PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10270174-B2
Application Number: US-201715659503-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Millimeter wave antennas having cross-shaped resonating elements

Abstract:
An electronic device may be provided with an antenna and transceiver circuitry such as millimeter wave transceiver circuitry. The antenna may include an antenna ground and a resonating element. The resonating element may include a cross-shaped patch having arms extending along different longitudinal axes, conductive landing pads interposed between the cross-shaped patch and the antenna ground, and vertical conductive legs extending between each of the arms and corresponding landing pads. The antenna may be fed using a first antenna feed coupled between a first of the landing pads and the antenna ground and a second antenna feed coupled between a second of the landing pads and the antenna ground. The landing pads, antenna ground, and cross-shaped patch may be formed from conductive traces on different layers of a dielectric substrate.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An antenna, comprising: a ground plane; a conductive patch having first and second arms extending from opposing sides of a given point along a first longitudinal axis and having third and fourth arms extending from opposing sides of the given point along a second longitudinal axis, wherein the second longitudinal axis is oriented at a non-parallel angle with respect to the first longitudinal axis; a first conductive pad interposed between the ground plane and the conductive patch; a second conductive pad interposed between the ground plane and the conductive patch; an antenna feed having a first feed terminal coupled to the first conductive pad and a second feed terminal coupled to the ground plane; a first conductive structure that couples the first conductive pad to the first arm of the conductive patch; and a second conductive structure that couples the second conductive pad to the second arm of the conductive patch. 
     
     
       2. The antenna defined in  claim 1 , further comprising: a third conductive pad interposed between the ground plane and the conductive patch; an additional antenna feed having a third feed terminal coupled to the third conductive pad and a fourth feed terminal coupled to the ground plane; and a third conductive structure that couples the third conductive pad to the third arm of the conductive patch. 
     
     
       3. The antenna defined in  claim 2 , further comprising: a fourth conductive pad interposed between the ground plane and the conductive patch; and a fourth conductive structure that couples the fourth conductive pad to the fourth arm of the conductive patch. 
     
     
       4. The antenna defined in  claim 3 , further comprising: a dielectric substrate, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth conductive structures comprise conductive vias extending through the dielectric substrate. 
     
     
       5. The antenna defined in  claim 3 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth conductive pads are located in a common plane. 
     
     
       6. The antenna defined in  claim 5 , wherein the antenna is configured to transmit and receive wireless signals at a frequency between 10 GHz and 300 GHz. 
     
     
       7. The antenna defined in  claim 6 , wherein the first feed terminal is separated from the first conductive structure by a first distance, the conductive patch is separated from both the first conductive pad and the second conductive pad by a second distance, the first and second arms of the conductive patch both have a selected length, the second conductive structure is separated from an end of the second conductive pad by a third distance, and a sum of the first distance, the second distance, the third distance, and twice the selected length is approximately equal to one-half of a wavelength of operation of the antenna. 
     
     
       8. The antenna defined in  claim 2 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth arms of the conductive patch each have the same length. 
     
     
       9. The antenna defined in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 first and second openings in the ground plane; 
 a first transmission line coupled to the first feed terminal through the first opening in the ground plane; and 
 a second transmission line coupled to the third feed terminal through the second opening in the ground plane. 
 
     
     
       10. The antenna defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first longitudinal axis is oriented at 90 degrees with respect to the second longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       11. An electronic device, comprising: a stacked dielectric substrate having a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer, the second layer being interposed between the first and third layers; first metal traces on the first layer, wherein the first metal traces form an antenna ground plane for an antenna that handles antenna signals at a frequency that is greater than 10 GHz; second metal traces on the second layer that form a conductive landing pad; third metal traces on the third layer that form a cross-shaped patch; and a plurality of conductive vias coupled between a given arm of the cross-shaped patch and the conductive landing pad, wherein the conductive landing pad, the cross-shaped patch, and the plurality of conductive vias form at least part of an antenna resonating element for the antenna. 
     
     
       12. The electronic device defined in  claim 11 , further comprising: a first antenna feed having a first feed terminal coupled to the conductive landing pad and a second feed terminal coupled to the first metal traces, wherein the second metal traces form an additional conductive landing pad; a second antenna feed having a third feed terminal coupled to the additional conductive landing pad and a fourth feed terminal coupled to the first metal traces. 
     
     
       13. The electronic device defined in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 switching circuitry coupled to the first and second antenna feeds; and 
 control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is configured to adjust the switching circuitry between a first state at which the first antenna feed is active and the second antenna feed is inactive and a second state at which both the first and second antenna feeds are active. 
 
     
     
       14. The electronic device defined in  claim 13 , wherein the given arm of the cross shaped patch extends along a first longitudinal axis, the cross shaped patch has an additional arm extending along a second longitudinal axis perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis, and the electronic device further comprises an additional conductive via that couples the additional conductive landing pad to the additional arm of the cross shaped patch. 
     
     
       15. Apparatus, comprising:
 an antenna ground; 
 an antenna resonating element over the antenna ground, wherein the antenna resonating element has first and second arms extending along a first longitudinal axis, third and fourth arms extending along a second longitudinal axis that is oriented at a non-parallel angle with respect to the first longitudinal axis, and first, second, third, and fourth legs extending respectively from the first, second, third, and fourth arms towards the antenna ground, wherein the first and second arms are coplanar with the third and fourth arms; and 
 an antenna feed having a first feed terminal coupled to the antenna resonating element and a second feed terminal coupled to the antenna ground. 
 
     
     
       16. The apparatus defined in  claim 15 , wherein the antenna resonating element comprises first, second, third, and fourth conductive contact pads, the first leg extends from the first arm to the first conductive contact pad, the second leg extends from the second arm to the second conductive contact pad, the third leg extends from the third arm to the third conductive contact pad, and the fourth leg extends from the fourth arm to the fourth conductive contact pad. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus defined in  claim 16 , further comprising:
 an additional antenna feed having a third feed terminal coupled to the third conductive contact pad and a fourth feed terminal coupled to the antenna ground, wherein the first feed terminal is coupled to the first conductive contact pad. 
 
     
     
       18. The apparatus defined in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 millimeter wave transceiver circuitry configured to transmit millimeter wave signals over the antenna feed and the additional antenna feed. 
 
     
     
       19. The apparatus defined in  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a dielectric substrate, wherein the antenna resonating element, the antenna ground, and the millimeter wave transceiver circuitry are formed on the dielectric substrate.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This relates generally to electronic devices and, more particularly, to electronic devices with wireless communications circuitry. 
     Electronic devices often include wireless communications circuitry. For example, cellular telephones, computers, and other devices often contain antennas and wireless transceivers for supporting wireless communications. 
     It may be desirable to support wireless communications in millimeter wave and centimeter wave communications bands. Millimeter wave communications, which are sometimes referred to as extremely high frequency (EHF) communications, and centimeter wave communications involve communications at frequencies of about 10-300 GHz. Operation at these frequencies may support high bandwidths but may raise significant challenges. For example, millimeter wave communications are often line-of-sight communications and can be characterized by substantial attenuation during signal propagation. 
     It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide electronic devices with improved wireless communications circuitry such as communications circuitry that supports communications at frequencies greater than 10 GHz. 
     SUMMARY 
     An electronic device may be provided with wireless circuitry. The wireless circuitry may include an antenna and transceiver circuitry such as millimeter wave transceiver circuitry. 
     The antenna may include an antenna ground and an antenna resonating element. The transceiver circuitry may transmit and receive antenna signals between 10 GHz and 300 GHz using the antenna. The antenna resonating element may include a cross-shaped patch having first and second arms extending along a first longitudinal axis and third and fourth arms extending along a second longitudinal axis perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis. The antenna resonating element may include conductive landing pads interposed between the cross-shaped patch and the antenna ground. The antenna resonating element may include vertical conductive legs extending between each of the arms of the cross-shaped patch and respective conductive landing pads. 
     The antenna may be fed using a first antenna feed coupled between a first of the landing pads and the ground plane and a second antenna feed coupled between a second of the landing pads and the ground plane. The cross-shaped patch, antenna ground, and landing pads may be formed from conductive traces on different layers of a stacked dielectric substrate. The vertical conductive legs may be formed using conductive vias extending through the layers of the substrate. Switching circuitry may be interposed between the first and second antenna feeds and the transceiver circuitry. Control circuitry may adjust the switching circuitry between a high efficiency mode in which only one of the antenna feeds is active and a polarization diversity mode in which both antenna feeds are active (e.g., based on the current operating requirements of the device). 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illustrative electronic device with wireless communications circuitry in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of an illustrative electronic device with wireless communications circuitry in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of an illustrative electronic device showing illustrative locations at which antennas for communications at frequencies greater than 10 GHz may be located in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram of illustrative transceiver circuitry and antenna in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a top-down view of an illustrative antenna having a cross-shaped resonating element in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative antenna having a cross-shaped resonating element in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an illustrative antenna having a cross-shaped resonating element in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram showing a radiation pattern of an illustrative antenna of the type shown in  FIGS. 2-7  in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An electronic device such as electronic device  10  of  FIG. 1  may contain wireless circuitry. The wireless circuitry may include one or more antennas. The antennas may include phased antenna arrays that are used for handling millimeter wave and centimeter wave communications. Millimeter wave communications, which are sometimes referred to as extremely high frequency (EHF) communications, involve signals at 60 GHz or other frequencies between about 30 GHz and 300 GHz. Centimeter wave communications involve signals at frequencies between about 10 GHz and 30 GHz. If desired, device  10  may also contain wireless communications circuitry for handling satellite navigation system signals, cellular telephone signals, local wireless area network signals, near-field communications, light-based wireless communications, or other wireless communications. 
     Electronic device  10  may be a computing device such as a laptop computer, a computer monitor containing an embedded computer, a tablet computer, a cellular telephone, a media player, or other handheld or portable electronic device, a smaller device such as a wristwatch device, a pendant device, a headphone or earpiece device, a virtual or augmented reality headset device, a device embedded in eyeglasses or other equipment worn on a user&#39;s head, or other wearable or miniature device, a television, a computer display that does not contain an embedded computer, a gaming device, a navigation device, an embedded system such as a system in which electronic equipment with a display is mounted in a kiosk or automobile, a wireless access point or base station, a desktop computer, a keyboard, a gaming controller, a computer mouse, a mousepad, a trackpad or touchpad, equipment that implements the functionality of two or more of these devices, or other electronic equipment. In the illustrative configuration of  FIG. 1 , device  10  is a portable device such as a cellular telephone, media player, tablet computer, or other portable computing device. Other configurations may be used for device  10  if desired. The example of  FIG. 1  is merely illustrative. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , device  10  may include a display such as display  14 . Display  14  may be mounted in a housing such as housing  12 . Housing  12 , which may sometimes be referred to as an enclosure or case, may be formed of plastic, glass, ceramics, fiber composites, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, etc.), other suitable materials, or a combination of any two or more of these materials. Housing  12  may be formed using a unibody configuration in which some or all of housing  12  is machined or molded as a single structure or may be formed using multiple structures (e.g., an internal frame structure, one or more structures that form exterior housing surfaces, etc.). 
     Display  14  may be a touch screen display that incorporates a layer of conductive capacitive touch sensor electrodes or other touch sensor components (e.g., resistive touch sensor components, acoustic touch sensor components, force-based touch sensor components, light-based touch sensor components, etc.) or may be a display that is not touch-sensitive. Capacitive touch screen electrodes may be formed from an array of indium tin oxide pads or other transparent conductive structures. 
     Display  14  may include an array of display pixels formed from liquid crystal display (LCD) components, an array of electrophoretic display pixels, an array of plasma display pixels, an array of organic light-emitting diode display pixels, an array of electrowetting display pixels, or display pixels based on other display technologies. 
     Display  14  may be protected using a display cover layer such as a layer of transparent glass, clear plastic, sapphire, or other transparent dielectric. Openings may be formed in the display cover layer. For example, openings may be formed in the display cover layer to accommodate one or more buttons, sensor circuitry such as a fingerprint sensor or light sensor, ports such as a speaker port or microphone port, etc. Openings may be formed in housing  12  to form communications ports (e.g., an audio jack port, a digital data port, charging port, etc.). Openings in housing  12  may also be formed for audio components such as a speaker and/or a microphone. 
     Antennas may be mounted in housing  12 . If desired, some of the antennas (e.g., antenna arrays that may implement beam steering, etc.) may be mounted under an inactive border region of display  14  (see, e.g., illustrative antenna locations  50  of  FIG. 1 ). Display  14  may contain an active area with an array of pixels (e.g., a central rectangular portion). Inactive areas of display  14  are free of pixels and may form borders for the active area. If desired, antennas may also operate through dielectric-filled openings in the rear of housing  12  or elsewhere in device  10 . 
     To avoid disrupting communications when an external object such as a human hand or other body part of a user blocks one or more antennas, antennas may be mounted at multiple locations in housing  12 . Sensor data such as proximity sensor data, real-time antenna impedance measurements, signal quality measurements such as received signal strength information, and other data may be used in determining when one or more antennas is being adversely affected due to the orientation of housing  12 , blockage by a user&#39;s hand or other external object, or other environmental factors. Device  10  can then switch one or more replacement antennas into use in place of the antennas that are being adversely affected. 
     Antennas may be mounted at the corners of housing  12  (e.g., in corner locations  50  of  FIG. 1  and/or in corner locations on the rear of housing  12 ), along the peripheral edges of housing  12 , on the rear of housing  12 , under the display cover glass or other dielectric display cover layer that is used in covering and protecting display  14  on the front of device  10 , under a dielectric window on a rear face of housing  12  or the edge of housing  12 , or elsewhere in device  10 . 
     A schematic diagram showing illustrative components that may be used in device  10  is shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , device  10  may include storage and processing circuitry such as control circuitry  14 . Control circuitry  14  may include storage such as hard disk drive storage, nonvolatile memory (e.g., flash memory or other electrically-programmable-read-only memory configured to form a solid state drive), volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamic random-access-memory), etc. Processing circuitry in control circuitry  14  may be used to control the operation of device  10 . This processing circuitry may be based on one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, baseband processor integrated circuits, application specific integrated circuits, etc. 
     Control circuitry  14  may be used to run software on device  10 , such as internet browsing applications, voice-over-internet-protocol (VOIP) telephone call applications, email applications, media playback applications, operating system functions, etc. To support interactions with external equipment, control circuitry  14  may be used in implementing communications protocols. Communications protocols that may be implemented using control circuitry  14  include internet protocols, wireless local area network protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.11 protocols—sometimes referred to as WiFi®), protocols for other short-range wireless communications links such as the Bluetooth® protocol or other WPAN protocols, IEEE 802.11ad protocols, cellular telephone protocols, MIMO protocols, antenna diversity protocols, satellite navigation system protocols, 5 th  generation mobile networks or 5 th  generation wireless systems (5G) protocols, etc. 
     Device  10  may include input-output circuitry  16 . Input-output circuitry  16  may include input-output devices  18 . Input-output devices  18  may be used to allow data to be supplied to device  10  and to allow data to be provided from device  10  to external devices. Input-output devices  18  may include user interface devices, data port devices, and other input-output components. For example, input-output devices may include touch screens, displays without touch sensor capabilities, buttons, joysticks, scrolling wheels, touch pads, key pads, keyboards, microphones, cameras, speakers, status indicators, light sources, audio jacks and other audio port components, digital data port devices, light sensors, accelerometers or other components that can detect motion and device orientation relative to the Earth, capacitance sensors, proximity sensors (e.g., a capacitive proximity sensor and/or an infrared proximity sensor), magnetic sensors, and other sensors and input-output components. 
     Input-output circuitry  16  may include wireless communications circuitry  34  for communicating wirelessly with external equipment. Wireless communications circuitry  34  may include radio-frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry formed from one or more integrated circuits, power amplifier circuitry, low-noise input amplifiers, passive RF components, one or more antennas  40 , transmission lines, and other circuitry for handling RF wireless signals. Wireless signals can also be sent using light (e.g., using infrared communications). 
     Wireless communications circuitry  34  may include transceiver circuitry  20  for handling various radio-frequency communications bands. For example, circuitry  34  may include transceiver circuitry  22 ,  24 ,  26 , and  28 . 
     Transceiver circuitry  24  may be wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiver circuitry. Transceiver circuitry  24  may handle 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands for WiFi® (IEEE 802.11) communications and may handle the 2.4 GHz Bluetooth® communications band. 
     Circuitry  34  may use cellular telephone transceiver circuitry  26  for handling wireless communications in frequency ranges such as a communications band from 700 to 960 MHz, a communications band from 1710 to 2170 MHz, and a communications from 2300 to 2700 MHz or other communications bands between 600 MHz and 4000 MHz or other suitable frequencies (as examples). Circuitry  26  may handle voice data and non-voice data. 
     Millimeter wave transceiver circuitry  28  (sometimes referred to as extremely high frequency (EHF) transceiver circuitry  28  or transceiver circuitry  28 ) may support communications at frequencies between about 10 GHz and 300 GHz. For example, transceiver circuitry  28  may support communications in Extremely High Frequency (EHF) or millimeter wave communications bands between about 30 GHz and 300 GHz and/or in centimeter wave communications bands between about 10 GHz and 30 GHz (sometimes referred to as Super High Frequency (SHF) bands). As examples, transceiver circuitry  28  may support communications in an IEEE K communications band between about 18 GHz and 27 GHz, a K a  communications band between about 26.5 GHz and 40 GHz, a K u  communications band between about 12 GHz and 18 GHz, a V communications band between about 40 GHz and 75 GHz, a W communications band between about 75 GHz and 110 GHz, or any other desired frequency band between approximately 10 GHz and 300 GHz. If desired, circuitry  28  may support IEEE 802.11ad communications at 60 GHz and/or 5 th  generation mobile networks or 5 th  generation wireless systems (5G) communications bands between 27 GHz and 90 GHz. If desired, circuitry  28  may support communications at multiple frequency bands between 10 GHz and 300 GHz such as a first band from 27.5 GHz to 28.5 GHz, a second band from 37 GHz to 41 GHz, and a third band from 57 GHz to 71 GHz, or other communications bands between 10 GHz and 300 GHz. Circuitry  28  may be formed from one or more integrated circuits (e.g., multiple integrated circuits mounted on a common printed circuit in a system-in-package device, one or more integrated circuits mounted on different substrates, etc.). While circuitry  28  is sometimes referred to herein as millimeter wave transceiver circuitry  28 , millimeter wave transceiver circuitry  28  may handle communications at any desired communications bands at frequencies between 10 GHz and 300 GHz (e.g., in millimeter wave communications bands, centimeter wave communications bands, etc.). 
     Wireless communications circuitry  34  may include satellite navigation system circuitry such as Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver circuitry  22  for receiving GPS signals at 1575 MHz or for handling other satellite positioning data (e.g., GLONASS signals at 1609 MHz). Satellite navigation system signals for receiver  22  are received from a constellation of satellites orbiting the earth. 
     In satellite navigation system links, cellular telephone links, and other long-range links, wireless signals are typically used to convey data over thousands of feet or miles. In WiFi® and Bluetooth® links at 2.4 and 5 GHz and other short-range wireless links, wireless signals are typically used to convey data over tens or hundreds of feet. Extremely high frequency (EHF) wireless transceiver circuitry  28  may convey signals over these short distances that travel between transmitter and receiver over a line-of-sight path. To enhance signal reception for millimeter and centimeter wave communications, phased antenna arrays and beam steering techniques may be used (e.g., schemes in which antenna signal phase and/or magnitude for each antenna in an array is adjusted to perform beam steering). Antenna diversity schemes may also be used to ensure that the antennas that have become blocked or that are otherwise degraded due to the operating environment of device  10  can be switched out of use and higher-performing antennas used in their place. 
     Wireless communications circuitry  34  can include circuitry for other short-range and long-range wireless links if desired. For example, wireless communications circuitry  34  may include circuitry for receiving television and radio signals, paging system transceivers, near field communications (NFC) circuitry, etc. 
     Antennas  40  in wireless communications circuitry  34  may be formed using any suitable antenna types. For example, antennas  40  may include antennas with resonating elements that are formed from patch structures (e.g., cross-shaped patch structures coupled to vertical legs that are terminated in planar conductive pads below the cross-shaped patch structures), loop antenna structures, inverted-F antenna structures, slot antenna structures, planar inverted-F antenna structures, monopole antenna structures, dipole antenna structures, helical antenna structures, Yagi (Yagi-Uda) antenna structures, hybrids of these designs, etc. If desired, one or more of antennas  40  may be cavity-backed antennas. Different types of antennas may be used for different bands and combinations of bands. For example, one type of antenna may be used in forming a local wireless link antenna and another type of antenna may be used in forming a remote wireless link antenna. Dedicated antennas may be used for receiving satellite navigation system signals or, if desired, antennas  40  can be configured to receive both satellite navigation system signals and signals for other communications bands (e.g., wireless local area network signals and/or cellular telephone signals). Antennas  40  can one or more antennas such as antennas arranged in one or more phased antenna arrays for handling millimeter and centimeter wave communications. 
     Transmission line paths may be used to route antenna signals within device  10 . For example, transmission line paths may be used to couple antenna structures  40  to transceiver circuitry  20 . Transmission lines in device  10  may include coaxial probes realized by metal vias, microstrip transmission lines, stripline transmission lines, edge-coupled microstrip transmission lines, edge-coupled stripline transmission lines, waveguide structures, transmission lines formed from combinations of transmission lines of these types, etc. Filter circuitry, switching circuitry, impedance matching circuitry, and other circuitry may be interposed within the transmission lines, if desired. 
     In devices such as handheld devices, the presence of an external object such as the hand of a user or a table or other surface on which a device is resting has a potential to block wireless signals such as millimeter wave signals. Accordingly, it may be desirable to incorporate multiple antennas or phased antenna arrays into device  10 , each of which is placed in a different location within device  10 . With this type of arrangement, an unblocked antenna or phased antenna array may be switched into use. In scenarios where a phased antenna array is formed in device  10 , once switched into use, the phased antenna array may use beam steering to optimize wireless performance. Configurations in which antennas from one or more different locations in device  10  are operated together may also be used. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of electronic device  10  showing illustrative locations  50  on the rear of housing  12  in which antennas  40  (e.g., single antennas and/or phased antenna arrays for use with wireless circuitry  34  such as wireless transceiver circuitry  28 ) may be mounted in device  10 . Antennas  40  may be mounted at the corners of device  10 , along the edges of housing  12  such as edge  12 E, on upper and lower portions of rear housing portion (wall)  12 R, in the center of rear housing wall  12 R (e.g., under a dielectric window structure or other antenna window in the center of rear housing  12 R), at the corners of rear housing wall  12 R (e.g., on the upper left corner, upper right corner, lower left corner, and lower right corner of the rear of housing  12  and device  10 ), etc. 
     In configurations in which housing  12  is formed entirely or nearly entirely from a dielectric, antennas  40  may transmit and receive antenna signals through any suitable portion of the dielectric. In configurations in which housing  12  is formed from a conductive material such as metal, regions of the housing such as slots or other openings in the metal may be filled with plastic or other dielectric. Antennas  40  may be mounted in alignment with the dielectric in the openings. These openings, which may sometimes be referred to as dielectric antenna windows, dielectric gaps, dielectric-filled openings, dielectric-filled slots, elongated dielectric opening regions, etc., may allow antenna signals to be transmitted to external equipment from antennas  40  mounted within the interior of device  10  and may allow internal antennas  40  to receive antenna signals from external equipment. In another suitable arrangement, antennas  40  may be mounted on the exterior of conductive portions of housing  12 . 
     In devices with phased antenna arrays, circuitry  34  may include gain and phase adjustment circuitry that is used in adjusting the signals associated with each antenna  40  in an array (e.g., to perform beam steering). Switching circuitry may be used to switch desired antennas  40  into and out of use. Each of locations  50  may include multiple antennas  40  (e.g., a set of three antennas or more than three or fewer than three antennas in a phased antenna array) and, if desired, one or more antennas from one of locations  50  may be used in transmitting and receiving signals while using one or more antennas from another of locations  50  in transmitting and receiving signals. 
     A schematic diagram of an antenna  40  coupled to transceiver circuitry  20  (e.g., transceiver circuitry  28 ) is shown in  FIG. 4 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  20  may be coupled to antenna feeds  100  of antenna  40  using corresponding transmission lines  64 . If desired, antenna  40  may include multiple antenna feeds  100 . In the example of  FIG. 4 , antenna  40  includes a first antenna feed  100 - 1  coupled to transceiver circuitry  20  over a first transmission line  64 - 1  and a second antenna feed  100 - 2  coupled to transceiver circuitry  20  over a second transmission line  64 - 2 . This is merely illustrative and, if desired, antenna  40  may only have a single feed  100  (e.g., one of feeds  100 - 1  or  100 - 2 ) or may have more than three feeds. The use of multiple feeds may, for example, allow antenna  40  to cover a greater number of polarizations than in scenarios where only a single feed is used (e.g., multiple linear polarizations such as horizontal and vertical polarizations, a circular polarization, an elliptical polarization, etc.). 
     Antenna feeds  100  may each include a corresponding positive antenna feed terminal  96  and a corresponding ground antenna feed terminal  98 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , antenna feed  100 - 1  includes positive feed terminal  96 - 1  and ground feed terminal  98 - 1  whereas antenna feed  100 - 2  includes positive feed terminal  96 - 2  and a ground feed terminal  98 - 2 . 
     Transmission lines  64  may be formed form metal traces on a printed circuit or other conductive structures and may have a positive transmission line signal path such as path  91  that is coupled to terminal  96  and a ground transmission line signal path such as path  94  that is coupled to terminal  98 . In the example of  FIG. 4 , transmission line  64 - 1  includes positive signal path  91 - 1  coupled to feed terminal  96 - 1  and ground signal path  94 - 1  coupled to feed terminal  98 - 1  whereas transmission line  64 - 2  includes positive signal path  91 - 2  coupled to feed terminal  96 - 2  and ground signal path  94 - 2  coupled to feed terminal  98 - 2 . 
     Transmission line paths such as paths  64 - 1  and  64 - 2  may be used to route antenna signals (e.g., antenna signals at frequencies between 10 GHz and 300 GHz such as millimeter wave signals) within device  10 . Transmission lines  64 - 1  and  64 - 2  may each include coaxial probes realized by metal vias, microstrip transmission lines, stripline transmission lines, edge-coupled microstrip transmission lines, coaxial cables, edge-coupled stripline transmission lines, waveguide structures, transmission lines formed from combinations of transmission lines of these types, etc. Filter circuitry, switching circuitry, impedance matching circuitry, amplifier circuitry, phase shifter circuitry, and other circuitry may be interposed within transmission line  64 - 1  and/or transmission line  64 - 2  and/or circuits such as these may be incorporated into antenna  40  if desired (e.g., to support antenna tuning, to support operation in desired frequency bands, etc.). 
     In the example of  FIG. 4 , switching circuitry  66  may be interposed on transmission lines  64 - 1  and  64 - 2 . Switching circuitry  66  may be controlled using control signals provided by control circuitry  14  ( FIG. 2 ) to selectively activate zero, one, or both of feeds  100 - 1  and  100 - 2  for antenna  40 . For example, switching circuitry  66  may have a first state at which feed  100 - 1  is active (e.g., enabled or coupled to transceiver  20 ) and feed  100 - 2  is inactive (e.g., disabled or decoupled from transceiver  20 ), a second state at which feed  100 - 1  is inactive and feed  100 - 2  is active, a third state at which feeds  100 - 1  and  100 - 2  are both active, and a fourth state at which both feeds  100 - 1  and  100 - 2  are inactive. 
     Using a single feed at a given time may involve an enhanced overall antenna efficiency for antenna  40  relative to scenarios where both feeds are used (e.g., due to potential coupling between active feeds  100 - 1  and  100 - 2 ). However, using both feeds  100 - 1  and  100 - 2  at a given time may allow antenna  40  to cover a greater number of polarizations such as orthogonal horizontal and vertical polarizations, circular polarizations, elliptical polarizations, etc. If desired, control circuitry  14  may activate one of feeds  100 - 1  and  100 - 2  in scenarios where relatively high antenna efficiency is needed (e.g., when device  10  is in a region of low wireless signal strength with a base station or access point) and may activate both feeds  100 - 1  and  100 - 2  when it is desired to cover multiple polarizations (e.g., a circular polarization, orthogonal linear polarizations, etc.). 
     Device  10  may contain multiple antennas  40 . The antennas may be used together or one of the antennas may be switched into use while other antenna(s) are switched out of use. If desired, control circuitry  14  may be used to select an optimum antenna to use in device  10  in real time and/or to select an optimum setting for adjustable wireless circuitry associated with one or more of antennas  40 . Antenna adjustments may be made to tune antennas to perform in desired frequency ranges, to perform beam steering with a phased antenna array, and to otherwise optimize antenna performance. Sensors may be incorporated into antennas  40  to gather sensor data in real time that is used in adjusting antennas  40 . 
     In some configurations, antennas  40  may be arranged in one or more antenna arrays (e.g., phased antenna arrays to implement beam steering functions). For example, the antennas that are used in handling millimeter and centimeter wave signals for wireless transceiver circuits  28  may be implemented as phased antenna arrays. The radiating elements in a phased antenna array for supporting millimeter and centimeter wave communications may be patch antennas (e.g., cross-shaped patch antennas having a planar cross-shaped conductor and vertical legs that extend from the planar cross-shaped conductor and are terminated in planar conductive pads below the planar cross-shaped conductor), dipole antennas, dipole antennas with directors and reflectors in addition to dipole antenna resonating elements (sometimes referred to as Yagi antennas or beam antennas), or other suitable antenna elements. Transceiver circuitry can be integrated with the phased antenna arrays to form integrated phased antenna array and transceiver circuit modules if desired. 
       FIG. 5  is a top-down view of an illustrative patch antenna  40  (e.g., a patch antenna having a planar cross-shaped conductor and vertical legs that extend from the planar cross-shaped conductor and are terminated in planar conductive pads below the planar cross-shaped conductor). As shown in  FIG. 5 , antenna  40  may include an antenna resonating element  104  (e.g., a patch antenna resonating element) that is separated from a ground plane such as antenna ground plane  106  (e.g., in the direction of the Z-axis of  FIG. 5 ). 
     Antenna resonating element  104  may include a planar cross-shaped conductor  104 P (sometimes referred to herein as patch  104 P or resonating element portion  104 P) and multiple planar conductive pads  104 L (e.g., a first pad  104 L- 1 , a second pad  104 L- 2 , a third pad  104 L- 3 , and a fourth pad  104 L- 4 ) formed below conductor  104 P. Conductor  104 P and pads  104 L (sometimes referred to herein as landing pads  104 L or contact pads  104 L) may both be separated from and may have lateral surface areas parallel to antenna ground plane  106 . Pads  104 L may each be located at a first distance above ground plane  106  whereas conductor  104 P is located at a second, greater, distance above ground plane  106  (e.g., pads  104 L may be interposed between conductor  104 P and ground plane  106 ). 
     Each conductive pad  104 L may be shorted to conductor  104 P over corresponding vertical conductive structures  122  (e.g., pad  104 L- 1  may be coupled to conductor  104 P over vertical conductive structures  122 - 1 , pad  104 L- 2  may be coupled to conductor  104 P over vertical conductive structures  122 - 2 , pad  104 L- 3  may be coupled to conductor  104 P over vertical conductive structures  122 - 3 , and pad  104 L- 4  may be coupled to conductor  104 P over vertical conductive structures  122 - 4 ). Pads  104 L and conductor  104 P may each have lateral surface areas parallel to the X-Y plane of  FIG. 5  whereas vertical conductive structures  122  between conductor  104 P and pads  104 L (e.g., parallel to the Z-axis of  FIG. 5 ). Vertical conductive structures  122  may sometimes be referred to herein as legs  122 . 
     To enhance the polarizations handled by patch antenna  40 , antenna  40  may be provided with multiple feeds such as feeds  100 - 1  and  100 - 2  ( FIG. 4 ). As shown in  FIG. 5 , antenna  40  may have a first feed  100 - 1  at antenna port P 1  that is coupled to transmission line  64 - 1  and a second feed  100 - 2  at antenna port P 2  that is coupled to transmission line  64 - 2 . First antenna feed  100 - 1  may have a first ground feed terminal  98 - 1  (not shown in  FIG. 5  for the sake of clarity) coupled to ground  106  and a first positive feed terminal  96 - 1  coupled to conductive pad  104 L- 3 . Second antenna feed  100 - 2  may have a second ground feed terminal coupled to ground  106  and a second positive feed terminal  96 - 2  coupled to conductive pad  104 L- 4 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 5 , conductor  104 P of resonating element  104  has a cross or “X” shape. In order to form the cross shape, conductor  104 P may include multiple conductive arms extending from different sides of a central point  108  along at least two longitudinal axes oriented at non-parallel angles with respect to each other. As shown in  FIG. 5 , cross-shaped conductor  104 P may include a first arm  114 , a second arm  116 , a third arm  118 , and a fourth arm  120  that extend from different sides of the center point  108  of element  104 P. First arm  114  may oppose third arm  118  whereas second arm  116  opposes fourth arm  120  (e.g., arms  114  and  118  may extend in parallel and from opposing sides of center point  108  of element  104 P and arms  116  and  120  may extend in parallel and from opposing sides of center point  108 ). 
     Arms  114  and  118  may extend along a first longitudinal axis  112  whereas arms  116  and  120  extend along a second longitudinal axis  110 . Longitudinal axis  112  may be oriented at a non-parallel angle with respect to longitudinal axis  110  (e.g., an angle between 0 degrees and 180 degrees) such as approximately 90 degrees. Antenna resonating element  104  may include a respective set of vertical legs  122  and a corresponding conductive pad  104 L for each leg of patch  104 P. 
     Arms  114  and  118  may each have a length L 1 . Arms  116  and  120  may each have a length L 2 . Feed terminal  96 - 2  on pad  104 L- 4  may be separated from vertical conductive structures  122 - 4  by lateral distance D 1  (e.g., in the X-Y plane of  FIG. 5 ). Vertical conductive structures  122 - 2  may be separated from end  152  of pad  104 L- 2  by distance D 2 . Similarly, feed terminal  96 - 1  on pad  104 L- 3  may be separated from vertical conductive structures  122 - 3  by distance D 1  and vertical conductive structures  122 - 1  may be separated from end  150  of pad  104 L- 1  by distance D 2 . Lengths L 1 , L 2 , D 1 , D 2 , and the height of vertical conductive structures  122  (e.g., in the direction of the Z-axis of  FIG. 5 ) may be selected so that antenna  40  resonates at desired frequencies (e.g., frequencies between 10 GHz and 300 GHz). 
     For example, when first antenna feed  100 - 1  associated with port P 1  is active, antenna  40  may transmit and/or receive antenna signals in a first communications band at a first frequency (e.g., a frequency at which one-half of the corresponding wavelength is approximately equal to two times dimension L 1 , plus two times the height of vertical conductors  122 , plus length D 1  and length D 2 ). These signals may have a first polarization (e.g., the electric field E 1  of the antenna signals associated with port P 1  may be oriented parallel to dimension Y). 
     When using the antenna feed associated with port P 2 , antenna  40  may transmit and/or receive antenna signals in a second communications band at a second frequency (e.g., a frequency at which one-half of the corresponding wavelength is approximately equal to (e.g., within 15% of) two times dimension L 2 , plus two times the height of vertical conductors  122 , plus length D 1  and length D 2 ). These signals may have a second polarization (e.g., the electric field E 2  of the antenna signals associated with port P 2  may be oriented parallel to dimension X so that the polarizations associated with ports P 1  and P 2  are orthogonal to each other). 
     Distributing the resonating length of resonating element  104  across both horizontal and vertical dimensions in this way may reduce the overall footprint of antenna  40  (e.g., the lateral size of antenna  40  in the X-Y plane) relative to scenarios where antenna  40  includes a patch antenna resonating element located entirely within a single plane, thereby optimizing the use of space within device  10 , as an example. The width of arms  114 ,  116 ,  118 , and  120 , and/or the width of pads  104 L (e.g., as measured perpendicular to axis  110  for arms  116  and  120  and pads  104 L- 2  and  104 L- 4  or perpendicular to axis  112  for arms  114  and  118  and pads  104 L- 1  and  104 L- 3 ) may be adjusted to ensure that resonating element is impedance matched with transmission lines  64 - 1  and  64 - 2 , for example. 
     In the example of  FIG. 5 , length L 1  is equal to length L 2  (e.g., cross-shaped conductor  104 P extends across a square outline). In this scenario, ports P 1  and P 2  may cover the same communications band (frequencies) with greater polarization diversity than in scenarios where only one port is used (e.g., using two orthogonal linear polarizations). In scenarios where patch  104 P extends across a non-square rectangular outline (e.g., where length L 1  is different from L 2 ), ports P 1  and P 2  may cover different communications bands or frequencies if desired. During wireless communications using device  10 , device  10  may use port P 1 , port P 2 , or both port P 1  and P 2  to transmit and/or receive signals (e.g., millimeter wave signals) at one or more frequencies using a single linear polarization, two orthogonal linear polarizations, or circular or elliptical polarizations (e.g., by adjusting phase shifting circuitry coupled between transceiver circuitry  20  and feed terminals  96 - 1  and  96 - 2 ). 
     If desired, resonating element  104  and/or ground  106  may be formed on a dielectric substrate (not shown in  FIG. 5  for the sake of clarity). In scenarios where resonating element  104  is not formed on a dielectric substrate or the dielectric substrate is confined to the volume between vertical conductors  122 - 1 ,  122 - 2 ,  122 - 3 , and  122 - 4  and under pads  104 L, conductor  104 P, vertical conductive structures  122 , and/or pads  104 L may be formed from metal foil, stamped sheet metal, electronic device housing structures, or any other desired conductive structures (e.g., resonating element  104  may be formed from a single continuous piece of metal where arms  114 ,  116 ,  118 , and  120  have ends that are bent or folded downwards to form vertical conductive structures  122  and where the ends of vertical conductive structures  122  are bent upwards to form pads  104 L). Vertical conductive structures  122  may include conductive pins, conductive springs, conductive adhesive, solder, welds, or any other desired vertical conductive structures. 
     In scenarios where resonating element  104  and ground  106  are formed on a dielectric substrate (e.g., a rigid or flexible printed circuit board, dielectric block, etc.), conductor  104 P and pads  104 L may be formed from conductive (e.g., metal) traces on the dielectric substrate or dielectric layers within the substrate. In this scenario, vertical conductive structures  122  may include vertical conductive vias extending through the dielectric substrate. 
     The example of  FIG. 5  is merely illustrative. Each arm of conductor  104 P may be coupled to the corresponding conductive pad  104 L through one vertical conductive structure  122 , two conductive structures  122 , three conductive structures  122  (as shown in the example of  FIG. 5 ), or more than three conductive structures  122 . Conductive pads  104 L may have any desired shape (e.g., shapes having curved and/or straight edges) and may have widths that are greater than, equal to, or less than the width of the arms of conductor  104 P. Conductor  104 P may have curved and/or straight edges or may have other shapes or orientations if desired. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of antenna  40  for covering communications bands between 10 GHz and 300 GHz (e.g., as taken along line AA′ of  FIG. 5 ). As shown in  FIG. 6 , antenna  40  may be formed on a dielectric substrate such as substrate  130 . Substrate  130  may be, for example, a rigid or printed circuit board or other dielectric substrate. Substrate  130  may include multiple dielectric layers  132  (e.g., multiple layers of printed circuit board substrate such as multiple layers of fiberglass-filled epoxy) such as a first dielectric layer  132 - 1 , a second dielectric layer  132 - 2  over the first dielectric layer, a third dielectric layer  132 - 3  over the second dielectric layer, a fourth dielectric layer  132 - 4  over the third dielectric layer, a fifth dielectric layer  132 - 5  over the fourth dielectric layer, a sixth dielectric layer  132 - 6  over the fifth dielectric layer, a seventh dielectric layer  132 - 7  over the sixth dielectric layer, and an eighth dielectric layer  132 - 8  over the seventh dielectric layer. Additional or fewer dielectric layers  132  may be stacked within substrate  130  if desired. 
     With this type of arrangement, antenna  40  may be embedded within the layers of substrate  130 . For example, ground plane  106  may be formed on a surface of second layer  132 - 2 , conductive landing pads  104 L (e.g., second pad  104 L- 2  and fourth pad  104 L- 4  as shown in  FIG. 6 ) may be formed on a surface of layer  132 - 5 , and cross-shaped conductor  104 P may be formed on a surface of layer  132 - 8 . In this way, conductive pads  104 L may have a lateral surface area in the X-Y plane of  FIG. 6  and may be located at a distance H 2  with respect to ground plane  106 . Conductor  104 P may have a lateral surface area in the X-Y plane and may be separated from pads  104 L by distance H 1  (e.g., a distance of H 1 +H 2  with respect to ground  106 ). Distance H 1  may be the same as distance H 2 , less than distance H 2 , or greater than distance H 2 . Distances H 1  and H 2  may be between 0.1 mm and 10 mm, as examples. In general, adjusting distances H 1  and H 2  may serve to adjust the bandwidth of antenna  40 . 
     Antenna  40  may be fed using a transmission line such as transmission line  64 - 2  (transmission line  64 - 1  of  FIG. 5  is not shown in the cross-sectional side view of  FIG. 6 ). Transmission line  64 - 2  may, for example, be formed from a conductive trace such as conductive trace  134  on layer  132 - 1  and portions of ground layer  106 . Conductive trace  134  may form the positive signal conductor for transmission line  64 - 2 , for example. A hole  136  may be formed in ground layer  106 . Transmission line  64 - 2  may include a vertical conductor  138  (e.g., a conductive through-via, metal pillar, metal wire, conductive pin, or other vertical conductive interconnect structures) that extends from trace  134  through layer  132 - 2 , hole  136  in ground layer  106 , and layers  132 - 3 ,  132 - 4 , and  132 - 5  to antenna feed terminal  96 - 2  on conductive landing pad  104 L- 4 . This example is merely illustrative and, if desired, other transmission line structures may be used (e.g., coaxial cable structures, stripline transmission line structures, etc.). 
     Transmission line  64 - 2  may convey antenna signals for antenna  40  (e.g., to and from transceiver  20 ) such as antenna signals at frequencies between 10 GHz and 300 GHz (e.g., millimeter wave antenna signals). Corresponding antenna currents may flow over terminal  96 - 2  to vertical conductor  122 - 4  over distance D 1 , through vertical conductor  122 - 4  to vertical conductor  122 - 2  over arms  120  and  116  of cross-shaped conductive patch  104 P (e.g., across a distance of 2*L 1 ), through vertical conductor  122 - 2  to pad  104 L- 2 , and over distance D 2  to end  152  of pad  104 L- 2 . This path length (e.g., D 1 +H 1 +2*L 1 +H 1 +D 2 ) may be approximately equal to (e.g., within 15% of) one-half of the wavelength of operation (e.g., a wavelength corresponding to a frequency between 10 GHz and 300 GHz such as a centimeter or millimeter scale wavelength). This path length may, for example, be reduced by a constant factor based on the dielectric constant of the materials used to form dielectric substrate  130 . The antenna currents flowing through resonating element  104  may produce (or be generated by) wireless antenna signals  142  (e.g., wireless signals at frequencies between 10 GHz and 300 GHz such as wireless millimeter wave signals). 
     The example of  FIG. 6  is merely illustrative. While the example of  FIG. 6  shows structures associated with port P 2  and arms  116  and  120  of patch  104 P of  FIG. 5 , conductive pads  104 L- 1  and  104 L- 3  may also be formed on dielectric layer  132 - 5  of substrate  130  and arms  114  and  118  may also be formed on layer  132 - 8  of  FIG. 6 . Transmission line  64 - 1  for feed  100 - 1  may include traces formed on layer  132 - 1  that are coupled to landing pad  104 L- 3  via a corresponding vertical conductor. If desired, additional layers  132  may be interposed between traces  134  and  106 , and additional or fewer layers  132  may be interposed between traces  106  and traces  104 L and/or between traces  104 L and traces  104 P. In another suitable arrangement, substrate  130  may be formed from a single dielectric layer (e.g., antennas  40  may be embedded within a single dielectric layer such as a molded plastic layer). In yet another suitable arrangement, substrate  130  may be omitted and antenna  40  may be formed on other substrate structures or may be formed without substrates. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of antenna  40  for handling antenna signals between 10 GHz and 300 GHz. In the example of  FIG. 7 , dielectric  130  is not shown for the sake of clarity. As shown in  FIG. 7 , conductive pads  104 L are formed at distance H 2  above ground plane  106 . Cross-shaped patch conductor  104 P is formed at distance H 1  above conductive pads  104 L. Arm  116  of patch  104 P is coupled to pad  104 L- 2  via a set of vertical conductors  122 - 2 , arm  114  of patch  104 P is coupled to pad  104 L- 1  via a set of vertical conductors  122 - 1 , arm  120  of patch  104 P is coupled to pad  104 L- 4  via a set of vertical conductors  122 - 4 , and arm  118  of patch  104 P is coupled to pad  104 L- 3  via a set of vertical conductors  122 - 3 . 
     A first hole  136  and a second hole  136 ′ may be formed in ground plane  106 . Transmission line  64 - 2  (e.g., the corresponding vertical conductor  138  as shown in  FIG. 6 ) may extend through hole  136  to feed terminal  96 - 2  on landing pad  104 L- 4  of resonating element  104 . Transmission line  64 - 1  may include a vertical conductor  138 ′ that extends through hole  136 ′ in ground plane  106  to feed terminal  96 - 1  on landing pad  104 - 3 . Antenna signals (e.g., antenna currents) may be conveyed over feed terminal  96 - 1 , over pad  104 L- 3  to vertical conductors  122 - 3 , through vertical conductors  122 - 3 , over arms  118  and  114  of patch  104 P, through vertical conductors  122 - 1 , and over pad  104 L- 1 . 
     When both feeds  100 - 1  and  100 - 2  are active (e.g., when control circuitry  14  of  FIG. 2  couples both feeds to transceiver  28  using switching circuitry  66  of  FIG. 4 ), antenna  40  may convey wireless signals with greater polarization diversity than when a single feed is used. For example, antenna signals having orthogonal linear polarizations may be concurrently conveyed over both feed  100 - 1  (and conductors  104 L- 3 ,  122 - 3 ,  118 ,  114 ,  122 - 1 , and  104 L- 1 ) and feed  100 - 2  (and conductors  122 - 4 ,  120 ,  116 ,  122 - 2 , and  104 L- 2 ). 
     Because arms  116 ,  114 ,  118 , and  120  are all formed from the same continuous piece of conductive material (i.e., patch  104 P), some electromagnetic coupling between feeds  100 - 1  and  100 - 2  may be present when both ports P 1  and P 2  are active. This may reduce the overall antenna efficiency of antenna  40  when both feeds (ports) are active. If desired, control circuitry  14  may control switching circuitry  66  ( FIG. 4 ) to use only a single feed at a given time to eliminate this electromagnetic coupling. This may serve to increase the overall antenna efficiency of antenna  40  while also reducing the polarization diversity of antenna  40 . Control circuitry  14  may change the number of active feeds based on the current operating conditions of device  10  if desired (e.g., based on sensor data, signal quality information, information on what operations are being performed by device  10 , etc.). Antenna  40  may provide coverage for wireless communications circuitry  34  at frequencies between 10 GHz and 300 GHz (e.g., frequencies between 27 GHz and 41 GHz, frequencies between 30 GHz and 300 GHz, etc.) with dynamically adjustable polarization diversity and while occupying less space within device  10  relative to scenarios where the antenna resonating element is formed from a single patch located in a single plane. In addition, when configured in this way, antenna  40  may exhibit a relatively uniform radiation pattern. 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional diagram of an exemplary radiation pattern that may be exhibited by antenna  40  (e.g., where the surface of patch  104 P lies in the X-Y plane of  FIG. 8 ). Curve  164  may represent the radiation pattern of a conventional dipole antenna. As shown in  FIG. 8 , curve  164  exhibits relatively strong coverage (e.g., relatively high gain) at angles between about +45 degrees and +90 degrees and between about −45 degrees and −90 degrees. However, curve  164  exhibits a node (minimum) around 0 degrees. As such, an antenna corresponding to pattern  164  may provide insufficient coverage (e.g., may exhibit relatively low gain) when communicating with external communications equipment located around 0 degrees with respect to the antenna. 
     Curve  162  may represent the radiation pattern of antenna  40  of  FIGS. 2-7 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , radiation pattern  162  exhibits relatively strong coverage at angles between −90 degrees and 0 degrees and at angles between +90 degrees and 0 degrees, as well as at angles around 0 degrees. As such antenna  40  may provide improved coverage around 0 degrees relative to conventional dipole antennas, thereby allowing device  10  to communicate with external communications equipment located around 0 degrees with respect to antenna  40  (e.g., with satisfactory link quality). 
     The example of  FIG. 8  is merely illustrative and, if desired, curve  162  may have other shapes. As shown in  FIG. 8 , curve  162  illustrates the cross-sectional radiation pattern of antenna  40 . However, in general, curve  162  may be rotated around the axis  160  to give a full three-dimensional pattern for the antenna. In this way, antenna  40  may provide relatively uniform coverage over an entire hemisphere at frequencies between 10 GHz and 300 GHz and with adjustable polarization diversity. 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented individually or in any combination.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20170725
Publication Date: 20190423
Grant Date: 20190423
Priority Date: 20170725
Inventors: PAULOTTO, Simone
NOORI, BASIM H.
MOW, MATTHEW A.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01Q1/38", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q9/0407", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/38", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q9/045", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q5/35", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/2266", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/243", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q21/28", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q5/35", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q9/045", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q21/28", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/243", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/2266", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q9/0407", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/38", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 65038740