MULTI-ELEMENT ANTENNA STRUCTURE WITH WRAPPED SUBSTRATE

• US 20120223866A1
• Filed: 03/01/2011
• Published: 09/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ayala Vazquez, Enrique, Li, Qingxiang, Schlub, Robert W., Uttermann, Erik A., Yarga, Salih
• Granted Patent: US 8,896,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/378 Combination of fed elements with parasitic elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/42 with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength

Abstract

Antennas are provided for electronic devices such as portable computers. Multiple resonating elements may be formed on a flexible antenna resonating element substrate. The flexible antenna resonating element substrate may have a first antenna resonating element at one end and a second antenna resonating element at an opposing end. The flexible antenna resonating substrate may be wrapped around a dielectric carrier and mounted within an electronic device under an inactive display region and above a dielectric housing window. Conductive structures such as conductive housing structures may form antenna ground. The resonating elements and antenna ground may form first and second antennas. A parasitic antenna resonating element may form part of the first antenna.

Claims

1. An electronic device antenna structure, comprising:

a plastic support structure having opposing first and second surfaces; and

an antenna resonating element substrate having first and second antenna resonating elements for first and second respective antennas, wherein the antenna resonating element substrate is wrapped around the plastic support structure and covers the first and second surfaces.

2. The electronic device antenna structure defined in claim 1 further comprising a parasitic antenna resonating element on the antenna resonating element substrate that forms part of the first antenna.

3. The electronic device antenna structure defined in claim 2 wherein the parasitic antenna resonating element structure comprises a strip of conductor having a terminal that is connected to an electronic device housing.

4. The electronic device antenna structure defined in claim 2 wherein the first antenna is configured to operate in first and second cellular telephone communications bands.

5. The electronic device antenna structure defined in claim 4 wherein the second antenna is configured to operate in a satellite navigation system band.

6. The electronic device antenna structure defined in claim 1 wherein the first surface comprises a planar surface, wherein the second surface comprises a curved surface, and wherein the antenna resonating element substrate comprises a flexible sheet of polymer that is attached with adhesive to the first and second surfaces.

7. The electronic device antenna structure defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second surfaces meet along an axis and wherein the antenna resonating element substrate is bent along the axis.

8. The electronic device antenna structure defined in claim 7 wherein the axis runs along a longitudinal dimension of the antenna resonating element substrate, wherein the antenna resonating element substrate has first and second longitudinally opposing ends, wherein the first antenna resonating element is located at the first and, and wherein the second antenna resonating element is located at the second end.

9. An electronic device, comprising:

a dielectric carrier having opposing first and second surfaces;

a flexible antenna resonating element substrate that covers at least some of the first and second surfaces;

a conductive housing that forms an antenna ground;

a first antenna resonating element on the flexible antenna resonating element substrate, wherein the antenna ground and the first antenna resonating element form a first antenna; and

a second antenna resonating element on the flexible antenna resonating element substrate, wherein the antenna ground and the second antenna resonating element form a second antenna.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 9 further comprising a dielectric window in the conductive housing, wherein the carrier is mounted adjacent to the dielectric window.

11. The electronic device defined in claim 10 further comprising a display with a cover glass layer, wherein the carrier is mounted adjacent to the cover glass layer.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the first surface comprises a planar surface and wherein the dielectric carrier is mounted so that the planar surface lies against the cover glass layer.

13. The electronic device defined in claim 12 wherein the display has an active area that is surrounded by a peripheral inactive area, wherein an inner surface of the cover glass layer in the peripheral inactive area is peripheral inactive area is covered with an opaque masking layer, and wherein the planar surface is covered by the opaque masking layer.

14. The electronic device defined in claim 13 wherein the dielectric window has a curved shape and wherein the second surface is curved to match the curved shape of the dielectric window.

15. The electronic device defined in claim 9 further comprising a parasitic antenna resonating element on the flexible antenna resonating element substrate adjacent to the first antenna resonating element, wherein the parasitic antenna resonating element forms part of the first antenna.

16. The electronic device defined in claim 15 further comprising a display cover glass layer and a dielectric window, wherein the dielectric carrier is interposed between the display cover glass and the dielectric window so that radio-frequency signals are received by the first and second antennas through the display cover glass and the dielectric window.

17. Apparatus, comprising:

a dielectric carrier; and

a flexible antenna resonating element substrate wrapped around the dielectric carrier and having first and second antenna resonating elements that form first and second antennas.

18. The apparatus defined in claim 17 wherein the dielectric carrier has first and second surfaces that meet along an axis, wherein the flexible antenna resonating substrate is bent over the carrier along the axis, and wherein the flexible antenna resonating element substrate covers the first and second surfaces.

19. The apparatus defined in claim 18 further comprising a parasitic antenna resonating element on the flexible antenna resonating element substrate that forms part of the first antenna.

20. The apparatus defined in claim 19 wherein the first antenna is configured to operate in at least two cellular telephone communications bands and wherein the second antenna is configured to operate in a satellite navigation system band.