Wearable device antennas

Antennas for wearable wireless devices are provided. A wearable wireless device antenna may include a primary radiating element configured to form at least a portion of a wearable device body and a secondary radiating element configured to couple to the primary radiating element. Each of the primary and secondary radiating elements may be configured to radiate in differing frequency ranges. Wearable device antennas as provided may further be configured as directional antennas.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to antenna structures for wireless devices. Wireless devices described herein may be used for mobile broadband communications.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure include a wearable wireless device antenna. The antenna may include a primary radiating element configured to form at least a portion of a wearable device body, a secondary radiating element configured to couple to the primary radiating element, and a feed element, configured to feed a radiofrequency signal to the secondary radiating element. The primary radiating element may be configured to radiate in a first frequency range when the secondary radiating element receives a first radiofrequency signal in the first frequency range from the feed line and couples the first radiofrequency signal to the primary radiating element, and the secondary radiating element may be configured to radiate in a second frequency range when receiving a second radiofrequency signal in the second frequency range.

A wearable device consistent with the present disclosure may include a body having a housing, at least one conductive element disposed on the housing and configured to form at least a portion of a primary radiating element, a secondary radiating element configured to couple with the primary radiating element, and a feed line disposed to supply a radiofrequency signal to the secondary radiating element. The primary radiating element may be configured to radiate in a first frequency range when the secondary radiating element receives a first radiofrequency signal in the first frequency range from the feed line and couples the first radiofrequency signal to the primary radiating element, and the secondary radiating element may be configured to radiate in a second frequency range when receiving a second radiofrequency signal in the second frequency range.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to wide bandwidth antennas provided for use in wireless wearable devices. Multi-band antennas consistent with the present disclosure may be employed in mobile devices for cellular communications, and may operate at frequencies ranging from approximately 700 MHz to approximately 2.7 GHz. Multi-band antennas consistent with the present disclosure may further be employed for any type of application involving wireless communication and may be constructed to operate in appropriate frequency ranges for such applications. Multi-band antennas consistent with the present disclosure may include dual branched antennas configured to operate in multiple frequency bands.

As used herein, the term “antenna” may collectively refer to the structures and components configured to radiate radiofrequency energy for communications. The term antenna may collectively refer to the multiple conductive components and elements combining to create a radiating structure. The term antenna may further include additional tuning, parasitic and trim elements incorporated into a wireless device to improve the function of radiating structures. The term antenna may additionally include discreet components, such as resistors, capacitors, and inductors and switches connected to or incorporated with antenna components. As used herein, the term antenna is not limited to those structures that radiate radiofrequency signals, but also includes structures that serve to feed signals to radiating structures as well as structures that serve to shape or adjust radiation patterns.

Multi-band antennas consistent with the present disclosure may be efficacious for providing wideband communications in cellular frequency ranges, e.g., between 700 MH and 2.7 GHz. Multi-band antennas consistent with the present disclosure may be incorporated into wearable wireless devices. As used herein, the term “wearable device” refers to a device intended to be worn by a user, rather than carried in a user's hand. Such devices may be worn by a user via straps, buckles, belts, clasps, etc. Such devices may be attached to or integral with other articles of clothing, such as shirts, pants, hats, etc. Wearable devices consistent with the disclosure may also be worn via structural frames, such as those used in eye-glass frames or head-phones. While the disclosure discusses specific form factors for wearable wireless devices for illustrative purposes, it is understood that the disclosed wearable device antennas are not limited to the wearable device form factors discussed herein. Specific wearable wireless devices discussed herein may include, for example, head mounted devices, wrist mounted devices, and others. Head mounted wearable devices may include glasses, and may also include other devices having the form factor of glasses without necessarily providing the function of traditional glasses. For example, a head mounted wearable device may include a screen suspended in front of a user's eye, without providing any aid to the user's vision. Wrist mounted devices may include watches, but are not limited to the traditional functions of a watch, and may, for example, incorporate all of the functionality of a tablet, computer, or smart phone in the form factor of a wrist-watch.

Wearable device antennas consistent with the present disclosure may be configured for directional radiation. When a wireless device is worn on or close to the body of a user, the user's body may disrupt or otherwise interfere with radiofrequency signals transmitted by the device. If a wireless device worn on or close to the body transmits radiation in an omni-directional pattern, a significant percentage of the transmitted radiation may be absorbed by the body of the user, resulting in a lower overall efficiency of the device. In contrast, wearable devices provide with antennas configured for directional radiation may be designed or configured to transmit a larger portion of the radiofrequency energy away from the body of the user, thereby increasing an efficiency of the device as a whole.

As used herein, an antenna configured for directional radiation is an antenna configured such that, when operating under expected usage conditions, greater radiofrequency energy is radiated in one or more high-gain directions in a manner intended to improve performance. The directionality of an antenna may be described based on an imaginary sphere surrounding the antenna. For example, a directional antenna may radiate greater energy in a high-gain direction through one hemisphere of the imaginary sphere as compared to a low-gain direction through another hemisphere. A directional antenna may radiate greater energy over a relatively small portion of the sphere, and thus transmit a cone shaped beam of radiofrequency energy. A directional antenna may be configured to transmit 1.5, 2, 4, 5, 10, 100, or more times more strongly in a high-gain direction as compared to a low-gain direction.

FIG. 1illustrates portions of an exemplary wearable device antenna110consistent with the disclosure. The wearable device100illustrated inFIG. 1is a head mounted wireless device taking the form factor of a pair of glasses. InFIG. 1, a portion of the wearable device antenna110is visible.FIG. 1illustrates a primary radiating element101, a coupling element102, a wearable device body103, a wearable device circuitry housing104, a ground plane130, and a device display106. Additional elements of wearable device antenna110may be located inside circuitry housing104.

FIG. 2illustrates a top down view of wearable device100having a wearable device antenna110consistent with the present disclosure. Similarly toFIG. 1,FIG. 2illustrates primary radiating element101, coupling element102, wearable device body103, device display106, and wearable device circuitry housing104. Device display106may provide visual output to a user of wearable device100.

FIG. 3illustrates an exploded perspective view of additional aspects of exemplary wearable device antenna110. InFIG. 3, circuitry housing104is shown with a cover removed to make secondary radiating element105visible. Secondary radiating element105may be housed in circuitry housing104and may be connected to wireless device circuitry108via feed line107. Wireless device circuitry108may include any and all of the elements necessary for transmission and reception of wireless signals, e.g., a transmitter, a receiver, a processor, signal conditioning circuitry, etc. Also illustrated inFIG. 3are primary radiating element101, coupling element102, device display106, ground plane130, and wearable device body103.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1-3, primary radiating element101may be configured to form at least a portion of a body103of the wearable device100. For example, primary radiating element101may be configured to form at least a portion of an external frame of wearable device100.FIG. 3illustrates primary radiating element101, which may be a conductive metallic element, disposed along an outer periphery of the head-mounted device. InFIG. 3, where the head-mounted device may take the form factor of eye-glasses, primary radiating element101may form a portion of the eyeglass frame. As shown inFIG. 3, primary radiating element101may form an external portion of the eyeglass frame. In alternative embodiments, primary radiating element101may not be external, and may, for example, be embedded within a body of wearable device100. Locating primary radiating element101in this fashion may provide primary radiating element101with extended electrical length, which may serve to improve performance. As used herein, the term “electrical length” refers to the length of a feature as determined by the portion of a radiofrequency signal that it may accommodate. For example, a feature may have an electrical length of λ/4 (e.g., a quarter wavelength) at a specific frequency. An electrical length of a feature may or may not correspond to a physical length of a structure, and may depend on radiofrequency signal current pathways. Features having electrical lengths that appropriately correspond to intended radiation frequencies may operate more efficiently. For example, primary radiating element101may be configured as a ¼ wave or as a ½ wave element in low band frequencies, e.g., 600-960 MHz. Also as shown inFIG. 3, primary radiating element101may be shaped so as to wrap at least partially around a body part of a user. In the case of a head-mounted wearable device, primary radiating element101may be shaped so as to wrap at least partially around a head of the user. As shown inFIG. 3, primary radiating element101may wrap around three sides of a head. In some embodiments, primary radiating element101may wrap around two or four sides as well.

Primary radiating element101may be configured for galvanic connection to coupling element102. In some embodiments, coupling element102may couple to primary radiating element101through reactive coupling, rather than galvanically.

Coupling element102may be located adjacent to secondary radiating element105, and may couple, inductively or capacitively, to secondary radiating element105, located inside circuitry housing104. Coupling between coupling element102and secondary radiating element105may occur through a wall of circuitry housing104. Secondary radiating element105may be configured, as illustrated inFIG. 3, as a folded monopole radiating element. At least a portion of secondary radiating element105may be located in a substantially parallel configuration with at least a portion of coupling element102, for example, to facilitate coupling between the two. Secondary radiating element105may also be configured with alternative antenna structures that may be suitable.

Secondary radiating element105may receive a radiofrequency signal for transmission from wireless device circuitry108via feed line107. Ground plane130, may be a conductive layer on device housing104, as illustrated, and may also be located inside device housing104, or even embedded within the structure of device housing104.

In operation, wearable device antenna110may function as a multi-band antenna, transmitting in high-band frequencies between 1710-2700 MHz and low-band frequencies between 600-960 MHz. When provided with a low-band radiofrequency signal via feed line107, secondary radiating element105may couple to and activate primary radiating element101via coupling element102. Primary radiating element101, activated via coupling element102, may provide sufficient electrical length for efficient transmission in low-band frequency ranges, for example, by operating as a quarter wave monopole. When provided with a high-band radiofrequency signal via feed line107, radiating element may be configured to radiate in the high band as a quarter wave folded monopole. In both high-band and low-band operation, ground plane130may function as a counterpoise for wearable device antenna110.

Wearable device antenna110may be configured for directional radiation. As illustrated inFIGS. 1-3, wearable device100may be configured as a head-mounted device. Thus, wearable device antenna may be configured to radiate radiofrequency energy away from the head of the wearer, in order to increase transmission efficiency. For example, when operating in a low-band range, primary radiating element101of wearable device100may activate and transmit radiofrequency energy with greater power outward from the sides it wraps around. Thus, high-gain directions for primary radiating element101may those directions facing outward from the sides and front of the head. When taking an eye-glass form factor, wearable device100may be configured to radiate greater power in directions away from the front and sides of the head, and less power towards the front and sides of the head.

Secondary radiating element105, which may be configured to radiate in a high-band, as discussed above, may also radiate directionally. For example, secondary radiating element105may radiate more strongly in a high-gain direction through a hemisphere facing away from the head, and less strongly in a low-gain direction through a hemisphere facing towards the head.

In some embodiments, the radiation patterns of secondary radiating element105and primary radiating element101may be affected or altered by the user's head. For example, when measured in free space, radiation patterns of wearable device100may display different directionality than when measured in use, e.g., when located on a head of a user. The presence of the user's head may increase the directionality of the antenna in high-gain directions away from the head. Primary radiating element101and secondary radiating element105, may thus be configured for increased directionality away from a user's body when placed in proximity to a user's body.

In some embodiments, wearable device antenna110may be configured with a slit-fed structure for activating primary radiating element101. Slit-fed architecture may use a slit or a gap between a radiating element and an element configured to feed a radiofrequency signal to the radiating element. In some embodiments that include a slit-fed architecture, the radiating element and the feeding element include portions in close proximity to one another, with only the slit or gap in between. The slit or gap may be of constant or variable width.

When the feed element receives a radiofrequency signal, via, e.g., a feed line, the feed element may couple to the radiating element, via inductive and/or capacitive coupling, across the gap or slit, thus activating the radiating element. The width and length of the slit or gap may vary based on a frequency range at which the radiating element is to be activated. The slit may be partially or completely filled by a dielectric material, such as air, plastic, Teflon, or other dielectric.

Slit-fed architecture may increase the efficiency of the antenna by permitting a distributed feed. In conventional monopole designs, an antenna may be fed at a feed location on one end, and the feed line may be sized to deliver a radiofrequency signal having appropriate current characteristics at the feed point. That is, the radiofrequency signal feed point must take into account the electrical length and the electrical impedance of antenna in order to permit optimum efficiencies. It may be difficult, however, to optimize such a design across a wide frequency range. A distributed feed system enabled by slit-fed architecture may address this issue by providing a range of potential feeding locations throughout the length of the slit. In operation, radiofrequency signals of different frequencies (and different wavelengths) may couple from the feed element to the radiating element at different points along the portion the feed element located in proximity to the radiating element across the slit.

Such a distributed feed may also permit the activation of multiple current pathways resonant at differing frequencies. For example, if a resonant structure may resonate at two disparate frequencies within a low frequency band a distributed slit fed structure may permit the resonant structure to receive radiofrequency signals at multiple locations along the slit, where each signal is appropriately matched to the resonant structure in terms of electrical length and impedance. These features of slit fed architecture may permit a designer to optimize performance in specific frequency ranges, by optimizing each resonant structure in its activation frequency range.

As discussed above, wearable device antenna110may employ a slit fed architecture. Slit140may be located between secondary radiating element105and coupling element102. Coupling across the slit may provide the advantages described above, as well as additional advantages to a head mounted wearable device. When arranged close to the head of a user, wearable device100may experience electrical interactions with the user, if, for example, primary radiating element101contacts the skin of the user. Such contacts may alter the effective electrical length of primary radiating element101. The distributed feeding nature of slit140may permit dynamic and automatic adjustment of the feed to account for such alterations.

Alternative embodiments of a wearable device including a wearable device antenna may include a wrist-mounted device.FIG. 4illustrates an exemplary wrist-mounted wearable device200consistent with the present disclosure. Wearable device200may include a device main body203, a device strap220, and a device screen206. Wearable device200may further include a primary radiating element201.

FIG. 5is a perspective view of wearable device200, illustrating additional aspects.FIG. 5illustrates wearable device antenna210, including primary radiating element201, first and second coupling portions202a,202b, secondary radiating element205, device body203, PCB connections208, and feed point207.

FIG. 6is a close-up perspective view of wearable device200.FIG. 6illustrates wearable device antenna210, including primary radiating element201, first and second coupling portions202a,202b, secondary radiating element205, and feed point207.

As illustrated inFIGS. 4-6, primary radiating element201may be configured to form at least a portion of a body203of the wearable device200. For example, primary radiating element201may be configured to form at least a portion of an external frame of wearable device200.FIG. 5illustrates primary radiating element201, which may be a conductive metallic element, disposed along an outer periphery of the wrist-mounted device. InFIG. 5, where the wrist-mounted device may take the form factor of a wrist-watch, primary radiating element201may form at least a portion of the watch body. As shown inFIG. 5, primary radiating element201may form an external portion of the watch body. Primary radiating element201may be connected to a PCB board of wearable device200via PCB connections208. In alternative embodiments, primary radiating element201may not be external, and may, for example, be embedded within a body or case of wearable device200. In some embodiments, primary radiating element201may form a gapless frame around device body203. In alternative embodiments, primary radiating element201may include a gap (as illustrated in greater detail inFIGS. 7aand 7b).

Locating primary radiating element201along an outer periphery of wearable device200may provide primary radiating element201with extended electrical length, which may improve performance. In some embodiments, because of limitations on the size of a wrist-mounted device, primary radiating element201may have an electrical length less than a quarter wavelength and still feature excellent performance when worn on the body. Also as shown inFIG. 5, primary radiating element201may be configured to form a loop (or in some embodiments a partial loop) in a plane approximately perpendicular to a surface of a user's body. For example, when wearable device200is worn as a watch, primary radiating element201forms a loop in a plane approximately parallel to the skin of the user's wrist.

Primary radiating element201may be configured for galvanic connection to first and second coupling elements202a,202b. In some embodiments, coupling elements202a,202bmay couple to primary radiating element201through reactive coupling, rather than galvanically. Coupling elements202a,202bmay couple, inductively or capacitively, to secondary radiating element205, located inside device body204. Secondary radiating element205may be configured, as illustrated inFIG. 5, as a folded monopole radiating element. Secondary radiating element205may also be configured with alternative antenna structures that may be suitable. Secondary radiating element205may receive a radiofrequency signal for transmission from wireless device circuitry via feed point207.

In some embodiments, wearable device antenna210may employ slit fed architecture. Wearable device antenna201may include a slit240between coupling elements202a,202b, and secondary radiating element205. Secondary radiating element205may couple to coupling elements202aand202bacross slit240. Slit240may provide a distributed feed, permitting secondary radiating element205to excite primary radiating element201to activate in a wide frequency range. Slit240may also permit the activation of multiple current pathways having differing electrical lengths between the conductive coupling elements202a,202b, and primary radiating element201.

In operation, wearable device antenna210may function as a multi-band antenna, transmitting in high-band frequencies between 1710-2700 MHz and low-band frequencies between 600-960 MHz. When provided with a low-band radiofrequency signal via feed line207, secondary radiating element205may couple to and activate primary radiating element201via coupling elements202aand202b. Primary radiating element201, activated via coupling elements202aand202b, may provide sufficient electrical length for efficient transmission in low-band frequency ranges. When provided with a high-band radiofrequency signal via feed line207, secondary radiating element205may be configured to radiate as a folded monopole, utilizing primary radiating element201as a counterpoise. Secondary radiating element205may also be configured to couple to at least coupling element202band to cause at least a portion of primary radiating element201and coupling element202bto cooperate to radiate in the high-band frequency range.

Wearable device antenna210may be configured for directional radiation. As illustrated inFIGS. 4-6, wearable device200may be configured as a wrist-mounted device. Thus, wearable device antenna210may be configured to radiate radiofrequency energy away from the wrist of the wearer to increase transmission efficiency. For example, when operating in a low-band range, primary radiating element201of wearable device200may activate and transmit radiofrequency energy with greater power outward from the wrist. Thus, high-gain directions for primary radiating element201may include those directions that radiate hemispherically away from a wrist-side face of the wrist mounted device.

Secondary radiating element205, which may be configured to radiate in a high-band, as discussed above, may also radiate directionally. For example, secondary radiating element205may radiate more strongly in a high-gain direction through a hemisphere facing away from the wrist, and less strongly in a low-gain direction through a hemisphere facing towards the wrist.

In some embodiments, the radiation patterns of secondary radiating element205and primary radiating element201may be affected or altered by the user's wrist. For example, when measured in free space, radiation patterns of wearable device200may display different directionality as well as differing levels of efficiency than when measured in use, e.g., when located on a wrist of a user. The presence of the user's wrist may increase the directionality of the antenna in high-gain directions away from the wrist. Primary radiating element201and secondary radiating element205may thus be configured for increased directionality away from a user's body when placed in proximity to a user's body. Primary radiating element201and secondary radiating element205may also be configured for increased performance away from a user's body when placed in proximity to a user's body.

In some embodiments, the walled shape of primary radiating element201may be configured to channel radiofrequency energy in a high-gain direction towards the face of wearable device200. In some embodiments, the presence of a user's wrist at the base of this channel may enhance the directionality of the antenna.

When employed in a wrist-mounted wearable device200, primary radiating element201of wearable device antenna210may, as noted above, have an electrical length less than a quarter wavelength in the low frequency band. In some conventional antenna designs, performance efficiency may suffer with such short electrical lengths. In embodiments discussed herein, however, combinations of the discussed features may cooperate to provide excellent performance in low band (600-960) frequency ranges, despite the short length of the primary radiating element201. For example, the walled shape of primary radiating element201, as described above, may serve to increase the directionality of the wearable device210, and thus provide increased performance over an omni-directional antenna of similar size. Furthermore, the use of slit-fed architecture, as described above, may provide for more efficient coupling of the radiofrequency signal to primary radiating element201, and thus increase performance of the antenna as a whole. Additionally, because wearable device antenna210may be configured for increased performance and directionality when in proximity to a user's body, wearable device antenna210may provide unexpectedly increased performance over an antenna that is not so configured.

FIGS. 7aand 7bprovide a comparison between wearable device antenna210and an alternative embodiment of wearable device antenna310.FIG. 7aillustrates a gapless design for a wrist mounted device antenna, andFIG. 7billustrates a gapped design for a wrist mounted device antenna.

FIG. 7aschematically illustrates the features previously discussed with respect toFIGS. 4-6. Wearable device antenna210may include primary radiating element201, secondary radiating element205, coupling elements202a,202b, feed line207, PCB connections208, and wireless device circuitry209. Wireless device circuitry209may include any and all components required for transmission and reception of a wireless signal.

FIG. 7bschematically illustrates an alternative embodiment of a wrist-mounted device antenna, including a gap340in primary radiating element301. Gap340may be a non-conductive portion of the wearable device body that separates coupling portions302aand302bof primary radiating element301from one another. Wearable device antenna310may include primary radiating element301, secondary radiating element305, coupling portions302a,302b, feed line307, ground connector308, and wireless device circuitry309. Wireless device circuitry309may include any and all components required for transmission and reception of a wireless signal.

In some embodiments, wearable device antenna310may employ slit fed architecture. Wearable device antenna301may include a slit340between coupling portions302a,302b, and secondary radiating element305. Secondary radiating element305may couple to coupling portions302aand302bacross slit340. Slit340may provide a distributed feed, permitting secondary radiating element305to excite primary radiating element301to activate in a wide frequency range. Slit340may also permit the activation of multiple current pathways having differing electrical lengths between the conductive coupling portions302a,302b, and primary radiating element301.

In operation, wearable device antenna310may function as a multi-band antenna, transmitting in high-band frequencies between 1710-2700 MHz and low-band frequencies between 600-960 MHz. When provided with a low-band radiofrequency signal via feed line307, secondary radiating element305may couple to and activate primary radiating element301to radiate in the low-band range via coupling elements302aand302b. Primary radiating element301, activated via coupling elements302aand302b, may provide sufficient electrical length for efficient transmission in low-band frequency ranges. When provided with a high-band radiofrequency signal via feed line307, secondary radiating element305may be configured to radiate as a folded monopole, utilizing primary radiating element301as a counterpoise. Secondary radiating element305may also be configured to couple to coupling element302band to cause at least a portion of primary radiating element301and coupling element302bto cooperate to radiate in the high-band frequency range.

As similarly described above with respect to wearable device antenna210, wearable device antenna310may provide unexpected performance for an antenna in low band frequency ranges, due to various combinations of the described features.

The foregoing descriptions of the embodiments of the present application have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not exhaustive and do not limit the application to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practicing the disclosed embodiments. For example, several examples of antennas embodying the inventive principles described herein are presented. These antennas may be modified without departing from the inventive principles described herein. Additional and different antennas may be designed that adhere to and embody the inventive principles as described. Antennas described herein are configured to operate at particular frequencies, but the antenna design principles presented herein are not limited to these particular frequency ranges. Persons of skill in the art may implement the antenna design concepts described herein to create antennas resonant at additional or different frequencies, having additional or different characteristics.