Abstract:
An electronic device may have a housing in which an antenna and a proximity sensor formed from flex circuit structures are mounted. The flex circuit structures may include first and second flex circuit layers. The first and second flex circuit layers may include metal antenna structures and metal proximity sensor electrode structures. Solder may be used to attach electrical components to the flex circuit layers and may be used to electrically connect metal structures on the first and second flex circuit layers to each other. The first and second flex circuit layers may be laminated together using a compressive fixture. The compressive fixture may have a first fixture with a convex surface and a second fixture with a concave surface so that the laminated flex circuit layers are provided with a bend.
Abstract:
Apparatus and methods for authenticating and granting a client device (e.g., cellular telephone) access to a network. In one embodiment, a network service provider such as a cellular telephone company may distribute user access (e.g., Universal Subscriber Identity Module or "USIM") credentials to a services manager via a USIM vendor. The services manager may maintain a list of authorized users. A user at a client may authenticate to the services manager. Once authenticated, the services manager may provide the user with a set of USIM credentials. When the user desires to use wireless network services, the user equipment may establish a wireless link between the user equipment and the network service provider. During authentication operations, the user equipment may use the USIM credentials to authenticate to the network service provider. Following successful authentication, the network service provider may provide the user equipment with wireless services.
Abstract:
An electronic device such as a portable electronic device has wireless communications circuitry. Antennas in the electronic device may be used in transmitting radio-frequency antenna signals. A coupler and antenna signal phase and magnitude measurement circuitry may be used to determine when external objects are in the vicinity of the antenna by making antenna impedance measurements. In-band and out-of-band phase and magnitude signal measurements may be made in determining whether external objects are present. Additional sensors such as motion sensors, light and heat sensors, acoustic and electrical sensors may produce data that can be combined with the proximity data gathered using the antenna-based proximity sensor. In response to detecting that an external object such as a user's body is within a given distance of the antenna, the electronic device may reduce transmit powers, switch antennas, steer a phased antenna array, switch communications protocols, or take other actions.
Abstract:
Electronic devices are provided that contain wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may include radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and antenna structures. A parallel- fed loop antenna may be formed from portions of an electronic device bezel and a ground plane. The antenna may operate in multiple communications bands. An impedance matching circuit for the antenna may be formed from a parallel-connected inductive element and a series- connected capacitive element. The bezel may surround a peripheral portion of a display that is mounted to the front of an electronic device. The bezel may contain a gap. Antenna feed terminals for the antenna may be located on opposing sides of the gap. The inductive element may bridge the gap and the antenna feed terminals. The capacitive element may be connected in series between one of the antenna feed terminals and a conductor in a transmission line located between the transceiver circuitry and the antenna.
Abstract:
Handheld electronic devices are provided that contain wireless communications circuitry having at least first and second antennas. An antenna isolation element reduces signal interference between the antennas, so that the antennas may be used in close proximity to each other. A planar ground element may be used as a ground by the first and second antennas. The first antenna may be formed using a hybrid planar-inverted-F and slot arrangement in which a planar resonating element is located above a rectangular slot in the planar ground element. The second antenna may be formed from an L- shaped strip. The planar resonating element of the first antenna may have first and second arms. The first arm may resonate at a common frequency with the second antenna and may serve as the isolation element. The second arm may resonate at approximately the same frequency as the slot portion of the hybrid antenna.
Abstract:
An electronic device may have a housing in which an antenna and a proximity sensor formed from flex circuit structures are mounted. The flex circuit structures may include first and second flex circuit layers. The first and second flex circuit layers may include metal antenna structures and metal proximity sensor electrode structures. Solder may be used to attach electrical components to the flex circuit layers and may be used to electrically connect metal structures on the first and second flex circuit layers to each other. The first and second flex circuit layers may be laminated together using a compressive fixture. The compressive fixture may have a first fixture with a convex surface and a second fixture with a concave surface so that the laminated flex circuit layers are provided with a bend.
Abstract:
Electronic devices may be provided that contain wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may include radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and antenna structures. An electronic device may include a display mounted within a housing. A peripheral conductive member may run around the edges of the display and housing. Dielectric-filled gaps may divide the peripheral conductive member into individual segments. A ground plane may be formed within the housing from conductive housing structures, printed circuit boards, and other conductive elements. The ground plane and the segments of the peripheral conductive member may form antennas in upper and lower portions of the housing. The radio-frequency transceiver circuitry may implement receiver diversity using both the upper and lower antennas. The lower antenna may be used in transmitting signals. The upper antenna may be tuned using a tunable matching circuit.
Abstract:
Electronic devices are provided that contain wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may include radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and antenna structures. A parallel- fed loop antenna may be formed from portions of an electronic device bezel and a ground plane. The antenna may operate in multiple communications bands. An impedance matching circuit for the antenna may be formed from a parallel-connected inductive element and a series- connected capacitive element. The bezel may surround a peripheral portion of a display that is mounted to the front of an electronic device. The bezel may contain a gap. Antenna feed terminals for the antenna may be located on opposing sides of the gap. The inductive element may bridge the gap and the antenna feed terminals. The capacitive element may be connected in series between one of the antenna feed terminals and a conductor in a transmission line located between the transceiver circuitry and the antenna.
Abstract:
An electronic device has wireless communications circuitry including an adjustable antenna system coupled to a radio-frequency transceiver. The adjustable antenna system may include one or more adjustable electrical components that are controlled by storage and processing circuitry in the electronic device. The adjustable electrical components may include switches and components that can be adjusted between numerous different states. The adjustable electrical components may be coupled between antenna system components such as transmission line elements, matching network elements, antenna elements and antenna feeds. By adjusting the adjustable electrical components, the storage and processing circuitry can tune the adjustable antenna system to ensure that the adjustable antenna system covers communications bands of interest.
Abstract:
An electronic device such as a portable electronic device has wireless communications circuitry ( 61 ). Antennas (40 ) in the electronic device may be used in transmitting radio-frequency antenna signals. A coupler ( 62 ) and antenna signal phase and magnitude measurement circuitry ( 64 ) may be used to determine when external objects are in the vicinity of the antenna by making antenna impedance measurements. Additional sensors such as motion sensors, light and heat sensors, acoustic and electrical sensors may produce data that can be combined with the proximity data gathered using the antenna-based proximity sensor. In response to detecting that an external object such as a user's body is within a given distance of the antenna, the electronic device may reduce transmit powers, switch antennas, steer a phased antenna array, switch communications protocols, or take other actions.