PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8896488-B2
Application Number: US-201113038300-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Multi-element antenna structure with wrapped substrate

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

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device antenna structure, comprising:
 a plastic support structure having opposing first and second surfaces, wherein the first surface comprises a planar surface and wherein the second surface comprises a curved surface that opposes the planar surface; 
 an antenna resonating element substrate having first and second antenna resonating elements for first and second respective antennas, wherein the antenna resonating element substrate is wrapped around the plastic support structure and covers the first and second surfaces, the planar and curved surfaces meet along an axis, the first antenna resonating element and the second antenna resonating element on the antenna resonating element substrate are each bent over the axis by at least 90 degrees, the first and second antenna resonating elements each have respective first portions on the first surface that extend in a direction parallel to the axis and each have respective second portions on the second surface that extend from the first portions, a segment of the second portion of the first antenna resonating element extends parallel to the axis, and the segment is located at a greater distance from the axis than the first portion of the first antenna resonating element; 
 a first antenna feed coupled to the first antenna resonating element at the second surface; and 
 a second antenna feed coupled to the second antenna resonating element at the second surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device antenna structure defined in  claim 1  further comprising a parasitic antenna resonating element on the antenna resonating element substrate that forms part of the first antenna. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device antenna structure defined in  claim 2  wherein the parasitic antenna resonating element structure comprises a strip of conductor having a terminal that is connected to an electronic device housing. 
     
     
       4. The electronic device antenna structure defined in  claim 2  wherein the first antenna is configured to operate in first and second cellular telephone communications bands. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device antenna structure defined in  claim 4  wherein the second antenna is configured to operate in a satellite navigation system band. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device antenna structure defined in  claim 1  wherein the antenna resonating element substrate comprises a flexible sheet of polymer that is attached with adhesive to the first and second surfaces. 
     
     
       7. The electronic device antenna structure defined in  claim 1  wherein the axis runs along a longitudinal dimension of the antenna resonating element substrate, wherein the antenna resonating element substrate has first and second longitudinally opposing ends, wherein the first antenna resonating element is located at the first end, and wherein the second antenna resonating element is located at the second end. 
     
     
       8. An electronic device, comprising:
 a dielectric carrier having opposing first and second surfaces; 
 a flexible antenna resonating element substrate that covers at least some of the first and second surfaces; 
 a conductive housing that forms an antenna ground; 
 a first antenna resonating element on the flexible antenna resonating element substrate, wherein the antenna ground and the first antenna resonating element form a first antenna; and 
 a second antenna resonating element on the flexible antenna resonating element substrate, wherein the antenna ground and the second antenna resonating element form a second antenna; and 
 a display with a cover glass layer, wherein the antenna resonating element substrate on the first surface of the dielectric carrier lies alongside the cover glass layer, a first portion of the first antenna resonating element is located on the flexible antenna element substrate on the first surface of the dielectric carrier, a second portion of the first antenna resonating element is located on the flexible antenna element substrate on the second surface of the dielectric carrier, a third portion of the second antenna resonating element is located on the flexible antenna element substrate on the first surface of the dielectric carrier, a fourth portion of the second antenna resonating element is located on the flexible antenna element substrate on the second surface of the dielectric carrier, the first portion extends perpendicularly from the second portion, and the third portion extends perpendicularly from the fourth portion. 
 
     
     
       9. The electronic device defined in  claim 8  further comprising a dielectric window in the conductive housing, wherein the carrier is mounted adjacent to the dielectric window. 
     
     
       10. The electronic device defined in  claim 8  wherein the first surface comprises a planar surface and wherein the dielectric carrier is mounted so that the planar surface lies alongside the cover glass layer. 
     
     
       11. The electronic device defined in  claim 10  wherein the display has an active area that is surrounded by a peripheral inactive area, wherein an inner surface of the cover glass layer in the peripheral inactive area is covered with an opaque masking layer, and wherein the planar surface is covered by the opaque masking layer. 
     
     
       12. The electronic device defined in  claim 11  further comprising a dielectric window in the conductive housing, wherein the dielectric window has a curved shape and wherein the second surface is curved to match the curved shape of the dielectric window. 
     
     
       13. The electronic device defined in  claim 8  further comprising a parasitic antenna resonating element on the flexible antenna resonating element substrate adjacent to the first antenna resonating element, wherein the parasitic antenna resonating element forms part of the first antenna. 
     
     
       14. The electronic device defined in  claim 13  further comprising a dielectric window, wherein the dielectric carrier is interposed between the cover glass layer and the dielectric window, wherein the the first and second antennas are configured to receive the radio-frequency signals through the cover glass layer and the dielectric window. 
     
     
       15. Apparatus, comprising:
 a dielectric carrier having first and second surfaces that meet along an axis; 
 a flexible antenna resonating element substrate wrapped around the dielectric carrier covering the first and second surfaces and having first and second antenna resonating elements that form first and second antennas; and 
 a cover glass layer, wherein a first portion of the first antenna resonating element is located on a portion of the flexible antenna resonating element substrate that is interposed between the cover glass layer and the first surface of the dielectric carrier, a second portion of the second antenna resonating element is located on the portion of the flexible antenna resonating element substrate that is interposed between the cover glass layer and the first surface of the dielectric carrier, a third portion of the second antenna resonating element is located on a portion of the flexible antenna resonating element that covers the second surface of the dielectric carrier, the first portion and the second portion extend parallel to the axis, and the third portion extends from an end of the second portion. 
 
     
     
       16. The apparatus defined in  claim 15  wherein the first and second surfaces meet along an axis, wherein the flexible antenna resonating substrate is bent over the carrier along the axis, and wherein the flexible antenna resonating element substrate covers the first and second surfaces. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus defined in  claim 16  further comprising a parasitic antenna resonating element on the flexible antenna resonating element substrate that forms part of the first antenna. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus defined in  claim 17  wherein the first antenna is configured to operate in at least two cellular telephone communications bands and wherein the second antenna is configured to operate in a satellite navigation system band. 
     
     
       19. The electronic device antenna structures defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first antenna resonating element and the second antenna resonating element on the antenna resonating element substrate are each bent over the axis by greater than 90 degrees. 
     
     
       20. The electronic device defined in  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a parasitic antenna resonating element formed on the flexible antenna resonating element substrate on the planar surface that lies alongside the cover glass layer, wherein the parasitic antenna resonating element is grounded to the conductive housing; and 
 a dielectric window in the conductive housing, wherein the dielectric window has a curved shape, wherein the second surface of the dielectric carrier comprises a continuously curved surface, wherein a portion of the first antenna resonating element is formed on the flexible antenna resonating element substrate on the continuously curved surface, wherein a portion of the second antenna resonating element is formed on the flexible antenna resonating element substrate on the continuously curved surface, and wherein the continuously curved surface is curved to match the curved shape of the dielectric window.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This relates generally to antennas, and, more particularly, to antennas for electronic devices. 
     Electronic devices such as portable computers and handheld electronic devices are often provided with wireless communications capabilities. For example, electronic devices may use long-range wireless communications circuitry such as cellular telephone circuitry and short-range communications circuitry such as wireless local area network communications circuitry. Some devices are provided with the ability to receive other wireless signals such as Global Positioning System signals. 
     It can be difficult to incorporate antennas successfully into an electronic device. Some electronic devices are manufactured with small form factors, so space for antennas is limited. In many electronic devices, the presence of electronic components in the vicinity of an antenna serves as a possible source of electromagnetic interference. Antenna operation can also be disrupted by nearby conductive structures. Considerations such as these can make it difficult to implement an antenna in an electronic device that contains conductive housing walls or other conductive structures that can potentially block radio-frequency signals. 
     It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved antennas for wireless electronic devices. 
     SUMMARY 
     Antennas may be provided for electronic devices such as portable computers. A flexible antenna resonating element substrate may be wrapped around a dielectric carrier. The dielectric carrier may have first and second opposing surfaces that are covered by the wrapped substrate. The first surface may be a planar surface that is mounted against a display cover glass layer. The second surface may be a curved surface having a shape that matches a curved dielectric antenna window shape in a curved portion of the housing of an electronic device. 
     The flexible antenna resonating element substrate may have a first antenna resonating element at one end and a second antenna resonating element at an opposing end. Conductive structures such as conductive housing structures may form antenna ground. The first antenna resonating element and the antenna ground may form a first antenna such as a cellular telephone antenna or other suitable antenna. 
     The second antenna resonating element and the antenna ground may form a second antenna such as a satellite navigation system antenna or other suitable antenna. 
     A parasitic antenna resonating element may form part of the first antenna. The first antenna may be configured to operate in first and second communications bands. The parasitic antenna resonating element may be used to ensure that the antenna covers the second communications band. 
     Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an illustrative electronic device with antennas in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of an illustrative electronic device with antennas in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of an illustrative electronic device with antennas in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of an illustrative electronic device having antennas in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative electronic device with antennas in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an antenna resonating element substrate wrapped around a carrier in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view showing housing portions and fasteners that may be used in mounting an antenna resonating element substrate and carrier within an electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of an unwrapped antenna resonating element substrate of the type shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  showing an illustrative pattern of conductive antenna traces that may be used in forming a pair of antennas in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a graph in which the standing-wave-ratio for an illustrative pair of antennas such as a cellular telephone antenna and satellite navigation system antenna formed on a substrate of the type shown in  FIG. 8  have been plotted as a function of operating frequency in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Electronic devices may be provided with wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may be used to support wireless communications in one or more wireless communications bands. For example, the wireless communications circuitry may transmit and receive signals in cellular telephone bands and other communications bands and may receive wireless signals in satellite navigation system bands. 
     Space is at a premium in electronic devices such as portable electronic devices. Housings for these devices are sometimes constructed from conductive materials that block antenna signals. Arrangements in which antenna structures are formed behind a dielectric antenna window can help address these challenges. A dielectric window may be formed within an opening in the conductive housing wall. If desired, wireless signals can also be accommodate by forming all or most of an electronic device housing from a dielectric such as plastic. In some configurations, wireless signals can pass through dielectric structures such as the cover glass layers associated with a display. These configurations, other configurations for accommodating wireless signals in a device, or combinations of these configurations may be used in a wireless electronic device if desired. 
     Antenna resonating elements for antennas may be formed in the vicinity of an antenna window and under a portion of a display cover layer. Portions of a conductive housing or other conductive structures may serve as antenna ground. The antenna can be fed using a positive antenna feed terminal that is coupled to the antenna resonating element and a ground antenna feed terminal that is coupled to the conductive housing. During operation, radio-frequency signals for the antenna can pass through the antenna window and other non-conducting housing structures such as part of the cover glass. 
     The antennas may be formed from antenna resonating elements and conductive portions of the housing or other conductive structures that serve as antenna ground. The antenna resonating elements may be formed from conductive traces on a dielectric substrate. The conductive traces may be formed from copper or other metals. The dielectric substrate may be, for example, a flexible printed circuit. Flexible printed circuits, which are sometimes referred to as flex circuits, have conductive traces formed on a flexible dielectric substrate such as sheets of polyimide or other polymers. 
     The antenna resonating element substrate may be mounted on a support structure. For example, a flexible antenna resonating element substrate that includes multiple antenna resonating elements for multiple antennas may be wrapped around a dielectric carrier such as a molded plastic carrier or other plastic support structure. Wrapping the antenna resonating substrate around the carrier in this way allows the antennas to be efficiently mounted within a small available housing volume. 
     Antenna structures with configurations such as these can be mounted on any suitable exposed portion of a portable electronic device. For example, antennas can be provided on the front or top surface of the device. In a tablet computer, cellular telephone, or other device in which the front of the device is all or mostly occupied with conductive structures such as a touch screen display, it may be desirable to form at least part of the antenna window on a rear device surface. Other configurations are also possible (e.g., with antennas mounted in more confined locations, on device sidewalls, etc.). The use of antenna mounting locations in which at least part of a dielectric antenna window is formed in a conductive rear housing surface is sometimes described herein as an example, but, in general, any suitable antenna mounting location may be used in an electronic device if desired. 
     An illustrative portable device that may include antenna structures with resonating element substrates that are wrapped around a carrier is shown in  FIG. 1 . In general, devices such as device  10  of  FIG. 1  may be any suitable electronic devices with wireless communications capabilities such as desktop computers, portable computers such as laptop computers and tablet computers, handheld electronic devices such as cellular telephones, smaller portable electronic devices such as wrist-watch devices, pendant devices, headphone devices, and earpiece devices, or other wearable or miniature devices. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , device  10  may be a relatively thin device such as a tablet computer. Device  10  may have display such as display  50  mounted on its front (top) surface. Housing  12  may have curved portions that form the edges of device  10  and a relatively planar portion that forms the rear surface of device  10  (as an example). 
     Housings with straight sidewalls and other configurations may also be used. The front surface of device  10  (i.e., the cover of display  50 ) may sometimes be referred to as forming the front housing surface of device  12 . 
     The cover of display  50  may be formed from a layer of cover glass, a layer of plastic, or other materials. The cover layer for display  50  may be radio transparent in its inactive edge region (i.e., away from the conductive portions of the display that include active pixel circuits). As a result, radio-frequency signals may be received by antenna structures that are mounted under an edge portion of the display cover layer and may be transmitted from the antenna structures through the edge portion of the display cover layer. In configurations in which housing  12  is formed form a metal or other conductive material, a dielectric window such as dielectric window  58  may be formed in housing  12 . Antenna structures for device  10  may be formed in the vicinity of dielectric window  58 , so that radio-frequency antenna signals can pass through dielectric window  58  in addition to or instead of passing through the edge portions of the display cover layer. 
     Device  10  may have user input-output devices such as button  59 . Display  50  may be a touch screen display that is used in gathering user touch input. Capacitive touch sensors or other touch sensors for the display may be implemented using a touch panel that is mounted under a planar cover glass member on the surface of display  50 , may be integrated onto the cover glass layer, or may be otherwise incorporated into display  50 . 
     The central portion of display  50  (shown as region  56  in  FIG. 1 ) may be an active region that is sensitive to touch input and that is used in displaying images to a user using an array of image pixels (e.g., liquid crystal display image pixels, organic light-emitting diode image pixels, or other display pixels). The peripheral regions of display  50  such as regions  54  may be inactive regions that are free from touch sensor electrodes and image pixels. A layer of material such as an opaque ink may be placed on the underside of display  50  in peripheral regions  54  (e.g., on the underside of the cover glass). This layer may be transparent to radio-frequency signals. The conductive touch sensor electrodes in region  56  and the conductive structures associated with the array of image pixels in the display may tend to block radio-frequency signals. However, radio-frequency signals may pass through the cover glass and opaque ink in inactive display regions  54  (as an example). Radio-frequency signals may also pass through antenna window  58 . 
     Housing  12  may be formed from one or more structures. For example, housing  12  may include an internal frame and planar housing walls that are mounted to the frame. Housing  12  may also be formed from a unitary block of material such as a cast or machined block of aluminum. Arrangements that use both of these approaches may also be used if desired. 
     Housing  12  may be formed of any suitable materials including plastic, wood, glass, ceramics, metal, or other suitable materials, or a combination of these materials. In some situations, portions of housing  12  may be formed from a dielectric or other low-conductivity material, so as not to disturb the operation of conductive antenna elements that are located in proximity to housing  12 . In other situations, housing  12  may be formed from metal elements. An advantage of forming housing  12  from metal or other structurally sound conductive materials is that this may improve device aesthetics and may help improve durability and portability. 
     With one suitable arrangement, housing  12  may be formed from a metal such as aluminum or stainless steel. Portions of housing  12  in the vicinity of antenna window  58  may serve as antenna ground. Antenna window  58  may be formed from a dielectric material such as polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), a PC/ABS blend, or other plastics (as examples). Window  58  may be attached to housing  12  using adhesive, fasteners, or other suitable attachment mechanisms. To ensure that device  10  has an attractive appearance, it may be desirable to form window  58  so that the exterior surfaces of window  58  conform to the edge profile exhibited by housing  12  in other portions of device  10 . For example, if housing  12  has straight edges  12 A and a flat bottom surface, window  58  may be formed with a right-angle bend and vertical sidewalls. If housing  12  has curved edges  12 A, window  58  may have a similarly curved surface. 
       FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of device  10  of  FIG. 1  showing how device  10  may have a relatively planar rear surface  12 B and showing how dielectric antenna window  58  may be rectangular in shape with curved portions that match the shape of curved housing edges  12 A (as an example). 
     A schematic diagram of device  10  showing how device  10  may include one or more antennas  26  and transceiver circuits that communicate with antennas  26  is shown in  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , electronic device  10  may include storage and processing circuitry  16 . Storage and processing circuitry  16  may include one or more different types of storage such as hard disk drive storage, nonvolatile memory (e.g., flash memory or other electrically-programmable-read-only memory), volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamic random-access-memory), etc. Processing circuitry in storage and processing circuitry  16  may be used to control the operation of device  10 . Processing circuitry  16  may be based on a processor such as a microprocessor and other suitable integrated circuits. With one suitable arrangement, storage and processing circuitry  16  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, control functions for controlling radio-frequency power amplifiers and other radio-frequency transceiver circuitry, etc. Storage and processing circuitry  16  may be used in implementing suitable communications protocols. Communications protocols that may be implemented using storage and processing circuitry  16  include internet protocols, cellular telephone 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, etc. 
     Input-output circuitry  14  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  such as touch screens and other user input interface are examples of input-output circuitry  14 . Input-output devices  18  may also include user input-output devices such as buttons, joysticks, click wheels, scrolling wheels, touch pads, key pads, keyboards, microphones, cameras, etc. A user can control the operation of device  10  by supplying commands through such user input devices. Display and audio devices may be included in devices  18  such as liquid-crystal display (LCD) screens, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), and other components that present visual information and status data. Display and audio components in input-output devices  18  may also include audio equipment such as speakers and other devices for creating sound. If desired, input-output devices  18  may contain audio-video interface equipment such as jacks and other connectors for external headphones and monitors. 
     Wireless communications circuitry  20  may include radio-frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry  23  formed from one or more integrated circuits, power amplifier circuitry, low-noise input amplifiers, passive RF components, one or more antennas, and other circuitry for handling RF wireless signals. Wireless signals can also be sent using light (e.g., using infrared communications). 
     Wireless communications circuitry  20  may include radio-frequency transceiver circuits for handling multiple radio-frequency communications bands. For example, circuitry  23  may include transceiver circuitry  22  that handles 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands for WiFi (IEEE 802.11) communications and the 2.4 GHz Bluetooth communications band. Circuitry  23  may also include cellular telephone transceiver circuitry  24  for handling wireless communications in cellular telephone bands such as the bands at 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 1900 MHz, and 2100 MHz band (as examples). Wireless communications circuitry  20  can include circuitry for other short-range and long-range wireless links if desired. For example, transceiver circuitry  23  may include global positioning system (GPS) receiver equipment  21 , wireless circuitry for receiving radio and television signals, paging circuits, etc. In WiFi and Bluetooth links and other short-range wireless links, wireless signals are typically used to convey data over tens or hundreds of feet. In cellular telephone links and other long-range links, wireless signals are typically used to convey data over thousands of feet or miles. 
     Wireless communications circuitry  20  may include antennas  26  such as an antenna or antennas located adjacent to antenna window  58  and under the inactive peripheral portion  54  of display  50 . Antennas  26  may be single band antennas that each cover a particular desired communications band or may be multiband antennas. A multiband antenna may be used, for example, to cover multiple cellular telephone communications bands. If desired, a dual band antenna may be used to cover two WiFi bands (e.g., 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz). A single band antenna may be used to receive satellite navigation system signals such as Global Positioning System signals at 1575 MHz (as an example). Different types of antennas may be used for different bands and combinations of bands. For example, it may be desirable to form a dual band antenna for forming a local wireless link antenna, a multiband antenna for handling cellular telephone communications bands, and a single band antenna for forming a global positioning system antenna (as examples). 
     Transmission line paths  44  may be used to convey radio-frequency signals between transceivers  23  and antennas  26 . Radio-frequency transceivers such as radio-frequency transceivers  23  may be implemented using one or more integrated circuits and associated components (e.g., switching circuits, matching network components such as discrete inductors, capacitors, and resistors, and integrated circuit filter networks, etc.). These devices may be mounted on any suitable mounting structures. With one suitable arrangement, transceiver integrated circuits may be mounted on a printed circuit board. Paths  44  may be used to interconnect the transceiver integrated circuits and other components on the printed circuit board with antenna structures in device  10 . Paths  44  may include any suitable conductive pathways over which radio-frequency signals may be conveyed including transmission line path structures such as coaxial cables, microstrip transmission lines, etc. 
     Antennas  26  may, in general, be formed using any suitable antenna types. Examples of suitable antenna types for antennas  26  include antennas with resonating elements that are formed from patch antenna structures, inverted-F antenna structures, closed and open slot antenna structures, loop antenna structures, monopoles, dipoles, planar inverted-F antenna structures, hybrids of these designs, etc. With one suitable arrangement, which is sometimes described herein as an example, part of housing  12  (e.g., the portion of housing  12  in the vicinity of antenna window  58 ) may form a ground structure for the antenna associated with window  58 . Antenna ground structures may also be formed from conductive traces on printed circuit boards, internal housing members such as frame members and structural internal housing plates, conductive portions of components such as connectors, and other conductive structures. 
     A rear view of electronic device  10  in the vicinity of dielectric window  58  is shown in  FIG. 4 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , antennas  26  may each include an antenna resonating element and an antenna ground. In the example of  FIG. 4 , antenna resonating element substrate  62 A includes antenna resonating element  64 - 1  and antenna resonating element  64 - 1 . Antenna resonating elements  64 - 1  and  64 - 2  may be formed form patterned conductor such as patterned copper, gold, or other metals. Substrate  62 A may be formed from a flex circuit substrate such as a sheet of polyimide or another flexible polymer sheet. In conjunction with nearby conductive structures such as portions of housing  12  or other ground structures that serve as antenna ground, antenna resonating elements  64 - 1  and  64 - 2  form respective first and second antennas  26 . 
     At the lower portion of antenna window  58  in the example of  FIG. 4 , antenna resonating element  64 - 3  on antenna resonating element substrate  62 B may form another antenna  26  such as another cellular telephone antenna. Substrate  62 B may be, for example, a flex circuit substrate and antenna resonating element  64 - 3  may be formed using a patterned metal trace on the flex circuit substrate. Components  60  such as a camera or other electronic component for device  10  may be interposed been substrates  62 A and  62 B. 
     With one suitable arrangement, the antenna formed from antenna resonating element  64 - 3  may serve as a primary cellular telephone antenna for device  10  and antenna resonating element  64 - 1  may serve as a secondary cellular telephone antenna for device  10 . The antenna formed from antenna resonating element  64 - 2  may serve as a satellite navigation system antenna such as a Global Positioning System antenna. This is merely illustrative. Antenna resonating elements  64 - 1 ,  64 - 2 , and  64 - 3  and, if desired, additional antenna resonating elements in device  10  may be used in forming any suitable types of antennas. 
     Antennas  26  may be connected to transceiver circuitry  23  (e.g., cellular telephone transceiver circuitry, satellite navigation system receiver circuitry, etc.) using transmission line paths  44 . 
     A cross-sectional side view of housing  12  of device  10  showing how antenna resonating element substrate  62 A may be mounted under the surface of cover glass layer  68  in display  50  is shown in  FIG. 5 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , display  50  may include a display module (e.g., a liquid crystal display module or an organic light-emitting display module such as module  72  in active area  56 ). In inactive area  54 , a layer of opaque material  66  such as black ink may hide antenna resonating element substrate  62 A from view by a user of device  10 . 
     The antenna resonating elements on substrate  62 A (i.e., antenna resonating elements  64 - 1  and  64 - 2  of  FIG. 4 ) may be fed using respective antenna feeds and may form respective first and second antennas.  FIG. 5  shows how each transmission line  44  in device  10  may have be coupled to a respective antenna using a respective antenna feed that has a positive antenna feed terminal such as terminal  76  and a ground antenna feed terminal such as terminal  78 . Positive antenna feed terminals  76  may be coupled to traces on the antenna resonating element substrates. Ground antenna feed terminals may be coupled to conductive antenna ground structures such as housing structure  12 . Transmission lines  44  may couple feed terminals  76  and  78  to radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  23  on printed circuit board  79 . 
     Antenna resonating element substrate  62 A may be wrapped around a dielectric carrier such as carrier  70 . Carrier  70  may be formed from any suitable dielectric material (e.g., a plastic such as a liquid crystal polymer or other suitable dielectric). In housing configurations of the type shown in  FIG. 5  in which a portion of the housing (i.e., antenna window  58 ) is curved, carrier  70  may have opposing planar and curved surfaces. The planar upper surface of carrier  70  may be mounted against the planar inner surface of display cover glass  68 . The curved lower surface of carrier  70  may be mounted against the mating curved surface of dielectric window  58 . In housings with other shapes, other suitable configurations for carrier  70  may be used if desired. Antenna resonating element substrate  62 A may, if desired, be attached to carrier  70  using adhesive (e.g., pressure sensitive adhesive). 
     A front perspective view of carrier  70  showing how the curved lower surface and the opposing planar upper surface of the carrier may meet along a common axis (axis  90 ) that runs along the peripheral upper edge of device  10  is shown in  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view of carrier  70 . A shown in  FIG. 7 , substrate  62 A may be provided with features that help couple transmission lines  44  to the first and second antennas associated with carrier  70 . In particular, substrate  62 A may have a protrusion having a resonating element trace with a first opening such as opening  86 - 1 . Screw  82 - 1  may pass through opening  86 - 1  and may screw into mating screw hole  80 - 1  in housing portion  12 ″ to ground the trace and form ground antenna terminal  78 - 1  for the first antenna (e.g., the cellular telephone antenna). A parasitic antenna resonating element that is used to provide the cellular telephone antenna with high band coverage may be coupled to terminal  92 . When mounted in device  10 , terminal  92  may be grounded to conductive housing portion  12 ′. Substrate  62 A may also have a protrusion with a resonating element trace that has a second opening such as opening  86 - 2 . Screw  82 - 2  may pass through opening  86 - 2  and may screw into mating screw hole  80 - 2  in housing portion  12 ″ to ground the trace and form ground antenna terminal  78 - 2  for the second antenna (e.g., the satellite navigation system antenna). 
     Air-filled cavities in carrier  70  such as cavities  84  may facilitate formation of carrier  70  using injection molding techniques. 
       FIG. 8  is a top view of an unwrapped version of substrate  62 A, before substrate  62 A is mounted to carrier  70 . During mounting, substrate  62 A is bent along longitudinal axis  90  and is wrapped around carrier  70  so as to cover the planar and curved surfaces of carrier  70 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , substrate  62 A may have an elongated metal trace that forms antenna resonating element  64 - 2 . Antenna resonating element  64 - 2  may be used to form a satellite navigation antenna resonating element for a satellite navigation antenna (e.g., a Global Positioning System antenna operating at 1575 MHz). Terminal  76 - 2  may be coupled to one end of the trace for antenna resonating element  64 - 2 . Transmission line  44 - 1  may have a positive conductor that is coupled to terminal  76 - 2  and a ground conductor that is coupled to ground terminal  78 - 2  and the trace on the protruding portion of flex circuit substrate  62 A that includes hole  86 - 2 . 
     At the opposing end of substrate  62 A (i.e., the left-hand end in the configuration of  FIG. 8 ), substrate  62 A may have a second antenna resonating element trace that is used to form antenna resonating element  64 - 1 . Antenna resonating element  64 - 1  may be associated with a cellular telephone antenna such as a dual band cellular telephone antenna for receiving voice and non-voice wireless data over cellular telephone networks. Positive antenna feed terminal  76 - 1  may be coupled to leg  96  of antenna resonating element  64 - 2 . Transmission line  44 - 1  may have a positive conductor that is coupled to terminal  76 - 1 . Transmission line  44 - 1  may also have a ground conductor that is coupled to ground terminal  78 - 1 . Ground terminal  78 - 1  may be formed from the portion of antenna resonating element  64 - 1  at the end of leg  98  that contains hole  86 - 1 . 
     Parasitic antenna resonating element  94  may be formed from a strip of conductor (i.e., a patterned metal trace) that is electrically isolated from trace  64 - 1  on substrate  62 A and that is not directly feed by one of transmission lines  44 - 1  and  44 - 2 . One end of parasitic antenna resonating element  94  may be grounded to housing  12  (i.e., housing portion  12 ′ of  FIG. 7 ) at terminal  92 . 
     A graph of the response of the antennas formed using the antenna structures of  FIG. 8  is shown in  FIG. 9 . In the graph of  FIG. 9 , standing wave ratio (SWR) has been plotted as a function of operating frequency. Solid line  100  shows the response of the cellular telephone antenna formed using antenna resonating element  64 - 1  and parasitic antenna resonating element  94 . As shown by line  100 , this antenna may exhibit resonant peaks in a low frequency band centered at frequency f 1  (e.g., 850 MHz or 700 MHz or 900 MHz) and a high frequency band centered at frequency f 2  (e.g., 1900 MHz or 1800 MHz or 2100 MHz). Dashed line  104  shows how the response of antenna resonating element  64 - 1  may be poor in the high-band associated with frequency f 2  in the absence of parasitic antenna resonating element  94 . When parasitic antenna resonating element  94  is present, however, the cellular telephone antenna may exhibit satisfactory response at frequency f 2 , as illustrated by solid line  100 . Line  102  illustrates the response of the second antenna formed on substrate  64 A (i.e., the Global Positioning System antenna formed using trace  64 - 2  of FIG.  8 ). 
     If desired, other types of antennas may be formed on substrate  62 A. The illustrative arrangement of  FIGS. 8 and 9  in which substrate  62 A include a cellular telephone antenna and a Global Positioning System antenna is merely illustrative. Moreover, there may be more than two separate antennas formed on a common wrapped flex circuit substrate. The present example involves an arrangement in which first and second antennas have first and second antenna resonating elements that are formed at longitudinally opposing ends of a common wrapped flex circuit substrate. If desired, a common flex circuit antenna resonating element substrate may be used to form three or more antenna resonating elements for three or more respective antennas. 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20110301
Publication Date: 20141125
Grant Date: 20141125
Priority Date: 20110301
Inventors: AYALA VAZQUEZ ENRIQUE
UTTERMANN ERIK A.
YARGA SALIH
LI QINGXIANG
SCHLUB ROBERT W.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01Q1/38", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q9/42", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q21/28", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/243", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q5/378", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/38", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q21/28", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q9/42", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/243", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/243", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/38", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q5/0062", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q9/42", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q21/28", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/24", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q5/378", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 45756939