Patent Publication Number: US-8125396-B2

Title: Handheld electronic device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial No. 97149287, filed on Dec. 17, 2008. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The application generally relates to an electronic device. More particularly, the application relates to an antenna design of a handheld electronic device. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Currently, wireless communication has become a more popular choice for human beings to communicate with each other. Correspondingly, there have been developed many kinds of wireless communication apparatuses, such as smart cell phones, multimedia players, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and global positioning systems (GPSs). Almost all of the electronic apparatus capable of wireless transmittance are developed with a concept toward light weight and slimness, so as to become more welcome to the consumers. 
     Generally, antennas are critical components for handheld electronic devices to receive or transmit signals. To give an artistic appearance of a handheld electronic device, a conventional antenna is usually hided within a handheld electronic device. However, the conventional antenna occupies a part of the inner space, and the restricted space may lead to significant difficulty in antenna design or obvious degradation of antenna performance. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the application is directed to a handheld electronic device capable of providing good antenna performance and sufficient containing space. 
     As embodied and broadly described herein, the application provides a handheld electronic device comprising an appearance provided with a containing space for disposing a communication module and a substrate having a ground plane; an antenna disposed on a surface of the appearance; and, a first fastening element and a second fastening element for fixing the appearance and the substrate. The first fastening element and the second fastening element electrically connect the antenna to the ground plane and the communication module. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the antenna comprises a ground region electrically connected to the ground plane and a feed-in region electrically connected to the communication module. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the handheld electronic device further comprises a first fastening hole penetrating the appearance and the antenna, and a second fastening hole penetrating the substrate. The first fastening element is fastened in the first fastening hole and the second fastening hole such that the antenna and the ground region are electrically connected to the ground plane via the first fastening element. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the handheld electronic device further comprises an first opening penetrating the appearance, by which the antenna extends into the containing space; a third fastening hole penetrating the antenna in the first opening; and, a fourth fastening hole covered by a second electroplating layer and penetrating the substrate. The first fastening element is fastened in the third fastening hole and the fourth fastening hole such that the antenna extending into the containing space is in contact with the second electroplating layer and electrically connected to the ground plane. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the handheld electronic device further comprises a fifth fastening hole penetrating the appearance and the antenna and a sixth fastening hole penetrating the substrate. The second fastening element is fastened into the fifth fastening hole and the sixth fastening hole such that the antenna and the feed-in region are electrically connected to the communication module via the second fastening element. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the handheld electronic device further comprises a second opening penetrating the appearance such that the antenna extends into the containing space; a seventh fastening hole penetrating the antenna in the second opening; and, an eighth fastening hole covered by a fourth electroplating layer and penetrating the substrate. The second fastening element is fastened into the seventh fastening hole and the eighth fastening hole such that the antenna extending into the containing space is in contact with the fourth electroplating layer and electrically connected to the communication module. 
     Accordingly, the antenna of the handheld electronic device of the application covers a surface of the appearance and occupies no inner space of the handheld electronic device, and the performance of the antenna can also be improved. Elements in the handheld electronic device can be capable of fixing and electrically connecting to each other by adopting various fasteners in different material. Therefore, the requirement of components can be reduced so as to save the manufacturing cost and enhance the rigidity of the whole structure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the application, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a partial cross-sectional view of a handheld electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial cross-sectional view of a handheld electronic device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional view of a handheld electronic device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a partial cross-sectional view of a handheld electronic device according to further another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the handheld electronic device as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. 
       FIG. 1  is a partial cross-sectional view of a handheld electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the handheld electronic device  100  of this embodiment may be a smart phone, a multimedia player, a PDA, or a GPS, etc. The handheld electronic device  100  includes an appearance  110 , and antenna  120 , a first fastening element  130  and a second fastening element  140 . The appearance  110  has a containing space S for disposing a communication module  150  and a substrate  160  having a ground plane  162 . The antenna  120  is disposed on a surface of the appearance  110 . The first fastening element  130  and the second fastening element  140  are used for fixing the appearance  110  and the substrate  160  so as to electrically connect the antenna  120  to the ground plane  162  and the communication module  150 . 
     It is noted that the antenna  120  is disposed on a surface of the appearance  110  instead of occupying the containing space S of the handheld electronic device  100 , such that the handheld electronic device  100  has sufficient inner space for disposing other elements. In addition, comparing to the conventional antenna disposed within the handheld electronic device, the antenna  120  of the present invention is disposed on a surface of the appearance  110  with larger radiation area, longer resonance path, higher relative height, and thus provides better performance. The so-called appearance  110  has a plurality of surfaces and may be embodied in a part of a phone housing (such as the housing itself, a back cover, or a battery cover), a part of a surface of a battery, or a part of another additional element attached on the phone housing, while the antenna  120  refers to a radiator thereof. 
     More particularly, comparing to the conventional antenna disposed within the handheld electronic device, the antenna  120  covering the surface of the appearance  110  is far away from the head of a user so as to alleviate the phantom effect or interference to a hearing aid compatibility (HAC) or other equipments on the head. Furthermore, the antenna  120  is far away from the inner circuits of the handheld electronic device  100  for preventing the interference with each other. 
     In this embodiment, the substrate  160  may be a printed circuit board and has a first surface  164  and a second surface  166  opposite to the first surface  164 . The communication module  150  and the ground plane  162  are respectively disposed on the first surface  164  and the second surface  166 . The antenna  120  comprises a ground region  122  and a feed-in region  124 . Methods for electrically connecting the antenna to the ground plane are illustrated in the following. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , in this embodiment, the antenna  120  is electrically connected to the ground plane  162  via the ground region  122 , and electrically connected to the communication module  150  via the feed-in region  124 . The handheld electronic device  100  further comprises a first fastening hole H 1  and a second fastening hole H 2 . The first fastening hole H 1  penetrates the appearance  110  and the antenna  120 . The second fastening hole H 2  penetrates the substrate  160 . In addition, the first fastening element  130  is fastened into the first fastening hole H 1  and the second fastening hole H 2  such that the antenna  120  and the ground region  122  are electrically connected to the ground plane  162  through the first fastening element  130 . 
     Furthermore, the handheld electronic device  100  further comprises a first electroplating layer L 1  covers the second fastening hole H 2 , wherein the ground region  122  is electrically connected to the ground plane  162  via the first fastening element  130  and the first electroplating layer L 1 . Particularly, in this embodiment, the first fastening element  130  is made of a conductive material for fixing elements and electrically connecting the same for reducing the requirement of components so as to save the manufacturing cost and enhance the rigidity of the whole structure. It is noted that the aforementioned ground region  122  is located at a joint location of the first fastening element  130  and the first electroplating layer L 1  to make grounding by the conductibility of the first fastening element  130 . 
       FIG. 2  is a partial cross-sectional view of a handheld electronic device according to another embodiment of the present invention. Another manner of electrically connecting the ground plane to the antenna is illustrated herein. Referring to  FIG. 2 , in this embodiment, the handheld electronic device  100 ′ further comprises a first opening A 1 , a third fastening hole H 3  and a fourth fastening hole H 4 . The first opening A 1  penetrates the appearance  110  such that a part radiator of the antenna  120  extends into the containing space S. The third fastening hole H 3  penetrates the part of radiator of the antenna  120  disposed in the first opening A 1 . The fourth fastening hole H 4  is covered by a second electroplating layer L 2  and penetrates the substrate  160 . The first fastening element  130  is fastened into the third fastening hole H 3  and the fourth fastening hole H 4  such that the part radiator of the antenna  120  extending into the containing space S is stacked or in contact with the second electroplating layer L 2  and thereby electrically connected to the ground plane  162 . 
     In addition, the second electroplating layer L 2  is connected to the ground plane  162 , wherein a part radiator of the antenna  120  is electrically connected to the ground plane  162  via second electroplating layer L 2 . In this embodiment, the first fastening element  130  can be provided without the function of electrically connection and can be made of conductive or insulating material. In the case of the first fastening element  130  being made of insulating material, the ground region  122  is located at a joint location of the part radiator of the antenna  120  and the second electroplating layer L 2  to make grounding by the connection of the second electroplating layer L 2  and the ground plane  162 . In the case of the first fastening element  130  being made of conductive material, the ground region  122  is located at the joint location of the part radiator of the antenna  120  and the second electroplating layer L 2  or at a joint location of the first fastening element  130  and the second electroplating layer L 2  to make grounding by the conductivity of the first fastening element  130 . In other words, two grounding path are provided in this embodiment, but however, the shorter one is more preferable. 
     Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the first fastening element  130  further presses the part radiator of the antenna  120  extending into the containing space S to being in contact with the second electroplating layer L 2  to make an electrically connection. As shown in  FIG. 2 , if the first fastening element  130  is loosed or incapable of providing sufficient pressing force in assembly, regular use or unexpected situation, even though the part radiator of the antenna  120  can not be maintained in contact with the second electroplating layer L 2  and the grounding path formed by the radiator of the antenna  120  and the second electroplating layer L 2  is failed, the first fastening element  130  is still in contact with the second electroplating layer L 2  and the grounding path formed is still available for grounding connection. Therefore, this embodiment provides dual protections to grounding function. 
     The method of electrically connecting the antenna to the communication module is illustrated in the following. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the handheld electronic device  100  further comprises a fifth fastening hole H 5  and a sixth fastening hole H 6 . The fifth fastening hole H 5  penetrates the appearance  110  and the antenna  120 . The sixth fastening hole H 6  penetrates the substrate  160 . The second fastening element  140  is fastened into the fifth fastening hole H 5  and the sixth fastening hole H 6  such that the antenna  120  electrically connects to the feed-in region  124  and can transmit signals to the communication module  150  through the second fastening element  140  to perform required signal processing steps. 
     Moreover, the handheld electronic device  100  further comprises a third electroplating layer L 3  and a first circuit  170 . The third electroplating layer L 3  covers the sixth fastening hole H 6 . The first circuit  170  is connected between the third electroplating layer L 3  and the communication module  150 , wherein the antenna  120  is electrically connected to the communication module  150  via the second fastening element  140 , the feed-in region  124 , the third electroplating layer L 3  and the first circuit  170 . Particularly, in this embodiment, the second fastening element  140  is made of a conductive material for fixing elements and electrically connecting the same for reducing the requirement of components so as to save the manufacturing cost and enhance the rigidity of the whole structure. It is noted that the aforementioned feed-in region  124  is located at a joint location of the second fastening element  140  and the third electroplating layer L 3  to feed signals and electrical connection by the conductibility of the second fastening element  140 . 
     Another method of electrically connecting the antenna of the present invention to the communication module is illustrated in the following. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the handheld electronic device  100 ′ further comprises a second opening A 2 , a seventh fastening hole H 7  and an eighth fastening hole H 8 . The second opening A 2  penetrates the appearance  110  such that a part radiator of the antenna  120  extends into the containing space S. The seventh fastening hole H 7  penetrates the part radiator of the antenna  120  disposed in the second opening A 2 . The eighth fastening hole H 8  is covered by a fourth electroplating layer L 4  and penetrates the substrate  160 . The second fastening element  140  is fastened into the seventh fastening hole H 7  and the eighth fastening hole H 8  such that the part radiator of the antenna  120  extends into the containing space S is stacked or in contact with the fourth electroplating layer L 4  and electrically connected to the communication module  150 . 
     The handheld electronic device  100 ′ further comprises a second circuit  180  connected between the fourth electroplating layer L 4  and the communication module  150 . The part radiator of the antenna  120  is electrically connected to the communication module  150  via the fourth electroplating layer L 4  and the second circuit  180 . In this embodiment, the second fastening element  140  can be provided without the function of electrically connection and can be made of conductive or insulating material. In the case of the second fastening element  140  being made of insulating material, the feed-in region  122  is located at a joint location of the part radiator of the antenna  120  and the fourth electroplating layer L 4 , and the feed-in signals received by the antenna  120  are transmitted to the communication module  150  via the fourth electroplating layer L 4  and the second circuit  180 . In the case of the second fastening element  140  being made of conductive material, the feed-in region  124  is located at the joint location of the second fastening element  140  and the fourth electroplating layer L 4  to make electrically connection and signal transmission by the conductivity of the second fastening element  140 . In other words, two grounding path are provided in this embodiment, but however, the shorter one is more preferable. 
     Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the second fastening element  140  further presses the part radiator of the antenna  120  extending into the containing space S to being in contact with the fourth electroplating layer L 4  to make an electrical connection. As shown in  FIG. 2 , if the second fastening element  140  is loosed or incapable of providing sufficient pressing force in assembly, regular use or unexpected situation, even though the part radiator of the antenna  120  can not be maintained in contact with the fourth electroplating layer L 4  and the feed-in path formed by the radiator of the antenna  120  and the fourth electroplating layer L 4  is failed, the second fastening element  140  is still in contact with the fourth electroplating layer L 4  and the feed-in path formed is still available for feeding signals. Therefore, this embodiment provides dual protections to signal feeding. 
       FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional view of a handheld electronic device according to another embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 4  is a partial cross-sectional view of a handheld electronic device according to further another embodiment of the present invention. The two methods of electrically connecting the antenna to the ground plane or the two methods of electrically connecting the antenna to the communication module as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  can be combined selectively according to requirements of structural design and variations of electrical circuit to provide embodiments as the handheld electronic device  100 ″ of  FIG. 3  or the handheld electronic device  100 ′″ of  FIG. 4 . The detailed contents of technology and features are referred to the aforementioned embodiments and the repeated descriptions are omitted herein. In other words, the manner of electrically connecting the antenna to the ground plane of  FIG. 1  can be applied to the handheld electronic device of  FIG. 3  by incorporating the manner of electrically connecting the antenna to the communication module of  FIG. 2  therein. In addition, the manner of electrically connecting the antenna to the ground plane of  FIG. 2  can be applied to the handheld electronic device of  FIG. 4  by incorporating the manner of electrically connecting the antenna to the communication module of  FIG. 1  therein. 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the handheld electronic device as shown in  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , the antenna  120  is fixed to the appearance  110  via the first fastening element  130  and the second fastening element  140 . The first fastening element  130  and the second fastening element  140  are respectively located at two ends of the antenna  120 . In addition, the profile of the antenna  120  can be modified to meet the requirement of structural or artistic design. 
     To sum up, the antenna of the handheld electronic device of the present invention covers a surface of the appearance and occupies no inner space of the handheld electronic device, and the performance of the antenna can also be improved. The antenna covering the surface of the appearance is far away from the head of a user so as to alleviate the phantom effect or interference to a HAC or other equipments on the head. Furthermore, the profile of the antenna can be modified by various colors or patterns, such as painting the antenna in manufacturing process, so as to improve the variety of the handheld electronic device and attract more visions on the market. 
     In addition, the handheld electronic device requires fasteners for fixing related essential elements. The present invention applies the fasteners for not only fixing elements but also serving as the feed-in region and the ground region of the antenna without any additional accessory such as a spring finger or an antenna carrier to save the cost and enhance the rigidity of the whole structure. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.