IP Library Granted Patent US 11,145,959
Granted Patent B1
US 11,145,959 · App. 16/926,246 · Granted Oct 12, 2021

Accessory configuration for enhancing wireless signal reception of a user device

Inventors: Wei-Yu Mu (Taipei, TW); Prince Wang (Taipei, TW); Yun Sheng Chou (New Taipei, TW); Huan-Yang Chen (Stony Brook, NY); Chi-Ming Wang (Taipei, TW)
Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
H01Q1/243H04B1/3877
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,145,959
App. No.
16/926,246
Granted
Oct 12, 2021
Kind
B1
Abstract

An accessory configuration for enhancing wireless signal reception of a user device. The accessory, for the user device, may include a housing configured to receive the user device within a cavity; and a radiation element integrated with the housing and configured to affect a radiation pattern of an antenna of the user device that is configured to communicate a signal. The length of the radiation element may be based on a wavelength of the signal. The radiation element may be disposed within a predetermined distance of a zone of the cavity that is configured to receive a portion of the user device that includes the antenna when the user device is installed within the cavity.

Claims (48)

1. An accessory for a user device, comprising:

a housing configured to receive the user device within a cavity; and

a radiation element integrated with the housing and configured to affect a radiation pattern of an antenna of the user device that is configured to communicate a signal,

wherein:

a length of the radiation element is based on a wavelength of the signal, and

the radiation element is disposed within a predetermined distance of a zone of the cavity that is configured to receive a portion of the user device that includes the antenna when the user device is installed within the cavity.

2. The accessory of claim 1 , wherein the length is configured to be greater than half of the wavelength.

3. The accessory of claim 1 , wherein the radiation element is within a threshold range of a transmission line of the antenna,

wherein the predetermined distance corresponds to a maximum of the threshold range.

4. The accessory of claim 1 , wherein the antenna is configured to have a first gain that is toward a first direction of the radiation pattern and a second gain that is toward a second direction of the radiation pattern, and

wherein the first gain is configured to be greater than the second gain, and

wherein the radiation element is configured to increase the second gain of the radiation pattern.

5. The accessory of claim 4 , wherein the first direction is a polar opposite of the second direction.

6. The accessory of claim 4 , wherein the first direction is directed toward a lower portion of the user device, and the second direction is directed toward an upper portion of the user device.

7. The accessory of claim 1 , wherein the accessory comprises a cradle for the user device.

8. The accessory of claim 1 , wherein the radiation element is attached to the housing by being inserted into a slot in the housing.

9. The accessory of claim 1 , wherein the radiation element is shaped to match a portion of a perimeter of the cavity.

10. The accessory of claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured to form a non-conductive barrier between the radiation element and the antenna when the user device is installed within the cavity.

11. A system, comprising:

a user device that includes an antenna that is configured to transmit or receive a signal; and

an accessory device that is configured to be detachable from the user device, the accessory device comprising:

a housing that is configured to receive the user device within a cavity; and

a radiation element that is integrated with the housing and configured to affect a radiation pattern of the antenna,

wherein a length of the radiation element is based on a wavelength of the signal, and

wherein the radiation element is disposed within a predetermined distance of a zone of the cavity that is configured to receive a portion of the user device that includes the antenna when the user device is installed within the cavity.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the antenna comprises a planar inverted F antenna (PIFA) that is within an enclosure of the user device.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the antenna is configured to enable communication with a global navigation satellite system.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the length of the radiation element is at least half of the wavelength, and the predetermined distance corresponds to a maximum of a threshold range from the antenna,

wherein the radiation element is disposed within the threshold range based on an integration with the housing.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the accessory device comprises at least one of:

a case that is configured to enclose a portion of the user device, and

a cradle that is configured to support the user device.

16. A cradle for holding a user device, the cradle comprising:

a mount mechanism that is configured to attach to a support structure;

a housing that is configured to receive the user device within a cavity; and

a radiation element that is within the housing and configured to affect a radiation pattern of an antenna of the user device that is configured to communicate a signal,

wherein a length of the radiation element is based on a wavelength of the signal, and

wherein the radiation element disposed within a predetermined distance of a zone of the cavity that is configured to include the antenna.

17. The cradle of claim 16 , wherein the mount mechanism, when the user device is installed within the cavity, is configured to:

orient a lower portion of the user device toward the support structure, and

orient an upper portion of the user device away from the support structure.

18. The cradle of claim 17 , wherein the antenna is configured to have a first gain that is toward the lower portion and a second gain that is toward the upper portion,

wherein the first gain is greater than the second gain, and

wherein the radiation element is configured to increase the second gain.

19. The cradle of claim 16 , wherein the radiation element is configured to be at least one of:

received within a slot in the housing, and

configured to be detachable from the housing.

20. The cradle of claim 16 , wherein the length of the radiation element is greater than half of the wavelength.

Assignments (4)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2021
From: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 056471/0868 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST - 364 - DAY Recorded Mar 5, 2021
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; LASER BAND, LLC; TEMPTIME CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 056036/0590 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2020
From: MU, WEI-YU; WANG, PRINCE; CHOU, YUN SHENG; CHEN, HUAN-YANG; WANG, CHI-MING
To: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 054606/0044 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 1, 2020
From: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; LASER BAND, LLC; TEMPTIME CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053841/0212 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,243,908