Antenna Assembly Cable Routing Through Housing Opening

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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, which can obstruct access and increase manufacturing and servicing costs due to blind assembly conditions.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an opening in the bottom cover of the housing to route the cable connecting the antenna and antenna module, facilitating easier access and assembly, while enhancing antenna performance by attaching the antenna to the bottom cover.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If coaxial cables are used to connect antennas and antenna modules inside the housing, then wireless communication functionality is achieved, but assembly and service complexity increases due to blind assembly conditions and obstructed access

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewireless communication functionalityVSAvoidassembly and service complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the cable connection interface from the internal housing space and relocates it to the exterior of the device through an opening in the bottom cover. This allows the cable connecting the antenna to the antenna module to be accessed, routed, and connected from the outside, eliminating blind assembly conditions and providing clear visual access to connection terminals during both assembly and service operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If the antenna is attached to the bottom cover, then antenna performance is enhanced, but cable routing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantenna performanceVSAvoidcable routing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the cable routing path from the complex internal space and creates a direct exterior pathway through the opening in the bottom cover. The cable is routed from the antenna on the bottom cover, through the opening to the exterior, and then connected to the antenna module, simplifying the routing path and eliminating the need for complex internal cable management while maintaining enhanced antenna performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Volume of moving object

If cable connections are made inside the housing, then compact design is achieved, but manufacturing and servicing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing compactnessVSAvoidmanufacturing and servicing costs
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the cable connection interface from the internal housing space and relocates it to the exterior through an opening in the bottom cover. This allows assembly personnel to visually access and connect cable terminals from the outside, eliminating blind assembly conditions and reducing manufacturing and servicing costs while maintaining a compact internal housing design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The opening in the bottom cover serves as an intermediary element that provides access to the cable connection interface without requiring disassembly of the housing. This intermediary structure enables cost-effective assembly and service operations by providing clear access to connection terminals while preserving the compactness of the internal housing design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3756234B1Electronic devices having antenna assemblies
Publication Date: 2023.08.30 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP
  • EP3756234B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3756234B1 patent drawingFigure 1C~1D
  • EP3756234B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B

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.