PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10854953-B2
Application Number: US-201715717821-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Electronic devices having housing-integrated antennas

Abstract:
An electronic device may include a peripheral conductive housing sidewall with an integral ledge extending towards the device interior. A display cover layer may be supported by the integral ledge. A slot antenna may be formed from a slot in the integral ledge. The integral ledge may be mounted to a surface of a substrate and coupled to a conductive rear housing wall by a conductive layer extending over an additional surface of the substrate. The sidewall may include a vertical portion extending from the ledge to the rear wall. The slot antenna may be fed via near-field coupling using a conductive patch that is located within the slot at the surface of the substrate. The conductive layer, rear housing wall, and vertical portion may form a cavity for the slot antenna. The conductive layer may isolate the slot from interference with a battery, display circuitry, or other components.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device having an interior and an exterior, comprising:
 a housing having a peripheral conductive sidewall with an integral ledge extending towards the interior of the electronic device; 
 a display having a display cover layer supported by the integral ledge; 
 a slot antenna having a slot element in the integral ledge that is configured to convey radio-frequency signals through the display cover layer; 
 a conductive patch within the slot element; and 
 a radio-frequency transmission line having a positive feed terminal coupled to the conductive patch and a ground feed terminal coupled to the peripheral conductive sidewall, wherein the conductive patch is configured excite an antenna current on the integral ledge and around the slot element via near-field electromagnetic coupling. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device defined in  claim 1 , wherein the slot element comprises a first elongated segment having a first width and a second elongated segment extending from an end of the first elongated segment and having a second width that is less than the first width. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device defined in  claim 2 , wherein the conductive patch is located within the first elongated segment of the slot element. 
     
     
       4. The electronic device defined in  claim 1 , wherein the slot element comprises an open slot. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device defined in  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a conductive rear wall and the peripheral conductive sidewall extends from the conductive rear wall to the display cover layer. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device defined in  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a dielectric support structure interposed between the conductive rear wall and the integral ledge, wherein the integral ledge is mounted to the dielectric support structure; and 
 a conductive layer that extends between the integral ledge and the conductive rear wall, wherein the peripheral conductive sidewall, the conductive rear wall, and the conductive layer form a conductive cavity for the slot antenna. 
 
     
     
       7. The electronic device defined in  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a magnet mounted within the conductive cavity. 
 
     
     
       8. The electronic device defined in  claim 7 , wherein the display comprises a display module having pixel circuitry configured to emit light through the display cover layer, the electronic device further comprising:
 a battery in the housing, wherein the conductive layer is configured to electromagnetically isolate the slot element from the battery and the display module. 
 
     
     
       9. The electronic device defined in  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises an additional peripheral conductive sidewall having an additional integral ledge that extends towards the interior of the electronic device and that supports the display cover layer, the electronic device further comprising:
 an additional slot antenna having an additional slot element in the additional integral ledge. 
 
     
     
       10. The electronic device defined in  claim 9 , wherein the slot element and the additional slot element are both configured to radiate at a frequency between 5150 MHz and 5850 MHz. 
     
     
       11. The electronic device defined in  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises first, second, and third additional peripheral conductive sidewalls, the first additional peripheral conductive sidewall extends parallel to the peripheral conductive sidewall, the second additional peripheral conductive sidewall extends parallel to the third additional peripheral conductive sidewall between the peripheral conductive sidewall and the first additional peripheral conductive sidewall, the peripheral conductive sidewall and the first additional peripheral conductive sidewall each have a first length, and the second and third additional peripheral conductive sidewalls each have a second length that is less than the first length. 
     
     
       12. An electronic device, comprising:
 a display having a display cover layer and a display panel configured to emit light through the display cover layer; 
 a housing having a conductive wall and peripheral conductive structures that extend around a periphery of the electronic device and from the conductive wall to the display cover layer; 
 a dielectric substrate interposed between the display cover layer and the conductive wall, wherein first and second portions of the peripheral conductive structures define edges of a slot element in a slot antenna at a surface of the dielectric substrate and the second portion of the peripheral conductive structures is formed on the surface of the dielectric substrate; and 
 a conductive layer on an additional surface of the dielectric substrate that shorts the second portion of the peripheral conductive structures to the conductive wall. 
 
     
     
       13. The electronic device defined in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a conductive feed element on the surface of the dielectric substrate that is located within the slot element; and 
 a radio-frequency transmission line having a ground conductor coupled to the peripheral conductive structures and a signal conductor coupled to the conductive feed element, wherein the conductive feed element is configured to excite antenna currents on the first and second portions of the peripheral conductive structures via near-field electromagnetic coupling. 
 
     
     
       14. The electronic device defined in  claim 13 , wherein the peripheral conductive structures comprise a third portion extending from the first portion of the peripheral conductive structures to the conductive wall, the first portion is interposed between the third portion and the second portion, the second portion is interposed between the first portion and the display panel, and the first and third portions are formed from the same integral piece of metal. 
     
     
       15. The electronic device defined in  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a conductive layer on an additional surface of the dielectric substrate, wherein the conductive layer is coupled between the second portion of the peripheral conductive structures and the conductive housing wall and the conductive feed element is further configured to excite additional antenna currents on the conductive housing wall, the third portion of the peripheral conductive structures, and the conductive layer. 
 
     
     
       16. An electronic device comprising:
 a housing having a conductive rear wall and peripheral conductive housing structures with an integral ledge portion; 
 a display having a display cover layer mounted to the integral ledge portion and a display module configured to emit light through the display cover layer, wherein the integral ledge portion runs around at least some of a periphery of the display module; and 
 a cavity-backed antenna having a radiating element that is formed from the integral ledge portion and that is backed by a conductive cavity defined by the conductive rear wall, the peripheral conductive housing structures, a conductive layer coupled between the radiating element and the conductive rear wall, and a conductive patch in the slot, wherein the conductive patch is configured to indirectly feed the cavity backed antenna. 
 
     
     
       17. The electronic device defined in  claim 16 , wherein the radiating element comprises a slot having edges defined by the integral ledge portion and the conductive layer. 
     
     
       18. The electronic device defined in  claim 17 , wherein the cavity-backed antenna comprises an antenna feed having a positive antenna feed terminal coupled to the conductive patch and a ground antenna feed terminal coupled to the peripheral conductive structures, the electronic device further comprising:
 transceiver circuitry in the housing; and 
 a radio-frequency transmission line coupled between the antenna feed and the transceiver circuitry.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This relates to electronic devices, and more particularly, to antennas for electronic devices with wireless communications circuitry. 
     Electronic devices such as portable computers and cellular telephones are often provided with wireless communications capabilities. To satisfy consumer demand for small form factor wireless devices, manufacturers are continually striving to implement wireless communications circuitry such as antenna components using compact structures. At the same time, there is a desire for wireless devices to cover a growing number of communications bands. 
     Because antennas have the potential to interfere with each other and with components in a wireless device, care must be taken when incorporating antennas into an electronic device. Moreover, care must be taken to ensure that the antennas and wireless circuitry in a device are able to exhibit satisfactory performance over a range of operating frequencies and with a satisfactory efficiency bandwidth. 
     It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved wireless communications circuitry for wireless electronic devices. 
     SUMMARY 
     An electronic device may include a housing having a peripheral conductive sidewall with an integral ledge portion extending towards the interior of the electronic device. A display having a display cover layer may be mounted to and supported by the integral ledge portion. The electronic device may include wireless circuitry having one or more antennas. The antennas may include a slot antenna having a slot radiating element in the integral ledge portion that is configured to convey radio-frequency signals through the display cover layer. 
     The integral ledge portion (sometimes referred to herein as a ledge or integral ledge) may be mounted to a surface of a dielectric substrate such as an injection-molded plastic substrate. The integral ledge may be coupled to a conductive rear housing wall of the electronic device by a conductive layer that extends between the integral ledge and the conductive rear housing wall over an additional surface of the dielectric substrate. The peripheral conductive sidewall may include a vertical portion that extends from the integral ledge to the conductive rear housing wall. The slot antenna may be indirectly fed using a conductive patch located within the slot element at the surface of the dielectric substrate. A radio-frequency transmission line may be coupled to a positive antenna feed terminal on the conductive patch and a ground antenna feed terminal on a vertical portion of the peripheral conductive sidewall. The conductive patch may excite antenna currents on the integral ledge, conductive layer, rear housing wall, and/or vertical portion of the peripheral conductive sidewall via near-field electromagnetic coupling. The conductive layer, rear housing wall, and vertical portion may form a cavity back for the slot antenna that enhances antenna performance. The conductive layer may electromagnetically isolate the conductive patch and the slot element from interference with a battery, display circuitry, or other device components. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illustrative electronic device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of illustrative circuitry in an electronic device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram of illustrative wireless circuitry in an electronic device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of an illustrative electronic device having one or more antennas formed from conductive housing structures around an active area of a display in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of an illustrative antenna that may be formed from a radiating slot in a conductive housing ledge for an electronic device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative antenna having a radiating slot in a conductive housing ledge in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative antenna feed probe for an antenna of the type shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An electronic device such as electronic device  10  of  FIG. 1  may be provided with wireless circuitry that includes antennas. The antennas may be used to transmit and receive wireless signals. 
     The wireless circuitry of device  10  may handle one or more communications bands. For example, the wireless circuitry of device  10  may include a Global Position System (GPS) receiver that handles GPS satellite navigation system signals at 1575 MHz or a GLONASS receiver that handles GLONASS signals at 1609 MHz. Device  10  may also contain wireless communications circuitry that operates in communications bands such as cellular telephone bands and wireless circuitry that operates in communications bands such as the 2.4 GHz Bluetooth® band and the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi® wireless local area network bands (sometimes referred to as IEEE 802.11 bands or wireless local area network communications bands). Device  10  may also contain wireless communications circuitry for implementing near-field communications at 13.56 MHz or other near-field communications frequencies. If desired, device  10  may include wireless communications circuitry for communicating at 60 GHz, circuitry for supporting 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 wrist-watch device, a pendant device, a headphone or earpiece 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, 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. 
     In the example of  FIG. 1 , device  10  includes 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 a case, may be formed of plastic, glass, ceramics, fiber composites, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, etc.), other suitable materials, or a combination of these materials. In some situations, parts of housing  12  may be formed from dielectric or other low-conductivity material (e.g., glass, ceramic, plastic, sapphire, etc.). In other situations, housing  12  or at least some of the structures that make up housing  12  may be formed from metal elements. 
     Display  14  may be mounted on the front face of device  10 . Display  14  may be a touch screen that incorporates capacitive touch electrodes or may be insensitive to touch. The rear face of housing  12  (i.e., the face of device  10  opposing the front face of device  10 ) may have a substantially planar housing wall such as wall  12 R. Rear housing wall  12 R may have slots that pass entirely through the rear housing wall and that therefore separate housing wall portions (rear wall portions and/or sidewall portions) of housing  12  from each other. Rear housing wall  12 R may include conductive portions and/or dielectric portions. If desired, rear housing wall  12 R may include a planar metal layer covered by a thin layer or coating of dielectric such as glass, plastic, sapphire, or ceramic. Housing  12  may also have shallow grooves that do not pass entirely through housing  12 . The slots and grooves may be filled with plastic or other dielectric. If desired, portions of housing  12  that have been separated from each other (e.g., by a through slot) may be joined by internal conductive structures (e.g., sheet metal or other metal members that bridge the slot). 
     Housing  12  may include peripheral housing structures such as peripheral structures  12 W. Peripheral structures  12 W may run around the periphery of device  10  and display  14 . In configurations in which device  10  and display  14  have a rectangular shape with four edges, peripheral structures  12 W may be implemented using peripheral housing structures that have a rectangular ring shape with four corresponding edges and that extend from rear housing wall  12 R to the front face of device  10  (as an example). Peripheral structures  12 W or part of peripheral structures  12 W may serve as a bezel for display  14  (e.g., a cosmetic trim that surrounds all four sides of display  14  and/or that helps hold display  14  to device  10 ) if desired. Peripheral structures  12 W may, if desired, form sidewall structures for device  10  (e.g., by forming a metal band with vertical sidewalls, curved sidewalls, etc.). 
     Peripheral housing structures  12 W may be formed of a conductive material such as metal and may therefore sometimes be referred to as peripheral conductive housing structures, conductive housing structures, peripheral metal structures, peripheral conductive sidewalls, peripheral conductive sidewall structures, conductive housing sidewalls, peripheral conductive housing sidewalls, sidewalls, sidewall structures, or a peripheral conductive housing member (as examples). Peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W may be formed from a metal such as stainless steel, aluminum, or other suitable materials. One, two, or more than two separate structures may be used in forming peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W. 
     It is not necessary for peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W to have a uniform cross-section. For example, the top portion of peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W may, if desired, have an inwardly protruding lip or ledge that helps hold display  14  in place. The bottom portion of peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W may also have an enlarged lip (e.g., in the plane of the rear surface of device  10 ). Peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W may have substantially straight vertical sidewalls, may have sidewalls that are curved, or may have other suitable shapes. In some configurations (e.g., when peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W serve as a bezel for display  14 ), peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W may run around the lip of housing  12  (i.e., peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W may cover only the edge of housing  12  that surrounds display  14  and not the rest of the sidewalls of housing  12 ). 
     If desired, rear housing wall  12 R may be formed from a metal such as stainless steel or aluminum and may sometimes be referred to herein as conductive rear housing wall  12 R or conductive rear wall  12 R. Conductive rear housing wall  12 R may lie in a plane that is parallel to display  14 . In configurations for device  10  in which rear housing wall  12 R is formed from metal, it may be desirable to form parts of peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W as integral portions of the housing structures forming the conductive rear housing wall of housing  12 . For example, conductive rear housing wall  12 R of device  10  may be formed from a planar metal structure and portions of peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W on the sides of housing  12  may be formed as flat or curved vertically extending integral metal portions of the planar metal structure (e.g., housing structures  12 R and  12 W may be formed from a continuous piece of metal in a unibody configuration). Housing structures such as these may, if desired, be machined from a block of metal and/or may include multiple metal pieces that are assembled together to form housing  12 . Conductive rear housing wall  12 R may have one or more, two or more, or three or more portions. Peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W and/or the conductive rear housing wall  12 R may form one or more exterior surfaces of device  10  (e.g., surfaces that are visible to a user of device  10 ) and/or may be implemented using internal structures that do not form exterior surfaces of device  10  (e.g., conductive housing structures that are not visible to a user of device  10  such as conductive structures that are covered with layers such as thin cosmetic layers, protective coatings, and/or other coating layers that may include dielectric materials such as glass, ceramic, plastic, or other structures that form the exterior surfaces of device  10  and/or serve to hide structures  12 W and/or  12 R from view of the user). 
     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 have an active area AA that includes an array of display pixels. The array of pixels may be formed from liquid crystal display (LCD) components, an array of electrophoretic pixels, an array of plasma display pixels, an array of organic light-emitting diode display pixels or other light-emitting diode 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, transparent ceramic, sapphire, or other transparent crystalline material, or other transparent layer(s). The display cover layer may have a planar shape, a convex curved profile, a shape with planar and curved portions, a layout that includes a planar main area surrounded on one or more edges with a portion that is bent out of the plane of the planar main area, or other suitable shapes. The display cover layer may cover the entire front face of device  10 . In another suitable arrangement, the display cover layer may cover substantially all of the front face of device  10  or only a portion of the front face of device  10 . Openings may be formed in the display cover layer. For example, an opening may be formed in the display cover layer to accommodate a button. An opening may also be formed in the display cover layer to accommodate ports such as a speaker port or microphone port. Openings may be formed in housing  12  to form communications ports (e.g., an audio jack port, a digital data port, etc.) and/or audio ports for audio components such as a speaker and/or a microphone if desired. 
     Display  14  may have an inactive border region that runs along one or more of the edges of active area AA. Inactive area IA may be free of pixels for displaying images and may overlap circuitry and other internal device structures in housing  12 . To block these structures from view by a user of device  10 , the underside of the display cover layer or other layer in display  14  that overlaps inactive area IA may be coated with an opaque masking layer in inactive area IA. The opaque masking layer may have any suitable color. In the example of  FIG. 1 , inactive areas IA may be located within regions  20  between the upper and lower edges of device  10  and active area AA. Inactive areas IA may also be located within regions  21  between the left and right edges of device  10  and active area AA. In general, larger active areas AA may allow for a larger area for the user of device  10  to interact with device  10 . If desired, inactive areas IA within regions  20  and/or  21  may be relatively narrow (e.g., from 0.5 mm to 5.0 mm wide) in order to maximize the size of active area AA. As an example, the inactive area in regions  20  and/or  21  may, for example, overlap with the thickness of peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W (e.g., active area AA may extend across substantially all of the face of device  10  except for over the top surfaces of peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W or ledge structures defined by peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W). 
     The antennas of the wireless circuitry in device  10  can include loop antennas, inverted-F antennas, strip antennas, planar inverted-F antennas, slot antennas, hybrid antennas that include antenna structures of more than one type, or other suitable antennas. Conductive structures for the antennas may, if desired, be formed from conductive electronic device structures. 
     Portions of peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W may be provided with peripheral gap structures if desired. The gaps in peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W may be filled with dielectric such as polymer, ceramic, glass, air, other dielectric materials, or combinations of these materials. Gaps may divide peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W into one or more peripheral conductive segments. There may be, for example, two peripheral conductive segments in peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W (e.g., in an arrangement with two gaps), three peripheral conductive segments (e.g., in an arrangement with three gaps), four peripheral conductive segments (e.g., in an arrangement with four gaps), etc. The segments of peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W that are formed in this way may form parts of antennas in device  10 . 
     If desired, openings in housing  12  such as grooves that extend partway or completely through housing  12  may extend across the width of conductive rear housing wall  12 R and may penetrate through conductive rear housing wall  12 R to divide the conductive rear housing wall into different portions. These grooves may also extend into peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W and may form antenna slots and other structures in device  10 . Polymer or other dielectric may fill these grooves and other housing openings. In some situations, housing openings that form antenna slots and other structure may be filled with a dielectric such as air. 
     Housing  12  may have four peripheral edges (e.g., four peripheral conductive sidewalls  12 W) as shown in  FIG. 1  and one or more antennas may be located along one or more of these edges. As shown in the illustrative configuration of  FIG. 1 , antennas may, if desired, be mounted in regions  20  along opposing upper and lower peripheral edges of housing  12  and/or in regions  21  along opposing left and right peripheral edges of housing  12  (as an example). The antennas may include antenna resonating elements that emit and receive wireless signals through the front of device  10  (i.e., through inactive portions IA of display  14 ) and/or from the rear and sides of device  10 . In practice, active components within active display area AA may block or otherwise inhibit signal reception and transmission by the antennas. By placing the antennas within regions  20  and/or  21  of inactive area IA of display  14 , the antennas may freely pass signals through the display without the signals being blocked by active display circuitry. Antennas may also be mounted in other portions of device  10 , if desired. The configuration of  FIG. 1  is merely illustrative. 
     In order to provide an end user of device  10  with as large of a display as possible (e.g., to maximize an area of the device used for displaying media, running applications, etc.), it may be desirable to increase the amount of area at the front face of device  10  that is covered by active area AA of display  14 . Increasing the size of active area AA may reduce the size of inactive area IA within device  10 . This may reduce the space that is available for forming antennas within device  10 . In general, antennas that are provided with larger operating volumes or spaces may have higher bandwidth efficiency than antennas that are provided with smaller operating volumes or spaces. If care is not taken, increasing the size of active area AA may reduce the operating space available to the antennas, which can undesirably inhibit the efficiency and bandwidth of the antennas (e.g., such that the antennas no longer exhibit satisfactory radio-frequency performance). It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide antennas that occupy a small amount of space within device  10  (e.g., to allow for as large of a display active area AA as possible) while still allowing the antennas to operate with optimal efficiency and bandwidth. 
     A schematic diagram showing illustrative components that may be used in device  10  of  FIG. 1  is shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , device  10  may include control circuitry such as storage and processing circuitry  28 . Storage and processing circuitry  28  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 storage and processing circuitry  28  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, application specific integrated circuits, etc. 
     Storage and processing circuitry  28  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, storage and processing circuitry  28  may be used in implementing communications protocols. Communications protocols that may be implemented using storage and processing circuitry  28  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, cellular telephone protocols, multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) protocols, antenna diversity protocols, etc. 
     Input-output circuitry  30  may include input-output devices  32 . Input-output devices  32  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  32  may include user interface devices, data port devices, and other input-output components. For example, input-output devices  32  may include touch screens, displays without touch sensor capabilities, buttons, joysticks, scrolling wheels, touch pads, key pads, keyboards, microphones, cameras, buttons, speakers, status indicators, light sources, audio jacks and other audio port components, digital data port devices, light sensors, position and orientation sensors (e.g., sensors such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, and compasses), capacitance sensors, proximity sensors (e.g., capacitive proximity sensors, light-based proximity sensors, etc.), fingerprint sensors (e.g., a fingerprint sensor integrated with a button such as button  24  of  FIG. 1  or a fingerprint sensor that takes the place of button  24 ), etc. 
     Input-output circuitry  30  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, 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 radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  90  for handling various radio-frequency communications bands. For example, circuitry  34  may include transceiver circuitry  36 ,  38 , and  42 . Transceiver circuitry  36  may handle wireless local area network (WLAN) bands such as 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands for WiFi® (IEEE 802.11) communications and/or wireless personal area network (WPAN) bands such as the 2.4 GHz Bluetooth® communications band. Circuitry  34  may use cellular telephone transceiver circuitry  38  for handling wireless communications in frequency ranges such as a low communications band from 700 to 960 MHz, a low-midband from 960 to 1710 MHz, a midband from 1710 to 2170 MHz, a high band from 2300 to 2700 MHz, an ultra-high band from 3400 to 3700 MHz and/or other communications bands between 600 MHz and 4000 MHz or other suitable frequencies (as examples). 
     Circuitry  38  may handle voice data and non-voice data. 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 60 GHz transceiver circuitry, circuitry for receiving television and radio signals, paging system transceivers, near field communications (NFC) circuitry, etc. Wireless communications circuitry  34  may include satellite navigation receive equipment such as global positioning system (GPS) receiver circuitry  42  for receiving GPS signals at 1575 MHz or for handling other satellite positioning data (e.g., Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) signals, 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  34  may include antennas  40 . Antennas  40  may be formed using any suitable antenna types. For example, antennas  40  may include antennas with resonating elements that are formed from loop antenna structures, patch antenna structures, inverted-F antenna structures, slot antenna structures, planar inverted-F antenna structures, helical antenna structures, dipole antenna structures, monopole antenna structures, hybrids of these designs, etc. 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. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , transceiver circuitry  90  in wireless circuitry  34  may be coupled to antenna structures  40  using paths such as path  92 . Wireless circuitry  34  may be coupled to control circuitry  28 . Control circuitry  28  may be coupled to input-output devices  32 . Input-output devices  32  may supply output from device  10  and may receive input from sources that are external to device  10 . 
     To provide antenna structures such as antenna(s)  40  with the ability to cover communications frequencies of interest, antenna(s)  40  may be provided with circuitry such as filter circuitry (e.g., one or more passive filters and/or one or more tunable filter circuits). Discrete components such as capacitors, inductors, and resistors may be incorporated into the filter circuitry. Capacitive structures, inductive structures, and resistive structures may also be formed from patterned metal structures (e.g., part of an antenna). If desired, antenna(s)  40  may be provided with tuning circuits such as tuning components  101  to tune antennas over communications bands of interest. Tuning components  101  may be part of a filter or impedance matching network, may be part of an antenna resonating element, may span a gap between an antenna resonating element and antenna ground, etc. 
     Tuning components  101  may include fixed components (e.g., inductors having a fixed inductance, resistors having a fixed resistance, capacitors having a fixed capacitance, etc.) and/or may include tunable (adjustable) components such as tunable inductors, tunable capacitors, or other tunable components. Fixed tuning components  101  may include discrete components such as surface mount technology (SMT) capacitors, resistors, and/or inductors and/or may include distributed components such distributed capacitances, resistances, and/or inductances. Adjustable tuning components  101  components may be based on switches and networks of fixed components, distributed metal structures that produce associated distributed capacitances and inductances, variable solid state devices for producing variable capacitance and inductance values, tunable filters, or other suitable tunable structures. During operation of device  10 , control circuitry  28  may issue control signals on one or more paths such as path  93  that adjust inductance values, capacitance values, or other parameters associated with adjustable components in tuning components  101 , thereby tuning antenna structures  40  to cover desired communications bands. Fixed components in tuning components  101  may, for example, configure antennas  40  to cover one or more desired frequency bands of interest with satisfactory antenna efficiency using the same conductive structures. 
     Path  92  may include one or more transmission lines. As an example, signal path  92  of  FIG. 3  may be a transmission line having a positive signal conductor such as line  94  and a ground signal conductor such as line  96 . Path  92  may sometimes be referred to herein as radio-frequency transmission line  92  or transmission line  92 . Transmission lines  92  in device  12  may include coaxial probes realized by metalized vias, microstrip transmission lines, stripline transmission lines, edge-coupled microstrip transmission lines, edge-coupled stripline transmission lines, waveguide structures (e.g., coplanar waveguides, grounded coplanar waveguides, or cavity waveguides), transmission lines formed from combinations of transmission lines of these types, etc. Transmission lines  92  in device  10  may be integrated into rigid and/or flexible printed circuit boards. In one suitable arrangement, transmission lines in device  10  may also include transmission line conductors (e.g., signal and ground conductors) integrated within multilayer laminated structures (e.g., layers of a conductive material such as copper and a dielectric material such as a resin that are laminated together without intervening adhesive) that may be folded or bent in multiple dimensions (e.g., two or three dimensions) and that maintain its bent or folded shape after bending (e.g., the multilayer laminated structures may be folded into a particular three-dimensional shape to route around other device components and may be rigid enough to hold its shape after folding without being held in place by stiffeners or other structures). All of the multiple layers of the laminated structures may be batch laminated together (e.g., in a single pressing process) without adhesive (e.g., as opposed to performing multiple pressing processes to laminate multiple layers together with adhesive). Filter circuitry, switching circuitry, impedance matching circuitry, and other circuitry may be interposed within the transmission lines, if desired. For example, a matching network (e.g., an adjustable matching network formed using tuning components  101 ) may include components such as inductors, resistors, and capacitors used in matching the impedance of antenna(s)  40  to the impedance of transmission line  92 . Matching network components may be provided as discrete components (e.g., surface mount technology components) or may be formed from housing structures, printed circuit board structures, traces on plastic supports, etc. Components such as these may also be used in forming filter circuitry in antenna(s)  40  and may be tunable and/or fixed components. 
     Transmission line  92  may be coupled to antenna feed structures associated with antenna structures  40 . As an example, antenna structures  40  may form an inverted-F antenna, a slot antenna, a loop antenna, or hybrid of these or other types of antennas having an antenna feed  95  with a positive antenna feed terminal such as terminal  98  and a ground antenna feed terminal such as ground antenna feed terminal  100 . Positive transmission line conductor  94  may be coupled to positive antenna feed terminal  98  and ground transmission line conductor  96  may be coupled to ground antenna feed terminal  100 . Other types of antenna feed arrangements may be used if desired. For example, antenna structures  40  may be fed using multiple feeds. The illustrative feeding configuration of  FIG. 3  is merely illustrative. 
     Control circuitry  28  may use information from a proximity sensor (see, e.g., sensors  32  of  FIG. 2 ), wireless performance metric data such as received signal strength information, device orientation information from an orientation sensor, device motion data from an accelerometer or other motion detecting sensor, information about a usage scenario of device  10 , information about whether audio is being played through a speaker, information from one or more antenna impedance sensors, and/or other information in determining when antenna(s)  40  is being affected by the presence of nearby external objects or is otherwise in need of tuning. In response, control circuitry  28  may adjust an adjustable inductor, adjustable capacitor, switch, or other tunable component  101  and/or may switch one or more antennas  40  into or out of use to ensure that wireless communications circuitry  34  operates as desired. 
     The presence or absence of external objects such as a user&#39;s hand may affect antenna loading and therefore antenna performance. Antenna loading may differ depending on the way in which device  10  is being held. For example, antenna loading and therefore antenna performance may be affected in one way when a user is holding device  10  in a portrait orientation and may be affected in another way when a user is holding device  10  in a landscape orientation. To accommodate various loading scenarios, device  10  may use sensor data, antenna measurements, information about the usage scenario or operating state of device  10 , and/or other data from input-output circuitry  32  to monitor for the presence of antenna loading (e.g., the presence of a user&#39;s hand, the user&#39;s head, or another external object). Device  10  (e.g., control circuitry  28 ) may then adjust tunable components  101  in antenna  40  and/or may switch other antennas into or out of use to compensate for the loading (e.g., multiple antennas  40  may be operated using a diversity protocol to ensure that at least one antenna  40  may maintain satisfactory communications even while the other antennas are blocked by external objects). 
     A top interior view of an illustrative device  10  that contains antennas  40  is shown in  FIG. 4 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , device  10  may have peripheral conductive housing structures such as peripheral conductive housing sidewalls  12 W (e.g., four peripheral conductive housing sidewalls  12 W that surround the rectangular periphery of device  10 ). Display  14  may have a display module  112 . Peripheral conductive housing sidewalls  12 W may run around the periphery of display module  112  (e.g., along all four sides of device  10 ). Display module  112  may be covered by a display cover layer (not shown). The display cover layer may extend across the entire length and width of device  10  and may, if desired, be mounted to or otherwise supported by peripheral conductive housing sidewalls  12 W. 
     Display module  112  (sometimes referred to as a display panel, active display circuitry, or active display structures) may be any desired type of display panel and may include pixels formed from light-emitting diodes (LEDs), organic LEDs (OLEDs), plasma cells, electrowetting pixels, electrophoretic pixels, liquid crystal display (LCD) components, or other suitable pixel structures. The lateral area of display module  112  may, for example, determine the size of the active area of display  14  (e.g., active area AA of  FIG. 1 ). Display panel  112  may include active light emitting components, touch sensor components (e.g., touch sensor electrodes), force sensor components, and/or other active components. Regions  21  and  20  of device  10  may define the inactive area of display  14  (e.g., inactive area IA of  FIG. 1 ). Regions  21  may, for example, be defined by the lateral area of device  10  extending between the left or right edges of display module  112  and the exterior surface of peripheral conductive housing sidewalls  12 W. Regions  20  may, for example, be defined by the lateral area of device  10  extending between the upper or lower edge of display module  112  and the exterior surface of peripheral conductive housing sidewalls  12 W. If desired, display module  112  may be supported within electronic device  10  by a conductive display support plate (sometimes referred to as a midplate or display plate), a conductive display frame, and/or a dielectric display frame. The display frame(s) for module  112  may, for example, be ring-shaped and may include a portion that runs around the periphery of the display module  112  and surrounds a central opening. 
     In practice, regions  20  and  21  may be too narrow for certain types of antennas (e.g., inverted-F antennas or patch antennas) to operate with satisfactory bandwidth and/or efficiency. In some scenarios, one or more antennas  40  may be formed from radiating elements within the rear housing wall of device  10  (e.g., conductive rear housing wall  12 R of  FIG. 1 ) to provide the antennas with a greater operating volume. However, for some operating frequencies such as frequencies within the 5 GHz wireless local area network band, antennas in the rear housing wall may exceed regulatory limits on radiation absorbed by a user of device  10 . If desired, one or more antennas  40  may be formed within peripheral regions  20  and/or  21  of device  10  (e.g., locations where regulatory limits on absorbed radiation may be more easily satisfied). In order to form radiating elements for antennas in regions  20  and  21 , conductive material may be removed from peripheral conductive housing sidewalls  12 W. However, if care is not taken, antennas formed by removing conductive material from peripheral conductive housing sidewalls  12 W may weaken the mechanical strength of housing  12  and device  10  (e.g., leaving device  10  vulnerable to mechanical damage). In order to mitigate these issues, antennas  40  may be formed using radiating slots that are formed in portions of peripheral conductive housing sidewalls  12 W (e.g., radiating slots that minimize the amount of conductive material that needs to be removed from peripheral conductive housing sidewalls  12 W). 
     Antennas (e.g., antennas  40  of  FIG. 3 ) may be formed at any desired locations  110  within regions  20  and  21  such as at a first location  110 - 1  along the upper peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W of device  10  (e.g., within region  20 ), a second location  110 - 2  along the right peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W of device  10  (e.g., within region  21 ), a third location  110 - 3  along the right peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W of device  10 , a fourth location  110 - 4  along the lower peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W of device  10 , a fifth location  110 - 5  along the left peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W of device  10 , and/or a sixth location  110 - 6  along the left peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W of device  10 . These examples are merely illustrative and, in general, antennas  40  may be formed at any desired locations within regions  21  and/or  20 . 
     If desired, antennas that are configured to cover the same frequency bands may be formed at multiple locations  110  in device  10  (e.g., for enabling antenna diversity or multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) operations). In one suitable arrangement, a first antenna for covering the 5 GHz WLAN frequency band may be formed at location  110 - 6  whereas a second antenna for covering the 5 GHz WLAN frequency band may be formed at location  110 - 3 . In another suitable arrangement, a first antenna for covering the 5 GHz WLAN frequency band may be formed at location  110 - 2  whereas a second antenna for covering the 5 GHz WLAN frequency band may be formed at location  110 - 5 . In yet another suitable arrangement, a first antenna for covering the 5 GHz WLAN frequency band may be formed at location  110 - 1  whereas a second antenna for covering the 5 GHz WLAN frequency band may be formed at location  110 - 4 . Placing the antennas within device  10  in this way may, for example, ensure that at least one of the antennas is not being blocked by an external object such as a user&#39;s hand regardless of the orientation of device  10 . These examples are merely illustrative and, in general, any desired antennas for covering any desired bands may be formed within one or more of locations  110  of  FIG. 4  or at other locations within regions  20  and  21 . 
       FIG. 5  is a top view showing how antenna  40  may be formed from a radiating slot in a corresponding region  110  of  FIG. 4 . In the example of  FIG. 5 , antenna  40  is formed along the left side of device  10  (e.g., within region  110 - 6  or  110 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ). This is merely illustrative and, in general, antenna  40  may be formed in regions  110 - 1 ,  110 - 2 ,  110 - 3 ,  110 - 4 , or any other desired locations along regions  20  or  21  of  FIG. 4 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , a given peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W may run along the periphery of display module  112 . Peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W may include a vertically-extending portion  114  (sometimes referred to herein as vertical portion  114  or vertical sidewall portion  114 ) that extends across the height (thickness) of device  10  (e.g., along the Z-axis of  FIG. 5  or perpendicular to the front and rear faces of device  10 ). Peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W may include integral ledge portions such as horizontally-extending integral ledge portion  116 . Integral ledge portion  116  may extend away from vertical wall portion  114  towards the interior of device  10  (e.g., within the X-Y plane of  FIG. 5 ). 
     Integral ledge portion  116  of peripheral conductive sidewall  12 W may sometimes be referred to herein as ledge portion  116  of peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W, integral ledge  116  of peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W, ledge  116 , integral datum portion  116  of peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W, integral datum  116  of peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W, or datum  116 . Integral ledge portion  116  and vertical portion  114  (i.e., peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W) may be formed from the same single piece of conductor (e.g., peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W may be machined from the same block of metal or otherwise manufactured such that ledge  116  is integral with vertical portion  114  and no adhesives, solder, screws, or other fasteners are required to affix the ledge to the vertical portion). Forming integral ledge portion  116  from the same conductor as vertical portion  114  (e.g., integral with peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W) may, for example, optimize the mechanical integrity of device  10  and reduce the amount of space required to implement ledge  116  relative to scenarios where adhesives are used to affix a separate bracket to the vertical portion of peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W. Integral ledge portion  116  may extend towards the interior of device  10  substantially perpendicular to the interior surface of vertical portion  114  (e.g., integral ledge portion  116  may extend beyond the interior surface of vertical portion  114  towards the interior of the device). 
     Each peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W in device  10  (e.g., each of the four peripheral conductive housing sidewalls shown in  FIG. 4 ) may have a respective and discrete integral ledge  116  (e.g., where the integral ledge portion of a given peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W is discontinuous with the ledge portion of the adjacent peripheral conductive housing sidewalls  12 W) or integral ledge  116  may extend continuously around two or more of peripheral conductive housing sidewalls  12 W (e.g., around all four sidewalls of device  10 ). Integral ledge  116  may extend along the length of its corresponding peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W (e.g., in the direction of the Y-axis in  FIG. 5 ) only at the locations of antennas  40 , along portions of the peripheral conductive housing sidewall that do not include antennas, across an entirety of the length of the corresponding peripheral conductive housing sidewall, or across any desired subset of the length of the corresponding peripheral conductive housing sidewall (e.g., along more than 25% of the length of the wall, more than 50% of the length of the wall, etc.). Integral ledges  116  of peripheral conductive housing sidewalls  12 W may be used to mount various components within device  10  if desired. For example, integral ledge  116  may be used to mount portions of the display to housing  12  (e.g., a display frame, a display cover layer, etc.). 
     In order to define the radiating elements of antenna  40 , one or more slots such as slots  142 ,  144 , and  145  may be formed in integral ledge  116  of peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W. Slots  142 ,  144 , and/or  145  (sometimes referred to herein as notches, gaps, or openings) may be formed by removing conductive material from integral ledge  116  or upon formation (manufacture) of integral ledge  116  or device  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , slots  142 ,  144 , and  145  may separate a first portion  115  of integral ledge  116  from a second portion  117  of integral ledge  116  (sometimes referred to herein as conductive portions  115  and  117 , conductive layers  115  and  117 , conductive structures  115  and  117 , or conductors  115  and  117 ). A dielectric support structure such as dielectric substrate  132  may be formed under integral ledge  116  (e.g., conductive portions  115  and  117  of integral ledge  116  may be formed on top surface  134  of substrate  132 ). Dielectric substrate  132  may include plastic, foam, ceramic, glass, a dielectric portion of housing  12  such as a dielectric housing frame that extends around some or all of the periphery of device  10 , or any other desired dielectric materials. Conductive portion  117  may be formed from the same material as conductive portion  115  or may be formed from conductive traces, sheet metal, or metal foil placed on surface  134  of substrate  132 . While conductive portion  117  of integral ledge  116  may be coplanar with portion  115  of integral ledge  116 , conductive portion  117  need not be formed from the same integral piece of metal used to form portion  115  of integral ledge  116  and vertical portion  114  of peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W (e.g., while forming a part of integral ledge  116  of peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W, conductive portion  117  need not be galvanically connected to conductive portion  115  and slots  142 ,  144 , and  145  may completely separate conductive portion  117  from conductive portion  115 ). In another suitable arrangement, conductive portion  117  may be connected to at least some of conductive portion  115  (e.g., conductive portion  117  may be formed from the same integral piece of conductor as portion  115  and vertical portion  114  of peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W). If desired, conductive portion  117  may have an integral vertically extending portion that extends downwards over side (surface)  130  of substrate  132  (e.g., in the Y-Z plane of  FIG. 5 ). 
     Antenna  40  may be fed using a conductive feed probe such as feed conductor  119  (sometimes referred to herein as feed probe  119 , probe  119 , radiative feed conductor  119 , or feed element  119 ). Feed conductor  119  may be formed from the same material as integral ledge  116 , from a conductive trace on substrate  132 , from metal foil, sheet metal, or any other desired conductive structures. Feed conductor  119  may be formed on surface (side)  134  of substrate  132  and interposed within slot  142 . Feed conductor  119  may be coupled to positive feed terminal  98  of antenna feed  95 . Signal conductor  94  of transmission line  92  may be coupled to feed terminal  98 . If desired, matching circuitry such as matching circuit  140  may be interposed on signal conductor  94 . Matching circuit  140  may be fixed or adjustable and may ensure that transmission line  92  is impedance matched to antenna  40  at desired frequencies. Ground terminal  100  of antenna feed  95  may be coupled to ground conductor  96  of transmission line  92 . Ground terminal  100  may be coupled to vertical portion  114  or conductive portion  115  of peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W. 
     Antenna feed  95  may convey radio-frequency signals handled by transceiver circuitry coupled to transmission line  92  (e.g., transceiver circuitry  90  of  FIG. 3 ). Feed conductor  119  may indirectly feed (excite) conductive portion  117  of integral ledge  116  via near-field electromagnetic coupling. In other words, antenna signals conveyed to feed conductor  119  via terminal  98  may induce antenna currents to flow along the perimeter of conductive portion  117  via near-field electromagnetic coupling, as shown by arrow  150 . Antenna currents corresponding to the radio-frequency signals may also be conveyed along conductive portion  115  of integral ledge  116  on the side of slots  145 ,  144 , and  142  opposite to conductive portion  117 , as shown by arrow  152 . In this way, feed conductor  119  may be directly fed (by a feed terminal  98  in contact with conductor  119 ) whereas conductive portions  115  and  117  are indirectly fed (via near-field electromagnetic coupling). Antenna currents  152  and  150  as well as antenna currents on feed conductor  119  may generate corresponding wireless signals that are transmitted by antenna  40  or, conversely, may be generated in response to received wireless signals. In other words, antenna currents  152  and  150  and the antenna currents on feed conductor  119  may contribute to the radiative performance (e.g., antenna efficiency) and frequency response of antenna  40 , for example. 
     The perimeter of slots  145 ,  144 , and  142  (e.g., the dimensions of the edges of conductive portions  115  and  117  defining the edges of slots  145 ,  144 , and  142 ) as well as the dimensions of feed conductor  119  may define the resonating characteristics of antenna  40 . For example, the perimeter of slots  145 ,  144 , and  142  and/or the dimensions of feed conductor  119  may be selected so that antenna  40  covers a desired frequency band of interest (e.g., a 5 GHz frequency band between about 5150 MHz and 5850 MHz or other suitable frequencies). Slots  145 ,  144 , and  142  may, for example, form a single continuous open slot radiating element for antenna  40  having a perimeter that is selected to be approximately equal to one half of a wavelength of operation for antenna  40 . When configured in this way, antenna  40  may form a slot antenna, for example. Slots  144 ,  145 , and  142  may sometimes be collectively referred to herein as a slot antenna resonating element, slot antenna radiating element, slot radiating element, slot radiator, slot element, or slot for antenna  40  (e.g., an open slot antenna resonating element, open slot element, or open slot). Slots  144 ,  142 , and  145  may each form elongated slot segments of the slot element in antenna  40 . 
     This example is merely illustrative and, if desired, slots  145 ,  144 , and  152  may collectively form a closed slot radiating element for antenna  40  having a perimeter selected to be approximately equal to a wavelength of operation for antenna  40  (e.g., a wavelength corresponding to a frequency in the 5 GHz WLAN band). Harmonic modes of the slot element in antenna  40  may also be configured to cover the frequency band of interest (e.g., the perimeter of the slot element may be configured to cover the frequency band of interest in its first harmonic mode, second harmonic mode, third harmonic mode, etc.). 
     In the example of  FIG. 5 , slot  144  extends from an end of slot  142  and slot  145  extends from an opposing end of slot  144  (e.g., so that slots  144 ,  142 , and  145  form a continuous slot element for antenna  40 ). Slot  145  may have an open end at side  130  of substrate  132  if desired. The opposing end of slot  142  may be closed or may be opened (e.g., conductive portion  117  may be separated from the conductive portion of integral ledge  116  below slot  142  (e.g., along the Y-axis of  FIG. 5 ) or may be connected to this portion of integral ledge  116 . In another suitable arrangement, conductive material (e.g., a conductor on side  130  or side  134  of substrate  132 ) may couple conductive portion  115  to conductive portion  117  to close off the end of slot  145  (e.g., so that the slot element of antenna  40  is a closed slot). 
     In the example of  FIG. 5 , integral ledge  116  has a width  139  extending from vertical portion  114  of peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W. Width  139  may be, for example, between 1 mm and 5 mm, between 1 mm and 3 mm, between 0.5 mm and 5 mm, between 0.2 mm and 3 mm, less than 5 mm, less than 3 mm, etc. While cutting slots such as slots  142 ,  144 , and  145  in integral ledge  116  may reduce the overall mechanical stability and reliability of peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W, this reduction in mechanical reliability may be minimized by maximizing the amount of conductive material that remains in integral ledge  116  (e.g., by minimizing the lateral area of slots  145 ,  144 , and  142 ). If desired, slot  142  may have a width  137  whereas slots  144  and  145  have a smaller width  139 . Similarly, conductive portion  117  may be wider adjacent to slot  144  than adjacent to slot  142 . This may, for example, serve to maximize the amount conductive material within integral ledge  116  while still allowing space to accommodate feed conductor  119 . If desired, feed conductor  119  may have as large an area as possible (e.g., while still allowing antenna  40  to radiate at desired frequencies) so as to minimize the lateral area of slot  142  and thereby maximize the mechanical strength of integral ledge  116  and peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W. 
     The example of  FIG. 5  is merely illustrative. In general, slots  145 ,  144 , and  142  may have any desired shapes (e.g., shapes with curved and/or straight edges). Feed conductor  119  may have any desired shape having fewer or more than four sides, curved edges, and/or straight edges. In another suitable arrangement, feed conductor  119  may be formed from a loop or half loop-shaped resonating element. In the example of  FIG. 5 , slots  144 ,  145 , and  142  each have elongated shapes, where slot  144  extends along a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of slot  142  and slot  145  extends along a longitudinal axis perpendicular to slots  142  and  145 . If desired, slots  144  and/or  145  may extend at other angles with respect to each other and with respect to slot  142 . Additional slot segments may be formed in antenna  40  if desired (e.g., the slot radiating element in antenna  40  may follow a meandering path of curved and/or straight segments if desired). 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of antenna  40  having a slot radiating element formed in integral ledge  116  (e.g., as taken along line AA′ of  FIG. 5 ). As shown in  FIG. 6 , display  14  for electronic device  10  may include a display cover layer such as display cover layer  180  that covers display panel  112 . The lateral area of display panel  112  may, for example, determine the size of active area AA of display  14  (e.g., in the X-Y plane of  FIG. 6 ). Display cover layer  180  may be a layer of clear glass, plastic, or other dielectric that covers the light-emitting surface of the underlying display module. In another suitable arrangement, display cover layer  180  may be the outermost layer of display module  112  (e.g., layer  180  may be a color filter layer, thin-film transistor layer, or other display layer). Buttons may pass through openings in cover layer  180  if desired. The cover layer may also have other openings such as an opening for a speaker port), openings for a sensor, or openings for any other desired electronic component. The inner surface of cover layer  180  may be covered with an opaque masking layer such as an ink layer if desired (e.g., to hide components within inactive region  21  from view of the user). Portions of cover layer  180  may be tinted or provided with pigment so as to be opaque if desired. Display panel  112  may be supported within electronic device  10  by a conductive display support plate, a conductive display frame, and/or a dielectric display frame that hold display panel  112  in place on housing  12 . Other components  183  may be formed within interior cavity (volume)  182  within device  10 . Components  183  may include, for example, storage and processing circuitry, sensors or other input-output devices, substrates such as printed circuit boards, a battery, power supply or power converter circuitry, transceiver circuitry or other wireless circuitry, etc. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W may include vertically-extending portion  114  (e.g., a portion that extends from the front face to the rear face of device  10 ) and integral ledge portion  116  extending away from vertical portion  114  towards interior cavity  182 . Display cover layer  180  may be mounted to integral ledge  116  to hold display  14  in place on housing  12 . If desired, adhesive may be interposed between cover layer  180  and integral ledge  116  to hold display cover layer  180  in place. Opaque masking layers, gaskets, seals, or other dielectric layers may be interposed between integral ledge  116  and cover layer  180  if desired. This is merely illustrative. If desired, the dielectric frame, conductive frame, and/or support plate for display module  112  may be mounted to integral ledge  116 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 6 , some of vertically extending wall portion  114  extends around the periphery of cover layer  180 . This is merely illustrative and, in another suitable arrangement, the peripheral edge of cover layer  180  may lie flush with the exterior (vertical) surface of peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W (e.g., layer  180  may extend across an entirety of the front face of device  10 ). 
     Conductive rear housing wall  12 R may form the rear face of electronic device  10  opposing display cover layer  180  (e.g., vertical sidewall portion  114  may extend from cover layer  180  to conductive rear housing wall  12 R). Conductive rear housing wall  12 R may be formed from conductive material such as metal (e.g., wall  12 R may be formed from the same integral conductor as peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W). If desired, a dielectric layer may by formed under conductive rear housing wall  12 R so that the dielectric layer forms the exterior surface of device  10 . Conductive rear housing wall  12 R may, if desired, extend across the entire length and/or width of device  10  (e.g., between opposing peripheral conductive housing sidewalls  12 W as shown in  FIG. 4 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , antenna  40  may be mounted in housing  12  under cover layer  180  within region  21 . During operation, antenna signals may be transmitted and received through a portion of display cover layer  180 . Forming antenna  40  under inactive region  21  of display  14  may allow antenna  40  to transmit and receive radio-frequency signals through display cover layer  180  without the signals being blocked or otherwise impeded by active circuitry in display module  112 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , integral ledge  116  of peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W may be formed on upper surface  134  of dielectric substrate  132 . While conductive portion  117  of integral ledge  116  may be separated from conductive portion  115  of integral ledge  116  by the slot element in antenna  40 , conductive portion  117  may still sometimes be referred to herein as a part of integral ledge  116  because at least some of integral ledge  116  is formed from an integral piece of conductor with vertical portion  114  (i.e., conductive portion  115 ), conductive portion  117  lies within the same plane as conductive portion  115  (e.g., at the same surface of substrate  132 ), and because display cover layer  180  is mounted to (supported by) conductive portion  117  on substrate  132 , for example. In another suitable arrangement, conductive portion  117  may be galvanically connected to at least some of conductive portion  115 . 
     Dielectric substrate  132  may extend from conductive rear housing wall  12 R to integral ledge  116  or may only extend part of the way between integral ledge  116  and conductive rear housing wall  12 R. If desired, dielectric substrate  132  may have a cavity or hollow portion. Components may be mounted within the hollow portion of substrate  132  if desired. In one example, components such as magnet  162  may be formed within substrate  132  (e.g., embedded within substrate  132  or placed within a hollow cavity in substrate  132 ). Magnet  162  may, for example, supply a magnetic field to the exterior of peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W. This magnetic field may, for example, be used to attach accessory devices such as a cover or case for device  10  or to affix a stylus or other device to peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W of device  10 . This is merely illustrative and, if desired, other components may be formed within substrate  132 . 
     Radiating slot  144  may be formed in integral ledge  116  of peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W at surface  134  of substrate  132  (e.g., between conductive portions  115  and  117 ). This is merely illustrative. If desired, conductive portion  115  may be omitted from antenna  40  and slot  144  may be defined between vertical portion  114  and conductive portion  117  of peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W or may extend into vertical portion  114  of peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W (e.g., as a part of a groove or notch in vertical portion  114  in the X-Y plane of  FIG. 6 ). 
     In practice, radiating slot  144  and antenna  40  may be susceptible to noise and interference from display module  112  and/or components  183  within cavity  182  (e.g., a battery for device  10 ). If desired, a conductive layer such as layer  160  may couple conductive portion  117  on surface  134  of substrate  132  to conductive rear housing wall  12 R (e.g., conductive layer  160  may extend over side  130  of substrate  132 ). Conductive layer  160  may be formed from conductive traces, metal foil, sheet metal, or other conductive structures. Conductive layer  160  may be coupled to conductive portion  117  using solder, welds, clips, conductive adhesive, or other conductive interconnect structures. If desired, conductive layer  160  and conductive portion  117  may be formed from the same integral piece of conductor that is folded over sides  134  and  130  of substrate  132 . Conductive layer  160  may be shorted to conductive rear housing wall  12 R using solder, conductive adhesive, conductive pins, conductive springs, conductive screws, other conductive fasteners, or other conductive interconnects. Conductive layer  160  may be deposited over substrate  132  after substrate  132  has been placed on conductive rear housing wall  12 R or, in another suitable arrangement, substrate  132  may be formed from injection-molded plastic that is injected into the cavity defined by structures  116 ,  114 ,  12 R, and  160 . 
     Conductive layer  160  may serve to electromagnetically isolate (shield) slot  144  and antenna  40  from other components such as display module  112  and components  183 . For example, conductive layer  160  may prevent components  183  from generating interference on antenna signals conveyed by antenna  40  and may prevent antenna signals conveyed by antenna  40  from interfering with components  183 . In addition, conductive layer  170  may serve to isolate components  183  from magnetic fields produced by magnet  162 . 
     Conductive layer  160 , integral ledge  116  of peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W, vertical portion  114  of peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W, and conductive rear housing wall  12 R may define the edges (e.g., walls or boundaries) of a conductive cavity  163  for antenna  40  (e.g., antenna  40  may be a cavity-backed slot antenna). Conductive cavity  163  may serve to enhance the radiative properties of antenna  40  (e.g., to enhance the gain, efficiency, and/or bandwidth of antenna  40  in the corresponding frequency band of interest). While antenna  40  is conveying antenna signals (e.g., while antenna currents  150  and  152  of  FIG. 5  are being conveyed over conductive portions  115  and  117 ), corresponding antenna currents may also flow over vertical sidewall portion  114 , conductive rear housing wall  12 R, and conductive shielding layer  160 , as shown by arrows  170 . If desired, the path length of currents  170  may be selected to enhance the radiating characteristics of antenna  40  in the corresponding frequency band of interest (e.g., the perimeter of slots  144 ,  145 , and  142  of  FIG. 5  as well as the perimeter of cavity  163  defined by structures  116 ,  114 ,  12 R, and  160  of  FIG. 6  may be selected so that antenna  40  radiates within a desired frequency band of interest). By distributing the antenna current over three dimensions in this way (e.g., across integral ledge  116 , vertical wall portion  114 , conductive rear housing wall  12 R, and conductive layer  160 ), the operating volume of antenna  40  may be greater than if antenna  40  were confined to a single plane, thereby serving to optimize the bandwidth and efficiency of antenna  40  despite the relatively narrow width of region  21 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 6 , substrate  132  (sometimes referred to herein as carrier  132 ) has a polygonal cross-sectional shape (e.g., the sides of substrate  132  are substantially planar). This is merely illustrative. If desired, some or all of one or more of the sides of substrate  132  may be curved. In general, the sides of substrate  132  may conform to (e.g., accommodate, extend parallel to, or abut) the shape of peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W and conductive rear housing wall  12 R. Each of the sides of substrate  132  may extend from the other sides of substrate  132  at any desired angles. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of the feed radiator for antenna  40  (e.g., as taken along line BB′ of  FIG. 5 ). As shown in  FIG. 7 , feed conductor  119  may be formed from a patch of conductive material (sometimes referred to herein as a conductive patch or patch element) on surface  134  of substrate  132  within slot  142  in integral ledge  116 . The edges of slot  142  may be defined between conductive portion  115  of integral ledge  116  and conductive layer  160  on side  130  of substrate  132 . This is merely illustrative. If desired, conductive portion  115  may be omitted and slot element  142  may be defined between vertical sidewall portion  114  and conductive layer  160  or may extend into vertical sidewall portion  114  (e.g., as a part of a groove or notch in vertical sidewall portion  114  in the X-Y plane of  FIG. 7 ). In another suitable arrangement, a portion of conductive portion  117  on side  134  of substrate  132  may define the opposing side of slot  142 . 
     Antenna feed  95  for antenna  40  may be coupled across portions of slot  142 . Positive antenna feed terminal  98  for antenna  40  may be coupled to feed conductor  119  at surface  134  of substrate  132 . The signal conductor coupled to feed terminal  98  (e.g., signal conductor  94  of  FIG. 5 ) may be formed from conductive traces on surface  134  of substrate  132 , from other conductive structures over substrate  132 , from conductive structures (e.g., wires, traces, springs, pins, etc.) extending through hollow portions of substrate  132  (e.g., within the cavity defined by structures  114 ,  116 ,  160 , and  12 R), and/or may be formed from conductive structures embedded within substrate  132  (e.g., conductive through-vias in substrate  132 ). 
     Ground antenna feed terminal  100  for antenna  40  may be coupled to conductive portion  115  of integral ledge  116  (e.g., on the side of slot  142  opposite to feed conductor  119 ). This is merely illustrative. Ground antenna feed terminal  100  may be coupled to vertical sidewall portion  114  if desired (e.g., in scenarios where conductive portion  115  is omitted from antenna  40  and slot  142  is defined in part by vertical sidewall portion  114 ). If desired, ground feed terminal  100  may be located at any other desired location along the height of vertical sidewall portion  114 , such as the location shown by ground feed terminal  100 ′ adjacent to conductive rear housing wall  12 R. Ground feed terminal  100  may be located on conductive rear housing wall  12 R or conductive layer  160  in other suitable arrangements. If desired, the transmission line ground conductor (e.g., ground conductor  96  of  FIG. 5 ) may be coupled to multiple locations in antenna  40  such as at both ground terminals  100  and  100 ′. 
     Antenna feed  95  may feed antenna signals to feed conductor  119 . Antenna signals flowing over feed conductor  119  may contribute to the response of antenna  40  if desired. In addition, the antenna signals flowing over feed conductor  119  may excite slot  142 , causing antenna currents to flow around slot  142  (e.g., as shown by paths  150  and  152  of  FIG. 5 ). Corresponding antenna currents  170  may also be excited on vertical sidewall portion  114 , conductive rear housing wall  12 R, and conductive layer  160 . In another suitable arrangement, if desired, one or more resonant cavity modes associated with cavity  163  defined by conductors  116 ,  114 ,  12 R, and  160  may additionally or alternatively be excited by feed conductor  119  (e.g., where the cavity modes contribute to antenna resonances within one or more desired frequency bands). Conductive layer  160  may serve to isolate feed  95  and feed conductor  119  from electromagnetic interference from components  183  and may serve to isolate components  183  from radio-frequency signals conveyed over feed  95  and feed conductor  119 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , feeding antenna  40  using a feed conductor  119  may serve to maximize the amount of conductive material within integral ledge  116  (e.g., because feed conductor  119  is formed using a patch of conductive material in slot  142 ). This may, for example, allow the slot antenna radiating element for antenna  40  to be formed within integral ledge  116  without significantly compromising the structural integrity of peripheral conductive housing sidewall  12 W. Forming antenna  40  using integral ledge  116  and conductive cavity  163  below integral ledge  116  may, for example, allow antenna  40  to be incorporated into inactive region  21  without being blocked by active circuitry in display module  112  (even in scenarios where active area AA extends across substantially all of the lateral area of device  10 ) and while exhibiting a satisfactory antenna efficiency over an entire frequency band of interest (e.g., a 5 GHz WLAN band between about 5150 MHz and 5850 MHz). Covering the 5 GHz WLAN through cover layer  180  may satisfy regulations on absorbed signals in the 5 GHz band that may not otherwise be satisfied were the slot radiating element to be formed in conductive rear housing wall  12 R, for example. Forming multiple antennas such as antenna  40  shown in  FIGS. 5-7  at other locations within device  10  (e.g., locations  110 - 1 ,  110 - 2 ,  110 - 3 ,  110 - 4 ,  110 - 5 ,  110 - 6 , and/or other locations along the periphery of display module  112  as shown in  FIG. 4 ) may further immunize wireless communications circuitry  34  from loading and detuning by external objects, while also allowing greater data rates associated with operation under a MIMO scheme, for example. 
     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: 20170927
Publication Date: 20201201
Grant Date: 20201201
Priority Date: 20170927
Inventors: ROMANO, Pietro
AZAD, Umar
RAJAGOPALAN, HARISH
Garrido Lopez, David
ZHANG, LU
GOMEZ ANGULO, RODNEY A.
PASCOLINI, MATTIA
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01Q13/18", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/026", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q21/28", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/0262", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/0266", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q13/10", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/243", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/0266", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q21/28", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/52", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/026", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/243", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B1/3827", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q13/10", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q21/064", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/0262", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/243", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q21/064", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/0266", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/026", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q13/10", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/0262", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q21/28", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B1/3827", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/52", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 65806900