WO2013148029A1 - Antenna having flexible feed structure with components - Google Patents
Antenna having flexible feed structure with components Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2013148029A1 WO2013148029A1 PCT/US2013/027287 US2013027287W WO2013148029A1 WO 2013148029 A1 WO2013148029 A1 WO 2013148029A1 US 2013027287 W US2013027287 W US 2013027287W WO 2013148029 A1 WO2013148029 A1 WO 2013148029A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- antenna
- printed circuit
- electronic device
- housing structure
- radio
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
- H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
- H01Q1/12—Supports; Mounting means
- H01Q1/22—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles
- H01Q1/24—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set
- H01Q1/241—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM
- H01Q1/242—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM specially adapted for hand-held use
- H01Q1/243—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM specially adapted for hand-held use with built-in antennas
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
- H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
- H01Q1/48—Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
- H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
- H01Q1/50—Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
- H01Q9/00—Electrically-short antennas having dimensions not more than twice the operating wavelength and consisting of conductive active radiating elements
- H01Q9/04—Resonant antennas
- H01Q9/0407—Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna
- H01Q9/045—Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna with particular feeding means
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- H05K1/00—Printed circuits
- H05K1/02—Details
- H05K1/0277—Bendability or stretchability details
- H05K1/028—Bending or folding regions of flexible printed circuits
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- H05K1/00—Printed circuits
- H05K1/18—Printed circuits structurally associated with non-printed electric components
- H05K1/181—Printed circuits structurally associated with non-printed electric components associated with surface mounted components
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- H05K1/00—Printed circuits
- H05K1/18—Printed circuits structurally associated with non-printed electric components
- H05K1/189—Printed circuits structurally associated with non-printed electric components characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit
Definitions
- This relates generally to electronic devices, and more particularly, to antenna structures for
- Electronic devices such as portable computers and cellular telephones are often provided with wireless communications capabilities.
- electronic devices may use long-range wireless communications
- circuitry such as cellular telephone circuitry to
- Electronic devices may use short-range wireless communications circuitry such as wireless local area network
- communications circuitry to handle communications with nearby equipment.
- Electronic devices may also be provided with satellite navigation system receivers and other wireless circuitry.
- wireless communications circuitry such as antenna components using compact structures.
- Electronic devices may include antenna structures.
- the antenna structures may be formed from antenna resonating element and ground structures.
- the antenna resonating element structures may be formed from conductive portions of an electronic device housing such as peripheral conductive housing structures.
- the ground structures may include housing structures, printed circuit board traces, and other conductive structures.
- the ground structures associated with an antenna may be separated from peripheral conductive housing structures or other antenna resonating element structures by a gap.
- the antenna structures may form an antenna having a single feed or having first and second feeds at different locations.
- transmitting and receiving radio-frequency antenna signals may be mounted on a first end of a printed circuit board.
- Transmission line structures may be used to convey signals between an opposing second end of the printed circuit board and the first end of the printed circuit board.
- the printed circuit board may be coupled to an antenna feed structure formed from a flexible printed circuit using solder connections.
- the flexible printed circuit may have a bend.
- One edge of the flexible printed circuit may be coupled to the printed circuit board using the solder connections or other electrical connections.
- the other edge of the flexible printed circuit may be attached to the vertical inner surface of a peripheral conductive housing structure or other antenna resonating element structure.
- the flexible printed circuit may, for example, be screwed to the conductive electronic device housing structures using one or more screws at one or more antenna feed terminals.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative electronic device with wireless communications circuitry in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative electronic device with wireless communications circuitry in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 3 is a diagram of an illustrative antenna structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention .
- FIG. 4 is a diagram of an illustrative electronic device of the type shown in FIG. 1 showing how structures in the device may form a ground plane and antenna resonating element structures in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 5 is a diagram showing how device structures of the type shown in FIG. 4 may be used in forming an antenna with multiple feeds in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 6 is a diagram of an antenna of the type shown in FIG. 5 with multiple feeds and associated
- wireless circuitry such as filters and matching circuits in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a device of the type shown in FIG. 4 showing how an antenna feed may be formed using a flexible printed circuit that spans a gap between a printed circuit board and a peripheral conductive housing structure in
- FIG. 8 is a perspective view of conductive housing structures that may be used in forming a device of the type shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 9 is a top view of an electronic device with antenna structures that may use an antenna feed arrangement of the type shown in FIG. 7 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of a device housing showing how a device with an antenna structure of the type shown in FIG. 9 may be provided with an antenna feed arrangement of the type shown in FIG. 7 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 11 is a top view of an illustrative
- FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional side view of an electronic device having a feed structure formed from a flexible substrate with attached electrical components such as a low noise amplifier in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- Electronic devices such as electronic device 10 of FIG. 1 may be provided with wireless communications circuitry.
- the wireless communications circuitry may be used to support wireless communications in one or more wireless communications bands.
- the wireless signals may be provided with wireless signals.
- communications circuitry may include one or more antennas.
- the antennas can include loop antennas, inverted-F antennas, strip antennas, planar inverted-F antennas, slot antennas, hybrid antennas that include antenna structures of more than one type, or other
- Conductive structures for the antennas may, if desired, be formed from conductive electronic device structures.
- the conductive electronic device structures may include conductive housing structures.
- the housing structures may include a peripheral conductive structure that runs around the periphery of an electronic device.
- the peripheral conductive structure may be formed from a separate rectangular-ring-shaped member or some or all of the peripheral conductive structure may be formed as an integral portion of a rear housing plate (as
- the peripheral conductive structure which may sometimes be referred to as a peripheral conductive member or peripheral housing structures, may serve as a bezel for a planar structure such as a display, may serve as
- conductive member may be associated with antennas in device 10.
- Electronic device 10 may be a portable electronic device or other suitable electronic device.
- electronic device 10 may be a laptop
- Device 10 may also be a television, a set-top box, a desktop computer, a computer monitor into which a computer has been integrated, or other suitable electronic equipment.
- Device 10 may include a housing such as housing
- Housing 12 which may sometimes be referred to as a case, may be formed of plastic, glass, ceramics, fiber composites, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, etc.), other suitable materials, or a combination of these materials. In some situations, parts of housing 12 may be formed from dielectric or other low-conductivity material. For example, glass structures, plastic structures, or other dielectric structures may be used to form exterior and interior portions of housing 12. In other situations, housing 12 or at least some of the structures that make up housing 12 may be formed from metal elements.
- Display 14 may, for example, be a touch screen that incorporates capacitive touch electrodes.
- Display 14 may include image pixels formed from light- emitting diodes (LEDs) , organic LEDs (OLEDs) , plasma cells, electrowetting pixels, electrophoretic pixels, liquid crystal display (LCD) components, or other suitable image pixel structures.
- a cover glass layer may cover the surface of display 14. Buttons such as button 19 may pass through openings in the cover glass. The cover glass may also have other openings such as an opening for speaker port 26.
- Housing 12 may include peripheral conductive portions.
- housing 12 may include peripheral conductive structures such as peripheral conductive member 16.
- Member 16 may run around the periphery of device 10 and display 14.
- Member 16 or portions of member 16 may form an integral part of a planar rear housing structure (e.g., a planar rear housing wall) and/or separate housing structures.
- member 16 may have a rectangular ring shape (as an example) .
- Member 16 or part of member 16 may serve as a bezel for display 14 (e.g., a cosmetic trim that surrounds all four sides of display 14 and/or helps hold display 14 to device 10) .
- Member 16 may also, if desired, form sidewall structures for device 10 (e.g., by forming a metal band with vertical sidewalls, by forming sidewalls that extend vertically from a planar rear housing member, etc.) .
- Member 16 may be formed of a conductive material and may therefore sometimes be referred to as a peripheral conductive member, peripheral conductive structures, or conductive housing structures. Member 16 may be formed from a metal such as stainless steel, aluminum, or other suitable materials. One, two, or more than two separate structures may be used in forming member 16.
- member 16 it is not necessary for member 16 to have a uniform cross-section.
- the top portion of member 16 may, if desired, have an inwardly protruding lip that helps hold display 14 in place.
- the bottom portion of member 16 may also have an enlarged lip (e.g., in the plane of the rear surface of device 10) .
- member 16 has substantially
- member 16 may be curved or may have any other suitable shape. In some configurations (e.g., when member 16 serves as a bezel for display 14), member 16 may run around the lip of housing 12 (i.e., member 16 may cover only the edge of housing 12 that surrounds display 14 and not the rear edge of housing 12 of the sidewalls of housing 12 ) .
- Display 14 may include conductive structures such as an array of capacitive electrodes, conductive lines for addressing pixel elements, driver circuits, etc.
- Housing 12 may include internal structures such as metal frame members, a planar interior housing member (sometimes referred to as a midplate) that spans the walls of housing 12 (i.e., one or more sheet metal structures that form a substantially rectangular member that is welded or
- conductive structures may be located in the center of housing 12 under display 14 (as an example) .
- openings may be formed within the conductive structures of device 10 (e.g., between peripheral conductive member 16 and
- opposing conductive structures such as conductive housing structures, a conductive ground plane associated with a printed circuit board, a conductive rear housing wall, conductive components such as a display, and other conductive electrical components in device 10) . These openings may be filled with air, plastic, and other dielectrics. Conductive housing structures and other conductive structures in device 10 may serve as a ground plane for the antennas in device 10.
- the openings in regions 20 and 22 may serve as slots in open or closed slot antennas, may serve as a central dielectric region that is surrounded by a conductive path of materials in a loop antenna, may serve as a space that separates an antenna resonating element such as a strip antenna resonating element or an inverted-F antenna resonating element from the ground plane, or may otherwise serve as part of antenna structures formed in regions 20 and 22.
- device 10 may include any suitable number of antennas (e.g., one or more, two or more, three or more, four or more, etc.) .
- the antennas in device 10 may be located at opposing first and second ends of an elongated device housing, along one or more edges of a device housing, in the center of a device housing, in other suitable locations, or in one or more of such locations.
- the arrangement of FIG. 1 is merely
- Portions of member 16 may be provided with gap structures.
- member 16 may be provided with one or more gaps such as gaps 18, as shown in FIG. 1.
- the gaps may be filled with dielectric such as polymer, ceramic, glass, air, other dielectric materials, or combinations of these materials.
- Gaps 18 may divide peripheral conductive member 16 (e.g., the sidewalls of housing 12) into one or more peripheral conductive member segments. There may be, for example, two segments of member 16 (e.g., in an arrangement with two gaps), three segments of member 16 (e.g., in an arrangement with three gaps), four segments of member 16 (e.g., in an arrangement with four gaps, etc.) .
- the segments of peripheral conductive member 16 e.g., in an arrangement with two gaps
- three segments of member 16 e.g., in an arrangement with three gaps
- four segments of member 16 e.g., in an arrangement with four gaps, etc.
- conductive member 16 that are formed in this way may form parts of antennas in device 10.
- device 10 may have upper and lower antennas (as an example) .
- An upper antenna may, for example, be formed at the upper end of device 10 in region 22.
- a lower antenna may, for example, be formed at the lower end of device 10 in region 20.
- the antennas may be used separately to cover identical communications bands, overlapping communications bands, or separate communications bands.
- the antennas may be used to
- MIMO multiple-input- multiple-output
- Antennas in device 10 may be used to support any communications bands of interest.
- device 10 may include antenna structures for supporting local area network communications, voice and data cellular telephone communications, global positioning system (GPS)
- FIG. 2 A schematic diagram of an illustrative configuration that may be used for electronic device 10 is shown in FIG. 2.
- electronic device 10 may include storage and processing circuitry 28.
- Storage and processing circuitry 28 may include storage such as hard disk drive storage, nonvolatile memory (e.g., flash memory or other electrically-programmable-read-only memory configured to form a solid state drive) , volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamic random-access-memory), etc.
- nonvolatile memory e.g., flash memory or other electrically-programmable-read-only memory configured to form a solid state drive
- volatile memory e.g., static or dynamic random-access-memory
- Processing circuitry in storage and processing circuitry 28 may be used to control the operation of device 10.
- the processing circuitry may be based on one or more
- microprocessors microcontrollers, digital signal
- processors baseband processors, power management units, audio codec chips, application specific integrated circuits
- Storage and processing circuitry 28 may be used to run software on device 10, such as internet browsing applications, voice-over-internet-protocol (VOIP)
- VOIP voice-over-internet-protocol
- storage and processing circuitry 28 may be used in implementing communications protocols.
- Communications protocols that may be implemented using storage and processing circuitry 28 include internet protocols, wireless local area network protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.11 protocols -- sometimes referred to as WiFi ® ) , protocols for other short-range wireless communications links such as the Bluetooth ® protocol, cellular telephone protocols, etc.
- Circuitry 28 may be configured to implement control algorithms that control the use of antennas in device 10. For example, circuitry 28 may perform signal quality monitoring operations, sensor monitoring
- circuitry 28 may control which of two or more antennas is being used to receive incoming radio-frequency signals, may control which of two or more antennas is being used to transmit radio-frequency signals, may control the process of routing incoming data streams over two or more antennas in device 10 in parallel, may tune an antenna to cover a desired communications band, etc.
- circuitry 28 may open and close switches, may turn on and off receivers and transmitters, may adjust impedance matching circuits, may configure switches in radio-frequency circuits that are interposed between radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and antenna structures (e.g., filtering and switching circuits used for impedance matching and signal routing) , may adjust switches, tunable circuits, and other
- adjustable circuit elements that are formed as part of an antenna or that are coupled to an antenna or a signal path associated with an antenna, and may otherwise control and adjust the components of device 10.
- Input-output circuitry 30 may be used to allow data to be supplied to device 10 and to allow data to be provided from device 10 to external devices.
- Input-output circuitry 30 may include input-output devices 32.
- Input- output devices 32 may include touch screens, buttons, joysticks, click wheels, scrolling wheels, touch pads, key pads, keyboards, microphones, speakers, tone generators, vibrators, cameras, sensors, light-emitting diodes and other status indicators, data ports, etc.
- a user can control the operation of device 10 by supplying commands through input-output devices 32 and may receive status information and other output from device 10 using the output resources of input-output devices 32.
- Wireless communications circuitry 34 may include radio-frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry formed from one or more integrated circuits, power amplifier circuitry, low-noise input amplifiers, passive RF components, one or more antennas, and other circuitry for handling RF
- RF radio-frequency
- Wireless signals can also be sent using light (e.g., using infrared communications).
- Wireless communications circuitry 34 may include satellite navigation system receiver circuitry 35 such as Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver circuitry (e.g., for receiving satellite positioning signals at 1575 MHz) or satellite navigation system receiver circuitry
- satellite navigation system receiver circuitry 35 such as Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver circuitry (e.g., for receiving satellite positioning signals at 1575 MHz) or satellite navigation system receiver circuitry
- Transceiver circuitry 36 may handle 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands for WiFi ® (IEEE 802.11) communications and may handle the 2.4 GHz Bluetooth ® communications band.
- Circuitry 34 may use cellular telephone transceiver circuitry 38 for handling wireless communications in cellular telephone bands such as bands in frequency ranges of about 700 MHz to about 2200 MHz or bands at higher or lower frequencies.
- Wireless communications circuitry 34 can include circuitry for other short-range and long-range wireless links if desired.
- wireless communications circuitry 34 may include wireless circuitry for receiving radio and television signals, paging circuits, etc. In WiFi ® and Bluetooth ® links and other short-range wireless links, wireless signals are typically used to convey data over tens or hundreds of feet.
- Wireless communications circuitry 34 may include one or more antennas 40.
- Antennas 40 may be formed using any suitable antenna types.
- antennas 40 may include antennas with resonating elements that are formed from loop antenna structure, patch antenna structures, inverted-F antenna structures, closed and open slot antenna structures, planar inverted-F antenna structures, helical antenna structures, strip antennas, monopoles, dipoles, hybrids of these designs, etc. Different types of antennas may be used for different bands and
- one type of antenna may be used in forming a local wireless link antenna and another type of antenna may be used in forming a remote wireless link.
- antennas 40 may include adjustable components so that antennas 40 can be tuned to cover desired communications bands of interest.
- antennas 40 may have a single antenna feed or may have multiple antenna feeds.
- an antenna with multiple feeds may have a first antenna feed that is associated with a first set of communications frequencies and a second antenna feed that is associated with a second set of communications frequencies.
- the use of multiple feeds (and/or adjustable antenna components) may make it possible to reduce antenna size (volume) within device 10 while satisfactorily covering desired communications bands .
- An illustrative configuration for an antenna of the type that may be used in device 10 is shown in FIG. 3.
- Antenna 40 of FIG. 3 may have one or more antenna feeds.
- antenna 40 may have conductive antenna structures such as antenna resonating element 50 and antenna ground 52.
- the conductive structures that form antenna resonating element 50 and antenna ground 52 may be formed from parts of conductive housing structures, from parts of electrical device components in device 10, from printed circuit board traces (e.g., conductive lines such as conductive paths formed from metal) , from strips of conductor such as strips of wire and metal foil, or other conductive materials.
- antenna 40 may have a first feed such as feed FA at a first location in antenna 40, a second feed such as feed FB at a second location in antenna 40, and one or more additional antenna feeds at potentially different respective locations of antenna 40.
- Each of the one or more feeds associated with antenna 40 may be coupled to an associated set of
- path 54A may have a positive conductor 58A that is coupled to a positive antenna feed terminal in feed FA and a ground conductor 56A that is coupled to a ground antenna feed terminal in feed FA
- path 54B may have a positive conductor 58B that is coupled to a positive antenna feed terminal in feed FB and a ground conductor 56B that is coupled to a ground antenna feed terminal in feed FB
- Paths such as paths 54A and 54B may be implemented using transmission line structures such as coaxial cables, microstrip transmission lines (e.g., microstrip transmission lines on printed circuits) , stripline transmission lines (e.g., stripline transmission lines on printed circuits) , or other transmission lines or signal paths. Circuits such as impedance matching and filter circuits and other circuitry may be interposed within paths 54A and 54B.
- Paths such as paths 54A and 54B may be used to couple antenna feeds for one or more antennas 40 to radio- frequency transceiver circuitry such as receiver
- Path 54A may include one or more transmission line
- Path 54B may include one or more
- transmission line segments may include positive conductor 56B and ground conductor 58B.
- One or more circuits such as filter circuits, impedance matching circuits, switches, amplifier circuits, and other circuits may be interposed within paths 54A and 54B.
- a first path such as path 54A may be coupled between a first radio-frequency transceiver circuit and first antenna feed FA and a second path such as path 54B may be used to couple a second radio-frequency transceiver circuit to second antenna feed FB .
- Feeds FA and FB may be used in transmitting and/or receiving radio-frequency antenna signals.
- the first transceiver may include a radio- frequency receiver and/or a radio-frequency transmitter.
- the second transceiver may also include a radio-frequency receiver and/or a radio-frequency transmitter.
- the first transceiver may, as an example, be a transceiver such as a satellite navigation system receiver and the second transceiver may, as an example, be a transceiver such as a cellular telephone transceiver
- the first transceiver may have a transmitter and/or a receiver that operate at frequencies associated with a first
- the second transceiver may have a transmitter and/or a receiver that operate at frequencies associated with a second communications band (e.g., a second cellular or wireless local area network band) .
- a second communications band e.g., a second cellular or wireless local area network band
- the transceivers may be implemented using separate integrated circuits or may be integrated into a common integrated circuit (as examples) .
- One or more associated additional integrated circuits e.g., one or more baseband processor integrated circuits
- Filter circuitry, impedance matching circuitry, switches, amplifiers, and other electrical components may be interposed in paths such as paths 54A and 54B.
- a first filter may be interposed in path 54A between feed FA and a first transceiver, so that signals that are transmitted and/or received using antenna feed FA are filtered by the first filter.
- a second filter may likewise be interposed in path 54B, so that signals that are transmitted and/or received using antenna feed FB are filtered by the second filter.
- the filters may be
- adjustable or fixed In fixed filter configurations, the transmittance of the filters as a function of signal frequency is fixed. In adjustable filter configurations, adjustable components may be placed in different states to adjust the transmittance characteristics of the filters.
- fixed and/or adjustable impedance matching circuits may be included in paths 54A and 54B (e.g., as part of filters or as separate circuits) .
- the first and second filters may be configured so that the antenna feeds in the antenna may operate
- device 10 may have an antenna ground plane such as antenna ground plane 52.
- Ground plane 52 may be formed from traces on printed circuit boards (e.g., rigid printed circuit boards and flexible printed circuit boards) , from conductive planar support structures in the interior of device 10, from conductive structures that form exterior parts of housing 12 (e.g., some or all of a conductive rear housing wall structure) , from conductive structures that are part of one or more electrical components in device 10 (e.g., parts of
- Gaps such as gaps 82 may be filled with air, plastic, or other dielectric.
- One or more segments of peripheral conductive member 16 may serve as antenna resonating elements such as antenna resonating element 50 of FIG. 3.
- the uppermost segment of peripheral conductive member 16 in region 22 may serve as an antenna resonating element for an antenna in device 10.
- the conductive materials of peripheral conductive member 16, the conductive materials of ground plane 52, and dielectric openings (gaps) 82 (and gaps 18) may be used in forming one or more antennas in device 10 such as an upper antenna in region 22 and a lower antenna in region 20.
- Antennas in regions 20 and 22 may each have a single feed or multiple feeds.
- a dual-feed antenna for device 10 may be implemented (e.g., a dual-feed inverted-F antenna).
- Segment 16' of the peripheral conductive member may form antenna resonating element 50.
- Ground plane 52 may be separated from antenna resonating element 50 by gap 82.
- Gaps 18 may be formed at either end of segment 16' and may have associated parasitic capacitances.
- Conductive path 84 may form a short circuit path between antenna
- First antenna feed FA and second antenna feed FB may be located at different locations along the length of antenna resonating element 50.
- each of the feeds of antenna 40 may be desirable to provide filter circuitry and impedance matching circuitry.
- resonating element 50 may be formed from a segment of peripheral conductive member 16 (e.g., segment 16' of FIG. 5) .
- Antenna ground 52 may be formed from ground plane structures such as ground plane structure 52 of FIG. 5.
- Antenna 40 of FIG. 6 may be, for example, an upper antenna in region 22 of device 10 (e.g., an inverted-F antenna) .
- Device 10 may also have additional antennas such as antenna 40' (e.g., an antenna formed in lower portion 20 of device 10, as shown in FIG. 4) .
- satellite navigation receiver 35 e.g., a Global Positioning System receiver or a receiver associated with another satellite navigation system or other type of transceiver
- cellular telephone transceiver circuitry 38 e.g., a cellular telephone transmitter and a cellular telephone receiver or another type of transceiver
- transceiver for device 10. If desired, other types of transceiver circuitry may be used in device 10.
- FIG. 6 is merely illustrative.
- receiver 35 may be coupled to antenna 40 at first antenna feed FA and transceiver 38 may be coupled to antenna 40 at second antenna feed FB .
- Incoming signals for receiver 35 may be received through band-pass filter 64A, optional impedance matching circuits such as matching circuits Ml and M4, and low noise amplifier 86.
- the signals received from feed FA may be conveyed through components such as matching filter Ml, band-pass filter 64A, matching circuit M4, and low noise amplifier 86 using transmission lines paths such as transmission line path 54A. Additional components may be interposed in transmission line path 54A, if desired.
- Signals associated with transmit and receive operations for cellular transceiver circuitry 38 may be handled using notch filter 64B, optional impedance
- Antenna selection switch 88 may have a first state in which antenna 40 is coupled to transceiver 38 and a second state in which antenna 40' is coupled to transceiver 38 (as an example) . If desired, switch 88 may be a cross-bar switch that couples either antenna 40 or antenna 40' to
- transceiver 38 while coupling the remaining antenna to another transceiver.
- Circuitry 90 may include filters (e.g., duplexers, diplexers, etc.), power amplifier circuitry for amplifying transmitted signals, band selection switches, and other components.
- the components used in transmitting and receiving signals with feed FB may be conveyed through components such as matching filter M2, notch filter 64B, matching circuit M3, and circuitry 90 using transmission lines paths such as transmission line path 54B (see, e.g., FIGS. 3 and 9) . Additional components may be interposed in transmission line path 54B, if desired.
- FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of device 10 in the vicinity of upper region 22.
- Housing structures 12 may include upper housing structure 12A (e.g., a display cover layer such as a layer of cover glass, transparent plastic, or other clear material) .
- upper housing structure 12A e.g., a display cover layer such as a layer of cover glass, transparent plastic, or other clear material.
- Housing structure 12A may cover display module 14. Gap 82 may separate the edge of display 14 and peripheral
- Antenna 40 may include an antenna resonating element formed from a segment of peripheral conductive structures 16 and a ground such as ground plane 52.
- Ground plane 52 may include conductive housing structures (e.g., sheet metal structures), electrical components, conductive traces on printed circuit boards, and other conductive materials.
- conductive housing structures e.g., sheet metal structures
- electrical components e.g., electrical components, conductive traces on printed circuit boards, and other conductive materials.
- device 10 may include a printed circuit board such as printed circuit board 102.
- Printed circuit board 102 may be used to mount electrical components 122 such as integrated circuits and other circuits.
- Conductive traces 104 may form interconnects that interconnect electrical components 122 with each other.
- the interconnects in board 102 may also form signal paths for antenna signals associated with antenna 40.
- traces 104 on printed circuit board 102 may be electrically connected to traces 108 on printed circuit 110 using solder connections such as solder connection 106.
- a connector e.g., a board-to-board connector or other suitable connector
- solder connections may also be used, if desired.
- the use of solder connections in the configuration of FIG. 7 is merely illustrative.
- Printed circuit board 102 may be, for example, a rigid printed circuit board such as a printed circuit board formed from fiberglass-filled epoxy (e.g., FR4), a flexible printed circuit, a plastic substrate, a substrate formed from other suitable dielectrics, or other suitable substrate. Traces and components on printed circuit board 102 may form part of antenna ground 52.
- a rigid printed circuit board such as a printed circuit board formed from fiberglass-filled epoxy (e.g., FR4), a flexible printed circuit, a plastic substrate, a substrate formed from other suitable dielectrics, or other suitable substrate. Traces and components on printed circuit board 102 may form part of antenna ground 52.
- Printed circuit 110 may be a flexible printed circuit ("flex circuit") formed from a flexible sheet of polymer such as a layer of polyimide or other suitable dielectric substrate.
- Printed circuit 110 may, as an example, have a thickness of less than 0.5 mm, less than 0.2 mm, or 0.1 mm (as examples) .
- Components 112 may be mounted to printed circuit 110.
- Components 112 may include radio-frequency filter circuitry, switching circuitry, tunable and/or fixed impedance matching
- Traces 108 in printed circuit 110 may be used to interconnect components 112.
- Traces 104 and 108 may include conductive structures for forming transmission line paths (e.g., paths 54A and 54B of FIG. 3) .
- traces 104 and 108 may be used to form microstrip transmission lines or other transmission line structures.
- Parts of transmission lines 54A and 54B may also be formed using other transmission line structures (e.g., segments of coaxial cable transmission lines, segments of flexible printed circuit microstrip transmission line structures or other transmission lines formed from flex circuit substrates) .
- Printed circuit board 110 may be used to form antenna feed structures for the antenna feed for antenna 40 (e.g., feed FA and/or feed FB) .
- antenna feed structures for antenna 40 (e.g., feed FA and/or feed FB) .
- conductive traces 108 may be used to form an antenna signal path such as positive antenna feed signal path 58A of FIG. 3 that bridges gap 82 and may be used in forming ground structures such as ground path 56A of FIG. 3.
- Traces 108 may include surface traces such as traces 120 for coupling traces 108 to peripheral conductive housing structure 16 via metal screw 114 or other conductive fastener.
- Screw 114 may have a head that is used to screw a portion of flexible printed circuit 110 into place against inner surface 140 of peripheral conductive housing structures 16. Screw 114 may also have a threaded shaft such as shaft 118 that screws into threads in threaded hole 116 in peripheral conductive housing structure 16. The conductive structures in the vicinity of screw 114 may form positive antenna feed terminal + for antenna feed FA. In antenna configurations with multiple feeds, additional screws may form additional positive antenna feed
- an additional screw may be used in forming positive antenna feed terminal + for feed FB .
- Traces 108 may be used in routing antenna signals to the terminals of both feed FA and feed FB .
- traces 108 may be coupled to
- peripheral conductive housing structure 16 using welds, solder, conductive adhesive, fasteners other than screws, or other suitable attachment mechanisms.
- FIG. 7 configuration of FIG. 7 in which conductive traces 108 are coupled to peripheral conductive housing structures 16 using screw 114 is merely illustrative.
- flexible printed circuit 110 has a substrate formed from a sheet of flexible polymer
- flexible printed circuit 110 may be bent to form bend 142. In the vicinity of solder 106, where flexible printed circuit 110 is connected to printed circuit 102, flexible printed circuit 110 and printed circuit 102 may lie parallel to the X-Y plane. In the vicinity of screw 114, flexible printed circuit 110 may lie in the X-Z plane, perpendicular to the X-Y plane and parallel to inner surface 140 of peripheral conductive housing structure 116.
- FIG. 8 is a perspective view of housing 12 showing how peripheral conductive housing structure 16 may be formed from segments such as segments 16A, 16B, 16C, and 16D that are separated by gaps 18. Holes 116 and 116' may be used to form threaded openings for screws 114 and 114' for the positive antenna feed terminals of feeds FA and FB, respectively. Segments 16A and 16C may be formed from U-shaped bands of metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum or other suitable conductive material) . Segments 16B and 16D may form integral sidewall portions of planar rear housing member 12R of housing 12 and may be formed from a conductive material such as metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, etc.) . Other types of configurations for housing 12 may be used in device 10 if desired. The example of FIG. 8 is merely illustrative.
- FIG. 9 is a top view of device 10 showing how flexible printed circuit 110 or other dielectric substrate (e.g., a rigid printed circuit board, plastic support structure, etc.) may be used in forming antenna feeds FA and FB in upper region 22 of housing 12.
- components 122 may be mounted on printed circuit board 102.
- Components 122 may include control circuitry such as storage and processing circuitry 28 of FIG. 2 and input- output circuitry 30 of FIG. 2 (e.g., memory chips,
- processor chips application-specific integrated circuits, radio-frequency transceiver circuitry, etc.
- Printed circuit board 102 may have an elongated shape with edges that run parallel to the longer edges of elongated device housing 12 of device 10 and may have first and second opposing ends 124 and 144.
- Wireless communications circuitry 34 such as cellular telephone transceiver circuitry 38, satellite navigation system receiver circuitry 35, and additional radio-frequency transceiver circuitry such as transceiver circuitry 36 may be mounted on board 102.
- one or more of the following components of the transceiver circuitry 38 may be mounted on board 102.
- transceiver integrated circuits may be mounted at end 124 of board 102.
- Transmission lines such as transmission lines 126 and 128 may be used to route radio-frequency signals between transceiver circuitry in end region 124 and the antenna feed structures formed from printed circuit 110.
- Transmission lines 126 may include microstrip transmission lines, stripline transmission lines, coaxial cable
- Traces 104 may be used to couple transceiver circuitry in region 124 to radio-frequency connectors such as
- traces 104 may be coupled between radio- frequency connectors 132 and 136 and traces 108 on printed circuit 110 (e.g., via solder connections 106 formed using hot bar soldering techniques or other suitable
- Transmission line 126 may be coupled between connector 130 and connector 132.
- Transmission line 128 may be coupled between connector 134 and connector 136.
- Transmission line 126 may be used to route signals between a first transceiver in region 124 and antenna feed FA.
- Transmission line 128 may be used to route signals between a second transceiver in region 124 and antenna feed FB .
- Feed FA may have a screw such as screw 114 for coupling an antenna signal line formed from traces 108 on printed circuit 110 to peripheral conductive housing structure 16 and thereby forming a positive antenna feed terminal + for feed FA.
- Feed FB may have a screw such as screw 114' for coupling another antenna signal lines formed from traces 108 on printed circuit 110 to peripheral conductive housing structures 16 and thereby forming a positive antenna feed terminal + for feed FB .
- Printed circuit 110 may be sufficiently flexible to flex along bend axis 146.
- One or more openings such as opening 148 that overlap with bend axis 146 may be provided in printed circuit 110 to facilitate bending.
- FIG. 10 is a perspective view of flexible printed circuit 110 of FIG. 9, showing how flexible printed circuit 110 may be used to form antenna feed structures for antenna feeds FA and FB in antenna 40.
- flexible printed circuit 110 may have one or more openings such as opening 148. Opening 148 may be configured to overlap bend axis 146. By removing the polymer material of opening 148 from flexible printed circuit 110 along axis 146, the flexibility of flexible printed circuit 110 may be enhanced. This may help flexible printed circuit 110 bend along axis 146 to form bend 142.
- Solder connections such as solder connection 106 of FIG. 10 may be used to interconnect the conductive signal paths in printed circuit board 102 (e.g., the positive and ground paths such as paths 58A and 56A of path 54A and paths 58B and 56B of path 54B of FIG. 3) to corresponding signal lines in printed circuit board 110 (e.g., traces 108) .
- the positive signal line for each feed may extend across gap 82, as shown by lines 150 and 152 of FIG. 6.
- Ground antenna signal traces, positive antenna signal traces, and power supply lines may also be provided on flexible printed circuit 110 to couple components 112 to printed circuit board 102.
- FIG. 11 A top view of illustrative antenna feed structures of the type that may be formed using printed circuit board 110 is shown in FIG. 11.
- printed circuit board 110 may have opening such as screw hole openings 160 and 160' .
- the shaft of screw 114 for feed FA may pass through opening 160 until the head of screw 114 bears against conductive traces 120 to short conductive traces 120 for positive antenna signal line 150 and positive antenna feed terminal + of feed FA to peripheral conductive housing structure 16.
- the shaft of screw 114' for feed FB may pass through opening 160' to short conductive traces 120' for positive antenna signal line 152 and positive antenna feed terminal + of feed FB to peripheral conductive housing structure 16.
- Electrical components 112 may be mounted to flexible printed circuit substrate 110 in region 112R.
- components such as matching circuits Ml, M2, M3, and/or M4, band pass filter 64A, and low noise
- amplifier 86 of FIG. 6 and/or other electrical components may be mounted on flexible printed circuit 110 in region 112R.
- connector 130 e.g., a transmission line having a length of 2-20 cm, more than 2 cm, about 4-15 cm, less than 10 cm, etc.
- connector 130 Incurring attenuation due to the presence of the signal path (54A) through connector 132,
- transmission line structure 126, and connector 130 only after antenna signals have been amplified by low noise amplifier 86 can help enhance the signal-to-noise ratio of the received signal that is presented to the input of receiver at end 124 of printed circuit 144 (e.g., receiver 35) .
- the antenna feed structure formed from flexible printed circuit 110 may include any suitable number of low noise amplifiers (LNAs) for amplifying incoming antenna signals.
- LNAs low noise amplifiers
- feed FA may, for example, be provided with a low noise amplifier (i.e., low noise amplifier 86 of FIG. 6) and associated filter and matching circuitry (e.g., band pass filter 64A of FIG. 6) that are mounted on printed circuit 110.
- filter and matching circuitry e.g., band pass filter 64A of FIG. 6
- One or more of the components associated with feed FB such as matching networks M2 and M3, filter 64B, antenna selection switch 88, and/or filters 90 may also be mounted on flexible printed circuit 110, if desired.
- Electrical components that are not mounted on printed circuit 110 may be mounted on printed circuit board 102 upstream or downstream of transmission line 126 and 128.
- Pads PI, P2, P3, P4, P5, and P6 may be coupled to traces in printed circuit 110 (e.g., traces 108 of FIG. 7) and, via solder connections 106, may be coupled to respective traces 104 in printed circuit board 102.
- Traces 108 may include positive and ground antenna signal traces for routing radio-frequency signals for feeds FA and FB and traces for routing positive and ground power supply voltages (e.g., for powering circuitry such as low noise amplifier 86, etc.) .
- pad PI may be coupled to a trace that forms positive antenna signal path 152 for feed FB .
- Pads P2, P3, and P5 may be coupled to ground traces.
- Pad P4 may be coupled to a trace that forms a positive antenna signal path. This path may start at conductor 120 of antenna feed FA, may pass through path 150 of FIG. 11, band pass filter 64A, and low noise amplifier 86, and may terminate at pad P4.
- Pad P6 may be used to supply power (e.g., a positive power supply voltage or other suitable power supply signal) to low noise amplifier 86 and other circuitry on printed circuit 110.
- solder connections 106 e.g., solder connections formed using hot bar soldering techniques
- an electronic device having an antenna includes a conductive housing structure having a portion that forms at least part of an antenna resonating element for the antenna, a printed circuit, at least one electronic component mounted on the printed circuit, and a trace on the printed circuit that is coupled to the conductive housing structure to form a positive antenna feed terminal for the antenna.
- the at least one electronic component includes a radio-frequency amp1ifier .
- the at least one electronic component includes a filter.
- the conductive housing structure includes a peripheral
- the printed circuit includes a flexible printed circuit having a flexible polymer substrate.
- the printed circuit includes a flexible printed circuit having a flexible polymer substrate
- the electronic device includes a rigid printed circuit board, and a solder connection between the rigid printed circuit board and the flexible printed circuit.
- the electronic device includes at least one radio-frequency receiver circuit on the rigid printed circuit board that is configured to receive antenna signals from the antenna.
- the electronic device includes first and second radio- frequency connectors on the printed circuit board, and a transmission line structure coupled between the first and second radio-frequency connectors, the radio-frequency receiver circuit is coupled to the first radio-frequency connector, and the second radio-frequency connector is coupled to the solder connection.
- the at least one electronic component includes a radio-frequency amp1ifier .
- the conductive housing structure includes a peripheral conductive housing structure.
- the electronic device includes a ground structure for the antenna, the ground structure is separated from the positive antenna feed terminal by a gap and the printed circuit spans the gap.
- the antenna has first and second antenna feeds, the positive antenna feed terminal is associated with the first antenna feed, an additional positive antenna feed terminal is associated with the second antenna feed, the conductive path on the printed circuit that is shorted to the
- conductive housing structure forms the positive antenna feed terminal for the antenna
- conductive path on the printed circuit is shorted to the conductive housing structure to form the additional positive antenna feed terminal.
- the at least one electronic component includes a radio-frequency amp1ifier .
- the conductive housing structure includes a threaded hole and the electronic device further includes a screw that is screwed into the threaded hole at the positive antenna feed terminal to short the conductive path to the conductive housing structure.
- Apparatus includes an antenna that includes a metal electronic device housing structure and a ground, the metal electronic device housing structure and the ground are separated by a gap, a flexible printed circuit that spans the gap, and at least one electrical component on the flexible printed circuit, the flexible printed circuit includes at least one conductive path that forms a positive antenna feed path for the antenna.
- the at least one electrical component includes a radio-frequency amplifier configured to amplify radio-frequency signals received from the antenna using the positive antenna feed path.
- the metal electronic device housing structure includes a peripheral conductive housing structure that runs along an edge of an electronic device.
- the peripheral conductive housing structure comprises a threaded hole that is configured to receive a screw and wherein the screw electrically connects the conductive path to the peripheral conductive housing structure.
- the flexible printed circuit includes a hole through which a shaft of the screw passes.
- the flexible printed circuit has a bend adjacent to the metal electronic device housing structure.
- the bend is formed along a bend axis that runs parallel to an inner surface of the metal electronic device housing structure and the flexible printed circuit has an opening that overlaps the bend axis.
- an electronic device in accordance with an embodiment, includes a conductive housing structure, a ground structure, an antenna formed from a portion of the conductive housing structure and the ground structure, a flexible printed circuit, an amplifier on the printed circuit, a radio-frequency receiver that receives radio-frequency antenna signals from the antenna through the amplifier, and at least one conductive line on the flexible printed circuit that forms part of an antenna feed for the antenna.
- the electronic device includes a printed circuit board having opposing first and second ends, the radio-frequency receiver is mounted to the printed circuit board at the first end and the printed circuit board is connected to the flexible printed circuit at the second end.
- the antenna includes an additional antenna feed, the
- the radio-frequency receiver includes a satellite navigation system receiver.
Abstract
Electronic devices may include antenna structures. The antenna structures may form an antenna having first and second feeds at different locations. Transceiver circuitry for transmitting and receiving radio-frequency antenna signals may be mounted on one end of a printed circuit board. Transmission line structures may be used to convey signals between an opposing end of the printed circuit board and the transceiver circuitry. The printed circuit board may be coupled to an antenna feed structure formed from a flexible printed circuit using solder connections. The flexible printed circuit may have a bend and may be screwed to conductive electronic device housing structures using one or more screws at one or more respective antenna feed terminals. Electrical components such as an amplifier circuit and filter circuitry may be mounted on the flexible printed circuit.
Description
Antenna Having Flexible Feed Structure with Components
This application claims priority to United
States patent application No. 13/435,351 filed on March 30, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Background
This relates generally to electronic devices, and more particularly, to antenna structures for
electronic devices with wireless communications circuitry.
Electronic devices such as portable computers and cellular telephones are often provided with wireless communications capabilities. For example, electronic devices may use long-range wireless communications
circuitry such as cellular telephone circuitry to
communicate using cellular telephone bands. Electronic
devices may use short-range wireless communications circuitry such as wireless local area network
communications circuitry to handle communications with nearby equipment. Electronic devices may also be provided with satellite navigation system receivers and other wireless circuitry.
To satisfy consumer demand for small form factor wireless devices, manufacturers are continually striving to implement wireless communications circuitry such as antenna components using compact structures. At the same time, it may be desirable to include conductive structures in an electronic device such as metal device housing components. Because conductive components can affect radio-frequency performance, care must be taken when incorporating antennas into an electronic device that includes conductive structures. Moreover, care must be taken to ensure that the antennas and wireless circuitry in a device are able to exhibit satisfactory performance over a range of operating frequencies.
It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved antenna structures for wireless
electronic devices.
Summary
Electronic devices may include antenna structures. The antenna structures may be formed from antenna resonating element and ground structures. The antenna resonating element structures may be formed from conductive portions of an electronic device housing such as peripheral conductive housing structures. The ground structures may include housing structures, printed circuit board traces, and other conductive structures. The ground structures associated with an antenna may be separated
from peripheral conductive housing structures or other antenna resonating element structures by a gap.
The antenna structures may form an antenna having a single feed or having first and second feeds at different locations. Transceiver circuitry for
transmitting and receiving radio-frequency antenna signals may be mounted on a first end of a printed circuit board. Transmission line structures may be used to convey signals between an opposing second end of the printed circuit board and the first end of the printed circuit board.
The printed circuit board may be coupled to an antenna feed structure formed from a flexible printed circuit using solder connections. The flexible printed circuit may have a bend. One edge of the flexible printed circuit may be coupled to the printed circuit board using the solder connections or other electrical connections. The other edge of the flexible printed circuit may be attached to the vertical inner surface of a peripheral conductive housing structure or other antenna resonating element structure. The flexible printed circuit may, for example, be screwed to the conductive electronic device housing structures using one or more screws at one or more antenna feed terminals.
Electrical components such as an amplifier circuit and filter circuitry may be mounted on the
flexible printed circuit.
Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed
description of the preferred embodiments.
Brief Description of the Drawings
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative
electronic device with wireless communications circuitry in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative electronic device with wireless communications circuitry in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram of an illustrative antenna structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention .
FIG. 4 is a diagram of an illustrative electronic device of the type shown in FIG. 1 showing how structures in the device may form a ground plane and antenna resonating element structures in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing how device structures of the type shown in FIG. 4 may be used in forming an antenna with multiple feeds in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram of an antenna of the type shown in FIG. 5 with multiple feeds and associated
wireless circuitry such as filters and matching circuits in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a device of the type shown in FIG. 4 showing how an antenna feed may be formed using a flexible printed circuit that spans a gap between a printed circuit board and a peripheral conductive housing structure in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of conductive housing structures that may be used in forming a device of the type shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a top view of an electronic device with antenna structures that may use an antenna feed
arrangement of the type shown in FIG. 7 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of a device housing showing how a device with an antenna structure of the type shown in FIG. 9 may be provided with an antenna feed arrangement of the type shown in FIG. 7 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a top view of an illustrative
flexible printed circuit of the type that may be used in forming an antenna feed structure with a low noise
amplifier and other electrical components in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional side view of an electronic device having a feed structure formed from a flexible substrate with attached electrical components such as a low noise amplifier in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Detailed Description
Electronic devices such as electronic device 10 of FIG. 1 may be provided with wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may be used to support wireless communications in one or more wireless communications bands. The wireless
communications circuitry may include one or more antennas.
The antennas can include loop antennas, inverted-F antennas, strip antennas, planar inverted-F antennas, slot antennas, hybrid antennas that include antenna structures of more than one type, or other
suitable antennas. Conductive structures for the antennas may, if desired, be formed from conductive electronic device structures. The conductive electronic device structures may include conductive housing structures. The
housing structures may include a peripheral conductive structure that runs around the periphery of an electronic device. The peripheral conductive structure may be formed from a separate rectangular-ring-shaped member or some or all of the peripheral conductive structure may be formed as an integral portion of a rear housing plate (as
examples) . The peripheral conductive structure, which may sometimes be referred to as a peripheral conductive member or peripheral housing structures, may serve as a bezel for a planar structure such as a display, may serve as
sidewall structures for a device housing, and/or may form other housing structures. Gaps in the peripheral
conductive member may be associated with antennas in device 10.
Electronic device 10 may be a portable electronic device or other suitable electronic device. For example, electronic device 10 may be a laptop
computer, a tablet computer, a somewhat smaller device such as a wrist-watch device, pendant device, headphone device, earpiece device, or other wearable or miniature device, a cellular telephone, or a media player. Device 10 may also be a television, a set-top box, a desktop computer, a computer monitor into which a computer has been integrated, or other suitable electronic equipment.
Device 10 may include a housing such as housing
12. Housing 12, which may sometimes be referred to as a case, may be formed of plastic, glass, ceramics, fiber composites, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, etc.), other suitable materials, or a combination of these materials. In some situations, parts of housing 12 may be formed from dielectric or other low-conductivity material. For example, glass structures, plastic structures, or other dielectric structures may be used to form exterior
and interior portions of housing 12. In other situations, housing 12 or at least some of the structures that make up housing 12 may be formed from metal elements.
Device 10 may, if desired, have a display such as display 14. Display 14 may, for example, be a touch screen that incorporates capacitive touch electrodes.
Display 14 may include image pixels formed from light- emitting diodes (LEDs) , organic LEDs (OLEDs) , plasma cells, electrowetting pixels, electrophoretic pixels, liquid crystal display (LCD) components, or other suitable image pixel structures. A cover glass layer may cover the surface of display 14. Buttons such as button 19 may pass through openings in the cover glass. The cover glass may also have other openings such as an opening for speaker port 26.
Housing 12 may include peripheral conductive portions. For example, housing 12 may include peripheral conductive structures such as peripheral conductive member 16. Member 16 may run around the periphery of device 10 and display 14. Member 16 or portions of member 16 may form an integral part of a planar rear housing structure (e.g., a planar rear housing wall) and/or separate housing structures. In configurations in which device 10 and display 14 have a rectangular shape, member 16 may have a rectangular ring shape (as an example) . Member 16 or part of member 16 may serve as a bezel for display 14 (e.g., a cosmetic trim that surrounds all four sides of display 14 and/or helps hold display 14 to device 10) . Member 16 may also, if desired, form sidewall structures for device 10 (e.g., by forming a metal band with vertical sidewalls, by forming sidewalls that extend vertically from a planar rear housing member, etc.) .
Member 16 may be formed of a conductive material
and may therefore sometimes be referred to as a peripheral conductive member, peripheral conductive structures, or conductive housing structures. Member 16 may be formed from a metal such as stainless steel, aluminum, or other suitable materials. One, two, or more than two separate structures may be used in forming member 16.
It is not necessary for member 16 to have a uniform cross-section. For example, the top portion of member 16 may, if desired, have an inwardly protruding lip that helps hold display 14 in place. If desired, the bottom portion of member 16 may also have an enlarged lip (e.g., in the plane of the rear surface of device 10) . In the example of FIG. 1, member 16 has substantially
straight vertical sidewalls. This is merely illustrative. The sidewalls of member 16 may be curved or may have any other suitable shape. In some configurations (e.g., when member 16 serves as a bezel for display 14), member 16 may run around the lip of housing 12 (i.e., member 16 may cover only the edge of housing 12 that surrounds display 14 and not the rear edge of housing 12 of the sidewalls of housing 12 ) .
Display 14 may include conductive structures such as an array of capacitive electrodes, conductive lines for addressing pixel elements, driver circuits, etc. Housing 12 may include internal structures such as metal frame members, a planar interior housing member (sometimes referred to as a midplate) that spans the walls of housing 12 (i.e., one or more sheet metal structures that form a substantially rectangular member that is welded or
otherwise connected between opposing sides of member 16), a planar rear housing wall, printed circuit boards, and other conductive structures. These conductive structures may be located in the center of housing 12 under display
14 (as an example) .
In regions 22 and 20, openings (gaps) may be formed within the conductive structures of device 10 (e.g., between peripheral conductive member 16 and
opposing conductive structures such as conductive housing structures, a conductive ground plane associated with a printed circuit board, a conductive rear housing wall, conductive components such as a display, and other conductive electrical components in device 10) . These openings may be filled with air, plastic, and other dielectrics. Conductive housing structures and other conductive structures in device 10 may serve as a ground plane for the antennas in device 10. The openings in regions 20 and 22 may serve as slots in open or closed slot antennas, may serve as a central dielectric region that is surrounded by a conductive path of materials in a loop antenna, may serve as a space that separates an antenna resonating element such as a strip antenna resonating element or an inverted-F antenna resonating element from the ground plane, or may otherwise serve as part of antenna structures formed in regions 20 and 22.
In general, device 10 may include any suitable number of antennas (e.g., one or more, two or more, three or more, four or more, etc.) . The antennas in device 10 may be located at opposing first and second ends of an elongated device housing, along one or more edges of a device housing, in the center of a device housing, in other suitable locations, or in one or more of such locations. The arrangement of FIG. 1 is merely
illustrative.
Portions of member 16 may be provided with gap structures. For example, member 16 may be provided with one or more gaps such as gaps 18, as shown in FIG. 1. The
gaps may be filled with dielectric such as polymer, ceramic, glass, air, other dielectric materials, or combinations of these materials. Gaps 18 may divide peripheral conductive member 16 (e.g., the sidewalls of housing 12) into one or more peripheral conductive member segments. There may be, for example, two segments of member 16 (e.g., in an arrangement with two gaps), three segments of member 16 (e.g., in an arrangement with three gaps), four segments of member 16 (e.g., in an arrangement with four gaps, etc.) . The segments of peripheral
conductive member 16 that are formed in this way may form parts of antennas in device 10.
In a typical scenario, device 10 may have upper and lower antennas (as an example) . An upper antenna may, for example, be formed at the upper end of device 10 in region 22. A lower antenna may, for example, be formed at the lower end of device 10 in region 20. The antennas may be used separately to cover identical communications bands, overlapping communications bands, or separate communications bands. The antennas may be used to
implement an antenna diversity scheme or a multiple-input- multiple-output (MIMO) antenna scheme.
Antennas in device 10 may be used to support any communications bands of interest. For example, device 10 may include antenna structures for supporting local area network communications, voice and data cellular telephone communications, global positioning system (GPS)
communications or other satellite navigation system communications, Bluetooth® communications, etc.
A schematic diagram of an illustrative configuration that may be used for electronic device 10 is shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, electronic device 10 may include storage and processing circuitry 28. Storage
and processing circuitry 28 may include storage such as hard disk drive storage, nonvolatile memory (e.g., flash memory or other electrically-programmable-read-only memory configured to form a solid state drive) , volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamic random-access-memory), etc.
Processing circuitry in storage and processing circuitry 28 may be used to control the operation of device 10. The processing circuitry may be based on one or more
microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal
processors, baseband processors, power management units, audio codec chips, application specific integrated
circuits, etc.
Storage and processing circuitry 28 may be used to run software on device 10, such as internet browsing applications, voice-over-internet-protocol (VOIP)
telephone call applications, email applications, media playback applications, operating system functions, etc. To support interactions with external equipment, storage and processing circuitry 28 may be used in implementing communications protocols. Communications protocols that may be implemented using storage and processing circuitry 28 include internet protocols, wireless local area network protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.11 protocols -- sometimes referred to as WiFi®) , protocols for other short-range wireless communications links such as the Bluetooth® protocol, cellular telephone protocols, etc.
Circuitry 28 may be configured to implement control algorithms that control the use of antennas in device 10. For example, circuitry 28 may perform signal quality monitoring operations, sensor monitoring
operations, and other data gathering operations and may, in response to the gathered data and information on which communications bands are to be used in device 10, control
which antenna structures within device 10 are being used to receive and process data and/or may adjust one or more switches, tunable elements, or other adjustable circuits in device 10 to adjust antenna performance. As an
example, circuitry 28 may control which of two or more antennas is being used to receive incoming radio-frequency signals, may control which of two or more antennas is being used to transmit radio-frequency signals, may control the process of routing incoming data streams over two or more antennas in device 10 in parallel, may tune an antenna to cover a desired communications band, etc. In performing these control operations, circuitry 28 may open and close switches, may turn on and off receivers and transmitters, may adjust impedance matching circuits, may configure switches in radio-frequency circuits that are interposed between radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and antenna structures (e.g., filtering and switching circuits used for impedance matching and signal routing) , may adjust switches, tunable circuits, and other
adjustable circuit elements that are formed as part of an antenna or that are coupled to an antenna or a signal path associated with an antenna, and may otherwise control and adjust the components of device 10.
Input-output circuitry 30 may be used to allow data to be supplied to device 10 and to allow data to be provided from device 10 to external devices. Input-output circuitry 30 may include input-output devices 32. Input- output devices 32 may include touch screens, buttons, joysticks, click wheels, scrolling wheels, touch pads, key pads, keyboards, microphones, speakers, tone generators, vibrators, cameras, sensors, light-emitting diodes and other status indicators, data ports, etc. A user can control the operation of device 10 by supplying commands
through input-output devices 32 and may receive status information and other output from device 10 using the output resources of input-output devices 32.
Wireless communications circuitry 34 may include radio-frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry formed from one or more integrated circuits, power amplifier circuitry, low-noise input amplifiers, passive RF components, one or more antennas, and other circuitry for handling RF
wireless signals. Wireless signals can also be sent using light (e.g., using infrared communications).
Wireless communications circuitry 34 may include satellite navigation system receiver circuitry 35 such as Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver circuitry (e.g., for receiving satellite positioning signals at 1575 MHz) or satellite navigation system receiver circuitry
associated with other satellite navigation systems.
Transceiver circuitry 36 may handle 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands for WiFi® (IEEE 802.11) communications and may handle the 2.4 GHz Bluetooth® communications band. Circuitry 34 may use cellular telephone transceiver circuitry 38 for handling wireless communications in cellular telephone bands such as bands in frequency ranges of about 700 MHz to about 2200 MHz or bands at higher or lower frequencies. Wireless communications circuitry 34 can include circuitry for other short-range and long-range wireless links if desired. For example, wireless communications circuitry 34 may include wireless circuitry for receiving radio and television signals, paging circuits, etc. In WiFi® and Bluetooth® links and other short-range wireless links, wireless signals are typically used to convey data over tens or hundreds of feet. In cellular telephone links and other long-range links, wireless signals are typically used to convey data over thousands of feet or miles.
Wireless communications circuitry 34 may include one or more antennas 40. Antennas 40 may be formed using any suitable antenna types. For example, antennas 40 may include antennas with resonating elements that are formed from loop antenna structure, patch antenna structures, inverted-F antenna structures, closed and open slot antenna structures, planar inverted-F antenna structures, helical antenna structures, strip antennas, monopoles, dipoles, hybrids of these designs, etc. Different types of antennas may be used for different bands and
combinations of bands. For example, one type of antenna may be used in forming a local wireless link antenna and another type of antenna may be used in forming a remote wireless link.
If desired, antennas 40 may include adjustable components so that antennas 40 can be tuned to cover desired communications bands of interest. Each of
antennas 40 may have a single antenna feed or may have multiple antenna feeds. For example, an antenna with multiple feeds may have a first antenna feed that is associated with a first set of communications frequencies and a second antenna feed that is associated with a second set of communications frequencies. The use of multiple feeds (and/or adjustable antenna components) may make it possible to reduce antenna size (volume) within device 10 while satisfactorily covering desired communications bands .
An illustrative configuration for an antenna of the type that may be used in device 10 is shown in FIG. 3. Antenna 40 of FIG. 3 may have one or more antenna feeds.
As shown in FIG. 3, antenna 40 may have conductive antenna structures such as antenna resonating element 50 and antenna ground 52. The conductive structures that form
antenna resonating element 50 and antenna ground 52 may be formed from parts of conductive housing structures, from parts of electrical device components in device 10, from printed circuit board traces (e.g., conductive lines such as conductive paths formed from metal) , from strips of conductor such as strips of wire and metal foil, or other conductive materials.
Each antenna feed associated with antenna 40 may, if desired, have a distinct location. As shown in FIG. 3, antenna 40 may have a first feed such as feed FA at a first location in antenna 40, a second feed such as feed FB at a second location in antenna 40, and one or more additional antenna feeds at potentially different respective locations of antenna 40.
Each of the one or more feeds associated with antenna 40 may be coupled to an associated set of
conductive signal paths using terminals such as positive antenna feed terminals (+) and ground antenna feed
terminals (-) . For example, path 54A may have a positive conductor 58A that is coupled to a positive antenna feed terminal in feed FA and a ground conductor 56A that is coupled to a ground antenna feed terminal in feed FA, whereas path 54B may have a positive conductor 58B that is coupled to a positive antenna feed terminal in feed FB and a ground conductor 56B that is coupled to a ground antenna feed terminal in feed FB . Paths such as paths 54A and 54B may be implemented using transmission line structures such as coaxial cables, microstrip transmission lines (e.g., microstrip transmission lines on printed circuits) , stripline transmission lines (e.g., stripline transmission lines on printed circuits) , or other transmission lines or signal paths. Circuits such as impedance matching and filter circuits and other circuitry may be interposed
within paths 54A and 54B.
Paths such as paths 54A and 54B may be used to couple antenna feeds for one or more antennas 40 to radio- frequency transceiver circuitry such as receiver
(transceiver) 35 and transceivers 36 and/or 38 of FIG. 2. Path 54A may include one or more transmission line
segments and may include positive conductor 56A and ground conductor 58A. Path 54B may include one or more
transmission line segments and may include positive conductor 56B and ground conductor 58B. One or more circuits such as filter circuits, impedance matching circuits, switches, amplifier circuits, and other circuits may be interposed within paths 54A and 54B.
With one illustrative configuration, a first path such as path 54A may be coupled between a first radio-frequency transceiver circuit and first antenna feed FA and a second path such as path 54B may be used to couple a second radio-frequency transceiver circuit to second antenna feed FB . Feeds FA and FB may be used in transmitting and/or receiving radio-frequency antenna signals. The first transceiver may include a radio- frequency receiver and/or a radio-frequency transmitter. The second transceiver may also include a radio-frequency receiver and/or a radio-frequency transmitter.
The first transceiver may, as an example, be a transceiver such as a satellite navigation system receiver and the second transceiver may, as an example, be a transceiver such as a cellular telephone transceiver
(having a cellular telephone transmitter and a cellular telephone receiver) . As another example, the first transceiver may have a transmitter and/or a receiver that operate at frequencies associated with a first
communications band (e.g., a first cellular or wireless
local area network band) and the second transceiver may have a transmitter and/or a receiver that operate at frequencies associated with a second communications band (e.g., a second cellular or wireless local area network band) . Other types of configurations may be used, if desired. The transceivers may be implemented using separate integrated circuits or may be integrated into a common integrated circuit (as examples) . One or more associated additional integrated circuits (e.g., one or more baseband processor integrated circuits) may be used to provide the transceiver circuitry with data to be transmitted by antenna 40 and may be used to receive and process data that has been received by antenna 40.
Filter circuitry, impedance matching circuitry, switches, amplifiers, and other electrical components may be interposed in paths such as paths 54A and 54B. For example, a first filter may be interposed in path 54A between feed FA and a first transceiver, so that signals that are transmitted and/or received using antenna feed FA are filtered by the first filter. A second filter may likewise be interposed in path 54B, so that signals that are transmitted and/or received using antenna feed FB are filtered by the second filter. The filters may be
adjustable or fixed. In fixed filter configurations, the transmittance of the filters as a function of signal frequency is fixed. In adjustable filter configurations, adjustable components may be placed in different states to adjust the transmittance characteristics of the filters.
If desired, fixed and/or adjustable impedance matching circuits (e.g., circuitry for impedance matching a transmission line to antenna 40 or other wireless circuitry) may be included in paths 54A and 54B (e.g., as part of filters or as separate circuits) . In a multi-feed
antenna, the first and second filters may be configured so that the antenna feeds in the antenna may operate
satisfactorily, even in a configuration in which multiple feeds are coupled to antenna 40 simultaneously.
A top interior view of device 10 in a configuration in which device 10 has a peripheral
conductive structure such as peripheral conductive housing member 16 of FIG. 1 with one or more gaps 18 is shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, device 10 may have an antenna ground plane such as antenna ground plane 52. Ground plane 52 may be formed from traces on printed circuit boards (e.g., rigid printed circuit boards and flexible printed circuit boards) , from conductive planar support structures in the interior of device 10, from conductive structures that form exterior parts of housing 12 (e.g., some or all of a conductive rear housing wall structure) , from conductive structures that are part of one or more electrical components in device 10 (e.g., parts of
connectors, switches, cameras, speakers, microphones, displays, buttons, etc.), or other conductive device structures. Gaps such as gaps 82 may be filled with air, plastic, or other dielectric.
One or more segments of peripheral conductive member 16 may serve as antenna resonating elements such as antenna resonating element 50 of FIG. 3. For example, the uppermost segment of peripheral conductive member 16 in region 22 may serve as an antenna resonating element for an antenna in device 10. The conductive materials of peripheral conductive member 16, the conductive materials of ground plane 52, and dielectric openings (gaps) 82 (and gaps 18) may be used in forming one or more antennas in device 10 such as an upper antenna in region 22 and a lower antenna in region 20. Antennas in regions 20 and 22
may each have a single feed or multiple feeds.
Using a device configuration of the type shown in FIG. 5, a dual-feed antenna for device 10 may be implemented (e.g., a dual-feed inverted-F antenna).
Segment 16' of the peripheral conductive member (see, e.g., peripheral conductive structures 16 of FIG. 4) may form antenna resonating element 50. Ground plane 52 may be separated from antenna resonating element 50 by gap 82. Gaps 18 may be formed at either end of segment 16' and may have associated parasitic capacitances. Conductive path 84 may form a short circuit path between antenna
resonating element 50 (i.e., segment 16') and ground 52. First antenna feed FA and second antenna feed FB may be located at different locations along the length of antenna resonating element 50.
As shown in FIG. 6, it may be desirable to provide each of the feeds of antenna 40 with filter circuitry and impedance matching circuitry. In a
configuration of the type shown in FIG. 6, antenna
resonating element 50 may be formed from a segment of peripheral conductive member 16 (e.g., segment 16' of FIG. 5) . Antenna ground 52 may be formed from ground plane structures such as ground plane structure 52 of FIG. 5. Antenna 40 of FIG. 6 may be, for example, an upper antenna in region 22 of device 10 (e.g., an inverted-F antenna) . Device 10 may also have additional antennas such as antenna 40' (e.g., an antenna formed in lower portion 20 of device 10, as shown in FIG. 4) .
In the illustrative example of FIG. 6, satellite navigation receiver 35 (e.g., a Global Positioning System receiver or a receiver associated with another satellite navigation system or other type of transceiver) may serve as a first transceiver for device 10, whereas cellular
telephone transceiver circuitry 38 (e.g., a cellular telephone transmitter and a cellular telephone receiver or another type of transceiver) may serve as a second
transceiver for device 10. If desired, other types of transceiver circuitry may be used in device 10. The example of FIG. 6 is merely illustrative.
As shown in FIG. 6, receiver 35 may be coupled to antenna 40 at first antenna feed FA and transceiver 38 may be coupled to antenna 40 at second antenna feed FB .
Incoming signals for receiver 35 may be received through band-pass filter 64A, optional impedance matching circuits such as matching circuits Ml and M4, and low noise amplifier 86. The signals received from feed FA may be conveyed through components such as matching filter Ml, band-pass filter 64A, matching circuit M4, and low noise amplifier 86 using transmission lines paths such as transmission line path 54A. Additional components may be interposed in transmission line path 54A, if desired.
Signals associated with transmit and receive operations for cellular transceiver circuitry 38 may be handled using notch filter 64B, optional impedance
matching circuits such as matching circuits M2 and M3, antenna selection switch 88, and circuitry 90. Antenna selection switch 88 may have a first state in which antenna 40 is coupled to transceiver 38 and a second state in which antenna 40' is coupled to transceiver 38 (as an example) . If desired, switch 88 may be a cross-bar switch that couples either antenna 40 or antenna 40' to
transceiver 38 while coupling the remaining antenna to another transceiver.
Circuitry 90 may include filters (e.g., duplexers, diplexers, etc.), power amplifier circuitry for amplifying transmitted signals, band selection switches,
and other components. The components used in transmitting and receiving signals with feed FB may be conveyed through components such as matching filter M2, notch filter 64B, matching circuit M3, and circuitry 90 using transmission lines paths such as transmission line path 54B (see, e.g., FIGS. 3 and 9) . Additional components may be interposed in transmission line path 54B, if desired.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of device 10 in the vicinity of upper region 22. Housing structures 12 may include upper housing structure 12A (e.g., a display cover layer such as a layer of cover glass, transparent plastic, or other clear material) .
Housing structure 12A may cover display module 14. Gap 82 may separate the edge of display 14 and peripheral
conductive housing structure 16.
Antenna 40 may include an antenna resonating element formed from a segment of peripheral conductive structures 16 and a ground such as ground plane 52.
Ground plane 52 may include conductive housing structures (e.g., sheet metal structures), electrical components, conductive traces on printed circuit boards, and other conductive materials.
As shown in FIG. 7, device 10 may include a printed circuit board such as printed circuit board 102. Printed circuit board 102 may be used to mount electrical components 122 such as integrated circuits and other circuits. Conductive traces 104 may form interconnects that interconnect electrical components 122 with each other. The interconnects in board 102 may also form signal paths for antenna signals associated with antenna 40. As shown in FIG. 7, for example, traces 104 on printed circuit board 102 may be electrically connected to traces 108 on printed circuit 110 using solder connections
such as solder connection 106. If desired, a connector (e.g., a board-to-board connector or other suitable connector) may be used in connecting traces 104 on printed circuit board 102 and traces 108 of printed circuit 110. Welds, conductive adhesive, and other electrical
connections may also be used, if desired. The use of solder connections in the configuration of FIG. 7 is merely illustrative.
Printed circuit board 102 may be, for example, a rigid printed circuit board such as a printed circuit board formed from fiberglass-filled epoxy (e.g., FR4), a flexible printed circuit, a plastic substrate, a substrate formed from other suitable dielectrics, or other suitable substrate. Traces and components on printed circuit board 102 may form part of antenna ground 52.
Printed circuit 110 may be a flexible printed circuit ("flex circuit") formed from a flexible sheet of polymer such as a layer of polyimide or other suitable dielectric substrate. Printed circuit 110 may, as an example, have a thickness of less than 0.5 mm, less than 0.2 mm, or 0.1 mm (as examples) . Components 112 may be mounted to printed circuit 110. Components 112 may include radio-frequency filter circuitry, switching circuitry, tunable and/or fixed impedance matching
circuitry, amplifier circuitry, transceiver circuitry, and other circuitry. Traces 108 in printed circuit 110 may be used to interconnect components 112.
Traces 104 and 108 may include conductive structures for forming transmission line paths (e.g., paths 54A and 54B of FIG. 3) . For example, traces 104 and 108 may be used to form microstrip transmission lines or other transmission line structures. Parts of transmission lines 54A and 54B may also be formed using other
transmission line structures (e.g., segments of coaxial cable transmission lines, segments of flexible printed circuit microstrip transmission line structures or other transmission lines formed from flex circuit substrates) .
Printed circuit board 110 may be used to form antenna feed structures for the antenna feed for antenna 40 (e.g., feed FA and/or feed FB) . For example,
conductive traces 108 may be used to form an antenna signal path such as positive antenna feed signal path 58A of FIG. 3 that bridges gap 82 and may be used in forming ground structures such as ground path 56A of FIG. 3.
Traces 108 may include surface traces such as traces 120 for coupling traces 108 to peripheral conductive housing structure 16 via metal screw 114 or other conductive fastener.
Screw 114 may have a head that is used to screw a portion of flexible printed circuit 110 into place against inner surface 140 of peripheral conductive housing structures 16. Screw 114 may also have a threaded shaft such as shaft 118 that screws into threads in threaded hole 116 in peripheral conductive housing structure 16. The conductive structures in the vicinity of screw 114 may form positive antenna feed terminal + for antenna feed FA. In antenna configurations with multiple feeds, additional screws may form additional positive antenna feed
terminals. For example, in a configuration in which antenna 40 has a second antenna feed FB, an additional screw (screw 114' of FIG. 9) may be used in forming positive antenna feed terminal + for feed FB . Traces 108 may be used in routing antenna signals to the terminals of both feed FA and feed FB .
If desired, traces 108 may be coupled to
peripheral conductive housing structure 16 using welds,
solder, conductive adhesive, fasteners other than screws, or other suitable attachment mechanisms. The
configuration of FIG. 7 in which conductive traces 108 are coupled to peripheral conductive housing structures 16 using screw 114 is merely illustrative.
Because flexible printed circuit 110 has a substrate formed from a sheet of flexible polymer,
flexible printed circuit 110 may be bent to form bend 142. In the vicinity of solder 106, where flexible printed circuit 110 is connected to printed circuit 102, flexible printed circuit 110 and printed circuit 102 may lie parallel to the X-Y plane. In the vicinity of screw 114, flexible printed circuit 110 may lie in the X-Z plane, perpendicular to the X-Y plane and parallel to inner surface 140 of peripheral conductive housing structure 116.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of housing 12 showing how peripheral conductive housing structure 16 may be formed from segments such as segments 16A, 16B, 16C, and 16D that are separated by gaps 18. Holes 116 and 116' may be used to form threaded openings for screws 114 and 114' for the positive antenna feed terminals of feeds FA and FB, respectively. Segments 16A and 16C may be formed from U-shaped bands of metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum or other suitable conductive material) . Segments 16B and 16D may form integral sidewall portions of planar rear housing member 12R of housing 12 and may be formed from a conductive material such as metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, etc.) . Other types of configurations for housing 12 may be used in device 10 if desired. The example of FIG. 8 is merely illustrative.
FIG. 9 is a top view of device 10 showing how flexible printed circuit 110 or other dielectric substrate
(e.g., a rigid printed circuit board, plastic support structure, etc.) may be used in forming antenna feeds FA and FB in upper region 22 of housing 12. As shown in FIG. 9, components 122 may be mounted on printed circuit board 102. Components 122 may include control circuitry such as storage and processing circuitry 28 of FIG. 2 and input- output circuitry 30 of FIG. 2 (e.g., memory chips,
processor chips, application-specific integrated circuits, radio-frequency transceiver circuitry, etc.) .
Printed circuit board 102 may have an elongated shape with edges that run parallel to the longer edges of elongated device housing 12 of device 10 and may have first and second opposing ends 124 and 144. Wireless communications circuitry 34 such as cellular telephone transceiver circuitry 38, satellite navigation system receiver circuitry 35, and additional radio-frequency transceiver circuitry such as transceiver circuitry 36 may be mounted on board 102. For example, one or more
transceiver integrated circuits may be mounted at end 124 of board 102.
Transmission lines such as transmission lines 126 and 128 may be used to route radio-frequency signals between transceiver circuitry in end region 124 and the antenna feed structures formed from printed circuit 110. Transmission lines 126 may include microstrip transmission lines, stripline transmission lines, coaxial cable
transmission line, transmission lines formed from thin strips of flexible printed circuit substrate (e.g., microstrip transmission lines, stripline transmission lines, etc.), or other transmission lines. Traces 104 (FIG. 7) may be used to couple transceiver circuitry in region 124 to radio-frequency connectors such as
connectors 130 and 134. At end 144 of printed circuit
board 102, traces 104 may be coupled between radio- frequency connectors 132 and 136 and traces 108 on printed circuit 110 (e.g., via solder connections 106 formed using hot bar soldering techniques or other suitable
connections) .
Transmission line 126 may be coupled between connector 130 and connector 132. Transmission line 128 may be coupled between connector 134 and connector 136. Transmission line 126 may be used to route signals between a first transceiver in region 124 and antenna feed FA.
Transmission line 128 may be used to route signals between a second transceiver in region 124 and antenna feed FB . Feed FA may have a screw such as screw 114 for coupling an antenna signal line formed from traces 108 on printed circuit 110 to peripheral conductive housing structure 16 and thereby forming a positive antenna feed terminal + for feed FA. Feed FB may have a screw such as screw 114' for coupling another antenna signal lines formed from traces 108 on printed circuit 110 to peripheral conductive housing structures 16 and thereby forming a positive antenna feed terminal + for feed FB . Printed circuit 110 may be sufficiently flexible to flex along bend axis 146. One or more openings such as opening 148 that overlap with bend axis 146 may be provided in printed circuit 110 to facilitate bending.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of flexible printed circuit 110 of FIG. 9, showing how flexible printed circuit 110 may be used to form antenna feed structures for antenna feeds FA and FB in antenna 40. As shown in FIG. 10, flexible printed circuit 110 may have one or more openings such as opening 148. Opening 148 may be configured to overlap bend axis 146. By removing the polymer material of opening 148 from flexible printed
circuit 110 along axis 146, the flexibility of flexible printed circuit 110 may be enhanced. This may help flexible printed circuit 110 bend along axis 146 to form bend 142.
Solder connections such as solder connection 106 of FIG. 10 may be used to interconnect the conductive signal paths in printed circuit board 102 (e.g., the positive and ground paths such as paths 58A and 56A of path 54A and paths 58B and 56B of path 54B of FIG. 3) to corresponding signal lines in printed circuit board 110 (e.g., traces 108) . The positive signal line for each feed may extend across gap 82, as shown by lines 150 and 152 of FIG. 6. Ground antenna signal traces, positive antenna signal traces, and power supply lines (positive and ground) may also be provided on flexible printed circuit 110 to couple components 112 to printed circuit board 102.
A top view of illustrative antenna feed structures of the type that may be formed using printed circuit board 110 is shown in FIG. 11. As shown in FIG. 11, printed circuit board 110 may have opening such as screw hole openings 160 and 160' . When mounted in device 10, the shaft of screw 114 for feed FA may pass through opening 160 until the head of screw 114 bears against conductive traces 120 to short conductive traces 120 for positive antenna signal line 150 and positive antenna feed terminal + of feed FA to peripheral conductive housing structure 16. The shaft of screw 114' for feed FB may pass through opening 160' to short conductive traces 120' for positive antenna signal line 152 and positive antenna feed terminal + of feed FB to peripheral conductive housing structure 16.
Electrical components 112 may be mounted to
flexible printed circuit substrate 110 in region 112R. For example, components such as matching circuits Ml, M2, M3, and/or M4, band pass filter 64A, and low noise
amplifier 86 of FIG. 6 and/or other electrical components may be mounted on flexible printed circuit 110 in region 112R.
By mounting low noise amplifier 86 near end 144 of printed circuit board 102 adjacent to feed FA rather than at end 124 of printed circuit board 102 near the radio-frequency transceivers at end 124, performance can be enhanced for receiver 35. This is because incoming antenna signals from feed FA will be amplified by low noise amplifier 86 before being subjected to losses due to the presence of connector 132, transmission line 126
(e.g., a transmission line having a length of 2-20 cm, more than 2 cm, about 4-15 cm, less than 10 cm, etc.), and connector 130. Incurring attenuation due to the presence of the signal path (54A) through connector 132,
transmission line structure 126, and connector 130 only after antenna signals have been amplified by low noise amplifier 86 can help enhance the signal-to-noise ratio of the received signal that is presented to the input of receiver at end 124 of printed circuit 144 (e.g., receiver 35) .
In general, the antenna feed structure formed from flexible printed circuit 110 may include any suitable number of low noise amplifiers (LNAs) for amplifying incoming antenna signals. In the configuration of FIG. 9, feed FA may, for example, be provided with a low noise amplifier (i.e., low noise amplifier 86 of FIG. 6) and associated filter and matching circuitry (e.g., band pass filter 64A of FIG. 6) that are mounted on printed circuit 110. One or more of the components associated with feed
FB such as matching networks M2 and M3, filter 64B, antenna selection switch 88, and/or filters 90 may also be mounted on flexible printed circuit 110, if desired.
Electrical components that are not mounted on printed circuit 110 may be mounted on printed circuit board 102 upstream or downstream of transmission line 126 and 128.
Pads PI, P2, P3, P4, P5, and P6 may be coupled to traces in printed circuit 110 (e.g., traces 108 of FIG. 7) and, via solder connections 106, may be coupled to respective traces 104 in printed circuit board 102.
Traces 108 may include positive and ground antenna signal traces for routing radio-frequency signals for feeds FA and FB and traces for routing positive and ground power supply voltages (e.g., for powering circuitry such as low noise amplifier 86, etc.) . With one suitable arrangement, pad PI may be coupled to a trace that forms positive antenna signal path 152 for feed FB . Pads P2, P3, and P5 may be coupled to ground traces. Pad P4 may be coupled to a trace that forms a positive antenna signal path. This path may start at conductor 120 of antenna feed FA, may pass through path 150 of FIG. 11, band pass filter 64A, and low noise amplifier 86, and may terminate at pad P4. Pad P6 may be used to supply power (e.g., a positive power supply voltage or other suitable power supply signal) to low noise amplifier 86 and other circuitry on printed circuit 110.
A cross-sectional side view of device 10 showing how printed circuit 110 may be coupled to printed circuit 102 using solder connections 106 (e.g., solder connections formed using hot bar soldering techniques) is shown in FIG. 12.
In accordance with an embodiment, an electronic device having an antenna is provided that includes a
conductive housing structure having a portion that forms at least part of an antenna resonating element for the antenna, a printed circuit, at least one electronic component mounted on the printed circuit, and a trace on the printed circuit that is coupled to the conductive housing structure to form a positive antenna feed terminal for the antenna.
In accordance with another embodiment, the at least one electronic component includes a radio-frequency amp1ifier .
In accordance with another embodiment, the at least one electronic component includes a filter.
In accordance with another embodiment, the conductive housing structure includes a peripheral
conductive housing structure.
In accordance with another embodiment, the printed circuit includes a flexible printed circuit having a flexible polymer substrate.
In accordance with another embodiment, the printed circuit includes a flexible printed circuit having a flexible polymer substrate, the electronic device includes a rigid printed circuit board, and a solder connection between the rigid printed circuit board and the flexible printed circuit.
In accordance with another embodiment, the electronic device includes at least one radio-frequency receiver circuit on the rigid printed circuit board that is configured to receive antenna signals from the antenna.
In accordance with another embodiment, the electronic device includes first and second radio- frequency connectors on the printed circuit board, and a transmission line structure coupled between the first and second radio-frequency connectors, the radio-frequency
receiver circuit is coupled to the first radio-frequency connector, and the second radio-frequency connector is coupled to the solder connection.
In accordance with another embodiment, the at least one electronic component includes a radio-frequency amp1ifier .
In accordance with another embodiment, the conductive housing structure includes a peripheral conductive housing structure.
In accordance with another embodiment, the electronic device includes a ground structure for the antenna, the ground structure is separated from the positive antenna feed terminal by a gap and the printed circuit spans the gap.
In accordance with another embodiment, the antenna has first and second antenna feeds, the positive antenna feed terminal is associated with the first antenna feed, an additional positive antenna feed terminal is associated with the second antenna feed, the conductive path on the printed circuit that is shorted to the
conductive housing structure forms the positive antenna feed terminal for the antenna, and an additional
conductive path on the printed circuit is shorted to the conductive housing structure to form the additional positive antenna feed terminal.
In accordance with another embodiment, the at least one electronic component includes a radio-frequency amp1ifier .
In accordance with another embodiment, the conductive housing structure includes a threaded hole and the electronic device further includes a screw that is screwed into the threaded hole at the positive antenna feed terminal to short the conductive path to the
conductive housing structure.
In accordance with an embodiment, an
Apparatus is provided that includes an antenna that includes a metal electronic device housing structure and a ground, the metal electronic device housing structure and the ground are separated by a gap, a flexible printed circuit that spans the gap, and at least one electrical component on the flexible printed circuit, the flexible printed circuit includes at least one conductive path that forms a positive antenna feed path for the antenna.
In accordance with another embodiment, the at least one electrical component includes a radio-frequency amplifier configured to amplify radio-frequency signals received from the antenna using the positive antenna feed path.
In accordance with another embodiment, the metal electronic device housing structure includes a peripheral conductive housing structure that runs along an edge of an electronic device.
In accordance with another embodiment, the peripheral conductive housing structure comprises a threaded hole that is configured to receive a screw and wherein the screw electrically connects the conductive path to the peripheral conductive housing structure.
In accordance with another embodiment, the flexible printed circuit includes a hole through which a shaft of the screw passes.
In accordance with another embodiment, the flexible printed circuit has a bend adjacent to the metal electronic device housing structure.
In accordance with another embodiment, the bend is formed along a bend axis that runs parallel to an inner surface of the metal electronic device housing structure
and the flexible printed circuit has an opening that overlaps the bend axis.
In accordance with an embodiment, an electronic device is provided that includes a conductive housing structure, a ground structure, an antenna formed from a portion of the conductive housing structure and the ground structure, a flexible printed circuit, an amplifier on the printed circuit, a radio-frequency receiver that receives radio-frequency antenna signals from the antenna through the amplifier, and at least one conductive line on the flexible printed circuit that forms part of an antenna feed for the antenna.
In accordance with another embodiment, the electronic device includes a printed circuit board having opposing first and second ends, the radio-frequency receiver is mounted to the printed circuit board at the first end and the printed circuit board is connected to the flexible printed circuit at the second end.
In accordance with another embodiment, the antenna includes an additional antenna feed, the
electronic device includes at least one additional
conductive line on the flexible printed circuit that forms part of the additional antenna feed for the antenna.
In accordance with another embodiment, the radio-frequency receiver includes a satellite navigation system receiver.
The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
Claims
1. An electronic device having an antenna, comprising :
a conductive housing structure having a portion that forms at least part of an antenna resonating element for the antenna;
a printed circuit;
at least one electronic component mounted on the printed circuit; and
a trace on the printed circuit that is coupled to the conductive housing structure to form a positive antenna feed terminal for the antenna.
2. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the at least one electronic component comprises a radio-frequency amplifier.
3. The electronic device defined in claim 2 wherein the at least one electronic component comprises a filter .
4. The electronic device defined in claim 3 wherein the conductive housing structure comprises a peripheral conductive housing structure.
5. The electronic device defined in claim 4 wherein the printed circuit comprises a flexible printed circuit having a flexible polymer substrate.
6. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the printed circuit comprises a flexible printed circuit having a flexible polymer substrate, the
electronic device further comprising: a rigid printed circuit board; and
a solder connection between the rigid printed circuit board and the flexible printed circuit.
7. The electronic device defined in claim 6 further comprising at least one radio-frequency receiver circuit on the rigid printed circuit board that is
configured to receive antenna signals from the antenna.
8. The electronic device defined in claim 7 further comprising:
first and second radio-frequency connectors on the printed circuit board; and
a transmission line structure coupled between the first and second radio-frequency connectors, wherein the radio-frequency receiver circuit is coupled to the first radio-frequency connector, and wherein the second radio-frequency connector is coupled to the solder connection .
9. The electronic device defined in claim 8 wherein the at least one electronic component comprises a radio-frequency amplifier.
10. The electronic device defined in claim 9 wherein the conductive housing structure comprises a peripheral conductive housing structure.
11. The electronic device defined in claim 10 further comprising a ground structure for the antenna, wherein the ground structure is separated from the
positive antenna feed terminal by a gap and wherein the printed circuit spans the gap.
12. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the antenna has first and second antenna feeds, wherein the positive antenna feed terminal is associated with the first antenna feed, wherein an additional positive antenna feed terminal is associated with the second antenna feed, wherein the conductive path on the printed circuit that is shorted to the conductive housing structure forms the positive antenna feed terminal for the antenna, and wherein an additional conductive path on the printed circuit is shorted to the conductive housing structure to form the additional positive antenna feed terminal .
13. The electronic device defined in claim 12 wherein the at least one electronic component comprises a radio-frequency amplifier.
14. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the conductive housing structure comprises a threaded hole and wherein the electronic device further comprises a screw that is screwed into the threaded hole at the positive antenna feed terminal to short the
conductive path to the conductive housing structure.
15. Apparatus, comprising:
an antenna that includes a metal electronic device housing structure and a ground, wherein the metal electronic device housing structure and the ground are separated by a gap;
a flexible printed circuit that spans the gap; and
at least one electrical component on the flexible printed circuit, wherein the flexible printed circuit includes at least one conductive path that forms a positive antenna feed path for the antenna.
16. The apparatus defined in claim 15 wherein the at least one electrical component comprises a radio- frequency amplifier configured to amplify radio-frequency signals received from the antenna using the positive antenna feed path.
17. The apparatus defined in claim 16 wherein the metal electronic device housing structure comprises a peripheral conductive housing structure that runs along an edge of an electronic device.
18. The apparatus defined in claim 17 wherein the peripheral conductive housing structure comprises a threaded hole that is configured to receive a screw and wherein the screw electrically connects the conductive path to the peripheral conductive housing structure.
19. The apparatus defined in claim 18 wherein the flexible printed circuit comprises a hole through which a shaft of the screw passes.
20. The apparatus defined in claim 15 wherein the flexible printed circuit has a bend adjacent to the metal electronic device housing structure.
21. The apparatus defined in claim 20 wherein the bend is formed along a bend axis that runs parallel to an inner surface of the metal electronic device housing structure and wherein the flexible printed circuit has an opening that overlaps the bend axis.
22. An electronic device, comprising:
a conductive housing structure;
a ground structure;
an antenna formed from a portion of the conductive housing structure and the ground structure;
a flexible printed circuit;
an amplifier on the printed circuit;
a radio-frequency receiver that receives radio-frequency antenna signals from the antenna through the amplifier; and
at least one conductive line on the
flexible printed circuit that forms part of an antenna feed for the antenna.
23. The electronic device defined in claim 22 further comprising:
a printed circuit board having opposing first and second ends, wherein the radio-frequency
receiver is mounted to the printed circuit board at the first end and wherein the printed circuit board is
connected to the flexible printed circuit at the second end .
24. The electronic device defined in claim 23 wherein the antenna comprises an additional antenna feed, the electronic device comprising at least one additional conductive line on the flexible printed circuit that forms part of the additional antenna feed for the antenna.
25. The electronic device defined in claim 22 wherein the radio-frequency receiver comprises a satellite navigation system receiver,
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
KR1020147027196A KR101622503B1 (en) | 2012-03-30 | 2013-02-22 | Antenna having flexible feed structure with components |
EP13708029.7A EP2815457A1 (en) | 2012-03-30 | 2013-02-22 | Antenna having flexible feed structure with components |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/435,351 US8836587B2 (en) | 2012-03-30 | 2012-03-30 | Antenna having flexible feed structure with components |
US13/435,351 | 2012-03-30 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2013148029A1 true WO2013148029A1 (en) | 2013-10-03 |
Family
ID=47833426
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2013/027287 WO2013148029A1 (en) | 2012-03-30 | 2013-02-22 | Antenna having flexible feed structure with components |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (3) | US8836587B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2815457A1 (en) |
KR (1) | KR101622503B1 (en) |
CN (2) | CN103367864A (en) |
TW (1) | TWI473444B (en) |
WO (1) | WO2013148029A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP3355162A1 (en) * | 2013-03-21 | 2018-08-01 | HTC Corporation | Casing of electronic device and method of manufacturing the same |
Families Citing this family (163)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9774072B2 (en) | 2009-10-09 | 2017-09-26 | Htc Corporation | Housing, handheld device, and manufacturing method of housing |
US9287627B2 (en) * | 2011-08-31 | 2016-03-15 | Apple Inc. | Customizable antenna feed structure |
US9578769B2 (en) | 2012-05-29 | 2017-02-21 | Apple Inc. | Components of an electronic device and methods for their assembly |
KR102013588B1 (en) * | 2012-09-19 | 2019-08-23 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Mobile terminal |
US9172136B2 (en) | 2012-11-01 | 2015-10-27 | Nvidia Corporation | Multi-band antenna and an electronic device including the same |
US9716307B2 (en) | 2012-11-08 | 2017-07-25 | Htc Corporation | Mobile device and antenna structure |
US9192046B2 (en) * | 2012-11-16 | 2015-11-17 | Apple Inc. | Component mounting structure with flexible jumper |
CN106299597B (en) * | 2012-12-21 | 2019-05-17 | 株式会社村田制作所 | Antenna assembly and electronic equipment |
WO2014115224A1 (en) * | 2013-01-28 | 2014-07-31 | パナソニック株式会社 | Antenna device |
US9147663B2 (en) | 2013-05-28 | 2015-09-29 | Intel Corporation | Bridge interconnection with layered interconnect structures |
US20150009077A1 (en) | 2013-07-03 | 2015-01-08 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Cover of a mobile device and mobile device including the same |
TWI536667B (en) | 2013-11-28 | 2016-06-01 | 華碩電腦股份有限公司 | Tunable antenna |
KR102094754B1 (en) | 2013-12-03 | 2020-03-30 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Mobile terminal |
US9236659B2 (en) | 2013-12-04 | 2016-01-12 | Apple Inc. | Electronic device with hybrid inverted-F slot antenna |
TW201526594A (en) * | 2013-12-27 | 2015-07-01 | Quanta Comp Inc | Wearable device |
CN104752822B (en) * | 2013-12-31 | 2019-11-22 | 深圳富泰宏精密工业有限公司 | The wireless communication device of antenna structure and the application antenna structure |
US9231304B2 (en) * | 2014-01-21 | 2016-01-05 | Nvidia Corporation | Wideband loop antenna and an electronic device including the same |
US9595759B2 (en) | 2014-01-21 | 2017-03-14 | Nvidia Corporation | Single element dual-feed antennas and an electronic device including the same |
US9368862B2 (en) * | 2014-01-21 | 2016-06-14 | Nvidia Corporation | Wideband antenna and an electronic device including the same |
US9618564B2 (en) * | 2014-01-27 | 2017-04-11 | Apple Inc. | Printed circuits with sacrificial test structures |
US9454177B2 (en) * | 2014-02-14 | 2016-09-27 | Apple Inc. | Electronic devices with housing-based interconnects and coupling structures |
US9379445B2 (en) | 2014-02-14 | 2016-06-28 | Apple Inc. | Electronic device with satellite navigation system slot antennas |
US9583838B2 (en) | 2014-03-20 | 2017-02-28 | Apple Inc. | Electronic device with indirectly fed slot antennas |
US9559425B2 (en) | 2014-03-20 | 2017-01-31 | Apple Inc. | Electronic device with slot antenna and proximity sensor |
KR102143103B1 (en) * | 2014-04-16 | 2020-08-10 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Antenna using Components of Electronic Device |
US9728858B2 (en) | 2014-04-24 | 2017-08-08 | Apple Inc. | Electronic devices with hybrid antennas |
US9912040B2 (en) | 2014-04-25 | 2018-03-06 | Apple Inc. | Electronic device antenna carrier coupled to printed circuit and housing structures |
GB2528248A (en) | 2014-07-10 | 2016-01-20 | Nokia Technologies Oy | Apparatus and methods for wireless communication |
KR102214485B1 (en) * | 2014-07-17 | 2021-02-09 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Electrical connecting device and electronic device having it |
US9577318B2 (en) | 2014-08-19 | 2017-02-21 | Apple Inc. | Electronic device with fingerprint sensor and tunable hybrid antenna |
CN204144421U (en) * | 2014-08-26 | 2015-02-04 | 瑞声精密制造科技(常州)有限公司 | A kind of mobile terminal |
US9531061B2 (en) | 2014-09-03 | 2016-12-27 | Apple Inc. | Electronic device antenna with reduced lossy mode |
US10199718B2 (en) * | 2014-09-08 | 2019-02-05 | Apple Inc. | Electronic device antenna feed and return path structures |
US9685693B2 (en) * | 2014-09-15 | 2017-06-20 | Blackberry Limited | Multi-antenna system for mobile handsets with a predominantly metal back side |
US10096887B2 (en) * | 2014-09-15 | 2018-10-09 | Blackberry Limited | Mobile device with tri-band antennas incorporated into a metal back side |
US9608312B2 (en) * | 2014-09-15 | 2017-03-28 | Blackberry Limited | Wideband antenna for mobile system with metal back cover |
US9882266B2 (en) * | 2014-09-15 | 2018-01-30 | Blackberry Limited | Mobile device having an interior multiband antenna and a partially metal back |
US9774074B2 (en) * | 2014-09-16 | 2017-09-26 | Htc Corporation | Mobile device and manufacturing method thereof |
US9629272B1 (en) * | 2014-09-30 | 2017-04-18 | Apple Inc. | Electronic device with array of reworkable components |
KR101847075B1 (en) * | 2014-12-18 | 2018-04-09 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Electronic device |
CN104619141A (en) * | 2015-01-30 | 2015-05-13 | 深圳富泰宏精密工业有限公司 | Housing, manufacture method thereof and electronic device comprising same |
TWI584627B (en) * | 2015-02-04 | 2017-05-21 | 耀登科技股份有限公司 | Communication device |
US9768491B2 (en) | 2015-04-20 | 2017-09-19 | Apple Inc. | Electronic device with peripheral hybrid antenna |
US9843091B2 (en) | 2015-04-30 | 2017-12-12 | Apple Inc. | Electronic device with configurable symmetric antennas |
CN106207373B (en) * | 2015-05-29 | 2020-08-18 | 深圳富泰宏精密工业有限公司 | Wireless communication device and antenna thereof |
US10218052B2 (en) | 2015-05-12 | 2019-02-26 | Apple Inc. | Electronic device with tunable hybrid antennas |
CN106299598B (en) * | 2015-05-27 | 2020-08-21 | 富泰华工业(深圳)有限公司 | Electronic device and multi-feed antenna thereof |
US9660327B2 (en) * | 2015-06-12 | 2017-05-23 | Sony Corporation | Combination antenna |
KR102378833B1 (en) * | 2015-06-16 | 2022-03-28 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Electronic device |
KR101691741B1 (en) * | 2015-06-30 | 2016-12-30 | 주식회사 이엠따블유 | Antenna device |
KR102398956B1 (en) * | 2015-07-13 | 2022-05-17 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Electronic device having capacitance gernerating device |
KR102410706B1 (en) | 2015-07-28 | 2022-06-20 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Antenna and electronic device having it |
CN105141717B (en) * | 2015-07-31 | 2019-07-26 | 瑞声光电科技(苏州)有限公司 | Mobile terminal device |
US9972891B2 (en) | 2015-08-05 | 2018-05-15 | Apple Inc. | Electronic device antenna with isolation mode |
KR102150695B1 (en) | 2015-08-13 | 2020-09-01 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Electronic Device Including Multi-Band Antenna |
US9768506B2 (en) * | 2015-09-15 | 2017-09-19 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Multi-antennna isolation adjustment |
TWI577082B (en) * | 2015-10-08 | 2017-04-01 | 宏碁股份有限公司 | Communication device |
CN106571512A (en) * | 2015-10-12 | 2017-04-19 | 宏碁股份有限公司 | Communication device |
US20170110787A1 (en) | 2015-10-14 | 2017-04-20 | Apple Inc. | Electronic Devices With Millimeter Wave Antennas And Metal Housings |
JP6470428B2 (en) * | 2015-11-27 | 2019-02-13 | 京セラ株式会社 | Electronic component mounting package and electronic device |
US10462904B2 (en) | 2015-11-27 | 2019-10-29 | Kyocera Corporation | Electronic component mounting package and electronic device |
US10277996B2 (en) * | 2015-12-01 | 2019-04-30 | Gn Hearing A/S | Hearing aid with a flexible carrier antenna and related method |
US10367251B2 (en) | 2015-12-23 | 2019-07-30 | Intel Corporation | Systems and methods for integrated antenna arrangements |
TWI595702B (en) * | 2015-12-28 | 2017-08-11 | 銳鋒股份有限公司 | Ceramic patch antenna structure |
US10693238B2 (en) * | 2015-12-30 | 2020-06-23 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Dual band antenna with integrated conductive bezel |
CN106953167B (en) * | 2016-01-06 | 2019-06-25 | 锐锋股份有限公司 | Earthenware slab antenna structure |
US9867139B1 (en) * | 2016-01-18 | 2018-01-09 | Amazon Technologies, Inc. | Antenna switching for transmission diversity |
KR102487477B1 (en) * | 2016-01-20 | 2023-01-12 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Antenna using Display |
US10347967B2 (en) * | 2016-01-26 | 2019-07-09 | Qualcomm Incorporated | Signal delivery and antenna layout using flexible printed circuit board (PCB) |
WO2017142552A1 (en) | 2016-02-19 | 2017-08-24 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Triband antenna |
KR102507472B1 (en) | 2016-02-26 | 2023-03-09 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Antenna in Electronic Device with Display |
US9812783B2 (en) | 2016-03-01 | 2017-11-07 | Taoglas Group Holdings Limited | Ceramic patch antenna structure |
KR102456606B1 (en) * | 2016-03-10 | 2022-10-21 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Electronic device comprising antenna |
US10490881B2 (en) | 2016-03-10 | 2019-11-26 | Apple Inc. | Tuning circuits for hybrid electronic device antennas |
CN107230821B (en) | 2016-03-23 | 2021-03-09 | 北京小米移动软件有限公司 | WIFI & GPS antenna |
CN105789884A (en) * | 2016-04-19 | 2016-07-20 | 惠州硕贝德无线科技股份有限公司 | Cell phone antenna structure based on metallic back cover |
US10665925B2 (en) | 2016-05-06 | 2020-05-26 | Futurewei Technologies, Inc. | Antenna apparatus and method with dielectric for providing continuous insulation between antenna portions |
TWI617088B (en) * | 2016-05-23 | 2018-03-01 | 宏碁股份有限公司 | Communication device with metal-frame half-loop antenna element |
US20170358838A1 (en) * | 2016-06-09 | 2017-12-14 | Futurewei Technologies, Inc. | Load-adaptive aperture tunable antenna |
KR102553177B1 (en) | 2016-06-13 | 2023-07-10 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Electronic device comprising high frequency transmitting circuit |
KR102332117B1 (en) * | 2016-07-21 | 2021-11-30 | 삼성전자주식회사 | the Antenna for Wireless Communication and the Electronic Device including the same |
US10998622B2 (en) | 2016-07-21 | 2021-05-04 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd | Antenna for wireless communication and electronic device including the same |
US10418687B2 (en) | 2016-07-22 | 2019-09-17 | Apple Inc. | Electronic device with millimeter wave antennas on printed circuits |
US10367252B2 (en) | 2016-08-11 | 2019-07-30 | Apple Inc. | Broadband antenna |
US10290946B2 (en) | 2016-09-23 | 2019-05-14 | Apple Inc. | Hybrid electronic device antennas having parasitic resonating elements |
KR102532574B1 (en) * | 2016-10-04 | 2023-05-16 | 삼성전자주식회사 | electronic device included a housing which has at least one of slit and manufacturing method thereof |
CN108023167A (en) * | 2016-11-04 | 2018-05-11 | 深圳富泰宏精密工业有限公司 | The radio communication device of antenna structure and the application antenna structure |
CN110088979B (en) * | 2016-12-22 | 2021-02-12 | 索尼公司 | Electronic device |
JP6916985B2 (en) * | 2017-01-25 | 2021-08-11 | 日立金属株式会社 | Antenna device |
KR102364559B1 (en) * | 2017-03-24 | 2022-02-21 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Electronic device comprising antenna |
US10418693B2 (en) * | 2017-04-11 | 2019-09-17 | Fitbit, Inc. | Band latch mechanism and housing with integrated antenna |
KR101910518B1 (en) * | 2017-04-11 | 2018-10-22 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Biometric sensor and device comprising the same |
CN107240768A (en) * | 2017-04-27 | 2017-10-10 | 广东小天才科技有限公司 | Antenna assembly and mobile terminal |
TWI635716B (en) * | 2017-05-22 | 2018-09-11 | 晶鈦國際電子股份有限公司 | Communication device |
KR102410197B1 (en) * | 2017-06-13 | 2022-06-17 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Circuit board for reducing transmiting loss and electronic device therewith |
US10476167B2 (en) * | 2017-07-20 | 2019-11-12 | Apple Inc. | Adjustable multiple-input and multiple-output antenna structures |
KR102352491B1 (en) * | 2017-08-14 | 2022-01-18 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Antenna and electronic device for including the same |
CN109411873B (en) * | 2017-08-17 | 2021-05-11 | Lg电子株式会社 | Electronic device |
US10367570B2 (en) * | 2017-09-11 | 2019-07-30 | Apple Inc. | Electronic devices having printed circuits for antennas |
US10305453B2 (en) * | 2017-09-11 | 2019-05-28 | Apple Inc. | Electronic device antennas having multiple operating modes |
US10263335B2 (en) * | 2017-09-11 | 2019-04-16 | Apple Inc. | Electronic device antennas having shared structures for near-field communications and non-near field communications |
KR102439813B1 (en) * | 2017-09-29 | 2022-09-02 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Mobile terminal |
US10455065B2 (en) | 2017-09-29 | 2019-10-22 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Mobile terminal |
US20190348754A1 (en) * | 2017-11-03 | 2019-11-14 | Antenum, Llc | Smart antenna for in-vehicle applications that can be integrated with tcu and other electronics |
US11005167B2 (en) | 2017-11-03 | 2021-05-11 | Antenum Llc | Low profile antenna-conformal one dimensional |
KR102467737B1 (en) * | 2018-01-03 | 2022-11-16 | 삼성전자 주식회사 | Display apparatus and antenna assembly |
CN110034402B (en) * | 2018-01-11 | 2021-11-23 | 深圳富泰宏精密工业有限公司 | Antenna structure and wireless communication device with same |
US11116099B2 (en) * | 2018-01-17 | 2021-09-07 | Guangdong Everwin Precision Technology Co., Ltd. | Riveted metal middle frame and electronic device |
CN108336472B (en) * | 2018-01-29 | 2020-06-19 | Oppo广东移动通信有限公司 | Middle frame assembly, electronic equipment and assembling method thereof |
CN108039565B (en) * | 2018-01-29 | 2020-05-08 | Oppo广东移动通信有限公司 | Middle frame assembly, electronic equipment and assembling method thereof |
CN108365322B (en) * | 2018-01-29 | 2020-06-19 | Oppo广东移动通信有限公司 | Middle frame assembly, electronic equipment and assembling method thereof |
US11699850B2 (en) * | 2018-02-01 | 2023-07-11 | Metawave Corporation | Method and apparatus for beam steering and switching |
US10938111B2 (en) * | 2018-02-07 | 2021-03-02 | Apple Inc. | Electronic device with antenna feed bolt |
US20190260110A1 (en) * | 2018-02-20 | 2019-08-22 | Intel Corporation | Antenna modules and communication devices |
US11380979B2 (en) | 2018-03-29 | 2022-07-05 | Intel Corporation | Antenna modules and communication devices |
CN108470754B (en) * | 2018-03-30 | 2020-06-09 | 京东方科技集团股份有限公司 | Display device and manufacturing method thereof |
US20190305431A1 (en) * | 2018-04-03 | 2019-10-03 | Motorola Mobility Llc | Antenna System and Wireless Communication Device having One or More Bridge Circuits with a Mechanical Mounting Structure |
US10306029B1 (en) * | 2018-04-05 | 2019-05-28 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Mobile terminal |
US10809666B2 (en) | 2018-05-22 | 2020-10-20 | Fitbit, Inc. | Low-profile band latch mechanism |
US10734714B2 (en) * | 2018-05-29 | 2020-08-04 | Apple Inc. | Electronic device wide band antennas |
US10673127B2 (en) * | 2018-05-29 | 2020-06-02 | Apple Inc. | Electronic device wide band antennas |
US11205834B2 (en) * | 2018-06-26 | 2021-12-21 | Apple Inc. | Electronic device antennas having switchable feed terminals |
US11095017B2 (en) * | 2018-07-13 | 2021-08-17 | Apple Inc. | Electronic device having angle of arrival detection capabilities |
CN108987944B (en) * | 2018-07-24 | 2021-04-23 | 维沃移动通信有限公司 | Terminal equipment |
US11056800B2 (en) | 2018-10-16 | 2021-07-06 | Google Llc | Antenna arrays integrated into an electromagnetic transparent metallic surface |
KR102572247B1 (en) * | 2018-11-14 | 2023-08-29 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Antenna using slot and electronic device including the same |
KR102561241B1 (en) * | 2018-11-23 | 2023-07-28 | 삼성전자 주식회사 | Electronic deivce having signal radiation structure to side surface |
KR102562631B1 (en) * | 2018-11-26 | 2023-08-02 | 삼성전자 주식회사 | Antenna and electronic device including the same |
KR20200069532A (en) | 2018-12-07 | 2020-06-17 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Electronic device for reducing power consumption in network baede on wireless fidelity direct protocol and method thereof |
KR102598697B1 (en) * | 2018-12-10 | 2023-11-07 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Electronic device for sensing location and contact of external object |
KR102621852B1 (en) * | 2018-12-26 | 2024-01-08 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Antenna structure including conductive patch feeded using muitiple electrical path and electronic device including the antenna structure |
CN110011025B (en) * | 2018-12-29 | 2021-03-26 | 瑞声科技(新加坡)有限公司 | Antenna system and mobile terminal |
WO2020133522A1 (en) * | 2018-12-29 | 2020-07-02 | 瑞声精密制造科技(常州)有限公司 | Transmission line module, antenna module and mobile terminal |
TWI704396B (en) * | 2019-08-15 | 2020-09-11 | 啟碁科技股份有限公司 | Electronic display device |
US11108139B2 (en) | 2019-09-05 | 2021-08-31 | Apple Inc. | Electronic devices having antenna grounding rings |
US11527824B2 (en) | 2019-09-05 | 2022-12-13 | Apple Inc. | Electronic devices having tunable antenna grounding rings |
US11114748B2 (en) * | 2019-09-06 | 2021-09-07 | Apple Inc. | Flexible printed circuit structures for electronic device antennas |
US10868356B1 (en) | 2019-09-06 | 2020-12-15 | Apple Inc. | Electronic devices having extended antenna grounding rings |
JP2021043423A (en) * | 2019-09-13 | 2021-03-18 | キヤノン株式会社 | Image forming apparatus |
CN110650605A (en) * | 2019-09-18 | 2020-01-03 | Oppo广东移动通信有限公司 | Shell assembly, preparation method thereof and electronic equipment |
JP2023511513A (en) * | 2020-01-24 | 2023-03-20 | キョーセラ・エイブイエックス・コンポーネンツ (サンディエゴ), インコーポレーティッド | Radio frequency (RF) amplifier circuit for antenna systems with modal antennas |
DE102020203970A1 (en) * | 2020-03-26 | 2021-09-30 | Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung eingetragener Verein | High-frequency arrangement with a front and a rear antenna |
CN113517556A (en) * | 2020-04-10 | 2021-10-19 | 深圳富泰宏精密工业有限公司 | Antenna structure and electronic equipment with same |
US11033082B1 (en) | 2020-04-14 | 2021-06-15 | Fitbit, Inc. | Wearable device straps and attachment hardware therefor |
CN111509405B (en) * | 2020-04-24 | 2021-12-24 | 维沃移动通信有限公司 | Antenna module and electronic equipment |
CN111585072B (en) * | 2020-05-29 | 2022-06-17 | 维沃移动通信有限公司 | Electronic device |
KR20220007947A (en) * | 2020-07-13 | 2022-01-20 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Antenna module and electronic device including the same |
CN114070904B (en) * | 2020-07-30 | 2023-12-05 | 北京小米移动软件有限公司 | Electronic equipment |
WO2022047766A1 (en) * | 2020-09-07 | 2022-03-10 | Goertek Technology Co., Ltd. | Electronic device |
KR20220033181A (en) * | 2020-09-09 | 2022-03-16 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Antenna and electronic device including the same |
KR20220046990A (en) * | 2020-10-08 | 2022-04-15 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Electronic apparatus whit an antenna |
KR20220077574A (en) * | 2020-12-02 | 2022-06-09 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Antenna feeding sturcture including flexible printed circuit board and electronic device including the same |
KR20220077579A (en) * | 2020-12-02 | 2022-06-09 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Electronic device including antenna connecting sturcture including flexible printed circuit board |
KR20220133032A (en) * | 2021-03-24 | 2022-10-04 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Flexible connecting member and electronic device including the same |
KR20220146921A (en) * | 2021-04-26 | 2022-11-02 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Rf member connecting antenna and electronic device including the same |
CN113314840A (en) * | 2021-05-26 | 2021-08-27 | 维沃移动通信有限公司 | Display device and electronic apparatus |
KR20220170532A (en) * | 2021-06-23 | 2022-12-30 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Fixing device for antenna placement and mobile communication device comprising same |
CN113471696B (en) * | 2021-07-20 | 2023-01-31 | 南昌黑鲨科技有限公司 | Antenna |
KR20230057077A (en) * | 2021-10-21 | 2023-04-28 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Electronic device including connecting member |
WO2023140693A1 (en) * | 2022-01-21 | 2023-07-27 | 삼성전자 주식회사 | Electronic device comprising antenna |
WO2023182831A1 (en) * | 2022-03-24 | 2023-09-28 | 삼성전자 주식회사 | Electronic device comprising antenna structure |
WO2023184081A1 (en) * | 2022-03-28 | 2023-10-05 | 安徽华米信息科技有限公司 | Electronic device |
CN117154386A (en) * | 2023-03-08 | 2023-12-01 | 荣耀终端有限公司 | Electronic equipment |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20060178116A1 (en) * | 2005-02-09 | 2006-08-10 | Research In Motion Limited | Mobile wireless communications device providing pattern/frequency control features and related methods |
US20080150815A1 (en) * | 2006-12-20 | 2008-06-26 | Masaomi Nakahata | Electronic apparatus |
US20100248799A1 (en) * | 2009-03-26 | 2010-09-30 | Lum Nicholas W | Electronic device with shared multiband antenna and antenna diversity circuitry |
US20110250928A1 (en) * | 2010-04-13 | 2011-10-13 | Schlub Robert W | Adjustable wireless circuitry with antenna-based proximity detector |
Family Cites Families (42)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5173055A (en) | 1991-08-08 | 1992-12-22 | Amp Incorporated | Area array connector |
US5583523A (en) | 1992-01-06 | 1996-12-10 | C & K Systems, Incorporation | Planar microwave tranceiver employing shared-ground-plane antenna |
US6075713A (en) * | 1997-04-15 | 2000-06-13 | Motorola, Inc. | Laser trimmable electronic device |
US6259407B1 (en) | 1999-02-19 | 2001-07-10 | Allen Tran | Uniplanar dual strip antenna |
US6690251B2 (en) * | 2001-04-11 | 2004-02-10 | Kyocera Wireless Corporation | Tunable ferro-electric filter |
US20040257283A1 (en) | 2003-06-19 | 2004-12-23 | International Business Machines Corporation | Antennas integrated with metallic display covers of computing devices |
CN2766377Y (en) | 2004-12-04 | 2006-03-22 | 富士康(昆山)电脑接插件有限公司 | Electric connector |
JP4633605B2 (en) | 2005-01-31 | 2011-02-16 | 富士通コンポーネント株式会社 | ANTENNA DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE, ELECTRONIC CAMERA, ELECTRONIC CAMERA LIGHT EMITTING DEVICE, AND PERIPHERAL DEVICE |
CN100399637C (en) | 2005-05-16 | 2008-07-02 | 富士康(昆山)电脑接插件有限公司 | Electric connector |
US7321335B2 (en) | 2006-04-21 | 2008-01-22 | Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Ab | Antenna configuration change |
US7808434B2 (en) | 2006-08-09 | 2010-10-05 | Avx Corporation | Systems and methods for integrated antennae structures in multilayer organic-based printed circuit devices |
US7639187B2 (en) | 2006-09-25 | 2009-12-29 | Apple Inc. | Button antenna for handheld devices |
US7688267B2 (en) | 2006-11-06 | 2010-03-30 | Apple Inc. | Broadband antenna with coupled feed for handheld electronic devices |
US7672142B2 (en) | 2007-01-05 | 2010-03-02 | Apple Inc. | Grounded flexible circuits |
US7889139B2 (en) | 2007-06-21 | 2011-02-15 | Apple Inc. | Handheld electronic device with cable grounding |
KR101332544B1 (en) | 2007-01-09 | 2013-11-22 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Portable terminal |
US7722398B2 (en) | 2007-04-13 | 2010-05-25 | Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd. | Electrical connector assembly with a protecting section over a flexible printed circuit board connected thereto |
US7911387B2 (en) | 2007-06-21 | 2011-03-22 | Apple Inc. | Handheld electronic device antennas |
US7876274B2 (en) | 2007-06-21 | 2011-01-25 | Apple Inc. | Wireless handheld electronic device |
US7612725B2 (en) * | 2007-06-21 | 2009-11-03 | Apple Inc. | Antennas for handheld electronic devices with conductive bezels |
JP2009064989A (en) | 2007-09-07 | 2009-03-26 | Panasonic Corp | Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof |
US8441404B2 (en) | 2007-12-18 | 2013-05-14 | Apple Inc. | Feed networks for slot antennas in electronic devices |
US7705795B2 (en) | 2007-12-18 | 2010-04-27 | Apple Inc. | Antennas with periodic shunt inductors |
US8050313B2 (en) | 2007-12-31 | 2011-11-01 | Silicon Laboratories Inc. | Single chip low power fully integrated 802.15.4 radio platform |
US8345431B2 (en) | 2008-01-02 | 2013-01-01 | Microelectronics Assembly Technologies, Inc. | Thin multi-chip flex module |
US8264412B2 (en) | 2008-01-04 | 2012-09-11 | Apple Inc. | Antennas and antenna carrier structures for electronic devices |
US8106836B2 (en) | 2008-04-11 | 2012-01-31 | Apple Inc. | Hybrid antennas for electronic devices |
JP5163262B2 (en) | 2008-04-30 | 2013-03-13 | 富士通セミコンダクター株式会社 | Antenna and communication apparatus having the antenna |
US8665164B2 (en) | 2008-11-19 | 2014-03-04 | Apple Inc. | Multiband handheld electronic device slot antenna |
ES2522821T3 (en) | 2009-05-11 | 2014-11-18 | Basf Se | Hybrid foam |
US8269675B2 (en) | 2009-06-23 | 2012-09-18 | Apple Inc. | Antennas for electronic devices with conductive housing |
TWI458176B (en) | 2009-12-25 | 2014-10-21 | Advanced Connectek Inc | Flexographic printing antenna |
US8482467B2 (en) | 2010-06-25 | 2013-07-09 | Apple Inc. | Customizable antenna structures for adjusting antenna performance in electronic devices |
US9070969B2 (en) | 2010-07-06 | 2015-06-30 | Apple Inc. | Tunable antenna systems |
US8638549B2 (en) * | 2010-08-24 | 2014-01-28 | Apple Inc. | Electronic device display module |
US8583187B2 (en) | 2010-10-06 | 2013-11-12 | Apple Inc. | Shielding structures for wireless electronic devices with displays |
US8872706B2 (en) * | 2010-11-05 | 2014-10-28 | Apple Inc. | Antenna system with receiver diversity and tunable matching circuit |
US8947303B2 (en) * | 2010-12-20 | 2015-02-03 | Apple Inc. | Peripheral electronic device housing members with gaps and dielectric coatings |
US8791864B2 (en) | 2011-01-11 | 2014-07-29 | Apple Inc. | Antenna structures with electrical connections to device housing members |
US8766859B2 (en) | 2011-01-11 | 2014-07-01 | Apple Inc. | Antenna structures with electrical connections to device housing members |
US9287627B2 (en) * | 2011-08-31 | 2016-03-15 | Apple Inc. | Customizable antenna feed structure |
US9270012B2 (en) * | 2012-02-01 | 2016-02-23 | Apple Inc. | Electronic device with calibrated tunable antenna |
-
2012
- 2012-03-30 US US13/435,351 patent/US8836587B2/en active Active
-
2013
- 2013-02-22 WO PCT/US2013/027287 patent/WO2013148029A1/en active Application Filing
- 2013-02-22 EP EP13708029.7A patent/EP2815457A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2013-02-22 KR KR1020147027196A patent/KR101622503B1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2013-03-14 TW TW102109102A patent/TWI473444B/en active
- 2013-03-20 CN CN2013100895869A patent/CN103367864A/en active Pending
- 2013-03-20 CN CN201320127677.2U patent/CN203589190U/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
2014
- 2014-09-15 US US14/486,602 patent/US9502752B2/en active Active
-
2015
- 2015-08-12 US US14/825,011 patent/US9705180B2/en active Active
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20060178116A1 (en) * | 2005-02-09 | 2006-08-10 | Research In Motion Limited | Mobile wireless communications device providing pattern/frequency control features and related methods |
US20080150815A1 (en) * | 2006-12-20 | 2008-06-26 | Masaomi Nakahata | Electronic apparatus |
US20100248799A1 (en) * | 2009-03-26 | 2010-09-30 | Lum Nicholas W | Electronic device with shared multiband antenna and antenna diversity circuitry |
US20110250928A1 (en) * | 2010-04-13 | 2011-10-13 | Schlub Robert W | Adjustable wireless circuitry with antenna-based proximity detector |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP3355162A1 (en) * | 2013-03-21 | 2018-08-01 | HTC Corporation | Casing of electronic device and method of manufacturing the same |
US10356923B2 (en) | 2013-03-21 | 2019-07-16 | Htc Corporation | Casing of electronic device |
EP3800524A1 (en) * | 2013-03-21 | 2021-04-07 | HTC Corporation | Casing of electronic device and method of manufacturing the same |
US11457535B2 (en) | 2013-03-21 | 2022-09-27 | Htc Corporation | Metallic housing of electronic device |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20150364813A1 (en) | 2015-12-17 |
CN203589190U (en) | 2014-05-07 |
US9705180B2 (en) | 2017-07-11 |
KR101622503B1 (en) | 2016-05-18 |
TWI473444B (en) | 2015-02-11 |
KR20140139520A (en) | 2014-12-05 |
US20130257659A1 (en) | 2013-10-03 |
US9502752B2 (en) | 2016-11-22 |
US8836587B2 (en) | 2014-09-16 |
EP2815457A1 (en) | 2014-12-24 |
US20150035706A1 (en) | 2015-02-05 |
TW201340629A (en) | 2013-10-01 |
CN103367864A (en) | 2013-10-23 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US9705180B2 (en) | Antenna having flexible feed structure with components | |
US10511084B2 (en) | Antenna system with antenna swapping and antenna tuning | |
US9596330B2 (en) | Antenna system with receiver diversity and tunable matching circuit | |
US9166279B2 (en) | Tunable antenna system with receiver diversity | |
US9559433B2 (en) | Antenna system having two antennas and three ports | |
US9153874B2 (en) | Electronic device having multiport antenna structures with resonating slot | |
EP2801125B1 (en) | Tunable antenna system | |
US9444130B2 (en) | Antenna system with return path tuning and loop element | |
US9793616B2 (en) | Shared antenna structures for near-field communications and non-near-field communications circuitry | |
US9350069B2 (en) | Antenna with switchable inductor low-band tuning | |
US9293828B2 (en) | Antenna system with tuning from coupled antenna | |
US9166634B2 (en) | Electronic device with multiple antenna feeds and adjustable filter and matching circuitry |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
121 | Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application |
Ref document number: 13708029 Country of ref document: EP Kind code of ref document: A1 |
|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 2013708029 Country of ref document: EP |
|
ENP | Entry into the national phase |
Ref document number: 20147027196 Country of ref document: KR Kind code of ref document: A |
|
NENP | Non-entry into the national phase |
Ref country code: DE |