Wearable device antenna shields and related systems and methods
The disclosed wearable electronic device may include an enclosure, an antenna positioned within the enclosure and configured to radiate electromagnetic signals, a non-conductive substrate positioned within the enclosure, a first surface of the non-conductive substrate being in a position to face a user of the wearable electronic device and a second, opposite surface of the non-conductive substrate facing the antenna, and a patterned conductive material disposed on the second, opposite surface of the non-conductive substrate, wherein the patterned conductive material has a shape and configuration to reduce electromagnetic signals radiated in a direction towards the user of the wearable electronic device. Various other related methods and systems are also disclosed.
1. A wearable electronic device, comprising:
an enclosure;
an antenna positioned within the enclosure and configured to radiate electromagnetic signals;
a non-conductive substrate positioned within the enclosure, a first surface of the non-conductive substrate being in a position to face a user of the wearable electronic device and a second, opposite surface of the non-conductive substrate facing the antenna; and
a patterned conductive material disposed on the second, opposite surface of the non-conductive substrate, wherein the patterned conductive material is patterned such that electromagnetic signals radiated in a direction towards the user of the wearable electronic device are reduced.
2. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the patterned conductive material is patterned such that the electromagnetic signals radiated in a direction away from the user of the wearable electronic device are increased.
3. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein a shape of the patterned conductive material comprises a substantially oval shape.
4. The wearable electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the substantially oval shape has a long inner diameter of between about 3 mm and about 4 mm, a short inner diameter of between about 2 mm and about 4 mm, a long outer diameter of between about 5 mm and about 7 mm, and a short outer diameter of between about 4 mm and about 6 mm.
5. The wearable electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the patterned conductive material comprises a repeated pattern of substantially oval shapes.
6. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the patterned conductive material comprises at least two lobes connected by a reactive circuit element.
7. The wearable electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the patterned conductive material is configured to have a resonant frequency based at least on a value of the reactive circuit element.
8. The wearable electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the reactive circuit element comprises at least one capacitor.
9. The wearable electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the reactive circuit element comprises at least one inductor.
10. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the patterned conductive material comprises a copper film.
11. The wearable electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the copper film has a thickness of between 50 microns and 200 microns.
12. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the non-conductive substrate comprises a flexible printed circuit board.
13. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the patterned conductive material is electrically isolated from other conductive materials within the enclosure.
14. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the patterned conductive material comprises a plurality of repeating units of conductive materials.
15. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises a temple arm of eyeglasses.
16. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the patterned conductive material is configured to have a resonant frequency in a frequency range of about 2400 MHz to about 2500 MHz.
17. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the patterned conductive material is configured to have a resonant frequency based on at least a geometry of the patterned conductive material.
18. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the patterned conductive material is configured to have a resonant frequency based on at least a dielectric constant of the non-conductive substrate.
19. A system comprising:
augmented-reality eyeglasses;
an antenna positioned within a temple arm of the augmented-reality eyeglasses and configured to radiate electromagnetic signals;
a non-conductive substrate positioned within the temple arm, a first surface of the non-conductive substrate being in a position to face a user of the augmented-reality eyeglasses and a second, opposite surface of the non-conductive substrate facing the antenna; and
a patterned conductive material disposed on the second, opposite surface of the non-conductive substrate, wherein the patterned conductive material is shaped and configured to:
reduce electromagnetic signals radiated in a direction towards the user of the augmented-reality eyeglasses; and
increase electromagnetic signals radiated in a direction away from the user of the augmented-reality eyeglasses.
20. A method of manufacturing, comprising:
positioning an antenna within an enclosure of a wearable electronic device;
positioning a non-conductive substrate within the enclosure, a first surface of the non-conductive substrate being positioned to face a user of the wearable electronic device and a second, opposite surface of the non-conductive substrate being positioned to face the antenna; and
applying a patterned conductive material on the second, opposite surface of the non-conductive substrate, wherein the patterned conductive material is shaped and configured to reduce electromagnetic signals radiated by the antenna in a direction towards the user of the wearable electronic device.