Antenna Cavities in Heat Spreader Structures for Wireless Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Forming electronic device antenna structures with desired attributes is challenging due to interference from electrical components and conductive structures, particularly in compact devices with conductive housing, which affects antenna performance.

Innovation Solution

The electronic device incorporates a dielectric housing with printed circuit boards and heat spreader structures that form antenna cavities, using inverted-F antenna resonating elements with short and long arms to support dual band operation, and includes isolation circuits to prevent signal interference with electrical components like light-emitting diodes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conductive housing structures are used in compact devices, then device strength and shielding are improved, but antenna performance deteriorates due to interference from conductive structures and electrical components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehousing strengthVSAvoidantenna performance

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is segmented into dielectric portions and metal portions, with the dielectric housing containing metal reinforcement structures and heat spreader structures positioned to form antenna cavities. This segmentation allows different materials to serve different functions: dielectric for antenna performance, metal for strength and shielding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Metal corner portions are removed from the housing to form antenna cavities, extracting the harmful conductive structures from the antenna regions while retaining metal portions elsewhere for structural support and electromagnetic shielding of other components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If electrical components are mounted in the device, then device functionality is improved, but antenna performance deteriorates due to interference from electrical components and conductive structures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice functionalityVSAvoidantenna performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Metal corner portions are removed to create antenna cavities, extracting harmful conductive structures from antenna regions while retaining metal portions elsewhere for structural support and shielding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Dielectric material is used as an intermediary between electrical components and antenna regions, providing electrical isolation and reducing interference while allowing both components to coexist in the compact device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Volume of moving object

If device size is reduced for compactness, then portability is improved, but antenna performance deteriorates due to limited space for antenna structures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice volumeVSAvoidantenna performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Antenna structures utilize three-dimensional antenna cavities formed within the housing volume, allowing compact antenna designs that achieve desired performance in reduced device sizes by exploiting spatial dimensions rather than requiring large planar areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

Antenna cavities are nested within the housing structure, and heat spreader structures are positioned within or adjacent to these cavities, allowing multiple functions to be integrated in the same spatial envelope, achieving compact design without compromising antenna performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration enhances antenna performance by optimizing signal handling for wireless local area network and other wireless signals, achieving improved performance in compact devices with minimal interference.

Implementation Method 1

Heat spreader structures that are used to dissipate heat from the electrical components

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

Each antenna may have an inverted-F antenna resonating element with short and long arms to support dual band operation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic resonance: Resonance

Data Source

PatentUS9966653B2Antennas for electronic device with heat spreader

Publication Date: 2018.05.08 APPLE INC

AI summary

An electronic device may have wireless circuitry with antennas. The electronic device may have a dielectric housing. A printed circuit board with electrical components may be mounted in the dielectric housing. Heat spreader structures may be used to dissipate heat from the electrical components. The heat spreader structures be configured to form antenna cavities. The antennas in the electronic device may be formed from the antenna cavities and may have antenna resonating elements formed on the printed circuit. An electrical component such as a light-emitting diode may be mounted in one of the antenna cavities. Each antenna element may be an inverted-F antenna resonating element with short and long arms. The short arm of each antenna resonating element may be formed from edge plated metal traces on an edge of the printed circuit.