Patent ID: 12255379

The headings provided herein are merely for convenience and do not necessarily affect the scope or meaning of the terms used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One aspect of the disclosure provides for an antenna system that comprises a combination of a loop antenna and a non-loop antenna (e.g., a monopole or a dipole antenna), with the loop antenna and the non-loop antenna being connected in common to a common transceiver mechanism or signal feed mechanism. The non-loop antenna and the loop antenna are in some embodiments connected to antenna electronics at a single, common signal feed point.

The loop antenna comprises a loop-shaped electrical conductor, and the non-loop antenna is in some embodiments provided by a dipole conductor, the dipole conductor being separated into two arms at a signal feed point. In some embodiments, the dipole conductor is shaped such as to be offset-fed, with one of the conductor arms being substantially longer than the other. As used herein, the term non-loop conductor/antenna refers to the group consisting of dipole conductors/antennas and monopole conductor/antennas, and excludes loop antenna/conductors. Further, the disclosed antenna elements provided by the respective loop and non-loop conductors are to be understood as providing actively driven antenna elements, which are to distinguished from passive groundplane elements such as that which is in some cases provided by printed circuit board (PCB) groundplanes or extensions thereof.

The antenna system may further include electronics configured to provide frequency-domain discrimination between signals received via the loop antenna and the dipole antenna respectively. In some embodiments, a diplexer may be incorporated in the transceiver system for this purpose, with the loop antenna being sized and shaped for operation as a relatively low-frequency antenna (e.g., serving as a global positioning system (GPS) antenna, and the dipole antenna being configured for operation as a relatively high-frequency antenna (e.g., serving as a data channel operating at, for example, a Wi-Fi frequency of about 2 GHz).

It will be understood that this aspect of the disclosure provides an antenna system that displays improve bandwidth, radiation efficiency, and polarization diversity, when compared to existing antenna systems.

Another aspect of the disclosure provides for an electronics-enabled device having incorporated therein a hybrid antenna system as disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the device is an electronics-enabled eyewear device. In some embodiments, the loop conductor and the dipole conductor of the antenna system are incorporated and housed by an eyewear body configured to hold one or more optical elements within a field of view of the user, when the device is worn.

In some embodiments, the loop conductor may extend circumferentially around one of a pair of lenses (or, in some embodiments, other optical elements such as virtual reality or augmented reality display elements) held by the eyewear device. In some embodiments, the loop conductor may be configured to serve as a lens retainer, engaging a radially outer periphery of the associated lens to keep the lens in position on the eyewear body.

In some embodiments, the dipole conductor includes a loop portion that extends circumferentially around a remaining one of a pair of lenses held by the eyewear device. In some such embodiments, the loop portion of the dipole conductor may serve as a lens retainer. Thus, some embodiments of the disclosure provides for an eyewear device in which both of a pair of lenses mounted on an eyewear body are retained in position by engagement with a respective lens retainer that forms part of the antenna system, with one of the lens retainers being provided by the loop conductor and the other lens retainer being provided by the loop portion of the dipole conductor.

Note that a lens retainer in these cases are provided not merely by a lens rim or holder, but comprise a metal ring element that is selectively disposable between (a) a locked condition in which the lens retainer engages the periphery of the lens to hold it in position, and (b) a released condition in which removal and replacement of the lens is allowed. Some examples of such lens retainers that additionally provide signal transceiving functionality is described in U.S. Patent Application 62/621,482 filed on January 2018, 2018, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety.

In some embodiments, the dipole conductor defines at least one end portion that is oriented transversely to a plane in which the loop conductor lies. In some embodiments in which the antenna system is incorporated in an eyewear device, each of a pair of temples of the eyewear device may house a respective angled end portion of the dipole conductor, with each end portion extending along the corresponding temple in a direction substantially orthogonal to the plane of the loop conductor that circumscribes one of the lenses of the eyewear device.

Note that although the disclosure herein of a device that incorporates a hybrid antenna system, as disclosed, is directed primarily to the example embodiment of an eyewear device, antenna systems as disclosed may in other embodiments be incorporated in different types of electronic devices. Thus, for example, the disclosed antenna system can be profitably employed in other wearable electronic devices, mobile electronic devices (such as mobile phones, tablets, or the like), and/or larger products such as motor vehicles or the like.

The foregoing brief overview of the disclosure will now be explained in greater detail with reference, first, to a brief review of the relevant technical background, and thereafter with reference to a series of specific example embodiments in which different embodiments of the antenna system is incorporated in an eyewear device.

Efficient and broadband antenna radiation is desirable for any wireless communication application. A highly efficient radiator allows significantly enhanced communication range and reduces overall energy consumption. A broadband antenna enables data transmission over multiple frequencies, which in turn enables increased data throughput. In many new consumer devices, however, antenna design is compromised in favor of fashion and style. Industrial design trends in consumer electronics have shifted away from plastic housings towards metal as the material of choice and long plastic breaks on the metal for antenna gaps are no longer acceptable.

Such increasingly prevalent consideration of antennas as an integral component for industrial design and aesthetic design aspects place increased demand on antenna engineering, which aims to avoid poor efficiency and complicated radiofrequency (RF) front ends to meet radiation specifications. Frequently, descendants of one of two fundamental antenna types are employed in consumer electronic devices, namely loop antennas and non-loop (dipole/monopole) antennas. Generally, non-loop antennas comprise a linear (but not necessarily rectilinear) non-loop conductor. For monopole antennas, a signal feed point is connected to the non-loop conductor at an end of the conductor, while the signal feed point in a dipole antenna separates a dipole conductor in two linear arms. In contrast, a loop antenna comprises a loop-shaped conductor whose ends are connected to a signal feed point or transmission line.

It is important to note that dipole antennas are also referred to as “electric type” antennas, since their main radiating mode is TM10. With this is meant that the antenna generates electric fields that are orthogonal to the direction of propagation. Similarly, loop antennas are called “magnetic type” antennas, since their main radiating mode as TE10, with which is meant that the antenna generates magnetic fields that are orthogonal to the direction of propagation.

The description that follows includes devices, systems, methods, techniques, instruction sequences, and computing machine program products that embody illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide an understanding of various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. It will be evident, however, to those skilled in the art, that embodiments of the disclosed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In general, well-known instruction instances, protocols, structures, and techniques are not necessarily shown in detail.

Various embodiments of an antenna system according to this disclosure will be described below with reference to an electronic device in the example form of an eyewear device that incorporates the disclosed antenna system. An example embodiment of such an eyewear device in which different embodiments of the antenna system can be incorporated will first be described with reference toFIG.1, after which a series of different example embodiments of antenna systems and eyewear devices incorporating the different respective embodiments will be described with reference toFIGS.2A-7.

FIG.1shows an oblique front view of an electronic device in the example form of an electronics-enabled eyewear device100, also referred to as a pair of smart glasses. The eyewear device100includes a body103comprising a front piece or frame106and a pair of temples109connected to the frame106for supporting the frame106in position on a user's face when the eyewear device100is worn. The frame106can be made from any suitable material such as plastics or metal, including any suitable shape memory alloy.

The eyewear device100has a pair of optical elements in the example form of a pair of optical lenses112held by corresponding optical element holders or lens holders in the form of a pair of lens rims115forming part of the frame106. The rims115are connected by a bridge118. In other embodiments, of one or both of the optical elements can be a display, a display assembly, or a lens and display combination. The eyewear device100can, in such embodiments, provide a virtual reality headset or an augmented reality display. Description in this example embodiment of elements relating to lens retention is thus to be read as, in other embodiments, being analogously applicable to different forms of optical elements that can be removably and replaceably received in the lens rims115by operation of a retention mechanism analogous to that described herein.

The frame106includes a pair of end pieces121defining lateral end portions of the frame106. In this example, a variety of electronics components are housed in one or both of the end pieces121, as discussed in more detail below. In some embodiments, the frame106is formed of a single piece of material, so as to have a unitary or monolithic construction.

The temples109are coupled to the respective end pieces121. In this example, the temples109are coupled to the frame106by respective hinges so as to be hingedly movable between a wearable mode (as shown inFIG.1) and a collapsed mode in which the temples109are pivoted towards the frame106to lie substantially flat against it. In other embodiments, the temples109can be coupled to the frame106by any suitable means. Each of the temples109includes a front portion that is coupled to the frame106and a suitable rear portion for coupling to the ear of the user, such as the curved earpiece illustrated in the example embodiment ofFIG.1.

In this description, directional terms such as front, back, forwards, rearwards, outwards and inwards are to be understood with reference to a direction of view of a user when the eyewear device100is worn. Thus, the frame106has an outwardly directed front side134facing away from the user when worn, and an opposite inwardly directed rear side137side facing towards the user when the eyewear device100is worn. Similarly, the terms horizontal and vertical as used in this description with reference to different features of the eyewear device100are to be understood as corresponding to the orientation of the eyewear device100when it is level on the face of a user looking forwards. A horizontal or lateral direction of the eyewear device100thus extends more or less between the end pieces121, while a vertical or upright direction of the eyewear device100extends transversely to the horizontal direction, such that the lenses112can be said to have a more or less vertical or upright orientation.

The eyewear device100has onboard electronics124including a computing device, such as a computer, which can, in different embodiments, be of any suitable type so as to be carried by the body103. In some embodiments, various components comprising the onboard electronics124are at least partially housed in one or both of the temples109. In the present embodiment, various components of the onboard electronics124are housed in the lateral end pieces121of the frame106. The onboard electronics124includes one or more processors with memory, wireless communication circuitry, and a power source (this example embodiment being a rechargeable battery, e.g. a lithium-ion battery). The onboard electronics124comprises low-power, high-speed circuitry, and, in some embodiments, a display processor. Various embodiments may include these elements in different configurations or integrated together in different ways. At least some of electronics components of the antenna systems described herein may be housed one or both of the end pieces121. Thus, for example, a diplexer, GPS receiver, and W LAN transceiver (as described with reference toFIG.7) may in some embodiments be housed in one of the end pieces121.

As mentioned, the onboard electronics124includes a rechargeable battery. In some embodiments, the battery is disposed in one of the temples109. In this example embodiment, however, the battery is housed in one of the end pieces121, being electrically coupled to the remainder of the onboard electronics124.

The eyewear device100is camera-enabled, in this example comprising a camera130mounted in one of the end pieces121and facing forwards so as to be aligned more or less with the direction of view of a wearer of the eyewear device100. The camera130is configured to capture digital still as well as digital video content. Operation of the camera130is controlled by a camera controller provided by the onboard electronics124, image data representative of images or video captured by the camera130being temporarily stored on a memory forming part of the onboard electronics124. In some embodiments, the eyewear device100can have a pair of cameras130, e.g. housed by the respective end pieces121.

The eyewear device100further includes one or more input and output devices permitting communication with and control of the camera130. In particular, the eyewear device100includes one or more input mechanisms for enabling user control of one or more functions of the eyewear device100. In this embodiment, the input mechanism comprises a button115mounted on the frame106so as to be accessible on top of one of the end pieces121for pressing by the user.

The eyewear device100is, in this example embodiment, configured for wireless communication with external electronic components or devices, to which end the onboard electronics124is connected to an antenna system integrated in the body103of the eyewear device100. In some example embodiments, a loop conductor forming part of the antenna system is provided by a lens retainer in the example form of a lens ring150that additionally serves the purpose of removably and replaceably retaining the lens112in the corresponding lens rim115. Note that, inFIG.1, only one of the lens rims115is shown as having a corresponding lens ring150housed therein, but that both of the lens rims115is, in this example embodiment, provided with a respective lens ring150and associated lens retention mechanism.

In this example embodiment, the lens ring150is located in a circumferentially extending channel in a radially inner surface of the lens rim115, so that the lens ring150extends circumferentially around the majority of the periphery of the lens112, being engageable with the radially outer edge of the lens112to retain the lens112in the lens ring150. The lens ring150is disposable between a retention condition, in which it is tightened into contact with the radial edge of the lens112to keep it in the lens rim115, and a replacement condition in which the lens ring is somewhat dilated, to allow removal and replacement of the lens112.

Turning now toFIG.2A, therein is shown a schematic, idealized diagram of a dipole-loop hybrid antenna system200according to one embodiment of the disclosure. The antenna system200ofFIG.2Acombines two fundamental antenna types, namely a loop antenna203and a dipole antenna206. This provides a structure in which efficient radiation supported by the TM10and TE10modes is possible. The antenna system200ofFIG.2Ais essentially a superposition of a loop and dipole antenna203,206, in which their radiation patterns are orthogonal to each other, and in which the loop and dipole antennas203,206radiate with different polarizations.

Note that the loop antenna203is provided by a loop electrical conductor209connected at its adjacent opposite ends to a transmission line or feed point212212; while the dipole antenna215is provided by a center-fed dipole conductor215having two arms of substantially equal length, with adjacent ends of the dipole arms being connected to the feed point212. Note that the dipole conductor215and the loop conductor209are connected to a transceiver system at the single, common feed point212. Note also that the dipole conductor215extends substantially tangentially relative to the loop conductor209at the feed point212.

FIG.2Bshows an example embodiment of an eyewear device100such as that of theFIG.1, being provided with an antenna system200consistent with the example embodiment ofFIG.2A. In this example embodiment, the loop conductor209(shown inFIG.2Aand in subsequent analogous views by a chain-dotted line) extends circumferentially around one of the lenses112, being at least partially housed by the corresponding lens rim115. In particular, the loop conductor209is in the example embodiment ofFIG.2Aprovided by the corresponding lens ring150.

The non-loop conductor provided in this example by the dipole conductor209(shown inFIG.2Aand in subsequent analogous views by a dotted line) is in this example embodiment provided by two wire pieces embedded in a molded plastics material of the eyewear frame106, providing respective arms of the dipole conductor215(indicated respectively as215aand215b). Note that the representation ofFIG.2Bis schematic, and that the shape and size of the dipole arms215a,215bcan in some embodiments differ substantially from that shown inFIG.2B. In some embodiments, the dipole conductor arms215a,215bcan be significantly shorter than that shown inFIG.2B. Note also that the dipole conductor arms215a,215bneed not be rectilinear as illustrated inFIG.2B, and can in some embodiments be curved to follow the shape or contours of the eyewear frame106.

Note also that the position of the feed point212common to the loop conductor209and the dipole conductor215may be different in different embodiments. In some embodiments, for example, the feed point212may coincide more or less with the location of the frame end piece121, e.g., to either side of the camera lens opening. In such cases, at least one arm of the dipole conductor215may extend along a part of the corresponding lens rim115.

As mentioned, the dipole conductor215is in this example embodiment provided by wires (e.g., copper wires) embedded in a molded polymeric plastics material of the eyewear frame106. In some embodiments, each element of the dipole conductor215is provided by a core wire that serves to provide structural integrity or rigidity to the frame106(or in embodiments such as that described later herein with reference toFIG.6B, to the respective temples109). In other embodiments, the respective arms of the dipole conductor215can be provided by structural metal frame components, e.g. in cases where the frame106is a metal construction. Instead, or in addition, the dipole conductor215may at least in part be provided by metal trim elements or exposed metal parts that serve both aesthetic and signal reception functions. These considerations apply for all of the example embodiments that follow.

With appropriately chosen loop and dipole lengths, the example embodiment ofFIGS.2A and2Bis capable of synchronously supporting the two fundamental modes that have been mentioned previously. In particular, it will be seen that the shapes and relative spatial arrangement of the loop conductor209and the non-loop conductor215is such that the radiation pattern of the loop conductor209is substantially orthogonal to the radiation pattern on the non-loop conductor215. Moreover, the shape and spatial arrangement of the hybrid antenna components are such that the loop conductor209and the non-loop conductor215radiate with different respective polarizations, when driven by the signal feed point212.

Although the dipole conductor215ofFIGS.2A and2Bis center-fed, some embodiments may employ a dipole that is offset-fed. An example of such an embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS.3A and3B.FIG.3Ashows a schematic diagram of a dipole-loop hybrid antenna system300in which the dipole antenna206is offset-fed, whileFIG.3Bshows a schematic view of such an offset-fed hybrid antenna system300incorporated in an eyewear device100as described previously. In the example embodiment ofFIG.3, the loop antenna203can be substantially the same as that inFIG.2, without significant change in performance.

Note that the offset antenna feed for the dipole conductor215will not impact the fundamental mode of the dipole antenna206, since that parameter is determined by the antenna length. The antenna impedance, however, might be impacted when it is offset-fed, as it will move the antenna feed towards the higher voltage area. This means that a higher impedance is seen at the feed point212for the fundamental mode, compared to the center-fed design ofFIG.2. However, it is feasible to tune the dipole antenna206part of the hybrid antenna with simple lumped components like a capacitor and an inductor. The antenna system ofFIG.3Bis tuned in this manner with such lumped components.

In other embodiments, tuning or balancing of the offset-fed dipole203can be achieved by modification of the shape and size of one or more of the arms215a,125bof the dipole conductor215. One known method to reduce the impedance and increase the bandwidth of a dipole in a TM10mode is to increase the width of its radiating arms.FIG.4Ashows an embodiment in which the longer arm215aof the dipole conductor215has a fattened portion404in which the width of the dipole conductor215is increased. The hybrid antenna system300ofFIG.4Acan be an efficient radiator. Structural constraints in an electronic device in which the antenna system300is to be incorporated can, however, frustrate selection of efficient radiator shape and dimension for the long arm215aof the dipole conductor215. Note, however, that fat dipoles accommodate the strongest radiating currents on the outer perimeter of the metal. This phenomenon in essence allows for hollowing out the metal on the fat dipole arm215a, as shown inFIG.4B, without losing significant performance gains. In this example embodiment, hollowing out of the fat dipole arm215is achieved by providing it with a substantially central cut-out opening408in the fattened portion404.

FIG.5Ashows an example embodiment of a hybrid antenna system500in which the design ofFIG.4Bis modified to meet the goals of industrial design needs for a wearable device by making the hollow fattened portion404of the long dipole arm215asymmetric to the loop antenna203.FIG.5Bshows an example embodiment in which the hybrid antenna system500ofFIG.5Ais incorporated into the example eyewear device100, as described previously. It will be noted that the fattened hollow portion404of the long dipole arm215ais provided by a loop portion defined by a wire conductor extending circumferentially around one of the lens rims115of the frame106(the other lens rim115housing the loop conductor209). In this example embodiment, the loop portion404of the dipole conductor215is provided by a respective lens ring150that serves as a retaining mechanism for removable and replaceable retention of the associated lens112. Thus, in the embodiment ofFIG.5B, the eyewear device has two lens rings150that form part of the integrated antenna system500, one providing the loop conductor209and the other providing a loop-portion404of the dipole conductor215.

FIG.6Ashows a further embodiment of a hybrid antenna system600analogous to that ofFIG.5A, but with angled end portions606to the arms of the dipole conductor215at their ends furthest from the feed point212. Note that it is possible to bend one or both of the arms215a,215bof the dipole206such that it is transverse to the plane defined by the loop antenna203ofFIG.5, while maintaining functionality. As mentioned,FIGS.6A and6Bshows a further example embodiment utilizing this insight. The angled end portions606ofFIG.6Aextend orthogonally relative to the loop conductor209, being normal to the plane of the loop conductor209.

FIG.6Bshows an eyewear device100as described, having integrated therein an antenna system600consistent withFIG.6A. The device100is thus analogous to that ofFIG.5B, except that the arms of the dipole conductor215a,215beach has an angled end portion606that extends along a respective one of the temples109of the eyewear device100. While beneficially extending the length of the dipole conductor215, the angled end portions606does not put a heavy downward pressure on dipole antenna performance unless the bend degree goes beyond 90 degrees. It will be seen that, in the embodiment ofFIG.6B, the angled end portions606of the dipole antenna206extend transversely (in this embodiment about orthogonally) relative to a plane defined by the loop conductor209. It will be seen that the dipole conductor215thus has (a) a main portion incorporated in the frame106and lying substantially within the plane defined by the loop conductor209, and (b) the angled end portions606extending along the temples109.

Those portions of the dipole conductor215that extends along a respective temples109(i.e., the angled end portions606in the example ofFIG.6B) may in some embodiments be provided by a wire conductor embedded within the temple109. In one embodiment, the wire conductor of the temple109may be provided by a core wire that provide structural integrity to the temple109. In other embodiments, the temple conductors606may be provided by structural metal component defining the temple109, or by metal trim components.

In addition, note that the temple portions606of the dipole conductor215may be configured for disconnection and reconnection with the PCB together with hinged displacement of the corresponding temple109. In usual fashion, the temples are typically folded flat against the frame when the eyewear device100is in a stowed configuration, and are hinged away from the frame into the configuration shown inFIG.6Bwhen the glasses are to be worn. A coupling may be incorporated in the articulated joint between the frame and the temple such as automatically to connect the temple wire to the PCB when the temple is in the extended position in which it is worn. Such a coupling may be constructed and configured analogously to that described in the disclosure in any of Applicant's United States patents numbers U.S. Pat. No. 9,726,904, titled EYEWEAR WITH CONDUCTIVE TEMPLE JOINT (filing date, Sep. 29, 2015); U.S. Pat. No. 9,482,882 titled EYEWEAR HAVING SELECTIVELY EXPOSABLE FEATURE (filed Apr. 15, 2015); and U.S. Pat. No. 9,482,883 titled EYEWEAR HAVING LINKAGE ASSEMBLY BETWEEN A TEMPLE AND A FRAME filed (Apr. 15, 2015), all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

It is a benefit of eyewear device ofFIG.6Bthat it allows for an antenna structure600for eyewear electronics in which a prominent aesthetic design material is metal with minimum width gaps and plastic molding. Beyond that, the hybrid dipole-loop structure600allows for improved wide band transceiving functional and achieves very efficient radiation.

In this example embodiment, the physical dimensions of the loop conductor209and the dipole conductor215are selected such that the dipole antenna206is configured for better responsiveness to relatively lower-frequency signals, in this case being designed for serving as a GPS receiver antenna. In contrast, the loop antenna203is shaped and dimensioned for better performance and relatively higher-frequency, in this example being employed as a Wi-Fi antenna for data communications in a frequency domain of about 2.4 GHz.

FIG.7shows a schematic diagram of the hybrid antenna system700. A transceiver system connected to the hybrid antenna600provided by the combination of the loop conductor209and the dipole conductor215comprises a diplexer707that provides frequency-domain multiplexing. The diplexer is connected to a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver721for the reception and interpretation of GPS signals received by the dipole antenna215, and is connected to a WLAN transceiver714for the reception and transmission of higher-frequency data signals via the loop conductor209.

The following numbered examples is a non-exhaustive list of selected illustrative embodiments in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

Example 1: An antenna system comprising:a loop conductor;a non-loop conductor; anda signal feed mechanism connected in common to the loop conductor and the non-loop conductor to feed/receive electrical signals simultaneously to/from both the loop conductor and the non-loop conductor.

Example 2: The antenna system of example 1, in which the loop conductor the non-loop conductor are shaped and positioned such that a radiation pattern of the loop conductor is substantially orthogonal to a radiation pattern of the non-loop conductor, when both are driven by the signal feed mechanism.

Example 3: The antenna system of example 2, in which the shape and spatial arrangement of the loop conductor and the non-loop conductor are such that the loop conductor and the non-loop conductor radiate with different respective polarizations, when driven by the signal feed mechanism.

Example 4: The antenna system of any one of examples 1-3, wherein the signal feed mechanism is operatively connected for signal transmission with both the loop conductor and the non-loop conductor at a common signal feed point.

Example 5: The antenna system of example 4, in which the non-loop conductor extends tangentially to the loop conductor at the signal feed point.

Example 6: The antenna system of example 4 or example 5, in which the non-loop conductor is a dipole conductor connected to the signal feed mechanism to provide dipole antenna functionality.

Example 7: The antenna system of example 6, in which the dipole conductor is center-fed, with the feed point being located substantially centrally along the length of the dipole conductor.

Example 8: The antenna system of example 6, in which the dipole conductor is offset-fed, the feed point being offset from a center of the length of the dipole conductor.

Example 9: The antenna system of example 8, in which the offset feed point separates a shorter arm of the dipole conductor and a longer arm of the dipole conductor, the longer arm of the dipole conductor having, for at least part of its length, an increased width relative to the shorter arm of the dipole conductor.

Example 10: The antenna system of example 9, in which the increased width of the longer arm is provided by a hollow fattened portion of the longer arm

Example 11: The antenna system of example 10, in which the hollow fattened portion of the long arm of the dipole conductor is loop-shaped.

Example 12: The antenna system of example 11, wherein the antenna system is incorporated in an electronics-enabled eyewear device, the loop-shaped portion of the dipole conductor comprising a wire conductor extending circumferentially along a lens holder defined by a frame of the eyewear device for holding a lens or other optical element of the eyewear device.

Example 13: The antenna system of example 12, wherein the wire conductor is provided by a lens retainer configured to engage a radially outer periphery of an optical element inserted in the lens holder, thereby to retain the optical element in the lens holder.

Example 14: The antenna system of examples 6-13, in which the dipole conductor comprises:a main portion that lies substantially within a plane defined by the loop conductor, the feed point being located in the main portion; and for at least one of the ends of the dipole conductor, an angled end portion thatextends transversely relative to the plane of the loop conductor.

Example 15: The antenna system of example 14, in which each of the arms of the dipole conductor defines a respective angled end portion.

Example 16: The antenna system of example 14 or example 15, in which the antenna system is incorporated in an eyewear device, the main portion of the dipole conductor extending laterally along a front-facing frame of the eyewear device, each angled end portion extending along a respective temple connected to the frame for supporting the frame on a user's face during wearing of the eyewear device.

Example 17: The antenna system of any one of examples 1-16, further comprising a diplexer to provide frequency-domain multiplexing based on respective frequency domains of the loop conductor and the non-loop conductor.

Example 18: The antenna system of example 17, where in the respective conductors and the diplexer are configured such that the non-loop conductor serves as a lower frequency GPS antenna, and the loop conductor serves as a higher frequency data communication antenna.

Example 19: The antenna system of example 17, wherein the loop conductor is configured to serve as the data communication channel at a frequency of about 2-2.4 GHz.

Example 20: A device comprising:a body;onboard electronics carried by the body; andan antenna system connected to the onboard electronics and housed by the body to provide wireless connectivity to the onboard electronics, the antenna system being configured according to any one of examples 1-19.

Example 21: An eyewear device comprising:an eyewear body configured for supporting one or more lenses within view of a user;onboard electronics incorporated in the eyewear body; andan antenna system housed in the eyewear body and connected to the onboard electronics to provide wireless connectivity to the onboard electronics, the antenna system comprising:a loop electrical conductor;a non-loop electrical conductor; anda transceiver connected in common to the loop electrical conductor and the non-loop electrical conductor to transmit/receive electrical signals simultaneously to/from both the loop electrical conductor and the non-loop electrical conductor.

Example 22: The eyewear device of example 21, wherein the loop electrical conductor extends in a loop circumferentially around one of the lenses held by the eyewear body.

Example 23: The eyewear device of example 21, wherein:the eyewear body comprises a frame defining a pair of lens holders, each of which defines a respective lens opening for reception of a corresponding lens therein; andwherein the loop electrical conductor is at least partially housed by a corresponding one of the lens holders, extending circumferentially around the corresponding lens opening.

Example 24: The eyewear device of example 22 or example 23, wherein the loop electrical conductor is provided by a lens retainer element configured for engagement with a radially outer periphery a lens held by the eyewear device, thereby to retain the lens in position on the eyewear body

Example 25: The eyewear device of any one of examples 22-24, wherein the non-loop electrical conductor comprises a dipole conductor incorporated in the eyewear body to extend along at least a part of the eyewear body.

Example 26: The eyewear device of example 25, wherein the eyewear body comprises a frame that defines a pair of lens holders for supporting the optical elements, the dipole conductor being incorporated in the frame to extend laterally across at least part of the frame, the dipole conductor being substantially tangential relative to the loop electrical conductor that extends circumferentially around one of the optical elements.

Example 27: The eyewear device of example 25, wherein the dipole connector includes a loop portion that extends circumferentially along the lens holder other than the lens holder associated with the loop electrical conductor.

Example 28: The eyewear device of any one of examples 26 or 27, wherein the dipole conductor includes at least one temple portion of that is incorporated in and extends along a temple connected to the frame for supporting the frame during wear, the temple portion, when the eyewear device is in a wearable configuration, extending transversely to a plane defined by the loop electrical conductor.

Example 29: The eyewear device of example 21, wherein the dipole conductor comprises two temple portions at opposite ends of the dipole conductor, each temple portion extending along a corresponding temple forming part of the eyewear body.

Example 30: The eyewear device of example 21, wherein the antenna system has the features of any one of examples 1-19.

Example 31. An antenna system comprising:a loop conductor;a non-loop conductor; anda signal feed mechanism connected in common to the loop conductor and the non-loop conductor to transceive electrical signals simultaneously through both the loop conductor and the non-loop conductor.

Example 32. The antenna system of example 31, in which the loop conductor and the non-loop conductor are shaped and positioned such that a radiation pattern of the loop conductor is substantially orthogonal to a radiation pattern of the non-loop conductor, when both the loop conductor and the non-loop conductor are driven by the signal feed mechanism.

Example 33. The antenna system of example 32, in which the shape and spatial arrangement of the loop conductor and the non-loop conductor are such that the loop conductor and the non-loop conductor radiate with different respective polarizations, when driven by the signal feed mechanism.

Example 34. The antenna system of example 31, wherein the signal feed mechanism is operatively connected for signal transmission with both the loop conductor and the non-loop conductor at a common signal feed point.

Example 35. The antenna system of example 34, in which the non-loop conductor is a dipole conductor connected to the signal feed mechanism to provide dipole antenna functionality, the dipole conductor comprising two linear arms connected at adjacent ends thereof to the signal feed point.

Example 36. The antenna system of example 35, in which the dipole conductor is offset-fed, the feed point being offset from a lengthwise center of the dipole conductor, so that the dipole conductor comprises a shorter arm and a longer arm.

Example 37. The antenna system of example 36, in which the longer arm of the dipole conductor has, for at least part of its length, an increased width relative to the shorter arm of the dipole conductor, the increased width of the longer arm being provided by a loop-shaped portion of the dipole conductor.

Example 38. The antenna system of example 37, wherein the antenna system is incorporated in an electronics-enabled eyewear device, the loop-shaped portion of the dipole conductor comprising a lens retainer extending circumferentially along a lens holder defined by a frame of the eyewear device, the lens retainer being disposable between a locked condition in which it retains a lens in the lens holder, and a released condition in which it permits removal and replacement of the lens.

Example 39. The antenna system of example 35, in which the dipole conductor comprises:a main portion that lies substantially within a plane defined by the loop conductor, the feed point being located in the main portion; andfor at least one of the ends of the dipole conductor, an angled end portion that extends transversely relative to the plane of the loop conductor.

Example 40. The antenna system of example 31, further comprising a diplexer connected to the non-loop conductor and to the loop conductor to provide frequency-domain multiplexing based on respective frequency domains of the loop conductor and the non-loop conductor.

Example 41. The antenna system of example 40, wherein the respective conductors and the diplexer are configured such that the non-loop conductor serves as a GPS antenna, and the loop conductor serves as a data communication antenna, the frequency domain of the loop conductor being higher than the frequency domain of the non-loop conductor.

Example 42. A device comprising:a body;onboard electronics carried by the body; andan antenna system connected to the onboard electronics and housed by the body to provide wireless connectivity to the onboard electronics, the antenna being configured according to any one of example 1-41 or 43-50.

Example 43. An eyewear device comprising:an eyewear body configured for supporting one or more lenses within view of a user;onboard electronics incorporated in the eyewear body; andan antenna system housed in the eyewear body and connected to the onboard electronics to provide wireless connectivity to the onboard electronics, the antenna system according to any one of examples 31-41

Example 44. The eyewear device of example 43, wherein the loop electrical conductor extends in a loop circumferentially around one of the lenses held by the eyewear body.

Example 45. The eyewear device of example 44, wherein the loop electrical conductor is provided by a lens retainer element configured for engagement with a radially outer periphery of a lens held by the eyewear device, thereby to retain the lens in position on the eyewear body, the lens retainer element being disposable between a locked condition in which it retains a lens on the eyewear body, and a released condition in which it permits removal and replacement of the lens

Example 46. The eyewear device of example 44, wherein the non-loop electrical conductor comprises a dipole conductor incorporated in the eyewear body to extend along at least a part of the eyewear body.

Example 47. The eyewear device of example 46, wherein the eyewear body comprises a frame that defines a pair of lens holders for supporting respective lenses, the dipole conductor being incorporated in the frame to extend laterally across at least part of the frame, the dipole conductor being substantially tangential relative to the loop electrical conductor that extends circumferentially around one of the optical elements, wherein the dipole conductor includes a loop portion that extends circumferentially along the lens holder other than the lens holder associated with the loop electrical conductor.

Example 48. The eyewear device of example 46, wherein the dipole conductor includes at least one temple portion of that is incorporated in and extends along a temple connected to the frame for supporting the frame during wear, the temple portion, when the eyewear device is in a wearable configuration, extending transversely to a plane defined by the loop electrical conductor.

Example 49. The eyewear device of example 43, further comprising a diplexer connected to the non-loop conductor and to the loop conductor to provide frequency-domain multiplexing based on respective frequency domains of the loop conductor and the non-loop conductor.

Example 50. The eyewear device of example 43, wherein the respective conductors and the diplexer are configured such that the non-loop conductor serves as a GPS antenna, and the loop conductor serves as a data communication antenna, the frequency domain of the loop conductor being higher than the frequency domain of the non-loop conductor.

Throughout this specification, plural instances may implement components, operations, or structures described as a single instance. Although individual operations of one or more methods are illustrated and described as separate operations, one or more of the individual operations may be performed concurrently, and nothing requires that the operations be performed in the order illustrated. Structures and functionality presented as separate components in example configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single component may be implemented as separate components. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements fall within the scope of the subject matter herein.

Although an overview of the disclosed matter has been described with reference to specific example embodiments, various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader scope of embodiments of the present disclosure. Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred to herein, individually or collectively, by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any single disclosure or inventive concept if more than one is, in fact, disclosed.

The embodiments illustrated herein are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the teachings disclosed. Other embodiments may be used and derived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. The Detailed Description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of various embodiments is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

As used herein, the term “or” may be construed in either an inclusive or exclusive sense. Moreover, plural instances may be provided for resources, operations, or structures described herein as a single instance. Additionally, boundaries between various resources, operations, modules, engines, and data stores are somewhat arbitrary, and particular operations are illustrated in a context of specific illustrative configurations. Other allocations of functionality are envisioned and may fall within a scope of various embodiments of the present disclosure. In general, structures and functionality presented as separate resources in the example configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or resource. Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single resource may be implemented as separate resources. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements fall within a scope of embodiments of the present disclosure as represented by the appended claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.