Electronic device antennas having shared structures for near-field communications and non-near field communications

    公开(公告)号:US10263335B2

    公开(公告)日:2019-04-16

    申请号:US15700565

    申请日:2017-09-11

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with wireless circuitry. The wireless circuitry may include antenna structures such as an antenna resonating element arm and an antenna ground. A split return path may be coupled between the antenna resonating element arm and the antenna ground. The antenna structures may form one or more inverted-F antennas when operated at non-near-field communications frequencies. The antenna structures may be coupled to near-field communications transceiver circuitry using a conductive path. When operated at near-field communications frequencies, near-field communications signals may be conveyed using the conductive path, the antenna resonating element arm, the return path, and the antenna ground. A capacitor may be coupled between the conductive path and an antenna ground. The capacitor may short non-near-field communications signals to the antenna ground and block near-field communications signals from passing from the conductive path to the antenna ground.

    Wireless Earphone Antennas
    42.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20190103661A1

    公开(公告)日:2019-04-04

    申请号:US15721532

    申请日:2017-09-29

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: An electronic device such as a wireless earbud may have antenna structures that are configured to form one or more antenna portions or antennas for transmitting and receiving wireless signals. The device may include control circuitry that is configured to selectively activate one or more antennas or antenna portions to transmit and receive wireless signals for the device. The device may include sensor circuitry that provide sensor data to the control circuitry. The control circuitry may use the sensor data to select and activate an optimal antenna based on the orientation of the earbud or the environment of the device. The antennas may be formed on opposing sides of a housing for the device. By providing configurable antenna structures, the device may be configured to adapt to the current environment and efficiently perform communications operations.

    Systems and Methods for Mitigating Polarization Loss

    公开(公告)号:US20190097328A1

    公开(公告)日:2019-03-28

    申请号:US15714970

    申请日:2017-09-25

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with wireless communications circuitry and control circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may include centimeter wave and millimeter wave transceiver circuitry and a phased antenna array. The phased antenna array may transmit and receive wireless signals having a frequency higher than 10 GHz. Beam steering circuitry may be coupled to the phased antenna array and may be adjusted to steer the wireless signals to communicate with external equipment. Sensor circuitry in the electronic device may gather sensor data. The control circuitry may use the gathered sensor data to determine a polarization mismatch between the electronic device and the external equipment (e.g., between a signal transmitting device and a signal receiving equipment or vice versa). To mitigate the polarization mismatch data loss, the control circuitry may adjust the polarization settings associated with antennas of the electronic device.

    Electronic Device Antennas for Performing Angle of Arrival Detection

    公开(公告)号:US20190097317A1

    公开(公告)日:2019-03-28

    申请号:US15718288

    申请日:2017-09-28

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with wireless circuitry that includes antenna structures used to determine the position and orientation of the electronic device relative to external wireless equipment. The electronic device may include a housing having a planar conductive layer, a first slot antenna that includes a first bent slot element in the planar conductive layer, and a second slot antenna that includes a second bent slot element in the planar conductive layer. The first and second bent slot elements may be configured to receive radio-frequency signals at the same frequency. The first and second bent slot elements may have the same shape. The electronic device may include control circuitry configured to measure a phase difference between the radio-frequency signals received by the first and second slot antennas. The control circuitry may identify an angle of arrival of the received radio-frequency signals based on the measured phase difference.

    Electronic Device Having Isolated Antenna Structures

    公开(公告)号:US20190081386A1

    公开(公告)日:2019-03-14

    申请号:US15700636

    申请日:2017-09-11

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with wireless circuitry. The wireless circuitry may include multiple antennas and transceiver circuitry. The antenna structures at a first end of the electronic device may include an inverted-F antenna resonating element for a first antenna formed from portions of a peripheral conductive electronic device housing structure and an antenna ground that is separated from the antenna resonating element by a gap. The inverted-F antenna resonating element arm may have a first end adjacent a first dielectric-filled gap and an opposing second end adjacent a second dielectric-filled gap. A second antenna may include an additional antenna resonating element arm and the antenna ground. A second end of the additional antenna resonating element arm may be interposed between the first dielectric-filled gap and a first end of the additional antenna resonating element arm. This type of arrangement may ensure the first and second antennas are isolated.

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