PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8330655-B2
Application Number: US-54345709-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Connectors with embedded antennas

Abstract:
Connectors for electronic devices are provided with embedded antennas. The connectors may be 30-pin connectors. A 30-pin connector may have a conductive shell structure that defines a cavity and a planar dielectric member that extends into the cavity and that has contact pins. An antenna may be formed from an antenna resonating element on the planar dielectric member and an antenna ground formed from the conductive shell structure. An antenna may be formed from a slot in the conductive shell. The antenna and the pins may be electrically coupled to an electronic device using a cable.

Claims:
1. A connector comprising:
 a shell structure that defines a cavity that is configured to receive a mating connector associated with external equipment; 
 a planar dielectric member that extends into the cavity, wherein the planar dielectric member is configured to physically couple with the mating connector associated with the external equipment; and 
 an antenna resonating element formed on the planar dielectric member, wherein the connector is in an electronic device. 
 
     
     
       2. The connector defined in  claim 1  wherein the antenna resonating element comprises a strip antenna resonating element having a bend. 
     
     
       3. The connector defined in  claim 1  wherein the antenna resonating element comprises a strip of metal embedded in the planar dielectric member and wherein the shell structure forms an antenna ground element. 
     
     
       4. The connector defined in  claim 1  wherein the antenna resonating element comprises a conductive trace on the planar dielectric member. 
     
     
       5. A connector in an electronic device, comprising:
 a shell structure that defines a cavity that is configured to receive a mating connector associated with external equipment; 
 a planar dielectric member that extends into the cavity; and 
 an antenna resonating element formed on the planar dielectric member, wherein the planar dielectric member includes internal interconnect structures and wherein one of the internal interconnect structures connects to the antenna resonating element. 
 
     
     
       6. A connector in an electronic device, comprising:
 a shell structure that defines a cavity that is configured to receive a mating connector associated with external equipment; 
 a planar dielectric member that extends into the cavity; and 
 an antenna resonating element formed on the planar dielectric member, wherein the planar dielectric member comprises a plurality of conductive pins that electrically couple with mating pins in the mating connector. 
 
     
     
       7. The connector defined in  claim 6  further comprising:
 surface contacts on the planar dielectric member, wherein the surface contacts include at least one surface contact that electrically connects the antenna resonating element to an internal interconnect in the planar dielectric member; and 
 a cable having a plurality of conductive lines, wherein at least one of the conductive lines is coupled to the surface contact that is connected to the antenna resonating element and wherein some of the conductive lines are coupled to the conductive pins. 
 
     
     
       8. The connector defined in  claim 7  wherein the shell structure comprises a conductive shell structure and wherein one of the conductive lines is coupled to the conductive shell structure. 
     
     
       9. A connector in an electronic device, comprising:
 a shell structure that defines a cavity that is configured to receive a mating connector associated with external equipment; 
 a planar dielectric member that extends into the cavity; and 
 an antenna resonating element formed on the planar dielectric member, wherein the planar dielectric member comprises at least 30 conductive pins and wherein at least some of the conductive pins electrically couple with external connectors. 
 
     
     
       10. A connector comprising:
 a conductive shell structure that defines a cavity that receives a connector plug associated with external equipment, wherein the conductive shell structure is configured to physically couple with the connector plug associated with the external equipment; and 
 a slot antenna formed from an opening in the conductive shell structure, wherein the connector is in an electronic device. 
 
     
     
       11. The connector defined in  claim 10  wherein the conductive shell structure comprises a first planar structure in a first plane and a second planar structure in a second plane and wherein the first and second planes are parallel. 
     
     
       12. The connector defined in  claim 11  wherein the conductive shell structure comprises a third planar structure in a third plane and a fourth planar structure in a fourth plane, wherein the third and fourth planes are parallel, wherein the first and second planes are perpendicular to the third and fourth planes, and wherein the opening is formed in the first planar structure. 
     
     
       13. The connector defined in  claim 10  wherein the slot antenna comprises a closed slot antenna in which the opening has a periphery that is completely enclosed by portions of the conductive shell structure. 
     
     
       14. The connector defined in  claim 10  wherein the slot antenna comprises an open slot antenna in which the opening has at least one portion that extends to an edge of the conductive shell structure and that is not surrounded by the conductive shell structure. 
     
     
       15. The connector defined in  claim 10  further comprising at least one additional slot antenna formed from an additional opening in the conductive shell structure. 
     
     
       16. The connector defined in  claim 10  wherein the opening that forms the slot antenna includes at least one bend. 
     
     
       17. An electronic device comprising:
 radio-frequency transceiver circuitry; 
 processing circuitry; 
 a connector comprising:
 a conductive shell structure that defines a cavity and serves as an antenna ground; 
 a planar dielectric member that extends into the cavity and that includes a plurality of conductive pins; and 
 an antenna resonating element on the planar dielectric member; and 
 
 a cable having a plurality of conductive lines, wherein the cable is coupled between the radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and the antenna resonating element and antenna ground and wherein the cable is coupled between the processing circuitry and the conductive pins. 
 
     
     
       18. The electronic device defined in  claim 17  wherein the antenna resonating element has an L-shape. 
     
     
       19. The electronic device defined in  claim 17  wherein the antenna resonating element comprises a metal strip embedded in the planar dielectric member. 
     
     
       20. The electronic device defined in  claim 17  wherein the conductive pins comprise at least 30 conductive pins and wherein at least some of the conductive pins electrically couple with a mating connector associated with external equipment.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This invention relates generally to connectors for electronic devices, and more particularly, to connectors with embedded antennas for electronic devices. 
     Handheld electronic devices are becoming increasingly popular. Examples of handheld devices include handheld computers, cellular telephones, media players, and hybrid devices that include the functionality of multiple devices of this type. 
     Due in part to their mobile nature, handheld electronic devices are often provided with wireless communications capabilities. Handheld electronic devices may use wireless communications to communicate with wireless base stations. 
     To satisfy consumer demand for small form factor wireless devices, manufacturers are continually striving to reduce the size and number of components that are used in these devices. At the same time, manufacturers are continually striving to maximize the performance of wireless communications circuitry and antennas. With conventional wireless electronic devices, separate connector and antenna structures may take up an undesirably large amount of space in the devices. 
     It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved connectors and embedded antennas for electronic devices. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, connectors with embedded antennas are provided. The connectors may be a part of wireless electronic devices such as handheld electronic devices. 
     A connector in an electronic device may be used to couple the device with external equipment such as headset accessories and power adapters. The connector may convey data and power signals between the external equipment and the electronic device. The connector may include a conductive shell structure that forms a cavity and a planar dielectric member that extends into the cavity. Mating connectors from a plug associated with the external equipment may physically and electrically couple with the planar dielectric member and the conductive shell structure when the plug is coupled with the connector. With one suitable arrangement, the connector may be a 30-pin connector. 
     One or more antennas may be embedded in the connector. As an example, one or more strip antenna resonating element formed from conductive strips may be formed on the dielectric member structure in the connector. As another example, one or more slot antennas may be formed from holes in the conductive shell structure. If desired, combinations of strip antenna resonating elements, slot antennas, and other antenna structures may be embedded in the connector. In general, the antennas embedded in the connector may be used for communications in any suitable communications band. With one arrangement, the antennas may be used for communications in relatively short range communications bands such as the WiFi® (IEEE 802.11) band at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHZ and the Bluetooth® band at 2.4 GHz. 
     The connector may include electrical pins that convey data and power signals to external equipment. With one suitable arrangement, the antenna structures that are embedded in the connector and the electrical pins may be connected to various circuits in the electronic device using a shared cable. For example, a single cable with conductive lines may convey radio-frequency signals between transceiver circuitry and the antennas and may simultaneously convey data and power signals between the electrical pins and input-output circuitry in the electronic device. 
     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 perspective view of an illustrative handheld electronic device that may have a connector with an embedded antenna in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of an illustrative handheld electronic device that may have a connector with an embedded antenna in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an illustrative connector that may have an antenna resonating element embedded in a dielectric member with pins that electrically connect to external equipment in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an illustrative connector with a conductive shell that may include a slot antenna in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an illustrative connector with a conductive shell that may include a closed slot antenna in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of external equipment and an illustrative connector that may have an embedded antenna and that may connect to the external equipment in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention relates generally to connectors for electronic devices, and more particularly, to connectors with embedded antennas for electronic devices. Because a connector in an electronic device may be located in an exposed portion of the electronic device, an antenna embedded in a connector may have improved performance characteristics relative to an antenna housed within the interior of an electronic device. In addition, a connector with an embedded antenna may occupy less space in an electronic device than separate connector and antenna components. 
     With one suitable arrangement, an electronic device may include a connector such as a 30-pin connector that couples with a mating 30-pin plug associated with external equipment (sometimes referred to herein as an accessory). The connector may include an embedded antenna. If desired, the embedded antenna may be used only when external equipment is not coupled to the electronic device using the connector. Alternatively, the embedded antenna may be used even when external equipment is coupled to the electronic device using the connector. 
     The electronic devices may be portable electronic devices such as laptop computers or small portable computers of the type that are sometimes referred to as ultraportables. Portable electronic devices may also be somewhat smaller devices. Examples of smaller portable electronic devices include wrist-watch devices, pendant devices, headphone and earpiece devices, and other wearable and miniature devices. With one suitable arrangement, which is sometimes described herein as an example, the portable electronic devices are handheld electronic devices. Handheld devices may be, for example, cellular telephones, media players with wireless communications capabilities, handheld computers (also sometimes called personal digital assistants), remote controllers, global positioning system (GPS) devices, and handheld gaming devices. The handheld devices may also be hybrid devices that combine the functionality of multiple conventional devices. Examples of hybrid handheld devices include a cellular telephone that includes media player functionality, a gaming device that includes a wireless communications capability, a cellular telephone that includes game and email functions, and a handheld device that receives email, supports mobile telephone calls, and supports web browsing. These are merely illustrative examples. 
     An illustrative handheld electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . Device  10  may be any suitable portable or handheld electronic device. 
     Device  10  may have housing  12 . Device  10  may include one or more antennas for handling wireless communications. Embodiments of device  10  that contain one antenna and embodiments of device  10  that contain two or more antennas are sometimes described herein as examples. 
     Device  10  may handle communications over one or more communications bands. For example, in a device  10  with two antennas, a first of the two antennas may be used to handle cellular telephone communications in one or more frequency bands, whereas a second of the two antennas may be used to handle data communications in a separate communications band. With one suitable arrangement, which is sometimes described herein as an example, the second antenna is configured to handle data communications in a communications band centered at 2.4 GHz (e.g., WiFi and/or Bluetooth® frequencies). If desired, device  10  may communicate using cellular telephone bands at 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 1900 MHz (e.g., the main Global System for Mobile Communications or GSM cellular telephone bands). Device  10  may also use other types of communications links. For example, device  10  may communicate using the WiFi® (IEEE 802.11) band at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHZ and the Bluetooth® band at 2.4 GHz. Communications are also possible in data service bands such as the 3 G data communications band at 2170 MHz band (commonly referred to as UMTS or Universal Mobile Telecommunications System). 
     Housing  12 , which is sometimes referred to as a case, may be formed of any suitable materials including, plastic, glass, ceramics, metal, or other suitable materials, or a combination of these materials. In scenarios in which housing  12  is formed from metal elements, one or more of the metal elements may be used as part of the antennas and may be used as part of transmission lines in device  10 . For example, metal portions of housing  12  may be shorted to one or more transmission line ground planes. Housing  12  may be shorted to an internal ground plane in device  10  to create a larger ground plane element for that device  10 . 
     Housing  12  may have a bezel  14 . Bezel  14  may be formed from a conductive material, if desired. Bezel  14  may serve to hold a display or other device with a planar surface in place on device  10 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , for example, bezel  14  may be used to hold display  16  in place by attaching display  16  to housing  12 . 
     Display  16  may be a liquid crystal diode (LCD) display, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, a plasma display, multiple displays that use one or more different display technologies, or any other suitable display. The outermost surface of display  16  may be formed from one or more plastic or glass layers. If desired, touch screen functionality may be integrated into display  16  or may be provided using a separate touch pad device. 
     Display screen  16  (e.g., a touch screen) is merely one example of an input-output device that may be used with handheld electronic device  10 . If desired, handheld electronic device  10  may have other input-output devices. For example, handheld electronic device  10  may have user input control devices such as button  19 , and input-output components such as port  20  and one or more input-output jacks (e.g., for audio and/or video). Button  19  may be, for example, a menu button. Port  20  may contain a 30-pin data connector (as an example). Openings  24  and  22  may, if desired, form microphone and speaker ports. 
     With one suitable arrangement, one or more antennas in device  10  are located in the lower end  18  of device  10 . For example, one or more antennas in device  10  may be embedded in port  20  (which may sometimes be referred to herein as connector  20 ). The antenna structures that are formed in connector  20  may be coupled to radio-frequency transceiver circuitry such as circuitry  26  over communications path  28  (as one example). 
     A schematic diagram of an embodiment of an illustrative handheld electronic device is shown in  FIG. 2 . Handheld device  10  may be a mobile telephone, a mobile telephone with media player capabilities, a handheld computer, a remote control, a game player, a global positioning system (GPS) device, a combination of such devices, or any other suitable portable electronic device. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , handheld device  10  may include storage  34 . Storage  34  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., battery-based static or dynamic random-access-memory), etc. 
     Processing circuitry  36  may be used to control the operation of device  10 . Processing circuitry  36  may be based on a processor such as a microprocessor and other suitable integrated circuits. 
     Input-output devices  38  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. Display screen  16 , button  19 , microphone port  24 , speaker port  22 , and dock connector port  20  are examples of input-output devices  38 . 
     Input-output devices  38  can include user input-output devices  40  such as buttons, touch screens, joysticks, click wheels, scrolling wheels, touch pads, key pads, keyboards, microphones, cameras, etc. Display and audio devices  42  may include liquid-crystal display (LCD) screens or other screens, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and other components that present visual information and status data. Display and audio devices  42  may also include audio equipment such as speakers and other devices for creating sound. Display and audio devices  42  may contain audio-video interface equipment such as jacks and other connectors for external headphones and monitors. 
     Wireless communications devices  44  may include communications circuitry such as radio-frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry formed from one or more integrated circuits, power amplifier circuitry, passive RF components, transmission lines, one or more antennas such as antennas embedded within connectors, and other circuitry for handling RF wireless signals. 
     Device  10  can communicate with external devices such as accessories  46  and computing equipment  48 , as shown by paths  50 . Paths  50  may include wired and wireless paths. For example, paths  50  may include wired paths formed using connector  20  of  FIG. 1  and wireless paths formed using antennas embedded into connector  20 . Accessories  46  may include headphones (e.g., a wireless cellular headset or audio headphones) and audio-video equipment (e.g., wireless speakers, a game controller, other equipment that receives and plays audio and video content), power supplies that provide power to device  10 , etc. 
     Computing equipment  48  may be any suitable computer. With one suitable arrangement, computing equipment  48  is a computer that has an associated wireless access point (router) or an internal or external wireless card that establishes a wireless connection with device  10 . The computer may be a server (e.g., an internet server), a local area network computer with or without internet access, a user&#39;s own personal computer, a peer device (e.g., another handheld electronic device  10 ), or any other suitable computing equipment. Device  10  may use wireless communications circuitry  44  to communicate with wireless network  49  over wireless path  51 . 
     A perspective view of an illustrative connector that may include an embedded antenna is shown in  FIG. 3 . The embedded antenna may include antenna resonating element  60 . Antenna resonating element  60  may be used for radio-frequency communications in any suitable communications band. With one suitable arrangement, antenna resonating element  60  may be used for relatively short range communications bands such as the WiFi® (IEEE 802.11) band at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHZ and the Bluetooth® band at 2.4 GHz (as one example). As shown in  FIG. 3 , connector  20  may be formed from a conductive shell structure  52  that forms a cavity. Planar dielectric member  54  extends into the center of cavity. Shell structure  52  may be formed from a conductor such as metal (e.g., stainless steel). Shell structure  52  may sometimes be referred to as a frame. 
     Dielectric member  54  may be formed from a planar rigid dielectric substrate such as a sheet of fiberglass filled epoxy. If desired, member  54  may be formed from any suitable structure such as a planar dielectric member, a rigid printed circuit board, a printed circuit board, an insert molded plastic piece, a flexible circuit, a flexible structure, or other suitable structures, or a combination of these structures. With an insert molding, conductive members in dielectric member  54  such as pins  56  and element  60  may be placed in a mold and the mold may then be filled with a plastic to form dielectric member  54  (as one example). Member  54  may include conductive pins  56 . Pins  56  may be any suitable conductive contacts. With one suitable arrangement, pins  56  and antenna resonating element  60  may be formed on opposite sides of dielectric member  54 . Pins  56  may electrically couple to corresponding conductive pins in a connector that is part of external equipment such as accessory  46  of  FIG. 2  when accessory  46  is coupled to device  10 . As one example, pins  56  may form conductive paths that convey data and power signals between device  10  and external equipment. If desired, shell structure  52  of connector  20  may form part of the communications path connecting device  10  with external equipment. For example, shell structure  52  may serve as a ground path through which the external equipment can be grounded to device  10 . 
     Shell structure  52  may be formed from a single piece of conductive metal (e.g., metal) that is folded together and joined at joint portion  53 . If desired, shell structure  52  may be formed from multiple structures. These structures may be held together using any suitable technique (i.e., welded, soldered, glued, mechanically linked using fasteners such as screws, etc.). 
     Portions  58  of connector  20  may engage with retaining clips in a connector for external equipment. With this type of arrangement, the connector for the external equipment may be physically secured in connector  20  by the retaining clips engaged in portions  58 . If desired, some or all of shell structure  52  may be formed from portions of housing  12  in device  10  that surround connector  20  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 1 ). 
     Antenna resonating element  60  may operate in conjunction with an antenna ground element (e.g., conductive shell  52 ) to form an antenna for device  10 . Antenna resonating element  60  may be formed in dielectric member  54  that extends into the cavity formed by shell structure  52  (as one example). For example, antenna resonating element  60  may be insert molded into a plastic part (e.g., the dielectric member  54 ) that surrounds the conductive pins  56 . As other examples, antenna resonating element  60  may be formed from an exposed conductive trace on the surface of dielectric member  54  or from a conductive trace that is covered by a dielectric material (e.g., a protective material that may reduce wear on the antenna resonating element). 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , antenna resonating element  60  may be an L-shaped strip antenna resonating element with a relatively long portion along the length of dielectric member  54  and a relatively short portion along the depth of dielectric member  54  (as one example). In the  FIG. 3  perspective, portions of the short potion of resonating element  60  that are obscured by shell structure  52  are illustrated with dotted lines. If desired, antenna resonating element  60  may be electrically coupled to conductive traces in dielectric member  54  using internal vias and interconnectors and surface contacts. 
     In general, antenna structures may be formed in any desired portion of connector  20 . For example, antenna structures may be formed as part of conductive shell structure  52  as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . As shown in the  FIG. 4  example, connector  20  may include one or more slot antennas such as open slot antenna  70 . As shown in the  FIG. 5  example, connector  20  may include one or more closed slot antennas such as antenna  72 . 
     Slot antennas  70  and  72  may be formed on any suitable portion of conductive shell structure  52 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , structure  52  may be formed from a pair of parallel planar structures  74  and  76  and a pair of parallel planar end structures  78  and  80  that are perpendicular to structure  74  and  76 . With this type of arrangement, structure  52  may form a rectangular hollow box-shaped structure that defines a cavity  82  between the structures  74 ,  76 ,  78 , and  80 . Cavity  82  may be at least partially filled by dielectric member  54 . While antennas  70  and  72  are formed on structure  76  in the examples of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , slot antennas such as antennas  70  and  72  may, in general, be formed on structures  74 ,  78 , and/or  80 . 
     With one suitable arrangement, slot antennas  70  and  72  may be used for relatively short range communications bands such as the WiFi® (IEEE 802.11) band at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHZ and the Bluetooth® band at 2.4 GHz (as one example). In general, slot antennas  70  and  72  may be used for any desired communications band. Connector  20  may include combinations of slot antennas such as slot antennas  70  and  72  and antennas embedded in dielectric member  54  such as an antenna formed from antenna resonating element  60  of  FIG. 3 , if desired. 
     As shown in the  FIG. 4  arrangement, slot antenna  70  may be formed using an open slot. With an open slot arrangement, a slot antenna embedded in connector  20  may be formed by portions of shell structure  52  that define antenna  70  (e.g., a hole in structure  52 ). In particular, structure  52  may include a hole that extends to an edge or exterior portion of structure  52  so that antenna  70  has at least one open end such as end  84 . Antenna  70  may be fed at positive antenna feed terminal  86  and ground antenna feed terminal  88 . 
     Slot antenna  72  ( FIG. 5 ) may be formed using a closed slot. With a closed arrangement, portions of shell structure  52  that define antenna  72  may completely surround and enclose antenna  72 . Antenna  72  may fed at positive antenna feed terminal  90  and ground antenna feed terminal  92 . 
     The locations of terminals  86  and  88  in the  FIG. 4  arrangement and terminals  90  and  92  in the  FIG. 5  arrangement are merely illustrative. The locations of terminals  86  and  88  may be altered to selectively tune antenna  70  for operation in any number of suitable frequency ranges. Similarly, the locations of terminals  90  and  92  may be altered to selectively tune antenna  72 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , a single shared cable such as cable  28  may be used to couple circuitry in device  10  to pins  56 , antenna resonating element  60 , and an antenna ground plane such as conductive shell structure  52 . Cable  28  may include conductors such as conductor  94  that are connected to pins  56 . Cable  28  may also include conductors such as conductors  96  and  98  (e.g., ground and positive feed lines) that are connected to structure  52  and antenna resonating element  60 , respectively. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , antenna resonating element  60  may include a via such as via  106  and interconnects that extend through dielectric member  54  to connect with conductor  98 . 
     When connector  20  includes slot antenna  100  (e.g., a slot antenna such as antennas  70  and  72  of  FIGS. 4 and 5 ), cable  28  may include a portion  29  that conveys signals to and from positive feed terminal  102  and ground terminal  104  (as an example). If desired, terminals  102  and  104  may be on the exterior of shell structure  52  (rather than in the cavity formed by structure  52 . Placing terminals  102  and  104  on the exterior of structure  52  may reduce the risk of plug  110  damaging terminals  102  and  104 . With one suitable arrangement, slot antenna  100  may transmit and receive radio-frequency communications signals along direction  108  (e.g., through housing  12  which is illustrated with dotted lines in the  FIG. 6  example). This type of arrangement may facilitate radio-frequency communications even when plug  110  is coupled to connector  20 . 
     If desired, cable  28  may be formed from a flexible printed circuit (sometimes referred to as a flex circuit). Flex circuits may be formed from flexible polymer sheets such as sheets of polyimide. Conductors  96  and  98  in cable  28  may convey radio-frequency signals between antenna resonating element  60  and radio-frequency transceiver circuitry in device  10  such as circuitry  26  ( FIG. 1 ). Conductors in portion  29  of cable  28  may convey radio-frequency signals between slot antenna  100  and transceiver circuitry such as circuitry  26 . 
     As illustrated by  FIG. 6 , a plug from external equipment such as accessories  46  and computing equipment  48  of  FIG. 2  may connect to connector  20 . Plug  110  may include structure  112  that houses conductive pins  114  and that mates with connector  20 . Conductive pins  114  may electrically connect conductors in path  116  to conductors in path  28  such as conductors  94 . As shown by dotted lines  118 , plug  110  may slid into the cavity formed by shell structure  52 . 
     In general, antennas in connector  20  may be formed using any suitable antenna structures. As examples, connector  20  may include embedded antennas formed from antenna structures such as inverted-F antennas (IFAs), planar inverted-F antennas (PIFAs), dipole antennas, loop antennas, patch antennas, other suitable antenna structures, or a combination of these antenna structures. 
     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: 20090818
Publication Date: 20121211
Grant Date: 20121211
Priority Date: 20090818
Inventors: ZADESKY STEPHEN P.
PREST CHRISTOPHER D.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01R13/665", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q13/10", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/66", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R2201/02", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/22", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R12/71", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/665", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R2201/02", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q13/10", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/22", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 42371523