Water seal design with antenna coexisting on electronic device

Abstract

The present technology provides an electronic device. The electronic device includes a housing, a display cover, and a modular component configured to provide a seal between the housing and the display cover. The modular component is configured to be attached to the housing. In addition, the modular component includes a first surface configured to be attached to the display cover. The modular component includes a channel extending along the first surface, wherein the channel is configured to retain a liquid adhesive bonded to the display cover. The modular component also includes a radial protrusion disposed on the first surface, the radial protrusion being configured to contact the display cover when the display cover is attached to the housing and prevent the liquid adhesive from moving out of the channel.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims the benefit of application serial number 62 / 913,206 filed on October 10, 2019, entitled Water Seal Design with Antenna Coexisting on Electronic Devices, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Background Art

[0003] For better portability and durability, housings for electronic devices (such as portable electronic devices and wearable devices) can be designed to be waterproof. For example, liquid adhesives can be used to seal the housing. However, in the case where the components of a small form factor device are arranged in a limited space inside the housing, the overflowing liquid adhesive may contaminate the components inside the device and affect the function of the device. Alternatively, a pressure seal (such as a pressure-sensitive tape or annular seal) can be used to seal the housing, which will not contaminate the components inside the housing. However, such a pressure seal may not provide adequate sealing for complex shapes (such as a three-dimensional display cover with curvature).

[0004] Electronic devices include one or more antennas for sending and receiving signals in various communication bands. Antenna design for small electronic devices is challenging because of the limited form factor of such devices. For example, while a smartphone may have limited space to hold its antenna, a smartwatch with a compact form factor may have even less space. The limited space may limit various dimensions that affect antenna performance, such as the size of the antenna's radiating element, the size of the ground plane, and the size of the clearance distance to the ground plane and other antennas. In addition, the antenna performance of wearable devices may be severely affected by body effects due to their close proximity to the wearer, which may cause detuning, attenuation, and shadowing of the antenna. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present disclosure provides an electronic device, including a housing, a display cover, and a modular component, the modular component being configured to be attached to the housing and to provide a seal between the housing and the display cover. The modular component includes: a first surface, the first surface being configured to be attached to the display cover; a channel extending along the first surface, the channel being configured to retain a liquid adhesive bonded to the display cover; and a radial protrusion disposed on the first surface, the radial protrusion being configured to contact the display cover when the display cover is attached to the housing, and to prevent the liquid adhesive from moving out of the channel.

[0006] The modular component may also include one or more antennas. The one or more antennas may be disposed on the first surface, and the radial protrusion may be disposed between the one or more antennas and the channel such that the radial protrusion prevents the liquid adhesive from moving to the one or more antennas. The radial protrusion may be configured to provide a predetermined gap distance between the one or more antennas and the display cover. The modular component may be configured to provide a predetermined gap distance between the one or more antennas and the housing.

[0007] The display cover may have a three-dimensional shape with one or more curved portions, wherein the channel may be positioned so that the liquid adhesive bonds to the one or more curved portions of the display cover, and wherein the radial protrusion may be configured to contact the one or more curved portions of the display cover. The display cover may have: one or more viewing areas, the one or more viewing areas having a display below; and one or more peripheral areas, the one or more peripheral areas configured to be attached to the housing, wherein the channel may be positioned so that the liquid adhesive bonds to the one or more peripheral areas, and wherein the radial protrusion may be configured to contact the one or more peripheral areas so that the radial protrusion prevents the liquid adhesive from moving to the one or more viewing areas. The radial protrusion may be configured to have a size that matches at least a portion of the inner surface of the display cover.

[0008] The modular component may have an arcuate shape configured to fit along a portion of an edge of the housing. The modular component may have an annular shape configured to fit along an entire edge of the housing.

[0009] The edge of the housing configured to contact the display cover may include a notch that provides additional space for retaining the liquid adhesive.

[0010] The housing may be made of a conductive material and the display cover of a dielectric material.

[0011] The present disclosure also provides a modular component for sealing a display cover to a housing of an electronic device, the modular component being configured to be attached to the housing. The modular component comprises: a first surface configured to be attached to the display cover; a channel extending along the first surface, the channel being configured to retain a liquid adhesive bonded to the display cover; and a radial protrusion disposed on the first surface, the radial protrusion being configured to contact the display cover when the display cover is attached to the housing and prevent the liquid adhesive from moving out of the channel.

[0012] The modular component may further include one or more antennas. The one or more antennas may be disposed on the first surface, and the radial protrusion may be disposed between the one or more antennas and the channel.

[0013] The modular component may have an arcuate shape configured to fit along a portion of an edge of the housing. The modular component may have an annular shape configured to fit along an entire edge of the housing.

[0014] The present disclosure also provides an antenna carrier for an electronic device. The antenna carrier includes: a first surface having a first area configured to be attached to the inner surface of a housing of the electronic device; a channel extending along the first surface in the first area, the channel configured to retain a liquid adhesive bonded to the inner surface of the housing; one or more antennas, the one or more antennas being arranged in the second area on the first surface; and a radial protrusion, the radial protrusion being arranged on the first surface in the first area between the channel and the one or more antennas, the radial protrusion being configured to contact the inner surface of the housing to prevent the liquid adhesive from moving out of the channel to the one or more antennas.

[0015] The one or more antennas may be disposed on the first surface by the LDS. The one or more antennas may include a plurality of antennas configured to operate in different frequency ranges. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1A and Figure 1B Example devices according to aspects of the present disclosure are shown.

[0017] Figure 2A , Figure 2B and Figure 2C Various views of example modular components according to aspects of the present disclosure are shown.

[0018] Figure 3 Example antenna systems in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure are shown.

[0019] Figure 4 is an example circuit diagram of an example antenna according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0020] Figure 5 is a graph illustrating example performance of an example antenna according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0021] Figure 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example system in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Overview

[0023] The present disclosure generally relates to modular components for sealing electronic devices. An electronic device, such as a wearable device, may include a housing and a display cover. The electronic device may also include a modular component configured to provide a seal between the display cover and the housing. For example, the modular component may be configured to be attached to the housing, such as to an edge of the housing. In addition, the modular component may have a first surface configured to be attached to the display cover. The modular component may have any of a plurality of shapes configured to fit along an edge of the housing, such as an arcuate shape or an annular shape, and may be made of any of a plurality of materials, such as a non-conductive material for antenna integration.

[0024] To provide a waterproof seal, the modular component may include a channel through which a liquid adhesive may be applied. The channel may extend along a first surface of the modular component, the modular component being configured to be attached to a display cover. The size of the channel may be selected based on a number of factors. For example, the size of the channel may be selected based on the diameter of a needle used to inject the liquid adhesive. As another example, the size of the channel may be selected based on a predetermined threshold volume of liquid adhesive required for a particular level of water resistance.

[0025] In order to prevent the liquid adhesive from leaking or spreading to other areas of the electronic device, the modular component may also include a radial protrusion. The radial protrusion may be configured to contact the peripheral area of ​​the display cover when the display cover is attached to the housing. Therefore, the radial protrusion can prevent the liquid adhesive from moving out of the channel, such as flowing onto the viewing area of ​​the display cover or flowing onto other components within the housing. In addition, the radial protrusion may be configured to provide guidance for precise positioning of the display cover on the housing. For example, the size (including curvature) of the radial protrusion may be selected so that the radial protrusion is suitable for being along the inner surface of the display cover.

[0026] The modular component may also include one or more antennas. For example, the one or more antennas may be disposed on a first surface of the modular component such that the radial protrusion is positioned between the one or more antennas and the channel. Thus, the radial protrusion may prevent liquid adhesive from overflowing to contaminate the antenna. The modular component may also be configured to provide a threshold gap distance between the one or more antennas and the housing and / or between the one or more antennas and the display cover. For example, the dimensions of the modular component and the radial protrusion may be adjusted to provide a gap distance. The gap distance may be selected based on desired antenna performance and based on the materials of the housing and the display cover.

[0027] In some examples, the display cover can have a three-dimensional shape, such as having one or more curved portions, rather than a flat sheet of glass. The channel can extend along the first surface of the modular component in an area configured to attach to the curved portion of the display cover. Thus, the liquid adhesive in the channel can bond with the one or more curved portions of the display cover. The radial protrusions can also be configured to contact the one or more curved portions of the display cover, for example by having a matching curvature.

[0028] The modular components described herein provide electronic devices with higher water resistance, such as water resistance of up to 50 meters (equivalent to 5 bar or 5 atmospheres). The structural features of the modular components allow the application of liquid adhesives, which provide better adhesion for complex three-dimensional structures. The structural features protect the components in the electronic device by preventing the liquid adhesive from overflowing, and also provide guidance for the precise positioning of the components relative to each other. The integration of antennas in modular components saves space in small form factor devices and provides flexibility for both antenna design and device design. For example, modular components can be adjusted to change the characteristics of the antenna without compromising the size and / or material of the housing or display cover. The features of the modular components also provide a reduction in the impact of metal and dielectric materials in the device (such as the housing and display cover) on the antenna, greater isolation from the user's body effects, and reduced exposure of the user's body to radio frequency radiation.

[0029] Example System

[0030] Figure 1A and Figure 1B An example device 100 is shown that includes one or more modular components that provide water resistance. As shown, the example device 100 is a wearable device, particularly a smart watch. However, it should be understood that the one or more modular components can be implemented in any of a variety of devices having a housing and a display cover, including wearable devices and non-wearable devices, such as pendants, head-mounted devices, smartphones, tablet computers, etc. Figure 1A shows a top view of the exterior of device 100, and Figure 1B An exploded view exposing the interior of device 100 is shown.

[0031] like Figure 1AAs shown, the device 100 has a housing 110 and a display cover 120 attached to or mounted on the housing 110. The housing 110 can be configured to provide support and protection to various electronic components, optical components and / or mechanical components of the device 100. The housing 110 can be made of a variety of materials, such as metal, alloy, plastic, glass, ceramic, or any combination of these or other materials. In the case where the housing 110 is at least partially made of a conductive material (such as metal), the housing 110 can be configured to provide grounding for one or more components of the device 100. The housing 110 can be of any shape, such as circular, rectangular, square, oval, etc. The top surface of the housing 110 can be configured to be attached to the display cover 120, such as by having an opening with a shape similar to the display cover 120, and structures such as a frame, a bracket, a groove, etc., and in the case where the device 100 is a wearable device, the bottom surface of the housing 110 opposite to the display cover 120 can be configured to contact with the skin or clothing, such as by having a substantially flat or smooth surface. The housing 110 may also include other features, such as buttons, crowns, and the like.

[0032] The display cover 120 may be configured to protect and allow viewing and interaction with a display beneath the display cover 120. For example, the display may be a screen or touch screen including various electronic, optical, and mechanical components. The display cover 120 may be made of any of a variety of transparent materials. For example, the display cover 120 may be made of a dielectric material such as glass, polymer, sapphire, etc. The display cover 120 may be configured to have a shape that is similar to or different from the surface of the housing 110 to which the display cover 120 is attached. Figure 1A In the example shown, the display cover 120 has a circular shape similar to the top surface of the housing 110 to which it is attached.

[0033] The housing 110 may also be adapted to be modularly attached to other components. Figure 1A As shown, in the case where the device 100 is a smart watch, the housing 110 can be adapted to be attached to a strap 140. The strap 140 can be made of any suitable material, including metal, ceramic, leather, polymer, fabric, or any combination of these materials. In the case where the strap 140 is at least partially made of a conductive material (such as metal), the strap 140 can be configured to provide grounding for one or more components of the device 100.

[0034] refer to Figure 1B, the perspective view of the device 100 shows that the display cover 120 has a three-dimensional shape. For example, as shown, the display cover 120 may have a planar portion 122 and an edge 124 that curves around the planar portion 122. Thus, the display cover 120 has a dome-like shape. Alternatively, the display cover 120 may have a two-dimensional shape, such as a flat glass without any curvature, or a substantially two-dimensional shape, such as a flat glass with multiple edges and only some edges having curvature. As another alternative, the display cover 120 may not have any planar portions at all, such as hemispherical or ellipsoidal glass. In some instances, the display cover 120 may have: one or more viewing areas through which a user can view and interact with the display below (such as the planar portion 122); and one or more peripheral areas for attaching to the housing 110 (such as the edge 124).

[0035] Figure 1B The exploded view of also shows that one or more modular components can be disposed in the housing 110. For example, modular components 150 (shown as shaded) can be disposed along the edge 112 of the housing 110. Thus, when the display cover 120 is positioned on the edge 112 of the housing 110, the modular components 150 are positioned along the inner surface of the display cover 120a. The modular components 150 can be attached to the housing 110 in any of a variety of ways, for example, the modular components 150 can be attached to the housing 110 by an adhesive (such as glue, tape, resin, etc.).

[0036] like Figure 1BAs further shown, the modular component 150 can have an arcuate shape suitable for attachment to a portion of the edge 112 of the housing 110. For example, the edge 112 can have a perimeter or circumference "L", and the modular component can have a length "l" that is a fraction of L. Thus, the edge 112 of the housing 110 is connected to the display glass 120 via the modular component 150 along some portions of its perimeter or circumference, while along the remainder of its perimeter or circumference, the edge 112 can be directly connected to the display glass 120 via an adhesive. For example, as shown, the remainder of the edge 112 can include a ridge 114 that can be directly attached to the display glass 120 via an adhesive. In some examples, the same liquid adhesive can be used for the entire perimeter of the edge 112 of the housing 110 on the modular component 150 and the ridge 114 to ensure a waterproof seal of the display cover 120. Such a configuration can create space for positioning one or more components within the housing 110 near the remainder of the edge 112 (e.g., near the ridge 114). Alternatively, the modular component 150 may have an annular shape (eg, 360°) configured to be attached to the entire edge 112 of the housing 110. Such a configuration of the modular component 150 sealing the entire edge 112 of the housing 110 may provide improved water resistance.

[0037] Although the housing 110 is Figure 1B 110 is shown as having a circular shape and edge 112 is shown as having a circular shape, but in other cases, housing 110 and edge 112 may have other shapes, such as ellipse, square, triangle, polygon, arbitrary shape, etc. In this case, modular component 150 may also be configured to have a shape that fits a portion of edge 112 or the entire edge 112. For example, modular component 150 may alternatively be three quarters of an ellipse, three sides of a square, etc.

[0038] Figure 2A , Figure 2B and Figure 2C An example configuration of modular components 150 is shown. Figure 2A A perspective view of a modular component 150 is shown. Figure 2B and Figure 2C A cross-sectional view of modular component 150 relative to other components of device 100 is shown.

[0039] refer to Figure 2A, the modular component 150 can include various structures to provide a waterproof seal and antenna integration. For example, the modular component 150 can have an outer surface 210 and an inner surface 220, wherein the outer surface 210 can be configured to attach to the inner surface of the display cover 120. One or more surfaces of the modular component 150 (such as, the outer surface 210, the inner surface 220 and / or the bottom surface 222) can be configured to attach to the housing 110, such as to the edge 112 of the housing 110. The outer surface 210 can include structures, such as, a channel 230 and a radial protrusion 240, wherein the channel is configured to provide a space for retaining an adhesive and the radial protrusion is configured to prevent the adhesive from escaping. The outer surface 210 of the modular component 150 can also provide one or more areas where an antenna can be integrated, such as an upper area 250 of the outer surface 210. Alternatively or additionally, the inner surface 220 of the modular component 150 can also provide one or more areas where an antenna can be integrated, such as an upper area of ​​the inner surface 220 opposite to the area 250.

[0040] Figure 2B Also shown is the relationship of the modular component 150 relative to other components of the device 100. As shown, when the display cover 120 is placed on the housing 110, the modular component 150 is disposed inside the housing 110 and the display cover 120. For example, as shown, a lower portion 270 on the outer surface 210 of the modular component 150 can be attached to the edge 112 by an adhesive (shown as shaded). Additionally or alternatively, other surfaces of the modular component 150 (such as, the inner surface 220 or the bottom surface 222) can also be attached to the housing 110. The adhesive can be any of a variety of types, such as a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA), a heat bonding film, a heat activated film, a UV glue, a cyanoacrylate, a polyurethane (PUR), a hot melt adhesive, a one-component or two-component epoxy resin, and the like.

[0041] As further shown, a channel 230 can be formed in the outer surface 210 of the modular component 150 for retaining the adhesive. The channel 230 extends along the modular component 150 so that when the display cover 120 is placed on the housing 110, the channel 230 is close to the display cover 120. In this way, the adhesive in the channel 230 can bond the display cover 230 to the modular component 150. In addition, the channel 230 can also be positioned near the edge 112 of the housing 110. Therefore, the adhesive in the channel 230 can provide additional bonding between the housing 110 and the modular component 150. Figure 2AAs shown, the channel 230 may extend along the entire length l of the modular component 150. Alternatively, the channel 230 may extend only partially along the length l of the modular component 150, such as having a length that is a fraction of the length l, or a plurality of segments along the length l.

[0042] Any of a variety of types of adhesives can be applied in channel 230. For example, before the display cover 120 is positioned on the housing 110, a liquid adhesive (as shown by the shaded image) can be applied by inserting a needle in the channel 230. Since the liquid adhesive can flow and expand to fill the gap, in many cases, the liquid adhesive can provide better sealing than a solid adhesive (such as, tape), and thus provide better waterproofing. In the case where the display cover 120 has a three-dimensional shape as shown in the figure, the liquid adhesive may be particularly advantageous because the liquid adhesive can expand to fill the curved space better than a flat tape. Examples of liquid adhesives include pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs), thermal bonding films, heat-activated films, UV glues, cyanoacrylates, polyurethanes (PURs), hot melt adhesives, one-component or two-component epoxies, and the like. In some cases, the liquid adhesive can provide waterproofing of up to 50 meters (equivalent to 5 bars or 5 atmospheres).

[0043] However, due to this fluidity, the liquid adhesive may leak or spread to undesirable areas, such as leaking or spreading to the viewing area of ​​the display cover 120 or onto the electronic components and / or mechanical components of the device 100, which may hinder viewing or otherwise affect the function of the device 100. In this regard, above the channel 230, the radial protrusion 240 is configured to prevent the liquid adhesive from leaking or spreading to the viewing area of ​​the display cover 120 and / or other electronic components or mechanical components of the device 100. The radial protrusion 240 can extend along the modular component 150 near the channel 230. Thus, as shown in FIG. Figure 2A As shown, the radial protrusion 240 may extend along the entire length l of the modular component 150, or may extend only partially along the length l of the modular component 150, for example, having a length that is a fraction of the length l, or a plurality of segments along the length l.

[0044] Below the channel 230, leakage or spread of the liquid adhesive may be prevented by the outer surface 210 of the modular component 150 and the edge 112 of the housing 100. Figure 2B As further shown, in some cases, edge 112 of housing 110 may include notches 116 to provide additional space for applying and retaining any excess adhesive.

[0045] The radial protrusions 240 may also be configured to provide guidance for precise positioning of the display cover 120 on the housing 110. Return to Reference Figure 1B Although placing the display cover 120 on the edge 112 of the housing 110 can achieve precise positioning in the z direction, doing so may result in an offset between the display cover 120 and the housing 110 in the xy direction because the edge 112 of the housing 110 may not have the same diameter as the display cover 120. In this regard, by configuring the size of the radial protrusion 240 to match at least a portion of the inner surface 126 of the display cover 120, precise positioning between the housing 110 and the display cover 120 in the xy direction can be achieved when the inner surface 126 of the display cover 120 contacts the radial protrusion 240. For example, in the case where the display cover 120 has a three-dimensional shape, the radial protrusion 240 can be configured to have a curvature that matches the inner surface 126 of the display cover 120.

[0046] Figure 2C The integration of antennas on modular components 150 is shown. For example, as shown, modular components 150 can include an area 250 on an outer surface 210 in which one or more antennas 260 can be disposed. To provide insulation to the one or more antennas 260, modular components 150 can be made of non-conductive materials, such as plastics, polymers, fibers, resins, etc.

[0047] like Figure 2A and Figure 2C As shown, since proximity to conductive elements may negatively affect antenna performance, region 250 may be an area on outer surface 210 above radial protrusion 240. Thus, a gap distance "d1" is provided between the one or more antennas 260 and housing 110. As shown, recess 116 in housing 110 may further increase gap distance d1. In addition, by locating antenna 260 on outer surface 210, the gap distance between antenna 260 and other conductive elements within housing 110 may be increased. By positioning antenna 260 in region 250, radial protrusion 240 may prevent liquid adhesive from leaking or spreading onto antenna 260.

[0048] Proximity to dielectric materials may also affect antenna performance. Therefore, as shown, the radial protrusion 240 provides a gap distance "d2" between the one or more antennas 260 and the display cover 120. Antenna performance may be affected by the dielectric properties of the display cover 120, which may depend on the size of the display cover 120. For example, increasing the thickness of the display cover 120 can increase the dielectric loading effect on the antenna, which may result in degradation of radiation efficiency and antenna frequency detuning. As another example, changing the curvature of the display cover 120 may cause the distance between the antenna and the display cover 120 to change in some areas, which may also affect antenna frequency tuning and radiation performance. Therefore, various aspects of the display cover 120 and the gap distance d2 can be selected based on the desired antenna performance.

[0049] In addition, when the device 100 is a wearable device and the housing 110 is worn close to the skin and the display cover 120 is at a greater distance from the skin, the distance between the antenna 260 and the skin is increased by positioning the antenna 260 on the modular component 150 compared to positioning the antenna 260 on the housing 110. Therefore, the gap distance d1 also represents the increased distance between the antenna 260 and the skin, which reduces body effects such as detuning, attenuation, and shadowing that may negatively affect antenna performance. The increased distance can further reduce radiation from the antenna 260 to the skin.

[0050] The gap distances d1 and d2 may be adjusted in any of a variety of ways. Figure 2A As shown, the gap distance d1 can be adjusted by increasing the height "h" of the modular component 150, which may be limited by the height of the display cover 120. The gap distance d1 can also be adjusted by changing the relative position and size of the radial protrusion 240, the channel 230 and the antenna 260 along the height h of the modular component 150.

[0051] The antenna 260 may be disposed on the modular component 150 using any of a variety of manufacturing techniques. For example, the antenna 260 may be plated onto the modular component 150 via laser direct structuring ("LDS"). In this regard, the modular component 150 may be a resin material that includes an additive suitable for LDS. A laser may then transfer the antenna pattern to a surface of the modular component, such as to the top region 250 of the outer surface 210. The modular component 150 may then undergo a metallization process, wherein the antenna pattern is plated with one or more metallic materials, thereby forming the antenna 260.

[0052] The channel 230 and the radial protrusion 240 can have any suitable dimensions. The dimensions of the channel 230 can be selected to hold a desired amount or volume of adhesive, and / or to allow a tool (such as a needle) to be inserted into the channel 230 for injecting the glue. As an example, the channel 230 can have a depth "d_c" in the range of 0.5mm-1mm and a width "w_c" in the range of 0.6mm-1mm. The dimensions of the radial protrusion 240 can be selected to provide a close fit with the inner surface 126 of the display cover 120, and / or to provide an appropriate gap distance between the antenna 260 and the display cover 120. As an example, the radial protrusion 240 can have a height "h_rp" in the range of 0.5mm-1mm and a width "w_rp" in the range of 0.5mm-1mm. Although in Figure 2B In the example shown, the height h_rp of the radial protrusion 240 can be less than the depth d_c of the channel 230, but in other examples, the height h_p of the radial protrusion 240 can be equal to or greater than the depth d_c of the channel. In the case where the edge 112 of the housing 110 includes a notch 116, the notch can have a depth "d_i" in the range of 0.1mm-1mm.

[0053] Although in the examples described above, the modular component 150 is shown as providing a seal to an electronic device with a display cover, the modular component 150 can also provide a seal to an electronic device without a display cover. For example, for an electronic device without a display cover (e.g., earbuds), the two halves or portions of the housing can be sealed by the modular component 150 in a similar manner as described above, wherein the channel 230 can provide a space for applying a liquid adhesive, the radial protrusion 240 can prevent the liquid adhesive from overflowing, etc. For example, the outer surface 210 of the modular component 150 can have an area configured to be attached to the inner surface of the housing 110, and another area where one or more antennas 260 can be disposed. In the area configured to be attached to the inner surface of the housing 110, the channel 240 can extend along the outer surface 210 for applying an adhesive, and the radial protrusion 230 can be disposed along the outer surface 210 between the channel 240 and the one or more antennas 260 to prevent the adhesive from moving onto the one or more antennas 260.

[0054] Figure 3 An example antenna system 300 that may be provided in device 100 is shown. Figure 3 A top view of a horizontal cross section of device 100 is shown to reveal one view of antenna system 300. Figure 3, the antenna system 300 may include a first antenna 310 and a second antenna 320. The first antenna 310 and the second antenna 320 may be configured to operate at the same or different resonant frequency sets. By way of example only, the first antenna 310 may be configured to operate within a frequency range of a GNSS band, which may include a GPS band centered at 1575.42 MHz, a GLONASS band between 1596 MHz-1607 MHz, and a BeiDou band centered at 1561.098 MHz. The second antenna 320 may be configured to operate within a frequency range between 2400 MHz and 2484 MHz for WiFi and Bluetooth signals. Although only two antennas are shown in the example antenna system 300, other antenna systems may include fewer or more antennas.

[0055] refer to Figure 3 , the first antenna 310 and the second antenna 320 can each be a half-loop antenna. The first antenna 310 and the second antenna 320 can each include a radiating element 312, 322 (each shown as a thick line) having an arcuate shape. A radiating element is a conductive element configured to support a current or field that directly contributes to the radiation pattern of the antenna. In this regard, the radiating elements 312, 322 can be made of any of a variety of conductive materials, such as metals and alloys. The first antenna 310 and the second antenna 320 can each be positioned around the periphery of the housing 110, for example by plating the radiating elements 312, 322 onto the modular component 150, as described in the examples above. As another example, the first antenna 310 and / or the second antenna 320 can include multiple radiating elements coupled to each other, such as two arcuate radiating elements that are capacitively coupled to each other (e.g., positioned in close proximity but separated by air or a dielectric material).

[0056] The first antenna 310 and the second antenna 320 can each have a feed, such as feeds 314 and 324, respectively. Feeds 314 and 324 can each be positioned near the end of the corresponding radiating elements 312 and 322. Feeds 314 and 324 can be connected to a transceiver and / or a wireless power source (not shown). For example, feeds 314 and 324 can be configured to feed radio waves from a wireless power source to the rest of the antenna structure including radiating elements 312 and 322, respectively, via a transmitter. Feeds 314 and 324 can also be configured to collect incoming radio waves received at radiating elements 312 and 322, respectively, convert the incoming radio waves into electric current, and pass the electric current to one or more receivers. In some examples, the first antenna 310 and / or the second antenna 320 can be capacitively fed by a feed structure positioned near feeds 312 and 324, respectively.

[0057] The first antenna 310 and the second antenna 320 may each have one or more ground connections, such as ground connections 316 and 326, respectively. Figure 3 As further shown, ground connections 316, 326 can each be positioned near the end of the respective radiating elements 312, 322. The first antenna 310 and the second antenna 320 can also have a ground plane (not shown). A ground plane is a conductive surface that acts as a reflective surface for radio waves received and / or transmitted by the radiating elements of the antenna. For example, the ground plane of the first antenna 310 and / or the second antenna 320 can be formed by one or more conductive components of the device 100, such as the housing 110, the strap 140, etc.

[0058] The dimensions of the radiating elements 312, 322 may be selected to support operation in different frequency ranges. For example, the dimensions (such as length) of the radiating element 312 may be selected to operate in the GNSS frequency band. For example, the length may be selected so that the radiating element 312 has a resonant frequency in the GNSS frequency band. Similarly, the dimensions (such as length) of the radiating element 322 may be selected to operate at WiFi and Bluetooth frequencies. For example, the length may be selected so that the radiating element 322 has a resonant frequency in the WiFi and Bluetooth frequency bands.

[0059] As an alternative to the semi-loop antenna, the first antenna 310 and / or the second antenna 320 may be any other type of antenna, such as a monopole antenna, a dipole antenna, a planar antenna, a slot antenna, a hybrid antenna, a loop antenna, an inverted-F antenna, etc. Therefore, the radiating elements 312, 322 may have any other suitable shape. For example, in the case where the housing 110 has a rectangular shape and the modular component 150 spans three edges of the rectangle, the radiating elements 312, 322 may each have a planar shape along one or more edges of the modular component 150.

[0060] In the case where the antenna is plated on the surface of the modular component 150, some or all of the radiating elements, feeds and / or ground connections may be plated, while other components (such as a wireless power supply, transceiver, transmitter, tuning circuits, ground planes, etc.) may be disposed elsewhere in the housing 110, such as on a circuit board.

[0061] Figure 4An example circuit 400 for an antenna, such as the first antenna 310 or the second antenna 320, is shown. As shown, the first antenna 310 is connected to a wireless power source 410, for example, at a feed 314 (not shown). A matching network 420 may be provided between the wireless power source 410 and the feed 314. A matching network is an impedance transformation circuit that ensures proper impedance matching by transforming one or both of the impedances in the wireless power source and the load. The matching network 420 may include components such as inductors and capacitors. For example, the matching network 420 may increase or decrease the impedance of the wireless power source 410 to match the impedance of the first antenna 310. Alternatively or additionally, the matching network 420 may increase or decrease the impedance of the first antenna 310 (load) to match the impedance of the wireless power source

[0062] Additionally or alternatively, one or more tuners 430 may be disposed between the wireless power supply 410 and the first antenna 310 and connected to the feed 314. For example, the one or more tuners 430 may include an impedance tuner and / or an aperture tuner. An aperture tuner is configured to change the aperture size of one or more radiating elements of the antenna, which may affect the resonant frequency of the antenna. An impedance tuner is configured to change the impedance of one or more radiating elements of the antenna, which may also affect the resonant frequency of the antenna.

[0063] In some cases, the one or more tuners 430 may include multiple tuners, such as a first tuner that selects the resonant frequency of the first antenna 310 within the communication frequency band, and a second tuner that performs fine tuning within the selected communication frequency band. Additionally, a prematching circuit (not shown) may be connected to the one or more tuners 430 to customize the one or more tuners 430 as needed. The one or more tuners 430 may improve frequency matching, antenna efficiency, and reduce specific absorption rate.

[0064] The one or more tuners 430 may be active tuners ( Figure 4 Not shown, such as Figure 6 661 in FIG. 1 ). In this regard, the one or more tuners 430 may tune between different communication frequency bands based on any of a plurality of network requirements, such as signal strength and user traffic. For example, the one or more tuners 430 may be configured such that when the signal strength drops below a low quality threshold of the GNSS frequency band to which the first antenna 310 is currently tuned, the one or more tuners 440 may change the aperture size and / or impedance of the radiating element of the first antenna 310 to change its resonant frequency (change the tuning state) and perform fine tuning within the range.

[0065] Figure 5An example performance chart of an antenna system (such as an antenna system including a first antenna 310 and a second antenna 320) is shown. Chart 500 plots S parameters for GNSS, WiFi, and Bluetooth frequency ranges. The S parameters of an antenna describe the relationship between the input power of the antenna and the reflected power or the through power. Here, the plotted S parameter is S11, which is the return loss of the antenna. The first antenna 310 is shown as being tuned to one or more GNASS bands around 1575 MHz, which may include a GPS band centered at 1575.42 MHz, a GLONASS band between 1596 MHz-1607 MHz, and a BeiDou band centered at 1561.098 MHz. In addition, the second antenna 320 is shown as being tuned to WiFi and Bluetooth bands between 2400 MHz and 2484 MHz. As another example (not shown), the first antenna 310 and / or the second antenna 320 may additionally or alternatively be tuned to other bands, such as an LTE band. In this regard, the first antenna 310 and / or the second antenna 320 may be tuned by a tuning circuit, such as the circuit 400. Although the example graph 600 illustrates the performance of an antenna system having two antennas, in other example antenna systems having fewer or more antennas, the antennas may be tuned to fewer or more frequency bands. For example, another antenna system may include a third antenna tuned to one or more LTE frequency bands.

[0066] Figure 6 An example system 600 according to aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The example system 600 can be included as part of the device 100. The system 600 has one or more computing devices, such as a computing device 610 that includes one or more processors 612, a memory 614, and other components typically found in a personal computing device. The one or more processors 612 can be processors, such as commercial CPUs. Alternatively, the one or more processors can be dedicated devices, such as ASICs, single-core or multi-core controllers, or other hardware-based processors.

[0067] The memory 614 stores information accessible by the one or more processors 612, including instructions 616 and data 618 that can be executed or otherwise used by the processor 612. The memory 614 can be, for example, solid-state memory or other types of non-transitory memory capable of storing information accessible by a processor, including writable and / or read-only memory.

[0068] Instructions 616 may be any set of instructions that are directly executed by a processor (such as machine code) or indirectly executed (such as a script). For example, instructions may be stored as computing device code on a computing device readable medium. In this regard, the terms "instructions" and "programs" may be used interchangeably herein. Instructions may be stored in an object code format for direct processing by a processor, or in any other computing device language, including scripts or sets of independent source code modules that are interpreted or compiled in advance on demand. The functions, methods, and routines of these instructions are explained in detail below.

[0069] The user interface 620 may include a user input 630 and an output device 640. For example, the user input 630 may include a mechanical actuator 632, a soft actuator 634, and a microphone 636. The mechanical actuator 632 may include a crown, a button, a switch, and other components. The soft actuator 634 may be incorporated into a touch screen. For example, a touch sensor for a touch screen may be incorporated into the display cover 120 or into a component of a display below the display cover 120.

[0070] Output devices 640 may include a user display 642, an audio output 644, and a tactile or haptic feedback 646. For example, user display 642 may be a screen or touch screen for displaying information to a user. Audio output 644 may include components such as speakers, transducers, etc. Haptic interface or other tactile feedback 646 may include components such as haptic motors for providing non-visual and non-audible information to the wearer.

[0071] The user interface 620 may also include additional components. As an example, one or more sensors 650 may be located on or within the housing 110. For example, a touch sensor may be incorporated into the display cover 120 or the housing 110. The sensor 650 may also include an accelerometer, such as a three-axis accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, an atmospheric pressure sensor, an ambient temperature sensor, etc. Additional or different sensors may also be used. The user interface 620 may also include one or more cameras 652. For example, the camera 652 may be incorporated into the user display 642.

[0072] To obtain information from and send information to remote devices, the system 600 may include a communication subsystem 660 having a wireless network connection module 662, a wireless ad hoc connection module 664, and / or a wired connection module 666. The wireless network connection module 662 may be configured to support communications via cellular, LTE, 4G, WiFi, GPS, and other network architectures. The wireless ad hoc connection module 664 may be configured to support Bluetooth LE, near field communication, and other wireless arrangements. The wired connection module 666 may include a USB, micro-USB, USB Type-C, or other connector, for example to receive data and / or power from a laptop, tablet, smartphone, or other device.

[0073] The communication subsystem 660 may include one or more antenna control circuits 661 that control an antenna system 663. For example, the antenna system 663 may be the antenna system 300. The antenna control circuit 661 may control the feeding of the first antenna 310 and the second antenna 420 of the antenna system 300. The antenna control circuit 661 may also control the tuning of the first antenna 310 and the second antenna 320, such as an impedance tuner, an aperture tuner, and / or a matching network. Although not shown, the communication subsystem 660 has a baseband section for processing data and a transceiver section for sending data to and receiving data from a remote device. The transceiver may operate at an RF frequency via one or more antennas (such as, the first antenna 310 and the second antenna 320).

[0074] The system 600 includes one or more power supplies 670 that power various components of the system. The power supply 670 may include a battery, such as a battery 672, a winding mechanism, a solar cell, or a combination thereof. The computing device may be operatively coupled to other subsystems and components via a wired bus or other links, including wireless links.

[0075] The system 600 also includes a location determination module 680, which may include a GPS chipset 682 or other positioning system components. Information from the sensor 650 and / or information from data received or determined from a remote device (e.g., a wireless base station or wireless access point) may be used by the location determination module 680 to calculate or otherwise estimate the physical location of the system 600.

[0076] The system 600 includes one or more internal clocks 690 that provide timing information that can be used for time measurement by applications and other programs run by the smartwatch, as well as basic operations of the computing device 610 , GPS 682 , and the communication subsystem 660 .

[0077] Modular components as described herein provide electronic devices with improved water resistance, such as 50 meters of water resistance (equivalent to 5 bars or 5 atmospheres). The structural features of the modular components allow the application of liquid adhesives, which provide better adhesion to complex three-dimensional structures. The structural features protect the components in the electronic device by preventing the liquid adhesive from overflowing, and also provide guidance for the precise positioning of the components relative to each other. The integration of antennas in modular components saves space in small factor devices and provides flexibility for both antenna design and device design. For example, modular components can be adjusted to change the characteristics of the antenna without compromising the size and / or material of the housing or display cover. The features of modular components also provide a reduced impact on the antenna by metal and dielectric materials in the device (such as, housing and display cover), greater isolation from the user's body effects, and reduced exposure of the user's body to radio frequency radiation.

[0078] Unless otherwise stated, the foregoing alternative examples are not mutually exclusive, but may be implemented in various combinations to achieve unique advantages. Since these and other variations and combinations of the features discussed above may be used without departing from the subject matter defined by the claims, the foregoing description of the embodiments should be made by way of illustration rather than by limitation of the subject matter defined by the claims. In addition, the provisions of the examples described herein and clauses phrased as "such as", "including", etc. should not be interpreted as limiting the subject matter of the claims to specific examples; rather, these examples are intended to illustrate one of many possible embodiments. In addition, the same reference numerals in different figures may indicate the same or similar elements.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising: case; Display cover; a modular component configured to be attached to the housing and configured to provide a seal between the housing and the display cover, the modular component comprising: a first surface configured to be attached to the display cover; a channel extending along the first surface, the channel configured to retain liquid adhesive bonded to the display cover; and A radial protrusion is disposed on the first surface, the radial protrusion being configured to contact the display cover and prevent the liquid adhesive from moving out of the channel when the display cover is attached to the housing.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: The modular components also include one or more antennas.

3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein: The one or more antennas are disposed on the first surface, and the radial protrusions are disposed between the one or more antennas and the channel, such that the radial protrusions prevent the liquid adhesive from moving to the one or more antennas.

4. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein: The radial protrusions are configured to provide a predetermined gap distance between the one or more antennas and the display cover.

5. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein: The modular components are configured to provide a predetermined clearance distance between the one or more antennas and the housing.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: The display cover has a three-dimensional shape with one or more curved portions, wherein the channel is positioned so that the liquid adhesive bonds to the one or more curved portions of the display cover, and wherein the radial protrusion is configured to contact the one or more curved portions of the display cover.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: The display cover has one or more viewing areas with a display underneath and one or more peripheral areas configured to be attached to the housing, wherein the channel is positioned so that the liquid adhesive bonds to the one or more peripheral areas, and wherein the radial protrusions are configured to contact the one or more peripheral areas such that the radial protrusions prevent the liquid adhesive from moving to the one or more viewing areas.

8. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: The radial protrusion is configured to have a size that matches at least a portion of an inner surface of the display cover.

9. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: The modular component has an arcuate shape configured to fit along a portion of an edge of the housing.

10. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: The modular component has an annular shape configured to fit along an entire edge of the housing.

11. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: An edge of the housing configured to contact the display cover includes a notch that provides additional space for retaining the liquid adhesive.

12. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: The housing is made of a conductive material and the display cover is made of a dielectric material.

13. A modular component for sealing a display cover to a housing of an electronic device, the modular component being configured to be attached to the housing, the modular component comprising: a first surface configured to be attached to the display cover; a channel extending along the first surface, the channel configured to retain liquid adhesive bonded to the display cover; as well as A radial protrusion is disposed on the first surface, the radial protrusion being configured to contact the display cover and prevent the liquid adhesive from moving out of the channel when the display cover is attached to the housing.

14. The modular component of claim 13, further comprising: One or more antennas.

15. The modular component according to claim 14, wherein: The one or more antennas are disposed on the first surface, and the radial protrusion is disposed between the one or more antennas and the channel.

16. The modular component of claim 13, wherein: The modular component has an arcuate shape configured to fit along a portion of an edge of the housing.

17. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein: The modular component has an annular shape configured to fit along an entire edge of the housing.

18. An antenna carrier for an electronic device, the antenna carrier comprising: a first surface having a first area configured to be attached to an inner surface of a housing of the electronic device; a channel extending along the first surface in the first region, the channel configured to retain a liquid adhesive bonded to an inner surface of the housing; one or more antennas disposed in a second region on the first surface; A radial protrusion is disposed on the first surface in the first region between the channel and the one or more antennas, the radial protrusion being configured to contact an inner surface of the housing to prevent the liquid adhesive from moving out of the channel to the one or more antennas.

19. The antenna carrier according to claim 18, wherein: The one or more antennas are disposed on the first surface by laser direct structuring (LDS).

20. The antenna carrier according to claim 18, wherein: The one or more antennas include a plurality of antennas configured to operate in different frequency ranges.

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