Mobile wireless communications device including a slot antenna and related methods

#The present disclosure generally relates to the field of wireless communications systems, and, more particularly, to mobile wireless communications devices and related methods.

#Mobile wireless communications systems continue to grow in popularity and have become an integral part of both personal and business communications. For example, cellular telephones allow users to place and receive voice calls almost anywhere they travel. Moreover, as cellular telephone technology has increased, so too has the functionality of cellular devices and the different types of devices available to users. For example, many cellular devices now incorporate personal digital assistant (PDA) features such as calendars, address books, task lists, etc. Moreover, such multi-function devices may also allow users to wirelessly send and receive electronic mail (email) messages and access the Internet via a cellular network and/or a wireless local area network (WLAN), for example.

#Even so, as the functionality of cellular communications devices continues to increase, so too does the demand for smaller devices which are easier and more convenient for users to carry. One challenge this poses for cellular device manufacturers is designing housings that cooperate with antennas to provide desired operating characteristics within the relatively limited amount of space available.

#FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a mobile wireless communications device including an electrically conductive enclosure having a slot therein defining a slot antenna in accordance with one example embodiment.

#FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a portion of the device of FIG. 1.

#FIG. 3 is a side schematic view of the portion of the device in FIG. 2.

#The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and prime notation is used to indicate similar elements or steps in alternative embodiments.

#In accordance with one exemplary aspect, a mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing and a printed circuit board (PCB) carried by the portable housing. The mobile wireless communications device may also include at least one electronic component carried by the PCB and an electrically conductive enclosure coupled to the PCB and having a top spaced above the PCB over the at least one electronic component. The top of the electrically conductive enclosure may have a slot therein defining a slot antenna.

#The mobile wireless communications device may further include a tuning element carried by the electrically conductive enclosure and being positioned over the slot, for example. The tuning element may include a dielectric material body. The tuning element may further include a conductive material layer on the dielectric material body, for example.