Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY
[0001] The present disclosure relates to portable electronic devices, and in
particular
to portable electronic devices having a slidable upper housing and rear
housing movable
between an open position and a closed position, and including an antenna.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Electronic devices, including portable electronic devices, have gained
widespread use and may provide a variety of functions including, for example,
telephonic, electronic text messaging and other personal information manager
(PIM)
application functions. Portable electronic devices can include several types
of devices
including mobile stations such as simple cellular phones, smart phones,
Personal Digital
Assistants (PDAs), tablets and laptop computers.
[0003] Devices such as PDAs or smart phones are generally intended for
handheld
use and ease of portability. Smaller devices are generally desirable for
portability.
Touch-sensitive devices constructed of a display, such as a liquid crystal
display (LCD),
with a touch-sensitive overlay may be useful on such handheld devices as such
handheld devices are small and are therefore limited in space available for
user input
and output devices. Further, the screen content on the touch-sensitive devices
can be
modified depending on the functions and operations being performed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of
example only, with reference to the attached Figures, wherein:
[0005) Figure 1 is a simplified block diagram of components including internal
components of a portable electronic device according to one embodiment;
[0006] Figure 2 is a first side view of a portable electronic device according
to one
embodiment shown in a closed position;
[0007] Figure 3 is a front view of the portable electronic device of Figure 2;
[0008] Figure 4 is a second side view of the portable electronic device of
Figure 2;
[0009] Figure 5 is a back view of the portable electronic device of Figure 2;
[0010] Figure 6 is a first side view of the portable electronic device of
Figure 2
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shown in an open position;
[0011] Figure 7 is a front view of the portable electronic device of Figure 6;
[0012] Figure 8 is a second side view of the portable electronic device of
Figure 6;
[0013] Figure 9 is a back view of the portable electronic device of Figure 6;
[0014] Figure 10 is a perspective view of the portable electronic device of
Figure 2;
[0015] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exploded view of a
portion of
a portable electronic device according to various embodiments;
[0016] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating a perspective view,
partly in
cross section, of a portion of a portable electronic device according to
various
embodiments;
[0017] Figures 13A and 13B illustrate two perspective views of a portion of a
portable electronic device according to various embodiments;
[0018] Figure 14 illustrates a perspective view, partly in cross section of a
portion of
a portable electronic device according to various embodiments;
[0019] Figure 15A illustrates a plan view of an inner rear portion of a
portable
electronic device according to various embodiments; and
[0020] Figure 15B shows a sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 15A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The following describes an electronic device that includes a housing, a
touch-
sensitive display exposed by a front of the housing, and functional components
comprising memory and a processor coupled to the memory and the touch-
sensitive
display.
[0022] It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,
where
considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures
to
indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific
details are
set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the example
embodiments
described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in
the art that
the example embodiments described herein may be practiced without these
specific
details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components
have not
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been described in detail so as not to obscure the example embodiments
described
herein. Also, the description is not to be considered as limited to the scope
of the
example embodiments described herein.
[0023] Figure 1 shows a simplified block diagram of components including
internal
components of a portable electronic device according to one embodiment.
[0024] The portable electronic device 100 includes multiple components such as
a
processor 102 that controls the operations of the portable electronic device
100.
Communication functions, including data communications, voice communications,
or
both may be performed through a communication subsystem 104. Data received by
the
portable electronic device 100 is decompressed and decrypted by a decoder 106.
The
communication subsystem 104 receives messages from and sends messages to a
wireless network 150.
[0025] The wireless network 150 may be any type of wireless network,
including, but
not limited to, data-centric wireless networks, voice-centric wireless
networks, and dual-
mode networks that support both voice and data communications over the same
physical base stations.
[0026] The portable electronic device 100 may be a battery-powered device and
as
shown includes a battery interface 142 for receiving one or more rechargeable
batteries
144.
[0027] The processor 102 also interacts with additional subsystems such as a
Random Access Memory (RAM) 108, a flash memory 110, a display 112 with a touch-
sensitive overlay 114 connected to an electronic controller 116 that together
comprise a
touch-sensitive display 118, an actuator assembly 120, one or more optional
force
sensors 122, an auxiliary input/output (I/O) subsystem 124, a data port 126, a
speaker
128, a microphone 130, short-range communications 132 and other device
subsystems
134.
[0028] User-interaction with the graphical user interface may be performed
through
the touch-sensitive overlay 114. The processor 102 interacts with the touch-
sensitive
overlay 114 via the electronic controller 116. Information, such as text,
characters,
symbols, images, icons, and other items that may be displayed or rendered on a
portable electronic device, is displayed on the touch-sensitive display 118
via the
processor 102.
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[0029] The processor 102 may also interact with an accelerometer 136 as shown
in
Figure 1. The accelerometer 136 may include a cantilever beam with a proof
mass and
suitable deflection sensing circuitry. The accelerometer 136 may be utilized
for detecting
direction of gravitational forces or gravity-induced reaction forces.
[0030] To identify a subscriber for network access according to the present
embodiment, the portable electronic device 100 may use a Subscriber Identity
Module or
a Removable User Identity Module (SIM/RUIM) card 138 inserted into a SIM/RUIM
interface 140 for communication with a network such as the wireless network
150.
[0031] Alternatively, user identification information may be programmed into
the
flash memory 110.
[0032] The portable electronic device 100 also includes an operating system
146
and software components 148 that are executed by the processor 102 and which
may
be stored in a persistent store such as the flash memory 110. Additional
applications
may be loaded onto the portable electronic device 100 through the wireless
network 150,
the auxiliary I/O subsystem 124, the data port 126, the short-range
communications
subsystem 132, or any other suitable device subsystem 134.
[0033] In use, a received signal such as a text message, an e-mail message, or
web
page download is processed by the communication subsystem 104 and input to the
processor 102. The processor 102 then processes the received signal for output
to the
display 112 or alternatively to the auxiliary 1/0 subsystem 124. A subscriber
may also
compose data items, such as e-mail messages, for example, which may be
transmitted
over the wireless network 150 through the communication subsystem 104.
[0034] For voice communications, the overall operation of the portable
electronic
device 100 is similar. The speaker 128 outputs audible information converted
from
electrical signals, and the microphone 130 converts audible information into
electrical
signals for processing.
[0035] Turning now to Figures 2 to 10, illustrated generally therein is a
portable
electronic device 200 according to one embodiment.
[0036] The portable electronic device generally includes an upper housing 202
and a
rear housing 204. The upper housing 202 and lower or rear housing 204 are
coupled
together and are slidable between a closed position (as shown in Figure 2) and
an open
position (e.g. as shown in Figure 6).
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[0037] As shown, the upper housing 202 generally includes a display 206, which
could be an LCD display and which may have touch screen capabilities.
[0038] As shown, one or both of the upper housing 202 and lower housing 204
may
include one or more input apparatus, such as navigation keys or buttons, a
physical or
virtual keyboard, a trackpad, trackball, multimedia keys, etc.
[0039] For example, the upper housing 202 as shown includes an auxiliary input
device 212. As shown, the auxiliary input device may be an optical navigation
module
(e.g. a trackpad) that responds to user interaction, and which may be used for
navigating
around the display screen 206, to select objects on the display screen, or for
other
purposes. In some other embodiments, the auxiliary input device 212 may be a
mechanical device that responds to user interaction (e.g. a trackball).
[0040] The display 206 and the auxiliary input device 212 are generally
disposed on
a front of the upper housing 202 and exposed for user accessibility when
portable
electronic device 200 is in either of the open or closed positions.
[0041] The upper housing 202 may also include other input devices, such as a
dedicated phone application button, a dedicated "disconnect call" button, a
home screen
button, etc. In various embodiments, these input devices include optical
sensors,
mechanical buttons, or both.
[0042] Turning now to the rear housing 204, the rear housing 204 may include
various buttons and other controls, such as buttons 208 and 210, and which
could be
used for navigation, to control volume or for other purposes.
[0043] The rear housing 204 could also include one or more application buttons
211
that can be used to automatically launch a particular application on the
portable
electronic device (e.g. a camera application, a phone application, etc.). In
some
embodiments, the button 211 may be configurable by a user (e.g. the user may
be able
to select the particular application launched by the button 211).
[0044] As shown in Figures 2 and 6, the rear housing 204 could also include
one or
more input or output ports, (e.g. I/O ports), such as a microUSB port 214. In
some
examples, the port 214 may be used for data communication with the portable
electronic
device 200, for charging of a battery (not shown) on the device 200 or for
both.
[0045] As shown, the rear housing 204 may also include a battery cover 216 for
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covering the battery (not shown). In some embodiments, the battery cover 216
may be
removable. In other embodiments, the battery cover 216 may be permanently
fixed to
the device.
[0046] In some embodiments, the rear housing 204 may also include an audio
jack
217. The audio jack 217 may be used to couple the portable electronic device
200 to a
speaker, a microphone, or both, for example for use in voice communication.
[0047] Turning now to Figures 6 to 9, as shown when the portable electronic
device
200 is in the open position, a keypad 220 is exposed on a lower portion 218 of
the rear
housing 204. The keypad 220 generally include a plurality of alphanumeric keys
222,
which may be positioned in a plurality of rows and columns. In some
embodiments, the
keys 222 may represent the alphabet and may be arranged with a standard
keyboard
layout (e.g. QWERTY, QWERTZ, DVORAK, etc.)
[0048] As shown in Figures 2 to 5, when the portable electronic device 200 is
in the
closed position, the keypad 220 is covered by the upper housing 202. This may
be
beneficial as it may protect the keypad 220 when not in use, and may also
inhibit
undesired keys from being pressed when the user is carrying the portable
electronic
device 200 (e.g. in a pocket). However, in some cases (e.g. when the display
206 is a
touchsceen) the user may be able to perform functions on the portable
electronic device
200 while closed by interacting with the display screen (e.g. using buttons
208, 210, 211,
the auxiliary input device 212, the display screen 206 itself, etc.).
[0049] When the portable electronic device 200 is in the open position (as
shown in
Figures 6 to 9), the keypad 220 is exposed for user accessibility.
[0050] In some embodiments, the display 206 may be a touch-sensitive display.
The
touch-sensitive display may be a capacitive touch-sensitive display, for
example, and a
user's touch on the touch-sensitive display may be determined by determining
an X and
Y location of the touch, with the X location determined by a signal generated
as a result
of capacitive coupling with a touch sensor layer and the Y location determined
by the
signal generated as a result of capacitive coupling with another touch sensor
layer.
Each of the touch-sensor layers provides a signal to a controller that
represents the
respective X and Y touch location values. Thus a feature such as a virtual
button or
other feature displayed on the touch-sensitive display may be selected by a
mapping of
the touch location to a feature on the touch-sensitive display.
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[0051] In some embodiments, the portable electronic device 200 is generally
taller
than it is wide. In such embodiments, as the portable electronic device 200
moves
between the open position and the closed position, the upper housing 202 and
rear
housing 204 move along a longitudinal axis of the portable electronic device
200.
[0052] Some embodiments described herein relate to carrier antenna positioning
in
portable electronic devices. Portable electronic devices often comprise a
carrier antenna
for sending and receiving radio frequency signals to and from, for example a
cellular
network tower or other devices. Various embodiments described herein comprise
an
antenna positioned in a portable electronic device to improve reception and
provide a
more robust signal.
[0053] Reference is now made to Figure 11, which illustrates an exploded view
of a
portion of a portable electronic device according to various embodiments. The
antenna
300 is illustrated at the lower portion of the device. In various embodiments,
antenna 300
is placed so as to maximize or at least greatly increase its distance from
metallic and
conductive materials and components that comprise the device. For example, in
some
embodiments antenna 300 is placed at a lower end of the device that is
opposite from
the end at which the display (e.g. display 206) is located. In some
embodiments, the
antenna 300 is a LDS surface etched antenna. In some embodiments, antenna 300
comprises a plastic base layer.
[0054] Reference is now made to Figure 12, which illustrates a perspective
view,
partly in cross section, of a portion of a portable electronic device
according to various
embodiments. In some embodiments the antenna 300 is tucked behind and abuts an
inner surface of rear housing 204.
[0055] In some embodiments antenna 300 is positioned away from a printed
circuit
board (PCB) 310 to provide better reception as compared to the case where
antenna
300 is positioned closer to PCB 310.
[0056] In addition, a tucked-in position of the antenna 300 such that the
antenna 300
abuts the inner surface of rear housing 204 can strengthen the rear housing
204 and can
protect the antenna 300 from abrasion.
[0057] Reference is now made to Figures 13A and 13B, which illustrate two
perspective views of a portion of portable electronic device 200 according to
some
embodiments. In some embodiments the rear housing 204 comprises a cap 320 that
can
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be removed to expose antenna 300. In some embodiments, the cap 320 is made of
plastic. In some embodiments, the cap 320 forms part of the housing (e.g. the
lower
housing 204).
[0058] Reference is now made to Figure 14, which illustrates a perspective
view,
partly in cross section of a portion of a portable electronic device according
to various
embodiments. As shown, in some embodiments the rear housing 204 includes an
opening to allow antenna 300 to be pushed out of or to "break through" the
housing.
[0059] In some embodiments, positioning antenna 300 in such a manner can
increase the distance between antenna 300 and PCB 310 by approximately 1 mm.
[0060] In some embodiments, the increase in this distance can be greater than
1
mm. In some embodiments, the increase in this distance can be less than 1 mm.
[0061] In some embodiments, this increase in distance provides better and more
robust signal reception.
[0062] In some embodiments, the outer surface of antenna 300 is flush with an
outer
surface of rear housing 204.
[0063] In other embodiments, antenna 300 is slightly below the outer surface
of rear
housing 204.
[0064] In other embodiments, antenna 300 is slightly above the outer surface
of rear
housing 204.
[0065] In various embodiments, this positioning of the antenna 300 can
increase the
distance between the antenna 300 and the PCB 310 as compared to designs in
which
an antenna is confined to the inner surface of the housing. The greater
distance in
separation between the antenna 300 and the PCB 310 can improve signal
reception for
the antenna 300. This can provide a more robust signal for the portable
electronic device
200.
[0066] In addition, in some embodiments, this arrangement can maximize or at
least
increase available space within the portable electronic device 200.
Furthermore, as
shown in Figure 14, antenna 300 can comprise a simple shape and have a simple
surface.
[0067] Reference is now made to Figures 15A and 15B. Figure 15A illustrates a
plan
view of the inner rear portion of the portable electronic device 200. Figure
15B shows a
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sectional view taken along line B-B of Figure 1 5A. Figure 15 illustrates an
embodiment in
which the outer surface of the antenna 300 is flush with the outer surface of
the rear
housing 204.
[0068] In some embodiments, although the antenna 300 is substantially flush
with
the rear housing 204, the antenna 300 is not exposed to the outside of
portable
electronic device 200. In some embodiments, the antenna 300 is covered by the
battery
cover 216.
[0069] The embodiments described herein, while illustrated as a slider device,
can
cover other devices such as, for example, devices that are not sliders and do
not have
touch screens.
