connected to a ground plane of the PCB through two conductive clips, wherein the two conductive clips create ground shielding that reduces radiation to a head of a user of the modular eyewear antenna assembly.

14. The assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a conductive tuning clip operative to electrically connect the radio to the modular antenna structure, wherein the tuning clip tunes a lower frequency band of electromagnetic signals radiating from the planar inverted-F antenna.

15. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the planar inverted-F antenna operates to form at least three communication modes, wherein each of the three communication modes support wireless communication through the planar inverted-F antenna.

16. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein a frequency response of the first mode is selected based on the conductive patch, the conductive ground, the tuning clip, a first ground spring clip between the PCB and the conductive ground located proximate to the tuning clip, and a second spring clip between the PCB and the conductive ground located proximate to a feeding trace signal clip.

17. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein a frequency response of the second mode is selected based on the conductive ground 530 on the second surface of the modular carrier, the first ground spring clip, the second spring clip 640 , and a third ground spring clip 670 .

18. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein a frequency response of the third mode is selected based on the feeding trace, a feeding trace signal clip, and GND clips on a first surface of the PCB.

19. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the tuning clip is terminated with termination surface mounted technology (SMT) components on the PCB.

Assignees

• Meta Platforms Inc

Inventors

• Potens Brandon
• Zhang Ce
• Davis-Wilson Jennifer
• Pletenetskyy Andriy
• Martin Bruno Cendon
• Ye Geng
• Renner Peter Eli

Classifications

• H01Q9/0421

  with a shorting wall or a shorting pin at one end of the element (H01Q9/0414 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01Q5/342

  for different propagation modes (H01Q5/314 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01Q1/273 Primary

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

• H01Q1/48

  Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises · CPC title

• G02C11/10

  Electronic devices other than hearing aids · CPC title