Stylus antenna

Abstract

The invention generally relates to a stylus antenna. A computer stylus may have a shaft with a metal tube and a cap slidable between an open position and a closed position. The connector port may be exposed in the open position and hidden in the closed position. An antenna element may be formed from a conductive trace on a printed circuit board in the shaft and aligned with a window in the metal tube. The cap may include a metal hook extending from the conductive wall into the shaft. The hook may overlap the antenna element in the closed position. The shaft may include a dielectric buffer located in the opening of the hook. The hook and the wall are slidable relative to the shaft along the dielectric buffer. The cap may include a metal sleeve surrounding the port. The cap may include a conductive bumper on the wall. The conductive buffer may contact the sleeve when the cap is in the closed position.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. patent application No. 18 / 487,471 filed on October 16, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to electronic devices, including electronic devices having wireless communication capabilities. Background Art

[0003] Electronic devices such as tablet computers and other portable devices are often provided with wireless circuits and displays. The display may include a touch-sensitive display that receives input from a computer stylus. The computer stylus may also be provided with wireless circuits.

[0004] It can be challenging to form wireless circuits in compact devices such as computer styluses. If care is not taken, the presence of conductive structures in a computer stylus can adversely affect antenna performance. Therefore, it would be desirable to be able to provide improved wireless circuits for compact devices such as computer styluses. Summary of the invention

[0005] A computer stylus may be provided that provides input to an electronic device such as a tablet computer. The stylus may have an elongated body having a tip and a cap coupled together by a shaft. The shaft may include a metal tube and an outer tube covering the metal tube. The cap may be slidable relative to the shaft between an open position and a closed position. The cap may include a connector port that is exposed in the open position and hidden in the closed position.

[0006] The stylus may include a printed circuit board in the shaft. The stylus may include an antenna having an antenna resonating element formed by conductive traces on the printed circuit board. The antenna resonating element may be aligned with the window in the metal tube. The printed circuit board may be attached to the metal tube by conductive screws on opposite sides of the window. A plastic block may be disposed over the antenna resonating element.

[0007] The cap may include a metal hook extending from the conductive wall into the shaft. The metal hook may overlap the antenna resonating element in the closed position. The shaft may include a dielectric buffer inserted into an opening in the metal hook. The metal hook and the conductive wall may slide relative to the shaft along the dielectric buffer. The dielectric buffer may prevent the cap from sliding off the stylus. The cap may include a metal sleeve surrounding the connector port. The cap may include a compressed conductive buffer on the conductive wall. When the cap is in the closed position, the compressed conductive buffer may contact the metal sleeve. This may be used to couple the metal hook to a ground portion of the antenna in the closed position, thereby preventing the metal hook from degrading antenna performance. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1is a perspective view of an illustrative tablet computer and associated computer stylus according to some embodiments.

[0009] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary stylus with wireless communications circuitry according to some embodiments.

[0010] Figure 3 is a diagram of illustrative wireless communications circuitry in a stylus according to some embodiments.

[0011] Figure 4 is a diagram of an illustrative inverted-F antenna for a stylus, according to some implementations.

[0012] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative stylus according to some embodiments.

[0013] Figure 6 is a side view showing how an exemplary stylus may have a removable cap covering a connector port according to some embodiments.

[0014] Figure 7 is a top view of the interior of an exemplary stylus having an antenna proximate a movable cap in a closed position according to some embodiments.

[0015] Figure 8 is a top view of the interior of an exemplary stylus having an antenna proximate a removable cap in an open position according to some embodiments.

[0016] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary stylus having an antenna proximate a movable cap in a closed position according to some embodiments.

[0017] Fig.10 is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary stylus having an antenna proximate a removable cap in an open position according to some embodiments.

[0018] Fig.11 is a perspective view of an illustrative metal hook in a removable cap of a stylus according to some embodiments.

[0019] Fig.12 is a top view of an illustrative antenna on a printed circuit board according to some embodiments.

[0020] Fig.13 The antenna performance (efficiency) according to some embodiments is based on Figures 1 to 12 A graph showing the frequency variation of a stylus antenna of the type shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Figure 1 A system including electronic devices communicating wirelessly is shown in FIG. Figure 1 The apparatus includes an electronic device 10 and an electronic device 20. Electronic equipment such as device 10 and device 20 may generally be a computing device such as a laptop computer, a computer monitor containing an embedded computer, a tablet computer, a cellular phone, a media player, or other handheld or portable electronic device; a smaller device such as a wristwatch device, a hanging device, an earphone or headset device, a device embedded in glasses, or other equipment worn on a user's head (e.g., virtual, mixed and / or augmented reality glasses or goggles); or other wearable or micro devices; a television; a computer display that does not contain an embedded computer; a gaming device; a navigation device; an embedded system such as a system in which the electronic equipment is installed in a kiosk or a car; a computer accessory such as a touchpad, a computer mouse, a computer stylus, or other electronic accessories; equipment that implements the functions of two or more of these devices, or other electronic equipment.

[0022] Sometimes described herein as an example Figure 1 In the exemplary configuration of FIG. 1 , device 20 is a tablet computer or another type of device with a touch screen, and device 10 is a computer stylus. Therefore, device 10 is sometimes referred to herein as stylus 10, and device 20 is sometimes referred to herein as tablet computer 20. When a drawing program or other software is running on tablet computer 20, a user can use stylus 10 to draw on tablet computer 20 and provide other input to tablet computer 20.

[0023] Tablet computer 20 may include a housing such as housing 22. Tablet computer 20 may have a display such as display 24 mounted to housing 22. Input-output devices such as buttons 26 may be used to provide input to tablet computer 20. Buttons 26 may be omitted if desired. Display 24 may be a touch-sensitive display (e.g., a capacitive touch screen display or a touch display including other types of touch sensor technology). Display 24 may also be force-sensitive if desired. Display 24 may be configured to receive input from stylus 10.

[0024] The stylus 10 may have a cylindrical shape or other elongated body extending along the longitudinal axis 12. The body of the stylus 10 may be formed from metal and / or plastic tubing and other elongated structures. The stylus 10 and the tablet computer 20 may include wireless circuitry for supporting wireless communications via the wireless communication link 28. As an example, the stylus 10 may provide wireless input to the tablet computer 20 via the wireless communication link 28 (e.g., information about settings in a drawing program or other software running on the tablet computer 20, input for selecting a desired on-screen option, input for providing touch gestures such as stylus taps to the tablet computer 20, input for drawing lines or other objects on the display 24, input for moving or otherwise manipulating an image displayed on the display 24, input associated with how a user touches or holds the stylus 10, orientation sensor data generated by an orientation sensor on the stylus 10, force sensor data indicating how hard the stylus 10 is pressed against the display 24, touch, force, capacitance, and / or orientation sensor data indicating the angle at which the stylus 10 is oriented relative to the display 24 when drawing on the display 24, etc.).

[0025] Stylus 10 may have a tip such as tip 14. Tip 14 may include a conductive elastomeric member that is detected by a capacitive touch sensor of display 24. If desired, tip 14 may include active electronics (e.g., circuitry that transmits a signal that is capacitively coupled into a touch sensor of display 24 and that is detected as a touch input on the touch sensor).

[0026] Stylus 10 may have an elongated body, such as shaft 16. Stylus 10 may also have a cap 18 at the end of stylus 10 opposite tip 14 (e.g., shaft 16 may couple tip 14 to cap 18). Cap 18 may contain active electronics (e.g., circuitry that transmits signals capacitively coupled to a touch sensor of display 24 and detected as touch input on the touch sensor), buttons, sensor components such as a touch sensor, proximity sensor, or force sensor, or other input-output components.

[0027] In the specific implementation described as an example herein, the cap 18 may include a connector port. The connector port may be configured to receive a power and / or data connector. The connector port may receive power from the connector (e.g., to charge the battery on the stylus 10) and / or may transmit data through the connector. For example, the connector port may be a universal serial bus (USB) port, such as a USB-C port. The cap 18 may be a removable cap that can slide between a closed position and an open position (e.g., without being separated from the shaft 16). When the cap 18 is in the closed position, the housing of the cap 18 covers the connector port. This protects the connector port from moisture, damage, and other contaminants, while also providing the stylus 10 with a smooth (continuous) and aesthetically pleasing outer surface from the shaft 16 to the cap 18. When the cap 18 is in the open position, the housing of the cap 18 moves away from the shaft 16 to expose the connector port. This allows the connector port to receive a corresponding wired connector. The cap 18 may include a conductive retaining member, such as a metal hook, that prevents the cap 18 from falling off the stylus 10 in the open position.

[0028] Sensor components at the cap 18 or other locations in the stylus 10 may, for example, generate touch sensor data or proximity sensor data indicating whether the cap 18, tip 14, or other portion of the stylus 10 is pressed against the display 24 of the tablet computer 20, force sensor data indicating how hard the cap 18, tip 14, or other portion of the stylus 10 is pressed against the display 24 of the tablet computer 20, etc. The wireless circuitry in the stylus 10 may transmit the sensor data to the tablet computer 20 via the wireless communication link 28. The tablet computer 20 may change settings in the drawing program or may perform other software and / or hardware operations based on the sensor data received from the stylus 10 (e.g., execution of one or more software applications via an application processor on the tablet computer 20). For example, the tablet computer 20 may use the received sensor data to activate an eraser function associated with a drawing program running on the tablet computer 20, or may perform any other desired operation.

[0029] If desired, a force sensor may additionally or alternatively be incorporated into the tip 14 of the stylus 10. The force sensor in the tip 14 may be used to measure the force with which the user presses the tip 14 of the stylus 10 against the outer surface of the display 24. The force data may then be wirelessly transmitted from the stylus 10 to the tablet computer 20 so that the thickness of the line being drawn on the display 24 may be adjusted accordingly, or so that the tablet computer 20 may take other appropriate actions. In general, any desired information may be conveyed between the stylus 10 and the tablet computer 20 over the wireless communication link 28.

[0030] If desired, stylus 10 may be provided with a clip (not shown) to facilitate attachment of stylus 10 to a user's shirt pocket or other object, may be provided with magnets to facilitate attachment of stylus 10 to a magnetic attachment point in tablet 20 or other structure, or may be provided with other structures to facilitate attachment of stylus 10 to an external object by a user. Components such as component 8 may be formed on stylus 10 (e.g., on shaft 16 or elsewhere). Component 8 may include buttons, touch sensors, and other components for collecting inputs; light emitting diodes or other components for generating outputs, etc. Component 8 may, for example, include input-output components, conductive structures for receiving wireless power for charging a battery in stylus 10 and / or receiving other wireless signals (e.g., near-field signals), or any other desired components.

[0031] Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing exemplary components that may be used for stylus 10 is shown in FIG. Figure 2 As shown, the stylus 10 may include a control circuit 30. The control circuit 30 may include a storage circuit, such as a non-volatile memory (e.g., a flash memory or other electronically programmable read-only memory configured to form a solid-state drive), a volatile memory (e.g., a static random access memory or a dynamic random access memory), etc. The control circuit 30 may include a processing circuit for controlling the operation of the stylus 10. The processing circuit may include one or more processors, such as a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor, a baseband processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a central processing unit (CPU), an application processor, a wireless power management circuit, etc.

[0032] The processing circuitry in the control circuitry 30 may be used to run software on the stylus 10. The software may process input from buttons, sensors, and other input components. The software may also be used to provide output to the user (e.g., using light emitting diodes or other output components such as Figure 1 To support interaction with external equipment such as tablet computer 20, control circuit 30 may be used to implement one or more wireless communication protocols. The wireless communication protocols that may be implemented in stylus 10 include protocols for short-range wireless communication links, such as Protocol, NFC protocol or other wireless personal area network (WPAN) protocol. If necessary, other types of wireless communication protocols (e.g., wireless local area network (WLAN) protocol, satellite navigation link, cellular phone protocol, ultra-wideband (UWB) protocol, IEEE 802.11ad protocol, MIMO protocol, antenna diversity protocol, antenna-based spatial ranging protocol, etc.) can be supported. Using Bluetooth communication is only exemplary.

[0033] Stylus 10 may include input-output circuitry 31. Input-output circuitry 31 may include input-output devices 32. Input-output devices 32 may be used to allow data to be provided to stylus 10 and to allow data to be provided from stylus 10 to an external device such as tablet computer 20 ( Figure 1 ). The input-output devices 32 may include user interface devices, data port devices, and other input-output components. For example, the input-output devices 32 may include a touch screen, a display without touch sensor capabilities, buttons, a joystick, a scroll wheel, a touch pad, a microphone, a camera, a speaker, a status indicator, a light source, an audio jack, and other audio port components, a digital data port device (e.g., a wired connector port), an optical sensor, an orientation sensor, an accelerometer, or other components capable of detecting motion and orientation of a stylus relative to the earth and / or the tablet computer 20, and / or other input-output components.

[0034] If desired, the input-output device 32 may include one or more sensors 36, such as capacitive sensors, proximity sensors (e.g., capacitive proximity sensors and / or infrared proximity sensors), magnetic sensors, and / or force sensors. The sensors 36 may be mounted on the tip 14, cap 18, and / or shaft 16 ( Figure 1 ) and may collect corresponding sensor data. Sensor 36 may, for example, sense the presence of display 24 and / or how stylus 10 is being used to interact with display 24. Sensor 36 may also collect sensor data indicating how a user is holding or interacting with stylus 10 (e.g., touch sensor data or proximity sensor data indicating whether a user is touching cap 18 of stylus 10, force sensor data indicating how hard a user is pressing cap 18 of stylus 10 with their hand, etc.). This sensor data may be communicated via wireless communication link 28 ( Figure 1 ) is transported to the tablet computer 20 for further processing by the tablet computer 20.

[0035] like Figure 2 As shown, the input-output circuit 31 may include wireless communication circuit 34 for wirelessly communicating with external equipment (e.g., tablet computer 20). The wireless communication circuit 34 may include a radio frequency transceiver circuit 38 and one or more antennas, such as antenna 40. The transceiver circuit 38 may include one or more transceivers, one or more transmitters, one or more receivers, mixer circuits, one or more integrated circuits, power amplifier circuits, low noise input amplifier circuits, passive radio frequency components, matching circuits, filter circuits, clock circuits, radio frequency transmission lines, and / or any other circuits for transmitting and / or receiving radio frequency signals via antenna 40.

[0036] The transceiver circuitry 38 may transmit and / or receive radio frequency signals (e.g., for communication) within one or more bands of radio frequencies (sometimes referred to herein as communication bands or simply “bands”). Figure 1 The frequency bands handled by the transceiver circuitry 38 may include wireless local area network (WLAN) frequency bands (e.g., (IEEE 802.11) or other WLAN communication bands) such as the 2.4 GHz WLAN band (e.g., from 2400 MHz to 2480 MHz), the 5 GHz WLAN band (e.g., from 5180 MHz to 5825 MHz), 6E band (e.g., from 5925 MHz to 7125 MHz) and / or other frequency bands (e.g., from 1875 MHz to 5160 MHz), wireless personal area network (WPAN) bands such as 2.4 GHz frequency band or other WPAN communication bands, cellular telephone communication bands such as cellular low band (LB) (e.g., 600 MHz to 960 MHz), cellular low mid band (LMB) (e.g., 1400 MHz to 1550 MHz), cellular mid band (MB) (e.g., from 1700 MHz to 2200 MHz), cellular high band (HB) (e.g., from 2300 MHz to 2700 MHz), cellular ultra high band (UHB) (e.g., from 3300 MHz to 5000 MHz, or other cellular communication bands between about 600 MHz and about 5000 MHz), 3G bands, 4G LTE bands, 3GPP 5G New Radio (NR) Frequency Range 1 (FR1) bands below 10 GHz, 3GPP between 20 GHz and 60 GHz 5G new radio frequency range 2 (FR2) band, other centimeter or millimeter wave bands between 10 GHz-300 GHz, near field communication bands (e.g., 13.56 MHz), satellite navigation bands such as global positioning system (GPS) L1 band (e.g., 1575 MHz), L2 band (e.g., 1228 MHz), L3 band (e.g., 1381 MHz), L4 band (e.g., 1380 MHz) and / or L5 band (e.g., 1176 MHz), global navigation satellite system (GLONASS) band, BeiDou navigation satellite system (BDS) band, ultra-wideband bands operating according to IEEE802.15.4 protocol and / or other ultra-wideband (UWB) communication protocols (e.g., a first UWB communication band of 6.5 GHz and / or a second UWB communication band of 8.0 GHz), communication bands according to the 3GPP wireless communication standard series, communication bands according to the IEEE 802.XX family of standard communication bands, satellite communication bands such as L-band, S-band (e.g., from 2 GHz-4 GHz), C-band (e.g., from 4 GHz-8 GHz), X-band, Ku-band (e.g., from 12 GHz-18 GHz), Ka-band (e.g., from 26 GHz-40 GHz), etc., Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) bands such as the ISM band between about 900 MHz and 950 MHz or other ISM bands below or above 1 GHz, one or more unlicensed bands, one or more bands reserved for emergency and / or public services, and / or any other desired bands of interest. Specific implementations in which the transceiver circuit 38 transmits radio frequency signals using the Bluetooth band are described herein as examples.

[0037] Any suitable antenna structure may be used to form antenna 40. For example, antenna 40 may include a loop antenna, a patch antenna, an inverted-F antenna, a planar inverted-F antenna, a slot antenna, a monopole antenna, a dipole antenna, a dielectric resonator antenna, a waveguide antenna, a helical antenna, a hybrid of these designs, and / or any other type of antenna. A transmission line path may be used to couple antenna 40 to transceiver circuitry 38. The transmission line path in stylus 10 may include a coaxial cable path, a microstrip transmission line, a stripline transmission line, an edge-coupled microstrip transmission line, an edge-coupled stripline transmission line, a transmission line formed by a combination of these types of transmission lines, and the like. If desired, filter circuits, switch circuits, impedance matching circuits, and other circuits may be inserted into the transmission line path.

[0038] like Figure 3 As shown, transceiver circuitry 38 in wireless communication circuitry 34 may be coupled to antenna 40 using a radio frequency signal path such as transmission line path 50. Wireless communication circuitry 34 may be coupled to control circuitry 30 (e.g., via a baseband path). Control circuitry 30 may be coupled to sensor 36 via a path such as sensor data path 58.

[0039] The sensor data path 58 may include one or more wires (e.g., conductive traces, wires, or other conductors) for coupling the sensor 36 to the control circuit 30. For example, the sensor data path 58 may include one or more sensor data conductors that transmit sensor signals acquired by the sensor 36 to the control circuit 30 and one or more ground conductors that are coupled to a ground portion in the stylus 10. The sensor signals transmitted through the sensor data path 58 may include an AC signal provided at a frequency much lower than the radio frequency processed by the transceiver circuit 38 (e.g., between 1 MHz and 5 MHz, less than 1 MHz, or any other desired frequency less than 600 MHz). The control circuit 30 may also be coupled to other input-output devices 32 ( Figure 2 ).

[0040] To provide an antenna 40 with the ability to cover the communication frequencies of interest, the antenna 40 may be provided with circuits such as filter circuits (e.g., one or more passive filters and / or one or more tunable filter circuits). Discrete components such as capacitors, inductors, and resistors may be incorporated into the filter circuits. Capacitive structures, inductive structures, and resistive structures may also be formed from patterned metal structures (e.g., a portion of an antenna).

[0041] If desired, antenna 40 may be provided with adjustable circuitry such as tunable component 48 to tune antenna 40 over a communications band of interest. Tunable component 48 may include a tunable inductor, a tunable capacitor, or other tunable component. Tunable components such as these may be based on switches and networks of fixed components, distributed metal structures that produce associated distributed capacitance and inductance, variable solid-state devices for producing variable capacitance and inductance values, tunable filters, or other suitable tunable structures. During operation of stylus 10, control circuit 30 may issue control signals on one or more paths such as control path 56 to adjust the inductance value, capacitance value, or other parameters associated with tunable component 48, thereby tuning antenna 40 to cover the desired communications band. Configurations in which antenna 40 has no tunable components may also be used.

[0042] The transmission line path 50 may include one or more radio frequency transmission lines. The transmission line path 50 may have a positive signal conductor such as a signal conductor (line) 52 and a ground signal conductor such as a ground conductor (line) 54. The conductors 52 and 54 may form part of a coaxial cable or a microstrip transmission line (as an example). A matching network (not shown) formed by a plurality of components such as an inductor, a resistor, and a capacitor may be used to match the impedance of the antenna 40 to the impedance of the transmission line path 50. The matching network components may be provided as discrete components (e.g., surface mount technology components) or may be formed by a housing structure, a printed circuit board structure, a trace on a plastic support, etc. Components such as these components may also be used to form a filter circuit in the antenna 40.

[0043] Transmission line path 50 may be coupled to an antenna feed structure associated with antenna 40. For example, antenna 40 may form an inverted-F antenna, a slot antenna, a hybrid inverted-F slot antenna, or other antenna having an antenna feed 42 with a positive antenna feed terminal 44 and a ground antenna feed terminal 46. A signal conductor 52 may be coupled to positive antenna feed terminal 44, and a ground conductor 54 may be coupled to ground antenna feed terminal 46. Other types of antenna feed arrangements may be used if desired. Figure 3 The exemplary feed configurations of are exemplary only.

[0044] The control circuit 30 may use the sensor signals acquired by the sensor 36 and received through the sensor data path 58 to perform any desired operation on the stylus 10. For example, the control circuit 30 may control other input-output devices 32 ( Figure 2). In another suitable arrangement, the control circuit 30 may adjust the antenna 40 based on the sensor signal (e.g., using a control signal provided to the tunable component 48 via the control path 56). The control circuit 30 may generate sensor data based on the sensor signal received via the sensor data path 58. The control circuit 30 may transmit the sensor data to the transceiver circuit 38. The transceiver circuit 38 may generate a radio frequency signal conveying wireless data that includes or identifies the sensor data received from the control circuit 30. The transceiver circuit 38 may transmit the radio frequency sensor data to the tablet computer 20 via the wireless communication link 28 using the antenna 40 ( Figure 1 ).

[0045] Transmission line paths such as transmission line path 50 in stylus 10 may be integrated into rigid and / or flexible printed circuit boards. In one suitable arrangement, transmission line paths such as transmission line path 50 may also include transmission line conductors (e.g., signal conductor 52 and ground conductor 54) integrated within a multilayer laminate structure (e.g., layers of conductive material such as copper and dielectric material such as resin laminated together without an intervening adhesive). If desired, the multilayer laminate structure may be folded or bent in multiple dimensions (e.g., two or three dimensions) and may retain the bent or folded shape after bending (e.g., the multilayer laminate structure may be folded into a specific three-dimensional structural shape to route around other device components and may be sufficiently rigid to retain its shape after folding without reinforcement or other structures to hold it in place). All of the multiple layers of the laminate structure may be laminated together in batches (e.g., in a single pressing process) without an adhesive (e.g., as opposed to performing multiple pressing processes to laminate the multiple layers together with an adhesive).

[0046] In general, antenna 40 can be any type of antenna. In the specific implementation described herein as an example, antenna 40 is an inverted-F antenna. Figure 4 is a diagram showing how antenna 40 may be implemented as an inverted-F antenna.

[0047] like Figure 4 As shown, antenna 40 may have antenna resonating element 60 and antenna ground 64 (sometimes referred to herein as ground structure 64, ground layer 64 or ground portion 64). When antenna 40 is implemented as an inverted-F antenna (such as Figure 4 4 (shown in FIG. 1 ), antenna resonating element 60 is an inverted-F antenna resonating element. This is merely illustrative. Antenna resonating element 60 may be a slot antenna resonating element when antenna 40 is implemented as a slot antenna, a monopole antenna resonating element when antenna 40 is implemented as a monopole antenna, and so on. Antenna resonating element 60 may also sometimes be referred to herein as antenna radiating element 60 or antenna radiator 60.

[0048] exist Figure 4 In the example of , antenna resonating element 60 (e.g., an inverted-F-shaped antenna resonating element) has a resonating element arm such as arm 62 (also sometimes referred to herein as radiating arm 62). The length of arm 62 may be selected so that antenna 40 resonates at a desired operating frequency. For example, the length of arm 62 may be approximately one-quarter of the effective operating wavelength of antenna 40. If desired (e.g., to cover additional frequencies), arm 62 may exhibit a fundamental mode resonance and / or one or more harmonic resonances. If desired, antenna resonating element 60 may include multiple arms 62 of different lengths to increase the frequency coverage of antenna 40.

[0049] Arm 62 may be coupled (shorted) to antenna ground 64 via return path 66. Antenna feed 42 may include positive antenna feed terminal 44 and ground antenna feed terminal 46, and may extend parallel to return path 66 between arm 62 and antenna ground 64. Positive antenna feed terminal 44 may be coupled to arm 62. Ground antenna feed terminal 46 may be coupled to antenna ground 64. If desired, antenna 40 may include a parasitic antenna resonating element (not shown), a tunable component such as Figure 3 48, and / or other antenna structures for tuning the response of antenna 40. Arm 62 may follow a zigzag path or may have other shapes (e.g., arm 62 may have any desired number of curved and / or straight segments extending in any desired direction and may have any desired number of curved and / or straight edges).

[0050] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the shaft 16 of the stylus 10. Figure 5 As shown, stylus 10 can have an elongated tubular (cylindrical) housing, such as housing 72. Housing 72 can wrap around longitudinal axis 12 and can enclose an interior cavity 74 of stylus 10. Housing 72 can be formed of metal, plastic, carbon fiber composite or other fiber composite materials, glass, ceramic, other materials, and combinations of these materials.

[0051] The housing 72 may, for example, include a conductive inner housing portion such as a metal tube 70 and a dielectric outer housing portion such as an outer sleeve 68. The outer sleeve 68 may be stacked on the outer surface of the metal tube 70 (e.g., the metal tube 70 and the outer sleeve 68 may be concentric tubes around the longitudinal axis 12 and the inner cavity 74). The metal tube 70 may be formed of aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, copper, metal alloys and / or other conductive materials. The outer sleeve 68 may be formed of plastics, polymers, ceramics, glass, carbon fibers, composite materials and / or other dielectric materials. The outer sleeve 68 is sometimes referred to herein as an outer tube 68 or a dielectric tube 68.

[0052] The metal tube 70 can help provide mechanical strength to the stylus 10 (e.g., prevent the stylus 10 from bending during use). The metal tube 70 can also be used to form part of the system ground of the stylus 10. For example, the metal tube 70 can form part of the antenna ground 64 of the antenna 40 in the stylus 10 ( Figure 4 ). Outer sleeve 68 can help protect metal tube 70 and other components in stylus 10 from moisture, damage, and / or other contaminants. Outer sleeve 68 can also help protect metal tube 70 from electrically shorting to other objects near stylus 10, such as a user's hand. Outer sleeve 68 can also provide a desired decorative appearance to stylus 10 and / or increase the ergonomic feel of stylus 10 when held by a user.

[0053] The stylus 10 may include a printed circuit board (PCB) 76 located within the interior cavity 74. The printed circuit board 76 has side surfaces in the XY plane and extends downward from the shaft 16 along the longitudinal axis 12. The printed circuit 76 may be a rigid printed circuit board or may be a flexible printed circuit. For example, the printed circuit board 76 may be the main logic board of the stylus 10.

[0054] The stylus 10 may include one or more electronic components 78 located within the interior cavity 74. Some or all of the components 78 may be mounted to the printed circuit board 76. The components 78 may include integrated circuits, sensors, battery structures, connectors, switches, and other circuits (e.g., Figure 2 control circuit 30 and / or input-output circuit 31).

[0055] If desired, the outer sleeve 68 and the metal tube 70 need not be completely or perfectly cylindrical. For example, the outer sleeve 68 and the metal tube 70 may include overlapping planar portions (e.g., forming planar walls of the housing 72 extending along the longitudinal axis 12). The planar walls of the housing 72 may allow the stylus 10 to rest on a surface without rolling and / or may allow the stylus 10 to be mounted to a wireless power transmission device (e.g., Figure 1 The stylus 10 may be flush with a tablet computer 20) to receive wireless power and / or to help prevent the user from losing the stylus 10.

[0056] Figure 6 is a side view of stylus 10. Shaft 16 can couple tip 14 to cap 18. Figure 6 As shown, the stylus 10 may include a connector port 84 in the cap 18. The connector port 84 may be a wired data and / or power port. The connector port 84 may receive a mating wired connector. For example, the connector port 84 may be a USB-C port. The connector port 84 may extend radially away from the longitudinal axis 12 (e.g., with the conductive contacts of the connector port 84 oriented orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 12 or parallel to the longitudinal axis 12). Figure 6The connector port 84 may also sometimes be referred to as a data connector 84, a power connector 84, or simply a connector 84.

[0057] The cap 18 may have a conductive inner housing portion such as a metal sleeve 86, and may have a dielectric housing portion such as a dielectric cap housing 68'. The dielectric cap housing 68' may be, for example, formed by contacting the shaft 16 ( Figure 5 ) and can be flush with the outer sleeve 68 when the cap 18 is in the closed position. The connector port 84 can be mounted to the metal sleeve 86 and can protrude through a hole in the metal sleeve 86 or be aligned with it to receive a mating connector.

[0058] The cap 18 may be a movable cap that is slidable relative to the shaft 16 along the longitudinal axis 12. For example, the cap 18 may be movable (adjustable) between an open position or state and a closed position or state. In the closed position, the dielectric cap housing 68' is flush against the outer sleeve 68 ( Figure 5 ), and cylindrically covers the metal sleeve 86 and the connector port 84. This protects the connector port 84 from moisture, damage, or other contaminants, hides the connector port 84 from view, and provides a seamless and continuous outer housing for the stylus 10 that is optimized in terms of aesthetics and ergonomics.

[0059] From the closed position, the dielectric cap housing 68' can be opened or pulled away from the shaft 16 (as indicated by arrow 80), thereby placing the cap 18 in the open position. In the open position, the dielectric cap housing 68' is laterally separated from the housing 72 of the shaft 16, thereby exposing the metal sleeve 86 and the connector port 84. This allows a wired connector to be inserted into the connector port 84 when the cap 18 is in the open position. After the wired connector has been removed from the connector port 84, the dielectric cap housing 68' can be pushed back toward the shaft 16 (as indicated by arrow 82) to return the cap 18 to the closed position.

[0060] The cap 18 may include a conductive retaining member such as a metal hook (not shown for clarity). Figure 6 ). The conductive retaining member can help secure the cap 18 in place on the stylus 10 and can help prevent the cap 18 from falling off the stylus 10 when in the open position. The conductive retaining member can slide into and out of the shaft 16 through the metal sleeve 86 as the cap 18 moves between the open and closed positions. The stylus 10 may include a non-conductive stop member for the conductive retaining member, such as a dielectric bumper (not shown for clarity). Figure 6 In the open position, the non-conductive stop member can prevent the conductive retaining member from sliding off the stylus 10.

[0061] Axis 16 (eg, Figure 5 The presence of conductive material in the metal tube 70 (e.g., metal sleeve 86) and cap 18, as well as the removability of cap 18, can make it difficult to incorporate antenna 40 into stylus 10 while still allowing antenna 40 to exhibit a satisfactory level of performance. To help alleviate these issues, antenna 40 can be disposed within shaft 16 proximate cap 18.

[0062] Figure 7 is an interior side view of stylus 10, showing how antenna 40 may be disposed within shaft 16 proximate cap 18 (e.g., as in Figure 6 AA', within the outer sleeve 68 and the dielectric cap housing 68' but outside the metal tube 70 and the metal sleeve 86). Figure 7 In the example shown, the cap 18 is in the closed position.

[0063] like Figure 7 As shown, when the cap 18 is in the closed position, the dielectric cap housing 68' of the cap 18 can be flush with the outer sleeve 68 of the shaft 16. The end of the metal tube 70 of the shaft 16 can be coupled to the end of the metal sleeve 86 of the cap 18 by one or more welds 94 (e.g., laser welds). The welds 94 can mechanically attach and secure the metal tube 70 to the metal sleeve 86. The welds 94 can also electrically couple the metal sleeve 86 to the metal tube 70. This can be used to extend the ground portion of the stylus 10 (e.g., the antenna ground portion of the antenna 40) to also include the metal sleeve 86.

[0064] The connector port 84 may be mounted to a metal sleeve 86 within the cap 18. The cap 18 may include a conductive wall 96 (eg, Figure 1 The conductive wall 96 may be attached to the inner surface of the dielectric cap housing 68'.

[0065] The cap 18 may include a compressed conductive bumper 100 mounted to the conductive wall 96. The cap 18 may include a conductive adhesive 98 (e.g., a conductive pressure sensitive adhesive) that mounts the conductive bumper 100 to the conductive wall 96. The conductive bumper 100 may be formed from a conductive foam, a conductive gasket (e.g., an air loop gasket), a conductive spring (e.g., a canted coil spring), or other compressed conductive structure.

[0066] When the cap 18 is in the closed position, the conductive bumper 100 is pressed against the metal sleeve 86. The conductive bumper 100 can apply a compressive force to the metal sleeve 86. This can form a consistent and reliable electrical connection between the conductive wall 96 and the metal sleeve 86 through the conductive adhesive 98 and the conductive bumper 100. This can be used to further extend the ground portion of the stylus 10 (e.g., the antenna ground portion of the antenna 40) to also include the conductive bumper 100, the conductive adhesive 98, and the conductive wall 96 (e.g., when the cap 18 is in the closed position, the conductive wall 96 can be grounded to the metal tube 70 through the weld 94, the metal sleeve 86, the conductive bumper 100, and the conductive adhesive 98). The cap 18 may include a conductive retaining member such as a metal hook that is coupled to the conductive wall 96 and extends through the interior of the metal sleeve 86 and the metal tube 70, but is hidden from view when the cap 18 is in the closed position.

[0067] like Figure 7 As shown, metal tube 70 may include a dielectric antenna window, such as antenna window 88. Antenna window 88 may be formed by a slot, notch, opening, gap, or hole in metal tube 70. Antenna window 88 may expose printed circuit board 76 within the interior cavity of stylus 10. Antenna 40 may be mounted to printed circuit board 76 and may be aligned with or may overlap antenna window 88. For example, antenna 40 may include an antenna resonating element having arm 62 formed by a conductive trace patterned on a portion of a side surface of printed circuit board 76 that overlaps antenna window 88.

[0068] Arm 62 may follow a zigzag, winding, or spiral path to help maximize the length of the arm (e.g., for covering a desired frequency band) while minimizing the footprint of the antenna. Positive antenna feed terminal 44 may be coupled to arm 62. Arm 62 may be shorted to ground trace 102 on printed circuit board 76 via return path 66 (e.g., a return path formed by conductive traces on printed circuit board 76). Ground trace 102 may form an antenna ground portion (e.g., Figure 4 A portion of the antenna ground portion 64).

[0069] In this configuration, antenna 40 is an inverted-F antenna having an inverted-F antenna resonating element (e.g., arm 62 and return path 66) formed from conductive traces on printed circuit board 76. This is merely exemplary, and in general, antenna 40 may include other types of antenna resonating elements formed from conductive traces on printed circuit board 76 (e.g., a slot antenna resonating element formed from a slot in ground trace 102, a monopole antenna resonating element that is not shorted to ground trace 102 by a return path, a dipole antenna resonating element, a patch antenna resonating element, etc.).

[0070] The stylus 10 may include a first conductive interconnect structure, such as a first conductive screw 90, which couples the metal tube 70 to the printed circuit board 76 at a first side of the antenna 40 and the antenna window 88. The example in which the first conductive interconnect structure is a conductive screw is merely illustrative. In general, the first conductive screw 90 may be replaced with any desired conductive interconnect structure, such as one or more conductive screws, conductive springs, conductive pins, conductive clips, conductive brackets, conductive screw bases, wires, conductive forks, conductive adhesives, solder, solder joints, and / or any other desired conductive interconnect structure.

[0071] The first conductive screw 90 can help mechanically secure the printed circuit board 76 to the metal tube 70 (e.g., on a first side of the antenna 40). The first conductive screw 90 can also electrically couple the ground trace 102 to the metal tube 70. This can be used to extend the antenna ground of the antenna 40 from the ground trace 102 to the metal tube 70 at a location as close to the arm 62 as possible, thereby optimizing the antenna efficiency, bandwidth, and / or radiation pattern of the antenna 40.

[0072] Stylus 10 may also include a second conductive interconnect structure, such as second conductive screw 92, that couples metal tube 70 to printed circuit board 76 on a second side of antenna 40 and antenna window 88 (e.g., opposite first conductive screw 90). Antenna window 88 and the antenna resonating element of antenna 40 may be laterally interposed between first conductive screw 90 and second conductive screw 92. The example in which second conductive interconnect structure is a conductive screw is merely illustrative. In general, second conductive screw 92 may be replaced with any desired conductive interconnect structure, such as one or more conductive screws, conductive springs, conductive pins, conductive clips, conductive brackets, conductive screw bases, wires, conductive forks, conductive adhesives, solder, solder joints, and / or any other desired conductive interconnect structure.

[0073] The second conductive screw 92 can electrically couple the metal tube 70 to a contact pad 104 on the printed circuit board 76. The contact pad 104 can electrically float relative to the ground of the printed circuit board 76 (the contact pad 104 is not coupled to the ground trace 102). This causes the second conductive screw 92 to also electrically float relative to the ground trace 102 at the side of the antenna 40 opposite the positive antenna feed terminal 44. Decoupling the second conductive screw 92 from the ground trace 102 in this manner can be used to optimize the tuning of the antenna 40. At the same time, the second conductive screw 92 can help mechanically secure the printed circuit board 76 to the metal tube 70 (e.g., on the second side of the antenna 40).

[0074] The cap 18 is movable from a closed position to an open position, thereby exposing the connector port 84, such as Figure 8When the cap 18 is in the open position, the dielectric cap housing 68' is longitudinally separated from the outer sleeve 68 of the shaft 16, thereby exposing the metal sleeve 86 and the connector port 84. The wired connector 106 can be inserted into the connector port 84 to power / charge the stylus 10 and / or transmit data.

[0075] like Figure 8 As shown, the cap 18 may include a conductive retaining member such as a metal hook 108. The metal hook 108 may include an elongated loop or hook of conductive material that transversely surrounds the opening 110. The conductive material of the metal hook 108 may completely surround the transverse perimeter of the opening 110, or may surround a portion but not all of the opening 110 (e.g., the opening 110 may be a closed slot or an open slot). The metal hook 108 may have any desired width parallel to the Y axis. The metal hook 108 may be relatively narrow and extend within the metal sleeve 86 (e.g., the ... Figure 8 ), or may be relatively wide and extend around the metal sleeve 86 (eg, the metal sleeve 86 may be inserted into the opening 110 ).

[0076] The metal hook 108 may be coupled to the conductive wall 96 (e.g., the conductive bumper 100 and the conductive adhesive 98 may surround the metal hook 108 in the YZ plane). The metal hook 108 may be welded to the conductive wall 96, may be adhered to the conductive wall 96 using a conductive adhesive, or, if desired, the metal hook 108 and the conductive wall 96 may be formed from different integral parts of the same piece of conductive material. The metal hook 108 may also sometimes be referred to herein as a conductive hook 108, a metal (conductive) retaining member 108, a metal (conductive) retaining ring 108, or a metal (conductive) retaining arm 108.

[0077] The metal hook 108 may extend through or around the metal sleeve 86 and into the metal tube 70. A non-conductive stop member such as a dielectric buffer (not shown for clarity) on the metal sleeve 86 and / or the metal tube 70 may be provided. Figure 8 108 and the dielectric cap housing 68' may be inserted into the opening 110. When in the open position, the dielectric buffer may prevent the hook 108 and, therefore, the conductive wall 96 and the dielectric cap housing 68' from sliding off or falling off the shaft 16. Magnets (not shown) may be disposed on and / or within the metal hook 108, the metal sleeve 86, the connector port 84, and / or the shaft 16 to help push the cap 18 between the open and closed positions and / or to help hold the cap 18 in the closed position when the metal hook 108 has been fully inserted into the metal tube 70.

[0078] The metal hook 108 is formed of a conductive material to maximize the mechanical strength and integrity of the cap 18 (e.g., to minimize the risk of the cap 18 breaking off the stylus 10). When the cap 18 is in the closed position, the metal hook 108 may overlap the antenna 40. If care is not taken, the presence of the metal hook 108 near the antenna 40 may undesirably limit or detune the wireless performance of the antenna 40.

[0079] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional side view of the stylus 10, showing how the metal hook 108 may overlap the antenna 40 when the cap 18 is in the closed position (e.g., as in Figure 7 In the direction of line BB'). Fig. 9 In the example shown in FIG. 1 , the outer sleeve 68 of the shaft 16 and the dielectric cap housing 68 ′ are omitted for clarity. Figure 7 ).

[0080] like Fig. 9 As shown, when the cap 18 is in the closed position, the metal hook 108 extends through or around the metal sleeve 86 and into the metal tube 70. The metal hook 108 has a curved end or tip, such as end 124, opposite the conductive wall 96. The end 124 extends into the tube 70 of the shaft 16 and may overlap with the antenna 40 or other portions of the shaft 16 (e.g., the end 124 and / or portion of the metal hook 108 may be vertically interposed between the arm 62 and the portion of the metal tube 70 opposite the window 88). The metal hook 108 is vertically separated from the arm 62 of the antenna 40 by a gap D. As an example, the gap D may have a height of 0.05 mm-0.3 mm or other heights.

[0081] The antenna 40 may transmit the RF signal 114 through the antenna window 88. The antenna 40 may present a radiation pattern tilted in the -X direction to optimize the interaction with the tablet computer 20 ( Figure 1 ) of the wireless communication link. If care is not taken, the RF antenna current flowing on the arm 62 may induce a corresponding RF current on the metal hook 108 via near-field electromagnetic coupling across the gap D. Figure 8 ) may cause the metal hook 108 to resonate (eg, as a parasitic loop antenna in the XY plane). Such resonance may distort the overall radiation pattern of the antenna 40, thereby limiting the overall efficiency of the antenna 40.

[0082] To alleviate these problems, the metal hook 108 can be grounded to form the antenna ground portion 64 ( Figure 4). The metal hook 108 may be electrically coupled to the metal tube 70 (which is maintained at a ground potential), for example, via the conductive wall 96, the conductive adhesive 98, the conductive buffer 100, the metal sleeve 86, and the solder joint 94. The conductive screw 90 may electrically couple the metal tube 70, and therefore the metal hook 108, to the ground trace 102 on the printed circuit board 76. In this way, the metal hook 108 may be maintained at the same ground reference potential as the ground trace 102, the conductive screw 90, the metal tube 70, the metal sleeve 86, the conductive buffer 100, the conductive adhesive 98, and the conductive wall 96 (e.g., such that the ground trace 102, the conductive screw 90, the metal tube 70, the metal sleeve 86, the conductive buffer 100, the conductive adhesive 98, the conductive wall 96 all form a part of the antenna ground portion of the antenna 40). This is used to prevent the opening 110 ( Figure 8 ) forms a parasitic loop antenna in the metal hook 108 around the antenna 40, which degrades the radio frequency performance of the antenna 40.

[0083] like Fig. 9 As shown, a mechanical reinforcement structure such as a plastic block 116 may be mounted to the printed circuit board 76 above the antenna 40. A conductive screw 90 may pass from the metal tube 70 (on a first side of the antenna 40) through the plastic block 116 to a threaded connection base 118 on the printed circuit board 76. The conductive screw 90 may electrically couple the metal tube 70 to the ground trace 102 on the printed circuit board 76. A conductive screw 92 may pass from the metal tube 70 (on a second side of the antenna 40) through the plastic block 116 to a threaded connection base 120 on the printed circuit board 76. The conductive screw 92 may electrically couple the metal tube 70 to the floating contact pad 104 on the printed circuit board 76.

[0084] In this way, the conductive screws 90, 92 and arm 62 of the antenna 40 can be embedded in the plastic block 116. The plastic block 116 can be formed, for example, of injection molded plastic or other plastic structures. Although the conductive material in the metal tube 70 is removed to form the antenna window 88, the plastic block 116, the conductive screws 90 and 92 can still be used to enhance the mechanical strength of the shaft 16 on both sides of the antenna 40 (e.g., to prevent the stylus 10 from breaking or bending at the antenna window 88).

[0085] like Fig. 9 As shown, a non-conductive stop member for the metal hook 108, such as a dielectric buffer 112, can be inserted into the opening 110 ( Figure 8). The dielectric buffer 112 may be mounted to the metal sleeve 86 or the metal tube 70. The dielectric buffer 112 may be formed of a block, arm, or other structure including plastic, dielectric foam, rubber, ceramic, or other dielectric (insulating or non-conductive) material. The metal hook 108 may slide laterally along the dielectric buffer 112 when the cap 18 moves between the open position and the closed position. The dielectric buffer 112 may also be sometimes referred to herein as a dielectric (non-conductive) stop member 112, a dielectric block 112, or a dielectric stop 112.

[0086] When the cap 18 is in the open position, the dielectric buffer 112 can be used to prevent the metal hook 108 and, therefore, the dielectric wall 96 and the dielectric cap housing 68' ( Figure 7 and Figure 8 ) slips or falls off the shaft 16. For example, when the cap 18 moves from the closed position to the open position, the metal hook 108 slides around the dielectric bumper 112 in the direction of arrow 122. The dielectric bumper 112 catches (stops) the end 124 of the metal hook 108, thereby holding the metal hook 108 in place once the cap 18 is in the open position, such as Fig.10 A cross-sectional side view is shown.

[0087] like Fig.10 As shown, when the cap 18 is in the open position, the end 124 of the metal hook 108 is prevented from continuing to slide in the +X direction by the dielectric buffer 112. Since the dielectric buffer 112 is formed of a dielectric material, the metal hook 108 is not electrically coupled to the metal sleeve 86 through the dielectric buffer 112. In the open position, the metal hook 108 and the conductive wall 96 are no longer grounded because the conductive buffer 100 no longer contacts the metal sleeve 86 (e.g., the conductive buffer 100 is longitudinally separated from the metal sleeve 86). In this way, the metal hook 108 and the conductive wall 96 no longer form part of the antenna ground portion of the antenna 40. However, in the open position, the metal hook 108 does not overlap with the antenna 40 (e.g., it is non-overlapping relative to the arm 62). In this way, when the antenna 40 transmits the RF signal 114, the arm 62 does not induce a large amount of current on the metal hook 108, and although the metal hook 108 is not maintained at the ground potential of the antenna 40, it does not degrade the performance of the antenna 40.

[0088] Fig.11 1 is a perspective view of the metal hook 108 and the dielectric buffer 112. Fig.11As shown, the metal hook 108 may include a ring of conductive material (e.g., a wall) that laterally surrounds the opening 110 (e.g., in the XY plane). The dielectric buffer 112 is inserted into the opening 110. When the metal hook 108 moves to the open position (as shown by arrow 122), the dielectric buffer 112 will contact the end 124, thereby preventing the metal hook 108 from continuing to slide open. If desired, the metal hook 108 may include a thinner portion at the end 124 (e.g., measured along the Z axis) and a thicker portion closer to the conductive wall 96 (e.g., measured along the Z axis). Fig.10 ). Thus, the metal hook 108 may include a protrusion 113 between the thinner portion and the thicker portion. If desired, the protrusion 113 may contact or rest against a lateral edge of the printed circuit board 76 when the cap 18 is in the closed position. If desired, the thicker portion may extend along opposite sides of the metal sleeve 86 ( Figures 7 to 10 )(eg, the metal sleeve 86 may also be inserted into the opening 110 ). A magnet (not shown) may be used to help push the metal hook 108 between the open and closed positions and / or to help hold the metal hook 108 in place in the closed and / or open positions.

[0089] exist Fig.11 In the example shown, the opening 110 is completely surrounded by the conductive material (loop) of the metal hook 108. This is merely illustrative. If desired, the conductive material of the metal hook 108 may laterally surround a portion of the opening 110 but not all of it. For example, the wall 115 of the metal hook 108 may be omitted so that the opposing walls and the end 124 of the metal hook 108 form a curved L-shaped hook that captures the dielectric buffer 112 in the open position. The metal hook 108 may have other shapes or structures if desired.

[0090] Fig.12 is a top view of antenna 40 on printed circuit board 76 (e.g., as shown by Figures 7 to 10 as viewed through the antenna window 88). Fig.12 As shown, arm 62 of antenna 40 may be formed by a conductive trace that follows a coiled, winding, or zigzag path around central opening 126 on a side surface of printed circuit board 76. This may allow arm 62 to exhibit a relatively long radiating length despite the small surface area of ​​printed circuit board 76. Additionally, this may configure arm 62 to include a plurality of antiparallel segments (e.g., parallel to the Y axis) from return path 66 to tip 130. Antenna currents flowing along these antiparallel segments may exhibit antiparallel phases that cause corresponding RF signals to at least partially cancel in the +X direction, thereby helping to tilt the radiation pattern of antenna 40 toward tip 14 of stylus 10 and, therefore, tablet computer 20 during use ( Figure 1 ).

[0091] Arm 62 may be shorted to ground trace 102 via return path 66. If desired, one or more contact pads 132 may be coupled to arm 62 and / or ground trace 102. Contact pads 132 may form a surface mount component (e.g., Figure 3 4. The conductive screw 90 may be coupled to the ground trace 102. The conductive screw 92 may be mounted to the printed circuit board 76 on the opposite side of the arm 62.

[0092] Fig.12 The examples are merely illustrative. In general, arm 62 may wrap around opening 126 any desired number of times. For example, tip 130 may be omitted, or arm 62 may include additional segment 128 extending from tip 130. In general, arm 62 may include any desired number of straight and / or curved segments extending in any desired direction, and may have any desired shape (e.g., having any desired number of straight and / or curved edges). Fig.12 Antenna 40 may have other types of antenna resonating elements formed from conductive traces on printed circuit board 76.

[0093] Fig.13 1 is a graph showing how antenna performance (antenna efficiency) varies according to the frequency of antenna 40. Curve 136 depicts the antenna efficiency of antenna 40 when cap 18 and metal hook 108 are in the closed position. Curve 134 depicts the antenna efficiency of antenna 40 when cap 18 and metal hook 108 are in the open position. As shown in curves 136 and 134, opening cap 18 may cause a slight shift in the peak response of antenna 40. However, when cap 18 is in the closed position (e.g., as shown in FIG. 1 ), the peak response of antenna 40 may be slightly shifted. Fig. 9 ), the grounded metal hook 108 may cause the antenna 40 to exceed a minimum efficiency threshold TH (e.g., -12-15 dB) associated with satisfactory RF performance of the antenna 40 in the frequency band B of operation of the antenna 40 (e.g., the Bluetooth frequency band between approximately 2400 MHz and 2500 MHz). In addition, when the cap 18 is in the open position (e.g., as Fig.10 ), removing the metal hook 108 from the volume of the antenna 40 may also allow the antenna 40 to exceed the minimum efficiency threshold TH on the frequency band B. Therefore, regardless of the position of the cap 18, the antenna 40 may exhibit satisfactory RF performance in the frequency band B.

[0094] As used herein, the term "simultaneous" refers to overlapping at least partially in time. In other words, if at least some of the first event occurs simultaneously with at least some of the second event (e.g., if at least some of the first event occurs during at least some of the second event, occurs at the same time as at least some of the second event, or occurs when at least some of the second event occurs), the first event and the second event are referred to as "simultaneous" with each other in this article. If the first event and the second event are synchronized (e.g., if the entire duration of the first event overlaps with the entire duration of the second event in time), the first event and the second event can be simultaneous, but if the first event and the second event are asynchronous (e.g., if the first event starts before or after the second event starts, if the first event ends before or after the second event ends, or if the first event and the second event do not partially overlap in time), the first event and the second event can also be simultaneous. As used herein, the term "while" is synonymous with "concurrent".

[0095] Devices 10 and / or 20 may collect and / or use personally identifiable information. As is well known, the use of personally identifiable information should be subject to privacy policies and practices that are generally recognized to meet or exceed industry or government requirements for maintaining user privacy. Specifically, personally identifiable information data should be managed and processed to minimize the risk of unintentional or unauthorized access or use, and the nature of authorized use should be clearly stated to the user.

[0096] According to one embodiment, a computer stylus is provided that includes a shaft, a cap coupled to the shaft via a metal hook, and an antenna resonating element located in the shaft and overlapping the metal hook.

[0097] According to another embodiment, the cap is optionally movable relative to the shaft between an open position and a closed position, and the antenna resonating element optionally overlaps the metal hook when the cap is in the closed position.

[0098] According to another embodiment, the antenna resonating element is optionally non-overlapping relative to the metal hook when the cap is in the open position.

[0099] According to another embodiment, the cap optionally includes a conductive wall coupled to a metal hook extending from the conductive wall and into the shaft.

[0100] According to another embodiment, the cap optionally includes: a metal sleeve; and

[0101] A conductive bumper is optionally disposed on the conductive wall and contacts the metal sleeve when the cap is in the closed position.

[0102] In accordance with another embodiment, the shaft optionally includes a metal tube coupled to a metal sleeve and having a window aligned with the antenna resonating element.

[0103] According to another embodiment, the metal tube, metal sleeve, conductive bumper, conductive wall and metal hook optionally form an antenna ground for the antenna resonating element when the cap is optionally in the closed position.

[0104] According to another embodiment, the cap optionally includes a connector port mounted to the metal sleeve, the connector port being exposed when the cap is in the open position and being concealed when the cap is in the closed position.

[0105] According to another embodiment, the metal tube is optionally welded to the metal sleeve.

[0106] According to another embodiment, the shaft optionally has a dielectric tube surrounding the metal tube, and the cap optionally has a dielectric cap housing that is flush with the dielectric tube when the cap is in the closed position.

[0107] According to another embodiment, the computer stylus optionally includes a printed circuit board in the shaft and the antenna resonating element optionally includes conductive traces on the printed circuit board.

[0108] In accordance with another embodiment, the shaft optionally includes a metal tube surrounding the printed circuit board and optionally includes a window in the metal tube and aligned with the antenna resonating element.

[0109] According to another embodiment, the computer stylus optionally includes: a ground trace on a printed circuit board and coupled to the antenna resonating element; a first conductive screw that attaches the metal tube to the printed circuit board on a first side of the antenna resonating element and electrically couples the metal tube to the ground trace; and a second conductive screw that attaches the metal tube to the printed circuit board on a second side of the antenna resonating element opposite the first side of the antenna resonating element.

[0110] According to another embodiment, the computer stylus optionally includes a plastic block on a printed circuit board, and the antenna resonating element, the first conductive screw, and the second conductive screw are optionally embedded within the plastic block.

[0111] According to one embodiment, a computer stylus is provided, comprising: a shaft having a metal tube; a printed circuit board located in the shaft; an antenna having an antenna resonant element on the printed circuit board and aligned with a window in the metal tube; a first conductive screw coupling the metal tube to the printed circuit board on a first side of the window; and a second conductive screw coupling the metal tube to the printed circuit board on a second side of the window opposite to the first side of the window.

[0112] According to another embodiment, the computer stylus optionally includes a ground trace on a printed circuit board, the first conductive screw optionally electrically couples the metal tube to the ground trace, the antenna optionally includes an antenna ground portion comprising the ground trace, the first conductive screw and the metal tube, and the antenna resonant element optionally includes an inverted-F-shaped antenna arm following a spiral path on the printed circuit board.

[0113] In accordance with another embodiment, the computer stylus optionally includes a plastic block on the printed circuit board and overlapping the antenna resonating element, and the first conductive screw and the second conductive screw optionally extend through the plastic block.

[0114] According to another embodiment, the computer stylus optionally includes a cap having a metal sleeve coupled to the metal tube on a second side of the window; and a connector port on the metal sleeve, the stylus having a longitudinal axis and the connector port optionally extending radially away from the longitudinal axis.

[0115] According to one embodiment, a computer stylus is provided, comprising: a shaft having a dielectric buffer and a metal tube; a cap having a metal ring with an opening, the metal ring extending into the metal tube, the dielectric buffer disposed within the opening of the metal ring, and the metal ring configured to slide relative to the dielectric buffer; and an antenna resonating element in the shaft and overlapping a window in the metal tube, the metal ring interposed between the antenna resonating element and the metal tube at at least one position of the metal ring relative to the dielectric buffer.

[0116] According to another embodiment, the cap optionally includes: a metal sleeve coupled to the metal tube; a conductive wall optionally coupled to the metal ring, the metal ring and the conductive wall optionally being configured to slide relative to the metal sleeve and the dielectric buffer; a connector port on the metal sleeve; and a compression conductive buffer on the conductive wall, which optionally contacts the metal sleeve at at least one position of the metal ring relative to the dielectric buffer.

[0117] The foregoing is merely illustrative, and various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the embodiments described. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented independently or in any combination.

Claims

1. A computer stylus, comprising: axis; a cap-shaped member coupled to the shaft via a metal hook; and An antenna resonating element is positioned in the shaft and overlaps the metal hook.

2. The computer stylus of claim 1 , wherein the cap is movable relative to the shaft between an open position and a closed position, and wherein the antenna resonating element overlaps the metal hook when the cap is in the closed position.

3. The computer stylus of claim 2, wherein the antenna resonating element is non-overlapping relative to the metal hook when the cap is in the open position.

4. The computer stylus according to claim 2, wherein the cap-shaped member comprises: A conductive wall is coupled to the metal hook, the metal hook extending from the conductive wall and into the shaft.

5. The computer stylus according to claim 4, wherein the cap-shaped member further comprises: Metal sleeve; and A conductive bumper is disposed on the conductive wall and contacts the metal sleeve when the cap is in the closed position.

6. The computer stylus according to claim 5, wherein the shaft comprises: A metal tube is coupled to the metal sleeve and has a window aligned with the antenna resonating element.

7. The computer stylus of claim 6 wherein the metal tube, the metal sleeve, the conductive bumper, the conductive wall, and the metal hook form an antenna ground for the antenna resonating element when the cap is in the closed position.

8. The computer stylus according to claim 6, wherein the cap-shaped member further comprises: A connector port is mounted to the metal sleeve, wherein the connector port is exposed when the cap is in the open position and is concealed when the cap is in the closed position.

9. The computer stylus according to claim 8, wherein the metal tube is welded to the metal sleeve.

10. The computer stylus of claim 8, wherein the shaft has a dielectric tube surrounding the metal tube, and the cap has a dielectric cap housing that is flush with the dielectric tube when the cap is in the closed position.

11. The computer stylus according to claim 1, further comprising: A printed circuit board is disposed in the axis, the antenna resonating element comprising conductive traces on the printed circuit board.

12. The computer stylus of claim 11, wherein the shaft comprises: a metal tube surrounding the printed circuit board; and A window is positioned in the metal tube and aligned with the antenna resonating element.

13. The computer stylus according to claim 12, further comprising: a ground trace on the printed circuit board and coupled to the antenna resonating element; a first conductive screw attaching the metal tube to the printed circuit board at a first side of the antenna resonating element and electrically coupling the metal tube to the ground trace; and A second conductive screw attaches the metal tube to the printed circuit board at a second side of the antenna resonating element opposite the first side of the antenna resonating element.

14. The computer stylus according to claim 13, further comprising: A plastic block on the printed circuit board, wherein the antenna resonating element, the first conductive screw, and the second conductive screw are embedded within the plastic block.

15. A computer stylus, comprising: a shaft having a metal tube; a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board being located in the shaft; an antenna having an antenna resonating element on the printed circuit board and aligned with the window in the metal tube; a first conductive screw coupling the metal tube to the printed circuit board at a first side of the window; and A second conductive screw couples the metal tube to the printed circuit board at a second side of the window opposite the first side of the window.

16. The computer stylus according to claim 15, further comprising: a ground trace on the printed circuit board, wherein the first conductive screw electrically couples the metal tube to the ground trace, the antenna includes an antenna ground portion, the antenna ground portion includes the ground trace, the first conductive screw and the metal tube, and the antenna resonating element includes an inverted-F-shaped antenna arm that follows a spiral path on the printed circuit board.

17. The computer stylus according to claim 15, further comprising: A plastic block is on the printed circuit board and overlaps the antenna resonating element, wherein the first conductive screw and the second conductive screw extend through the plastic block.

18. The computer stylus according to claim 15, further comprising: a cap having a metal sleeve coupled to the metal tube at the second side of the window; and A connector port on the metal sleeve, wherein the stylus has a longitudinal axis and the connector port extends radially away from the longitudinal axis.

19. A computer stylus, comprising: a shaft having a dielectric buffer and a metal tube; a cap-shaped member having a metal ring with an opening, wherein the metal ring extends into the metal tube, the dielectric buffer is disposed within the opening of the metal ring, and the metal ring is configured to slide relative to the dielectric buffer; and An antenna resonating element is disposed in the shaft and overlaps the window in the metal tube, wherein the metal ring is interposed between the antenna resonating element and the metal tube in at least one location of the metal ring relative to the dielectric buffer.

20. The computer stylus according to claim 19, wherein the cap-shaped member comprises: a metal sleeve coupled to the metal tube; a conductive wall coupled to the metal ring, the metal ring and the conductive wall being configured to slide relative to the metal sleeve and the dielectric buffer; a connector port on the metal sleeve; and A compressive conductive bumper on the conductive wall, wherein the compressive conductive bumper contacts the metal sleeve at the at least one location of the metal ring relative to the dielectric bumper.

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