Antenna system and apparatus for radio-frequency wireless keyboard

Abstract

An antenna system for a radio frequency (“RF”) wireless keyboard includes a metallic plate as a part of the antenna system. The metallic plate is located within the wireless keyboard. A RF transmitter is coupled to the metallic plate and an antenna wire which form an the antenna loop. The antenna loop may also be directly integrated into the metallic plate by creating a cut-out space in the metallic plate. The antenna system may also include the metallic plate directly coupled with the RF transmitter so that the metallic plate is a whip or dipole antenna. The RF transmitter generates RF signals associated with particular keyswitches of the wireless keyboard. The antenna system transmits the generated RF signals to a RF receiver that resides separately from, and that communicates with, the wireless keyboard.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An assembly for use in a cordless keyboard, comprising 
 a substantially rigid member having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface having a metallic portion; and,    an electrically conducting wire coupled with the radio transmitter, the electrically conducting wire configured for electromagnetic propagation corresponding to current flow of a signal generated from the radio transmitter.    
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic portion of the substantially rigid member comprises a ground plane.  
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic portion of the substantially rigid member and the electrically conducting wire are electrically coupled and configured to form an antenna loop.  
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the substantially rigid member comprises a plurality of contacts corresponding to a plurality of key switches.