Antenna assembly

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to an antenna assembly, and more particularly to an antenna assembly assembled in an electronic device, such as a notebook.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Since the wireless communication technology of using electromagnetic wave to transmit signals has the effect of remote device transmission without cable connection, and further has the mobility advantage, therefore the technology is widely applied to various products, such as moveable phones, notebook computers, intellectual home appliance with wireless communication features. Because these devices use electromagnetic wave to transmit signals, the antenna used to receive electromagnetic wave also becomes a necessity in the application of the wireless communication technology. For adapting to the more and more beautiful electric devices, the antenna is always assembled in the inside space of the electric devices. To support antennas well, supporting sets are introduced to fix antennas. U.S. Pat. No. 6,903,695 discloses an antenna device which is intended for mounting in a casing for an apparatus. As showed in FIG. 1 of this patent, the antenna device includes a radiating element 4 manufactured from a conducting and resilient material, such as metal. A portion of the radiating element 4 is surrounded by a piece of a configurationally stable, non-conducting material, such as plastic 5. The plastic piece 5 is disposed for mounting of the antenna in the inside of the casing, preferably by snap action. However, the plastic piece 5 completely surrounding the radiating element should influence the radiating effect.

[0005] Hence, an improved antenna assembly with a moveable antenna is desired to overcome the above-mentioned shortcomings of the existing antennas.

[0006] A primary object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide an antenna assembly which is able to fasten a small antenna in the electric device and make the antenna radiating well.

[0007] In order to implement the above object and overcomes the above-identified deficiencies in the prior art, the antenna assembly assembled in an electric device comprises an inner antenna comprising a planar radiating element, a cover fixing the antenna on the electric device and comprising at least one protrusion to fix the radiating element.

[0008] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0011] Reference will now be made in detail to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Reference to FIG. 1, an assembled, perspective view of an antenna assembly 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. Reference to FIGS. 2-3, exploded, perspective views of FIG. 1 are shown, but viewed from different angles.

[0013] The antenna assembly 1 is assembled in an electronic device, such as a notebook computer. The antenna assembly comprises a cover 200 made from insulative material and an antenna 300 assembled in the cover.

[0014] The antenna 100 is a planar inverted-F antenna, and comprises a radiating element 301 and a grounding element 302 perpendicular to the radiating element 301. A pair of L-shape fixing portions 303, 304 respectively extends from the two opposite ends of the grounding element 302. A pair of reinforcing portions 3021, 3022 respectively extends form one side of the grounding element 302 and is on the two sides of the radiating element 301. Each reinforcing portion 3021, 3022 has a hole. The radiating element 301 is slight and long, which is easy to be bend. Thus, the antenna needs to be assembled in a cover 200 to present shape of the radiating element 301 from changing.

[0015] The cover 200 comprises a rear higher first piece 201 and a front lower second piece 202 assembled with the first piece 201 together within the antenna 300 therebetween. The shape of the cover 200 is designed to follow the inner space of the electric device. The first piece 201 comprises an inner face 2010 and an outer face 2020 exposing out the electric device. The first piece 201 comprises some posts 2011, 2012, 2013 inwardly extending from the inner face 2010 to form a group of fixing posts. The posts 2011, 2012 are corresponded to the pair of reinforcing portion 3021, 3022 so that the posts 2011, 2012 should insert into the holes of the reinforcing portion 3021, 3022 when the first piece 201 and the second piece 202 are assembled together. A pair of sub-fixing portions 2014, 2016 respectively extends from the two opposite ends of the first piece 201 and corresponds to the fixing portion 303, 304. The second piece 202 comprises some apertures 2021, 2022, 2023 corresponding to the posts 2011, 2012, 2013, a pair of semicircular protrusions 2024, 2026 extending from the upper surface of the second piece 202. There is a certain distance between the two protrusions 2024, 2026.

[0016] In assembly, the antenna 300 is assembled on the first piece 201, wherein the two posts 2011, 2012 respectively insert into the holes of the reinforcing portion 3021, 3022, the post 2013 is below the radiating element 301 and the fixing portions 303, 304 respectively attach onto the fixing portions 2014, 2016. And then, the second piece 202 is assembled on the first piece 201 with the antenna 300 therebetween. The posts 2011, 2012, 2013 respectively interferedly pass through the apertures 2021, 2022, 2023 to fix the second piece 202 on the first piece 201 firmly. And the most important thing is that the two semicircular protrusions 2024, 2026 are respectively attached to the lower portion of the radiating element 301 to make the upper portion of the radiating element 301 not covered by the cover 200. Thus, the antenna 100 achieves better radiating effect than the antenna with a radiating element surrounded by the insulative material.

[0017] In other embodiments, the cover 200 and the antenna 300 can be designed to other structures to adapt to different requirements.

[0018] While the foregoing description includes details which will enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, it should be recognized that the description is illustrative in nature and that many modifications and variations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of these teachings. It is accordingly intended that the invention herein be defined solely by the claims appended hereto and that the claims be interpreted as broadly as permitted by the prior art.