Patent Publication Number: US-8538345-B2

Title: Apparatus including housing incorporating a radiating element of an antenna

Description:
The present Application for Patent is a national stage submission under 35 U.S.C. §371 of Patent Application No. PCT/US2007/080829 entitled “ANTENNA INCLUDING HOUSING INCORPORATING A RADIATING ELEMENT OF AN ANTENNA” filed Oct. 9, 2007, pending, and assigned to the assignee hereof and hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present disclosure relates generally to communications systems, and more specifically, to an antenna comprising first and second radiating elements having substantially the same characteristic features. 
     2. Background 
     Communications devices that operate on a limited power supply, such as a battery, typically use techniques to provide the intended functionality while consuming relatively small amounts of power. One technique that has been gaining in popularity relates to transmitting signals using pulse modulation techniques. This technique generally involves transmitting information using low duty cycle pulses and operating in a low power mode during times when not transmitting the pulses. Thus, in these devices, the efficiency is typically better than communications devices that operate a transmitter continuously. 
     Since, in some applications, the pulses may have a relatively small duty cycle, the antenna used for transmitting or receiving the pulses should minimize the effects it has on the shape or frequency content of the pulses. Thus, the antenna should have a relatively large bandwidth. Further, since the antenna may be used in low power applications where a limited power supply, such as a battery, is used, the antenna should have relatively high efficiency in transmitting or receiving signals to and from a wireless medium. Thus, its return loss across the intended bandwidth should be relatively high. Additionally, since the antenna may be used in applications where it needs to be incorporated in a relatively small housing, the antenna should also have a relatively compact configuration. 
     SUMMARY 
     An aspect of the disclosure relates to an apparatus for wireless communications. The apparatus comprises an antenna including first and second radiating elements, a circuit adapted to process a signal received from or to be provided to the antenna, and a housing enclosing at least a portion of the circuit, wherein at least a portion of the housing comprises the second radiating element. In another aspect, the second radiating element forms a base of the housing. In yet another aspect, the second radiating element is electrically coupled to ground potential. 
     In another aspect, the first radiating element is situated entirely within the housing. In yet another aspect, the first radiating element is situated partially within the housing. In still another aspect, the first radiating element is situated entirely external to the housing. 
     In another aspect, the first radiating element comprises a metallization trace disposed on a dielectric substrate. The length of the metallization trace may be approximately a quarter wavelength at a center frequency of a defined bandwidth. In yet another aspect, the first radiating element comprises a monopole. The monopole may be configured as a substantially planar metallization layer. 
     In another aspect, the apparatus is configured as a watch. In yet another aspect, the apparatus may further comprise a wrist band connected to the watch, wherein the first radiating element is at least partially disposed on a non-electrically conductive portion of the wrist band. 
     In another aspect, the first and second radiating elements of the apparatus are adapted to transmit or receive a signal within a defined ultra-wide band (UWB) channel that has a fractional bandwidth on the order of 20% or more, has a bandwidth on the order of 500 MHz or more, or has a fractional bandwidth on the order of 20% or more and has a bandwidth on the order of 500 MHz or more. 
     Other aspects, advantages and novel features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description of the disclosure when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A-D  illustrate front, side, enlarged side, and enlarged front internal views of an exemplary watch in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure. 
         FIGS. 2A-D  illustrate front, side, enlarged side, and enlarged front internal views of an exemplary watch in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of an exemplary apparatus in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of another exemplary apparatus in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of another exemplary apparatus in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary communications device in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a block diagram of another exemplary communications device in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a block diagram of another exemplary communications device in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure. 
         FIGS. 9A-D  illustrate timing diagrams of various pulse modulation techniques in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a block diagram of various communications devices communicating with each other via various channels in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various aspects of the disclosure are described below. It should be apparent that the teachings herein may be embodied in a wide variety of forms and that any specific structure, function, or both being disclosed herein are merely representative. Based on the teachings herein one skilled in the art should appreciate that an aspect disclosed herein may be implemented independently of any other aspects and that two or more of these aspects may be combined in various ways. For example, an apparatus may be implemented or a method may be practiced using any number of the aspects set forth herein. In addition, such an apparatus may be implemented or such a method may be practiced using other structure, functionality, or structure and functionality in addition to or other than one or more of the aspects set forth herein. Furthermore, an aspect may comprise at least one element of a claim. 
     As an example of some of the above concepts, in some aspects, the apparatus including an antenna for wireless communications is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an antenna including first and second radiating elements, a circuit adapted to process a signal received from or provided to the antenna, and a housing enclosing at least a portion of the circuit, wherein at least a portion of the housing comprises the second radiating element. The second radiating element may forms a base of the housing. Additionally, the second radiating element may be electrically coupled to ground potential. Further, the first radiating element may be situated entirely within the housing, partially within the housing, or entirely external to the housing. 
       FIGS. 1A-B  illustrate front and side views of an exemplary watch  100  in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure. As is discussed in more detail below, the watch includes a housing, wherein at least a portion of the housing is configured as a radiating element of an antenna. In particular, the watch  100  comprises a housing  110 , a user interface  120  including a display  122  and control buttons  124 , a first radiating element  130  of an antenna, and a wrist band  150 . The wrist band  150 , in turn, comprises a buckle portion  152  and an indexed-hole portion  154 . 
     The wrist band portions  152  and  154  may be configured as a non-electrical conductor, such as leather. Alternatively, each wrist band portion  152  or  154  may include a non-electrical conductive portion ( 152   a  or  152   b ), and an electrical-conductive portion ( 154   a  or  154   b ), such as stainless steel. The reason being is that the first radiating element  130  of the antenna should be disposed on the non-electrical conductive portion of the wrist band  150 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1C-D , which illustrate enlarged side and front internal views of the exemplary watch  100 , the housing  110  is formed of a base  112  and a cover  113  to form an enclosure. The housing  110  may enclose a battery  114 , a circuit  116 , the user interface  120  including the display  122 , and a portion of the first radiating element  130 . The first radiating element  130 , in turn, comprises a chip antenna  132  situated within the housing  110 , an external radiating source  136  situated external to the housing, and a connection  134  to electrically connect the chip antenna  132  to the radiating source  136 . The chip antenna  132  may be configured as a metallization trace disposed on a dielectric substrate, wherein the length of the metallization trace is approximately a quarter wavelength at the center frequency of a defined bandwidth. The radiating source  136  may be disposed on the non-conductive portion of the wrist band  150 . 
     The negative terminal of the battery  114  is electrically coupled to the base  112  of the housing  110 . The base  112  could be made out of an electrical conductor, such as stainless steel. In this configuration, the base  112  is electromagnetically coupled to the first radiating element  130 , and thus, serves as a second radiating element of the antenna. The positive terminal of the battery  114  may be electrically coupled to the circuit  116  and the user interface  120  for supplying electrical power thereto. The circuit  116  may be electrically coupled to the first radiating element  130  for processing signals picked up by the first radiating element  130  from a wireless medium. The circuit  116  may also process signals for transmission into the wireless medium by the first radiating element  130 . The circuit  116  may also process signals picked up by the first radiating element  130  and also signals for transmission into the wireless medium by the first radiating element  130 . Thus, the watch  100  incorporates an antenna in a compact manner utilizing a portion of the housing to serve as a radiating element of the antenna. The antenna may be used by the watch  100  to communicate with other communications devices. 
     In some sample aspects, the diameter of the base or the second radiating element  112  may be configured to be approximately 29 mm to 42 mm. The height of the housing  110  may be configured to be approximately 9 mm to 13 mm. The dielectric  132  of the chip antenna  130  includes a length of approximately 5 mm to 7 mm, a width of approximately 1.5 mm to 3 mm, and a height of approximately 40 to 60 mills (thousandth of an inch). The diameter of the external radiating source  136  may be configured to be approximately 2 mm to 3.1 mm. With these parameters, this antenna may operate suitably within the UWB being defined in this disclosure such as between 6 GHz-10 GHz and preferably between 7 GHz-9 GHz. 
       FIGS. 2A-D  illustrate front, side, enlarged side, and enlarged front internal views of an exemplary watch  200  in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure. The watch  200  is similar to watch  100 , and includes many of the same elements which are designated with the same reference numbers but with the most significant digit being a “2” instead of a “1.” The difference is that the watch  200  incorporates a different structure for the first radiating element. 
     In particular, the first radiating element  240  of the watch  200  is configured as a planar monopole. The planar monopole  240  may be situated external to the housing  210  of the watch  200 , and may be disposed on the non-electrical conductive portion of the wrist band  250 . A connection  234  is provided to electrically couple the planar monopole  240  to the circuit  216  for signal processing purposes. As previously discussed, a portion of the housing  110 , in this example the base  212 , is electromagnetically coupled to the first radiating element  240 , and serves as the second radiating element of the antenna. As mentioned above, the watch  200  incorporates an antenna in a compact manner utilizing a portion of the housing to serve as a radiating element of the antenna. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of an exemplary apparatus  300  in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure. In this example, the apparatus  300  serves as a generic apparatus that incorporates the antenna concepts previously described. In particular, the apparatus  300  comprises a first means  306  for radiating an electromagnetic signal, such as a monopole or chip antenna. The apparatus  300  further comprises a second means  302  for radiating the electromagnetic signal, such as a metallic plate or base. Additionally, the apparatus  300  comprises a means  308  for processing the electromagnetic signal received from and/or to be provided to the antenna, such as a transmitter or receiver. The apparatus  300  further comprises a means ( 302  and  304 ) for enclosing at least a portion of the processing means  308 . The enclosing means may comprise a cover  304  and at least a portion of the second radiating means  302 , which serves as the base for the enclosure in the example. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of another exemplary apparatus in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure. In this example, the apparatus  400  serves as a generic apparatus that incorporates the antenna concepts previously described. In particular, the apparatus  400  comprises a housing including a base  402  and a cover  404  to form an enclosure. In this case, the housing partially encloses a first radiating element  406  of an antenna. The other portion of the first radiating element  406  may be situated external to the housing. At least a portion of the housing, such as at least a portion of the base  402  or at least a portion of the cover  404 , may serve as the second radiating element of the antenna. The housing further encloses a circuit  408  which is adapted to process a signal received from and/or to be provided to the first radiating element  406 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of another exemplary apparatus in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure. In this example, the apparatus  500  serves as a generic apparatus that incorporates the antenna concepts previously described. In particular, the apparatus  500  comprises a housing including a base  502  and a cover  504  to form an enclosure. In this case, the first radiating element  506  is situated entirely external to the housing. The apparatus  500  may include a feed  508  to routes signals between components (not shown) situated within the housing and the first radiating element  506 . At least a portion of the housing, such as at least a portion of the base  502  or at least a portion of the cover  504 , may serve as the second radiating element of the antenna. The housing further encloses a circuit  508  which is adapted to process a signal received from and/or to be provided to the first radiating element  506  via the feed  508 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary communications device  600  in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure. The communications device  600  may be particularly suited for sending and receiving data to and from other communications devices. The communications device  600  comprises an antenna  602 , a Tx/Rx isolation device  604 , a radio frequency (RF) receiver  606 , an RF-to-baseband receiver portion  608 , a baseband unit  610 , a data processor  612 , a user interface  614 , a data generator and/or receiver  616 , a baseband-to-RF transmitter portion  618 , and an RF transmitter  620 . The communications device  600  may be configured such that it includes a housing for enclosing at least a portion of the electronic, wherein at least a portion of the housing serves as a radiating element of the antenna  602 . 
     In operation, the data processor  612  may receive data from another communications device via the antenna  602  which picks up the RF signal from the communications device, the Tx/Rx isolation device  604  which routes the signal to the RF receiver  606 , the RF receiver  606  which amplifies the received signal, the RF-to-baseband receiver portion  608  which converts the RF signal into a baseband signal, and the baseband unit  610  which processes the baseband signal to determine the received data. The data processor  612  may then perform one or more defined operations based on the received data, such as sending the data to the user interface  614  or the data receiver  616 . 
     Further, in operation, the data processor  612 , user interface  614 , and data generator and/or receiver  616  may generate outgoing data for transmission to another communications device via the baseband unit  610  which processes the outgoing data into a baseband signal for transmission, the baseband-to-RF transmitter portion  618  which converts the baseband signal into an RF signal, the RF transmitter  620  which conditions the RF signal for transmission via the wireless medium, the Tx/Rx isolation device  604  which routes the RF signal to the antenna  602  while isolating the input of the RF receiver  606 , and the antenna  602  which radiates the RF signal into the wireless medium. The data generator  614  may be a sensor or other type of data generator. The user interface  614  may comprise a keyboard, a pointing device such as a mouse or a track ball, control buttons, etc. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary communications device  700  in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure. The communications device  700  may be particularly suited for receiving data from other communications devices. The communications device  700  comprises an antenna  702 , an RF receiver  704 , an RF-to-baseband receiver portion  706 , a baseband unit  708 , and a data processor  710 . The communications device  700  may be configured such that it includes a housing for enclosing at least a portion of the electronic, wherein at least a portion of the housing serves as a radiating element of the antenna  702 . 
     In operation, the data processor  710  may receive data from another communications device via the antenna  702  which picks up the RF signal from the communications device, the RF receiver  704  which amplifies the received signal, the RF-to-baseband receiver portion  706  which converts the RF signal into a baseband signal, and the baseband unit  708  which processes the baseband signal to determine the received data. The data processor  710  may then perform one or more defined operations based on the received data, and/or send the received or processed data to the user interface  712  and/or the data receiver  714 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary communications device  800  in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure. The communications device  800  may be particularly suited for sending data to other communications devices. The communications device  800  comprises an antenna  802 , an RF transmitter  804 , a baseband-to-RF transmitter portion  806 , a baseband unit  808 , and a data generator  810 . The communications device  800  may be configured such that it includes a housing for enclosing at least a portion of the electronic, wherein at least a portion of the housing serves as a radiating element of the antenna  802 . 
     In operation, the data processor  810 , user interface  812 , and/or data generator  814  may generate outgoing data for transmission to another communications device via the baseband unit  808  which processes the outgoing data into a baseband signal for transmission, the baseband-to-RF transmitter portion  806  which converts the baseband signal into an RF signal, the transmitter  804  which conditions the RF signal for transmission via the wireless medium, and the antenna  802  which radiates the RF signal into the wireless medium. 
     In any of the communications devices  600 ,  700 , and  800 , the corresponding data processor may include a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a reduced instruction set computer (RISC) processor, etc. The corresponding user interface may provide visual, audio or thermal indication. For example, the corresponding user interface may comprise a display, one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), an audio device, a headset including a transducer such as speakers, etc. The corresponding data generator may be a sensor or other device that generates data. The corresponding data receiver may comprise any device for receiving and processing data. Any of the communications devices may be used in any application, such as in a medical device, a shoe, a global positioning system (GPS), a robotic or mechanical device responsive to the data, etc. 
       FIG. 9A  illustrates different channels (channels  1  and  2 ) defined with different pulse repetition frequencies (PRF) as an example of a PDMA modulation. Specifically, pulses for channel  1  have a pulse repetition frequency (PRF) corresponding to a pulse-to-pulse delay period  902 . Conversely, pulses for channel  2  have a pulse repetition frequency (PRF) corresponding to a pulse-to-pulse delay period  904 . This technique may thus be used to define pseudo-orthogonal channels with a relatively low likelihood of pulse collisions between the two channels. In particular, a low likelihood of pulse collisions may be achieved through the use of a low duty cycle for the pulses. For example, through appropriate selection of the pulse repetition frequencies (PRF), substantially all pulses for a given channel may be transmitted at different times than pulses for any other channel. 
     The pulse repetition frequency (PRF) defined for a given channel may depend on the data rate or rates supported by that channel. For example, a channel supporting very low data rates (e.g., on the order of a few kilobits per second or Kbps) may employ a corresponding low pulse repetition frequency (PRF). Conversely, a channel supporting relatively high data rates (e.g., on the order of a several megabits per second or Mbps) may employ a correspondingly higher pulse repetition frequency (PRF). 
       FIG. 9B  illustrates different channels (channels  1  and  2 ) defined with different pulse positions or offsets as an example of a PDMA modulation. Pulses for channel  1  are generated at a point in time as represented by line  906  in accordance with a first pulse offset (e.g., with respect to a given point in time, not shown). Conversely, pulses for channel  2  are generated at a point in time as represented by line  908  in accordance with a second pulse offset. Given the pulse offset difference between the pulses (as represented by the arrows  910 ), this technique may be used to reduce the likelihood of pulse collisions between the two channels. Depending on any other signaling parameters that are defined for the channels (e.g., as discussed herein) and the precision of the timing between the devices (e.g., relative clock drift), the use of different pulse offsets may be used to provide orthogonal or pseudo-orthogonal channels. 
       FIG. 9C  illustrates different channels (channels  1  and  2 ) defined with different timing hopping sequences. For example, pulses  912  for channel  1  may be generated at times in accordance with one time hopping sequence while pulses  914  for channel  2  may be generated at times in accordance with another time hopping sequence. Depending on the specific sequences used and the precision of the timing between the devices, this technique may be used to provide orthogonal or pseudo-orthogonal channels. For example, the time hopped pulse positions may not be periodic to reduce the possibility of repeat pulse collisions from neighboring channels. 
       FIG. 9D  illustrates different channels defined with different time slots as an example of a PDM modulation. Pulses for channel L 1  are generated at particular time instances. Similarly, pulses for channel L 2  are generated at other time instances. In the same manner, pulse for channel L 3  are generated at still other time instances. Generally, the time instances pertaining to the different channels do not coincide or may be orthogonal to reduce or eliminate interference between the various channels. 
     It should be appreciated that other techniques may be used to define channels in accordance with a pulse modulation schemes. For example, a channel may be defined based on different spreading pseudo-random number sequences, or some other suitable parameter or parameters. Moreover, a channel may be defined based on a combination of two or more parameters. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a block diagram of various ultra-wide band (UWB) communications devices communicating with each other via various channels in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure. For example, UWB device  1   1002  is communicating with UWB device  2   1004  via two concurrent UWB channels  1  and  2 . UWB device  1002  is communicating with UWB device  3   1006  via a single channel  3 . And, UWB device  3   1006  is, in turn, communicating with UWB device  4   1008  via a single channel  4 . Other configurations are possible. The communications devices may be used for many different applications, and may be implemented, for example, in a headset, microphone, biometric sensor, heart rate monitor, pedometer, EKG device, watch, shoe, remote control, switch, tire pressure monitor, or other communications devices. 
     Any of the above aspects of the disclosure may be implemented in many different devices. For example, in addition to medical applications as discussed above, the aspects of the disclosure may be applied to health and fitness applications. Additionally, the aspects of the disclosure may be implemented in shoes for different types of applications. There are other multitude of applications that may incorporate any aspect of the disclosure as described herein. 
     Various aspects of the disclosure have been described above. It should be apparent that the teachings herein may be embodied in a wide variety of forms and that any specific structure, function, or both being disclosed herein is merely representative. Based on the teachings herein one skilled in the art should appreciate that an aspect disclosed herein may be implemented independently of any other aspects and that two or more of these aspects may be combined in various ways. For example, an apparatus may be implemented or a method may be practiced using any number of the aspects set forth herein. In addition, such an apparatus may be implemented or such a method may be practiced using other structure, functionality, or structure and functionality in addition to or other than one or more of the aspects set forth herein. As an example of some of the above concepts, in some aspects concurrent channels may be established based on pulse repetition frequencies. In some aspects concurrent channels may be established based on pulse position or offsets. In some aspects concurrent channels may be established based on time hopping sequences. In some aspects concurrent channels may be established based on pulse repetition frequencies, pulse positions or offsets, and time hopping sequences. 
     Those of skill in the art would understand that information and signals may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof. 
     Those of skill would further appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, processors, means, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware (e.g., a digital implementation, an analog implementation, or a combination of the two, which may be designed using source coding or some other technique), various forms of program or design code incorporating instructions (which may be referred to herein, for convenience, as “software” or a “software module”), or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be implemented within or performed by an integrated circuit (“IC”), an access terminal, or an access point. The IC may comprise a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, electrical components, optical components, mechanical components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein, and may execute codes or instructions that reside within the IC, outside of the IC, or both. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration. 
     It is understood that any specific order or hierarchy of steps in any disclosed process is an example of a sample approach. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the processes may be rearranged while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure. The accompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented. 
     The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A software module (e.g., including executable instructions and related data) and other data may reside in a data memory such as RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of computer-readable storage medium known in the art. A sample storage medium may be coupled to a machine such as, for example, a computer/processor (which may be referred to herein, for convenience, as a “processor”) such the processor can read information (e.g., code) from and write information to the storage medium. A sample storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in user equipment. In the alternative, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in user equipment. Moreover, in some aspects any suitable computer-program product may comprise a computer-readable medium comprising codes relating to one or more of the aspects of the disclosure. In some aspects a computer program product may comprise packaging materials. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with various aspects, it will be understood that the invention is capable of further modifications. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptation of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention, and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known and customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains.