Antenna housing and electronic device comprising the same

Abstract

An antenna housing and an electronic device including the same are provided. The electronic device includes a housing configured to include a plastic portion and define a display window; a display module including a display area, a portion of the display module being configured in the housing and exposing the display area through the display window; and a plurality of antenna elements, each of the antenna elements being independently enabled and configured to be coupled to a surface of the plastic portion or an interior of the plastic portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an antenna housing and an electronic device containing the same, particularly an antenna housing that integrates multiple antenna elements into a plastic housing of an electronic device and intelligently controls the antenna elements via an intelligent control module for near-field wireless communication, and an electronic device containing the same. Background Technology

[0002] With the popularization of wireless communication technology, especially near field communication (NFC) and radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies, which have been widely used in various electronic devices to achieve convenient data exchange, identity recognition, mobile payment, access control, warehousing and logistics, interactive advertising, self-service equipment and other functions, the demand for integrating NFC / RFID reading functions into electronic devices is increasing.

[0003] FC and RFID technologies are primarily based on the principles of magnetic sensing or inductive magnetic coupling. Common technical specifications include Near Field Communication (NFC), High Frequency / Low Frequency Radio Frequency Identification (HF / LF RFID), and Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST). To achieve near field wireless communication functionality, existing electronic devices, such as point-of-sale (POS) terminals, self-service terminals (SST), self-checkout machines (SCO), or devices with display screens, are equipped with corresponding antenna elements.

[0004] In existing technologies, these antenna elements, such as NFC antennas and RFID antennas, are typically configured as separate coil antennas or printed circuit board antennas. These separate antenna modules require additional space for installation and usually need to be connected to the main circuit board via a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) or other connection methods. Generally, these antenna elements are integrated into NFC / RFID add-on modules and connected to electronic devices externally as add-on modules.

[0005] However, this traditional antenna configuration has several drawbacks. First, the external antenna module significantly increases the overall space requirements of the electronic device. Second, such modules require dedicated mounting structures and wiring, which not only increases design complexity but also raises manufacturing costs. Furthermore, because these antennas are typically installed in specific locations, such as the side of the device or far from the display area, users must consciously locate the sensing point to operate them, greatly reducing ease of use and intuitive operation.

[0006] Furthermore, existing antenna elements typically provide only a single, fixed sensing area, severely limiting sensing flexibility and coverage. Even a slight deviation from the preset sensing area by the user can lead to sensing failure, impacting the overall user experience. This design fails to adapt to different user habits and operating postures, and cannot effectively meet the needs of various application scenarios. Simultaneously, traditional sensing points often lack intuitive visual guidance, requiring users to repeatedly search, inquire, and reconfirm the exact location of the sensing point, causing operational delays and inconvenience.

[0007] Existing antenna components generally lack intelligent control mechanisms, making it impossible to dynamically adjust operating modes or select the optimal antenna combination based on actual usage scenarios. This results in poor energy efficiency and an inability to maintain stable sensing performance in complex environments. In applications requiring high reliability, such as self-checkout or security access control systems, this performance limitation may cause service interruptions or security issues.

[0008] On the other hand, with the increasing emphasis on aesthetics and integrated design in modern electronic devices, external antenna modules often disrupt the overall design and aesthetic harmony of the device. Furthermore, external modules are exposed to the external environment, making them more susceptible to physical impacts, friction, or other adverse environmental factors, significantly reducing their lifespan and stability.

[0009] Therefore, in view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the inventor, through careful attempts and research, and with a persistent spirit, finally conceived the present invention, "Antenna Housing and Electronic Device Containing Therein", which can overcome the above-mentioned shortcomings. The following is a brief description of the present invention. Summary of the Invention

[0010] This invention relates to an antenna housing and an electronic device containing the same, particularly an antenna housing that integrates multiple antenna elements into a plastic housing of an electronic device and intelligently controls the antenna elements via an intelligent control module for near-field wireless communication, and an electronic device containing the same.

[0011] This invention proposes an electronic device comprising: a housing configured to include a plastic portion and define a display window; a display module including a display area, a portion of which is disposed within the housing and exposed through the display window; and a plurality of antenna elements, each of which is independently energized and configured to be coupled to the surface of the plastic portion or the interior of the plastic portion.

[0012] This invention further proposes an antenna housing disposed in an electronic device, comprising: the electronic device including: a housing configured to include a plastic portion and define a display window; a display module including a display area, a portion of the display module being disposed in the housing and exposed through the display window; and a plurality of antenna elements, each of the antenna elements being independently energized and configured to be coupled to the surface of the plastic portion or the interior of the plastic portion to form the antenna housing.

[0013] The above-described invention description is intended to provide a simplified summary of the present disclosure so that the reader can have a basic understanding of the present disclosure. This invention description is not a complete description of the invention and is not intended to point out important / key elements of the embodiments of the invention or to define the scope of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 A front view schematic diagram revealing the electronic device included in this invention;

[0015] Figure 2 A side view schematic diagram revealing the electronic device included in the present invention;

[0016] Figure 3 A perspective schematic diagram revealing the electronic device included in this invention;

[0017] Figure 4 A schematic diagram illustrating the surface-bonded antenna housing included in this invention;

[0018] Figure 5 A schematic diagram illustrating the internally bonded antenna housing included in this invention;

[0019] Figure 6 A first-view perspective schematic diagram illustrating the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 7 A second-view perspective schematic diagram illustrating the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 8 A rear-view perspective schematic diagram illustrating the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 9 A front top view schematic diagram illustrating the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 10 A rear-view top view schematic diagram illustrating the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 11 A front view schematic diagram illustrating the third embodiment included in the present invention;

[0025] Figure 12A block diagram illustrating the logic contained in the control module and its firmware included in this invention;

[0026] Figure 13 An operational diagram illustrating the position indication mode included in the indication information control logic of this invention; and

[0027] Figure 14 This invention discloses an operational schematic diagram of the random indication mode included in the indication information control logic.

[0028] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0029] 10 Electronic devices

[0030] 100 housing

[0031] 101 Antenna Housing

[0032] 110 Plastics Department

[0033] 111 Display window

[0034] 112 Plastic frame

[0035] 113a Front Frame

[0036] 113b rear frame

[0037] 114a Front Surface

[0038] 114b side surface

[0039] 115a top border

[0040] 115b bottom border

[0041] 115c left border

[0042] 115d right side frame

[0043] 120 Display Module

[0044] 121 Display Area

[0045] 130 antenna elements

[0046] 131 Antenna Components

[0047] 132 antenna elements

[0048] 133 Antenna Components

[0049] 134 antenna elements

[0050] 135 antenna elements

[0051] 140 First Shell

[0052] 140a Front side

[0053] 140b Upper side

[0054] 140c lower side

[0055] 140d Left side

[0056] 140e Right side

[0057] 150 Second shell

[0058] 150a Lower side

[0059] 160 Third shell

[0060] 170 Fourth shell

[0061] 170a Rear Side

[0062] 180 Payment sensing area

[0063] 200 control module

[0064] 201 Multi-point polling enabled control logic

[0065] 202 Selective Enable Control Logic Based on Application Scenarios

[0066] 203 Selective Enable Control Logic Based on Signal Strength

[0067] 204 Dynamic Performance Compensation Control Logic

[0068] 205 Location-Based Selective Enable Control Logic

[0069] 206 Condition-based Selective Enable Control Logic

[0070] 207 Indicator Information Control Logic Detailed Implementation

[0071] The invention will be fully understood from the following embodiments, which will enable those skilled in the art to carry it out. However, the implementation of the invention is not limited to the following embodiments. The accompanying drawings of the invention do not contain any limitations on size, dimensions and scale. In actual implementation, the size, dimensions and scale of the invention are not limited by the accompanying drawings.

[0072] The term "preferred" as used herein is non-exclusive and should be understood as "preferred to be, but not limited to." Any step described or recorded in any specification or claim may be performed in any order, not limited to the order stated in the claims. The scope of the invention should be determined only by the claims and their equivalents, and not by the embodiments of the example implementation. The term "comprising" and its variations, when appearing in the specification and claims, are open-ended terms, not restrictive, and do not exclude other features or steps.

[0073] Figure 1 A front view schematic diagram revealing the electronic device included in this invention; Figure 2 A side view schematic diagram revealing the electronic device included in the present invention; Figure 3 This is a perspective view illustrating the electronic device included in the present invention. The electronic device 10 included in the present invention is preferably, for example, but not limited to, a kiosk, a point-of-sale (POS) terminal, a service point (POS) terminal, a self-service terminal (SST), a self-checkout (SCO) terminal, an electronic access control terminal, an interactive advertising terminal, a cash register, or any other device requiring the use of near-field wireless sensing communication technology, such as a tablet computer, an industrial computer, a monitor, etc.

[0074] Electronic device 10 includes a housing 100, a display module 120, multiple antenna elements 130, and a control module 200. Electronic device 10 also includes other common components, such as processing units, memory, power modules, communication interfaces, and input / output units integrated into the control module 200 or configured as independent units. The control module 200 is preferably integrated into the existing main circuit board or other circuit modules of electronic device 10, but it can also be designed as a separate module and located in any suitable location within the housing 100.

[0075] The housing 100 is configured as an external frame or enclosure for the electronic device 10. The housing 100 includes a plastic portion 110, and all or part of the housing 100, such as the front cover, rear cover, sidewalls, and frame, is preferably made of plastic material and forms the plastic portion 110. Preferably, the plastic portion 110 of the housing 100 is configured to define or form a display window 111 for exposing the display area 121 included in the display module 120.

[0076] The display module 120 is preferably, for example, but not limited to, a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, and has a display area 121 for displaying digital content such as images, text, and graphical interfaces to the user. The display module 120 is configured to selectively include a touch panel disposed above the display area 121 to detect the user's touch input. The display module 120 is disposed inside the electronic device 10 via the housing 100. The display area 121 included in the display module 120 is positioned to align with the display window 111 of the housing 100 and is exposed through the display window 111 for the user to view information or perform interactive operations.

[0077] Antenna element 130 is preferably an antenna designed based on the principles of magnetic sensing or inductive magnetic coupling, and is preferably used in near-field wireless communication, especially near-field wireless sensing communication based on electromagnetic field interaction.

[0078] Antenna element 130 is preferably configured in an initiator device to transmit (Tx) or receive (Rx) wireless radio frequency signals, and to generate and sense electromagnetic fields, such as, but not limited to, transmitting query signals to a target device, including but not limited to, NFC cards or RFID tags, or receiving response signals from the target device.

[0079] The antenna element 130 includes, but is not limited to, an NFC antenna, an HF RFID antenna, an LF RFID antenna, an MST antenna, or a combination thereof, wherein the NFC antenna preferably has an operating frequency of 13.56 MHz, the HF RFID antenna preferably also has an operating frequency of 13.56 MHz, the LF RFID antenna preferably supports low-frequency operation at 125 kHz or 134.2 kHz, and the MST antenna is dedicated to magnetic secure transmission.

[0080] Depending on different requirements or structural layouts, each antenna element 130 may preferably have the same structure or adopt a differentiated configuration, which includes, but is not limited to: using different coil styles, such as using loop-type or dipole-type coils; using different physical dimensions; using different resonant frequencies; or using different topologies.

[0081] Each antenna element 130 can be independently enabled or independently disabled. That is, the control module 200 can use independent control to individually control the enabling or disabling of any one antenna element 130, or it can use combined control to selectively and synchronously control the enabling or disabling of multiple antenna elements 130 to improve signal coverage or perform multiple readout tasks.

[0082] In one embodiment, each antenna element 130 is configured to be directly bonded to the plastic portion 110 of the housing 100, preferably directly bonded to the outer surface or interior of the plastic portion 110. For example, antenna element 131 is configured to be directly bonded to the outer surface of the plastic portion 110, and antenna element 132 is configured to be directly bonded to the interior of the plastic portion 110 to form antenna housing 101. Antenna housing 101 can also preferably be considered as a structure formed by bonding the plastic portion 110 of housing 100 with the antenna element 130. Antenna housing 101 can also preferably be referred to as a housing-integrated antenna or a housing-integrated antenna. The present invention directly integrates the antenna element 130 into the plastic portion 110 of housing 100.

[0083] Figure 4 A schematic diagram illustrating the surface-bonded antenna housing included in this invention; Figure 5 This diagram illustrates the antenna housing based on internal bonding included in the present invention. The bonding of the antenna element 130 to the plastic portion 110 includes bonding to both the outer surface and the interior of the plastic portion 110. The present invention forms the antenna housing 101 through the bonding of the antenna element 130 to the plastic portion 110.

[0084] The methods of bonding to the surface of the plastic part 110 include, but are not limited to: printing, etching, coating, adhering, securely attaching, fastening, or combinations thereof.

[0085] For example, printing is preferred to directly print conductive ink, such as but not limited to silver paste, on the surface of the plastic part 110 of the housing 100 to form an antenna pattern, and then bonding the antenna element 131 to the outer surface of the plastic part 110 to finally form the antenna housing 101; etching is preferred to form an antenna pattern on the surface of the plastic part 110 covered with a metal film using etching technology, and then bonding the antenna element 131 to the outer surface of the plastic part 110 to finally form the antenna housing 101.

[0086] Coating is preferably performed by coating conductive material onto the surface of the plastic part 110 to form an antenna pattern, and then bonding the antenna element 131 to the outer surface of the plastic part 110 to form the antenna housing 101. Adhesion is preferably performed by attaching a pre-fabricated antenna element 131, such as an FPC antenna, to the surface of the plastic part 110 of the housing 100 using adhesive material to form an antenna housing 101. Locking and securing is preferably performed by using a mechanism, such as, but not limited to, clips or screws, to fix the antenna element 131 or the substrate on which the antenna element 131 is mounted to the plastic surface to form the antenna housing 101.

[0087] This surface combination method, where the antenna element 131 may be partially or completely exposed on the outer surface of the plastic housing, can achieve good communication quality. Although the antenna element 131 may be partially or completely exposed on the outer surface of the plastic housing, the exposed antenna lines of the designed antenna element 131 can serve as a decorative texture, creating a decorative effect and giving the product a unique appearance.

[0088] The methods of incorporating the plastic part 110 include, but are not limited to: insert molding, double injection, over-molding, lamination, embedding, inlaying, or combinations thereof.

[0089] For example, embedding injection is preferable in which, during the plastic injection molding process, the pre-made antenna element 132, such as, but not limited to, an etched flexible circuit board (FPC) antenna or a metal coil, is placed in the mold, and then molten plastic is injected. After the plastic solidifies, it covers and fixes the antenna element 132, so that the antenna element 132 is covered and embedded inside the plastic part 110 of the housing 100, ultimately forming the antenna housing 101. Secondary molding and encapsulation injection is preferable in which a part of the structure of the plastic part 110 is first formed, and then a second injection molding is performed to completely encapsulate the antenna element 132 therein, ultimately encapsulating the antenna element 132 inside the plastic part 110 of the housing 100, forming the antenna housing 101.

[0090] The preferred method is to use multi-layer plastic for the housing 100, and sandwich the antenna element 132 between different plastic layers during the manufacturing process, so that the antenna element 132 is finally encased inside the plastic part 110 of the housing 100 to form the antenna housing 101; the preferred method is to place the antenna element 132 in the groove of the pre-formed plastic housing, and then use other methods, such as filling glue or another layer of plastic to cover and fix it, so that the antenna element 132 is finally encased inside the plastic part 110 of the housing 100 to form the antenna housing 101.

[0091] The advantage of internal combination is that the plastic housing can provide good and complete protection for the antenna element 132, preventing the antenna element 132 from being physically damaged or worn, and is not easily affected by the external environment. In addition, the antenna element 132 can be completely hidden in appearance, keeping the surface of the housing flat and beautiful.

[0092] Figure 6 A first-view perspective schematic diagram illustrating the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 A second-view perspective schematic diagram illustrating the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a rear perspective view illustrating a first embodiment of the present invention. Electronic devices 10, such as SCO machines, POS machines, and LCD screens, typically include a rectangular display module 120, whose four edges are usually surrounded by a plastic bezel. In this embodiment, the plastic portion 110 is configured to form a plastic bezel 112 surrounding the four edges of the display module 120.

[0093] The plastic frame 112 preferably includes a front frame 113a and a rear frame 113b, which is a two-piece housing. The front frame 113a refers to the frame facing the user or closer to the user or display area, while the rear frame 113b refers to the frame further away from the user or as part of the back of the device.

[0094] The front frame 113a preferably has a front surface 114a and a side surface 114b. The front surface 114a is adjacent to the display area 121 and is usually coplanar with the display area 121, or slightly higher or lower than the display area 121. The side surface 114b is the surface that forms the thickness of the front frame 113a.

[0095] The front frame 113a includes a top frame 115a, a bottom frame 115b, a left frame 115c, and a right frame 115d. The top frame 115a, bottom frame 115b, left frame 115c, and right frame 115d surround the edge of the display window 111 and together define the area of ​​the display window 111.

[0096] Preferably, the antenna element 130 is configured to be selectively coupled to any of the following locations: the front surface 114a of the upper frame 115a, lower frame 115b, left frame 115c, or right frame 115d; the side surface 114b of the upper frame 115a, lower frame 115b, left frame 115c, or right frame 115d; or the interior of the upper frame 115a, lower frame 115b, left frame 115c, or right frame 115d.

[0097] With the above configuration, the antenna element 130 is positioned close to the display area 121, that is, the screen bezel. Therefore, users can intuitively complete the sensing by bringing the NFC / RFID target device or other sensing device close to the screen while watching the screen or operating the touch panel, in accordance with the synchronous instructions displayed on the screen. There is no need to find other sensing points far away from the screen, which greatly improves the convenience and intuitiveness of use.

[0098] Especially in scenarios using near-field electronic payment, after consumers complete the checkout operation on the touch screen, they only need to follow the instructions displayed on the screen and sense the NFC / RFID target device on the edge of the screen to complete the payment operation, which is quite simple and intuitive.

[0099] Preferably, the antenna elements 130 can also be densely arranged to cover the front surface 114a of the top bezel 115a, bottom bezel 115b, left bezel 115c, and right bezel 115d, as well as the side surface 114b of the top bezel 115a, bottom bezel 115b, left bezel 115c, and right bezel 115d. This allows users to easily sense NFC / RFID target devices from anywhere around the screen, meaning users do not need to point the NFC / RFID target device at a specific sensing point, achieving a surround sensing effect and improving operational convenience.

[0100] In one embodiment, the antenna element 130 is configured to be selectively coupled to either the surface of the rear frame 113b or the interior of the rear frame 113b. The antenna element 130 may also be configured to be coupled to any location on the surface of the rear frame 113b or any location inside the rear frame 113b to provide rear-facing sensing functionality depending on the usage scenario.

[0101] Typically, no electronic components are integrated on the outer surface or inside of the bezel of existing screens or touch screens. However, this invention proposes to configure the near-field radio frequency sensing antenna on the outer surface or inside of the plastic bezel of the screen or touch screen. This flexible use of the plastic bezel to configure the antenna element is beneficial to the structural design flexibility of electronic devices and helps to reduce interference between the antenna element and other internal electronic components. After industrial design, the antenna element integrated on the outer surface can also have an aesthetic decorative effect.

[0102] Figure 9 A front top view schematic diagram illustrating the second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 This is a rear-view top view schematic diagram illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is based on the first embodiment and includes all the technical features of the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the housing 100 of the electronic device 10 adopts a multi-piece structure. The housing 100 preferably includes a first housing 140, a second housing 150, a third housing 160, and a fourth housing 170. The housing 100 is configured to define the range of the display window 111, and the display area 121 is exposed through the display window 111.

[0103] The first housing 140 is preferably, for example, a front housing or an upper housing; the second housing 150 is preferably, for example, a first rear housing; the third housing 160 is preferably, for example, a second rear housing or a lower housing; and the fourth housing 170 is preferably, for example, a back panel. In this embodiment, the plastic portion 110 is configured to form the first housing 140, the second housing 150, the third housing 160, and the fourth housing 170.

[0104] Preferably, assuming the display area 121 is used as a reference position, the plastic part 110 includes a front side portion 140a located in front of the display area 121, an upper side portion 140b located above the display area 121, a lower side portion 150a and a lower side portion 140c located below the display area 121, a left side portion 140d located to the left of the display area 121, a right side portion 140e located to the right of the display area 121, and a rear side portion 170a located behind the display area 121.

[0105] Preferably, the front side portion 140a, upper side portion 140b, lower side portion 150a, left side portion 140d, right side portion 140e, and rear side portion 170a can be distributed on any one of the first housing 140, second housing 150, third housing 160, or fourth housing 170. In this embodiment, the front side portion 140a, upper side portion 140b, lower side portion 140c, left side portion 140d, and right side portion 140e are disposed on the first housing 140, the lower side portion 150a is disposed on the second housing 150, and the rear side portion 170a is disposed on the fourth housing 170.

[0106] Preferably, the antenna element 130 is configured to be selectively coupled to any of the following locations: the outer surface of the front portion 140a, upper portion 140b, lower portion 150a, lower portion 140c, left portion 140d, right portion 140e, or rear portion 170a; or the interior of the front portion 140a, upper portion 140b, lower portion 150a, left portion 140d, right portion 140e, or rear portion 170a.

[0107] Preferably, the antenna element 130 can be freely distributed on the surface or inside of any location of the plastic part 110 of the housing 100 included in the electronic device 10, including but not limited to the front, side or back of the electronic device 10, providing great design freedom and flexibility in the configuration of the sensing area for the antenna layout of the electronic device 10.

[0108] Figure 11 A front view schematic diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention is shown. The third embodiment is based on the first and second embodiments and includes all the technical features of the first and second embodiments. In this embodiment, the housing 100 of the electronic device 10 is a three-piece housing, which preferably includes a first housing 140, a second housing 150, and a third housing 160. The housing 100 is configured to define the area of ​​the display window 111, and the display area 121 is exposed through the display window 111.

[0109] Preferably, assuming the display area 121 is used as a reference position, the plastic part 110 includes a front side portion 140a located in front of the display area 121, an upper side portion (not shown) located above the display area 121, a lower side portion 140c located below the display area 121, a left side portion (not shown) located to the left of the display area 121, and a right side portion 140e located to the right of the display area 121. Preferably, the front side portion 140a, the upper side portion, the lower side portion 140c, the left side portion, and the right side portion 140e are distributed on any one of the first housing 140, the second housing 150, or the third housing 160. In this embodiment, the front side portion 140a, the upper side portion, the lower side portion 140c, the left side portion, and the right side portion 140e are disposed on the first housing 140.

[0110] Preferably, the antenna element 130 is configured to be selectively coupled to any of the following locations: the outer surface of the front portion 140a, upper portion, lower portion 140c, left portion or right portion 140e; or the interior of the front portion 140a, upper portion, lower portion 140c, left portion or right portion 140e.

[0111] Figure 12 A block diagram illustrating the logic contained in the control module and its firmware included in this invention; Figure 13 An operational schematic diagram illustrating the position indication mode included in the indication information control logic of this invention; Figure 14 This invention discloses an operational schematic diagram of the random indication mode included in the indication information control logic.

[0112] The control module 200 included in this invention is configured to execute a variety of intelligent control logics, which are preferably implemented by firmware or software installed in the control module 200, and include multi-point polling enable control logic 201, application scenario-based selective enable control logic 202, signal strength-based selective enable control logic 203, dynamic performance compensation control logic 204, location-based selective enable control logic 205, condition-based selective enable control logic 206, and indication information control logic 207.

[0113] Multi-point polling enablement control logic 201: In a certain embodiment, assuming that the antenna element 130 preferably contains N antenna elements of number N, and there are n antenna elements T1, T2, T3, ..., Tn distributed on the housing 100 around the display area 121 to participate in polling enablement, and n≤N, the control module 200 is configured to enable the n antenna elements T1, T2, T3, ..., Tn in a predetermined order, such as T1→T2→T3→Tn→T1... in a cyclic, sequential, and brief manner.

[0114] Step 1: Use electronic device 10 as the initiating device for near-field wireless inductive communication.

[0115] Step 2: The control module 200 enables the antenna element T1, sends a radio frequency carrier or query command, for example, 13.56MHz, as a detection signal, and listens for any target device entering the sensing range of the antenna element T1 and responding within a very short time window, such as a few milliseconds, and then deactivates the antenna element T1.

[0116] Step 3: The control module 200 then enables the antenna element T2, sends a detection signal and listens for a time window, and then disables the antenna element T2.

[0117] Step 4: The control module 200 then enables the antenna element T3, sends a detection signal and listens for a time window, and then disables the antenna element T3.

[0118] Step 5: The control module 200 then enables the antenna element Tn, sends a detection signal and listens for a time window, and then disables the antenna element Tn.

[0119] Step 6: Repeat steps 2-5 above in a loop until an antenna element detects a response signal from the target device within the time window.

[0120] By executing the multi-point polling enable control logic, the control module 200 can effectively "scan" the physical space area covered by all antenna elements T1-Tn. As long as the target device approaches the sensing range of any one of the n antenna elements T1, T2, T3, ..., Tn, for example, if it approaches antenna element T3, antenna element T3 will detect the response signal of the target device and thus sense the target device.

[0121] The multi-point polling enable control logic significantly expands the overall effective sensing range of the electronic device 10, enabling the electronic device 10 to sense the target device over a larger range, thus improving the problem of the limited sensing range of existing single antennas.

[0122] Application-based selective enablement control logic 202: The control module 200 is configured to selectively enable / start one or more of multiple antenna elements 130, or enable multiple antenna elements 130 to form a specific antenna array combination, depending on different application scenarios. That is, not all antenna elements 130 need to be enabled or put into working state. For example, in a payment scenario, the control module 200 enables multiple antenna elements 130 or combinations thereof, such as an NFC antenna array, to provide payment functionality for the consumer to make a payment; in an information reading scenario, the control module 200 enables multiple antenna elements 130 or combinations thereof, such as an RFID antenna array, to provide corresponding reading functionality to read the user's NFC / RFID target device; when the consumer is standing on the left side of the display area 121 and is preparing to make a payment, the control module 200 enables the antenna elements 130 or combinations thereof arranged on the left side of the display area 121, such as an NFC antenna array arranged on the left side, to provide payment functionality for the consumer; when the consumer is standing on the left side of the display area 121 and is preparing to make a payment, but the consumer is right-handed and is accustomed to paying on the right side, the control module 200 enables the NFC antenna array arranged on the right side of the display area 121.

[0123] Selective enable control logic 203 based on signal strength: Preferably, the control module 200 is configured to selectively enable the antenna element with the strongest signal strength based on the received signal strength, such as the RSSI value. For example, during the execution of the multi-point polling enable control logic, if it is found that antenna elements T1-T3 all receive response signals simultaneously, but antenna element T1 receives the strongest signal strength, then antenna element T1 is selected to be enabled for subsequent communication.

[0124] Preferably, the control module 200 is configured to selectively switch the antenna element with the strongest enable signal strength based on the received signal strength, such as the RSSI value. For example, if the control module 200 is using antenna element T1, but during the execution of the multi-point polling enable control logic, it is found that antenna element T2 receives a stronger signal strength, the control module 200 will dynamically switch to and enable antenna element T2 in real time.

[0125] Preferably, the control module 200 is configured to determine whether the received signal strength of a certain antenna element is lower than a preset threshold value. If it is lower than the threshold value, it dynamically and selectively enables more antenna elements in real time, or switches to other antenna elements with stronger signal strength to compensate for the signal or improve the read success rate.

[0126] Therefore, in practical application scenarios, such as but not limited to NFC / RFID sensing scenarios, when the user's NFC / RFID target device's operating position deviates slightly from the preset sensing area, the control module 200 can easily track the movement position of the NFC / RFID target device by executing the selective enable control logic 203 based on signal strength, and enable the most suitable antenna element.

[0127] Dynamic performance compensation control logic 204: In order to improve the success rate and sensitivity of sensing, the control module 200 is configured to determine whether the received signal strength of a certain antenna element is lower than a preset threshold value. If it is lower than the threshold value, it dynamically and selectively enables more or nearby antenna elements in real time, or switches to other antenna elements with stronger signal strength to compensate for the signal or improve the reading success rate.

[0128] Location-based selective enable control logic 205: The control module 200 can be configured to preset the sensing area location or provide the user with a user-defined sensing area location. For example, the software can specify that the payment sensing area is preset in the lower right corner, or the software can provide a graphical user interface for the user to customize the identity sensing area to the upper right corner, etc., and selectively enable the antenna elements that can cover the specified sensing area from multiple antenna elements 130 according to the preset or user-defined location.

[0129] Condition-based selective enable control logic 206: The control module 200 is configured to selectively enable specific antenna elements based on preset conditions. For example, it may be pre-programmed by software to enable only the antenna element with the lowest power consumption for initial detection in standby mode.

[0130] Indication information control logic 207: To enhance the user experience, the control module 200 is configured to display an indication message on the display area 121, such as, but not limited to: patterns, icons, visual cues, text, arrows, bright spots, illuminated blocks, illustrations, or text prompts. The indication message includes corresponding information related to the current sensing area. The indication information control logic 207 is preferably configured to include a location indication mode and a random indication mode.

[0131] For example, when multiple antenna elements 130 are arranged around the four bezels of the display area 121, in position indication mode, especially when the control module 200 enables multiple sensing areas for different near-field wireless sensing communication technologies, assuming the payment sensing area 180 is set to consist of three antenna elements 133 integrated within the lower bezel 115b below the screen, when the operation process enters the payment procedure, such as Figure 13 As shown, the control module 200 is configured in the payment sensing area 180 near the bottom edge of the display area 121, displaying a downward arrow and accompanied by the text prompt "bottom edge sensing" to inform the consumer that the payment sensing area 180 is at the bottom edge of the screen.

[0132] For example, when multiple antenna elements 130 are arranged around the four bezels of the display area 121, in random indication mode, when the control module 200 detects, for example, an RFID tag approaching an antenna element 133, for example, arranged on the outer surface of the left bezel 115c, by executing multi-point polling enable control logic, and enables communication between antenna elements 133, 134, and 135, as follows... Figure 14 As shown, the control module 200 is positioned on the left side of the display area 121 near the location of the enabled antenna element, displaying a left-pointing arrow along with the text prompt "Please sense," clearly guiding the consumer to bring the NFC / RFID target device close to the correct location.

[0133] This invention proposes to directly integrate multiple antenna elements used in near-field wireless sensing communication technologies based on the principles of magnetic sensing or inductive magnetic coupling, such as but not limited to NFC, RFID, and MST, into the outer surface or interior of the plastic housing of an electronic device to form an antenna housing. This housing is then positioned close to the display area, i.e., the screen. Furthermore, it is controlled and selectively enabled by an intelligent control module, thereby improving ease of use, sensing reliability, and component design integration.

[0134] In summary, this invention integrates multiple independently energized antenna elements into the plastic housing of an electronic device, and combines this with a flexible control module to achieve various operating modes such as selective energization, multi-point cycling, dynamic adjustment, and user-guided operation. Utilizing intelligent control logic, it achieves flexible, reliable, and user-friendly sensing functions, significantly improving the application performance, reliability, and user experience of NFC / RFID in electronic devices. The antenna housing and the electronic device containing it proposed in this invention are suitable for any electronic device that requires integration of near-field wireless sensing communication or near-field wireless communication. This invention also has the following advantages:

[0135] (1) Expanding the sensing range and flexibility: By arranging multiple antenna elements in different positions of the plastic shell, such as around the screen bezel, sides, and back, the overall sensing range is effectively expanded, and users do not need to precisely align the target device with a single fixed point, thus improving the ease of operation.

[0136] (2) Adaptable to diverse application scenarios: The control module can selectively activate the most suitable antenna according to different applications, user preferences or specific needs, such as the left, right, top or combined areas, to provide a highly customized and adaptable user experience.

[0137] (3) Enhance user interaction experience: Combined with the indicator patterns on the display module, intuitively guide users to bring the NFC / RFID card or tag close to the effective sensing area, reduce the operation threshold and increase the success rate of the first sensing.

[0138] (4) Enhance reading performance and reliability: Through multi-point cyclic sensing, signal strength detection and dynamic adjustment mechanism, the success rate of tag sensing and communication reliability can be improved in complex environments or when the tag position is uncertain.

[0139] The embodiments of this invention described above can be arbitrarily combined or substituted with each other to generate more implementation methods, but none of them shall depart from the scope of protection intended for this invention. Further examples of implementations of this invention are provided below:

[0140] Example 1: An electronic device comprising: a housing configured to include a plastic portion and define a display window; a display module including a display area, a portion of the display module being disposed in the housing and exposed through the display window; and a plurality of antenna elements, each of the antenna elements being independently energized and configured to be coupled to the surface of the plastic portion or the interior of the plastic portion.

[0141] Example 2: The electronic device as described in Example 1 further includes one of the following: a control module electrically connected to the antenna elements and configured to: selectively enable one of the antenna elements; execute multi-point polling enable control logic to sequentially and cyclically enable the antenna elements; execute application scenario-based selective enable control logic to selectively enable one of the antenna elements according to the application scenario; execute signal strength-based selective enable control logic to selectively enable one of the antenna elements according to the received signal strength; execute dynamic performance compensation control logic to dynamically selectively enable more antenna elements from the antenna elements when the received signal strength is below a threshold value; execute location-based selective enable control logic to selectively enable one of the antenna elements according to a preset location or a custom location; execute condition-based selective enable control logic to selectively enable one of the antenna elements according to preset conditions; and execute indication information control logic to display indication information in the display area, the indication information being configured to indicate corresponding information related to the enabled antenna element.

[0142] Example 3: The electronic device as described in Example 1 further includes one of the following: the housing further includes a first housing and a second housing; the plastic portion is configured to form one of the first housing and the second housing; the plastic portion includes a front portion located in front of the display area, an upper portion located above the display area, a lower portion located below the display area, a left portion located to the left of the display area, a right portion located to the right of the display area, and a rear portion located behind the display area, wherein the front portion, the upper portion, the lower portion, the left portion, and the right portion are arranged in a manner that... The rear portion is disposed in one of the first housing and the second housing; the antenna elements are disposed and attached to one of the surfaces of the front portion, the upper portion, the lower portion, the left portion, the right portion, the rear portion, the interior of the front portion, the interior of the upper portion, the interior of the lower portion, the interior of the left portion, the interior of the right portion, and the interior of the rear portion; and the antenna elements are disposed and attached to one of the surfaces of the first housing, the interior of the first housing, the surfaces of the second housing, and the interior of the second housing.

[0143] Example 4: The electronic device as described in Example 1 further includes one of the following: the plastic portion is configured to form a plastic frame; the plastic frame includes a front frame and a rear frame; the front frame has a front surface and a side surface adjacent to the display area, and includes a top frame, a bottom frame, a left frame, and a right frame, and defines the display window by the top frame, the bottom frame, the left frame, and the right frame; the top frame, the bottom frame, the left frame, and the right frame are configured to surround the edge of the display module; the antenna elements are configured to be integrated into one of the front surface of the top frame, the front surface of the bottom frame, the front surface of the left frame, the front surface of the right frame, the side surface of the top frame, the side surface of the bottom frame, the side surface of the left frame, the side surface of the right frame, the interior of the top frame, the interior of the bottom frame, the interior of the left frame, and the interior of the right frame; and the antenna elements are configured to be integrated into one of the surface of the rear frame and the interior of the rear frame.

[0144] Example 5: An electronic device as described in Example 1, wherein a portion of the antenna elements is incorporated into the interior of the plastic part by means of one of the following: embedding, embedding, lamination, embedding, secondary molding, or a combination thereof.

[0145] Example 6: An electronic device as described in Example 1, wherein a portion of the antenna elements is bonded to the surface of the plastic portion by one of the following methods: printing, etching, coating, adhesion, locking, or a combination thereof.

[0146] Example 7: An electronic device as described in Example 1, wherein the antenna elements are one of an NFC antenna, an RFID antenna, an HF RFID antenna, an LF RFID antenna, and an MST antenna.

[0147] Example 8: The electronic device as described in Example 1, wherein the display module further includes the display area and a touch panel disposed above the display area.

[0148] Example 9: An electronic device as described in Example 1, wherein the electronic device is an information service station (Kiosk), a point of sale (POS) terminal, a service point (POS) terminal, a self-service terminal (SST), a self-checkout (SCO) terminal, an electronic access control terminal, an interactive advertising terminal, a cash register terminal, a liquid crystal display (LCD), or an organic light-emitting diode display (OLED).

[0149] Example 10: An antenna housing disposed in an electronic device, comprising: the electronic device comprising: a housing configured to include a plastic portion and define a display window; and a display module including a display area, a portion of the display module being disposed in the housing and exposed through the display window; and a plurality of antenna elements, each of the antenna elements being independently energized and configured to be coupled to the surface of the plastic portion or the interior of the plastic portion to form the antenna housing.

[0150] The various embodiments of the invention can be arbitrarily combined or substituted with each other to generate more implementation methods, but none of them shall deviate from the scope of protection of the invention. The scope of protection of the invention shall be determined by the claims of the invention.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising: A housing configured to include a plastic portion and define a display window; A display module includes a display area, a portion of which is disposed within the housing and the display area is exposed through the display window; as well as Multiple antenna elements, which can be independently enabled and are configured to be integrated into the surface of the plastic portion or the interior of the plastic portion.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising one of the following: A control module, electrically connected to the plurality of antenna elements, and configured to: Selectively enable one of the plurality of antenna elements; Execute multi-point polling enable control logic to sequentially and cyclically enable the multiple antenna elements; Execute application-scenario-based selective enable control logic to selectively enable one of the antenna elements according to the application scenario; Execute signal strength-based selective enable control logic to selectively enable one of the plurality of antenna elements according to the received signal strength; The system executes dynamic performance compensation control logic, which dynamically and selectively enables more antenna elements from the plurality of antenna elements when the received signal strength is below a threshold value. Execute location-based selective enable control logic to selectively enable one of the antenna elements according to a preset or custom location; Execute condition-based selective enable control logic to selectively enable one of the antenna elements according to preset conditions; as well as The instruction information control logic is executed to display instruction information in the display area, the instruction information being configured to indicate corresponding information related to the enabled antenna element.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising one of the following: The housing also includes a first housing and a second housing; The plastic portion is configured to form one of the first housing and the second housing; The plastic part includes a front side portion located in front of the display area, an upper side portion located above the display area, a lower side portion located below the display area, a left side portion located to the left of the display area, a right side portion located to the right of the display area, and a rear side portion located behind the display area, wherein the front side portion, the upper side portion, the lower side portion, the left side portion, the right side portion, and the rear side portion are configured to be distributed in one of the first housing and the second housing; The plurality of antenna elements are configured to be attached to one of the following surfaces: the front surface, the upper surface, the lower surface, the left surface, the right surface, the rear surface, the interior of the front surface, the interior of the upper surface, the interior of the lower surface, the interior of the left surface, the interior of the right surface, and the interior of the rear surface; and The plurality of antenna elements are configured to be integrated into one of the surface of the first housing, the interior of the first housing, the surface of the second housing, and the interior of the second housing.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising one of the following: The plastic portion is configured to form a plastic frame; The plastic frame includes a front frame and a rear frame; The front frame has a front surface and a side surface adjacent to the display area, and includes a top border, a bottom border, a left border and a right border, and defines the display window through the top border, the bottom border, the left border and the right border; The top border, the bottom border, the left border, and the right border are configured to surround the edge of the display module; The plurality of antenna elements are configured to be attached to one of the following: the front surface of the upper frame, the front surface of the lower frame, the front surface of the left frame, the front surface of the right frame, the side surface of the upper frame, the side surface of the lower frame, the side surface of the left frame, the side surface of the right frame, the interior of the upper frame, the interior of the lower frame, the interior of the left frame, and the interior of the right frame; and The plurality of antenna elements are configured to be integrated into one of the surfaces of the rear frame and the interior of the rear frame.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the plurality of antenna elements is incorporated into the interior of the plastic portion by means of one of the following: burial, embedding, lamination, embedding, secondary molding, or a combination thereof.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein a portion of the plurality of antenna elements is attached to the surface of the plastic portion by means of printing, etching, coating, adhesive, locking, or a combination thereof.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of antenna elements is one of an NFC antenna, an RFID antenna, an HF RFID antenna, an LF RFID antenna, and an MST antenna.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the display module further comprises the display area and a touch panel disposed above the display area.

9. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is an information service station, a point-of-sale terminal, a service point terminal, a self-service terminal, a self-checkout terminal, an electronic access control terminal, an interactive advertising terminal, a cash register terminal, a liquid crystal display, or an organic light-emitting diode display.

10. An antenna housing disposed in an electronic device, comprising: The electronic device includes: A housing configured to include a plastic portion and define a display window; and A display module, comprising a display area, wherein a portion of the display module is disposed within the housing and the display area is exposed through the display window; and Multiple antenna elements, each independently energized, are configured to be integrated onto the surface of the plastic portion or into the interior of the plastic portion to form the antenna housing.

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