`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`a2) United States Patent
`US 9,276,642 B2
`(10) Patent No.:
`
`
`
`
`
`
` Shostak (45) Date of Patent: Mar.1, 2016
`
`
`
`US009276642B2
`
`
`
`
`
`(72)
`
`Inventor:
`
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(54) COMPUTING DEVICE HAVING MULTIPLE
`
`
`CO-LOCATED ANTENNAS
`
`
`
`(71) Applicant: GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY _
`
`
`
`
`
`(us) LLC, MountainView, CA
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Pavel A Shostak, Evanston, IL (US)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(73) Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC,
`
`
`
`Mountain View, CA (US)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`
`
`
`
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`
`
`
`USS.C. 154(b) by 22 days.
`
`
`
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 14/444,369
`Filed:
`Jul. 28, 2014
`(22)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`oo.
`,
`
`
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`
`
`
`US 2015/0381239 Al
`Dec. 31, 2015
`
`(65)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`CPC we HO1F 38/14; HO1F 41/00; H02J 5/005;
`
`
`
`
`
`H02J 7/025; H02J 17/00; H01Q 1/362;
`
`
`
`AG1F 2250/0002; A61N 1/37229
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`
`
`
`
`(56)
`
`
`
`
`5,397,986 A *
`
`
`2004/0004581 AIL
`
`
`2014/0028111 AL*
`
`
`2015/0130979 AL*
`
`
`
`
`
`
`3/1995 Conway oie ONM5
`
`
`
`
`1/2004 Jenwatanavet........ HOR
`
`
`
`
`1/2014 Hansen ....eeecccccs HOLF 38/414
`307/104
`
`
`
`
`5/2015 Huang ue HOIF 38/14
`348/333.01
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`es
`:
`
`
`cited by examiner
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Primary Examiner — Sujatha Sharma
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Faegre Baker Daniels LLP
`
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`A computing device (102) includes multiple antennas, one
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`antenna for wireless communication and another antenna for
`(60) Provisional application No. 62/017,297, filed on Jun.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`wireless charging. Each antenna is one of multiple coils that
`26, 2014.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`are co-locatedat a particular area of a housing of the comput-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ing device. These multiple coils can be configured in various
`Int. Cl.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(2006.01)
`different manners, and are configured such thata first of the
`HOLS 7/02
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(2006.01)
`multiple coils has an outer periphery and an inner boundary.
`HO1Q 1/24
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`HO1Q 1/22 A second of the multiple coils includesafirst portion, a(2006.01)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`HO1Q 7/06
`second portion, and a third portion. Thefirst portion of the
`(2006.01)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`HO4B 3/00
`secondcoil is positioned aboutthe outer periphery ofthefirst
`(2006.01)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`coil, the secondportion ofthe second coil is positioned within
`HO02T 7/02
`(2006.01)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`the inner boundary ofthefirst coil, and the third portion ofthe
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`CPC wee H04B 5/0037 (2013.01); HO1Q 1/2266
`second coil traverses the first coil and interconnects thefirst
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(2013.01); HO1Q 1/243 (2013.01); HO1O 7/06
`and secondportions of the second coil.
`
`
`
`
`
`(2013.01); H02J 7/025 (2013.01); HO4B
`
`
`
`
`
`20 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets
`5/0081 (2013.01)
`
`(51)
`
`
`
`
`
`VELL) bYESN]
`
`
`INIETE
`ty,ZYj)
`
`AEEBs
`
`
`SSESpeeSe
`vu
`
`bel
`
`ia."
`MaeMZ
`<3ZEEESSPos
`
`
`oe
`RES
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`[>
`
`SoyA
`
`
`(|
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ZTE)
`
`Page | of 20
`
`SAMSUNG EXHIBIT 1006
`
`Page 1 of 20
`
`SAMSUNG EXHIBIT 1006
`
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`
`
`Mar.1, 2016
`
`
`
`
`Sheet 1 of 11
`
`
`
`
`
`US 9,276,642 B2
`
`
`
`108
`
`
`
`Computing Device 102
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Wireless Communication System 104
`
`
`
`
`Wireless
`Communication
`
`Circuit
`
`112
`
`
`
`
`Wireless
`Communication
`
`Antenna
`
`114
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Wireless Charging System 106
`
`
`
`
`Wireless Charging
`
`Circuit
`
`116
`
`
`
`
`Wireless Charging
`
`Antenna
`
`118
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Power Storage
`
`Component
`
`
`
`Fic. 7
`
`Page 2 of 20
`
`Page 2 of 20
`
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`
`
`
`Mar.1, 2016
`
`
`
`
`Sheet 2 of 11
`
`
`
`US 9,276,642 B2
`
`f200
`
`
`
`
`
`102
`
`202
`
`
`
`_
`ae
`
`
`
`204
`
`
`
`102
`
`
`
`/ \ -
`
`[_]
`
`
`216
`
`
`
`214
`
`
`
`
`
`:
`
`Page 3 of 20
`
`
`FIG. 2
`
`Page 3 of 20
`
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`
`
`
`Mar.1, 2016
`
`
`
`
`Sheet 3 of 11
`
`
`
`US 9,276,642 B2
`
`
`
`
`VALLILILILLNSITYIEEE
`
`
`
`polling,
`ySSA
`
`
`onns
`Po—
`ev
`PS
`soSs
`
`ESSER
`
`ya
`
`——
`
`>C
`
`
`
`418
`
`
`
`414
`
`
`
`PP
`
`
`
`
`SWZ
`
`
`
`
`7|
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Page 4 of 20
`
`Page 4 of 20
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Mar.1, 2016
`
`
`
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sheet 4 of 11=
`
`
`
`t+=9
`
`N—oO
`
`oO9
`
`60
`
`Page 5 of 20
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Page 6 of 20
`
`
`
`WwW
`
`oO
`
`Tt
`
`Swo©=—o
`
`©oO9
`
`ee
`
`N—oO
`
`Fic. 7
`
`Page 7 of 20
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Page 8 of 20
`
`
`
`
`
`Page 9 of 20
`
`
`
`Page 10 of 20
`
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`
`
`
`Mar.1, 2016
`
`
`
`
`Sheet 10 of 11
`
`
`
`US 9,276,642 B2
`
`
`7— 1100
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Provide a wireless charging coil
`
`1102
`
`
`
`1110
`
`
`
`
`Provide a wireless communication coil
`
`1104
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Position a first portion of the wireless communication
`
`
`
`
`
`
`coil about an outer periphery of the wireless
`
`
`charging coil
`
`1106
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Position a second portion of the wireless
`
`
`
`
`
`communication coil within an inner boundary of the
`
`
`
`wireless charging coil
`
`1108
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Position a third portion of the wireless
`
`
`
`
`
`
`communication coil to traverse the wireless charging
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`coil and interconnectthe first and second portions of
`
`
`
`
`the wireless communication coil
`
`
`
`Fic. 117
`
`
`
`Page 11 of 20
`
`Page 11 of 20
`
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`
`
`Mar.1, 2016
`
`
`
`
`Sheet 11 of 11
`
`
`
`
`US 9,276,642 B2
`
`
`
`
`
`Communication
`
`Components
`
`1202
`
`
`Cellular
`Transceiver
`4212
`
`a
`
`
`
`
`WLAN
`Transceiver
`
`4214
`
`
`
`1218
`
`Processor(s)
`
`1204
`
`
`
`
`Output
`Components
`
`1208
`
`
`
`
`Input Components
`
`1210
`
`
`
`
`Device Interface
`
`1216
`
`
`
`
`Power Supply
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 12
`
`
`
`Page 12 of 20
`
`Page 12 of 20
`
`
`
`
`
`US 9,276,642 B2
`
`
`1
`COMPUTING DEVICE HAVING MULTIPLE
`
`
`
`CO-LOCATED ANTENNAS
`
`
`
`
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`This application claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Patent
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Application Ser. No. 62/017,297 filed on Jun. 26, 2014,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`entitled “Portable Device with Different Antenna Systems
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Co-Located at or Near a Housing Surface”, which is incor-
`
`
`
`
`
`porated by reference herein in its entirety.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Astechnology has advanced, the functionality provided by
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`computing devices has increased. This functionality includes
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`different types of wireless functionality, such as allowing
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`computing devices to communicate with other devices wire-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`lessly, allowing computing devices to wirelessly charge their
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`batteries, and so forth. To support this wireless functionality,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`a computing device typically includes a different antenna for
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`each different type ofwireless functionality. Users oftentimes
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`desire to associate the same location of their computing
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`device, such as the central area of a back of the computing
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`device, with different wireless functionality. However, it can
`be difficult to include two different antennas in the same
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`location of a computing device.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`20
`
`25
`
`
`
`30
`
`
`
`
`2
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Wireless charging is an inductive charging technology that
`
`
`
`
`
`
`utilizes an electromagnetic field to transfer energy between
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`devices. For example, an inductive charging device may form
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`an inductive coupling with a smartphone, tablet, or other
`
`
`
`
`
`
`portable device to charge a battery of the portable device.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Similar to near field communication, wireless charging is
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`typically performed when the two devices are in close physi-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`cal proximity of one another, typically less than 10 cm apart.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Using the techniques discussed herein, a computing device
`
`
`
`
`
`
`includes multiple antennas—one for wireless communica-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tion and onefor wireless charging. Each antennais a coil that
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`is located at a particular area (e.g., a central area) of a housing
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ofthe computing device. The antennasare referredto as being
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`co-located due to both antennas being located in the same
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`area. These multiple coils are configured suchthat a first coil
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`of the multiple coils has an outer periphery and an inner
`
`
`
`
`
`
`boundary.A first portion of a second coilof the multiple coils
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`is positioned about the outer periphery of the first coil, a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`second portion of the second coil is positioned within the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`inner boundary of the first coil, and a third portion of the
`second coil traverses the first coil and interconnects the first
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`and secondportions of the second coil.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Using the techniques discussed herein, the multiple anten-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`nas are co-located in the same area, improving the perfor-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`manceof the functionality (e.g., wireless communication)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`associated with one antenna while reducing performance
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`degradation of the functionality (e.g., wireless charging)
`associated with the other antenna. In one or more embodi-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ments, the two antennas are located in approximately a cen-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tral area of the housing of a computing device because users
`
`
`
`
`
`
`are oftentimes accustomed to positioning their computing
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`device so that approximately the central area of the comput-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ing device is adjacentto the other device with which commu-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`nication is to be performed or from which charging is to
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`performed. Furthermore, with many portable devices, the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`front side of the device is dominated by a touch screen, and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`thus the multiple antennas are co-located at or near the back
`
`
`
`housing of the computing device.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG.1 illustrates an example computing device 102 having
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`multiple co-located antennas in accordance with one or more
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`embodiments. The computing device 102 can be any of a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`variety of different types of devices, such as a laptop com-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`puter, a cellular or other wireless phone, a tablet device, a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`phablet device, a personaldigital assistant, an entertainment
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`device, an audio or video playback device, a personal navi-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`gation device, a touch screen input device, a stylus or pen-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`based input device, and so forth. The computing device 102
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`can take the form of a variety of different form factors, such as
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`bar, tablet, flip/clam, slider, rotator, wearable, and so forth.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The computing device 102 is oftentimes a portable or mobile
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`device that is designed to be easily movedto different loca-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tions. However, the computing device 102 can alternatively
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`be a device designed to be stationary, such as a desktop
`
`
`
`
`
`computer, server computer, and so forth.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The computing device 102 includes a wireless communi-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`cations system 104, a wireless charging system 106, and a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`powerstorage component 108. The wireless communication
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`system 104 allows the computing device 102 to communicate
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`with one or more other devices using various wireless com-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`munication protocols. In one or more embodiments, the wire-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`less communication system 104 supports a near field com-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`munication protocol. For example, wireless communication
`
`
`
`
`
`
`protocols supported by the wireless communication system
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`104 can be protocols adhering to the ISO/IEC 18000-3 (2010)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`standard, the ISO/IEC 18092 (2013) standard, the ECMA-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`340 (2013) standard, the ISO/IEC 21481 (2012) standard, the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ISO/IEC 14443 (2008, 2010, 2011) standard, or the ECMA
`
`35
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Embodiments of a computing device having multiple co-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`located antennasare described with referenceto the following
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`drawings. The same numbersare used throughout the draw-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ings to reference like features and components:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 1 illustrates an example computing device having
`
`
`
`
`
`
`multiple co-located antennas in accordance with one or more
`
`embodiments;
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG.2 illustrates an example environmentin which acom-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`puting device having multiple co-located antennas can be
`40
`
`
`
`
`
`
`used in accordance with one or more embodiments;
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG.3 illustrates an example layout of an antenna appara-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tus in which multiple antennas are co-located in accordance
`
`
`
`
`with one or more embodiments;
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 4 illustrates a cross section view of an example
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`antenna apparatus in accordance with one or more embodi-
`
`ments;
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 illustrate different example
`
`
`
`
`
`
`antenna apparatus in which multiple antennas are co-located
`
`
`
`
`
`
`in accordance with one or more embodiments;
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 11 illustrates an example flowchart for providing a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`computing device having multiple co-located antennas in
`
`
`
`
`
`
`accordance with one or more embodiments; and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 12 illustrates an example electronic device that can
`
`
`
`
`
`
`implement embodiments of the techniques discussed herein.
`
`45
`
`
`
`
`50
`
`55
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Acomputing device having multiple co-located antennasis
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`discussed herein. A computing device supports both wireless
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`communication (e.g., near field communication (NFC)) and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`wireless charging (WC). Near field communicationis a wire-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`less communication protocol for devices to communicate
`with one another. In order for two devices to communicate
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`with one another using near field communication, the two
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`devices typically must be in close physical proximity of one
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`another. Oftentimesusers utilize near field communication by
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`placing the devices in physical contact with each other.
`
`60
`
`
`
`65
`
`
`
`Page 13 of 20
`
`Page 13 of 20
`
`
`
`
`3
`
`
`
`
`
`
`352 (2013) standard. Alternatively, the wireless communica-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tion system 104 can support various other wireless commu-
`
`
`
`nication protocols or standards.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The wireless charging system 106 implements inductive
`
`
`
`
`
`
`charging technologythat utilizes an electromagnetic field to
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`wirelessly receive energy from an external power source. The
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`received energy is stored in power storage component 108.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The powerstorage component108 can be anyof a variety of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`components capable of storing energy received by the wire-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`less charging system 106. In one or more embodiments, the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`powerstorage component 108is a battery (e.g., a lithium ion
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`battery, a lithtum polymer battery, a nickel metal hydride
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`battery, anickel cadmium battery, and so forth). Alternatively,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the power storage component108 can be other types of com-
`
`ponents.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The wireless communication system 104 includes a wire-
`less communication circuit 112 and a wireless communica-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tion antenna 114. The wireless communication antenna 114 is
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`a coil that receives wireless signals communicated from one
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`or more other devices (not shown in FIG. 1) and sends wire-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`less signals to one or more other devices (not shown in FIG.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1). The receiving and sending of wireless signals using the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`wireless communication antenna 114 is managedbythe wire-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`less communication circuit 112, allowing the wireless com-
`25
`
`
`
`
`
`
`munication circuit 112 to perform or otherwise facilitate
`
`
`
`
`
`
`wireless communication (e.g., near field communication)
`with other devices.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The wireless charging system 106 includes a wireless
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`charging circuit 116 and a wireless charging antenna 118. The
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`wireless charging antenna 118 is a coil that receives energy
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`from an external power source (not shown in FIG. 1). The
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`wireless charging antenna 118 is co-located with the wireless
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`communication antenna 114, as discussed in more detail
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`below. The receiving of energy using the wireless charging
`35
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`antenna 118 is managedby the wireless charging circuit 116,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`which stores the received energy in the power storage com-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ponent 108 (e.g., recharging the battery of the computing
`
`
`device 102).
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG.2 illustrates an example environment 200 in which a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`computing device 102 can be used in accordance with one or
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`more embodiments. The computing device 102 includes a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`display 202 and an antenna apparatus 204. The display 202
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`can implement touchscreen functionality and can be config-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ured as any suitable type of display, such as an organic light-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`emitting diode (OLED)display, active matrix OLED display,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`liquid crystal display (LCD), in-plane shifting LCD, and so
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`on. The display 202 is situated on one side or surface of the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`computing device 102 (the front of the computing device
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`102). The antenna apparatus 204 includes the wireless com-
`50
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`munication antenna 114 and the wireless charging antenna
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`118 of FIG. 1. The antenna apparatus 204 is situated within
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the housing of the computing device 102, andis situated at or
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`near surface of the opposite side of the computing device 102
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(the back or rear of the computing device 102). The antenna
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`apparatus 204 is illustrated in FIG. 2 with dashed lines
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`because the antenna apparatus 204is situated within the hous-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ing of the computing device 102 andis typically not visible
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`from external to the housing of the computing device 102.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The antenna apparatus 204 is illustrated in FIG. 2 as being
`
`
`
`
`
`
`situated in a central region ofthe rear surface of the comput-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ing device 102 (e.g., at approximately the center ofthe back of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the computing device 102). However, the antenna apparatus
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`204 can alternatively be situated in other areas of the com-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`puting device 102. For example, the antenna apparatus 204
`65
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`can be situated at or near the back surface of the computing
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`device 102 at approximately the top of the back of the com-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`puting device 102, in one of the corners of the back of the
`
`20
`
`30
`
`40
`
`45
`
`55
`
`60
`
`Page 14 of 20
`
`
`
`US 9,276,642 B2
`
`
`
`
`
`4
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`computing device 102, and so forth. Additionally, situations
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`can arise in which the antenna apparatus 204is situated at or
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`near a different surface of the computing device 102, such as
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`at or near the front of the computing device 102 (e.g., in
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`situations in which the display 202 does not encompass sub-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`stantially all of the front of the computing device 102).
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG.2 also illustrates a wireless charging base 212 resting
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`on a table 214, a wireless headset 216, and a wireless kiosk
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`218. The computing device 102 can be wirelessly charged by
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`placing the computing device 102 in close physical proximity
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`to the wireless charging base 212. For example, the user can
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`lay the computing device 102 on the wireless charging base
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`212 sothat the back ofthe computing device 102 is resting on
`
`
`
`
`
`the top of the wireless charging 212.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The computing device can also wirelessly communicate
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`with the wireless headset 216 by placing the computing
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`device 102 in close physical proximity to the wireless headset
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`216. For example, the wireless headset 216 can bea Bluetooth
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`headset, and the user can position the wireless headset 216
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`next to (e.g., physically touching) the back of the computing
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`device 102 at approximately the antenna apparatus 204,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`facilitating pairing of the wireless headset 216 with the com-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`puting device 102 by allowing the computing device 102 and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the wireless headset 216 to wirelessly communicate with one
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`another using NFC.Similarly, the computing device can also
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`wirelessly communicate with the wireless kiosk 218 by plac-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ing the computing device 102 in close physical proximity to
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the wireless kiosk 218. For example, the user can position the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`computing device 102 so that the back of the computing
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`device 102 is next to (e.g., physically touching) the wireless
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`kiosk 218, allowing the computing device 102 and the wire-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`less kiosk 218 to wirelessly communicate with one another
`
`
`using NFC.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG.3 illustrates an example layout of an antenna appara-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tus 204 in which multiple antennas are co-located in accor-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`dance with one or more embodiments. The example antenna
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`apparatus 204 includes two different antennas 302 and 304.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The antenna 302, illustrated with a vertical line pattern, is
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`substantially circular in shape and can bethe wireless charg-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ing antenna 118. The antenna 302 can be implemented in
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`various manners, such as a coil that is looped around a center
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`of the circular shape multiple times. Although the antenna
`
`
`
`
`
`302is illustrated as being substantially circular
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The antenna 302 includes an outer periphery 306, which
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`refersto the outer part ofthe circular shape(e.g., the perimeter
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ofthe circular shape)that is the antenna 302. The antenna 302
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`also includes an inner boundary 308, whichrefers to the inner
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`part of the circular shape that is the antenna 302. Within the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`inner boundary 308 is a center area 310 of the antenna appa-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ratus 204. The center area 310 forms a geometric shape(e.g.,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`a substantially circular shape), and that geometric shape has a
`center that is also referred to as the center of the center area
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`310. For example, the center of the center area 310 can be the
`location 312.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The antenna 304, illustrated with a 45-degree angled line
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`pattern, can be the wireless communication antenna 114. The
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`antenna 304 is one continuous loop that includes multiple
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`portions 314, 316, and 318. The portion 314 is positioned
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`aboutthe outer periphery 306 ofthe antenna 302. The portion
`
`
`
`
`
`
`314is illustrated as being substantially rectangular in shape,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`althoughthe portion 314 can take other shapes, such as being
`
`
`
`
`
`
`substantially circular in shape, being substantially elliptical
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`in shape, andso forth. The portion 314 can be implementedin
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`various manners, such as a coil that is looped around a center
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`of the rectangular shape multiple times. The portion 314
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`includesan outer periphery 320, whichrefers to the outer part
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ofthe rectangular shape(e.g., the perimeter ofthe rectangular
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Page 14 of 20
`
`
`
`
`
`US 9,276,642 B2
`
`
`
`
`
`20
`
`
`
`25
`
`
`
`30
`
`
`
`
`5
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`shape) that is the portion 314. The portion 314 also includes
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`an inner boundary 322, which refers to the inner part of the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`rectangular shape that is the portion 314. The antenna 302 is
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`situated within the inner boundary 322 of the portion 314.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The portion 316 is positioned within the inner boundary
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`308 ofthe antenna 302. The portion 316 is illustrated as being
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`substantially rectangular in shape, although the portion 316
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`can take other shapes, such as being substantially circular in
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`shape, being substantially elliptical in shape, and so forth.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The portion 316 can be implemented in various manners, for
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`example as acoil that is looped aroundthe location 312 one or
`
`
`
`
`more times, or as a linear segment.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The portion 318 traverses the antenna 302, interconnecting
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the portions 314 and 316 of the antenna 304. The portion 318
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`can be positioned on top ofthe antenna 302 (e.g., between the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`antenna 302 and the back surface ofthe computing device 102
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`implementing the antenna apparatus 204), or can be posi-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tioned underneath the antenna 302 (e.g., so that the antenna
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`302 is situated between the portion 318 and the back surface
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ofthe computing device 102 implementing the antenna appa-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ratus 204). A dielectric or shield material can be positioned
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`between the portion 318 and the antenna 302 to prevent the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`portion 318 and antenna 302 from cominginto physical con-
`tact with one another.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The portion 318 is illustrated in FIG. 3 as traversing the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`antenna 302 along the left-hand side of the antenna 302. It
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`should be noted thatthe illustrated location wherethe portion
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`318 traverses the antenna 302 is an example, and that the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`antenna 302 can betraversedat other locations. For example,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the portion 318 can traverse the antenna 302 along the right-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`handside ofthe antenna 302, along the top ofthe antenna 302,
`and so forth.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`It should be noted that a separation is maintained between
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the antenna 302 andthe portion 316 of the antenna 304, as
`35
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`well as between the antenna 302 and the portion 314 of the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`antenna 304. Maintaining this separation prevents the mag-
`netic fields of the antenna 302 and the antenna 304 from
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`interfering with one another by decreasing the mutual cou-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`pling between the two coils. In one or more embodimentsthis
`
`
`
`
`
`separation is at least approximately 2 millimeters, although
`
`
`
`
`
`
`other amounts of separation can alternatively be used.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`In one or more embodiments, a wireless chargingferrite is
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`positioned adjacent to the wireless charging antenna(e.g.,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`antenna 302), for example underneath the wireless charging
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`antenna so that the wireless charging antenna is situated
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`between the wireless charging ferrite and a surface (e.g., the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`back surface) of the computing device 102 implementing the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`antenna apparatus 204. Additionally, in one or more embodi-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ments a wireless communicationferrite is positioned adjacent
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`to the wireless communication antenna(e.g., antenna 304),
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`for example underneath the wireless communication antenna
`so that
`the wireless communication antenna is situated
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`between the wireless communication ferrite and a surface
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(e.g., the back surface) of the computing device 102 imple-
`55
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`menting the antenna apparatus 204. Theseferrites are made of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`a ferrite shield material selected to shield the magneticfield of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the wireless communication system andthe wireless charging
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`system from nearby metallic materials that dissipatethefield
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`via formation of eddy currents. The ferrite shield material
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`may be comprised of sintered iron (Fe) in rigid or flexible
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`sheets, polymeric magnetic sheets, or other constructions.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The primary magnetic material or combination of materials
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(for example, Fe, Ni, Mg, etc.) in the ferrite shield material
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`may be chosen to improve the shielding performance for a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`particular operating frequency depending on which technol-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ogy is being considered (for example, wireless charging or
`
`
`wireless communication).
`
`40
`
`
`6
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`In one or more embodiments, each antenna 302 and 304 is
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`acoil and the antenna apparatus 204 includes oneferrite(e.g.,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the wireless charging ferrite) designed for operation of the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`antenna 302 positioned adjacent to the antenna 302, and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`another ferrite (e.g.,
`the wireless communication ferrite)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`designedfor operation ofthe antenna 304 positioned adjacent
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`to the portions 314 and 316 ofthe antenna 304. A ferrite being
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`designed for operation of a particular antenna 302 or 304
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`refers to the ferrite being designed or constructed to improve
`
`
`
`
`
`
`shielding performancefor a particular operating frequency of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the antenna 302 or 304 that the ferrite is positioned adjacent
`to. Different materials are chosen for the different ferrites
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`based on which of the antenna 302 or 304theferrite is posi-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tioned adjacentto. Thus, the ferrite positioned adjacent to the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`antenna 302is differentthan the ferrite positioned adjacent to
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the portions 314 and 316 ofthe antenna 316. Since the portion
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`318 of the antenna 304 traverses the antenna 302, the ferrite
`
`
`
`
`
`
`designed to improve shielding of the antenna 302 may be
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`positioned adjacentto the antenna 302 and the portion 318 of
`the antenna 304.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 4 illustrates a cross section view of an example
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`antenna apparatus in accordance with one or more embodi-
`ments. FIG. 4 as illustrated is a cross section view of the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`antenna apparatus 204 of FIG. 3 along the line 324 of FIG. 3
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`in the direction indicated as 4. The antenna apparatus 204
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`illustrated in FIG. 4 includes a base layer 402, a ferrite layer
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`404, and a coillayer 406. In one or more embodiments, ofthe
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`three layers 402, 404, and 406, the base layer 402 is the layer
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`furthest from the housing ofthe computing device 102 and the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`coil layer 406 is the layer closest to the housing of the com-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`puting device 102 (e.g., the housing of the back of the com-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`puting device 102). Thus, the ferrite layer 404 is positioned at
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`a side of the coil layer 406 opposite the housing of the com-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`puting device 102 (e.g., the housing of the back of the com-
`
`
`
`puting device 102).
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The base layer 402 can be any of a variety of rigid or
`