Electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12003019-B2
Application number	US-202117447555-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 13, 2021
Priority date	Feb 25, 2021
Publication date	Jun 4, 2024
Grant date	Jun 4, 2024

Abstract

A portable or wearable electronic device can include a device housing defining an internal volume, and an electronic component disposed in the internal volume. The electronic component can be an input component and can have a component housing. The electronic device can also include an antenna feed assembly disposed in the internal volume. The antenna feed assembly can include a conductive grounding component electrically connected to the component housing and the device housing, and an antenna feed component electrically connected to the grounding component and disposed adjacent to the component housing. The conductive grounding component can surround a first major surface and a second major surface of the component housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A portable electronic device, comprising:
a device housing defining an internal volume;
an electronic component at least partially disposed in the internal volume, the electronic component comprising a component housing; and
an antenna feed assembly, comprising:
a conductive grounding component electrically connected to the component housing and the device housing, the conductive grounding component at least partially surrounding a first major surface and a second major surface of the component housing; and
an antenna feed component electrically connected to the conductive grounding component and disposed adjacent to the component housing.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a processor disposed in the internal volume; and
a flexible electrical connector coupled to the antenna feed component and the processor.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a display assembly at least partially disposed in the internal volume, the display assembly comprising:
a display layer defining an active area; and
a resonating element electrically connected to the antenna feed component.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 3 , wherein:
the device housing comprises a sidewall; and
the electronic device further comprises an adjustable grounding component moveably attached to the sidewall, the adjustable grounding component electrically connected to the sidewall and the resonating element.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the antenna feed assembly comprises a first antenna feed assembly; and
the electronic device comprises second antenna feed assembly positioned in the internal volume opposite the first antenna feed assembly.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first antenna feed assembly and the second antenna feed assembly are configured to selectively:
drive a resonating element at a desired frequency; or
act as an electrical ground for the resonating element.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 5 , wherein;
the first antenna feed assembly is configured to drive a resonating element at a frequency selected from a first band of frequencies; and
the second antenna feed assembly is configured to drive the resonating element at a second frequency selected from a second band of frequencies that are lower than the first band of frequencies.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic component comprises a user input component.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the electronic component comprises a first electronic component; and
the electronic device further comprises a second electronic component positioned adjacent to the first electronic component and electrically connected to the grounding component.

10. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the conductive grounding component comprises copper.

11. A portable electronic device, comprising:
a device housing comprising a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite the first side wall, the device housing at least partially defining an internal volume;
a resonating element;
a first antenna feed assembly positioned adjacent to the first sidewall, the first antenna feed assembly comprising:
a conductive grounding component electrically connected to the device housing; and
a first antenna feed component electrically connected to the conductive grounding component and the resonating element; and

a second antenna feed assembly positioned adjacent to the second sidewall, the second antenna feed assembly comprising a second antenna feed component electrically connected to the resonating element.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the first antenna feed assembly is configured to electrically ground the resonating element when the second antenna feed assembly is driving the resonating element at a desired frequency.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 11 , wherein;
the first antenna feed assembly is configured to drive the resonating element at first frequency selected from a first band of frequencies; and
the second antenna feed assembly is configured to drive the resonating element at a second frequency selected from a second band of frequencies that are different than the first band of frequencies.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the resonating element comprises a layer of a display assembly.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the first antenna feed component comprises a feed blade and the feed blade is electrically connected to the resonating element through a feed electrical connector that contacts two sides of the feed blade.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the feed blade comprises a first tine and a second tine that is parallel to and laterally offset from the first tine.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the feed blade is positioned between adjacent to an electrical component disposed in the internal volume and the first sidewall.

18. A portable electronic device, comprising:
a device housing defining an internal volume;
an antenna feed assembly disposed within the internal volume and configured to selectively:
drive a resonating element at a desired frequency; or
act as an electrical ground for the resonating element; and

a battery assembly disposed within the internal volume, the battery assembly comprising:
a housing;
a battery disposed in the housing, the battery having an energy capacity;
a controller affixed to the housing, the controller, comprising:
a circuit board; and
a zero-insertion force (ZIF) connector; and

a flexible electrical connector electrically connected to the battery and coupled to the ZIF connector to transmit power from the battery to the controller.

19. The portable electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the controller further comprises:
a processor disposed on the circuit board, the processor in electrical communication with the battery; and
a polymer material encasing the processor.

20. The portable electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the battery is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• De Jong Erik G
• Mu Junlin
• Pandya Sameer
• Crowley Patrick J
• Herrera Antonio F
• Horiuchi James G
• Tang Sherry
• Martinis Mario

Classifications

• H01Q1/273 Primary

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

• H01M10/0525

  Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries · CPC title

• H01M10/425

  Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing (printed circuits H05K1/00) · CPC title

• H01M50/247

  specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers · CPC title

• H01M50/284

  with incorporated circuit boards, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB] · CPC title