Antenna Cable Routing Through Bottom-Cover Access Openings
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity in service and assembly of portable electronic devices with wireless communications capabilities arises from coaxial cables connecting antennas and antenna modules, particularly when the antenna is attached to the bottom cover, leading to blind assembly conditions and increased manufacturing and servicing costs.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an opening in the foot pad area to route the cable connecting the antenna and antenna module, facilitating access during assembly and service, and attaching the antenna to the bottom cover for enhanced performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the antenna is attached to the bottom cover and connected to the antenna module via coaxial cable, then antenna performance is enhanced, but assembly and service complexity increases due to blind assembly conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a fourth dimension (vertical access through bottom openings) to resolve the accessibility problem. By creating openings in the bottom cover at strategic locations, service personnel can access cable connections from the bottom side of the device, eliminating the need to disassemble the top cover and internal components for cable access. This dimensional change in access path directly resolves the blind assembly condition while maintaining the bottom-cover antenna attachment configuration.
2Reliability
If the coaxial cable is routed through the device interior to connect antenna and antenna module, then wireless communication functionality is achieved, but manufacturing and servicing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-planning and pre-positioning the cable routing path through the device structure. The bottom openings are strategically located and sized during design to accommodate cable passage, and the cable is routed through these predetermined paths during assembly. This preliminary structuring of the routing path simplifies the manufacturing process and reduces servicing costs by eliminating the need for complex cable management modifications during assembly or repair operations.
Data Source
AI summary
In one example, an electronic device may include a housing having an opening and an antenna assembly disposed in the housing. The antenna assembly may include an antenna mounted to the housing, an antenna module disposed corresponding to the opening, and a cable to connect the antenna to the antenna module via routing the cable through the opening.