Multiple-Body-Configuration Multimedia And Smartphone Multifunction Wireless Devices
Patent No. US11031677 (titled "Multiple-Body-Configuration Multimedia And Smartphone Multifunction Wireless Devices") was filed by Fractus Sa on Mar 27, 2020.
What is this patent about?
’677 is related to the field of multifunction wireless devices (MFWDs), specifically addressing the challenge of designing compact and efficient antenna systems for these devices. The background highlights the conflicting demands on MFWD antennas: they need to be small for device miniaturization, flat for slim designs, multi-band to support various communication standards, and provide good wireless connection with high gain and efficiency. Existing solutions often compromise on one or more of these requirements, leading to design challenges.
The underlying idea behind ’677 is to optimize the antenna geometry within a multifunction wireless device to achieve a balance between size, multi-band operation, and RF performance. This is achieved by carefully shaping the antenna's conductive structure to create multiple current paths that resonate at different frequencies. The key insight is that the complexity of the antenna's outline, or contour, directly relates to its ability to support multiple frequency bands and achieve miniaturization without sacrificing performance.
The claims of ’677 focus on a wireless device having an antenna system with a first antenna that supports at least three or four frequency bands, including at least one band associated with a 4G communication standard . The first antenna is positioned near a short side of a ground plane rectangle and has a contour with a specific level of complexity, defined by complexity factors F21 (at least 1.20) and F32 (less than 1.75). The device also includes a second antenna, which may support different frequency bands or be specifically configured for 4G communication, and is arranged within the ground plane rectangle or near the opposite short side.
In practice, the invention involves carefully designing the antenna's shape to create slots, bends, and other features that lengthen the electrical path and introduce multiple resonant frequencies. The complexity factors F21 and F32 are used as design parameters to quantify the antenna's geometrical intricacy. By controlling these factors, the designer can optimize the antenna for multi-band operation, miniaturization, and RF performance. The antenna may be manufactured by stamping a conductive plate and then bending or folding portions to achieve the desired three-dimensional shape.
’677 differentiates itself from prior approaches by providing a method for quantifying and controlling the complexity of an antenna's shape. Traditional antenna design often relies on trial and error or empirical methods. By introducing the complexity factors F21 and F32, the invention provides a more systematic and predictable approach to antenna design. This allows for the creation of smaller, more efficient antennas that can support multiple communication standards without compromising performance, addressing a key challenge in the design of modern multifunction wireless devices.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the mid-2000s when ’677 was filed, antennas for multifunction wireless devices were typically designed with trade-offs between size, bandwidth, and multi-band operation. At a time when hardware constraints made it non-trivial to achieve both small size and broad bandwidth, designers commonly relied on specific antenna geometries to meet the requirements of various communication standards. When integrating antennas into devices, mechanical fit, electrical fit, and assembly fit were important considerations.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner allowed the claims because the applicant's terminal disclaimer and remarks overcame a prior rejection. Specifically, claims 21, 26, 32, and their dependent claims were deemed allowable over the prior art of record.
Claims
This patent contains 20 claims, with independent claims numbered 1, 6, and 12. The independent claims are generally directed to a wireless device comprising an antenna system with a ground plane and multiple antennas configured to support various frequency bands and communication standards, with specific requirements for antenna contour complexity and arrangement. The dependent claims generally add further detail and limitations to the antenna configurations and characteristics described in the independent claims.
Key Claim Terms New
Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.
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Date
Description
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US11031677
- Application Number
- US16832820
- Filing Date
- Mar 27, 2020
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Dec 21, 2026
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents