Antenna system and apparatus for radio-frequency wireless keyboard

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention includes a low-cost, efficient, compact antenna system for use in a wireless keyboard.
The wireless keyboard includes a housing and keys.
The antenna system includes a radio-frequency antenna for use in a radio-frequency wireless keyboard.
The radio frequency ("RF") antenna remotely couples the wireless keyboard to a personal computer or other device capable of receiving input from a keyboard.
The antenna system of the radio-frequency wireless keyboard includes an antenna wire having a first end and a second end, an RF printed circuit board that includes a digital processing circuit and a RF transmitter circuit, and a metallic plate having a first end and a second end within the wireless keyboard.
In one embodiment, the printed circuit board may include a ground portion.
The antenna system resides within the housing of the wireless keyboard.
The first end of the metallic plate is coupled to the an output of the RF transmitter circuit, which in one embodiment may be coupled to the ground portion.
The second end of the metallic plate is coupled to the first end of the antenna wire.
The second end of the antenna wire is coupled to another output of the RF transmitter circuit.
Thus, the structure of the present invention forms an antenna loop that includes the antenna wire and the metallic plate as a component of the antenna loop.
The antenna loop is used to generate a magnetic field from which RF signals are transmitted in accordance with electromagnetic propagation principles.
The RF printed circuit board includes a digital processing circuit and a RF transmitter for the radio frequency wireless keyboard.
The metallic plate within the keyboard may be a metallic plate that is preexistent within a housing of a conventional keyboard.
The metallic plate in the keyboard protects against electrostatic discharge.
The metallic plate also creates a more rigid keyboard structure and adds some weight to the keyboard to generate a feeling of quality and durability with a user