IP Library Granted Patent US 8,253,635
Granted Patent B2
US 8,253,635 · App. 13/206,552 · Granted Aug 28, 2012

Mobile wireless communications device including a ground patch providing specific absorption rate (SAR) reduction and related methods

Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,253,635
App. No.
13/206,552
Granted
Aug 28, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing, a dielectric substrate carried by the portable housing having a front side facing toward a user and a back side opposite the front side, and a ground plane carried by the dielectric substrate. The device may further include at least one circuit carried by the dielectric substrate, and an antenna carried by the dielectric substrate adjacent an end thereof and electrically connected to the at least one circuit. A ground patch may be adjacent the front side of the dielectric substrate that is electrically connected to the ground plane and spaced apart from and at least partially overlapping the antenna.

Claims (48)

1. A wireless communications device comprising:

a printed circuit board (PCB) having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, said PCB having a ground on the second side of said PCB;

an antenna; and

a ground patch adjacent the first side of said PCB, being electrically coupled to said ground, and being spaced apart from and at least partially overlapping said antenna so that said antenna lies between the second side of said PCB and said ground patch.

2. The wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said ground patch is carried by said PCB.

3. The wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said ground patch is coupled to said ground at a plurality of spaced apart contact points.

4. The wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said PCB has a lower end and an upper end, and wherein said antenna is carried adjacent the lower end of said PCB.

5. The wireless communications device of claim 1 further comprising comprises a wireless transceiver circuit carried by said PCB and coupled to said antenna.

6. The wireless communications device of claim 5 wherein said wireless transceiver circuit comprises a cellular transceiver.

7. The wireless communications device of claim 1 further comprising at least one of a display and a keypad carried by said PCB on the first side thereof.

8. A method for making a wireless communications device comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the PCB having a ground on the second side of the PCB, and an antenna, the method comprising:

positioning a ground patch adjacent the first side of the PCB spaced apart from and at least partially overlapping the antenna so that the antenna lies between the second side of the PCB and the ground patch; and

electrically coupling the ground patch to the ground of the PCB.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein positioning the ground patch comprises mounting the ground patch on the PCB.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein electrically coupling the ground patch to the ground comprises electrically coupling the ground patch to the ground at a plurality of spaced apart contact points.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the PCB has a lower end and an upper end, and wherein the antenna is carried adjacent the lower end of the PCB.

12. A wireless communications device comprising:

a printed circuit board (PCB) having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, said PCB having a ground on the second side of the PCB;

an antenna carried by said PCB; and

a ground patch adjacent the first side of said PCB and having at least a portion thereof spaced apart from said PCB, being electrically coupled to said ground, and being spaced apart from and at least partially overlapping said antenna.

13. The wireless communications device of claim 12 wherein said PCB has a lower end and an upper end, and wherein said antenna is carried adjacent the lower end of said PCB.

14. The wireless communications device of claim 12 further comprising a wireless transceiver circuit carried by said PCB and coupled to said antenna.

15. The wireless communications device of claim 14 wherein said wireless transceiver circuit comprises a cellular transceiver.

16. The wireless communications device of claim 12 further comprising at least one of a display and a keypad carried by said PCB on the first side thereof.

17. A wireless communications device comprising:

a printed circuit board (PCB) having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, said PCB having a ground;

an antenna; and

a ground patch adjacent the first side of said PCB, being electrically coupled to said ground at a plurality of spaced apart points, and being spaced apart from and at least partially overlapping said antenna.

18. The wireless communications device of claim 17 wherein said ground is on the second side of said PCB.

19. The wireless communications device of claim 17 wherein said PCB has a lower end and an upper end, and wherein said antenna is carried adjacent the lower end of said PCB.

20. The wireless communications device of claim 17 further comprising a wireless transceiver circuit carried by said PCB and coupled to said antenna.

21. The wireless communications device of claim 20 wherein said wireless transceiver comprises a cellular transceiver.

22. The wireless communications device of claim 17 further comprising at least one of a display and a keypad carried by said PCB on the first side thereof.

23. A wireless communications device comprising:

a printed circuit board (PCB) having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, said PCB having a ground;

an antenna; and

a ground patch adjacent the first side of said PCB, being electrically coupled to said ground, and being spaced apart from and only partially overlapping said antenna so that said antenna lies between the second side of said PCB and said ground patch.

24. The wireless communications device of claim 23 wherein said ground patch is coupled to said ground at a plurality of spaced apart contact points.

25. The wireless communications device of claim 23 wherein said PCB has a lower end and an upper end, and wherein said antenna is carried adjacent the lower end of said PCB.

26. The wireless communications device of claim 23 further comprising comprises a wireless transceiver circuit carried by said PCB and coupled to said antenna.

27. The wireless communications device of claim 26 wherein said wireless transceiver circuit comprises a cellular transceiver.

28. The wireless communications device of claim 23 further comprising at least one of a display and a keypad carried by said PCB on the first side thereof.

29. A method for making a wireless communications device comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the PCB having a ground, and an antenna, the method comprising:

positioning a ground patch adjacent the first side of the PCB spaced apart from and only partially overlapping the antenna so that the antenna lies between the second side of the PCB and the ground patch; and

electrically coupling the ground patch to the ground of the PCB.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein positioning the ground patch comprises mounting the ground patch on the PCB.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein electrically coupling the ground patch to the ground comprises electrically coupling the ground patch to the ground at a plurality of spaced apart contact points.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein the PCB has a lower end and an upper end, and wherein the antenna is carried adjacent the lower end of the PCB.

Assignments (4)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 19, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064269/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 16, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064104/0103 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 22, 2014
From: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
To: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 034030/0941 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 10, 2011
From: QI, YIHONG; MAN, YING TONG; JARMUSZEWSKI, PERRY
To: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
Reel/Frame 026724/0912 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 12872533 · Aug 31, 2010
Continuation 12472638 · May 27, 2009
Continuation 11733360 · Apr 10, 2007
Related Publication 20110298671A1 · Dec 8, 2011