Electronic Device with Sheet Metal Antenna

An electronic device may have first and second rear-facing displays, a front-facing display, a cover at a front side overlapping the front-facing display, and an antenna that radiates through the cover. The antenna may be formed from sheet metal. The antenna may have a resonating element formed from a first portion of the sheet metal and an antenna ground that includes a second portion of the sheet metal separated from the first portion by a cavity. A third portion of the sheet metal may couple the first portion to the second portion and may be folded around the cavity to produce a spring force that presses the first portion against the cover. The first portion and the cover may have the same compound curvature. The second portion may form a conductive cavity for the antenna.

FIELD

This relates generally to electronic devices, including electronic devices with wireless communications capabilities.

BACKGROUND

Electronic devices often have displays that are used to display images to users. Such devices can include head-mounted displays and can have wireless circuitry with antennas. It can be challenging to incorporate antennas that exhibit satisfactory levels of wireless performance into compact and lightweight head-mounted displays.

SUMMARY

A head-mounted device may have a housing. The housing may have an inner conductive chassis mounted to an outer conductive chassis. A logic board may be mounted to the inner conductive chassis. Left and right displays may be mounted to the logic board and may display images at a rear of the device. A cover may be mounted to the outer conductive chassis at the front of the device. The cover may have a compound or three-dimensional curvature. A front-facing display may be mounted to the cover and may display images through the cover. The cover may have a peripheral region laterally surrounding the front-facing display.

The device may have wireless circuitry with an antenna. The antenna may be mounted to the cover and may overlap the peripheral region. The antenna may radiate through the cover. The antenna may have an antenna resonating element and an antenna ground. The antenna resonating element may be formed from a first portion of a sheet metal member. The first portion may extend along the cover and may have the compound or three-dimensional curvature of the cover. The antenna ground may include a second portion of the sheet metal member separated from the first portion by a cavity. A third portion of the sheet metal member may couple the first portion to the second portion and may be folded around the cavity. The third portion may produce a spring force that presses the first portion against the cover.

The second portion of the sheet metal member may include a rear wall and a sidewall extending towards the cover from the rear wall. The sidewall, the rear wall, the first portion of the sheet metal member, and the third portion of the sheet metal member may define edges of the cavity. The rear wall may be mounted to ground traces on a logic board. The sidewall may include a ledge extending away from the cavity. A conductive gasket may be mounted to the ledge and may couple the sheet metal to the front-facing display. The second portion of the sheet metal may help to mitigate electromagnetic interference from other components, may help to optimize the gain and radiation pattern of the antenna, and/or may contribute to the radiative response of the antenna. Implementing the antenna using folded sheet metal may produce greater tolerance, higher parallelism between the resonating element and the cover, less manufacturing cost, fewer parts, less weight, and less volume consumption than when the antenna is implemented using traces on a flexible printed circuit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Electronic devices may be provided with components such as antennas. The electronic devices may include portable electronic devices, wearable devices, desktop devices, embedded systems, and other electronic equipment. Illustrative configurations in which the electronic devices include a head-mounted device may sometimes be described herein as an example. The head-mounted device may have first and second rear-facing displays and a front-facing display. The device may have a housing with a cover at a front side of the device. The cover may have a central region overlapping the front-facing display and a peripheral region surrounding the central region. The cover may have a compound three-dimensional curvature.

The device may include an outer conductive chassis and an inner conductive chassis. A main logic board may be mounted to the inner conductive chassis. The first and second rear-facing displays may be mounted to the logic board. The device may include wireless circuitry with an antenna mounted against the cover. The antenna may be formed from a piece of folded sheet metal. The antenna may have an antenna resonating formed from a first portion of the sheet metal and extending along the cover. The antenna may have an antenna ground that includes a second portion of the sheet metal separated from the first portion by a cavity. The antenna may include a third portion of the sheet metal that couples the first portion to the second portion and that is folded around the cavity. Folding the third portion of the sheet metal may produce a spring force that presses the first portion against the cover. The second portion of the sheet metal may include a rear wall and sidewalls that help to electromagnetically isolate the antenna and optimize wireless performance of the antenna. Forming the antenna using folded sheet metal may produce greater tolerance, higher parallelism between the resonating element and the cover, less manufacturing cost, fewer parts, less weight, and less volume consumption than when the antenna is implemented using traces on a flexible printed circuit.

FIG.1shows an illustrative electronic device10. Device10may be operated in a system that includes external equipment22other than device10. In some implementations that are described herein as an example, device10may include a head-mounted device (sometimes referred to herein as a head-mounted display device or simply a head-mounted display). If desired, device10may include a portable electronic device such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a media player, a cellular telephone, or a wearable electronic device such as a wristwatch, a pendant or bracelet, headphones, an earpiece, a headset, or other small portable device. Device10may also be larger device such as a desktop computer, display with or without an integrated computer, a set-top box, or a wireless access point or base station. If desired, device10may be integrated into a larger device or system such as a piece of furniture, a kiosk, a building, or a vehicle.

As shown inFIG.1, device10may include a housing formed from one or more housing structures12(sometimes referred to herein as housing members12). In implementations where device10is a head-mounted device, housing structures12may include support structures that are mountable or wearable on a user's head (sometimes referred to herein as head-mounted support structures), thereby allowing a user to wear device10while using or operating device10.

The head-mounted support structures in housing structures12may have the shape of glasses or goggles and may support one or more lenses that align with one or more of the user's eyes while the user is wearing device10. The head-mounted support structures in housing structures12may include one or more rigid frames that help to provide mechanical integrity, rigidity, and/or strength to device10during use. In some implementations that are described herein as an example, the one or more rigid frames are formed from conductive material. The rigid frame(s) may therefore sometimes be referred to herein as conductive frame(s).

If desired, housing structures12may include other housing structures or housing members disposed on (e.g., layered on or over, affixed to, etc.) and/or overlapping some or all of the conductive frame(s) (e.g., dielectric structures, rubber structures, ceramic structures, glass structures, fiber composite structures, foam structures, sapphire structures, plastic structures, cosmetic structures, etc.). These other housing structures may, for example, support one or more components in device10, may help to protect the components of device10from damage or contaminants, may help to allow device10to be worn comfortably on the user's head, may help to hide portions of the conductive frame from view, may contribute to the cosmetic or aesthetic appearance of device10, etc.

Device10may include input/output (I/O) components such as I/O components14. I/O components14may allow device10to provide output and/or other information to the user of device10or other entities and/or may allow device10to receive user input and/or other information from the user and/or other entities. I/O components14may include one or more displays such as displays18. Displays18may emit light (sometimes referred to herein as image light) that is provided to the user's eyes for viewing. The light may contain images. The images may contain pixels. Many images may be provided over time in a sequence (e.g., as a video). The displays18in device10may include, for example, left and right displays. The left display may provide light to a user's left eye whereas the right display may provide light to the suer's right eye while the user wears device10on their head.

I/O components14may also include wireless circuitry such as wireless circuitry16(sometimes referred to herein as wireless communication circuitry16). Wireless circuitry16may transmit radio-frequency signals24to external equipment22and/or may receive radio-frequency signals24from external equipment22. External equipment22may include another device such as device10(e.g., another head-mounted device, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a cellular telephone, a tablet computer, a tethered computer, etc.), a peripheral device or accessory device (e.g., a user input device, a stylus, a device that identifies user inputs associated with gestures or motions made by a user, a gaming controller, headphones, etc.), remote computing equipment such as a remote server or cloud computing segment, a wireless base station, a wireless access point, and/or any other desired equipment with wireless communications capabilities. In implementations that are described herein as an example, external equipment22includes at least first and second peripheral devices such as left and right headphone speakers or earbuds. The earbuds may be worn by a user to provide audio content to the user's ears while the user is wearing device10on their head. Wireless circuitry16may transmit the audio content to the carbuds using radio-frequency signals24.

I/O components14may also include other components (not shown) such as sensors, haptic output devices (e.g., one or more vibrators), non-display light sources such as light-emitting diodes, audio devices such as speakers for producing audio output, wireless charging circuitry for receiving wireless power for charging a battery on device10and/or for transmitting wireless power for charging a battery on other devices, batteries and/or other energy storage devices, buttons, mechanical adjustment components (e.g., components for adjusting one or more housing structures12to allow device10to be worn comfortably on a user's head and/or on other user's heads, which may have different geometries), and/or other components.

Sensors in I/O components14may include image sensors (e.g., one or more visible and/or infrared light cameras, binocular three-dimensional image sensors that gather three-dimensional images using two or more cameras in a binocular configuration, sensors that emit beams of light and that use two-dimensional image sensors to gather image data for three-dimensional images from light spots that are produced when a target is illuminated by the beams, light detection and ranging (lidar) sensors, etc.), acoustic sensors such as microphones or ultrasonic sensors, gaze tracking sensors (e.g., an optical system that emits one or more beams of infrared light that are tracked using the image sensor after reflecting from a user's eyes while wearing device10), touch sensors, force sensors (e.g., capacitive force sensors, strain gauges, resistive force sensors, etc.), proximity sensors (e.g., capacitive proximity sensors and/or optical proximity sensors), ambient light sensors, contact sensors, pressure sensors, moisture sensors, gas sensors, magnetic sensors, motion sensors for sensing motion, position, and/or orientation (e.g., gyroscopes, accelerometers, compasses, and/or inertial measurement units (IMUs) that include two or more of these), and/or any other desired sensors.

Device10may also include one or more controllers20(sometimes referred to herein as control circuitry20). Controller(s)20may include processing circuitry and storage circuitry.

The processing circuitry may be used to control the operation of device10and may include one or more processors such as microprocessors, digital signal processors, microcontrollers, host processors, application specific integrated circuits, baseband processors, graphics processing units, central processing units (CPUs), etc. The storage circuitry in controller(s)20may include one or more hard disks or hard drives storage, nonvolatile memory (e.g., electrically-programmable-read-only memory configured to form a solid-state drive), volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamic random-access-memory), etc. If desired, controller(s)20may be configured to perform operations in device10using hardware (e.g., dedicated hardware or circuitry), firmware, and/or software. Software code for performing operations in device10may be stored on storage and may be executed by processing circuitry in controller(s)20.

Controller(s)20run software on device10such as one or more software applications, internet browsers, gaming programs, voice-over-internet-protocol (VOIP) telephone call applications, social media applications, driving or navigation applications, email applications, media playback applications, operating system functions, etc. To support interactions with external equipment22, controller(s)20may implement one or more communications protocols associated with (wireless) radio-frequency signals24. The communications protocols may include internet protocols, wireless local area network protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.11 protocols-sometimes referred to as Wi-Fi®), protocols for other short-range wireless communications links such as the Bluetooth® protocol or other wireless personal area network (WPAN) protocols, IEEE 802.11ad protocols, cellular telephone protocols, multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) protocols, antenna diversity protocols, satellite navigation system protocols, IEEE 802.15.4 ultra-wideband communications protocols or other ultra-wideband communications protocols, non-Bluetooth protocols for ultra-low-latency audio streaming, etc. Each communications protocol may be associated with a corresponding radio access technology (RAT) that specifies the physical connection methodology used in implementing the protocol.

During operation, wireless circuitry16may be used to support communication between device10and external equipment22(e.g., using radio-frequency signals24). For example, device10and/or external device22may transmit video data, application data, audio data, user input commands, and/or other data to each other (e.g., in one or both directions). If desired, device10and/or external equipment22may use wired and/or wireless communications circuitry to communicate through one or more communications networks (e.g., the internet, local area networks, etc.). If desired, device10may communicate with other end hosts over the internet via radio-frequency signals24and external equipment22. Wireless circuitry16may allow data to be received by device10from external equipment22and/or to provide data to external equipment22.

While controller(s)20are shown separately from wireless circuitry16for the sake of clarity, wireless circuitry16may include processing circuitry and/or storage circuitry that forms part of controller(s)20(e.g., portions of controller(s)20may be implemented on wireless circuitry16). As an example, controller(s)20may include baseband circuitry (e.g., one or more baseband processors), digital control circuitry, analog control circuitry, and/or other control circuitry that forms part of wireless circuitry16. The baseband circuitry may, for example, access a communication protocol stack on controller(s)20to: perform user plane functions at a PHY layer, MAC layer, RLC layer, PDCP layer, SDAP layer, and/or PDU layer, and/or to perform control plane functions at the PHY layer, MAC layer, RLC layer, PDCP layer, RRC, layer, and/or non-access stratum layer.

FIG.2is a top view of device10. In the example ofFIG.2, device10is a head-mounted device. In general, device10may be any suitable electronic equipment. As shown inFIG.2, device10may include housing structures12. Housing structures12may be configured to be worn on a user's head. Housing structures12may have curved head-shaped surfaces, a nose-bridge portion that is configured to rest on a user's nose when device10is on a user's head, may have a headband such as strap12C for supporting device10on the user's head, and/or may have other features that allow device10to be worn by a user.

Housing structures12may include one or more frame members such as outer chassis12A and inner chassis12B. Outer chassis12A may be an outer frame surrounding the interior of device10and may, if desired, form exterior surfaces of device10(e.g., portions of outer chassis12A may form one or more housing walls of device10such as housing walls that run around a periphery of device10). Inner chassis12B may be disposed within the interior of device10and may be mounted to outer chassis12A (e.g., outer chassis12A may surround the lateral periphery of inner chassis12B in the X-Z plane). Strap12C may be attached to outer chassis12A at right side36of device10and left side34of device10(e.g., using attachment structures such as a joint, a hinge, screws, fasteners, snaps, magnets, etc.). Strap12C may be permanently attached to outer chassis12A or may be removable. Right side36may sometimes be referred to herein as right edge36, right face36, or right wall36of device10. Left side34may extend opposite right side36and may sometimes be referred to herein as left edge34, left face34, or left wall34of device10. Right side36and left side34may extend from front side30to rear side32of device10.

Outer chassis12A may be formed from conductive material such as aluminum, stainless steel, or titanium. Outer chassis12A may therefore sometimes be referred to herein as conductive chassis12A, conductive outer chassis12A, outer conductive chassis12A, conductive outer frame12A, conductive frame12A, conductive housing12A, conductive outer housing12A, or outer housing12A. If desired, inner chassis12B may be formed from a different conductive material than outer chassis12A (e.g., to meet mounting requirements for the inner chassis, to meet protective requirements for the outer chassis, to meet requirements on mechanical strength and integrity, and minimize device weight). Inner chassis12B may, for example, be formed from conductive material such as magnesium, aluminum, stainless steel, or titanium. Inner chassis12B may therefore sometimes be referred to herein as conductive chassis12B, conductive inner chassis12B, inner conductive chassis12B, conductive inner frame12B, conductive frame12B, conductive housing12B, conductive inner housing12B, inner housing12B, or conductive support plate12B.

Outer chassis12A and inner chassis12B may provide mechanical support and rigidity for device10. In addition, one or more components within the interior of device10may be mounted or affixed to outer chassis12A and/or inner chassis12B. For example, a substrate such as logic board38may be mounted to inner chassis12B. Logic board38may, for example, form a main logic board (MLB) for device10. Other components in device10(e.g., portions of I/O components14and/or controller(s)20ofFIG.1) may be mounted to and/or formed within logic board38. For example, one or more rear/user facing such as displays18B may be mounted to logic board38. Displays18B may face rear side32of device10. Rear side32may sometimes also be referred to herein as rear edge32, rear wall32, or rear face32.

When device10is worn on a user's head, the user's head33faces rear side32of device10and the user's eyes are aligned with displays18B, as shown by arrows40. Displays18B may include a left display that aligns with the user's left eye and a right display that aligns with the user's right eye (e.g., the user's left and right eyes may be located within left and right eye boxes of displays18B). The left and right displays may include respective pixel arrays (or a single shared pixel array) and optics (e.g., one or more lenses) for directing images from the pixel arrays to the user's eyes (e.g., as binocularly fusible content).

The housing structures12of device10may also include housing structures at the front side30of device10opposite rear side32. Front side30may sometimes also be referred to herein as front edge30, front wall30, or front face30of device10. Housing structures12may include a cover glass assembly (CGA)28mounted to outer chassis12A at front side30of device10. CGA28may sometimes also be referred to herein as cover28, front cover28, or dielectric cover28of device10. CGA28may be fully or partially transparent.

CGA28may include multiple layers (sometimes referred to herein as cover layers). For example, CGA28may include an outer cover layer for device10such as a glass cover layer (sometimes referred to herein as a display cover layer or a cover glass). The glass cover layer may form the exterior surface of device10at front side30. CGA28may also include one or more dielectric layers behind and overlapping the glass cover layer (e.g., at an interior side of the glass cover layer). The dielectric layer(s) may include one or more polymer layers, plastic layers, glass layers, ceramic layers, and/or other dielectric layers. If desired, some or all of the dielectric layer(s) may be formed in a ring shape that runs along the periphery of CGA28in the X-Z plane and the glass cover layer (e.g., at peripheral edge portions42of CGA28) or may overlap substantially all of the glass cover layer. The dielectric layer(s) behind the glass cover layer may sometimes also be referred to as a cover layer, dielectric member, dielectric cover layer, shroud, trim, and/or canopy. Peripheral edge portions42may sometimes also be referred to herein as peripheral region42or edge region42.

CGA28may also include a forward-facing display such as display18A (e.g., a flexible display panel formed from a pixel array based on organic light-emitting diodes or other display panel). CGA28may have a central portion or region44that overlaps display18A. Peripheral edge portions42of CGA28may extend around the lateral periphery of CGA28and central region44. Display18A may emit light (e.g., images) through central region44of the dielectric layer(s) and the glass cover layer of CGA28(as shown by arrow46) for view by persons other than the wearer of device10. The central region44of the glass cover layer and the dielectric layer(s) of CGA28that overlap display18A may be fully transparent or partly transparent to help hide display18A from view when the display is not emitting light. The peripheral edge regions42of the glass cover layer and the dielectric layer(s) of CGA28may be opaque or transparent. Display18A may sometimes be referred to herein as a front-facing display or a publicly viewable display.

Housing structures12may also include cosmetic covering members, polymer layers (e.g., fully or partly transparent polymer layers), and/or dielectric housing walls layered onto or over outer chassis12A (e.g., at the exterior of device10) if desired. Housing structures12may also include one or more fabric members, rubber members, ceramic members, dielectric members, curtain members, or other structures at rear side32of device10that help to accommodate the user's face while wearing device10and/or to block external, ambient, or scene light from the environment around the user from interfering with the light from displays18B being viewed by the user.

Some or all of the lateral surface of CGA28may exhibit a curved cross-sectional profile. Within CGA28, some or all of one or more lateral surfaces of the glass cover layer and/or some or all of one or more of the lateral surfaces of the dielectric layer(s) in CGA28may be characterized by a three-dimensional curvature (e.g., spherical curvature, aspherical curvature, freeform curvature, etc.). The three-dimensional curvature may be a compound curvature (e.g., the surfaces exhibiting the curvature may be non-developable surfaces).

In the areas of compound curvature, at least some portions of the curved surface(s) in CGA28may be characterized by a radius of curvature R of 4 mm to 250 mm, 8 mm to 200 mm, 10 mm to 150 mm, at least 5 mm, at least 12 mm, at least 16 mm, at least 20 mm, at least 30 mm, less than 200 mm, less than 100 mm, less than 75 mm, less than 55 mm, less than 35 mm, and/or other suitable amount of curvatures. The compound curvature may be, for example, a three-dimensional curvature in which the surface(s) have non-zero radii of curvature about two or more different axes (e.g., non-parallel axes, intersecting axes, non-intersecting axes, perpendicular axes such as the X-axis and Z-axis, etc.) and/or two or more different points within or behind device10. If desired, one or more of the surfaces of the dielectric layer(s) in CGA28may be a developable surface. Display18A may be a flexible display panel that is bent into a curved shape (e.g., a curved shape following the curved face of a user, a curved shape following the compound curvature of CGA28, a curved shape characterized by inner and outer developable surfaces, etc.). The compound curvature may serve to provide device10with an attractive cosmetic appearance, may help device10to exhibit a compact and light weight form factor, may serve to maximize the mechanical strength of device10, and/or may accommodate easy interaction with device10by the user, as examples.

During operation, device10may receive image data (e.g., image data for video, still images, etc.) and may present this information on displays18B and/or18A. Device10may also receive other data, control commands, user input, etc. Device10may also transmit data to accessories and other electronic equipment (e.g., external equipment22ofFIG.1). For example, image data from a forward-facing camera may be provided to an associated device, audio output may be provided to a device with speakers such as a headphone device, user input and sensor readings may be transmitted to remote equipment, etc.

Communications such as these may be supported using wired and/or wireless communications. In an illustrative configuration, wireless circuitry16(FIG.1) may support wireless communications between device10and remote wireless equipment such as external equipment22ofFIG.1(e.g., a cellular telephone, a wireless base station, a computer, headphones or other accessories, a remote control, peer devices, internet servers, and/or other equipment). Wireless communications may be supported using one or more antennas in device10and in the external equipment operating at one or more wireless communications frequencies. The antennas may be coupled to wireless transceiver circuitry. The wireless transceiver circuitry may include transmitter circuitry configured to transmit wireless communications signals using the antenna(s) and receiver circuitry configured to receive wireless communications signals using the antenna(s).

External equipment22ofFIG.1may include at least a first accessory or peripheral device22L and a second accessory or peripheral device22R, as shown in the example ofFIG.2. Peripheral devices22R and22L may, for example, be control input devices (e.g., remote controls, gaming controllers, etc.) or audio output devices such as right and left speakers, right and left speakers of headphones worn by the user, etc. In implementations that are described herein as an example, peripheral device22R is a right earbud and peripheral device22L is a left earbud. Peripheral device22R may therefore sometimes be referred to herein as right earbud22R and peripheral device22L may sometimes be referred to herein as left earbud22L.

While operating device10, the user wears device10on head33. At the same time, the user wears left earbud22L on and/or within their left ear (at the left side of head33) and wears right earbud22R on and/or within their right car (at the right side of head33). Earbuds22L and22R may each include a speaker, a battery, one or more processors, and wireless circuitry having one or more antennas. Earbuds22L and22R may be wireless carbuds having batteries that are rechargeable when earbuds22L and22R are plugged into a power adapter, placed on or within a charging dock, or placed within a charging case, for example.

One or more antennas in device10may transmit audio data in radio-frequency signals24A to earbuds22R and22L. Earbuds22L and22R may play the audio data over the speakers in earbuds22L and22R. The audio data may include a first stream of audio data (e.g., left audio data) for playback by left earbud22L and a second, different, stream of audio data (e.g., right audio data) for playback by right earbud22R (e.g., to provide the user with stereo, three-dimensional, spatial, and/or surround sound). One or more antennas in device10may also convey other wireless data in radio-frequency signals24W.

Additionally or alternatively, one or both of earbuds22L and22R may include one or more sensors that generate sensor data. The sensors may include a microphone, a touch sensor, a force sensor, an orientation sensor (e.g., a gyroscope, inertial measurement unit, motion sensor, etc.), an ambient light sensor, a proximity sensor, a magnetic sensor, a temperature sensor, and/or other sensors. The microphone may generate microphone data (e.g., voice data from the user speaking while wearing the carbuds). The touch sensor may generate touch sensor data and the force sensor may generate force sensor data (e.g., indicative of a user input provided to device10via the earbuds, indicative of the earbuds being presently located in the cars of the user, etc.). The ambient light sensor may generate ambient light sensor data (e.g., indicative of the location of device10and/or lighting conditions around the user). In general, the sensors may generate any desired sensor data. Earbuds22L and22R may transmit the sensor data to one or more antennas in device10using radio-frequency signals24A and/or using radio-frequency signals24W.

FIG.3is a diagram of illustrative components in wireless circuitry16of device10. As shown inFIG.3, wireless circuitry16may include one or more transceivers (e.g., transceiver circuitry) such as transceiver (TX/RX)66. Transceiver66may handle transmission and/or reception of radio-frequency signals24(e.g., radio-frequency signals24A or24W ofFIG.2) within corresponding frequency bands at radio frequencies (sometimes referred to herein as communications bands or simply as bands).

The frequency bands handled by transceiver66may include wireless personal area network (WPAN) frequency bands such as the 2.4 GHz Bluetooth® band or other WPAN communications bands, cellular telephone communications bands such as a cellular low band (600-960 MHz), a cellular low-midband (1400-1550 MHz), a cellular midband (1700-2200 MHz), a cellular high band (2300-2700 MHz), a cellular ultra-high band (3300-5000 MHz), or other cellular communications bands between about 600 MHz and about 5000 MHz), 3G bands, 4G LTE bands, 3GPP 5G New Radio Frequency Range 1 (FR1) bands below 10 GHz, 3GPP 5G New Radio (NR) Frequency Range 2 (FR2) bands between 20 and 60 GHz, other centimeter or millimeter wave frequency bands between 10-300 GHz, wireless local area network (WLAN) frequency bands (e.g., Wi-Fi® (IEEE 802.11) or other WLAN communications bands) such as a 2.4 GHz WLAN band (e.g., from 2400 to 2480 MHz), a 5 GHz WLAN band (e.g., from 5180 to 5825 MHz), a Wi-Fi® 6E band (e.g., from 5925-7125 MHz), and/or other Wi-Fi® bands e.g., from 1875-5160 MHz), near-field communications frequency bands (e.g., at 13.56 MHz), satellite navigation frequency bands such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) bands, Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) bands, and BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) bands, ultra-wideband (UWB) frequency bands that operate under the IEEE 802.15.4 protocol and/or other ultra-wideband communications protocols (e.g., a first UWB communications band at 6.5 GHz and/or a second UWB communications band at 8.0 GHZ), communications bands under the family of 3GPP wireless communications standards, communications bands under the IEEE 802.XX family of standards, satellite communications bands, unlicensed bands such as an unlicensed band at 2.4 GHz and/or an unlicensed band between 5-6 GHZ, emergency and/or public services bands, and/or any other desired frequency bands of interest. Transceiver66may also be used to perform spatial ranging operations if desired (e.g., using a radar scheme).

As shown inFIG.3, wireless circuitry16may also include one or more antennas50. Transceiver66may convey (e.g., transmit and/or receive) radio-frequency signals24using one or more antennas50. Each antenna50may include one or more antenna conductors formed from conductive material such as metal. The antenna conductors may include an antenna resonating element52(sometimes referred to as an antenna resonator, an antenna radiator, or an antenna radiating element) and an antenna ground54(sometimes referred to as a ground plane).

Antenna50may have an antenna feed coupled between antenna resonating element52and antenna ground54. The antenna feed may have a first (positive or signal) antenna feed terminal56coupled to antenna resonating element52. The antenna feed may also have a second (ground or negative) antenna feed terminal58coupled to antenna ground54. Antenna resonating element52may be separated from antenna ground54by a dielectric (non-conductive) gap. Antenna resonating element52and antenna ground54may be formed from separate pieces of metal or other conductive materials or may, if desired, be formed from separate portions of the same integral piece of metal. If desired, antenna50may include additional antenna conductors that are not coupled to antenna feed terminals56and58(e.g., parasitic elements).

Each antenna feed and thus each antenna50in wireless circuitry16may be coupled to one or more transceivers66in wireless circuitry16over a corresponding radio-frequency transmission line60. Radio-frequency transmission line60may include a signal conductor such as signal conductor62(e.g., a positive signal conductor) and a ground conductor such as ground conductor64. Ground conductor64may be coupled to antenna feed terminal58of antenna50. Signal conductor62may be coupled to antenna feed terminal56of antenna50. Radio-frequency transmission line60may include one or more of a stripline, microstrip, coaxial cable, coaxial probes, edge-coupled microstrip, edge-coupled stripline, waveguide, radio-frequency connector, combinations of these, etc. Radio-frequency transmission line60may also sometimes be referred to herein as a radio-frequency transmission line path. If desired, filter circuitry, tuning components, switching circuitry, impedance matching circuitry, phase shifter circuitry, amplifier circuitry, and/or other circuitry may be disposed on radio-frequency transmission line60and/or may be coupled between two or more of the antenna conductors in antenna50.

The term “convey radio-frequency signals” as used herein means the transmission and/or reception of the radio-frequency signals (e.g., for performing unidirectional and/or bidirectional wireless communications with external wireless communications equipment). During transmission of radio-frequency signals24, transceiver66transmits radio-frequency signals24(e.g., as modulated using wireless data such as audio data, control data, etc.) over radio-frequency transmission line60. The radio-frequency signals may excite antenna currents to flow around the edges of antenna resonating element52and antenna ground54(via antenna feed terminals56and58). The antenna currents may radiate radio-frequency signals24into free space (e.g., based at least on a resonance established by the radiating length of antenna resonating element52and/or antenna ground54).

During the reception of radio-frequency signals24(e.g., as modulated by external equipment using wireless data such as voice data, sensor data, image data, etc.), incident radio-frequency signals24may excite antenna currents to flow around the edges of antenna resonating element52and antenna ground54. The antenna currents may pass radio-frequency signals24to transceiver66over radio-frequency transmission line60. Transceiver66may downconvert the radio-frequency signals to baseband and may demodulate wireless data from the signals (e.g., using baseband circuitry such as one or more baseband processors).

Antennas50may be formed using any suitable antenna structures. For example, antennas50may include antennas with antenna resonating elements that are formed from patch antenna structures (e.g., shorted patch antenna structures), slot antenna structures, loop antenna structures, stacked patch antenna structures, antenna structures having parasitic elements, inverted-F antenna structures, planar inverted-F antenna structures, helical antenna structures, monopole antenna structures, dipole antenna structures, Yagi (Yagi-Uda) antenna structures, surface integrated waveguide structures, hybrids of two or more of these designs, etc. If desired, one or more antennas50may be cavity-backed antennas. Two or more antennas50may be arranged in a phased antenna array if desired (e.g., for conveying centimeter and/or millimeter wave signals within a signal beam formed in a desired beam pointing direction that may be steered/adjusted over time). Earbuds22R and22L may also have wireless circuitry such as wireless circuitry16ofFIG.3.

Device10may include a first set of one or more antennas that convey radio-frequency signals24A with carbuds22R and22L (FIG.2). Device10may also include a second set of one or more antennas that convey radio-frequency signals24W with other external equipment22. Radio-frequency signals24A may, for example, be conveyed through or towards rear side32of device10, as shown inFIG.2(e.g., to and from the expected location of earbuds22L and22R while the user wears device10). Radio-frequency signals24W may be conveyed through front side30of device10, through rear side32, and/or through other sides of device10. Radio-frequency signals24A may be conveyed using a first radio access technology (RAT), a first communications protocol, a first transceiver in device10, and/or a first set of frequencies or frequency bands. Radio-frequency signals24W may be conveyed using a second RAT different from the first RAT, a second communications protocol different from the first communications protocol, a second transceiver in device10different from the first transceiver, and/or a second set of frequencies or frequency bands different from the first set of frequencies or frequency bands.

FIG.4is a diagram showing how wireless circuitry16may include different components for conveying radio-frequency signals24A and24W. As shown inFIG.4, wireless circuitry16may use at least one antenna50A to convey radio-frequency signals24A and may use at least two antennas50W (e.g., at least a first antenna50W-1and a second antenna50W-2) to convey radio-frequency signals24W (FIG.2). While radio-frequency signals24A may, in general, convey any desired wireless data between device10and multiple peripheral devices, an implementation in which radio-frequency signals24A convey audio data and sensor data between device10and carbuds22L and22R is described herein as an example.

Antennas50W-1and50W-2may be coupled to a first transceiver66W over respective radio-frequency transmission lines. Antenna50A may be coupled to a second transceiver66A over a corresponding radio-frequency transmission line. Transceivers66W and66A may be formed using different respective radios, modems, chips, integrated circuits, integrated circuit (IC) packages, and/or modules. Transceiver66W may convey radio-frequency signals24W (FIG.2) with external equipment other than carbuds22R and22L and/or with carbuds22R and22L using antennas50W-1and50W-2. Transceiver66W may, for example, have respective first and second transmit chains and respective first and second receive chains (e.g., respective first and second ports) coupled to antennas50W-1and50W-2.

Transceiver66W may convey radio-frequency signals24W using at least a first communications protocol, at least a first RAT, and a first set of frequency bands. An implementation in which radio-frequency signals24W include WLAN signals conveyed using a WLAN protocol (e.g., a Wi-Fi protocol), the WLAN RAT, and WLAN frequency bands is described herein as an example. If desired, radio-frequency signals24W may also include Bluetooth signals conveyed using a Bluetooth protocol and Bluetooth frequency bands. Transceiver66W may therefore sometimes be referred to herein as WLAN transceiver66W, Wi-Fi transceiver66W, or WLAN/Bluetooth transceiver66W. Radio-frequency signals24W may sometimes be referred to herein as WLAN or Wi-Fi signals24W. This is merely illustrative and, in general, radio-frequency signals24W may be conveyed using any desired protocol(s).

In some scenarios, Bluetooth signals conveyed by transceiver66W are used to convey streams of audio data between device10and earbuds22L and22R. However, Bluetooth signaling can involve an excessive amount of latency and an excessive glitch rate. This can be disruptive to the user experience while listening to audio on earbuds22L and22R, particularly for audio data with a relatively high data rate (e.g., as required for immersive, high definition, three-dimensional audio presented to the user along with virtual reality content on displays18B ofFIG.2). The high latency and excessive glitch rate associated with Bluetooth signaling may be caused by the Bluetooth protocol's requirement for time division duplexing between earbuds22L and22R (e.g., where audio data packets are transmitted to right earbud22R and then to left earbud22L in a time-alternating manner), frequency hopping between different Bluetooth frequencies, and a relatively large tolerance for packet retransmissions, for example.

To mitigate these issues, transceiver66A may convey radio-frequency signals24A (FIG.2) using a second communications protocol, a second RAT, and a second set of frequency bands different from those used by transceiver66W. For example, transceiver66A may convey radio-frequency signals24A using a non-Bluetooth, ultra-low-latency audio communications protocol optimized to support low latency and high data rate audio streaming from device10to carbuds22L and22R. Radio-frequency signals24A may be conveyed in different frequency bands than radio-frequency signals24W. For example, radio-frequency signals24A may be conveyed using an unlicensed band at 2.4 GHz and/or an unlicensed band between 5-6 GHZ. The band between 5-6 GHz may allow for a larger bandwidth than the 2.4 GHz band. In addition, the band between 5-6 GHz may allow for fewer coexistence/interference issues than the 2.4 GHz band, which coexists with the Bluetooth band, household appliances such as microwaves that emit around 2.4 GHz, etc.

The ultra-low-latency audio protocol may involve communications without performing time division duplexing between earbuds22L and22R and may involve communications with a lower packet re-transmission count limit, lower latency, lower glitch rate (e.g., 1 glitch per hour or fewer), more stability, and less interference than the Bluetooth protocol. Further, the ultra-low-latency audio protocol requires both earbuds22R and22L to convey radio-frequency signals24A directly with device10rather than relaying signals or data between carbuds22R and2L and has a wireless fading channel selected to have a tighter distribution and shorter tail at the low power end than the Bluetooth protocol. Transceiver66A may therefore sometimes be referred to herein as audio transceiver66A. Radio-frequency signals24A may sometimes be referred to herein as audio signals24A. The example in which transceiver66A conveys audio data is merely illustrative and, in general, transceiver66A may use radio-frequency signals24A to convey any desired wireless data.

During transmission, transceiver66A may transmit audio data AUD in radio-frequency signals24A (e.g., radio-frequency signals24A may be modulated to carry audio data AUD). Antenna50A may transmit the radio-frequency signals24A including audio data AUD. Audio data AUD may include a stream of audio data packets. The stream of audio data packets may include a first set of audio data packets (or any desired first portion of the stream of audio data as distributed across one or more packets) for playback by left earbud22L (e.g., a stream of left speaker audio data). The stream of audio data packets may also include a second set of audio data packets (or any desired second portion of the stream of audio data as distributed across one or more packets) for playback by right earbud22R (e.g., a stream of right speaker audio data). The first and second sets may be interspersed or interleaved in time, for example.

Since the ultra-low-latency audio communications protocol governing transmission of radio-frequency signals24A does not involve time division duplexing (TDD) between earbuds22R and22L, the same audio data AUD (e.g., the stream of audio data packets including both left and right speaker audio data) is concurrently (e.g., simultaneously) transmitted to both carbuds22R and22L and is concurrently received by both carbuds22R and22L. The controllers on earbuds22R and22L may demodulate the received audio data to recover the first and second sets of audio data packets. Left earbud22L may then play the first set of audio data packets without playing (e.g., while discarding) the received second set of audio data packets. Right earbud22R may play the second set of audio data packets without playing (e.g., while discarding) the received first set of audio data packets. Earbuds22L and22R may also transmit radio-frequency signals24A to antenna50A on device10to confirm/acknowledge receipt of audio data AUD, to convey voice/sensor data to device10, etc. Since the sensor data gathered by carbuds22R and22L may not be subject to the same strict latency requirements as the audio data conveyed by transceiver66A, carbuds22L and22R may, if desired, include additional wireless circuitry that transmits some or all of the sensor data to device10using the Bluetooth protocol or other protocols.

In some situations, using the same antenna50A to convey radio-frequency signals24A with both carbuds22R and22L can cause an excessive glitch rate due to random transmission nulls and the fading channel between antenna50A and the carbuds. To improve link quality and glitch rate, wireless circuitry16may include different respective antennas50A for conveying radio-frequency signals24A with carbuds22R and22L, if desired.

Given the compact and lightweight form factor of device10and the presence of conductive structures in device10such as outer chassis12A, inner chassis12B, conductive portions of logic board38, displays18B, and display18A, it can be challenging to place antennas50at locations device10that allow the antennas to exhibit satisfactory levels of radio-frequency performance. To help maximize the wireless performance of antennas50, antennas50may be mounted at the front of device10and may overlap peripheral edge portions42of CGA28.FIG.5is a front view of device10(e.g., as taken in the direction of arrow31ofFIG.2) showing how antennas50may be mounted at the front of device10and overlapping peripheral edge portions42of CGA28.

As shown inFIG.5, the front-facing display18A on device10may overlap central region44of CGA28but not peripheral edge portions42of CGA28. Display18A (central region44) may be laterally surrounded by peripheral edge portions42of CGA28. In other words, peripheral edge portions42may extend around the lateral periphery of display18A (e.g., when viewed in the X-Z plane). Peripheral edge portions42may, for example, form an inactive (conductor-free) portion of CGA28that extends around or along the lateral periphery of CGA28, central region44of CGA28, and display18A.

Device10may have a top side80and a bottom side81opposite top side80. Top side80may sometimes also be referred to herein as top edge80, top wall80, or top face80of device10. Bottom side81may sometimes also be referred to herein as bottom edge81, bottom wall81, or bottom face81of device10. Right side36and left side34may extend from top side80to bottom side81of device10.

Device10may have corners72such as a bottom-right corner72R where right side36meets bottom side81and a bottom-left corner72L where left side34meets bottom side81. Display18A may have corners74such as a bottom-right corner74R facing corner72R of device10and a bottom-left corner74L facing corner74L of device10.

The housing structures of device10may have a nose bridge portion such as nose bridge region85. Nose bridge region85may rest on the user's nose while wearing device10on their head. Nose bridge region85may be laterally interposed between the left and right displays18B in device10(FIG.2), for example. Nose bridge region85may vertically extend from top side80to bottom side81at the center of device10.

Display18A may include pixel circuitry and other conductive components that can block radio-frequency signals conveyed by the antennas in device10. As such, antennas50W-1,50W-2, and one or more antennas50A may be disposed within device10at locations overlapping peripheral edge portions42of CGA28. As shown inFIG.5, antennas50W-1and50W-2may be mounted within device10and overlapping an upper region or area of peripheral edge portions42(e.g., antennas50W-1and50W-2may be interposed between display18A and top side80of device10).

Antennas50W-1and50W-2may convey radio-frequency signals24W through the dielectric material in CGA28and/or the top, bottom, right, left, and/or rear sides of device10. Antennas50W-1and50W-2may be disposed at opposing sides of device10(e.g., antenna50W-1may be disposed at or adjacent right side36whereas antenna50W-2is disposed at or adjacent left side34of device10) to maximize spatial diversity for transceiver66W. Antennas50W-1and50W-2may, for example, be mounted at opposing sides of nose bridge region85.

The antennas50A in device10may be mounted within device10and overlapping a lower region or area of peripheral edge portions42(e.g., antenna(s)50A may be interposed between display18A and bottom side81of device10). Disposing antenna(s)50A along the bottom edge of device10may serve to minimize the amount of conductive material in device10that lies between antenna(s)50A and the location of carbuds22R and22L (FIG.2) while device10is being worn by the user.

In implementations where device10includes a single antenna50A, antenna50A may convey radio-frequency signals24A with both carbuds22R and22L (FIG.2) through the dielectric material in CGA28and/or the top, bottom, right, left, and/or rear sides of device10. Antenna50A may be mounted at or adjacent the center of device10. For example, antenna50A may overlap nose bridge portion85of device10(e.g., antenna50A may be disposed at the center of device10along the X-axis). This may allow antenna50A to exhibit optimal and balanced channel conditions with both right earbud22R at right side36of device10and left earbud22L at left side34of device10.

In implementations where device10includes multiple antennas50A such as at least a first antenna50A-L and a second antenna50A-R, antenna50A-R may be mounted at or adjacent to corner74R of display18A and/or corner72R of device10(e.g., antenna50A-R may be laterally interposed between corner74R of display18A and corner72R of device10). Antenna50A-L may be mounted at or adjacent to corner74L of display18A and/or corner72L of device10(e.g., antenna50A-L may be laterally interposed between corner74L of display18A and corner72L of device10). In this way, display18A may be vertically interposed between the antennas50W (FIG.9) and the antenna(s)50A in device10, thereby maximizing physical separation and thus isolation between antennas50W and antenna(s)50A.

Device10may have a central longitudinal axis70extending from right side36to left side34(parallel to the X-axis and perpendicular to nose bridge region85ofFIG.9). If desired, antennas50A-L and50A-R (e.g., the lateral surfaces of antenna resonating elements52(FIG.3) in antennas50A-L and50A-R) may be tilted at non-parallel and non-perpendicular angles with respect to longitudinal axis70. When placed and oriented in this way, antenna50A-R may exhibit optimal channel characteristics in conveying radio-frequency signals24A-R with right earbud22R (e.g., with minimal blockage by the user's head, display18A, and/or the other conductive structures of device10). Similarly, antenna50A-L may exhibit optimal channel characteristics in conveying radio-frequency signals24A-R with left earbud22L (e.g., with minimal blockage by the user's head, display18A, and/or the other conductive structures of device10).

The example ofFIG.5in which antennas50W and50A are mounted in device10at locations overlapping CGA28are merely illustrative. If desired, antennas50W and/or50A may be disposed within strap12C of device10and/or at rear side32of device10(FIG.2).FIG.6is a side view (e.g., taken in the direction of arrow78ofFIG.5) showing how antennas50W and50A may be disposed at front side30of device10.

As shown inFIG.6, an antenna50W (e.g., antenna50W-1and/or antenna50W-2ofFIG.5) may be mounted at or adjacent to front side30and top side80of device10. An antenna50A (e.g., antenna50A, antenna50A-R, and/or antenna50A-L ofFIG.5) may be mounted at or adjacent to front side30and bottom side81of device10. Antenna50W and antenna50A may be pressed against, mounted to, mounted (e.g., embedded) within, printed on, adhered to, affixed to, or mounted adjacent to CGA28.

Antenna50W may be tilted, rotated, or oriented at a non-parallel and non-perpendicular angle A2with respect to longitudinal axis70(FIG.5), the rear side of device10, and/or the X-Z plane. Angle A2may be 45 degrees, 30-60 degrees, 1-30 degrees, 1-45 degrees, 5-35 degrees, or other angles. Similarly, antenna50A may be tilted, rotated, or oriented at a non-parallel and non-perpendicular angle A1with respect to longitudinal axis70(FIG.5), the rear side of device10, and/or the X-Z plane. Angle A1may be 45 degrees, 30-60 degrees, 1-30 degrees, 1-45 degrees, 5-35 degrees, or other angles. Angle A1may be equal to angle A2or may be different from angle A2.

If desired, the lateral surface of the antenna resonating elements52(FIG.3) in antennas50W and50A may extend parallel to the curved surface(s) of CGA28(e.g., the antenna resonating elements may exhibit the same compound curvature as CGA28). This may serve to provide a uniform separation between all points on the lateral surface of the antenna resonating elements and the overlapping portions of CGA28, which minimizes antenna impedance mismatch across the antenna resonating elements and thus maximizes antenna efficiency.

When placed and oriented in this way, antenna(s)50A may exhibit optimal channel characteristics in conveying radio-frequency signals24A with right earbud22R and left ear bud22L (e.g., with minimal blockage by the user's head, display18A, and/or the other conductive structures of device10). Mounting the antennas at the rear side of device10may subject the antennas to undesirable detuning when displays18B (FIG.2) move over time and/or due to impedance loading from the user's head. Mounting the antennas at front side30of device10(as shown inFIGS.5and6) may minimize the impact of displays18B (FIG.2) on the antennas (e.g., such that movement of displays18B does not detune the antennas). In addition, mounting the antennas at front side30of device10may minimize fading channel path loss, may minimize user-to-user variation in the impedance loading of the antennas by the user's head, and may minimize and the amount of radio-frequency energy exposure produced by the antennas on the user's body, helping device10to comply with regulatory limits on radio-frequency energy exposure or absorption (e.g., without requiring transmit power level backoffs for the antenna) while meeting the strict latency and glitch rate requirements of the ultra-low-latency audio communications protocol.

If desired, one or more of the antennas50in device10may be formed from folded (bent) sheet metal.FIG.7is a top (unfolded) view of showing how a given antenna50in device10(e.g., any of antennas50W-1,50W-2,50A,50A-R, or50A-R ofFIG.5or any other antenna50in device10) may be formed from sheet metal.

As shown inFIG.7, antenna50may be formed from a sheet or layer of sheet metal84. Sheet metal84may include stainless steel, aluminum, copper, or any other desired rigid metals. Sheet metal84may be folded about one or more axes or points and is rigid enough to retain its shape after folding. Sheet metal84may sometimes be referred to herein as sheet metal member84.

The antenna resonating element52of antenna50may be formed from a first portion (region)88of sheet metal84. The antenna ground54of antenna50may be formed from a second portion (region)90of sheet metal84that is separated from portion88by gap86. Sheet metal84may include a third portion (region)92that couples portion88to portion90(e.g., bridging gap86). Portion92may be thinner than portions88and90. If desired, sheet metal84may be folded at portion92.

Portion88of sheet metal84may form zero, one, or more than one radiating arm for antenna resonating element52. Each radiating arm may have a corresponding length that configures antenna50to radiate in a corresponding range of frequencies. Antenna50may be fed by an antenna feed having a positive antenna feed terminal56coupled to portion88of sheet metal84and a ground antenna feed terminal58coupled to portion90of sheet metal84. Portion92of sheet metal84may form a grounding path from portion88to portion90of sheet metal84and may sometimes be referred to herein as grounding leg92, return path92, or short circuit path92.

The example ofFIG.7is merely illustrative and, in general, there may be any desired number of radiating arms or no radiating arms in antenna resonating element52(e.g., in implementations where antenna50is a slot antenna or another type of antenna), the radiating arm(s) may have any desired shapes and may follow any desired paths, sheet metal84may have any desired number of edges extending at any desired angles and following any desired straight and/or curved paths, etc.

The antenna ground54for antenna50may include other conductive structures in addition to portion90of sheet metal84. To extend the antenna ground beyond portion90of sheet metal84to include the other conductive structures, device10may include one or more conductive interconnect structures that couple portion90of sheet metal84to the other conductive structures. The conductive interconnect structures may include conductive screws, conductive pins, conductive clips, conductive springs, conductive adhesive, conductive foam, solder, welds, radio-frequency connectors, conductive brackets, conductive tape, conductive tabs, and/or any other desired conductive interconnects.

To optimize the wireless performance of antenna50, care should be taken when integrating antenna50into device10. For example, if care is not taken, other conductive components near antenna50(e.g., display18A, inner chassis12B, outer chassis12A, logic board32, etc.) can undesirably detune antenna performance, can introduce noise or interference to the radio-frequency signals conveyed by antenna50, can block radio-frequency signals conveyed by the antenna, and/or can undesirably alter the radiation pattern of the antenna. It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide antenna50with suitable structures that limit the electromagnetic effects of nearby conductive components. At the same time, when providing antenna50with such structures, care should be taken to minimize the weight of device10(e.g., to allow device10to be as lightweight as possible, allowing the user to comfortably wear device10on their head for as long as possible) and to minimize the number of discrete parts or components in device10(e.g., to minimize manufacturing cost and time, to allow for greater tolerances, etc.).

FIG.8is a cross-sectional side view showing one example of how antenna50may be mounted within device10and folded to minimize the effect of other conductive components on the performance of antenna50. The configuration for antenna50inFIG.8may be used to implement antenna50W-2ofFIG.5(e.g., the cross-sectional side view ofFIG.8may be taken along line CC' ofFIG.5), antenna50W-1ofFIG.5, antenna50A ofFIG.5(e.g., the cross-sectional side view ofFIG.8may instead be taken along line BB' ofFIG.5), antenna50A-L ofFIG.5, antenna50A-R ofFIG.5, or any other desired antenna50in device10.

As shown inFIG.8, antenna50may be mounted at front side30of device10and overlapping peripheral edge portion42(FIG.5) of CGA28. CGA28may include an outermost layer such as cover glass layer93. If desired, CGA28may also include a dielectric cover layer such as dielectric layer94on, at, or adjacent to the interior side of cover glass layer93. While CGA28may have multiple dielectric layers94stacked under cover glass layer93, a single dielectric layer94is shown inFIG.8for the sake of clarity.

Cover glass layer93may be formed from glass and may have a three-dimensional or compound curvature. For example, one or both lateral surfaces of cover glass layer93may have a three-dimensional or compound curvature (e.g., both lateral surfaces may extend parallel to each other, one lateral surface may exhibit a different curvature than the other lateral surface, both lateral surfaces may be non-developable surfaces, one lateral surface may be developable whereas the other is non-developable, etc.).

Dielectric layer94may have a three-dimensional or compound curvature or may have any other desired curvature(s). One or both lateral surfaces of dielectric layer94may have a three-dimensional or compound curvature (e.g., both lateral surfaces may extend parallel to each other, one lateral surface may exhibit a different curvature than the other lateral surface, both lateral surfaces may be non-developable surfaces, one lateral surface may be developable whereas the other is non-developable, etc.). Dielectric layer94may, for example, have the same curvature as cover glass layer93or may have a different curvature than cover glass layer93. If desired, portions of one or both lateral surfaces of dielectric layer94and/or one or both surfaces of cover glass layer93may be planar, may have a non-compound curvature or a two-dimensional curvature, etc.

In the example ofFIG.8, dielectric layer94is shown as being layered onto (e.g., adhered or molded onto) the inner surface of cover glass layer93for the sake of clarity. However, if desired, some or all of the lateral area of dielectric layer94may be separated from cover glass layer93by an air gap (not shown) and/or one or more intervening structures or layers (not shown). The outer lateral surface of dielectric layer94may have the same curvature as cover glass layer28or a different curvature and the inner lateral surface of dielectric layer94may have the same curvature as cover glass layer28or a different curvature. The outer lateral surface of dielectric layer94may have the same curvature as the inner lateral surface of dielectric layer94(e.g., the inner and outer lateral surfaces may extend parallel to each other) or the outer lateral surface of dielectric layer94may have a different curvature than the inner lateral surface of dielectric layer94(e.g., the inner and outer lateral surfaces may be non-parallel).

Cover glass layer93may be formed from glass, sapphire, or other transparent materials. Cover glass layer93may be replaced with an outermost plastic cover layer if desired. Cover glass layer93may sometimes be referred to herein as cover layer93, display cover layer93, cover glass93, layer93, or exterior layer93. Dielectric layer94may be formed from polymer, plastic, glass, ceramic, and/or other dielectric materials.

If desired, dielectric layer94may exhibit a dielectric constant that is lower than the dielectric constant of cover glass layer93. This may configure dielectric layer94to form an impedance transition layer between air and cover glass layer93for the radio-frequency signals conveyed by antenna50, helping to minimize signal reflections between the interior of device10and cover glass layer93and thus maximizing antenna efficiency. Dielectric layer94may also serve to limit radio-frequency exposure or absorption by external objects at the exterior of device10, helping device10to satisfy regulatory requirements on radio-frequency energy exposure or absorption without backing off transmit power level.

If desired, dielectric layer94may include multiple plastic or polymer sub-layers that are molded, adhered, or coupled together. As one example, dielectric layer94may include a shroud having a ring-shaped trim portion that laterally surrounds the pixels in display18A (e.g., that only extends around peripheral edge portions42of CGA28and that does not overlap central region44of CGA28) and may include a canopy portion that is coupled/adhered to the shroud portion and that overlaps or covers the pixels of display18A (e.g., that overlaps central region44of CGA28). Dielectric layer94may sometimes also be referred to herein as dielectric member94, dielectric cover layer94, mask94, shroud94, trim94, and/or canopy94.

As shown inFIG.8, CGA28may be mounted to outer chassis12A using gasket104. Gasket104may include conductive a ring of adhesive, an adhesive gasket, or any other desired material that affixes CGA28to outer chassis12A. Outer chassis12A and CGA28may surround an interior cavity of device10. Inner chassis12B (FIG.2), which has been omitted fromFIG.8for the sake of clarity, may be mounted to outer chassis12A within the interior cavity. Logic board38may be mounted to inner chassis12B within the interior cavity. Logic board38may include ground traces114. If desired, conductive interconnect structures such as one or more conductive rivets or screws may mount, affix, secure, attach, or otherwise mechanically and/or electrically couple inner chassis12B to outer chassis12A.

CGA28may include conductive structures96. Conductive structures96may at least partially overlap central region44of CGA28. Conductive structures96may, for example, include ground traces and/or other ground structures for display18A (FIGS.2and5). Conductive structures96may sometimes be referred to herein as conductive display structures96.

While conductive display structures96are shown as being layered onto the interior lateral surface106of dielectric layer94inFIG.8for the sake of clarity, conductive display structures96may located anywhere in CGA28(e.g., may be distributed between multiple dielectric layers94, may be interposed between glass cover layer93and dielectric layer94, may be layered onto the interior lateral surface of dielectric layer94, may include ground traces on a flexible printed circuit or other circuit board for display18A, may ground traces for the pixels of display18A, and/or may include any other desired conductive material at any desired locations in CGA28).

As shown inFIG.8, the sheet metal84of antenna50may be folded or bent about one or more axes. For example, portion88of sheet metal84(e.g., antenna resonating element52ofFIG.7) may be mounted against the interior lateral surface of dielectric layer94. Portion90of sheet metal84(e.g., antenna ground54ofFIG.7) may oppose portion88of sheet metal84and may be mounted to logic board38. If desired, portion90of sheet metal84may be surface-mounted to ground traces114on logic board38using solder116. Portion92of sheet metal84may extend from portion88at dielectric layer94to portion90of sheet metal84and may be bent (folded) about axis110(e.g., parallel to the X-axis).

This may configure the antenna resonating element to run along dielectric layer94(e.g., following the compound curvature of CGA28) while allowing sheet metal84to be secured to logic board38and thus inner chassis12B (FIG.2). Bending portion92of sheet metal84and pressing sheet metal84against CGA28may also cause portion88of sheet metal84to exert a spring force F against the interior lateral surface of dielectric layer94(e.g., portion92of sheet metal84may form a conductive spring). The force may be uniform across the lateral area of the antenna resonating element.

Mounting antenna50in device10in this way may configure portion88of sheet metal84and thus the antenna resonating element for antenna50to exhibit the same curvature as dielectric layer94(e.g., a compound three-dimensional curvature). By exhibiting the same curvature, each point on the lateral area spanned by the antenna resonating element of antenna50is separated from CGA28by the same uniform distance, thereby forming a smooth impedance boundary from the antenna to CGA28across all of the antenna resonating element and minimizing the impact of the compound curvature of CGA28on the wireless performance of antenna50. In addition, the spring force F produced by bending portion92of sheet metal84may serve to maintain a strict spatial relationship and parallelism between the antenna resonating element in antenna50and CGA28even as device10is subject to wear or external force during use (e.g., without requiring an additional lossy adhesive layer), thereby maintaining a clean and consistent gap and impedance transition between antenna50and CGA28across the lateral area of the antenna resonating element (e.g., given the compound curvature of CGA28), minimizing signal reflection and maximizing antenna efficiency over the operating lifetime of device10. In addition, mounting antenna50in device10in this way may place antenna50as close to the exterior of device10as possible, thereby maximizing the external field of view of the antenna (e.g., allowing the field of view to overlap the expected location of a corresponding earbud22R or22L).

The spring force F produced by sheet metal84may allow antenna50to be mounted against CGA28without requiring additional biasing members such as foam to press the antenna resonating element against CGA28. This may reduce the manufacturing cost and complexity of device10, may reduce the weight of device10, may increase the manufacturing and operating tolerance of device10, and may allow antenna50to exhibit a compact form factor within device10, as examples.

To limit the electromagnetic effects of other conductive components near antenna50on the performance of antenna50, sheet metal84may include additional bends or folds behind the antenna resonating element of antenna50. For example, as shown inFIG.8, portion90of sheet metal84may be folded along one or more additional axes (e.g., parallel to axis110) to configure portion90to include a rear wall106and a sidewall108extending away from rear wall106and towards CGA28. In this way, portions88,92, and90of sheet metal84may extend around or surround a spatial cavity or volume, sometimes referred to herein as antenna cavity112. The conductive material in portions88,92, and90of sheet metal84defines or forms the walls/edges of antenna cavity112.

In this way, portion90of sheet metal84may form a conductive cavity or cavity-back for antenna50(e.g., antenna50may be a cavity-backed antenna having an antenna resonating element formed from portion88of sheet metal84, backed by antenna cavity112and portion90of sheet metal84). Portion90may also effectively form an electromagnetic shield for the antenna resonating element. Portion90of sheet metal84may therefore sometimes also be referred to herein as conductive shield90, conductive cavity90, conductive cavity-back90, conductive can90, or shield90.

Rear wall106of sheet metal84may be mounted to ground traces114on logic board38(e.g., using solder116). If desired, portion90of sheet metal84may include a protruding ledge portion such as ledge104extending away from antenna cavity112. Ledge104may be formed from a portion of sidewall108that is folded or bent outwards away from antenna cavity112, for example.

A conductive interconnect structure98may be mounted to ledge104. Conductive interconnect structure98may electrically and/or mechanically couple sheet metal84to conductive display structures96. Conductive interconnect structure98may include, for example, a conductive gasket having an inner dielectric substrate102such as foam or air and having a conductive outer coating100such as conductive adhesive, mesh, or fabric. Conductive interconnect structure98may include a conductive air loop gasket (ALG), as one example.

Conductive outer coating100may serve to electrically couple sheet metal84to conductive display structures96. Conductive outer coating100may also help to mechanically attach sheet metal84to conductive display structures96. Dielectric substrate102may apply a biasing force against sheet metal84and/or conductive display structures96to help ensure that a reliable electrical connection is maintained between sheet metal84and conductive display structures96over time. If desired, solder or welds may be used to help secure sheet metal84to conductive interconnect structure98, to help secure conductive interconnect structure98to conductive display structures96, and/or to connect sheet metal84directly to conductive display structures96(e.g., conductive interconnect structure98may be omitted if desired).

As shown inFIG.8, portion92of sheet metal84may wrap around antenna cavity112. Forming antenna50from folded sheet metal such as sheet metal84may allow antenna cavity112to be filled with air without requiring a dielectric carrier and/or biasing member disposed within antenna cavity112for applying force F to the antenna resonating element. Air may also introduce less dielectric loss to the radio-frequency signals conveyed by antenna50than other dielectric materials such as materials used to form a dielectric carrier or biasing member. However, if desired, some or all of antenna cavity112may be filled with other dielectric materials if desired.

The radio-frequency transmission line60for antenna50(FIG.3) may extend into antenna cavity112along sheet metal84. The ground conductor of the radio-frequency transmission line may be coupled to sheet metal84at one or more points within or near antenna cavity112(e.g., using solder, conductive adhesive, conductive foam, a grounding bracket, etc.). If desired, one or more conductive interconnect structures such as conductive screws may attach sheet metal84to outer chassis12A to electrically couple sheet metal84to outer chassis12A.

In this way, antenna50may be grounded to portion90of sheet metal84, ground traces114on logic board38(FIG.2), outer chassis12A, and conductive display structures96(e.g., the antenna may be grounded to the main logic board, conductive display structures96, and/or the inner chassis through portion90of sheet metal84). Put differently, portion90of sheet metal84, ground traces114on logic board38, outer chassis12A, and conductive display structures96may collectively form the antenna ground54(FIG.3) for antenna50. This may serve to optimize the radiation pattern and antenna efficiency for antenna50despite the presence of nearby conductive components such as conductive display structures96and outer chassis12A.

In addition to helping to establish a large and uniform antenna ground for antenna50, portion90of sheet metal84may help to block electromagnetic energy produced by other components in device10(e.g., other antennas50, display18A, displays18B, etc.) from interfering with or producing noise on the radio-frequency signals conveyed by antenna50. Put differently, portion90of sheet metal84may serve as an electromagnetic shield for antenna50. Conversely, portion90of sheet metal84may help to prevent the radio-frequency signals conveyed by antenna50from leaking onto or interfering with the operation of other components in device10.

Portion90of sheet metal84may also effectively reflect the radio-frequency signals conveyed by antenna50, which may serve to redirect or focus the radio-frequency signals (e.g., helping to boost the gain and efficiency of the antenna), and/or may help to optimize the shape of the radiation pattern of antenna50and/or the field of view of antenna50. If desired, one or more dimensions of sheet metal84and thus antenna cavity112may be selected to establish the boundary conditions of one or more electromagnetic resonant modes antenna cavity112(sometimes referred to herein as cavity modes) that help to contribute to the frequency response of antenna50. In these configurations, the antenna feed and portion88of sheet metal84may excite the electromagnetic resonant modes of antenna cavity112and the antenna resonating element for antenna50may be formed from both portion88of sheet metal84and antenna cavity112.

FIG.9is a perspective view of antenna50ofFIG.8. InFIG.9, CGA28, logic board38, conductive interconnect structure98, and the housing structures of device10have been omitted for the sake of clarity. As shown inFIG.9, antenna50may be formed from sheet metal84that is folded about one or more axes. For example, sheet metal84may include sidewalls108that are bent upwards about an axis (e.g., axis110or another axis parallel to axis110) from rear wall106of sheet metal84. If desired, sidewalls108may include one or more sidewalls extending within a surface normal to axis110.

Portion92of sheet metal84may also be folded upwards away from rear wall106about axis110. This may place portion88and thus the antenna resonating element of antenna50at a position overlapping rear wall106and spatially separated from rear wall106by antenna cavity112(e.g., antenna cavity112may form gap86ofFIG.7). Put differently, antenna cavity112may be vertically interposed between portion88and rear wall106of sheet metal84, and portion88, rear wall106, and sidewalls108may collectively surround antenna cavity112. Radio-frequency transmission line60(e.g., a coaxial cable) may extend into antenna cavity112and may be coupled to portion88of sheet metal84at positive antenna feed terminal56. The ground conductor of radio-frequency transmission line60may be coupled to a sidewall108and/or to rear wall106of sheet metal84using solder (not shown).

As shown inFIG.9, ledge104may extend from a given sidewall108away from antenna cavity112. If desired, rear wall106of sheet metal84may include one or more extensions120extending outside of and away from antenna cavity112. Extensions120may include one or more openings such as holes122. Holes122may receive screws, fasteners, pins, or other interconnect structures that serve to mount sheet metal84to other components in device10(e.g., outer chassis12A ofFIG.8). If desired, one or more extensions120may include one or more cable retention members124(e.g., conductive tabs, conductive spring fingers, etc.) that help to hold the radio-frequency transmission line60for antenna50in place (e.g., in implementations where radio-frequency transmission line60is a coaxial cable). If desired, cable retention members124may ground the outer (ground) conductor of the coaxial cable to sheet metal84(e.g., at ferrules on the coaxial cable).

The bending of portion92and the rigidity of sheet metal84may produce spring force F that presses portion88of sheet metal84against CGA28(FIG.8). If desired, sheet metal84may include multiple portions92(not shown) that couple the rest of sheet metal84to portion88and that are folded about one or more axes. Portion88of sheet metal84may exhibit a compound or three-dimensional curvature that mates with or extends parallel to the compound or three-dimensional curvature of CGA28(FIG.8). For example, portion88of sheet metal84may be bent with a first non-zero radius of curvature about at least a first axis126and with a second non-zero radius of curvature about at least a second axis128. Axis128may be non-parallel (e.g., orthogonal) with respect to axis126.

This may, for example, configure the antenna resonating element to more precisely follow the three-dimensional curvature of CGA28than in implementations where the antenna resonating element is formed from conductive traces on a flexible printed circuit (e.g., because the flexible printed circuit substrate of the flexible printed circuit may only be foldable in two or 2.5 dimensions). Implementing antenna50using folded sheet metal such as sheet metal84may allow antenna50to be integrated into device10without requiring a separate flexible printed circuit for the antenna resonating element, a separate conductive can for electromagnetic shielding and/or optimizing antenna performance, a separate biasing member for applying force F to the antenna resonating element, and a separate dielectric carrier for the antenna resonating element.

This may, for example, serve to reduce the manufacturing cost, time, and complexity of device10, to reduce unit-to-unit variation of device10, to reduce the space consumed in device10by antenna50, to reduce the weight of device10, to improve assembly tolerances for device10, to improve reliability (e.g., with fewer solder connections and adhesive bonds which are prone to mechanical failure over time), to provide a more direct path to ground for the antenna, to reduce manufacturing and recycling waste, to remove plastics (which can introduce signal loss to propagated radio-frequency signals) from device10, and/or to improve the wireless performance of the antenna (given the three-dimensional curvature of CGA28), relative to implementations where the antenna resonating element is formed from conductive traces on a flexible printed circuit.

The example ofFIG.9is illustrative and non-limiting. In general, antenna cavity112, sidewalls108, rear wall106, and/or portion88of sheet metal84may have other shapes. Ledge104, sidewalls108, rear wall106, extensions120, portion92, and portion88of sheet metal84may be formed from different respective integral portions of the same piece of sheet metal84(e.g., folded in different directions) or, if desired, two or more of ledge104, sidewalls108, rear wall106, extensions120, portion92, and portion88of sheet metal84may be formed from two or more pieces of sheet metal84that are welded or soldered together. If desired, the spring force F (FIG.8) applied to portion88of sheet metal84may be produced by conductive springs other than folded portion92of sheet metal84.

FIG.10is a diagram showing one example in which antenna50includes a conductive spring for producing spring force F. As shown inFIG.10, antenna50may include a conductive spring130(e.g., a helical spring) disposed within antenna cavity112. Conductive spring130may be affixed to sheet metal84and/or antenna resonating element52(e.g., using solder, a weld, etc.). Conductive spring130couples antenna resonating element52, which may be formed from an integral piece of sheet metal84or a separate piece of sheet metal, to the rear wall of sheet metal84. Conductive spring130may be compressed when antenna50is mounted against CGA28(FIG.8) such that conductive spring130produces spring force F that presses antenna resonating element52against CGA28. If desired, multiple conductive springs130may couple sheet metal84to antenna resonating element52.

FIG.11is a diagram showing one example in which antenna50includes conductive flexures. As shown inFIG.11, antenna50may include one or more conductive flexures132(e.g., bent or folded sheet metal members) disposed within antenna cavity112. Flexures132may be formed from integral pieces (e.g., tabs, fingers, or extensions) of sheet metal84, may be formed from integral pieces of antenna resonating element52, or may be formed from separate pieces of sheet metal from sheet metal84and/or antenna resonating element52. Flexures132may couple antenna resonating element52, which may be formed from an integral piece of sheet metal84or a separate piece of sheet metal, to the rear wall of sheet metal84. Conductive flexures132may be compressed when antenna50is mounted against CGA28(FIG.8) such that conductive flexures132produce spring force F that presses antenna resonating element52against CGA28.

FIG.12is a diagram showing one example in which antenna50includes a conductive pogo pin. As shown inFIG.10, antenna50may include a pogo pin134disposed within antenna cavity112. Pogo pin134may be affixed to antenna resonating element52, which may be formed from an integral piece of sheet metal84or a separate piece of sheet metal, or may be affixed to the rear wall of sheet metal84. Pogo pin134may be compressed when antenna50is mounted against CGA28(FIG.8) such that the pogo pin produces spring force F that presses antenna resonating element52against CGA28. If desired, multiple pogo pins134may couple sheet metal84to antenna resonating element52.

The examples ofFIGS.10-12are illustrative and non-limiting and, in general, any desired conductive spring structures may be used to press antenna resonating element52against CGA28. Multiple types of spring structures may be used to collectively press antenna resonating element52against CGA28. For example, two or more of the configurations ofFIGS.10-12may be combined. Conductive spring130(FIG.10), conductive flexures132(FIG.11), and/or pogo pin134may be used in addition to bent portion92of sheet metal84(FIGS.8and9) or instead of bent portion92of sheet metal84to press the antenna resonating element against CGA28.

As used herein, the term “concurrent” means at least partially overlapping in time. In other words, first and second events are referred to herein as being “concurrent” with each other if at least some of the first event occurs at the same time as at least some of the second event (e.g., if at least some of the first event occurs during, while, or when at least some of the second event occurs). First and second events can be concurrent if the first and second events are simultaneous (e.g., if the entire duration of the first event overlaps the entire duration of the second event in time) but can also be concurrent if the first and second events are non-simultaneous (e.g., if the first event starts before or after the start of the second event, if the first event ends before or after the end of the second event, or if the first and second events are partially non-overlapping in time). As used herein, the term “while” is synonymous with “concurrent.”

As described above, one aspect of the present technology is the gathering and use of information such as information from input-output devices. The present disclosure contemplates that in some instances, data may be gathered that includes personal information data that uniquely identifies or can be used to contact or locate a specific person. Such personal information data can include demographic data, location-based data, telephone numbers, email addresses, twitter ID's, home addresses, data or records relating to a user's health or level of fitness (e.g., vital signs measurements, medication information, exercise information), date of birth, username, password, biometric information, or any other identifying or personal information.

Therefore, although the present disclosure broadly covers use of information that may include personal information data to implement one or more various disclosed embodiments, the present disclosure also contemplates that the various embodiments can also be implemented without the need for accessing personal information data. That is, the various embodiments of the present technology are not rendered inoperable due to the lack of all or a portion of such personal information data.

Computer-generated reality: in contrast, a computer-generated reality (CGR) environment refers to a wholly or partially simulated environment that people sense and/or interact with via an electronic system. In CGR, a subset of a person's physical motions, or representations thereof, are tracked, and, in response, one or more characteristics of one or more virtual objects simulated in the CGR environment are adjusted in a manner that comports with at least one law of physics. For example, a CGR system may detect a person's head turning and, in response, adjust graphical content and an acoustic field presented to the person in a manner similar to how such views and sounds would change in a physical environment. In some situations (e.g., for accessibility reasons), adjustments to characteristic(s) of virtual object(s) in a CGR environment may be made in response to representations of physical motions (e.g., vocal commands). A person may sense and/or interact with a CGR object using any one of their senses, including sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. For example, a person may sense and/or interact with audio objects that create 3D or spatial audio environment that provides the perception of point audio sources in 3D space. In another example, audio objects may enable audio transparency, which selectively incorporates ambient sounds from the physical environment with or without computer-generated audio. In some CGR environments, a person may sense and/or interact only with audio objects. Examples of CGR include virtual reality and mixed reality.

Mixed reality: In contrast to a VR environment, which is designed to be based entirely on computer-generated sensory inputs, a mixed reality (MR) environment refers to a simulated environment that is designed to incorporate sensory inputs from the physical environment, or a representation thereof, in addition to including computer-generated sensory inputs (e.g., virtual objects). On a virtuality continuum, a mixed reality environment is anywhere between, but not including, a wholly physical environment at one end and virtual reality environment at the other end. In some MR environments, computer-generated sensory inputs may respond to changes in sensory inputs from the physical environment. Also, some electronic systems for presenting an MR environment may track location and/or orientation with respect to the physical environment to enable virtual objects to interact with real objects (that is, physical articles from the physical environment or representations thereof). For example, a system may account for movements so that a virtual tree appears stationery with respect to the physical ground. Examples of mixed realities include augmented reality and augmented virtuality. Augmented reality: an augmented reality (AR) environment refers to a simulated environment in which one or more virtual objects are superimposed over a physical environment, or a representation thereof. For example, an electronic system for presenting an AR environment may have a transparent or translucent display through which a person may directly view the physical environment. The system may be configured to present virtual objects on the transparent or translucent display, so that a person, using the system, perceives the virtual objects superimposed over the physical environment. Alternatively, a system may have an opaque display and one or more imaging sensors that capture images or video of the physical environment, which are representations of the physical environment. The system composites the images or video with virtual objects, and presents the composition on the opaque display. A person, using the system, indirectly views the physical environment by way of the images or video of the physical environment, and perceives the virtual objects superimposed over the physical environment. As used herein, a video of the physical environment shown on an opaque display is called “pass-through video,” meaning a system uses one or more image sensor(s) to capture images of the physical environment, and uses those images in presenting the AR environment on the opaque display. Further alternatively, a system may have a projection system that projects virtual objects into the physical environment, for example, as a hologram or on a physical surface, so that a person, using the system, perceives the virtual objects superimposed over the physical environment. An augmented reality environment also refers to a simulated environment in which a representation of a physical environment is transformed by computer-generated sensory information. For example, in providing pass-through video, a system may transform one or more sensor images to impose a select perspective (e.g., viewpoint) different than the perspective captured by the imaging sensors. As another example, a representation of a physical environment may be transformed by graphically modifying (e.g., enlarging) portions thereof, such that the modified portion may be representative but not photorealistic versions of the originally captured images. As a further example, a representation of a physical environment may be transformed by graphically eliminating or obfuscating portions thereof. Augmented virtuality: an augmented virtuality (AV) environment refers to a simulated environment in which a virtual or computer generated environment incorporates one or more sensory inputs from the physical environment. The sensory inputs may be representations of one or more characteristics of the physical environment. For example, an AV park may have virtual trees and virtual buildings, but people with faces photorealistically reproduced from images taken of physical people. As another example, a virtual object may adopt a shape or color of a physical article imaged by one or more imaging sensors. As a further example, a virtual object may adopt shadows consistent with the position of the sun in the physical environment.