Patent Publication Number: US-8988305-B1

Title: Portable wireless phone device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention concerns a portable wireless phone device provided with at least one NFC antenna. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     NFC antennas are known to provide RFID capabilities, for example for reader and/or transponder applications. 
     Document WO 2009/085777 describes an apparatus for providing radio frequency identification (RFID) and touch sensing capability, comprising: a touch sensor panel, the touch sensor panel including one or more substrates and a plurality of drive lines and a plurality of sense lines, the plurality of drive lines and the plurality of sense lines formed on one or more of the substrates; and an RFID circuit, the RFID circuit including an antenna and a control circuit coupled to the antenna, the antenna formed on a same side of the substrate as either the plurality of drive lines or the plurality of sense lines. 
     One of the problems of the portable wireless phone device provided with this RFID circuit is the low current flowing in the RFID antenna. 
     It follows that the magnetic field radiated by the antenna is too small. 
     This does not enable a good application of the phone device as a RFID reader and/or RFID transponder. 
     The invention aims to obviate the drawbacks of the prior art and to have a better reception and emission of the NFC antenna of the portable wireless phone device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a portable wireless phone device, comprising 
     a first antenna for phone communication, 
     an upper display module having a first upper face, a first lower face and first side faces connecting the first upper face to the first lower face, 
     an inner metallic board situated between the first lower face and a second lower face of an external housing assembly having second side faces connected to the second lower face, each first side face facing one of the second side faces, 
     the external housing assembly enclosing the inner metallic board, the first antenna, a second NFC antenna and an electrical circuit for controlling the upper display module, the first antenna and the second NFC antenna, 
     wherein the second NFC antenna comprises a NFC loop antenna having at least one turn, 
     wherein the at least one turn comprises 
     at least one first part situated at a distance from the inner metallic board and between at least one determined of the first side faces and at least one determined of the second side faces, facing each other, 
     at least one second part situated under the first lower face. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the second part is situated between the first lower face and the inner metallic board. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the second part comprises a first subpart situated between the first lower face and the inner metallic board. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the second part comprises a second subpart situated between the inner metallic board and the second lower face. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the inner metallic board comprises at least one hole, wherein the second part gets through the hole. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the first part comprises at least one rectilinear segment. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the first part extends under a second upper face of the external housing assembly facing the second lower face. According to an embodiment of the invention, an upper transparent wall is provided on the first upper face of the upper display module, 
     the upper transparent wall has a third upper face, a third lower face and third side faces connecting the third upper face to the third lower face, each third side face facing one of the second side faces, the third lower face is against the first upper face, 
     the first part of the at least one turn is situated between at least one determined of the third side faces of the upper transparent wall and at least one determined of the second side face. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the second part is entirely situated between the inner metallic board and the second lower face of the external housing assembly, the inner metallic board comprises at least one hole, the at least one turn comprises at least one third part connecting the first part to the second part, the third part gets through the hole. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the second part comprises at least one rectilinear segment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic cross section side view of a portable wireless phone device according to a first embodiment of the invention, 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic upper view of a portable wireless phone device according to the first embodiment of the invention, 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic cross section side view of a portable wireless phone device according to a second embodiment of the invention, 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic upper view of a portable wireless phone device according to the second embodiment of the invention, 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic cross section side view of a portable wireless phone device according to a third embodiment of the invention, 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic upper view of a portable wireless phone device according to the third embodiment of the invention, 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic cross section side view of a portable wireless phone device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention, 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic upper view of a portable wireless phone device according to the fourth embodiment of the invention, 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic cross section side view of a portable wireless phone device according to a fifth embodiment of the invention, 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic upper view of a portable wireless phone device according to the fifth embodiment of the invention, 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic cross section side view of a portable wireless phone device according to a sixth embodiment of the invention, 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic upper view of a portable wireless phone device according to the sixth embodiment of the invention, 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic cross section side view of a portable wireless phone device according to a seventh embodiment of the invention, 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic upper view of a portable wireless phone device according to the seventh embodiment of the invention, 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic upper view of an embodiment of an NFC antenna, which can be used in the portable wireless phone device according to the invention, 
         FIG. 16  show an equivalent electric layout of the antenna of  FIG. 15 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following, NFC means Near Field Communication. 
     RFID means radio frequency identification. 
     In the  FIGS. 1 to 14 , a portable wireless phone device  1  comprises a first antenna  2  for phone communication and an upper display module  3 . Device  1  is a wireless telephone and can be for example a cell phone, a mobile telephone, a GSM phone, a personal digital assistant PDA, a smartphone, a touchscreen tablet. The first antenna  2  serves to voice communication and/or data communication (images, e-mails, messages like for examples SMS messages (SMS means Short Message Service), MMS messages (MMS means Multimedia Messaging Service), Internet communications or others) with a remote wireless network, distinct from device  1 . 
     The upper display module  3  has a first upper face  31 , a first lower face  32  and first side faces  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36  connecting the first upper face  31  to the first lower face  32 . An upper transparent wall  9  is provided on the first upper face  31  of the upper display module  3 . The upper transparent wall  9  may be made of glass or plastics. The wall  9  may extend beyond the first upper face  31 . The wall  9  serves to protect the first upper face  31  and the upper display module  3 . The upper wall  9  is in contact with outside of device  1 . Of course, in other embodiments, the wall  9  may stop at the first upper face  31  and have the same size as the first upper face  31 . 
     Module  3  serves to display images on the upper face  31  to the outside through the upper transparent wall  9  Recently, in a lot of devices  1 , the area covered by the upper display module  3  has become higher and higher, to show always bigger images to the user. Also, the module  3  has metallic surfaces. For example, the first lower face  32  of the upper display module  3  is a metallic surface. 
     The device  1  contains also other metallic surfaces. 
     An inner metallic board  4  is situated between the first lower face  32  and a second lower face  51  of an external housing assembly  5 . 
     The external housing assembly  5  has second side faces  53 ,  54 ,  55 ,  56  connected to the second lower face  51 . Each first side face  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36  faces one of the second side faces  53 ,  54 ,  55 ,  56  respectively. The external housing assembly  5  forms with the upper transparent wall  9  a closed housing. In an embodiment, the external housing assembly  5  can be formed by a shell closed by a lid, which may have an opening position to give an access to the interior of the shell and a closed position not to give access to the interior of the shell, wherein the lid can be moved between the two positions. 
     The upper transparent wall  9  has a third upper face  91 , a third lower face  92 , and third side faces  93 ,  94 ,  95 ,  96 . The third side faces  93 ,  94 ,  95 ,  96  connect the third upper face  91  to the third lower face  92 . Each third side face  93 ,  94 ,  95 ,  96  faces one of the second side faces  53 ,  54 ,  55 ,  56  respectively. The third upper face  91  is in contact with the outside of the device  1 . The third lower face  92  is against the first upper face  31 . 
     For example, in the figures, X is first longitudinal direction, Y is a second transversal direction and Z is a vertical direction. For example, X is a longitudinal and horizontal direction, Y is a transversal and horizontal direction and Z is a vertical direction. 
     For example, sides faces  34 ,  54 ,  36 ,  56  may be longitudinal (they extend along longitudinal direction X), side faces  33 ,  53 ,  35 ,  55  may be transversal (they extend along transversal direction Y) and faces  31 ,  32 ,  51 ,  57  may be horizontal. 
     For example, the face  33  may be adjacent (is connected to) to face  34 , face  34  may be adjacent (is connected to) to face  35 , face  35  may be adjacent (is connected to) to face  36  and face  36  may be adjacent (is connected to) to face  33 . For example, the faces  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36  may form a rectangle. 
     For example, the face  53  may be adjacent (is connected to) to face  54 , face  54  may be adjacent (is connected to) to face  55 , face  55  may be adjacent (is connected to) to face  56  and face  56  may be adjacent (is connected to) to face  53 . For example, the faces  53 ,  54 ,  55 ,  56  may form a rectangle. 
     For example, the face  93  may be adjacent (is connected to) to face  94 , face  94  may be adjacent (is connected to) to face  95 , face  95  may be adjacent (is connected to) to face  96  and face  96  may be adjacent (is connected to) to face  93 . For example, the faces  93 ,  94 ,  95 ,  96  may form a rectangle. 
     For example, X is orthogonal to Y. For example, Z is orthogonal to direction X and to direction Z. 
     The external housing assembly  5  encloses the inner metallic board  4 , the first antenna  2 , a second NFC antenna  6  and an electrical circuit  7 . The electrical circuit  7  serves to control the upper display module  3 , the first antenna  2  and the second NFC antenna  6 . The inner metallic board  4  serves to support the electrical circuit  7 , which can comprise for example one or several printed circuit board(s)  71 . The inner metallic board  4  is also provided for electromagnetic compatibility. The inner metallic board  4  is at a distance from the first lower face  32 . The inner metallic board  4  may be a metal plate. The device  1  comprises also a battery  8  for feeding electrical power to all the electrical parts of the device  1 , including the electrical circuit  7 , the upper display module  3 , the first antenna  2  and the second NFC antenna. The battery  8  can be loaded via an electrical port of the external housing assembly  5 , to be loaded from the outside. The battery  8  feeds DC current. 
     The second NFC antenna  6  comprises a NFC loop antenna  60  having at least one turn  61 . The second NFC antenna  6  is a RFID antenna. The NFC loop antenna  60  is a RFID antenna. Of course, one or several second NFC antennas  6  may be provided. 
     In the embodiments of the device  1 , the NFC antenna  6  can be used as reader and/or transponder. In the embodiments of the device  1 , the NFC loop antenna  60  can be used as reader and/or transponder. 
     In an embodiment, the NFC antenna  6  and/or the NFC loop antenna  60  are incorporated in an electrically isolating sheet or electrically isolating substrate, which is for example flexible. 
     The NFC loop antenna  60  is magnetic, i.e. mainly radiates a magnetic field. 
     The NFC loop antenna  60  may have several turns  61 , for example as provided in  FIGS. 15 and 16 . In case of several turns  61  and on  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the turns  61  are concentric, i.e. the NFC loop antenna  60  is flat, i.e. the NFC loop antenna  60  is bi-dimensional or plane. In this case, the turns  61  extend around a same center.  FIG. 15  shows the turns  61 , also called S, extending in the plane of the figure. In case of several turns  61  and on  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the turns  61  may extend in the same plane. In case that the electrically isolating sheet or electrically isolating substrate, on which is the NFC loop antenna  60 , is flexible, the electrically isolating sheet or electrically isolating substrate may be folded. Then, in the device  1 , the NFC loop antenna  60  may extend in one or several planes. The turns  61  have parts (for example segments) close to each other (same angular zone around the center) which extend in the same plane. For example, in  FIG. 15 , the NFC loop antenna  60  may be folded across folding line FL crossing the turns. When the NFC loop antenna  60  is folded across folding line F, the turns  61  or S extend in two secant planes, for example in a first plane in which first part  611  is situated, and in a second plane in which second part  612  is situated. Of course, the NFC loop antenna  60  may be folded across several folding line FL crossing the turns. The at least one folding line FL may be rectilinear. Then, in device  1 , the at least one turn  61  extends in one plane or in one folded plane. Then, in device  1 , the NFC loop antenna  60  extends in one plane or in one folded plane. In the embodiments shown on  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11  and  12 , the at least one turn  61  comprises:
         at least one first part  611  situated at a distance from the inner metallic board  4  and between at least one determined of the first side faces  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36  and at least one determined of the second side faces  53 ,  54 ,  55 ,  56 , facing each other,   at least one second part  612  situated under the first lower face  32 .       

     Surprisingly, this improves the radiation of magnetic field of the NFC antenna  6  towards the second upper face  57  and/or  58  and/or  59  of the external housing assembly  5 , even in view of NFC antennas which would be entirely situated at a side of the upper display module  3 . 
     In the embodiments of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 , the first part  611  of the at least one turn  61  is situated between the first side face  33  and the second side face  53  facing the first side face  33 . 
     In the embodiments of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5 ,  6 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11 ,  12 , the second part  612  of the at least one turn  61  is situated between the first lower face  32  and the inner metallic board  4 . 
     In the embodiments of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5 ,  6 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11 ,  12 , the second part  612  of the at least one turn  6  comprises a first subpart  6121  situated between the first lower face  32  and the inner metallic board  4 . 
     In the embodiments of  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  7 ,  8 , the second part  612  of the at least one turn  6  comprises a first subpart  6121  situated between the first lower face  32  and the inner metallic board  4  and a second subpart  6122  situated between the inner metallic board  4  and the second lower face  51 . 
     This improves the radiation of magnetic field of the NFC antenna  6  both towards the second upper face  57  and/or  58  and/or  59  of the external housing assembly  5  and towards the lower side  51 . 
     In the embodiments of  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  7 ,  8 , the inner metallic board  4  comprises at least one hole  41 , wherein the second part  612  gets through the hole  41 . 
     In the embodiments shown on the  FIGS. 1 to 12 , the first part  611  comprises at least one rectilinear segment  6111 . In the embodiment shown on the  FIGS. 11 ,  12 , the other first part  611   b  comprises also at least one other rectilinear segment  6111   b.    
     In the embodiments shown on  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  13 ,  14 , the first part  611  extends under a second upper face  57  of the external housing assembly  5 . The second upper face  57  faces the second lower face  51 . 
     In the embodiments shown, the second upper face  57  of the external housing assembly  5  has a portion  571  extending on an end  911  of the third upper face  91  of the upper transparent wall  9 . 
     In some embodiments, the first part of the at least one turn is situated between at least one determined of the third side faces of the upper transparent wall and at least one determined of the second side face. 
     In the embodiments of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  13 ,  14 , the first part  611  of the at least one turn  61  is situated between the third side face  93  of the upper transparent wall  9  and the second side face  53 , facing each other. 
     In the embodiments shown on  FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 , the first part  611  of the at least one turn  61  is situated between the first side face  36  and the second side face  56  facing the first side face  36 . 
     In the embodiments shown on  FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 , the first part  611  extends under a second upper face  58  of the external housing assembly  5 . The second upper face  58  faces the second lower face  51 . 
     In the embodiments shown, the second upper face  58  of the external housing assembly  5  has a portion  581  extending on an end  912  of the third upper face  91  of the upper transparent wall  9 . 
     In the embodiments of  FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 , the first part  611  of the at least one turn  61  is situated between the third side face  96  of the upper transparent wall  9  and the second side face  56 , facing each other. 
     In the embodiment shown on  FIGS. 9 ,  10 , the first part  611  of the at least one turn  61  is situated between the first side face  33  and the second side face  53  facing the first side face  33  and between the first side face  36  and the second side face  56  facing the first side face  36 . 
     In the embodiment shown on  FIGS. 9 ,  10 , the first part  611  extends under the second upper face  57  of the external housing assembly  5  and under the second upper face  58  of the external housing assembly  5 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 9 ,  10 , the first part  611  of the at least one turn  61  is situated between the third side face  96  of the upper transparent wall  9  and the second side face  56 , facing each other, and between the third side face  93  of the upper transparent wall  9  and the second side face  53 , facing each other. 
     In the embodiment shown on  FIGS. 11 ,  12 , there is the first part  611  of the at least one turn  61  which is situated between the first side face  36  and the second side face  56  facing the first side face  36  and another first part  611   b  of the at least one turn  61  which is situated between the first side face  34  and the second side face  54  facing the first side face  34 . 
     In the embodiment shown on  FIGS. 11 ,  12 , the first part  611  extends under the second upper face  58  of the external housing assembly  5  and the other first part  611   b  extends under the second upper face  59  of the external housing assembly  5 . The second upper face  59  faces the second lower face  51 . 
     In the embodiments shown, the second upper face  59  of the external housing assembly  5  has a portion  591  extending on an end  913  of the third upper face  91  of the upper transparent wall  9 . 
     The second upper face  57  and/or  58  and/or  59  may extend along X at the same length as face  35 , or may extend along X beyond face  35 , or may extend along X before face  35 . 
     In the embodiment shown on  FIGS. 11 ,  12 , the first part  611  of the at least one turn  61  is situated between the third side face  96  of the upper transparent wall  9  and the second side face  56 , facing each other, and between the third side face  94  of the upper transparent wall  9  and the second side face  54 , facing each other. 
     In the embodiment shown on  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the second part  612  is entirely situated between the inner metallic board  4  and the second lower face  51  of the external housing assembly  5 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the inner metallic board  4  comprises at least one hole  41 . The at least one turn  61  comprises at least one third part  613  connecting the first part  611  to the second part  612 . The third part  613  gets through the hole  41 . In the embodiment shown on  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the second part  612  situated between the inner metallic board  4  and the second lower face  51  comprises at least one rectilinear segment  6122 . 
     The second part  612  or the entire turn  61  entirely situated between the inner metallic board  4  and the second lower face  51  improves the radiation of magnetic field of the NFC antenna  6  towards the lower side  51 . 
       FIGS. 15 and 16  show an embodiment of an NFC antenna  6  which can be used in the device  1 . 
     In an embodiment, as an example, on  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the NFC antenna  6  comprises:
         the NFC loop antenna  60  formed by a number of at least three turns (S,  61 , S 1 , S 21 , S 22 , S 3 ), the antenna  60  having a first end terminal (D) and a second end terminal (E),   at least two access terminals ( 100 ,  200 ) to connect a charge,   at least one tuning capacitance (C) for tuning at a prescribed tuning frequency, having a first capacitance terminal (C 1 X) and a second capacitance terminal (C 1 E),   an intermediate tap (A) connected to the antenna  60  and distinct from the first end terminal (D) and from the second end terminal (E),   first connection means (CON 1 A) connecting the intermediate tap (A) to a first ( 100 ) of the two access terminals,   second connection means (CON 2 E) connecting the second end terminal (E) to the second capacitance terminal (C 1 E),   third connection means (CON 31 , CON 32 ) connecting the first capacitance terminal (C 1 X) and the second ( 200 ) of the access terminals respectively to a first point (P 1 ) of the antenna  60  and to a second point (P 2 ) of the antenna  60 ,       

     wherein the second point (P 2 ) is connected to the second end terminal (E) of the antenna by at least one turn (S, S 1 ,  61 ) of the antenna (L) and is connected to the first point (P 1 ) of the antenna (L) by at least one turn (S, S 21 , S 22 , S 23 ) of the antenna  60 . 
     In an embodiment, there is at least one turn S 21 , S 23 ,  61  between the intermediate tap (A) and the second point (P 2 ). 
     In an embodiment, there is at least one turn S 3 ,  61  between the intermediate tap (A) and the first point (P 1 ). 
     The access terminals  100  and  200  are connected to the electrical circuit  7 . 
     In the above, the faces may be plane or contain a plane part. 
     Of course, the faces may be other than the one shown on the figures. 
     In other embodiments, the faces may be curved or contain a curved portion.