Patent Publication Number: US-2021167485-A1

Title: Electronic devices having antenna assemblies

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Portable electronic devices are becoming increasingly popular. Examples of portable electronic devices may include handheld, computers (e.g., notebooks, tablets, and the like), cellular telephones, media players, and hybrid devices which include the functionality of multiple devices of this type. Due in part to their mobile nature, such electronic devices may often be provided with wireless communications capabilities, which may rely, on antenna technology to radiate radio frequency (RF) signals for transmission as well as to gather RF broadcast signals for reception. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Examples are described in the following detailed description and in reference to the drawings, in which 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective bottom view of an example electronic device, depicting a cable that is routed via an opening to connect an antenna to an antenna module; 
         FIG. 1B  is a bottom view of a bottom cover of the electronic device of  FIG. 1A , depicting the cable connected to the antenna module via the opening; 
         FIG. 1C  is a top view of the bottom cover of  FIG. 1B , depicting a portion of the cable fixed to the bottom cover via supporting features; 
         FIG. 1D  is a bottom view of the bottom cover of  FIG. 1B , depicting removable structure fixed to the bottom side to cover the opening; 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a bottom side of an example electronic device, depicting a cable routed through a foot pad area to electrically connect an antenna to an antenna module; 
         FIG. 2B  is a bottom view of the example electronic, device, depicting additional features; 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective bottom view of an example electronic device, depicting a cable to connect an antenna and an antenna module that are mounted to different covers of a base housing via routing the cable through an opening; and 
         FIG. 3B  is a perspective bottom view of the example electronic device of  FIG. 3A , depicting additional features. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Electronic devices such as mobile phones, notebooks, tablets, personal digital assistants (PDAs), or the like may have wireless communications capabilities. Such electronic devices may wirelessly communicate with a communications infrastructure to enable the consumption of digital media content. In order to wirelessly communicate with other devices, the electronic devices may be provided with antenna assemblies including antennas and antenna modules (i.e., radio frequency modules to transmit and/or receive the antenna signals). The antennas and antenna modules may be connected via coaxial cables. 
     Electronic devices may include a display housing and a base housing pivotally, detachably, or twistably connected to the display housing. The base housing may be formed of a top cover (e.g., that accommodates a keyboard and a touchpad on a surface) and a bottom cover (e.g., to support the electronic device on, a support surface). The use of antennas such as fifth generation (5G) antennas may be increasing in the electronic devices. The placement of the antennas may enhance the antenna performance. In some examples, the antennas may be disposed in the base housing. For example, the antennas can be attached to the top cover (e.g., a C-cover) or the bottom cover (e.g., a D-cover) of an electronic device. Attaching the antenna to the bottom cover may provide an enhanced antenna performance compared to attaching the antenna to the top cover. 
     However, attaching the antenna to the bottom cover while attaching the antenna module to the top cover (e.g., via a circuit board) may involve complexity in service and assembly of the electronic device as the coaxial cable that connects the antenna and the antenna module can get in the way, thereby causing service and assembly issues. For example, the cables may be routed between electronic components to connect the antennas and the antenna modules that are located within an enclosure. During assembly and/or service of the electronic device, the antenna that is fixed to the bottom cover may generate a blind assembly condition where connecting terminals of the cables cannot be viewed during assembly and/or service. 
     Examples described herein may provide an electronic device including an opening in a foot pad area. Examples described herein may route the cable that connects the antenna and the antenna module through the opening, which can simplify the electronic device assembly and service. In this example, the opening may facilitate service and assembly access to the cable and the antenna module. Further, the antenna may be fixed to the bottom cover of the electronic device, thereby enhancing the antenna performance. Furthermore, examples described herein may reduce manufacturing and servicing costs associated with the electronic devices. 
     In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present techniques. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present apparatus, devices and systems may be practiced without these specific details. Reference in the specification to “an example” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described is included in at least that one example, but not necessarily in other examples. 
     Examples described herein may provide an electronic device including a housing with an opening (e.g., in a foot pad area) and an antenna assembly disposed in the housing. The antenna assembly may include an antenna mounted to the housing, an antenna module disposed corresponding to the opening, and a cable to connect the antenna and the antenna module via routing the cable through the opening. The opening may facilitate service and assembly access to a connection between the cable and the antenna module. Examples described herein may be applicable to antenna assemblies where an antenna and an antenna module are mounted to different covers that form an electronic device housing and connected via a cable. 
       FIG. 1A  is a perspective bottom view of an example electronic device  100 , depicting a cable  110  that is routed via an opening  104  to connect an antenna  106  to an antenna module  108 . Example electronic device  100  may include a cellular phone, a notebook, a tablet, a personal computer (PC), a personal digital assistant, or any other device having wireless connectivity capability. 
     Example electronic device  100  may include a housing  102  having opening  104 . Example electronic device  100  may include an antenna assembly  112  disposed in housing  102 . In one example, antenna assembly  112  may include antenna  106  mounted to housing  102  and, antenna module  108  disposed corresponding to opening  104 . Antenna  106  and antenna module  108  may be attached to different covers that form housing  102 . Also, antenna assembly  112  may include cable  110  to connect antenna  106  to antenna module  108  via routing cable  110  through opening  104 . 
     For example, one end of cable  110  may be connected to antenna  106  and other end of cable  110  may be connected to antenna module  108  (e.g., at a connector) via opening  104 . Example cable  110  may be a coaxial cable. Example coaxial cable may include feed structures such as flex circuit material, wire cable, fiber optic cable, micro-coax cable, or other flexible conductive material that can be routed between antenna  106  and antenna module  108 . 
     Example antenna module  108  may include a transceiver circuitry, filtering circuitry, transmission line structures, amplifier circuitry, data conversion circuitry, matching circuitry, control logic, and/or any other desired circuitry for handling radio frequency (RF) signals in a corresponding frequency band. Antenna module  108  may be formed on a respective integrated circuit (i.e., chip). In other examples, example electronic device  100  may include multiple antenna modules that can be formed on a common integrated circuit, chip or on separate integrated circuits. Further, example antenna module  108  may receive RF signals via antenna  106 . Example antenna  106  may be a surface mounted antenna, such as, but not limited to, a patch antenna. Example antenna  106  may be used for handling millimeter wave communications or 5G communications. In other examples, antenna  106  may include a third-generation (3G) wireless antenna, a Bluetooth antenna, a wireless local area network (WLAN) antenna, and/or a global positioning system (GPS) antenna. In other examples, electronic device  100  may include multiple antennas, as shown in  FIG. 1B . 
       FIG. 1B  is a bottom view of a bottom cover  102 B of electronic device  100 , depicting cable  110  connected to antenna module  108  via opening  104 . For example, similarly named elements of  FIG. 1B  may be similar in structure and/or function to elements described with respect to  FIG. 1A . As shown in  FIG. 1B , example housing  102  may be formed via attaching a top cover  102 A to bottom cover  102 B. In one example, opening  104  may be defined in bottom cover  102 B of housing  102 . Further, antenna  106  may be disposed in housing  102  and attached to bottom cover  102 B. Furthermore, antenna module  108  may be disposed in housing  102  and attached to top cover  102 A. In some examples, antenna module  108  may be disposed on a circuit board (e.g., a motherboard of electronic device  100 ), which may be attached to top cover  102 A. 
     In one example, cable  110  may include a first portion  110 A disposed within housing  102  and fixed to bottom cover  102 B (e.g., at an internal surface of housing  102 ) via a supporting feature (e.g., supporting feature  152  as shown in  FIG. 1C ). A first terminal of cable  110  that is within housing  102  may be connected to antenna  106 . Further, cable  110  may include a second portion  11013  routed via, opening  104  to an exterior of electronic device  100  and connected to antenna module  108  via opening  104  (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 1B ). A second terminal of cable  110  that is exterior of electronic device  100  may be connected to antenna module  108  via opening  104 . 
     In this example, second portion  1106  and a portion of antenna module  108  that corresponds to opening  104  can be accessible from an exterior of electronic device  100  through opening  104  during service and/or assembly of electronic device  100 . In this example, cable  110  can be connected to or disconnected from antenna module  108  through opening  104  during assembly and/or service of electronic device  100 . 
     In other example, multiple antennas (e.g., antennas  106  and  114 ) may be attached to bottom cover  102 B and can be connected to antenna module  108  through opening  104 . For example, antennas  106  and  114  may be positioned within a wall (e.g., bottom cover  102 B) forming housing  102  at different locations around electronic device  100 . In this example, cables  110  and  116  may connect respective antennas  106  and  114  to antenna module  108  via routing cables  110  and  116  through opening  104 . 
       FIG. 1C  is a top view of bottom cover  102 B, depicting first portion  110 A fixed to bottom cover  102 B via supporting features  152 . For example, similarly named elements of  FIG. 1C  may be similar in structure and/or function to elements described with respect to  FIGS. 1A and 1B . In one example, antenna  106  may be fixed to a top side  154  of bottom cover  102 B. Further, first portion  110 A may be connected to antenna  106 . Furthermore, first portion  110 A may be fixed/attached to top side  154  of bottom cover  102 B via supporting features  152 . Example supporting features  152  may include, but not limited to, hooks and mylars. In other examples, first portion  110 A may be fixed/attached to top side  154  via removable tapes (e.g., adhesive tapes). 
       FIG. 1D  is a bottom view of bottom, cover  102 B, depicting a removable structure  158  fixed to bottom side  156  to cover the opening (e.g., opening  104  of  FIGS. 1A-1C ). Bottom side  156  is opposite to top side (e.g., top side  154  of  FIG. 1C ). For example, similarly named elements of  FIG. 1D  may be similar in structure and/or function to elements described with respect to  FIGS. 1A to 1C . Example removable structure  158  may cover opening (e.g., opening  104 ) and second portion of cable (e.g., second portion  110 B as shown in  FIG. 1B ). In some examples, removable structure  158  may be a foot pad (e.g., rubber foot) disposed on bottom side  156  (i.e., a bottom exterior surface) of bottom cover  102 B to support electronic device  100  on a support surface. 
       FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a bottom side  206  of an example electronic device  200 , depicting a cable  216  routed through a foot pad area  204  to electrically connect an antenna  212  to an antenna module  214 . Antenna assembly may be disposed in an interior of electronic device  200 , i.e., inside a housing  202  of electronic device  200 . 
     Electronic device  200  may include housing  202  having foot pad area  204  on bottom side  206 . In one example, foot pad area  204  may include a recess portion at bottom side  206 . Further, electronic device  200  may include a first opening  208  and a second opening  210  in foot pad area  204 . First opening  208  and second opening  210  can be through holes defined in housing  202  at bottom side  206 . Furthermore, electronic device  200  may include antenna  212  attached to housing  202  and antenna module  214  located within housing  202  corresponding to second opening  210 . 
     Also, electronic device  200  may include cable  216  to electrically connect antenna  212  to antenna module  214  via routing cable  216  through foot pad area  204 . In one example, cable  216  may be routed from an interior of housing  202  to an exterior of housing  202  through first opening  208  and connected to antenna module  214  from the exterior of housing  202  through second opening  210 . In one example, a portion of cable  216  that is routed from the exterior of housing  202  may be accommodated in the recess portion of foot pad area  204 . Further, a portion of cable  216  that is routed within electronic device  200  may be fixed to a top side of housing  202  via a supporting feature, such as hooks, or mylars. The top side may be opposite to bottom side  206 . 
       FIG. 2B  is a bottom view of example electronic device  200 , depicting additional features. For example, similarly named elements of  FIG. 2B  may be similar in structure and/or function to elements described with respect to  FIG. 2A . Electronic device  200  may include a foot pad  252  to cover foot pad area  204  and a portion of cable  216  that is routed through foot pad area  204 . Foot pad  252  may provide gripping for electronic device  200  on a ground surface. For example, electronic device  200  may include multiple foot pads that are uniformly spaced to facilitate electronic device  200  to stay firmly without sliding, when electronic device  200  is put on, for example, a desk. In this example, first and second openings  208  and  210  can be defined in any of the foot pads whose location corresponds to antenna module  214 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2B , housing  202  may include a top cover  202 B and a bottom cover  202 A attached to top cover  202 B. In this example, antenna  212  may be attached to bottom cover  202 A and antenna module  214  may be attached to top cover  202 B. In other examples, antenna  212  may be fixed along a side wall of bottom cover  202 A. Further, cable  216  can be connected to or disconnected from antenna module  214  via second opening  210  to assemble or disassemble top cover  202 B and bottom cover  202 A during assembly and/or service of electronic device  200 . In one example, during service, cable  216  can be disconnected from antenna module  214  via second opening  210  and then top cover  202 B and bottom cover  202 A can be separated. In another example, during assembly, top cover  202 B and bottom cover  202 A can be attached first and then, cable  216  can be connected to antenna module  214  via second opening  210 . 
       FIG. 3A  is a perspective bottom view of an example, electronic device  300 , depicting a cable  322  to connect an antenna  318  and an antenna module  320  hat are mounted to different covers of a base housing  306  via routing cable  322  through opening  314 . Electronic device  300  may be a content rendering device that includes a wireless modem for connecting electronic device  300  to a network. 
     Example electronic device  300  may include a tablet computer, a notebook computer, an electronic book reader, a portable digital assistant, a mobile phone, a laptop computer, a portable media player, a camera, a video camera, a netbook, a desktop computer, a gaming console, a DVD player, a media center, or the like. Electronic device  300  may connect to the network to obtain content from a server (e.g., a content provider) or to perform other activities. 
     An example electronic device  300  such as a notebook computer or a tablet computer may be explained in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . Referring to  FIG. 3A , electronic device  300  may include a display housing  302 . Further, electronic device  300  may include base housing  306  connected to display housing  302 . In one example, base housing  306  and display housing  302  may be connected to each other via a hinge assembly. For example, the hinge assembly may pivotally, twistably, or detachably couple display housing  302  and base housing  306 . For example, a motherboard and the electronic components, such as a hard disk, memory, peripheral ports, a battery, and the like may be assembled in base housing  306  to control the operation of electronic device  300 , and an input apparatus, such as a keyboard and touchpad, may be positioned on a surface of base housing  306 . Display housing  302  may include a display unit  304  (e.g., a touch-screen display). 
     Example display unit  304  may include liquid crystal display (LCD), light, emitting diode (LED) display, electro-luminescent (EL) display, or the like. Also, electronic device  300  may be equipped with other components such as a camera, an audio/video device, or the like depending on the functions of electronic device  300 . In some examples, electronic device  300  can be implemented without some of the components such as the keyboard and the touchpad. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the antenna assembly may be disposed in base housing  306 . In other examples, the antenna assembly may also be disposed in display housing  302  of electronic device  300 . Base housing  306  may be formed of a top cover  308  and a bottom cover  310  attached to top cover  308 . Example bottom cover  310  may be made of a metal, a carbon-fiber, or a combination thereof. Bottom cover  310  may include a foot pad area  312 . In one example, bottom cover  310  may include opening  314  in foot pad area  312 , Example opening  314  may be an elongated opening in foot pad area  312  or may include multiple openings in foot pad area  312 . In some examples, opening  314  may be formed in bottom cover  310  by computer numerical control (CNC) machining. 
     Further, example bottom cover  310  may include a foot pad  316  to cover foot pad area  312 . Example foot pad  316  may be a rubber foot to increase friction between electronic device  300  and a support surface on which electronic device  300  rests. Further, electronic device  300  may include the antenna assembly disposed in base housing  306 . 
     In one example, the antenna assembly may include antenna  318  mounted to bottom cover  310  and antenna module  320  mounted to top cover  308  (e.g., via the motherboard) corresponding to opening  314  in foot pad area  312 . In one example, antenna  318  may be attached to bottom cover  310  to enhance the antenna&#39;s performance. In some examples, bottom cover  310  may also provide a grounding function for antenna  318 . Example antenna module  320  may include a radio frequency component to transmit and receive radio signals. For example, antenna module  320  may include a printed circuit board (PCB) with the radio frequency component such as a radio transceiver, a preamplifier, a filter, a microprocessor, a matching circuit, and the like to process, the radio signals. 
     Also, the antenna assembly may include cable  322  to connect antenna  318  to antenna module  320  via routing cable  322  through opening  314  and between foot pad area  312  (i.e., at a bottom side of bottom cover  310 ) and foot pad  316 . Antenna  318  can be integrated to bottom cover  310  within base housing  306  and connected via cable  322  (e.g., a micro-coaxial cable) to antenna module  320 . 
     In  FIGS. 3A and 3B , foot pad area  312  may be located between two length sides of base housing  306 . The length and width sides of foot pad area  312  may be parallel to the length and width sides of base housing  306 , respectively. The term “parallel” in this disclosure may encompass substantially parallel and entirely parallel. The term “substantial” may encompass some insignificant minute amount of variation. In another example, foot pad area  312  may be located between two width sides of base housing  306  or may be tilted by a certain angle with respect to length sides or width sides such that a location of antenna module  320  corresponds to a portion of foot pad area  312 . Also, foot pad area  312  and/or foot pad  316  can be designed in any shape such as a rectangular, circular, oval, square, or the like. 
       FIG. 3B  is a perspective bottom view of example electronic device  300  of  FIG. 3A , depicting additional features. As shown in  FIG. 3B , top cover  308  may be attached to bottom cover  310  to form base housing  306 . For example, similarly named elements of  FIG. 3B  may be similar in structure and/or function to elements described with respect to  FIG. 3A . 
     Example opening  314  (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 3A ) in foot pad area  312  may include a first opening  314 A and a second opening  314 B. In one example, cable  322  (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 3A ) may be routed from an interior of base housing  306  to an exterior of base housing  306  via passing cable  322  through first opening  314 A. Further, cable  322  may be connected to antenna module  320  from the exterior of base housing  306  via second opening  314 B. 
     Further, cable  322  may include a first portion  322 A that is routed within base housing  306  and fixed to a top side of bottom cover  310  via supporting features (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 1C ). Also, cable  322  may include a second portion  322 B that is routed through foot pad area  312  (e.g., via first opening  314 A) at the bottom side of bottom cover  310  and connected to antenna module  320  via opening  314  (e.g., via second opening  314 B). The bottom side is opposite to the top side of bottom cover  310 . In further examples, foot pad area  312  and foot pad  316  can be formed/designed between antenna  318  and antenna module  320  such that both first portion  322 A and second portion  322 B can be routed from an exterior bottom side of bottom cover  310  between foot pad area  312  and foot pad  316 . 
     In other examples, the antenna assembly may utilize a pair of antennas (e.g.,  318  and  324 ) mounted to bottom cover  310  within base housing  306  and connected to antenna module  320  via respective cables  322  and  326 . In this example, cables  322  and  326  may be routed through foot pad area  312  at the bottom side of bottom cover  310  and connected to antenna module  320  via opening  314 . 
     In one example, foot pad area  312  may include a recess portion at the bottom side to accommodate second portion  322 B. In this example, foot pad  316  may cover the recess portion and second portion  322 B of cable  322  such that the opening  314  and second portion  322 B cannot be viewable from exterior of electronic device  300 . Thus, examples described herein may not change or affect an aesthetic appearance of electronic device  300 . 
     In one example, second portion  322 B can be accessible from an exterior of electronic device  300  through foot pad area  312  and a portion of antenna module  320  that corresponds to opening  314  (e.g., second opening  314 B) can be accessible from the exterior of electronic device  300  through opening  314  (e.g., by removing foot pad  316  that is attached to foot pad area  312 ). Particularly, cable  322  can be connected to or disconnected from antenna module  320  via second opening  314 B during service and/or assembly of base housing  308 . Also, routing cable  322  from the exterior of electronic device  300  may create space in an interior of electronic device  300  and also reduce complexity. 
     Even though examples of  FIGS. 1-3  may be described with respect to an antenna assembly including an antenna and an antenna module, examples described herein can also be applicable to other assemblies where a first electronic component and a second electronic component are mounted to different covers that form a device housing and connected via a cable. 
     It may be noted that the above-described examples of the present solution are for the purpose of illustration only. Although the solution has been described in conjunction with a specific implementation thereof, numerous modifications may be possible without materially departing from the teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein, Other substitutions, modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the present solution. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including, any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. 
     The terms “include,” “have,” and variations thereof, as used herein, have the same meaning as the term “comprise” or appropriate variation thereof. 
     Furthermore, the term “based on”, as used herein, means “based at least in part on.” Thus, a feature that is described as based on some stimulus can be based on the stimulus or a combination of stimuli including the stimulus. 
     The present description has been shown and described with reference to the foregoing examples. It is understood, however, that other forms, details, and examples can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter that is defined in the following claims.