Patent Publication Number: US-2023140652-A1

Title: Antenna System Integrated with Side-Keys of an Electronic Device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is a continuation application of International Application Serial No. PCT/US2021/057376, filed Oct. 29, 2021, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The continuously increasing communication standards require more antenna integration in mobile devices, increasing the demand for antenna design in other less-popular areas inside the device. Side-keys are modules with button or button-like components that are embedded in the frame of the device and can trigger some functions. For example, a power button can turn the device on or off, a volume button can increase or decrease the device&#39;s volume, a fingerprint sensor can detect a finger touch and record the detected finger&#39;s fingerprint, etc. Devices having a small form factor (e.g., smartphone) have limited areas to implement additional antennas, which increases the challenge of integrating antennas in the device without compromising functionality or performance of other components such as the side-key modules. 
     SUMMARY 
     This document describes methods and systems for an antenna system integrated with side-keys of an electronic device. The antenna system enables antenna integration in a metal frame using a metal support structure and fastener(s) to route antenna signals around side-key modules embedded in the frame without encountering or causing interference with the side-key modules. By using these techniques to integrate antennas on areas around the side-key modules, more antennas can be implemented on the electronic device, leading to improved capabilities supporting additional wireless standards and a better user experience in terms of improved communication quality. 
     In aspects, an electronic device includes a housing and a main logic board disposed within the housing. The main logic board has a signal generator configured to generate, through one or more antennas, one or more antenna signals. The electronic device also includes a metal frame disposed along at least one edge of the housing and configured to provide structural support for the housing. The metal frame includes one or more apertures that enable the metal frame to be configured as an antenna radiating element of the one or more antenna signals generated by the one or more antennas. The metal frame also includes an interior surface and an opposing, exterior surface. In addition, the electronic device includes a side-key module embedded in the metal frame. The electronic device also includes a metal support having an elongated shape and is oriented to be substantially parallel with the metal frame. The metal support has one or more contact surfaces that abut the interior surface of the metal frame on one or more opposing sides of the side-key module. At least a portion of the side-key module is positioned directly between the metal support and the metal frame. The metal support also has a rear surface that is opposite the one or more contact surfaces. Additionally, the electronic device includes an antenna spring and one or more metal fasteners. The antenna spring is in direct electrical contact with the metal support and the signal generator and is configured to inject the one or more antenna signals into the metal support. The one or more metal fasteners affix the metal support to the metal frame to provide a path for the one or more antenna signals to be routed from the metal support to the metal frame. 
     In some implementations, the side-key module is positioned between the antenna spring and the metal frame. In addition or as an alternative, in some of these implementations, the side-key module includes a user input mechanism configured to control one or more functions of the electronic device or an application executing on the electronic device. In addition or as an alternative, in some of these implementations, the side-key module includes a pressable button or a touch-sensitive control. In some implementations, in some of these implementations, the side-key module includes a volume button or a power button. 
     In some implementations, the electronic device further includes a flexible printed circuit wrapped around at least a portion of the metal support to connect the side-key module to the main logic board. In addition or as an alternative, in some of these implementations, the electronic device also includes a pressure sensitive adhesive connecting the flexible printed circuit to the metal support. In addition or as an alternative, in some of these implementations, the flexible printed circuit is routed along a first lengthwise portion of the interior surface of the metal frame, wrapped around one or more lateral sides of the metal support, and routed along a second lengthwise portion of the rear surface of the metal support. 
     In some implementations, the one or more fasteners are electrically conductive and transfer the one or more antenna signals from the metal support to the metal frame. 
     In some implementations, the one or more fasteners include at least two fasteners separated by the side-key module. In addition or as an alternative, in some of these implementations, the electronic device also includes one or more gaskets positioned between the metal support and the metal frame. In addition or as an alternative, in some of these implementations, the one or more gaskets include two gaskets each positioned on an opposing side of the side-key module from one another to reduce signal interference from the antenna signal to the side-key module. In addition or as an alternative, in some of these implementations, the two gaskets are located between two of the at least two fasteners. 
     In some implementations, the one or more fasteners include screws, bolts, rivets, or studs. 
     In some implementations, the electronic device also includes multiple antenna springs including the antenna spring. Each antenna spring is in direct electrical contact with the metal support and is configured to inject corresponding antenna signals into the metal support to route the corresponding antenna signals through the one or more metal fasteners and to the metal frame to induce radiation that generates the one or more antennas. 
     This summary is provided to introduce simplified concepts concerning an antenna system integrated with side-keys of an electronic device, which is further described below in the Detailed Description and Drawings. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for use in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The details of one or more aspects of an antenna system integrated with side-keys of an electronic device are described in this document with reference to the following drawings. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components: 
         FIG.  1    illustrates an example implementation of an antenna structure integrated with side-keys of an electronic device in accordance with the techniques described herein; 
         FIG.  2    illustrates an example implementation of the electronic device from  FIG.  1    in more detail; 
         FIG.  3    illustrates an exploded view of a portion of the electronic device from  FIG.  1   , including the antenna structure integrated with the side-keys of the electronic device; 
         FIG.  4    illustrates a front view of the portion of the electronic device from  FIG.  3    in an assembled state; 
         FIG.  5 - 1    illustrates a sectional view of the portion of the electronic device in  FIG.  5   , taken along line A-A; 
         FIG.  5 - 2    illustrates a sectional view of the portion of the electronic device in  FIG.  5   , taken along line B-B; and 
         FIG.  6    illustrates a simplified front view of antenna-signal paths through the antenna structure from  FIG.  1   . 
     
    
    
     The details of one or more aspects of an antenna system integrated with side-keys of an electronic device are described in this document with reference to the following drawings. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components: 
     The details of one or more aspects of an antenna system integrated with side-keys of an electronic device are described in this document with reference to the following drawings. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components: 
     The details of one or more aspects of an antenna system integrated with side-keys of an electronic device are described in this document with reference to the following drawings. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components: 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Overview 
     This document describes methods and systems for an antenna system integrated with side-keys of an electronic device. The antenna system described herein enables areas around the side-keys (e.g., buttons or button-like components) to be utilized as antennas without experiencing interference from the side-keys and without causing interference with the functionality of the side-keys. Antenna integration is implemented by using an electrically conductive (e.g., metallic) support structure and fastener (e.g., screw). For example, a metallic frame having one or more arms (e.g., antenna structures) is formed as one or more antennas based on, e.g., slits in appropriate locations on the frame. Injecting signals electrically into the frame and its arm(s) can induce electric currents flowing along the frame, which can induce radiation that generates an antenna. To accommodate side-keys, which are embedded in the frame, and avoid signal interference, the support structure helps route the injected signals around the side-keys and into the frame. Antenna springs are connected to the support structure and are configured to inject the antenna signals into the support structure. The support structure is affixed to the frame by the fastener, which helps transfer the signals from the support structure to the frame. 
     While features and concepts of the described methods and systems for an antenna system integrated with side-keys of an electronic device can be implemented in any number of different environments, aspects are described in the context of the following examples. 
     Example Device 
       FIG.  1    illustrates an example implementation  100  of an electronic device (e.g., electronic device  102 ) having an antenna system  104  integrated with one or more side-key module(s)  106 . In an example, the side-key module  106  is embedded in a frame (e.g., metal frame  108 ) of the electronic device  102  and connected to a main logic board (MLB)  110  by a flexible printed circuit (FPC)  112 . The metal frame  108  may include one or more apertures  114  (e.g., slots, slits, holes, cutouts) that enable the metal frame  108  to act as a radiating element for one or more antennas. 
     To provide a direct electrical path for antenna signals generated by one or more signal generators  116  on the MLB  110  to the metal frame  108 , the antenna system  104  includes one or more antenna springs  118 , one or more electrically conductive fasteners (e.g., fasteners  120 ), and a conductive support structure (e.g., metal support  122 ). Although the signal generator  116  and the antenna spring  118  are illustrated as separate components, this is not intended to be limiting. Rather, in an aspect, the signal generator  116  and the antenna spring  118  may comprise a single entity or part having the characteristics of both the signal generator  116  and the antenna spring  118  as well as being configured to perform functionalities of the both of the signal generator  116  and the antenna spring  118 . Using the various components of the antenna system  104  described herein, antenna signals can be routed around the side-key module  106  and injected into the metal frame  108  sufficient to cause the metal frame  108  to act as a radiating element for one or more antennas without causing signal interference to the side-key module  106 . 
     Further, the antenna system  104  enables the electronic device  102  to communicate wirelessly with other devices and/or servers over a network (e.g., network  124 ). The network  124  may be any suitable network, some examples of which include a local-area-network (LAN), a wireless local-area-network (WLAN), a personal-area-network (PAN), a wide-area-network (WAN), an intranet, the Internet, a peer-to-peer network, point-to-point network, or a mesh network. 
     In more detail, consider  FIG.  2   , which illustrates an example implementation  200  of the electronic device  102  from  FIG.  1   . The electronic device  102  of  FIG.  2    is illustrated with a variety of example devices, including a smartphone  102 - 1 , a tablet  102 - 2 , a laptop  102 - 3 , a desktop computer  102 - 4 , a wearable electronic device (e.g., a computing watch  102 - 5 , computing spectacles  102 - 6 ), a gaming system  102 - 7 , a home-automation and control system  102 - 8 , and a microwave  102 - 9 . The electronic device  102  can also include other devices, e.g., televisions, entertainment systems, audio systems, automobiles, drones, track pads, drawing pads, netbooks, e-readers, home security systems, and other home appliances. Note that the electronic device  102  can be mobile, wearable, non-wearable but mobile, or relatively immobile (e.g., desktops and appliances). 
     The electronic device  102  also includes one or more computer processors  202  and one or more computer-readable media  204 . The one or more computer-readable media  204  includes memory media  206  and storage media  208 . Applications  210  and/or an operating system  212  implemented as computer-readable instructions on the computer-readable media  204  can be executed by the computer processors  202  to provide some or all of the functionalities described herein. 
     Various implementations of the antenna system  104  can include, or communicate with, a System-on-Chip (SoC), one or more Integrated Circuits (ICs), a processor with embedded processor instructions or configured to access processor instructions stored in memory, hardware with embedded firmware, a printed circuit board with various hardware components, or any combination thereof. 
     The electronic device  102  may also include a network interface  214 . The electronic device  102  can use the network interface  214  for communicating data over wired, wireless, or optical networks (e.g., the network  124 ). By way of example and not limitation, the network interface  214  may communicate data over a local-area-network (LAN), a wireless local-area-network (WLAN), a personal-area-network (PAN), a wide-area-network (WAN), an intranet, the Internet, a peer-to-peer network, point-to-point network, or a mesh network. 
     The electronic device  102  also includes one or more sensors  216 , which can include any of a variety of sensors, including an audio sensor (e.g., a microphone), a touch-input sensor (e.g., a touchscreen, a fingerprint sensor, a capacitive touch sensor), an image-capture device (e.g., a camera or video-camera), proximity sensors (e.g., capacitive sensors), or an ambient light sensor (e.g., photodetector). In aspects, the sensor  216  may include, or be integrated with, the side-key module  106  in  FIG.  1   . For example, the side-key module  106  may be a fingerprint sensor to detect and scan a fingerprint of a user&#39;s finger, e.g., for authentication to the electronic device  102 . In another example, the side-key module  106  may include a capacitive touch sensor configured to detect touch input by the user to trigger a function of an application (e.g., the application  210 ) running on the electronic device  102 , such as to increase or decrease the volume, skip to a next music track, repeat a previous music track, trigger a capture of a screen shot, trigger image capture by a camera, etc. 
     The electronic device  102  can also include a display device (e.g., display device  218 ). The display device  218  can include any suitable touch-sensitive display device, e.g., a touchscreen, a liquid crystal display (LCD), thin film transistor (TFT) LCD, an in-place switching (IPS) LCD, a capacitive touchscreen display, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, an active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) display, super AMOLED display, and so forth. The display device  218  may be referred to as a display or a screen, such that digital content may be displayed on-screen. 
     These and other capabilities and configurations, as well as ways in which entities of  FIGS.  1  and  2    act and interact, are set forth in greater detail below. These entities may be further divided, combined, and so on. The implementation  100  of  FIG.  1    and the detailed illustrations of  FIG.  2    through  FIG.  6    illustrate some of many possible environments, devices, and methods capable of employing the described techniques, whether individually or in combination with one another. 
       FIG.  3    illustrates an exploded view  300  of a portion of the electronic device from  FIG.  1   , including the antenna system  104  integrated with the side-keys of the electronic device  102 . In the illustrated example, a portion of the metal frame  108  of the electronic device  102  is disposed along an edge of the electronic device  102 . The edge may be any suitable edge of the electronic device  102  including, for example, an edge that borders a display screen (e.g., the display device  218  in  FIG.  2   ) of the electronic device  102 . 
     The metal frame  108  defines one or more slots  302  used to embed the side-key modules  106  (e.g., a first side-key module  106 - 1 , a second side-key module  106 - 2 ) into the metal frame  108 . The metal frame  108  has an interior surface  304  and an exterior surface  306  that is opposite the interior surface  304 . The metal frame  108  may be disposed along at least one edge of a housing  308  of the electronic device  102  and provides structural support for the electronic device  102 . In implementations, the exterior surface  306  of the metal frame  108  may form part of an exterior surface of a housing of the electronic device  102 . In another example, the metal frame  108  may be housed within the housing  308  of the electronic device  102  such that the exterior surface  306  of the metal frame  108  is located inside the housing  308 . The metal frame  108  acts as a grounded metallic radiator with a length enabling its resonant mode to be aligned with the signal frequency and result in one or more antennas. 
     The metal support  122  is aligned with the metal frame  108  and affixed to the metal frame  108  via one or more of the fasteners  120 . The metal support  122  includes a longitudinal axis  310 , which is aligned (e.g., substantially parallel) with the metal frame  108  along the edge of the housing  308  of the electronic device  102 . In the illustrated example, the metal support  122  includes one or more contact surfaces  312 , which are configured to abut the interior surface  304  of the metal frame  108 . The contact surfaces  312  of the metal support  122  surround a hole through which a fastener  120  (e.g., screw, bolt, stud, rivet) is inserted and fastened to the metal frame  108  to provide a clamping force and solidify the connection between the metal support  122  and the metal frame  108 . This connection also provides a direct electrical path from the metal support  122  to the metal frame  108  via the fastener  120  and in some implementations, via the contact surface  312  of the metal support  122  to the interior surface  304  of the metal frame  108 . 
     In another example, the metal support  122  and the metal frame  108  may be a single part, rather than separate components that are fixed together. For instance, the metal support  122  may be formed by creating one or more slots in a relatively thick metal frame  108 . Such as slot can be used to make space for the side-key module  106  and the routing FPCs  112 . In such an implementation, the metal frame  108  and the metal support  122  are connected without using the fasteners  120 , and the metal support  122  is part of the metal frame  108 . 
     In addition, one or more gaskets  314  may be disposed between the metal support  122  and the metal frame  108  to seal a gap between the metal support  122  and the metal frame  108  on opposing sides of the side-key module  106 . In an example, the gaskets  314  are located proximate to opposing lengthwise ends of the side-key module  106  such that the side-key module  106  is oriented to be elongated in a direction that intersects the gaskets  314 . In addition, the gaskets  314  help improve electrical conductivity between the metal support  122  and the metal frame  108  by reducing resistance for the current flowing along the metal support  122  to the metal frame  108 . The gaskets  314  may further reduce signal interference between the side-key module  106  and the antenna signals traveling to the metal frame  108  to form antennas. 
     The one or more gaskets  314  may also be used to prevent antenna ohmic loses that are caused by floating metal parts introduced around the antenna. For example, the FPC  112  includes metallic ground traces that are connected to the side-key module  106  but which are not electrically connected to the metal frame  108  or the metal support  122 . In this way, the metal ground traces are floating metal parts. One or more gaskets  314  can connect the ground traces of the FPC  112  and cause the FPC  112  and the metal support  122  to act electrically as a single conductive body. 
     In aspects, the metal support  122  may include one or more recessed areas  316  configured to receive a portion of an FPC wrapping around at least a portion of the metal support  122 . For example, the FPC  112  includes a first portion  112 - 1  connected to a second portion  112 - 1 , which is connected to a third portion  112 - 3 . As illustrated, the first portion  112 - 1  may be positioned between the metal frame  108  and the metal support  122  such that the first portion  112 - 1  of the FPC  112  connects to the first side-key module  106 - 1 . The second portion  112 - 2  wraps around the metal support  122  (e.g., radially around the longitudinal axis  310  of the metal support  122 ) and connects to the third portion  112 - 3 , which is located on an opposing side (e.g., rear surface  318 ) of the metal support  122  from the first portion  112 - 1  of the FPC  112  (e.g., the side of the metal support  122  proximate to the MLB  110 ). The rear surface  318  of the metal support  122  is opposite the contact surfaces  312  of the metal support  122 . The third portion  112 - 3  of the FPC  112  may be connected to a fourth portion  112 - 4 , which is connected to the MLB  110 . In some implementations, the FPC  112  may be attached to the metal support  122  via adhesive (e.g., pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA), glue). 
     One or more additional FPCs (e.g., FPC  320 ) may also wrap around the metal support  122 , providing a direct electrical connection from the MLB  110  to another side-key module  106  (e.g., the second side-key module  106 - 2 ). For example, the FPC  320  includes a first section  320 - 1  connected to a second section  320 - 2 , which bends around the metal support  122  and is connected to the MLB  110 . As the FPC  320  bends around the metal support  122 , the FPC  320  may be routed through one of the recessed areas  316  of the metal support  122  to reduce the length of the FPC  320  between the MLB  110  and the second side-key module  106 - 2 . 
       FIG.  4    illustrates a front view  400  of the portion of the electronic device from  FIG.  3    in an assembled state. As illustrated, the metal support  122  and the metal frame  108  are assembled together by three fasteners  120 , providing electrical paths on opposing sides of the side-key modules  106 . Further, one or more of the antenna springs  118  are located directly behind the side-key modules  106  (e.g., the first side-key module  106 - 1 , the second side-key module  106 - 2 ), which prevents a linear connection to the metal frame  108 . In some implementations, the side-key module  106  may be a pressable button (e.g., the first side-key module  106 - 1 ), which may be embedded in the metal frame  108  and extend outwardly from the exterior surface  306  of the metal frame  108 . In other implementations, the side-key module  106  may be a touch-sensitive button (e.g., the second side-key module  106 - 2 ), which may be embedded in the metal frame  108  and aligned with a recessed area  402  defined by the metal frame  108 . The recessed area  402  may provide a tactile indication to a user of where the touch-sensitive button is located. As mentioned, the metal frame  108  provides a path for antenna signals, generated by the MLB  110  and injected into the metal support  122  by the antenna spring  118 , to travel around the side-key module  106  without interfering with the functionality of the side-key module  106 . 
     As illustrated, the FPC  112  wraps around a portion of the metal support  122 . For example, the first portion  112 - 1  of the FPC  112  is disposed on the interior surface  304  of the metal frame  108 , which is proximate to a first side  404  (e.g., frame-side) of the metal support  122 , and connects to one of the side-key modules  106 . The second portion  112 - 2  of the FPC  112  passes underneath (in the front view  400 ) the metal support and the third portion  112 - 3  of the FPC  112  is disposed proximate to a second side  406  (MLB-side) of the metal support  122 . In the illustrated example, the third portion  112 - 3  is disposed on the second side  406  of the metal support  122 , which corresponds to the rear surface  320  of the metal support  122 . The fourth portion  112 - 4  of the FPC  112  connects directly to the MLB  110 . The additional FPC  320  may be similarly oriented. For example, a portion of the FPC  320  is disposed on the first side  404  of the metal support  122  and connects to one of the side-key modules  106 . The FPC  320  wraps underneath (in the front view  400 ) the metal support  122  and onto the second side  406  of the metal support  122  to connect directly to the MLB  110 . In another example, the FPC  320  and/or the FPC  112  wrap over the top (in the front view  400 ) of the metal support  122 , rather than underneath the metal support  122 . 
     In this arrangement, the FPCs  112  and  320  provide direct electrical connections from the MLB  110  to the side-key modules  106 . Further, the antenna springs  118 , the metal support  122 , the fasteners  120 , and the metal frame  108  provide a direct electrical path for antenna signals from the MLB  110  to the metal frame  108  to enable the metal frame  108  to act as a resonating antenna element without interfering with the functionality of the side-key modules  106 . A portion  408  of the front view  400  is shown in  FIG.  6    in a simplified form to illustrate the path of the antenna signals generated by the antenna signal generator  116 . 
     Although the illustrated example includes three fasteners  120  and three antenna springs  118  used to realize three antennas by the metal frame  108 , any suitable number of fasteners and antenna springs can be used. Aspects including the length of the metal frame  108 , a grounding location, the number of fasteners, antenna springs, and realized antennas are not limiting factors to the subject matter described herein. These aspects can be modified in any suitable manner. For example, if additional antennas with different frequency specifications are to be incorporated into the electronic device, the techniques described herein can be applied to enable the additional antennas. 
     Each antenna spring  118  may use a different fastener  120  than the other antenna springs  118  to connect the corresponding antenna signals to the metal frame  108 . However, the number of fasteners is not limited by the number of antenna springs  118 . Additional fasteners may be implemented to establish additional connection between the metal frame  108  and the metal support  122 . Alternatively, fewer than three fasteners may be implemented. The number of fasteners used may depend on the architecture of the electronic device  102 , including available space in the electronic device  102 , number of side-key modules embedded in the metal frame  108 , number of antennas to realize via the metal frame  108 , and so forth. 
       FIG.  5 - 1    illustrates a sectional view  500  of the portion of the electronic device  102  in  FIG.  5   , taken along line A—A. The sectional view  500  illustrates a point of contact  502  between a spring connector  504  of the antenna spring  118  and the metal support  122 . The sectional view  500  also illustrates the side-key module  106 , which is located directly between the antenna spring  118  and the metal frame  108 . Further, the antenna spring  118  is mounted on the MLB  110 . Although an antenna spring is used in the illustrated example, any suitable electrical connector may be used to provide direct electrical contact to the metal support  122  for injecting the antenna signal. 
       FIG.  5 - 2    illustrates a sectional view  520  of the portion of the electronic device  102  in  FIG.  5   , taken along line B—B. The sectional view  520  illustrates the fastener  120  securing, based on a clamping force, the metal support  122  to the metal frame  108  to solidify the connection between the metal frame  108  and the metal support  122  and enable passage of the antenna signal. The antenna signal may travel through the fastener  120  as well as through areas of the metal support  122  that contact the metal frame  108 , including the contact surface  312  of the metal support  122  that abuts the interior surface  304  of the metal frame  108 . Accordingly, the fastener  120  is an integral part of the antenna system  104  because the fastener  120  helps transfer the antenna signal from the metal support  122  to the metal frame  108 . 
       FIG.  6    illustrates a simplified view  600  of a portion of the front view  400  from  FIG.  4   , showing example current flow in the antenna system. The direction arrows  602  in the diagram indicate the direction of electric current flowing through the antenna system  104  at approximately 2.44 GHz. The density of the illustrated pattern filling in the arrows  602  indicates an amount of the current flowing at that location. In the illustrated example, antenna signals, in the form of electric current, are injected into the metal frame  108  at location  604  and location  606  via the antenna springs  118  (shown in  FIG.  4   ). 
     As illustrated, the current (e.g., the arrows  602 ) flows from the injection sites (e.g., locations  604  and  606 ) left and right through the metal support  122 . The current then flows through the fasteners  120  (e.g., shown at arrow  608 ) and the surrounding surfaces of the metal support  122  and the metal frame  108  that are contacting one another. Then, the current flows into the metal frame  108 . Due to the geometry of the metal frame (e.g., slots, cutouts, etc. in the metal frame  108 ), the metal frame  108  can act as the resonating antenna element for one or more antennas. Accordingly, the current flows around the side-key module  106 , which is embedded in the metal frame  108 , without interfering with the side-key module  106  functionality. 
     Generally, any of the components, modules, methods, and operations described herein can be implemented using software, firmware, hardware (e.g., fixed logic circuitry), manual processing, or any combination thereof. Some operations of the example methods may be described in the general context of executable instructions stored on computer-readable storage memory that is local and/or remote to a computer processing system, and implementations can include software applications, programs, functions, and the like. Alternatively or in addition, any of the functionality described herein can be performed, at least in part, by one or more hardware logic components, including, and without limitation, Field-programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Application-specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Application-specific Standard Products (AS SPs), System-on-a-chip systems (SoCs), Complex Programmable Logic Devices (CPLDs), and the like. 
     Some examples are described below: 
     An electronic device may comprise: a housing; a main logic board disposed within the housing, the main logic board having a signal generator configured to generate, through one or more antennas, one or more antenna signals; a metal frame disposed along at least one edge of the housing and configured to provide structural support for the housing, the metal frame having: one or more apertures that enable the metal frame to be configured as an antenna radiating element of the one or more antenna signals generated by the one or more antennas; and an interior surface and an opposing, exterior surface; a side-key module embedded in the metal frame; a metal support having an elongated shape and oriented to be substantially parallel with the metal frame, the metal support having one or more contact surfaces that abut the interior surface of the metal frame on one or more opposing sides of the side-key module, at least a portion of the side-key module positioned directly between the metal support and the metal frame, the metal support having a rear surface that is opposite the one or more contact surfaces; an antenna spring in direct electrical contact with the metal support and the signal generator, the antenna spring configured to inject the one or more antenna signals into the metal support; and one or more metal fasteners affixing the metal support to the metal frame to provide a path for the one or more antenna signals to be routed from the metal support to the metal frame. 
     The side-key module may be positioned between the antenna spring and the metal frame. 
     The side-key module may include a user input mechanism configured to control one or more functions of the electronic device or an application executing on the electronic device. 
     The side-key module may include a pressable button or a touch-sensitive control. 
     The side-key module may include a volume button or a power button. 
     The electronic device may further comprise a flexible printed circuit wrapped around at least a portion of the metal support to connect the side-key module to the main logic board. 
     The electronic device may further comprise a pressure sensitive adhesive connecting the flexible printed circuit to the metal support. 
     The flexible printed circuit may be routed along a first lengthwise portion of the interior surface of the metal frame, wrapped around one or more lateral sides of the metal support, and routed along a second lengthwise portion of the rear surface of the metal support. 
     The one or more fasteners may be electrically conductive and transfer the one or more antenna signals from the metal support to the metal frame. 
     The one or more fasteners may include at least two fasteners separated by the side-key module. 
     The electronic device may further comprise one or more gaskets positioned between the metal support and the metal frame. 
     The one or more gaskets may include two gaskets each positioned on an opposing side of the side-key module from one another to reduce signal interference from the antenna signal to the side-key module. 
     The two gaskets may be located between two of the at least two fasteners. 
     The one or more fasteners may include screws, bolts, rivets, or studs. 
     The electronic device may further comprise multiple antenna springs including the antenna spring, wherein each of the multiple antenna springs is configured to: be in direct electrical contact with the metal support; and inject corresponding antenna signals into the metal support to route the corresponding antenna signals through the one or more metal fasteners and to the metal frame to induce radiation that generates the one or more antennas. 
     CONCLUSION 
     Although aspects of the antenna system integrated with side-keys of an electronic device have been described in language specific to features and/or methods, the subject of the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as example implementations of the claimed antenna system integrated with side-keys of an electronic device, and other equivalent features and methods are intended to be within the scope of the appended claims. Further, various different aspects are described, and it is to be appreciated that each described aspect can be implemented independently or in connection with one or more other described aspects.