Wearable device antenna system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025141096-A1
Application number	US-202419003745-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 27, 2024
Priority date	Mar 6, 2017
Publication date	May 1, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

An antenna system comprises a driven antenna element connected to a printed circuit board (PCB), and a plurality of PCB extenders provided by electrical conductors connected to a PCB ground plane for cooperation with the driven antenna element in signal communication. In an eyewear device that incorporates the antenna system, the plurality of PCB extenders are provided by conductive structural elements incorporated in an eyewear frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An eyewear device comprising:
a device body comprising an eyewear frame defining one or more optical element holders for holding respective optical elements within view of a user when the eyewear device is worn; and a driven antenna element carried by the device body; a printed circuit board (PCB) that is housed by the device body and that carries on-board communication electronics coupled to the driven antenna element to communicate wireless signals via the driven antenna element, the PCB defining a PCB ground plane coupled to the communication electronics for co-operation with the driven antenna element in signal communication; and a PCB extender comprising an elongate conductor electrically connected to the PCB ground plane and projecting from the PCB for co-operation with the driven antenna element in signal communication, the PCB extender being incorporated in and extending along at least part of the eyewear frame.

2 . The eyewear device of claim 1 , wherein the PCB extender comprises a lateral portion that has a laterally extending orientation relative to an operative direction of view of the eyewear device.

3 . The eyewear device of claim 2 , wherein the lateral portion extends continuously between respective end portions of the eyewear frame at opposite lateral ends thereof.

4 . The eyewear device of claim 2 , wherein the eyewear frame defines a pair of substantially co-planar optical element holders connected by a laterally extending bridge, wherein at least part of the lateral portion extends along the bridge.

5 . The eyewear device of claim 2 , wherein the lateral portion of the PCB extender extends along an operatively top portion of the eyewear frame, in wearer perspective being located operatively above one or more optical elements held by the eyewear frame, relative to a user.

6 . The eyewear device of claim 2 , wherein the PCB extender further comprises a transverse portion incorporated in the eyewear frame and extending along at least part of a respective optical element holder in a direction transverse to the lateral portion.

7 . The eyewear device of claim 2 , wherein the one or more optical element holders comprises a lens rim extending circumferentially around a lens held therein, the driven antenna element extending circumferentially along a part of the lens rim.

8 . The eyewear device of claim 2 , wherein:
the device body further comprises a pair of temples connected to the eyewear frame for supporting the eyewear frame in position during wear, and an additional PCB extender comprising a conductor connected to the PCB ground plane and comprising a temple portion that is incorporated in and extends along an associated one of the pair of temples, such that that the temple portion extends transversely to the lateral portion of the PCB extender of the eyewear frame during operative wear of the eyewear device.

9 . The eyewear device of claim 8 , wherein the temple portion is configured for automatic disconnection/reconnection with the PCB responsive to hinged movement of the associated temple between a folded position for stowage and an extended position for wear.

10 . The eyewear device of claim 8 , wherein the driven antenna element extends along at least part of a respective optical element holder defined by the eyewear frame, the driven antenna element being substantially orthogonal to both the lateral portion of the PCB extender and to the temple portion of the additional PCB extender.

11 . The eyewear device of claim 1 , wherein the PCB extender comprises a wire extending along at least part of the eyewear frame.

12 . The eyewear device of claim 1 , wherein the PCB extender forms a core wire that provides structural integrity to at least part of the eyewear frame.

13 . The eyewear device of claim 1 , wherein the PCB extender comprises a thermally conductive element that is connected to the PCB to be in heat transfer relationship with one or more heat sources on the PCB, thereby to serve as a heat sink for the electronics on the PCB.

14 . The eyewear device of claim 1 , wherein the PCB extender comprises a wire that extends along at least part of the eyewear frame, the PCB extender wire being configured to provide both:
a core wire that provides structural integrity to the eyewear frame; and a heat sink for the electronics on the PCB, the PCB extender wire being connected to the PCB to be in heat transfer relationship with one or more heat sources on the PCB.

15 . The eyewear device of claim 1 , wherein the PCB extender incorporated in the eyewear frame forms part of a plurality of PCB extenders incorporated in the device body and connected to the PCB ground plane for cooperation with the driven antenna element in signal communication.

16 . The eyewear device of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of PCB extenders comprise a pair of PCB extenders projecting from the PCB in mutually transverse orientations, the pair of PCB extenders defining a pair of mutually transverse ground planes for the driven antenna element.

17 . The eyewear device of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of PCB extenders are oriented orthogonally relative to one another, being configured to provide pattern-polarization diversity.

18 . The eyewear device of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of PCB extenders have different respective lengths, being configured for multi-band functionality.

19 . The eyewear device of claim 1 , wherein the PCB extender is at least partially exposed on an exterior of the eyewear device as metallic trim.

Assignees

• Snap Inc

Inventors

• Ashwood Andrea
• Kusbel Patrick
• Lin Jun
• Moskowitz Douglas Wayne
• Olgun Ugur
• Patton Russell Douglas
• Simons Patrick Timothy Mcsweeney
• Steger Stephen Andrew

Classifications

• H05K7/2039

  characterised by the heat transfer by conduction from the heat generating element to a dissipating body (arrangements for increasing/decreasing heat-transfer, e.g. fins details, F28F13/00) · 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

• H01Q1/02

  Arrangements for de-icing; Arrangements for drying-out {; Arrangements for cooling; Arrangements for preventing corrosion} · CPC title

• G02C5/22

  Hinges (pivotal connection in general F16C11/00) · CPC title

• H05K2201/10098

  Components for radio transmission, e.g. radio frequency identification [RFID] tag, printed or non-printed antennas · CPC title