U.S. patent application number 15/463974 was filed with the patent office on 2018-06-28 for wireless communication device.
The applicant listed for this patent is HTC CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Chien-Pin CHIU, Li-Yuan FANG, Yi-Hsiang KUNG, Tiao-Hsing TSAI, Hsiao-Wei WU.
Application Number | 20180183914 15/463974 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57130253 |
Filed Date | 2018-06-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180183914 |
Kind Code |
A9 |
TSAI; Tiao-Hsing ; et
al. |
June 28, 2018 |
WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE
Abstract
A wireless communication device that has a circuit board, an RF
signal module, a capacitive touch-sensing component, or a
functional component, and an antenna component is provided. The
touch-sensing signal module is disposed on the circuit board. The
capacitive touch-sensing component includes a sensing layer and a
ground layer. The sensing layer is electrically connected to the
touch-sensing signal module. The antenna component includes a feed
point and a radiating body. The feed point is disposed on the
ground layer and is electrically connected to the RF single module.
The radiating body incorporates at least parts of the ground layer.
Alternatively, the feed point is disposed on the sensing layer, and
the radiating body incorporates at least parts of the sensing
layer. Therefore, the radiating body is incorporated into the
sensing layer or ground layer of the capacitive touch-sensing
component and can save accommodating space.
Inventors: |
TSAI; Tiao-Hsing; (Taoyuan
City, TW) ; CHIU; Chien-Pin; (Taoyuan City, TW)
; WU; Hsiao-Wei; (Taoyuan City, TW) ; KUNG;
Yi-Hsiang; (Taoyuan City, TW) ; FANG; Li-Yuan;
(Taoyuan City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HTC CORPORATION |
Taoyuan City |
|
TW |
|
|
Prior
Publication: |
|
Document Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20170244819 A1 |
August 24, 2017 |
|
|
Family ID: |
57130253 |
Appl. No.: |
15/463974 |
Filed: |
March 20, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15094684 |
Apr 8, 2016 |
9628115 |
|
|
15463974 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01L 2224/48247
20130101; G06F 3/044 20130101; H01L 2223/6677 20130101; H01L
2224/48257 20130101; G05F 3/08 20130101; H01L 2924/12031 20130101;
H01L 24/48 20130101; H01L 2924/19107 20130101; G06F 3/0418
20130101; H01L 2924/3011 20130101; H04M 1/0277 20130101; G06F
3/0443 20190501; H03K 17/74 20130101; H01Q 1/24 20130101; H01Q 1/44
20130101; H01L 2224/48106 20130101; H01L 2924/00015 20130101; H01Q
1/2283 20130101; H01L 29/868 20130101; H01L 2924/1426 20130101;
H01Q 1/243 20130101; H01L 23/66 20130101; H04B 1/0064 20130101;
H04W 88/08 20130101; H01L 25/16 20130101; H01L 2224/48091 20130101;
H01L 2924/00015 20130101; H01L 2224/45099 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04M 1/02 20060101
H04M001/02; H01Q 1/24 20060101 H01Q001/24 |
Claims
1. A wireless communication device, comprising: a circuit board,
comprising a ground layer; a functional component, comprising a
ground structure electrically connected to the ground layer; and an
antenna component, comprising a feed point and a radiating body,
the feed point being disposed on the ground structure of the
functional component, and at least parts of the ground structure
forming a first part of the radiating body.
2. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising
a ground conducting wire having a first end electrically connected
to the ground layer and a second end electrically connected to the
ground structure.
3. The wireless communication device of claim 2, further comprising
a radio frequency (RF) signal conducting wire having a first end
electrically connected to the ground structure.
4. The wireless communication device of claim 3, wherein the ground
conducting wire and the RF signal conducting wire form a second
part of the radiating body.
5. The wireless communication device of claim 4, further
comprising: an RF signal module and a functional signal module,
both being disposed on the circuit board; and a functional signal
conducting wire having a first end electrically connected to the
functional signal module and a second end electrically connected to
the functional component, and the first end of the RF signal
conducting wire being electrically connected to the RF signal
module.
6. The wireless communication device of claim 5, wherein the
functional signal conducting wire and the RF signal conducting wire
are disposed on one of the circuit board and/or a flexible printed
circuit substrate.
7. The wireless communication device of claim 5, further comprising
an RF signal filter, wherein the RF signal filter is electrically
connected to the functional signal conducting wire to block an RF
signal from propagating through the functional signal conducting
wire.
8. The wireless communication device of claim 7, wherein the RF
signal filter comprises an inductor, a resistor or a ferrite
bead.
9. The wireless communication device of claim 2, further comprising
an RF signal filter, wherein the RF signal filter is electrically
connected to the ground conducting wire to block an RF signal from
propagating through the ground conducting wire.
10. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the RF
signal filter comprises an inductor, a resistor or a ferrite
bead.
11. The wireless communication device of claim 3, further
comprising a functional signal filter, wherein the functional
signal filter is electrically connected to the RF signal conducting
wire to block an RF signal from propagating through the RF signal
conducting wire.
12. The wireless communication device of claim 11, wherein the
functional signal filter comprises a capacitor, an inductor, a
resistor or a ferrite bead.
13. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the
functional component comprises a microphone, a camera, a speaker, a
vibrator, a proximity sensor, an ambient light sensor or a LED
indicator.
Description
[0001] This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/094,684, filed Apr. 8, 2016, which is
hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety for all
purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention provides a wireless communication
device, and in particular, it provides a wireless communication
device with an antenna component integrated with an input component
and/or a functional component.
[0004] Descriptions of the Related Art
[0005] Wireless communication technology has been widely used in
various electronic products. In particular, smart phones and tablet
computers use wireless RF (radio frequency) signals of various
different frequencies. Therefore, electronic products, such as
smart phones and the tablet computers, usually need various
antennae to receive and transmit various wireless RF signals.
[0006] However, when the number of antennae increases, the layout
of the antennae in electronic products becomes difficult.
Researchers have to consider, among other problems, locations where
the antennae should be disposed within the electronic products to
achieve higher efficiency without occupying the accommodating
spaces of other electronic components/modules. Moreover, as
electronic products become increasingly thinner, the available
space inside the electronic products have become more limited and
thus, the layout of the antennae is more difficult.
[0007] Accordingly, a need exists in the art to provide an antenna
with desired frequencies in the limited available space within
electronic products.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] An objective of the present invention is to provide a
wireless communication device which can have an antenna component
integrated with an input component (e.g., touch-sensing components
such as a capacitive touch-sensing component) and/or a functional
component to reduce the space required for accommodating the
antenna component.
[0009] Another objective of the present invention is to provide
another wireless communication device, which can have an antenna
component integrated with the input component (or functional
component) and prevent mutual interference between signals of the
antenna component and input component (or functional
component).
[0010] To achieve the aforesaid objectives, a wireless
communication device disclosed in the present invention comprises:
a circuit board, comprising a first ground layer; a first input
component, comprising a sensing layer, a dielectric layer and a
second ground layer, the sensing layer being electrically connected
to the first ground layer, the dielectric layer being disposed
between the sensing layer and the second ground layer, and the
second ground layer being electrically connected to the first
ground layer; and an antenna component, comprising a feed point and
a radiating body, the feed point being disposed on the second
ground layer of the input component, and at least parts of the
second ground layer forming a first part of the radiating body.
[0011] To achieve the aforesaid objectives, a wireless
communication device disclosed in the present invention comprises:
a circuit board, comprising a ground layer; a functional component,
comprising a ground structure electrically connected to the ground
layer; and an antenna component, comprising a feed point and a
radiating body, the feed point being disposed on the ground
structure of the functional component, and at least parts of the
ground structure forming a part of the radiating body. The
functional component may comprise a microphone, a camera, a
speaker, a vibrator, a proximity sensor, an ambient light sensor
or/and a LED indicator.
[0012] To achieve the aforesaid objectives, a wireless
communication device disclosed in the present invention comprises:
a circuit board, comprising a ground layer; a plurality of
electronic components, being disposed on the circuit board and
comprising an RF signal module and a touch-sensing signal module; a
touch-sensing signal conducting wire and an RF signal conducting
wire, an end of the touch-sensing signal conducting wire being
electrically connected to the touch-sensing signal module, and an
end of the RF signal conducting wire being electrically connected
to the RF signal module; a capacitive touch-sensing component,
comprising a sensing layer which is electrically connected to
another end of the touch-sensing signal conducting wire; and an
antenna component, comprising a feed point and a radiating body,
the feed point being disposed on the sensing layer of the
capacitive touch-sensing component and electrically connected to
another end of the RF signal conducting wire, wherein the radiating
body comprises at least parts of the sensing layer.
[0013] The wireless communication device disclosed in the present
invention may further comprise a functional signal module and a
functional signal conducting wire with an end electrically
connected to the functional signal module.
[0014] To achieve the aforesaid objectives, a wireless
communication device disclosed in the present invention comprises:
a circuit board, comprising a ground layer; a touch-sensing signal
conducting wire and an RF signal conducting wire, a first end of
the touch-sensing signal conducting wire being electrically
connected to the ground layer, and a first end of the RF signal
conducting wire being electrically connected to the ground layer;
an input component, comprising a sensing layer which is
electrically connected to a second end of the touch-sensing signal
conducting wire; and an antenna component, comprising a feed point
and a radiating body, the feed point being disposed on the sensing
layer of the input component, and a second end of the RF signal
conducting wire being electrically connected to the sensing layer
via the feed point, wherein at least parts of the sensing layer
form a first part of the radiating body.
[0015] The aforesaid wireless communication device may further
comprise a touch-sensing signal filter and an RF signal filter. The
touch-sensing signal filter is electrically connected to the RF
signal conducting wire to block the touch-sensing signal from
propagating through the RF signal conducting wire. The RF signal
filter is electrically connected to the touch-sensing signal
conducting wire to block an RF signal from propagating through the
touch-sensing signal conducting wire.
[0016] Accordingly, the wireless communication device has at least
has the following technical benefits. The radiating body of the
antenna component comprises at least a part of the sensing layer or
the ground layer of the capacitive touch-sensing component (or
other input components) and/or the ground structure of the
functional component, and uses the sensing layer or the ground
layer/structure to receive and transmit RF signals, thereby, saving
the space required for accommodating the radiating body. In other
words, the "sensing layer or the ground layer" and the radiating
body share a common space, which prevents the radiating body from
occupying the limited space within the device or makes the
radiating body occupy less space within the device.
[0017] Additionally, the touch-sensing signal filter can block the
touch-sensing signal generated by the capacitive touch-sensing
component (or other input components) from entering into the RF
signal module, so the touch-sensing signal is unlikely to affect
the RF signal module. The RF signal filter can block the RF signal
in the antenna component from entering into the touch-sensing
signal module, so the RF signal is unlikely to affect the
touch-sensing signal module. Therefore, the wireless communication
device can be more reliable in performing the touch-sensing and
wireless communication functions.
[0018] The functional signal filter can block the functional signal
generated by the functional component from entering into the RF
signal module, so the functional signal is unlikely to affect the
RF signal module. The RF signal filter can block the RF signal in
the antenna component from entering into the functional signal
module, so the RF signal is unlikely to affect the functional
signal module.
[0019] The detailed technology and preferred embodiments
implemented for the subject invention are described in the
following paragraphs accompanying the appended drawings for people
skilled in this field to well appreciate the features of the
claimed invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a wireless communication
device according to the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of parts of components in FIG.
1;
[0022] FIG. 3 is another schematic view of parts of components in
FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of parts of components of a
wireless communication device according to the second preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of parts of components of a
wireless communication device according to the third preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of parts of components of a
wireless communication device according to the fourth preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating the relationships
between the frequency and the voltage standing wave ratio of the
wireless communication device according to the first preferred
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0027] FIG. 8 is yet another schematic view of parts of components
in FIG. 1;
[0028] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a wireless communication
device according to the fifth preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0029] FIG. 10 is a schematic view of parts of components shown in
FIG. 9; and
[0030] FIG. 11 is another schematic view of parts of components
shown in FIG. 9.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0031] FIGS. 1 to 3 are schematic views of a wireless communication
device according to the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention. The wireless communication device 1 may be an electronic
product capable of wireless communication or a part an electronic
product (e.g., a smart phone or a tablet computer or the like) and
may transmit data via appropriate communication protocols (e.g.,
3G; 4G; 5G; Wi-Fi, BT, and LTE).
[0032] The wireless communication device 1 may comprise a circuit
board 10, a plurality of electronic components 20, a plurality of
conducting wires 30, at least one input component 40, an antenna
component 50, a back cover 70, a cover glass 90 (as shown in FIG.
8) and at least one processor 80. Preferably, the wireless
communication device 1 may further comprise one or more signal
filters 60 (or called filters). The back cover 70 and the cover
glass 90 are parts for forming the overall appearance of the
wireless communication device 1. The back cover 70 may be made of a
non-conductor, a conductor or a combination of a conductor and a
non-conductor.
[0033] The input component 40 is configured to sense the input of a
user and may comprise one of the following components: a capacitive
touch-sensing component, a resistive touch-sensing component, an
inductive touch-sensing component and an optical touch-sensing
component. The input component 40 senses the input of the user in
combination with the cover glass 90 on a touch-sensing display
panel module (not shown). In this embodiment, the input component
40 is implemented as a capacitive touch-sensing component. The
technical contents of those components will be sequentially
described as follows.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 1, the circuit board 10 may be a main
circuit board inside the electronic product and may have most of
the electronic components 20 disposed thereon. Some mechanical
members (e.g., the frame for supporting the touch-sensing display
panel module, an electric connector or the like that are not shown
in FIG. 1) may also be disposed on the circuit board 10. The
circuit board 10 is generally rectangular in appearance, and the
periphery 10A thereof may have a protruding portion or a concave
portion. In practical application, the shape of the circuit board
10 is not limited thereto, and the circuit board 10 may also have
other shapes.
[0035] Structurally, the circuit board 10 may comprise a circuit
pattern layer (not shown) so that the electronic components 20 can
be electrically connected with each other directly or indirectly to
transmit electrical signals therebetween. The circuit board 10
further comprises one or more ground layers 11 that may be disposed
on the outer layer or inner layer (i.e., not exposed to the
outside) of the circuit board 10. The ground layer 11 may be a
metal layer, e.g., a copper foil layer.
[0036] The electronic components 20 may be disposed on the circuit
board 10, e.g., via solder or the electric connector (not shown)
and may be electrically connected with the circuit pattern layer
and/or the ground layer 11 of the circuit board 10. The electronic
components 20 at least comprise an RF signal module 21 and a
touch-sensing signal module 22 that are electrically connected with
the processor 80. The RF signal module 21 (also known as the RF
control module) is configured to receive and transmit an RF signal
(also known as the RF microwave signal), and is electrically
connected to other electronic components associated with the
wireless communication to further process the RF signal via the
processor 80, e.g., perform the conversion between the RF signal
and the digital signal, power amplification or the like. The RF
signal module 21 may comprise one or more chips 211 and may also
comprise an impedance matching circuit 212. The RF signal module 21
may also be integrated into a chip with other electronic
components.
[0037] The touch-sensing signal module 22 (also known as the
touch-sensing control module) and the processor 80 may be
configured to process the touch-sensing signal from the
touch-sensing display panel module and the input component (i.e.,
the capacitive touch-sensing component) 40, e.g., determine the
electric capacity of the capacitive touch-sensing component 40
according to the current of the touch-sensing signal, determine
whether the capacitive touch-sensing component 40 is touched
according to the electric capacity, or the like. The touch-sensing
signal module 22 may also drive the capacitive touch-sensing
component 40. As described above, the touch-sensing signal module
22 may also be electrically connected with other electronic
components to transmit the determination result to the electronic
component for further use. The touch-sensing signal module 22 may
comprise one or more chips and may also be integrated with other
electronic components.
[0038] Depending on the practical applications or requirements, the
electronic components 20 may also comprise a memory, a battery, a
touch-sensing display panel, various sensors and/or signal
processing chips or the like (not shown) to provide various
functions for the wireless communication device 1.
[0039] With references to FIGS. 2, 3 and 8, the conducting wires 30
are configured to transmit electrical signals to the circuit board
10, the electronic components 20, the capacitive touch-sensing
component 40 and/or the antenna component 50. The conducting wires
30 comprise a ground conducting wire 31, a touch-sensing signal
conducting wire 32 and an RF signal conducting wire 33. Each of the
conducting wires 31 to 33 may be a circuit pattern layer printed on
the circuit board 10 and/or a metal wire independent of the circuit
board 10. As shown in FIG. 8, the independent metal wire may be
disposed on a flexible printed circuit substrate (FPCB) 30'. The
flexible printed circuit substrate 30' may also be electrically
connected with the circuit board 10 via a conducting wire 12.
Structurally, the flexible printed circuit substrate 30' is
disposed below the cover glass 90.
[0040] Additionally, each of the conducting wires 31 to 33
comprises two opposite ends (i.e., an end 31A and another end 31B,
an end 32A and another end 32B, and an end 33A and another end 33B)
in which the electrical signal can be transmitted therebetween. The
ground conducting wire 31 has an (first) end 31A electrically
connected to the ground layer 11 of the circuit board 10 and
another (second) end 31B electrically connected to the capacitive
touch-sensing component 40. The touch-sensing signal conducting
wire 32 has an (first) end 32A electrically connected to the
touch-sensing signal module 22 and another (second) end 32B
electrically connected to the capacitive touch-sensing component
40. The RF signal conducting wire 33 has an (first end) end 33A
electrically connected to the RF signal module 21 and another
(second) end 33B electrically connected to the antenna component
50.
[0041] The capacitive touch-sensing component 40 may define a
capacitance value and may vary the capacitance value in response to
the approach of a conductor (e.g., the finger of the user), and
then the touch-sensing signal module 22 can sense the variation of
the capacitance value to determine whether the capacitive
touch-sensing component 40 is touched. In this way, the user can
transmit a specific instruction to the wireless communication
device 1 by touching the capacitive touch-sensing component 40. As
shown in FIG. 1, the capacitive touch-sensing component 40 may be
optionally disposed at the side of the periphery A of the circuit
board 10 and be separated from the circuit board 10. The capacitive
touch-sensing component 40 may be a key, a scroll bar, a wheel, a
pad or the like.
[0042] With reference to FIG. 8, keys may be classified into
physical keys and virtual keys depending on the structural design
thereof, and both kinds of keys may each have a specific pattern
100 disposed thereon for the user to identify the function thereof.
Both kinds of keys may be combined with the cover glass 90 on the
touch-sensing display panel module (not shown) to form an input
sensing area 90A for sensing and receiving the input of the user.
The sensing area 90A is dependent on the position of the input
component 40 and is not limited to the fixed position on the cover
glass 90.
[0043] Technically, if the pattern 100 disposed on the key cannot
be seen when the display panel module within the touch-sensing
display panel module is in the off state (i.e., when the display is
not lit), then the key is defined as the virtual key. If the
pattern 100 on a key can be seen no matter whether the display
panel module is in the off or on state, then the key is defined as
the physical key (in this case, the pattern 100 may be printed on
the cover glass 90).
[0044] In this embodiment, the electronic components 20 further
comprise at least one input component 23 which may also receive the
input of the user to communicate with the wireless communication
device 1. The input component 23 may be a conventional button that
is pressed by a user, or may be implemented as a capacitive
touch-sensing component, a resistive touch-sensing component, an
inductive touch-sensing component or an optical touch-sensing
component. Moreover, a biometric identification module (not shown)
may also be integrated into the input component 23 to increase the
data protection within the wireless communication device 1. The
cover glass 90 has an opening and the input component 23 is
arranged in the opening. Understandably, the input sensing area 90A
may be disposed in the peripheral area of the input component 23 to
make it convenient for the user to operate.
[0045] With reference back to FIGS. 2 and 3, structurally, the
capacitive touch-sensing component 40 may comprise a sensing layer
41, a dielectric layer 42 and a ground layer 43. The dielectric
layer 42 is disposed between the sensing layer 41 and the ground
layer 43. In other words, the sensing layer 41, the dielectric
layer 42 and the ground layer 43 are stacked sequentially. In other
embodiments, the dielectric layer 42 may also surround the sensing
layer 41, and the ground layer 43 then surrounds the dielectric
layer 42, so the dielectric layer 42 is still disposed between the
sensing layer 41 and the ground layer 43.
[0046] The sensing layer 41 may be made of a conductor material
(e.g., a metal layer such as a copper foil or an oxide such as
indium tin oxide). The dielectric layer 42 may be made of a
dielectric material (e.g., plastic, resin, glass or the like) or
may comprise a hollow portion to use air as the dielectric
material. The ground layer 43 may be made of a conductor and may
further have a mesh structure. In other embodiments, the ground
layer 43 may not have a mesh structure. The ground layer 43 may be
called a second ground layer, while the ground layer 11 of the
aforesaid circuit board 10 may be called a first ground layer for
distinguishing between the two ground layers.
[0047] The sensing layer 41 may be electrically connected to
another end 32B of the touch-sensing signal conducting wire 32. The
ground layer 43 may be electrically connected to another end 31B of
the ground conducting wire 31. Thus, when the capacitance value
between the sensing layer 41 and the ground layer 43 varies, the
corresponding touch-sensing signal can be transmitted to the
touch-sensing signal module 22 through the touch-sensing signal
conducting wire 32.
[0048] The antenna component 50 is configured to receive and/or
transmit an RF signal of a specific frequency, and it structurally
comprises a feed point 51 and a radiating body 52. The feed point
51 is disposed on the ground layer 43 of the capacitive
touch-sensing component 40 and is electrically connected to another
end 33B of the RF signal conducting wire 33. In other words, the
feed point 51 may be defined as a position at which the other end
33B of the RF signal conducting wire 33 is disposed on the ground
layer 43. The RF signal is fed into the ground layer 43 via the
feed point 51. The feed point 51 and the other end 31B of the
ground conducting wire 31 are located at different positions of the
ground layer 43 and are spaced apart from each other.
[0049] The radiating body 52 comprises at least a part or all of
the ground layer 43 to use the ground layer 43 to receive or
transmit electromagnetic waves. That is, the RF signal entering
into the ground layer 43 via the feed point 51 will be transmitted
in the ground layer 43 and generates an electromagnetic wave. On
the other hand, the electromagnetic wave in the environment, when
it comes into contact with the ground layer 43, can generate the RF
signal in the ground layer 43. Then, the RF signal enters into the
RF signal module 21 through the feed point 51 and the RF signal
conducting wire 33. Therefore, a part of the ground layer 43
through which the RF signal propagates may be defined as the
radiating body 52.
[0050] The RF signal not only radiates in the ground layer 43 but
also in the RF signal conducting wire 33 and the ground conducting
wire 31, so the RF signal conducting wire 33 and the ground
conducting wire 31 may also be regarded as another part comprised
in the radiating body 52. Thus, the total radiating path of the
antenna component 50 may be defined starting from an end 33A of the
RF signal conducting wire 33, passing through a part of the ground
layer 43 and terminating at an end 31A of the ground conducting
wire 31. By adjusting the length of the radiating path (e.g.,
changing the position of the feed point 51, changing the length of
the RF signal conducting wire 33 or the ground conducting wire 31
or the like), the resonance frequency of the radiating body 52 can
be changed to obtain the desired frequency. Additionally, since the
ground conducting wire 31 may also be a part of the radiating body
52, the radiating body 52 as a whole can be viewed as a loop
antenna, of which the radiating path corresponds with 1/2 of the
wavelength.
[0051] As can be known from the above descriptions, the wireless
communication device 1 in this embodiment has the antenna component
50 integrated with the input component (i.e., the capacitive
touch-sensing component) 40, and directly uses the ground layer 43
of the capacitive touch-sensing component 40 to receive or transmit
the electromagnetic wave. Thus, the antenna component 50 and the
capacitive touch-sensing component 40 can be accommodated in the
same space and no additional space is required to accommodate one
of the two components, which facilitates the size reduction or
space utilization of the wireless communication device 1.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 1, the wireless communication device 1 in
this embodiment may further comprise a plurality of signal filters
60 to reduce or prevent the interference to the RF signal module 21
from the touch-sensing signal, or the interference to the
touch-sensing signal module 22 from the RF signal. The signal
filters 60 (also known as filters) may comprise a touch-sensing
signal filter 61 and/or an RF signal filter 62.
[0053] The touch-sensing signal filter 61 may be electrically
connected to the RF signal conducting wire 33 in series and has a
relatively large impendence for a DC (direct current) or
low-frequency touch-sensing signal to block the touch-sensing
signal from propagating therethrough. In this way, the
touch-sensing signal generated by the capacitive touch-sensing
component 40 cannot propagate through the touch-sensing signal
filter 61, and thus, cannot enter into the RF signal module 21
through the RF signal conducting wire 33. Therefore, the RF signal
module 21 will not be influenced by the touch-sensing signal.
[0054] The touch-sensing signal filter 61 has a relatively small
impedance for the high-frequency RF signal, so it will not block
the RF signal from passing therethrough. Therefore, the RF signal
will not be blocked from passing through the RF signal conducting
wire 33 due to the presence of the touch-sensing signal filter 61.
The touch-sensing signal filter 61 may comprise electronic
components such as a capacitor (e.g., a capacitor connected in
series), which may present an open-circuited state for the
touch-sensing signal, but a short-circuited state for the RF
signal.
[0055] The RF signal filter 62 may be electrically connected to the
touch-sensing signal conducting wire 32 in series and has a
relatively large impendence for a high-frequency RF signal to block
the RF signal from propagating therethrough. In this way, the RF
signal generated by the antenna component 50 cannot propagate
through the RF signal filter 62, and thus, cannot enter into the
touch-sensing signal module 22 through the touch-sensing signal
conducting wire 32. Therefore, the touch-sensing signal module 22
will not be influenced by the RF signal.
[0056] The RF signal filter 62 has a relatively small impedance for
the DC or low-frequency touch-sensing signal, so it will not block
the touch-sensing signal from passing therethrough. Therefore, the
touch-sensing signal will not be blocked from passing through the
touch-sensing signal conducting wire 32 due to the presence of the
RF signal filter 62. The RF signal filter 62 may comprise
electronic components such as an inductor (e.g., an inductor
connected in series), which may present an open-circuited state for
the RF signal but a short-circuited state for the touch-sensing
signal.
[0057] According to the above descriptions, the touch-sensing
signal filter 61 and the RF signal filter 62 can increase the
reliability of the RF signal module 21 and the touch-sensing signal
module 22 respectively.
[0058] As an example of a practical test, the wireless
communication device 1 is applied to a mobile phone with a size of
144.6 mm.times.69.7 mm.times.9.61 mm. The ground layer 43 has a
size of 6 mm.times.17 mm.times.0.1 mm. The impedance matching
circuit 212 is a ground capacitor connected in parallel (with a
capacitance value of 0.8 pF). The touch-sensing signal filter 61 is
a capacitor with a capacitance value of 1.8 pF, and the RF signal
filter 62 is an inductor with an inductance value of 10 nH. The
measured relationships between the frequency (MHz) and the voltage
standing wave ratio (VSWR) are as shown in FIG. 7, and the
relationships between the frequency (MHz) and the efficiency (%)
are as shown in the following table.
TABLE-US-00001 Frequency 1710.2 1747.8 1784.8 1805.2 1850.2 1880
1909.8 1930.2 Efficiency 11.19 11.87 12.05 12.27 13.06 15.60 16.63
17.95 Frequency 1960 1989.8 2010 2025 2110 2140 2167.6 2300.8
Efficiency 17.92 17.74 17.04 16.81 15.48 15.32 16.16 17.85
Frequency 2350 2399.2 2500 2540 2580 2610 2650 2690 Efficiency
16.27 17.07 13.77 14.11 11.97 10.33 11.56 9.95
[0059] As can be known from the above table, the efficiency of each
of the frequency bands between the middle frequency (1700 MHz) and
the high frequency (2700 MHz) is generally greater than 10%, which
means that the wireless communication device 1 has good efficiency
in those frequencies and is suitable for use in the carrier
aggregation (CA) technology. Thus, the wireless communication
device 1 can operate in a plurality of frequency bands (e.g., B3,
B2, B1, B4, B25, B30, B38, B39, B40, B41, B7 and WIFI 2.4G) of the
Long-Term Evolution (LTE).
[0060] What is described above is the technical content of the
wireless communication device 1, and the technical content of the
wireless communication device 1 according to other embodiments of
the present invention will be described hereinafter.
Cross-references may be made between technical contents of the
wireless communication device 1 of different embodiments, so
identical descriptions will be omitted or simplified.
[0061] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic view of a wireless
communication device 2 according to the second preferred embodiment
of the present invention. The wireless communication device 2 is
similar to the aforesaid wireless communication device 1, but the
feed point 51 of the antenna component 50 of the wireless
communication device 2 may be disposed on the ground layer 43 at a
position further from the another end 31B of the ground conducting
wire 31 to increase the radiating path. The radiating path can be
changed by adjusting the position of the feed point 51 (or the
other end 31B) on the ground layer 43.
[0062] Additionally, the wireless communication device 2 may
further comprise another RF signal filter 63 that is electrically
connected to the ground conducting wire 31 to block the RF signal
from propagating through the ground conducting wire 31. The RF
signal filter 63 may comprise electronic components such as an
inductor (e.g., an inductor connected in series), which may present
an open-circuited state for the RF signal. Therefore, the RF signal
entering into the ground layer 43 (the radiating body 52) from the
feed point 51 cannot propagate towards the ground layer 11 of the
circuit board 10 through the ground conducting wire 31.
[0063] In this case, it is difficult to use the ground conducting
wire 31 as a part of the radiating body 52, so the radiating body
52 as a whole can be viewed as a monopole antenna, of which the
radiating path corresponds to 1/4 of the wavelength.
[0064] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a wireless communication
device 3 of the third preferred embodiment of the present
invention. The wireless communication device 3 mainly differs from
the aforesaid wireless communication devices 1 and 2 in that the
wireless communication device 3 uses the sensing layer 41 of the
capacitive touch-sensing component 40' as the radiating body
52.
[0065] Particularly, in the wireless communication device 3, in
addition to the other end 32B of the touch-sensing signal
conducting wire 32, the other end 33B of the RF signal conducting
wire 33 is also electrically connected to the sensing layer 41 so
that the feed point 51 of the antenna component 50 is disposed on
the sensing layer 41. The radiating body 52 comprises at least a
part of the sensing layer 41. In this way, the RF signal module 21
may feed the RF signal into the sensing layer 41 via the feed point
51 to generate the electromagnetic wave in the sensing layer 41.
Alternatively, the electromagnetic wave in the environment can be
received by the sensing layer 41 to generate the RF signal. The RF
signal is then transmitted to the RF signal module 21 via the feed
point 51 and the RF signal conducting wire 33.
[0066] Similarly, the RF signal not only radiates in the sensing
layer 41 but also in the RF signal conducting wire 33, so the RF
signal conducting wire 33 may also be regarded as another part
comprised in the radiating body 52. Thus, the total radiating path
of the antenna component 50 may be defined starting from an end 33A
of the RF signal conducting wire 33, passing through a part of the
sensing layer 41 and then terminating at the sensing layer 41.
[0067] As shown in FIG. 1, since the sensing layer 41 (the
radiating body 52) is not electrically connected to the ground
layer 11 of the circuit board 10, the RF signal in the sensing
layer 41 will not be transmitted towards the ground layer 11 of the
circuit board 10. Therefore, the radiating body 52 as a whole can
be viewed as a monopole antenna, of which the radiating path
corresponds to 1/4 of the wavelength. The wireless communication
device 3 may also comprise a touch-sensing signal filter 61 and an
RF signal filter 62 to reduce or prevent the interference to the RF
signal module 21 from the touch-sensing signal, or the interference
to the touch-sensing signal module 22 from the RF signal.
[0068] It shall be additionally appreciated that the antenna
component 50 uses the sensing layer 41 of the capacitive
touch-sensing component 40' as the radiating body 52, so the
capacitive touch-sensing component 40' may not comprise a ground
layer without influencing the constitution of the antenna component
50. In other words, even if the capacitive touch-sensing component
40' does not have a ground layer, the antenna component 50 may also
be integrated into the capacitive touch-sensing component 40'.
[0069] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a wireless communication
device 4 according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the
present invention. The wireless communication device 4 and the
aforesaid wireless communication device 3 are similar to each other
and all use the sensing layer 41 of the capacitive touch-sensing
component 40' as the radiating body 52. The difference between the
aforesaid two wireless communication devices lies in that the RF
signal conducting wire 33 and the touch-sensing signal conducting
wire 32 of the wireless communication device 4 have a common
section 3233. The RF signal conducting wire 33 and the
touch-sensing signal conducting wire 32 are actually the same
conducting wire in the common section 3233 and are two conducting
wires outside the common section 3233. The other end 33B of the RF
signal conducting wire 33 and the other end 32B of the
touch-sensing signal conducting wire 32 are disposed on the common
section 3233, so the RF signal conducting wire 33 and the
touch-sensing signal conducting wire 32 are electrically connected
in parallel to the sensing layer 41. In other words, the RF signal
conducting wire 33 and the touch-sensing signal conducting wire 32
are electrically connected to the sensing layer at the same
position.
[0070] Due to the arrangement of the common section 3233, the
circuit layout of the wireless communication device 4 can be
simplified. If the wireless communication device 4 comprises the
touch-sensing signal filter 61 and the RF signal filter 62, then
the touch-sensing signal filter 61 and the RF signal filter 62 will
be located outside the common section 3233 to prevent the
touch-sensing signal or the RF signal from being unable to
propagate through the common section 3233.
[0071] Another difference between the wireless communication device
4 and the wireless communication device 3 lies in that the wireless
communication device 4 further comprises a ground conducting wire
31 and another touch-sensing signal filter 64. The ground
conducting wire 31 has an end 31A electrically connected to the
ground layer 11 of the circuit board 10 and the other end 31B
electrically connected to the sensing layer 41 of the capacitive
touch-sensing component 40' and spaced apart from the feed point
51. The touch-sensing signal filter 64 is electrically connected to
the ground conducting wire 31 and may block the touch-sensing
signal but allow the RF signal to propagate therethrough.
Therefore, the ground conducting wire 31 may be a part of the
radiating body 52 so that the antenna component 50 is a loop
antenna as a whole. Moreover, since the touch-sensing signal filter
64 can block the touch-sensing signal from being transmitted to the
ground layer 11 through the ground conducting wire 31, the
touch-sensing signal can still be received and processed by the
touch-sensing signal module 22.
[0072] FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrates a schematic view of a wireless
communication device 5 according to the fifth preferred embodiment
of the present invention. The wireless communication device 5
comprises a circuit board 10, a plurality of electronic components
20, a plurality of conducting wires 30, an antenna component 50 and
a processor 80, which are similar to the counterparts comprised in
the communication devices 1 to 4 so the technical contents thereof
can be references to the each other. The wireless communication
device 5 may also comprise an input component 40 or 40' as
illustrated in the above embodiments.
[0073] The difference is, the wireless communication device 5
comprises at least one functional component 40''. Depending on the
practical applications or needs, the functional component 40''
comprises a microphone, a camera, a speaker, a vibrator, a
proximity sensor, an ambient light sensor or/and a LED indicator,
which are commonly used in electronic products to enhance the
functions of the products. The functional component 40'' may be
disposed beside the circuit board 10, but may also on the circuit
board 10 in place.
[0074] The electronic components 20 comprises a functional signal
module 22'' (also known as the module for processing or controlling
functional signal) to electrically connect to the functional
component 40'' so that the functional signal module 22'', along
with the processor 80, can process the functional, signal from the
functional component 40'' or drive the functional component 40'';
for example, if the functional component 40'' is the capacitive
proximity sensor, the functional signal module 22'' and the
processor 80 can determine the change in capacitance of the
proximity sensor due to the approaching of an object (not shown);
if the functional component 40'' is the vibrator, the functional
signal module 22'' can drive vibrator to generation vibration.
[0075] Further, the conducting wires 30 comprises a functional
signal conducting wire 32'' with an (first) end 32A'' electrically
connected to the functional signal module 22'' and another (second)
end 32B'' electrically connected to a contact 41'' of the
functional component 40'', so that a functional signal can be
transmitted between the functional signal module 22'' and the
functional component 40''. The conducting wires 30 may comprise
more than one functional signal conducting wires 32'' to
electrically connect the functional signal module 22'' with the
functional component 40''.
[0076] The functional component 40'' has different configurations
(such as the microphone, etc.), and thus the functional components
40'' will comprise variety of structures. Basically, the functional
component 40'' comprises one or more contacts 41'' for the
functional signal inputting into and/or outputting from the
functional component 40''; the functional component 40'' further
comprises a ground structure 43'' that can be a ground layer, a
ground plane, ground metal cover or a ground wire. The ground
structure 43'' can be electrically connected to the ground layer 11
of the circuit board 10; the conducting wires 30 further comprises
a ground wire 31 with an (first) end 31A electrically connected to
the ground layer 11 and another (second) end 31B electrically
connected to the ground structure 43''.
[0077] The feed point 51 of the antenna component 50 is disposed on
the ground structure 43'' of the functional component 40'' and is
electrically connected to the end 33B of the RF signal conducting
wire 33, so the RF signal is fed into the ground structure 43'' via
the feed point 51. The radiating body 52 of the antenna component
50 comprises at least a part or all of the ground structure 43'' to
use the ground structure 43'' to receive or transmit
electromagnetic waves; in other words, the part of the ground
structure 43'' through which the RF signal propagates may be
defined as the radiating body 52. The RF signal conducting wire 33
and the ground conducting wire 31 may also form another part
comprised in the radiating body 52.
[0078] Thus, the total radiating path of the antenna component 50
may be defined starting from the end 33A of the RF signal
conducting wire 33, passing through the ground structure 43'' and
terminating at the end 31A of the ground conducting wire 31. Since
the ground conducting wire 31 may be a part of the radiating body
52, the radiating body 52 can be viewed as a loop antenna, of which
the radiating path corresponds with 1/2 of the wavelength.
[0079] Preferably, the wireless communication device 5 may comprise
one or more signal filters 60 to reduce or prevent the interference
to the RF signal module 21 from the functional signal, or the
interference to the functional signal module 22'' from the RF
signal. The signal filters 60 comprise a functional signal filter
61'' and/or an RF signal filter 62.
[0080] The functional signal filter 61'' may be electrically
connected to the RF signal conducting wire 33 in series and has a
relatively large impendence for a DC (direct current) or
low-frequency functional signal to block the functional signal from
propagating therethrough. The functional signal filter 61'' has a
relatively small impedance for the high-frequency RF signal, so it
will not block the RF signal from passing therethrough. The
functional signal filter 61'' may comprise electronic components
such as capacitor (e.g., a capacitor connected in series),
inductor, resistor and ferrite bead, which presents an
open-circuited state for the functional signal, but a
short-circuited state for the RF signal.
[0081] The RF signal filter 62 may be electrically connected to the
functional signal conducting wire 32'' in series and has a
relatively large impendence for a high-frequency RF signal to block
the RF signal from propagating therethrough. In this way, the RF
signal cannot enter into the functional signal module 22'', and
thus the functional signal module 22'' will not be influenced by
the RF signal. The RF signal filter 62 may comprise electronic
components such as inductor (e.g., an inductor connected in
series), resistor and ferrite bead, which presents an
open-circuited state for the RF signal but a short-circuited state
for the functional signal.
[0082] Additionally, as shown in FIG. 11, The signal filters 60 may
further comprise a RF signal filter 63 electrically connected to
the ground conducting wire 31 to block the RF signal from
propagating through the ground conducting wire 31. Therefore, the
RF signal cannot propagate towards the ground layer 11 of the
circuit board 10; thus, the ground conducting wire 31 is not part
of the radiating body 52, and the radiating body 52 can be viewed
as a monopole antenna, of which the radiating path corresponds to
1/4 of the wavelength.
[0083] According to the above descriptions, the wireless
communication devices provided in the embodiments of the present
invention have an antenna component integrated with at least one
input component (e.g., a capacitive touch-sensing component, a
resistive touch-sensing component, an inductive touch-sensing
component or an optical touch-sensing component) and/or functional
component, and a sensing layer comprised in the input components.
The sensing layer may serve as the radiating body of the antenna
component, thereby, saving the space occupied by the antenna
component. Additionally, the antenna component may further operate
at a plurality of frequencies to serve as a diversity antenna that
adopts the CA technology. Moreover, due to the arrangement of the
signal filters, the touch-sensing/functional signal will not
influence the RF signal module and the RF signal will not influence
the touch-sensing/functional signal module, thereby, increasing the
operation reliability or the like.
[0084] The above disclosure is related to the detailed technical
contents and inventive features thereof. People skilled in this
field may proceed with a variety of modifications and replacements
based on the disclosures and suggestions of the invention as
described without departing from the characteristics thereof.
Nevertheless, although such modifications and replacements are not
fully disclosed in the above descriptions, they have substantially
been covered in the following claims as appended.
* * * * *