The present inventive concepts generally relate to the field of wireless communications.
Communication devices such as cell phones and other user equipment may include near field communication (NFC) circuits that can be used to communicate with external NFC circuits. NFC circuits may use specialized antenna characteristics for NFC antennas that are incorporated into these communication devices. Some antenna designs, however, may limit the use of circuitry or metal adjacent the antenna or may be difficult to manufacture.
Various embodiments of the present inventive concepts include a wireless electronic device that includes a multi-layer flexible printed circuit board with two or more openings therein. A ferrite may extend through the two or more openings such that a first portion of the ferrite is on a first surface of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board and a second portion of the ferrite is on a second surface of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board. The first surface of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board may be opposite the second surface of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board.
According to various embodiments, the ferrite may alternately extend through the two or more openings from the second surface of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board to the first surface of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board and then from the first surface of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board to the second surface of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board. Conductive traces may be included on the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board. The conductive traces may include a first loop section of one or more conductive traces around a first one of the openings in the multi-layer flexible printed circuit, board and a second loop section of one or more conductive traces around a second one of the openings in the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board. The conductive traces may be embedded in the first surface of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board or in the second surface of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board.
According to various embodiments, current flow in all of the one or more conductive traces of the first loop section may be in a first direction, where the first direction may be a clock-wise direction or a counter-clock-wise direction. The current flow in all of the one or more conductive traces of the second loop section may be in a second direction, where the second direction is a clock-wise direction or a counter-clock-wise direction. The first loop section may be adjacent to the second loop section, and the first direction may be opposite the second direction. The conductive traces that are on the first surface may be between the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board and the ferrite and have current flow that is in a same first direction. The conductive traces that are on the first surface may not be between the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board and the ferrite but may overlap a portion of the ferrite that is on the second surface have current flow that is in a same second direction. The first direction of current flow may be opposite the second direction of current flow. According to some embodiments, the ferrite and the first and second loop sections may provide multiple spaced-apart hotspots configured to provide near field communication (NFC).
The multi-layer flexible printed circuit board may include a first end and a second end that are spaced apart from each other and are spaced apart from the two or more openings. A display device may be near the first end of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board. The display device may be between the first end and the second end of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board where the first end and the second end may be opposite ends of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board. A first hotspot that is configured to provide near field communication (NFC) may be located near the first end and a second hotspot that is configured to provide NFC may be located near the second end.
In some embodiments, a first edge of the display device may be near the first hotspot and a second edge of the display device may be near the second hotspot. The display device may overlap the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board between the first hotspot and the second hotspot. The wireless electronic device may include an armband that includes the display device and the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board.
According to various embodiments, a wireless electronic device may include a multi-layer flexible printed circuit board including two or more openings. A ferrite may extend through the two or more openings such that a first portion of the ferrite may be on a first surface of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board and a second portion of the ferrite may be on a second surface of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board. The first surface of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board may be opposite the second surface of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board. The multi-layer flexible printed circuit board may include conductive traces where the conductive traces include a first loop section of one or more conductive traces around a first one of the openings in the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board and a second loop section of one or more conductive traces around a second one of the openings in the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board. Some of the conductive traces may be on the first surface of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board and other conductive traces may be on the second surface of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board. The ferrite and the first and second loop sections may provide a first hotspot that is configured to provide near field communication (NFC). The first hotspot may be located near a first end of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board and a second hotspot that is configured to provide NFC may be located near a second end of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board. The first end and the second end of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board may include opposite ends of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board.
According to various embodiments, the first loop section may be adjacent to the second loop section. Current flow in all of the conductive traces of the first loop section may be in a first direction that is a clock-wise direction or a counter-clock-wise direction. Current flow in all of the conductive traces of the second loop section may be in a second direction that is a clock-wise direction or a counter-clock-wise direction. The first direction may be opposite in direction from the second direction. Some of the conductive traces that are on the first surface may be between the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board and the ferrite. The conductive traces may have current flow that is in a same third direction. Some of the conductive traces that are on the first surface may not be between the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board and the ferrite but overlap a portion of the ferrite that is on the second surface. These conductive traces may have a current flow that is in a same fourth direction. The third direction may be opposite in direction from the fourth direction.
According to various embodiments, the wireless electronic device may include an armband that includes a display device and the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board. The display device may be between the first end and the second end of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board. A first edge of the display device may be near a first hotspot and a second edge of the display device may be near a second hotspot. The display device may overlap the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board between the first hotspot and the second hotspot.
According to various embodiments, the ferrite may be woven through the two or more openings in the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board such that the ferrite alternates between the first surface and the second surface of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board.
According to various embodiments, a wireless electronic device may include a multi-layer printed circuit board including two or more openings. A flexible magnetic material may extend through the two or more openings such that a first portion of the flexible magnetic material may be on a first surface of the multi-layer printed circuit board and a second portion of the flexible magnetic material may be on a second surface of the multi-layer printed circuit board. The first surface of the multi-layer printed circuit board may be opposite the second surface of the multi-layer printed circuit board.
Other devices according to embodiments of the inventive concepts will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon review of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional devices be included within this description, be within the scope of the present inventive concepts, and be protected by the accompanying claims. Moreover, it is intended that all embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented separately or combined in any way and/or combination.
The present inventive concepts now will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the inventive concepts are shown. However, the present application should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and to fully convey the scope of the embodiments to those skilled in the art. Like reference numbers refer to like elements throughout.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “coupled,” “connected,” or “responsive” to another element, it can be directly coupled, connected, or responsive to the other element, or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly coupled,” “directly connected,” or “directly responsive” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Spatially relative terms, such as “above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower,” “top,” “bottom,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.
It will be understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,” etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. Thus, a first element could be termed a second element without departing from the teachings of the present embodiments.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which these embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly-used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly-formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
Wireless electronic devices may include one or more antennas for various types of communication. It may be generally desired for antennas to be low cost and easy to manufacture. For example, antenna designs may use an antenna that is at least partially free of overlap by other metallic elements. Moreover, antenna designs may have a single “hotspot”. As used herein, a hotspot may be an area on or near an antenna where the antenna may receive/transmit signals from/to a complementary device. The hotspot may include a concentration of electromagnetic fields where the field strength is stronger relative to other areas around the antenna.
Various embodiments of the present inventive concepts, however, may provide an antenna that includes multiple hotspots that are spaced apart from one another. Moreover, various embodiments of the present inventive concepts may provide an electromagnetic field that is on or near to the antenna structure such that other metallic elements may overlap the device and/or structure. As used herein, a wireless electronic device may include mobile phones, tablets, handheld devices, armband devices, and/or smartwatches. As also used herein, “flexible” means a structure that is not rigid. In specific examples of materials used herein, glass is considered to be rigid, whereas ferrite may be considered to be flexible. As also used herein, a “rigid” structure is a stiff structure that is unable to bend or be forced out of shape; i.e., not flexible or pliant. A rigid structure may be subject to minimal bending without breaking, but bending beyond this minimal bending will break or deform a rigid structure. Finally, as used herein, a “sheet” means a broad, relatively thin piece, plate or slab of material.
Referring now to
Still referring to
Still referring to
Reference is now made to
The ferrite may be of any shape, although a rectangular shape is shown for illustrative purposes. The ferrite may be, for example, about 8-10 mm in width and about 20-40 mm in length. Larger ferrite 201 sizes may provide better performance. Larger ferrite 201 sizes compared to the overall size of the structure may assist in reducing overlap of fields. Overlapping fields may provide cancellation of fields that may reduce performance of the overall antenna structure. The size of the ferrite 201 may be limited by the amount of space needed for the conductive traces 103 along the side of the openings 102 on the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board 101. Each opening 102 in the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board 101 may be large enough to allow the ferrite 201 to pass through. For example, each opening 102 may be 0.2 mm wider than the width of the ferrite 201. Each opening 102 may be wide enough to allow the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board 101 to lie flat. In some embodiments, the ferrite 201 may lie flat while the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board 101 may bend to support the configuration. In some embodiments, there may be some bending of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board 101 and some bending of the ferrite 201.
In some embodiments, to limit tearing of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board 101 during insertion of the ferrite 201, relief cut-outs may be provided in the corners or other locations of the openings 102 in the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board 101. For example, an opening 102 with relief cut-outs may be shaped like a dog bone.
While the ferrite 201 is described in the present application for illustrative purposes, the ferrite 201 may be replaced with any flexible magnetic material. The flexible magnetic material may have properties such as a high permeability, μ′, and low loss, μ″. Use of a multi-layer flexible printed circuit board 101 with an interwoven ferrite 201 may allow for manufacture without soldering since the ferrite 201 does not need to be electrically connected to the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board 101. The ferrite 201 may extend between ends of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board 101. In some embodiments, the ferrite 201 may extend beyond the ends of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board 101 or may not entirely extend to the edges of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board 101.
Still referring to
The multi-layer flexible printed circuit board 101 with the ferrite 201 and conductive traces 103 forming loops may function as a Near Field Communication (NFC) antenna, NFC may be used for swiping proximity payments, information exchange at small distances, and/or for simplified setup of devices such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth devices. NFC may be used to share contact information by touching smartphones or bringing them within close proximity of one another such as within ten centimeters. Communication may also be possible between an NFC device and an unpowered NFC chip, called a tag (for example, RFID tag).
NFC circuits may communicate via magnetic field induction and/or near field coupling. An NFC circuit including the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board 101 with the ferrite 201 and conductive traces 103 forming loops may be placed in close proximity to another antenna's near field transceiver, thereby effectively forming an air-core transformer. Information may be sent between NFC devices based on disturbances in the magnetic field. Some embodiments of the NFC circuits can transmit within the globally available and unlicensed radio frequency ISM band of 13.56 MHz, with a bandwidth of almost 2 MHz. Some embodiments of the NFC circuits can support data rates of 106, 212, or 424 kbit/s using a modified Miller coding or Manchester coding to encode and decode communicated data. In some embodiments, NFC circuits may be passively powered. Moreover, in some embodiments, other types of short-range communication such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth may be provided instead of NFC, using the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board 101 with the ferrite 201 and conductive traces 103.
Referring now to
Still referring to
In some embodiments described herein, the first loop section 103b may be adjacent the second loop section 103c. The direction of current flow in a given loop section may be opposite in direction to the direction of current flow in an adjacent loop section. For example, the direction of current flow in loop section 103b may be opposite in direction to the direction of current flow in loop section 103c. In other words, if the current flow in loop section 103b is in a counter-clockwise direction, as illustrated in
Still referring to
In some embodiments, a single sided flexible printed circuit board 101 may be used. A single sided flexible printed circuit board 101 may include one conductive trace 103 between each opening 102. The ferrite 201 may be woven through the openings 102. The resulting device 100 would effectively result in a looping of conductive traces 103 around the ferrite (i.e. a zigzag pattern).
In some embodiments, the multiple hotspots 402 may be spaced apart from each other. For example the hotspots may be located near opposite ends of the multi-layer flexible printed circuit board 101. The display 401 may be located between the hotspots 402.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Still referring to
Referring now to
Various embodiments of the inventive concepts described herein may arise from the recognition that simpler, lower cost manufacturing of antennas may be desired. Reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 8,638,268, to Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Murata”) and Japanese Publication No. 2013-138345, to Panasonic Corp., (hereinafter “Panasonic”), each of which are hereby incorporated by reference. When compared to the structures of Murata and Panasonic, the wireless electronic device 100 described herein may be lower in cost and easier to manufacture. Specifically, the antenna of Panasonic may require two flexible films that are soldered together. Manufacturing of this device may be difficult since positioning of the ferrite between the flexible films may require precision with low tolerance for misalignment. Additionally position of the loops in the Panasonic device may also require low tolerance for misalignment. As such, the wireless electronic device 100 described herein may be easier to manufacture and be lower in cost since soldering may not be required.
When compared to the device of Murata, the wireless electronic device 100 described herein may include more uniform loops around the ferrite 201. Uniform loops may provide a more directional field, which in turn may allow for the structure to be placed between conductors, if needed for a given application. Moreover, the wireless electronic device 100 described herein includes fewer loops on the side of the ferrite 201 when compared to the device of Murata. The fewer loop on the side of the ferrite 201 may allow for use of wider ferrite 201, providing improvement in overall device performance.
Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connection with the above description and the drawings. It will be understood that it would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to literally describe and illustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments. Accordingly, the present specification, including the drawings, shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of all combinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein, and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shall support claims to any such combination or subcombination.
In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed various embodiments and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.