Electronic device wide band antennas
    281.
    发明授权

    公开(公告)号:US10673127B2

    公开(公告)日:2020-06-02

    申请号:US16584106

    申请日:2019-09-26

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: An electronic device such as a wristwatch may have a housing with metal sidewalls and a display having conductive display structures. The display structures may be separated from the sidewalls by a slot for an antenna that runs around the display module. A conductive interconnect may be coupled between the sidewalls and the display structures. A feed and tuning element may be coupled between the display structures and the sidewalls. A first length of the slot from the interconnect to the tuning element may radiate in a satellite band and a cellular band. A second length of the slot from the interconnect to the feed may radiate in a 2.4 GHz band. Harmonics of the second length may radiate in bands at and above 5.0 GHz. If desired clip and blade structures may form conductive paths for coupling antenna elements.

    High tolerance connection between elements

    公开(公告)号:US10664019B2

    公开(公告)日:2020-05-26

    申请号:US16412078

    申请日:2019-05-14

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: This is directed to connecting two or more elements using an intermediate element constructed from a material that changes between states. An electronic device can include one or more components constructed by connecting several elements. To provide a connection having a reduced or small size or cross-section and construct a component having high tolerances, a material can be provided in a first state in which it flows between the elements before changing to a second state in which it adheres to the elements and provides a structurally sound connection. For example, a plastic can be molded between the elements. As another example, a composite material can be brazed between the elements. In some cases, internal surfaces of the elements can include one or more features for enhancing a bond between the elements and the material providing the interface between the elements.

    Electronic device slot antennas
    283.
    发明授权

    公开(公告)号:US10658749B2

    公开(公告)日:2020-05-19

    申请号:US15698481

    申请日:2017-09-07

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: An electronic device such as a wristwatch may have a housing with metal sidewalls and a display having conductive display structures. Printed circuits having corresponding ground traces may be coupled to the display for conveying data to and/or from the display. The conductive display structures may be separated from the metal sidewalls by a gap. A conductive interconnect may be coupled to the metal sidewalls and may extend across the gap to the conductive display structures. The conductive interconnect may be coupled to the ground traces on the printed circuits and/or may be shorted or capacitively coupled to the conductive display structures. When configured in this way, the metal sidewalls, the conductive display structures, and the conductive interconnect may define the edges of a slot antenna resonating element for a slot antenna.

    Antennas in patterned conductive layers

    公开(公告)号:US10608321B2

    公开(公告)日:2020-03-31

    申请号:US15602956

    申请日:2017-05-23

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: An electronic device may include a substrate and a conductive layer on the substrate. The conductive layer may be patterned to form a first region and a second region that surrounds and defines the shape of the first region. The first region may be formed from a continuous portion of the conductive layer. The second region may include a grid of openings that divides the conductive layer into an array of patches. The first region may form an antenna resonating element for an antenna. The second region may block antenna currents from the antenna resonating element and may be transparent to radio-frequency electromagnetic waves. The openings may have a width that is too narrow to be discerned by the human eye. This may configure the first and second regions to appear as a single continuous conductive layer despite the fact that an antenna resonating element is formed therein.

    Methods for maintaining line-of-sight communications

    公开(公告)号:US10567941B2

    公开(公告)日:2020-02-18

    申请号:US16231120

    申请日:2018-12-21

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with wireless communications circuitry and control circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may include millimeter wave transceiver circuitry and a phased antenna array. The phased antenna array may transmit and receive millimeter wave signals. Beam steering circuitry may be coupled to the phased antenna array and may be adjusted to steer the millimeter wave signals in a particular direction. The control circuitry may track the location of an external device using sensor data. The control circuitry may control a mechanical positioner to mechanically adjust an orientation of the phased antenna array and/or may control the beam steering circuitry to steer the millimeter wave signals towards the location of the external device. In this way, a line of sight millimeter wave communications link may be maintained between the phased antenna array and the external device even if the external device moves over time.

    Dual-Polarization Phased Antenna Arrays
    286.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20200021040A1

    公开(公告)日:2020-01-16

    申请号:US16032953

    申请日:2018-07-11

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: An electronic device may include a phased antenna array mounted in a conductive cavity for conveying radio-frequency signals above 10 GHz. The cavity may include sidewalls extending from a rear wall. The array may include rectangular patches each having first and second perpendicular edges. Each of the first edges in the array may be aligned with a first axis. Each of the second edges in the array may be aligned with a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The first and second axes may be oriented at 45 degrees with respect to each of the sidewalls of the cavity. Each patch may be fed using first and second positive antenna feed terminals that cover orthogonal linear polarizations. The cavity may prevent interference while symmetrically loading the impedance of both the first and second positive antenna feed terminals in each patch.

    Millimeter Wave Patch Antennas with Parasitic Elements

    公开(公告)号:US20200021037A1

    公开(公告)日:2020-01-16

    申请号:US16031964

    申请日:2018-07-10

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with wireless circuitry. The wireless circuitry may include one or more antenna structures and transceiver circuitry such as millimeter wave transceiver circuitry. Antenna structures in the wireless circuitry may include patch antennas that are organized in a phased antenna array. Each patch antenna may include an antenna resonating element and a parasitic element. The parasitic element for the patch antenna may have dielectric-filled openings formed between coplanar parasitic conductors. The parasitic conductors may include a central parasitic conductor, four rectangular parasitic conductors formed around the central parasitic conductor, and corner parasitic conductors formed at the corners of the parasitic element. The corner parasitic conductors may be non-rectangular. For example, the corner parasitic conductors may have first and second perpendicular edges and a straight or curved third edge that joins the first and second edges.

    Electronic Device Antennas Having Switchable Feed Terminals

    公开(公告)号:US20190393586A1

    公开(公告)日:2019-12-26

    申请号:US16019322

    申请日:2018-06-26

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: An electronic device may include a conductive housing and an antenna. The antenna may include an arm formed from a first segment of the housing. A gap may separate the first segment from a second segment. The antenna may include a feed coupled to a transmission line having a signal conductor. The feed may include first and second positive terminals on the first segment and a third positive terminal on the second segment. An adjustable component may be coupled between the first and third terminals. The signal conductor may be coupled to the first terminal. A wide conductive trace may be coupled between the signal conductor and the second terminal. A switch may be interposed on the signal conductor. The second terminal may cover a cellular low band when the switch is open. The first terminal may cover the cellular low band and higher bands when the switch is closed.

    Electronic Device Antenna Arrays Mounted Against a Dielectric Layer

    公开(公告)号:US20190319367A1

    公开(公告)日:2019-10-17

    申请号:US15950677

    申请日:2018-04-11

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a dielectric cover layer, a dielectric substrate, and a phased antenna array on the dielectric substrate for conveying millimeter wave signals through the dielectric cover layer. The array may include conductive traces mounted against the dielectric layer. The conductive traces may form patch elements or parasitic elements for the phased antenna array. The dielectric layer may have a dielectric constant and a thickness selected to form a quarter wave impedance transformer for the array at a wavelength of operation of the array. The substrate may include fences of conductive vias that laterally surround each of the antennas within the array. When configured in this way, signal attenuation, destructive interference, and surface wave generation associated with the presence of the dielectric layer over the phased antenna array may be minimized.

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