PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11916311-B2
Application Number: US-202117246290-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Electronic devices having folded antenna modules

Abstract:
An electronic device may be provided with a conductive housing sidewall and a phased antenna array that conveys radio-frequency signals at frequencies greater than 10 GHz. Each antenna in the array may radiate through a respective aperture in the sidewall. The antenna module may include a folded flexible printed circuit having a first portion and a second portion that extends from an end of the first portion and that is folded with respect to the first portion. The antennas in the phased antenna array may have antenna resonating elements that are distributed between the first and second portions. Forming the antenna module from a folded flexible printed circuit in this way may serve to minimize the thickness of the antenna module, thereby allowing the antenna module to fit between a ledge of the sidewall and a rear housing wall without occupying excessive space within the device.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device comprising:
 a flexible printed circuit having a first portion and a second portion that extends from an end of the first portion, the second portion being folded about an axis with respect to the first portion; and 
 an antenna on the flexible printed circuit and comprising
 ground traces on the first portion of the flexible printed circuit, 
 a first patch on the second portion of the flexible printed circuit and overlapping the ground traces, and 
 a second patch on the first portion of the flexible printed circuit and aligned with the first patch on the second portion of the flexible printed circuit, the second patch being interposed between the ground traces and the first patch. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising a positive antenna feed terminal coupled to the second patch on the first portion of the flexible printed circuit. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a radio-frequency integrated circuit mounted to a surface of the first portion of the flexible printed circuit. 
 
     
     
       4. The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a layer of adhesive that adheres the first portion of the flexible printed circuit to the second portion of the flexible printed circuit. 
 
     
     
       5. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the antenna is configured to radiate at a frequency greater than 10 GHz. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible printed circuit has a third portion that extends from an end of the second portion, the third portion being folded about an additional axis with respect to the second portion, and the additional axis extending parallel to the axis. 
     
     
       7. The electronic device of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a first layer of adhesive that adheres the first portion of the flexible printed circuit to the second portion of the flexible printed circuit; and 
 a second layer of adhesive that adheres the second portion of the flexible printed circuit to the third portion of the flexible printed circuit. 
 
     
     
       8. The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a housing having peripheral conductive housing structures and a rear housing wall; 
 a display mounted to the peripheral conductive housing structures opposite the rear housing wall; and 
 an aperture in the peripheral conductive housing structures, wherein the antenna is configured to radiate through the aperture. 
 
     
     
       9. An electronic device comprising:
 a housing having peripheral conductive housing structures and a housing wall; 
 a display mounted to the peripheral conductive housing structures opposite the housing wall; 
 a first aperture in the peripheral conductive housing structures; 
 a flexible printed circuit having a first portion and a second portion that extends from an end of the first portion, the second portion being folded about an axis with respect to the first portion; 
 a first antenna on the flexible printed circuit and configured to radiate through the first aperture, the first antenna comprising
 ground traces on the first portion of the flexible printed circuit, and 
 a first patch on the second portion of the flexible printed circuit and overlapping the ground traces; 
 
 a second aperture in the peripheral conductive housing structures; and 
 a second antenna on the flexible printed circuit and configured to radiate through the second aperture, the second antenna comprising
 the ground traces on the first portion of the flexible printed circuit, and 
 a second patch on the second portion of the flexible printed circuit and overlapping the ground traces. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The electronic device of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a phased antenna array configured to generate a beam of signals at frequencies greater than 10 GHz, the phased antenna array comprising the first antenna and the second antenna. 
 
     
     
       11. An electronic device comprising:
 a housing having peripheral conductive housing structures and a housing wall; 
 a display mounted to the peripheral conductive housing structures opposite the housing wall; 
 an aperture in the peripheral conductive housing structures; 
 a flexible printed circuit having a first portion and a second portion that extends from an end of the first portion, the second portion being folded about an axis with respect to the first portion; 
 a first antenna on the flexible printed circuit and configured to radiate through the aperture, the first antenna comprising
 ground traces on the first portion of the flexible printed circuit, and 
 a first patch on the second portion of the flexible printed circuit and overlapping the ground traces; and 
 
 a second antenna on the flexible printed circuit and configured to radiate through the aperture, the second antenna comprising
 the ground traces on the first portion of the flexible printed circuit, and 
 a second patch on the second portion of the flexible printed circuit and overlapping the ground traces. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a conductive housing wall; and 
 a dielectric window in the conductive housing wall, wherein the second portion of the flexible printed circuit is pressed against the dielectric window.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This relates generally to electronic devices and, more particularly, to electronic devices with wireless communications circuitry. 
     Electronic devices often include wireless communications circuitry. For example, cellular telephones, computers, and other devices often contain antennas and wireless transceivers for supporting wireless communications. It may be desirable to support wireless communications in millimeter wave and centimeter wave communications bands. Millimeter wave communications, which are sometimes referred to as extremely high frequency (EHF) communications, and centimeter wave communications involve communications at frequencies of about 10-300 GHz. 
     Operation at these frequencies can support high throughputs but may raise significant challenges. For example, radio-frequency signals at millimeter and centimeter wave frequencies are characterized by substantial attenuation and/or distortion during signal propagation through various mediums. In addition, if care is not taken, the antennas can be undesirably bulky and the presence of conductive electronic device components can make it difficult to incorporate circuitry for handling millimeter and centimeter wave communications into the electronic device. 
     It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide electronic devices with improved wireless communications circuitry such as communications circuitry that supports millimeter and centimeter wave communications. 
     SUMMARY 
     An electronic device may be provided with a housing, a display, and wireless circuitry. The housing may include peripheral conductive housing structures that run around a periphery of the device. The display may include a display cover layer mounted to the peripheral conductive housing structures. The housing may include a rear housing wall opposite the display cover layer. The wireless circuitry may include a phased antenna array that conveys radio-frequency signals at centimeter and/or millimeter wave frequencies. 
     Apertures may be formed in the peripheral conductive housing structures. The phased antenna array may be formed on an antenna module. The antenna module may be mounted in the housing such that each antenna in the phased antenna array radiates through a respective one of the apertures. The antenna module may be mounted to dielectric substrates in the apertures using adhesive. The antenna module may include a folded flexible printed circuit. 
     The flexible printed circuit may include a first portion and a second portion that extends from an end of the first portion. The second portion may be folded about an axis with respect to the first portion. The antennas in the phased antenna array may have antenna resonating elements that are distributed between the first and second portions. For example, the antennas may include ground traces in the first portion, a patch element in the second portion, and optionally a patch element in the first portion that is aligned with the patch element in the second portion. Adhesive may adhere the first portion to the second portion such that the patch elements for each antenna are laterally aligned with respect to each other and are separated by a predetermined distance. 
     If desired, the flexible printed circuit may have multiple folded branches with antennas in the phased antenna array. If desired, the flexible printed circuit may include additional folds for additional layers of patch elements in the antennas. Forming the antenna module from a folded flexible printed circuit in this way may serve to minimize the thickness of the antenna module, thereby allowing the antenna module to fit between a ledge of the peripheral conductive housing structures and the rear housing wall without occupying excessive space within the device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of an illustrative electronic device in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic diagram of illustrative circuitry in an electronic device in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic diagram of illustrative wireless circuitry in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  4    is a diagram of an illustrative phased antenna array in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective view of illustrative patch antenna structures in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of an illustrative antenna module in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  7    is a front view of an illustrative electronic device showing exemplary locations for mounting an antenna module that radiates through peripheral conductive housing structures in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  8    is a side view of an illustrative electronic device having peripheral conductive housing structures with apertures that are aligned with antennas in an antenna module in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  9    is a cross-sectional top view of an illustrative antenna module formed from a folded flexible printed circuit in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  10    is a cross-sectional top view of an illustrative antenna module formed from a flexible printed circuit with multiple folded branches in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  11    is a cross-sectional top view of an illustrative antenna module formed from a flexible printed circuit having multiple folds in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  12    is a cross-sectional top view of an illustrative antenna module formed from a flexible printed circuit having a folded tab in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  13    is a cross-sectional side view showing how an illustrative antenna module of the types shown in  FIGS.  9 - 12    may be mounted within an electronic device for radiating through an aperture in peripheral conductive housing structures in accordance with some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     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/or receive wireless radio-frequency signals. The antennas may include phased antenna arrays that are used for performing wireless communications and/or spatial ranging operations using millimeter and centimeter wave signals. Millimeter wave signals, which are sometimes referred to as extremely high frequency (EHF) signals, propagate at frequencies above about 30 GHz (e.g., at 60 GHz or other frequencies between about 30 GHz and 300 GHz). Centimeter wave signals propagate at frequencies between about 10 GHz and 30 GHz. If desired, device  10  may also contain antennas for handling satellite navigation system signals, cellular telephone signals, local wireless area network signals, near-field communications, light-based wireless communications, or other wireless communications. 
     Device  10  may be a portable electronic device or other suitable electronic device. For example, device  10  may be a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a somewhat smaller device such as a wrist-watch device, pendant device, headphone device, earpiece device, headset device, or other wearable or miniature device, a handheld device such as a cellular telephone, a media player, or other small portable device. Device  10  may also be a set-top box, a desktop computer, a display into which a computer or other processing circuitry has been integrated, a display without an integrated computer, a wireless access point, a wireless base station, an electronic device incorporated into a kiosk, building, or vehicle, or other suitable electronic equipment. 
     Device  10  may include 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. 
     Device  10  may, if desired, have a display such as display  14 . 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 rear housing wall  12 R (e.g., a planar housing wall). Rear housing wall  12 R may have slots that pass entirely through the rear housing wall and that therefore separate 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 (e.g., a dielectric cover layer). 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 materials. 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. Conductive portions of peripheral structures  12 W and conductive portions of rear housing wall  12 R may sometimes be referred to herein collectively as conductive structures of housing  12 . 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). In other words, device  10  may have a length (e.g., measured parallel to the Y-axis), a width that is less than the length (e.g., measured parallel to the X-axis), and a height (e.g., measured parallel to the Z-axis) that is less than the width. 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 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, alloys, 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 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 ). 
     Rear housing wall  12 R may lie in a plane that is parallel to display  14 . In configurations for device  10  in which some or all of 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 rear housing wall  12 R. For example, rear housing wall  12 R of device  10  may include 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 . 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 conductive portions of 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/cover 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 peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W and/or conductive portions of rear housing wall  12 R from view of the user). 
     Display  14  may have an array of pixels that form an active area AA that displays images for a user of device  10 . For example, active area AA may include 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. If desired, active area AA may include touch sensors such as touch sensor capacitive electrodes, force sensors, or other sensors for gathering a user input. 
     Display  14  may have an inactive border region that runs along one or more of the edges of active area AA. Inactive area IA of display  14  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 layers in display  14  that overlap inactive area IA may be coated with an opaque masking layer in inactive area IA. The opaque masking layer may have any suitable color. Inactive area IA may include a recessed region or notch that extends into active area AA (e.g., at speaker port  16 ). Active area AA may, for example, be defined by the lateral area of a display module for display  14  (e.g., a display module that includes pixel circuitry, touch sensor circuitry, etc.). 
     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 speaker port  16  or a 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 include conductive structures such as an array of capacitive electrodes for a touch sensor, conductive lines for addressing pixels, driver circuits, etc. Housing  12  may include internal conductive structures such as metal frame members and a planar conductive housing member (sometimes referred to as a conductive support plate or backplate) that spans the walls of housing  12  (e.g., a substantially rectangular sheet formed from one or more metal parts that is welded or otherwise connected between opposing sides of peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W). The conductive support plate may form an exterior rear surface of device  10  or may be covered by a dielectric cover layer such as a thin cosmetic layer, protective coating, and/or other coatings 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 the conductive support plate from view of the user (e.g., the conductive support plate may form part of rear housing wall  12 R). Device  10  may also include conductive structures such as printed circuit boards, components mounted on printed circuit boards, and other internal conductive structures. These conductive structures, which may be used in forming a ground plane in device  10 , may extend under active area AA of display  14 , for example. 
     In regions  22  and  20 , openings may be formed within the conductive structures of device  10  (e.g., between peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W and opposing conductive ground structures such as conductive portions of rear housing wall  12 R, conductive traces on a printed circuit board, conductive electrical components in display  14 , etc.). These openings, which may sometimes be referred to as gaps, may be filled with air, plastic, and/or other dielectrics and may be used in forming slot antenna resonating elements for one or more antennas in device  10 , if desired. 
     Conductive housing structures and other conductive structures in device  10  may serve as a ground plane for the antennas in device  10 . The openings in regions  22  and  20  may serve as slots in open or closed slot antennas, may serve as a central dielectric region that is surrounded by a conductive path of materials in a loop antenna, may serve as a space that separates an antenna resonating element such as a strip antenna resonating element or an inverted-F antenna resonating element from the ground plane, may contribute to the performance of a parasitic antenna resonating element, or may otherwise serve as part of antenna structures formed in regions  22  and  20 . If desired, the ground plane that is under active area AA of display  14  and/or other metal structures in device  10  may have portions that extend into parts of the ends of device  10  (e.g., the ground may extend towards the dielectric-filled openings in regions  22  and  20 ), thereby narrowing the slots in regions  22  and  20 . Region  22  may sometimes be referred to herein as lower region  22  or lower end  22  of device  10 . Region  20  may sometimes be referred to herein as upper region  20  or upper end  20  of device  10 . 
     In general, device  10  may include any suitable number of antennas (e.g., one or more, two or more, three or more, four or more, etc.). The antennas in device  10  may be located at opposing first and second ends of an elongated device housing (e.g., at lower region  22  and/or upper region  20  of device  10  of  FIG.  1   ), along one or more edges of a device housing, in the center of a device housing, in other suitable locations, or in one or more of these locations. The arrangement of  FIG.  1    is merely illustrative. 
     Portions of peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W may be provided with peripheral gap structures. For example, peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W may be provided with one or more dielectric-filled gaps such as gaps  18 , as shown in  FIG.  1   . 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  18  may divide peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W into one or more peripheral conductive segments. The conductive segments that are formed in this way may form parts of antennas in device  10  if desired. Other dielectric openings may be formed in peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W (e.g., dielectric openings other than gaps  18 ) and may serve as dielectric antenna windows for antennas mounted within the interior of device  10 . Antennas within device  10  may be aligned with the dielectric antenna windows for conveying radio-frequency signals through peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W. Antennas within device  10  may also be aligned with inactive area IA of display  14  for conveying radio-frequency signals through display  14 . 
     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 area behind display  14  that is available for antennas within device  10 . For example, active area AA of display  14  may include conductive structures that serve to block radio-frequency signals handled by antennas mounted behind active area AA from radiating through the front face of device  10 . 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 communicate with wireless equipment external to device  10  with satisfactory efficiency bandwidth. 
     In a typical scenario, device  10  may have one or more upper antennas and one or more lower antennas. An upper antenna may, for example, be formed in upper region  20  of device  10 . A lower antenna may, for example, be formed in lower region  22  of device  10 . Additional antennas may be formed along the edges of housing  12  extending between regions  20  and  22  if desired. An example in which device  10  includes three or four upper antennas and five lower antennas is described herein as an example. The antennas may be used separately to cover identical communications bands, overlapping communications bands, or separate communications bands. The antennas may be used to implement an antenna diversity scheme or a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna scheme. Other antennas for covering any other desired frequencies may also be mounted at any desired locations within the interior of device  10 . The example of  FIG.  1    is merely illustrative. If desired, housing  12  may have other shapes (e.g., a square shape, cylindrical shape, spherical shape, combinations of these and/or different shapes, etc.). 
     A schematic diagram of illustrative components that may be used in device  10  is shown in  FIG.  2   . As shown in  FIG.  2   , device  10  may include control circuitry  28 . Control circuitry  28  may include storage such as storage circuitry  30 . Storage circuitry  30  may include 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. 
     Control circuitry  28  may include processing circuitry such as processing circuitry  32 . Processing circuitry  32  may be used to control the operation of device  10 . Processing circuitry  32  may include on one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, host processors, baseband processor integrated circuits, application specific integrated circuits, central processing units (CPUs), etc. Control circuitry  28  may be configured to perform operations in device  10  using hardware (e.g., dedicated hardware or circuitry), firmware, and/or software. Software code for performing operations in device  10  may be stored on storage circuitry  30  (e.g., storage circuitry  30  may include non-transitory (tangible) computer readable storage media that stores the software code). The software code may sometimes be referred to as program instructions, software, data, instructions, or code. Software code stored on storage circuitry  30  may be executed by processing circuitry  32 . 
     Control 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, control circuitry  28  may be used in implementing communications protocols. Communications protocols that may be implemented using control 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 or other WPAN protocols, IEEE 802.11ad protocols, cellular telephone protocols, MIMO protocols, antenna diversity protocols, satellite navigation system protocols, antenna-based spatial ranging protocols (e.g., radio detection and ranging (RADAR) protocols or other desired range detection protocols for signals conveyed at millimeter and centimeter wave frequencies), etc. Each communication protocol may be associated with a corresponding radio access technology (RAT) that specifies the physical connection methodology used in implementing the protocol. 
     Device  10  may include input-output circuitry  24 . Input-output circuitry  24  may include input-output devices  26 . Input-output devices  26  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  26  may include user interface devices, data port devices, sensors, and other input-output components. For example, input-output devices may include touch screens, displays without touch sensor capabilities, buttons, joysticks, scrolling wheels, touch pads, key pads, keyboards, microphones, cameras, speakers, status indicators, light sources, audio jacks and other audio port components, digital data port devices, light sensors, gyroscopes, accelerometers or other components that can detect motion and device orientation relative to the Earth, capacitance sensors, proximity sensors (e.g., a capacitive proximity sensor and/or an infrared proximity sensor), magnetic sensors, and other sensors and input-output components. 
     Input-output circuitry  24  may include wireless circuitry such as wireless circuitry  34  for wirelessly conveying radio-frequency signals. While control circuitry  28  is shown separately from wireless circuitry  34  in the example of  FIG.  2    for the sake of clarity, wireless circuitry  34  may include processing circuitry that forms a part of processing circuitry  32  and/or storage circuitry that forms a part of storage circuitry  30  of control circuitry  28  (e.g., portions of control circuitry  28  may be implemented on wireless circuitry  34 ). As an example, control circuitry  28  may include baseband processor circuitry or other control components that form a part of wireless circuitry  34 . 
     Wireless circuitry  34  may include millimeter and centimeter wave transceiver circuitry such as millimeter/centimeter wave transceiver circuitry  38 . Millimeter/centimeter wave transceiver circuitry  38  may support communications at frequencies between about 10 GHz and 300 GHz. For example, millimeter/centimeter wave transceiver circuitry  38  may support communications in Extremely High Frequency (EHF) or millimeter wave communications bands between about 30 GHz and 300 GHz and/or in centimeter wave communications bands between about 10 GHz and 30 GHz (sometimes referred to as Super High Frequency (SHF) bands). As examples, millimeter/centimeter wave transceiver circuitry  38  may support communications in an IEEE K communications band between about 18 GHz and 27 GHz, a K a  communications band between about 26.5 GHz and 40 GHz, a K u  communications band between about 12 GHz and 18 GHz, a V communications band between about 40 GHz and 75 GHz, a W communications band between about 75 GHz and 110 GHz, or any other desired frequency band between approximately 10 GHz and 300 GHz. If desired, millimeter/centimeter wave transceiver circuitry  38  may support IEEE 802.11ad communications at 60 GHz (e.g., WiGig or 60 GHz Wi-Fi bands around 57-61 GHz), and/or 5 th  generation mobile networks or 5 th  generation wireless systems (5G) New Radio (NR) Frequency Range 2 (FR2) communications bands between about 24 GHz and 90 GHz. Millimeter/centimeter wave transceiver circuitry  38  may be formed from one or more integrated circuits (e.g., multiple integrated circuits mounted on a common printed circuit in a system-in-package device, one or more integrated circuits mounted on different substrates, etc.). 
     Millimeter/centimeter wave transceiver circuitry  38  (sometimes referred to herein simply as transceiver circuitry  38  or millimeter/centimeter wave circuitry  38 ) may perform spatial ranging operations using radio-frequency signals at millimeter and/or centimeter wave frequencies that are transmitted and received by millimeter/centimeter wave transceiver circuitry  38 . The received signals may be a version of the transmitted signals that have been reflected off of external objects and back towards device  10 . Control circuitry  28  may process the transmitted and received signals to detect or estimate a range between device  10  and one or more external objects in the surroundings of device  10  (e.g., objects external to device  10  such as the body of a user or other persons, other devices, animals, furniture, walls, or other objects or obstacles in the vicinity of device  10 ). If desired, control circuitry  28  may also process the transmitted and received signals to identify a two or three-dimensional spatial location of the external objects relative to device  10 . 
     Spatial ranging operations performed by millimeter/centimeter wave transceiver circuitry  38  are unidirectional. If desired, millimeter/centimeter wave transceiver circuitry  38  may also perform bidirectional communications with external wireless equipment such as external wireless equipment  10  (e.g., over a bi-directional millimeter/centimeter wave wireless communications link). The external wireless equipment may include other electronic devices such as electronic device  10 , a wireless base station, wireless access point, a wireless accessory, or any other desired equipment that transmits and receives millimeter/centimeter wave signals. Bidirectional communications involve both the transmission of wireless data by millimeter/centimeter wave transceiver circuitry  38  and the reception of wireless data that has been transmitted by external wireless equipment. The wireless data may, for example, include data that has been encoded into corresponding data packets such as wireless data associated with a telephone call, streaming media content, internet browsing, wireless data associated with software applications running on device  10 , email messages, etc. 
     If desired, wireless circuitry  34  may include transceiver circuitry for handling communications at frequencies below 10 GHz such as non-millimeter/centimeter wave transceiver circuitry  36 . For example, non-millimeter/centimeter wave transceiver circuitry  36  may handle wireless local area network (WLAN) frequency bands (e.g., Wi-Fi® (IEEE 802.11) or other WLAN communications bands) such as a 2.4 GHz WLAN band (e.g., from 2400 to 2480 MHz), a 5 GHz WLAN band (e.g., from 5180 to 5825 MHz), a Wi-Fi® 6E band (e.g., from 5925-7125 MHz), and/or other Wi-Fi® bands (e.g., from 1875-5160 MHz), wireless personal area network (WPAN) frequency bands such as the 2.4 GHz Bluetooth® band or other WPAN communications bands, cellular telephone frequency bands (e.g., bands from about 600 MHz to about 5 GHz, 3G bands, 4G LTE bands, 5G New Radio Frequency Range 1 (FR1) bands below 10 GHz, etc.), near-field communications frequency bands (e.g., at 13.56 MHz), satellite navigation frequency bands (e.g., a GPS band from 1565 to 1610 MHz, a Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) band, a BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) band, etc.), ultra-wideband (UWB) frequency bands that operate under the IEEE 802.15.4 protocol and/or other ultra-wideband communications protocols, communications bands under the family of 3GPP wireless communications standards, communications bands under the IEEE 802.XX family of standards, and/or any other desired frequency bands of interest. The communications bands handled by the radio-frequency transceiver circuitry may sometimes be referred to herein as frequency bands or simply as “bands,” and may span corresponding ranges of frequencies. Non-millimeter/centimeter wave transceiver circuitry  36  and millimeter/centimeter wave transceiver circuitry  38  may each include one or more integrated circuits, power amplifier circuitry, low-noise input amplifiers, passive radio-frequency components, switching circuitry, transmission line structures, and other circuitry for handling radio-frequency signals. 
     In general, the transceiver circuitry in wireless circuitry  34  may cover (handle) any desired frequency bands of interest. As shown in  FIG.  2   , wireless circuitry  34  may include antennas  40 . The transceiver circuitry may convey radio-frequency signals using one or more antennas  40  (e.g., antennas  40  may convey the radio-frequency signals for the transceiver circuitry). The term “convey radio-frequency signals” as used herein means the transmission and/or reception of the radio-frequency signals (e.g., for performing unidirectional and/or bidirectional wireless communications with external wireless communications equipment). Antennas  40  may transmit the radio-frequency signals by radiating the radio-frequency signals into free space (or to freespace through intervening device structures such as a dielectric cover layer). Antennas  40  may additionally or alternatively receive the radio-frequency signals from free space (e.g., through intervening devices structures such as a dielectric cover layer). The transmission and reception of radio-frequency signals by antennas  40  each involve the excitation or resonance of antenna currents on an antenna resonating element in the antenna by the radio-frequency signals within the frequency band(s) of operation of the antenna. 
     In satellite navigation system links, cellular telephone links, and other long-range links, radio-frequency signals are typically used to convey data over thousands of feet or miles. In Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® links at 2.4 and 5 GHz and other short-range wireless links, radio-frequency signals are typically used to convey data over tens or hundreds of feet. Millimeter/centimeter wave transceiver circuitry  38  may convey radio-frequency signals over short distances that travel over a line-of-sight path. To enhance signal reception for millimeter and centimeter wave communications, phased antenna arrays and beam forming (steering) techniques may be used (e.g., schemes in which antenna signal phase and/or magnitude for each antenna in an array are adjusted to perform beam steering). Antenna diversity schemes may also be used to ensure that the antennas that have become blocked or that are otherwise degraded due to the operating environment of device  10  can be switched out of use and higher-performing antennas used in their place. 
     Antennas  40  in wireless circuitry  34  may be formed using any suitable antenna types. For example, antennas  40  may include antennas with resonating elements that are formed from stacked patch antenna structures, loop antenna structures, patch antenna structures, inverted-F antenna structures, slot antenna structures, planar inverted-F antenna structures, monopole antenna structures, dipole antenna structures, helical antenna structures, Yagi (Yagi-Uda) antenna structures, hybrids of these designs, etc. In another suitable arrangement, antennas  40  may include antennas with dielectric resonating elements such as dielectric resonator antennas. If desired, one or more of antennas  40  may be cavity-backed antennas. Different types of antennas may be used for different bands and combinations of bands. For example, one type of antenna may be used in forming a non-millimeter/centimeter wave wireless link for non-millimeter/centimeter wave transceiver circuitry  36  and another type of antenna may be used in conveying radio-frequency signals at millimeter and/or centimeter wave frequencies for millimeter/centimeter wave transceiver circuitry  38 . Antennas  40  that are used to convey radio-frequency signals at millimeter and centimeter wave frequencies may be arranged in one or more phased antenna arrays. 
     A schematic diagram of an antenna  40  that may be formed in a phased antenna array for conveying radio-frequency signals at millimeter and centimeter wave frequencies is shown in  FIG.  3   . As shown in  FIG.  3   , antenna  40  may be coupled to millimeter/centimeter (MM/CM) wave transceiver circuitry  38 . Millimeter/centimeter wave transceiver circuitry  38  may be coupled to antenna feed  44  of antenna  40  using a transmission line path that includes radio-frequency transmission line  42 . Radio-frequency transmission line  42  may include a positive signal conductor such as signal conductor  46  and may include a ground conductor such as ground conductor  48 . Ground conductor  48  may be coupled to the antenna ground for antenna  40  (e.g., over a ground antenna feed terminal of antenna feed  44  located at the antenna ground). Signal conductor  46  may be coupled to the antenna resonating element for antenna  40 . For example, signal conductor  46  may be coupled to a positive antenna feed terminal of antenna feed  44  located at the antenna resonating element. 
     Radio-frequency transmission line  42  may include a stripline transmission line (sometimes referred to herein simply as a stripline), a coaxial cable, a coaxial probe realized by metalized vias, a microstrip transmission line, an edge-coupled microstrip transmission line, an edge-coupled stripline transmission lines, a waveguide structure, combinations of these, etc. Multiple types of transmission lines may be used to form the transmission line path that couples millimeter/centimeter wave transceiver circuitry  38  to antenna feed  44 . Filter circuitry, switching circuitry, impedance matching circuitry, phase shifter circuitry, amplifier circuitry, and/or other circuitry may be interposed on radio-frequency transmission line  42 , if desired. 
     Radio-frequency transmission lines in device  10  may be integrated into ceramic substrates, rigid printed circuit boards, and/or flexible printed circuits. In one suitable arrangement, radio-frequency transmission lines in device  10  may be 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 a 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). 
       FIG.  4    shows how antennas  40  for handling radio-frequency signals at millimeter and centimeter wave frequencies may be formed in a phased antenna array. As shown in  FIG.  4   , phased antenna array  54  (sometimes referred to herein as array  54 , antenna array  54 , or array  54  of antennas  40 ) may be coupled to radio-frequency transmission lines  42 . For example, a first antenna  40 - 1  in phased antenna array  54  may be coupled to a first radio-frequency transmission line  42 - 1 , a second antenna  40 - 2  in phased antenna array  54  may be coupled to a second radio-frequency transmission line  42 - 2 , an Nth antenna  40 -N in phased antenna array  54  may be coupled to an Nth radio-frequency transmission line  42 -N, etc. While antennas  40  are described herein as forming a phased antenna array, the antennas  40  in phased antenna array  54  may sometimes also be referred to as collectively forming a single phased array antenna. 
     Antennas  40  in phased antenna array  54  may be arranged in any desired number of rows and columns or in any other desired pattern (e.g., the antennas need not be arranged in a grid pattern having rows and columns). During signal transmission operations, radio-frequency transmission lines  42  may be used to supply signals (e.g., radio-frequency signals such as millimeter wave and/or centimeter wave signals) from millimeter/centimeter wave transceiver circuitry  38  ( FIG.  3   ) to phased antenna array  54  for wireless transmission. During signal reception operations, radio-frequency transmission lines  42  may be used to supply signals received at phased antenna array  54  (e.g., from external wireless equipment or transmitted signals that have been reflected off of external objects) to millimeter/centimeter wave transceiver circuitry  38  ( FIG.  3   ). 
     The use of multiple antennas  40  in phased antenna array  54  allows beam steering arrangements to be implemented by controlling the relative phases and magnitudes (amplitudes) of the radio-frequency signals conveyed by the antennas. In the example of  FIG.  4   , antennas  40  each have a corresponding radio-frequency phase and magnitude controller  50  (e.g., a first phase and magnitude controller  50 - 1  interposed on radio-frequency transmission line  42 - 1  may control phase and magnitude for radio-frequency signals handled by antenna  40 - 1 , a second phase and magnitude controller  50 - 2  interposed on radio-frequency transmission line  42 - 2  may control phase and magnitude for radio-frequency signals handled by antenna  40 - 2 , an Nth phase and magnitude controller  50 -N interposed on radio-frequency transmission line  42 -N may control phase and magnitude for radio-frequency signals handled by antenna  40 -N, etc.). 
     Phase and magnitude controllers  50  may each include circuitry for adjusting the phase of the radio-frequency signals on radio-frequency transmission lines  42  (e.g., phase shifter circuits) and/or circuitry for adjusting the magnitude of the radio-frequency signals on radio-frequency transmission lines  42  (e.g., power amplifier and/or low noise amplifier circuits). Phase and magnitude controllers  50  may sometimes be referred to collectively herein as beam steering circuitry (e.g., beam steering circuitry that steers the beam of radio-frequency signals transmitted and/or received by phased antenna array  54 ). 
     Phase and magnitude controllers  50  may adjust the relative phases and/or magnitudes of the transmitted signals that are provided to each of the antennas in phased antenna array  54  and may adjust the relative phases and/or magnitudes of the received signals that are received by phased antenna array  54 . Phase and magnitude controllers  50  may, if desired, include phase detection circuitry for detecting the phases of the received signals that are received by phased antenna array  54 . The term “beam” or “signal beam” may be used herein to collectively refer to wireless signals that are transmitted and received by phased antenna array  54  in a particular direction. The signal beam may exhibit a peak gain that is oriented in a particular pointing direction at a corresponding pointing angle (e.g., based on constructive and destructive interference from the combination of signals from each antenna in the phased antenna array). The term “transmit beam” may sometimes be used herein to refer to radio-frequency signals that are transmitted in a particular direction whereas the term “receive beam” may sometimes be used herein to refer to radio-frequency signals that are received from a particular direction. 
     If, for example, phase and magnitude controllers  50  are adjusted to produce a first set of phases and/or magnitudes for transmitted radio-frequency signals, the transmitted signals will form a transmit beam as shown by beam B 1  of  FIG.  4    that is oriented in the direction of point A. If, however, phase and magnitude controllers  50  are adjusted to produce a second set of phases and/or magnitudes for the transmitted signals, the transmitted signals will form a transmit beam as shown by beam B 2  that is oriented in the direction of point B. Similarly, if phase and magnitude controllers  50  are adjusted to produce the first set of phases and/or magnitudes, radio-frequency signals (e.g., radio-frequency signals in a receive beam) may be received from the direction of point A, as shown by beam B 1 . If phase and magnitude controllers  50  are adjusted to produce the second set of phases and/or magnitudes, radio-frequency signals may be received from the direction of point B, as shown by beam B 2 . 
     Each phase and magnitude controller  50  may be controlled to produce a desired phase and/or magnitude based on a corresponding control signal  52  received from control circuitry  28  of  FIG.  2    (e.g., the phase and/or magnitude provided by phase and magnitude controller  50 - 1  may be controlled using control signal  52 - 1 , the phase and/or magnitude provided by phase and magnitude controller  50 - 2  may be controlled using control signal  52 - 2 , etc.). If desired, the control circuitry may actively adjust control signals  52  in real time to steer the transmit or receive beam in different desired directions over time. Phase and magnitude controllers  50  may provide information identifying the phase of received signals to control circuitry  28  if desired. 
     When performing wireless communications using radio-frequency signals at millimeter and centimeter wave frequencies, the radio-frequency signals are conveyed over a line of sight path between phased antenna array  54  and external communications equipment. If the external object is located at point A of  FIG.  4   , phase and magnitude controllers  50  may be adjusted to steer the signal beam towards point A (e.g., to steer the pointing direction of the signal beam towards point A). Phased antenna array  54  may transmit and receive radio-frequency signals in the direction of point A. Similarly, if the external communications equipment is located at point B, phase and magnitude controllers  50  may be adjusted to steer the signal beam towards point B (e.g., to steer the pointing direction of the signal beam towards point B). Phased antenna array  54  may transmit and receive radio-frequency signals in the direction of point B. In the example of  FIG.  4   , beam steering is shown as being performed over a single degree of freedom for the sake of simplicity (e.g., towards the left and right on the page of  FIG.  4   ). However, in practice, the beam may be steered over two or more degrees of freedom (e.g., in three dimensions, into and out of the page and to the left and right on the page of  FIG.  4   ). Phased antenna array  54  may have a corresponding field of view over which beam steering can be performed (e.g., in a hemisphere or a segment of a hemisphere over the phased antenna array). If desired, device  10  may include multiple phased antenna arrays that each face a different direction to provide coverage from multiple sides of the device. 
     Any desired antenna structures may be used for implementing antennas  40 . In one suitable arrangement that is sometimes described herein as an example, patch antenna structures may be used for implementing antennas  40 . Antennas  40  that are implemented using patch antenna structures may sometimes be referred to herein as patch antennas. An illustrative patch antenna that may be used in phased antenna array  54  of  FIG.  4    is shown in  FIG.  5   . 
     As shown in  FIG.  5   , antenna  40  may have a patch antenna resonating element  58  that is separated from and parallel to a ground plane such as antenna ground  56 . Patch antenna resonating element  58  may lie within a plane such as the A-B plane of  FIG.  5    (e.g., the lateral surface area of element  58  may lie in the A-B plane). Patch antenna resonating element  58  may sometimes be referred to herein as patch  58 , patch element  58 , patch resonating element  58 , antenna resonating element  58 , or resonating element  58 . Antenna ground  56  may lie within a plane that is parallel to the plane of patch element  58 . Patch element  58  and antenna ground  56  may therefore lie in separate parallel planes that are separated by distance  65 . Patch element  58  and antenna ground  56  may be formed from conductive traces patterned on a dielectric substrate such as a rigid or flexible printed circuit board substrate or any other desired conductive structures. 
     The length of the sides of patch element  58  may be selected so that antenna  40  resonates at a desired operating frequency. For example, the sides of patch element  58  may each have a length  68  that is approximately equal to half of the wavelength of the signals conveyed by antenna  40  (e.g., the effective wavelength given the dielectric properties of the materials surrounding patch element  58 ). In one suitable arrangement, length  68  may be between 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm (e.g., approximately 1.1 mm) for covering a millimeter wave frequency band between 57 GHz and 70 GHz or between 1.6 mm and 2.2 mm (e.g., approximately 1.85 mm) for covering a millimeter wave frequency band between 37 GHz and 41 GHz, as just two examples. 
     The example of  FIG.  5    is merely illustrative. Patch element  58  may have a square shape in which all of the sides of patch element  58  are the same length or may have a different rectangular shape. Patch element  58  may be formed in other shapes having any desired number of straight and/or curved edges. 
     To enhance the polarizations handled by antenna  40 , antenna  40  may be provided with multiple feeds. As shown in  FIG.  5   , antenna  40  may have a first feed at antenna port P 1  that is coupled to a first radio-frequency transmission line  42  such as radio-frequency transmission line  42 V. Antenna  40  may have a second feed at antenna port P 2  that is coupled to a second radio-frequency transmission line  42  such as radio-frequency transmission line  42 H. The first antenna feed may have a first ground feed terminal coupled to antenna ground  56  (not shown in  FIG.  5    for the sake of clarity) and a first positive antenna feed terminal  62 V coupled to patch element  58 . The second antenna feed may have a second ground feed terminal coupled to antenna ground  56  (not shown in  FIG.  5    for the sake of clarity) and a second positive antenna feed terminal  62 H on patch element  58 . 
     Holes or openings such as openings  64  and  66  may be formed in antenna ground  56 . Radio-frequency transmission line  42 V may include a vertical conductor (e.g., a conductive through-via, conductive pin, metal pillar, solder bump, combinations of these, or other vertical conductive interconnect structures) that extends through opening  64  to positive antenna feed terminal  62 V on patch element  58 . Radio-frequency transmission line  42 H may include a vertical conductor that extends through opening  66  to positive antenna feed terminal  62 H on patch element  58 . This example is merely illustrative and, if desired, other transmission line structures may be used (e.g., coaxial cable structures, stripline transmission line structures, etc.). 
     When using the first antenna feed associated with port P 1 , antenna  40  may transmit and/or receive radio-frequency signals having a first polarization (e.g., the electric field E 1  of radio-frequency signals  70  associated with port P 1  may be oriented parallel to the B-axis in  FIG.  5   ). When using the antenna feed associated with port P 2 , antenna  40  may transmit and/or receive radio-frequency signals having a second polarization (e.g., the electric field E 2  of radio-frequency signals  70  associated with port P 2  may be oriented parallel to the A-axis of  FIG.  5    so that the polarizations associated with ports P 1  and P 2  are orthogonal to each other). 
     One of ports P 1  and P 2  may be used at a given time so that antenna  40  operates as a single-polarization antenna or both ports may be operated at the same time so that antenna  40  operates with other polarizations (e.g., as a dual-polarization antenna, a circularly-polarized antenna, an elliptically-polarized antenna, etc.). If desired, the active port may be changed over time so that antenna  40  can switch between covering vertical or horizontal polarizations at a given time. Ports P 1  and P 2  may be coupled to different phase and magnitude controllers  50  ( FIG.  3   ) or may both be coupled to the same phase and magnitude controller  50 . If desired, ports P 1  and P 2  may both be operated with the same phase and magnitude at a given time (e.g., when antenna  40  acts as a dual-polarization antenna). If desired, the phases and magnitudes of radio-frequency signals conveyed over ports P 1  and P 2  may be controlled separately and varied over time so that antenna  40  exhibits other polarizations (e.g., circular or elliptical polarizations). 
     If care is not taken, antennas  40  such as dual-polarization patch antennas of the type shown in  FIG.  5    may have insufficient bandwidth for covering relatively wide ranges of frequencies. It may be desirable for antenna  40  to be able to cover both a first frequency band and a second frequency band at frequencies higher than the first frequency band. In one suitable arrangement that is described herein as an example, the first frequency band may include frequencies from about 24-30 GHz whereas the second frequency band includes frequencies from about 37-40 GHz. In these scenarios, patch element  58  may not exhibit sufficient bandwidth on its own to cover an entirety of both the first and second frequency bands. 
     If desired, antenna  40  may include one or more additional patch elements  60  that are stacked over patch element  58 . Each patch element  60  may partially or completely overlap patch element  58 . The lower-most patch element  60  may be separated from patch element  58  by distance D, which is selected to provide antenna  40  with a desired bandwidth without occupying excessive volume within device  10 . Patch elements  60  may have sides with lengths other than length  68 , which configure patch elements  60  to radiate at different frequencies than patch element  58 , thereby extending the overall bandwidth of antenna  40 . 
     Patch elements  60  may include directly-fed patch antenna resonating elements (e.g., patch elements with one or more positive antenna feed terminals directly coupled to transmission lines) and/or parasitic antenna resonating elements that are not directly fed by antenna feed terminals and transmission lines. One or more patch elements  60  may be coupled to patch element  58  by one or more conductive through vias if desired (e.g., so that at least one patch element  60  and patch element  58  are coupled together as a single directly fed resonating element). In scenarios where patch elements  60  are directly fed, patch elements  60  may include two positive antenna feed terminals for conveying signals with different (e.g., orthogonal) polarizations and/or may include a single positive antenna feed terminal for conveying signals with a single polarization. The combined resonance of patch element  58  and each of patch elements  60  may configure antenna  40  to radiate with satisfactory antenna efficiency across an entirety of both the first and second frequency bands (e.g., from 24-30 GHz and from 37-40 GHz). The example of  FIG.  5    is merely illustrative. Patch elements  60  may be omitted if desired. Patch elements  60  may be rectangular, square, cross-shaped, or any other desired shape having any desired number of straight and/or curved edges. Patch element  60  may be provided at any desired orientation relative to patch element  58 . Antenna  40  may have any desired number of feeds. Other antenna types may be used if desired (e.g., dipole antennas, monopole antennas, slot antennas, etc.). 
     If desired, phased antenna array  54  may be integrated with other circuitry such as a radio-frequency integrated circuit to form an integrated antenna module.  FIG.  6    is a rear perspective view of an illustrative integrated antenna module for handling signals at frequencies greater than 10 GHz in device  10 . As shown in  FIG.  6   , device  10  may be provided with an integrated antenna module such as integrated antenna module  72  (sometimes referred to herein as antenna module  72  or module  72 ). 
     Antenna module  72  may include phased antenna array  54  of antennas  40  formed on a dielectric substrate such as substrate  85 . Substrate  85  may be, for example, a rigid printed circuit board. Substrate  85  may be a stacked dielectric substrate that includes multiple stacked dielectric layers  80  (e.g., multiple layers of printed circuit board substrate such as multiple layers of fiberglass-filled epoxy, rigid printed circuit board material, ceramic, plastic, glass, or other dielectrics). Phased antenna array  54  may include any desired number of antennas  40  arranged in any desired pattern. 
     Antennas  40  in phased antenna array  54  may include antenna elements such as patch elements  91  (e.g., patch elements  91  may form patch element  58  and/or one or more patch elements  60  of  FIG.  5   ). Ground traces  82  may be patterned onto substrate  85  (e.g., conductive traces forming antenna ground  56  of  FIG.  5    for each of the antennas  40  in phased antenna array  54 ). Patch elements  91  may be patterned on (bottom) surface  78  of substrate  85  or may be embedded within dielectric layers  80  at or adjacent to surface  78 . Only two patch elements  91  are shown in  FIG.  6    for the sake of clarity. This is merely illustrative and, in general, antennas  40  may include any desired number of patch elements  91 . 
     One or more electrical components  74  may be mounted on (top) surface  76  of substrate  85  (e.g., the surface of substrate  85  opposite surface  78  and patch elements  91 ). Component  74  may, for example, include an integrated circuit (e.g., an integrated circuit chip) or other circuitry mounted to surface  76  of substrate  85 . Component  74  may include radio-frequency components such as amplifier circuitry, phase shifter circuitry (e.g., phase and magnitude controllers  50  of  FIG.  4   ), and/or other circuitry that operates on radio-frequency signals. Component  74  may sometimes be referred to herein as radio-frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)  74 . However, this is merely illustrative and, in general, the circuitry of RFIC  74  need not be formed on an integrated circuit. Component  74  may be embedded within a plastic overmold if desired. 
     The dielectric layers  80  in substrate  85  may include a first set of layers  86  (sometimes referred to herein as antenna layers  86 ) and a second set of layers  84  (sometimes referred to herein as transmission line layers  84 ). Ground traces  82  may separate antenna layers  86  from transmission line layers  84 . Conductive traces or other metal layers on transmission line layers  84  may be used in forming transmission line structures such as radio-frequency transmission lines  42  of  FIG.  4    (e.g., radio-frequency transmission lines  42 V and  42 H of  FIG.  5   ). For example, conductive traces on transmission line layers  84  may be used in forming stripline or microstrip transmission lines that are coupled between the antenna feeds for antennas  40  (e.g., over conductive vias extending through antenna layers  86 ) and RFIC  74  (e.g., over conductive vias extending through transmission line layers  84 ). A board-to-board connector (not shown) may couple RFIC  74  to the baseband and/or transceiver circuitry for phased antenna array  54  (e.g., millimeter/centimeter wave transceiver circuitry  38  of  FIG.  3   ). 
     If desired, each antenna  40  in phased antenna array  54  may be laterally surrounded by fences of conductive vias  88  (e.g., conductive vias extending parallel to the X-axis and through antenna layers  86  of  FIG.  6   ). The fences of conductive vias  88  for phased antenna array  54  may be shorted to ground traces  82  so that the fences of conductive vias  88  are held at a ground potential. Conductive vias  88  may extend downwards to surface  78  or to the same dielectric layer  80  as the bottom-most conductive patch  91  in phased antenna array  54 . 
     The fences of conductive vias  88  may be opaque at the frequencies covered by antennas  40 . Each antenna  40  may lie within a respective antenna cavity  92  having conductive cavity walls defined by a corresponding set of fences of conductive vias  88  in antenna layers  86 . The fences of conductive vias  88  may help to ensure that each antenna  40  in phased antenna array  54  is suitably isolated, for example. Phased antenna array  54  may include a number of antenna unit cells  90 . Each antenna unit cell  90  may include respective fences of conductive vias  88 , a respective antenna cavity  92  defined by (e.g., laterally surrounded by) those fences of conductive vias, and a respective antenna  40  (e.g., set of patch elements  91 ) within that antenna cavity  92 . Conductive vias  88  may be omitted if desired. 
     When implemented as a printed circuit board, substrate  85  may include as many sixteen or more dielectric layers  80 . This may configure antenna module  72  to exhibit a relatively large thickness T 1  (e.g., measured parallel to the X-axis). Thickness T 1  may be too wide to satisfactorily fit into certain portions of device  10 , such as in scenarios where antenna module  72  is used to radiate through peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W ( FIG.  1   ). 
       FIG.  7    is a top view of device  10  showing different illustrative locations for positioning antenna module  72  to convey radio-frequency signals through peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W of device  10 . As shown in  FIG.  7   , device  10  may include peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W (e.g., four peripheral conductive housing sidewalls that surround the rectangular periphery of device  10 ). In other words, device  10  may have a length (parallel to the Y-axis), a width that is less than the length (parallel to the X-axis), and a height that is less than the width (parallel to the Z-axis). Peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W may extend across the length and the width of device  10  (e.g., peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W may include a first conductive sidewall extending along the left edge of device  10 , a second conductive sidewall extending along the top edge of device  10 , a third conductive sidewall extending along the right edge of device  10 , and a fourth conductive sidewall extending along the bottom edge of device  10 ). Peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W may also extend across the height of device  10  (e.g., as shown in the perspective view of  FIG.  1   ). 
     As shown in  FIG.  7   , display  14  may have a display module such as display module  94 . Peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W may run around the periphery of display module  94  (e.g., along all four sides of device  10 ). Display module  94  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 structures  12 W. 
     Display module  94  (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  94  may, for example, determine the size of the active area of display  14  (e.g., active area AA of  FIG.  1   ). Display module  94  may include active light emitting components, touch sensor components (e.g., touch sensor electrodes), force sensor components, and/or other active components. Because display module  94  includes conductive components, display module  94  may block radio-frequency signals from passing through display  14 . Antenna module  72  of  FIG.  6    may therefore be located within regions  96  around the periphery of display module  94  and device  10 . One or more regions  96  of  FIG.  7    may, for example, include a corresponding antenna module  72 . Apertures may be formed within peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W within regions  96  to allow the antennas in antenna module  72  to convey radio-frequency signals to and/or from the exterior of device  10  (e.g., through the apertures). 
     In the example of  FIG.  7   , each region  96  is located along a respective side (edge) of device  10  (e.g., along the top conductive sidewall of device  10  within region  20 , along the bottom conductive sidewall of device  10  within region  22 , along the left conductive sidewall of device  10 , and along the right conductive sidewall of device  10 ). Antennas mounted in these regions may provide millimeter and centimeter wave communications coverage for device  10  around the lateral periphery of device  10 . When combined with the contribution of antennas that radiate through the front and/or rear faces of device  10 , the antennas in device  10  may provide a full sphere of millimeter/centimeter wave coverage around device  10 . The example of  FIG.  7    is merely illustrative. Each edge of device  10  may include multiple regions  96  and some edges of device  10  may include no regions  96 . If desired, additional regions  96  may be located elsewhere on device  10 . 
       FIG.  8    is a side view showing how apertures may be formed in peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W to allow the antennas in antenna module  72  to convey radio-frequency signals to and/or from the exterior of device  10  (within a given region  96  of  FIG.  7   ). The example of  FIG.  8    illustrates apertures that may be formed in the right-most region  96  of  FIG.  7    (e.g., along the right conductive sidewall as viewed in the direction of arrow  97  of  FIG.  7   ). Similar apertures may be formed in any desired conductive sidewall of device  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  8   , device  10  may have a first (front) face defined by display  14  and a second (rear) face defined by rear housing wall  12 R. Display  14  may be mounted to peripheral conductive structures  12 W, which extend from the rear face to the front face and around the periphery of device  10 . One or more gaps  18  may extend from the rear face to the front face to divide peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W into different segments. 
     One or more antenna apertures such as apertures  98  may be formed in peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W. Apertures  98  (sometimes referred to herein as slots  98 ) may be filled with one or more dielectric materials and may have edges that are defined by the conductive material in peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W. Antenna module  72  of  FIG.  6    may be mounted within the interior of device  10  (e.g., with the antennas facing apertures  98 ). Each aperture  98  may be aligned with a respective antenna  40  in the antenna module. The center of each aperture  98  may therefore be separated from the center of one or two adjacent apertures  98  by distance E. 
     In addition to allowing radio-frequency signals to pass between the antenna module and the exterior of device  10 , apertures  98  may also form waveguide radiators for the antennas in the antenna module. For example, the radio-frequency signals conveyed by the antennas may excite one or more electromagnetic waveguide (cavity) modes within apertures  98 , which contribute to the overall resonance and frequency response of the antennas in the antenna module. 
     Apertures  98  may have any desired shape. In the example of  FIG.  8   , apertures  98  are rectangular. Each aperture  98  may have a corresponding length L 2  and width W 2 . Length L 2  and width W 2  may be selected establish resonant cavity modes within apertures  98  (e.g., electromagnetic waveguide modes that contribute to the radiative response of antennas  40 ). Length L 2  may, for example, be selected to establish a horizontally-polarized resonant cavity mode for aperture  98  and width W 2  may be selected to establish a vertically-polarized resonant cavity mode for aperture  98 . 
     At the same time, if care is not taken, impedance discontinuities between the antennas in the antenna module and free space at the exterior of device  10  may introduce undesirable signal reflections and losses that limits the overall gain and efficiency for the antennas. Apertures  98  may therefore also serve as an impedance transition between the antenna module and free space at the exterior of device  10  that is free from undesirable impedance discontinuities. 
     In scenarios where antennas  40  include dual-polarization antennas (e.g., with at least two antenna feeds as shown in  FIG.  5   ), the radio-frequency signals propagating through and exciting apertures  98  may be subjected to different impedance loading depending on whether the signals are horizontally or vertically polarized. For example, vertically polarized signals (e.g., signals having an electric field vector E VPOL  oriented parallel to the Z-axis) may be subjected to a first amount of impedance loading whereas horizontally polarized signals (e.g., signals having an electric field vector E HPOL  oriented parallel to the Y-axis) are subjected to a second amount of impedance loading during excitation of and propagation through apertures  98 . 
     In order to mitigate this differential impedance loading, length L 2  may be selected to be greater than width W 2 . This may serve to match the vertically polarized resonant mode of apertures  98  to the vertically polarized resonant mode of antennas  40  while also matching the horizontally polarized resonant mode of apertures  98  to the vertically polarized resonant mode of antennas  40 . This may help to establish a smooth impedance transition from the antenna module to free space at the exterior of device  10  for both the horizontally and vertically polarized signals. This example is merely illustrative and, in general, apertures  98  may have any desired shape. 
     In scenarios where antenna module  72  of  FIG.  6    is formed from dielectric substrate  85  (i.e., a rigid printed circuit board), the thickness T 1  of antenna module  72  may be too large to satisfactorily fit within region  96  of  FIG.  7    (e.g., without protruding too far into the interior of device  10 ). This may also prevent other device components from being disposed at or adjacent to region  96 , may limit the size of the display&#39;s active area, may prevent reduction in the thickness of device  10 , etc. In order to minimize the thickness of antenna module  72  for radiating through apertures  98  in peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W, the antenna structures in antenna module  72  may be distributed across multiple portions of a folded flexible printed circuit. 
       FIG.  9    is a cross-sectional top view showing one example of how the antenna structures in antenna module  72  may be distributed across multiple portions of a folded flexible printed circuit. Antenna module  72  of  FIG.  9    may include a flexible printed circuit instead of dielectric substrate  85  of  FIG.  6   . As shown in  FIG.  9   , the flexible printed circuit in antenna module  72  may have a portion  104 , a portion  108 , and a portion  114  (sometimes also referred to herein as regions of the flexible printed circuit, flexible printed circuit portions, or flexible printed circuit regions). Flexible printed circuit portion  108  may be folded upwards with respect to flexible printed circuit portion  104  about axis  106  (e.g., an axis running parallel to the Y-axis). Flexible printed circuit portion  114  may extend from an end of flexible printed circuit portion  108  and may be folded with respect to flexible printed circuit portion  108  around/about axis  112  (e.g., an axis running parallel to the Z-axis), such that flexible printed circuit portion  114  overlaps flexible printed circuit portion  108  despite being laterally offset from flexible printed circuit portion  108  when the flexible printed circuit is unfolded. 
     When unfolded, the flexible printed circuit may have a first lateral surface  110  (e.g., a lateral surface facing upwards in the plane of the page) and a second lateral surface  116  opposite first lateral surface  110  (e.g., a lateral surface facing downwards in the plane of the page). When folded, a layer of adhesive such as adhesive  118  may be interposed between flexible printed circuit portion  108  and flexible printed circuit portion  114 . Adhesive  118  may be pressure sensitive adhesive, as one example. Adhesive  118  may adhere, affix, or secure flexible printed circuit portion  108  to flexible printed circuit portion  114 , thereby helping the flexible printed circuit to maintain its folded shape. 
     If desired, component  74  may be mounted to surface  110  (e.g., on flexible printed circuit portion  108 ). Flexible printed circuit portion  104  may couple flexible printed circuit portion  108  to other components in device  10  (e.g., a main logic board or other printed circuit board, radio-frequency transceiver circuitry, etc.). Component  74  may be coupled to other circuitry in device  10  (e.g., intermediate frequency circuitry, radio-frequency transceiver circuitry, baseband circuitry, etc.) over conductive paths that pass through flexible printed circuit portion  104  (e.g., baseband paths, intermediate frequency paths, radio-frequency transmission lines, etc.). Component  74  may be omitted if desired. The flexible printed circuit in antenna module  72  may include multiple stacked layers of flexible printed circuit material (e.g., polyimide layers). There may be fewer layers in the flexible printed circuit of  FIG.  9    than in the rigid printed circuit board of  FIG.  6   . Conductive traces may be patterned on the layers of the flexible printed circuit to form phased antenna array  54 . For example, phased antenna array  54  may be formed from conductive traces within flexible printed circuit portions  108  and  114 . The conductive layers in each antenna  40  of phased antenna array  54  may be distributed between/across second flexible printed circuit portion  108  and third flexible printed circuit portion  114 . 
     In the example of  FIG.  9   , the ground traces  82  and patch elements  58  in each antenna  40  of phased antenna array  54  are disposed in flexible printed circuit portion  108 , whereas the patch element  60  in each antenna  40  of phased antenna array  54  is disposed in flexible printed circuit portion  114 . Ground traces  82  and patch elements  58  may be embedded within the layers of flexible printed circuit portion  108  or may be patterned on outermost layers of flexible printed circuit portion  108  (e.g., ground traces  82  may be patterned onto lateral surface  110  and/or patch elements  58  may be patterned onto lateral surface  116  of flexible printed circuit portion  108 ). Similarly, patch elements  60  may be embedded within the layers of flexible printed circuit portion  114  or may be patterned on an outermost layer of flexible printed circuit portion  114  (e.g., on lateral surface  110  or lateral surface  116  of flexible printed circuit portion  114 ). When the flexible printed circuit in antenna module  72  is folded, adhesive  118  may ensure that distance D is maintained between the patch element  58  and the patch element  60  in each antenna  40  of phased antenna array  54 . 
     During manufacture of antenna module  72 , ground traces  82  and patch elements  58  may be patterned onto the layers of flexible printed circuit portion  108  while the flexible printed circuit is unfolded. Similarly, patch elements  60  may be patterned onto a layer of flexible printed circuit portion  114  while the flexible printed circuit is unfolded. Patch elements  60  may therefore be laterally offset from patch elements  58  on the flexible printed circuit while unfolded. Radio-frequency transmission lines may also be patterned onto flexible printed circuit portion  108  (e.g., to couple patch elements  58  to radio-frequency transceiver circuitry in component  74  or elsewhere in device  10 ). Conductive vias may be formed in flexible printed circuit portion  108  to couple the radio-frequency transmission lines to component  74  and to positive antenna feed terminals on patch elements  58 . If desired, fences of grounded conductive vias and/or additional ground traces may be laterally interposed between each patch element  58  in flexible printed circuit portion  108  and/or between each patch element  60  in flexible printed circuit portion  114 . 
     Folding the flexible printed circuit about axis  112  may serve to align each patch element  60  in flexible printed circuit portion  114  to a corresponding patch element  58  in flexible printed circuit portion  108 . If desired, alignment structures such as alignment structures  119  may be formed at one or more locations in flexible printed circuit portion  114  and/or flexible printed circuit portion  108  to help ensure that each patch element  60  is precisely aligned to a corresponding patch element  58  during folding. Alignment structures  119  may include alignment notches or alignment holes in the flexible printed circuit, alignment pins extending through the alignment notches or alignment holes, and/or any other desired alignment structures. Once folded, adhesive  118  may ensure that patch elements  58  and  60  remain in precise lateral alignment over time (e.g., as viewed within the Y-Z plane of  FIG.  9   ). 
     By distributing each antenna  40  in phased antenna array  54  across different regions of the flexible printed circuit (e.g., flexible printed circuit portions  108  and  114 ) and then folding the flexible printed circuit as shown in  FIG.  9   , antenna module  72  may exhibit a thickness T 2  that is significantly less than thickness T 1  of  FIG.  6    (e.g., thickness T 2  may be at least 1-2 mm less than thickness T 1 ). This may allow antenna module  72  to more easily fit within region  96  of  FIG.  7    for radiating through apertures  98  in peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W of  FIG.  8   . 
     In the example of  FIG.  9   , phased antenna array  54  is a four-by-one array with four antennas  40  arranged in a single row. This is merely illustrative. Phased antenna array  54  may include any desired number of antennas  40  arranged in any desired one or two-dimensional array pattern. In examples where patch elements  60  are directly fed, radio-frequency transmission lines for patch elements  60  may pass around axis  112  and into flexible printed circuit portion  114  and/or conductive vias may be used to feed patch elements  60 . In another implementation, ground traces  82  are formed in flexible printed circuit portion  108  whereas patch elements  58  and patch elements  60  are formed in flexible printed circuit portion  114 . In another implementation, ground traces  82  are formed in flexible printed circuit portion  108 , patch elements  58  are formed in flexible printed circuit portion  114 , and patch elements  60  are omitted. In another implementation, multiple patch elements  60  are formed in flexible printed circuit portion  114  for each antenna (e.g., in scenarios where antennas  40  include multiple stacked patch elements  60 ). In another implementation, ground traces  82 , patch element  58 , and a first patch element  60  in each antenna  40  are formed in flexible printed circuit portion  108  whereas a second patch element  60  and optionally additional patch elements  60  in each antenna  40  are formed in flexible printed circuit portion  114 . The example of  FIG.  9    in which antennas  40  are stacked patch antennas is merely illustrative and, in general, antennas  40  may be formed using any desired antenna structures that are distributed between flexible printed circuit portions  108  and  114 . 
     In the example of  FIG.  9   , the flexible printed circuit in antenna module  72  includes a single branch that is folded around axis  112 . If desired, the flexible printed circuit in antenna module  72  may include multiple folded branches.  FIG.  10    is a cross-sectional top view showing how the flexible printed circuit in antenna module  72  may include multiple folded branches. As shown in  FIG.  10   , the flexible printed circuit may include a first branch that includes flexible printed circuit portions  108 A and  114 A and a second branch that includes flexible printed circuit portions  108 B and  114 B. 
     The first and second branches (e.g., flexible printed circuit portions  108 A and  108 B) may be folded upwards about axis  106  with respect to flexible printed circuit portion  104  and may extend from opposing sides of flexible printed circuit portion  104 . Flexible printed circuit portion  114 A may extend from an end of flexible printed circuit portion  108 A and may be folded about axis  112 A with respect to flexible printed circuit portion  108 A, such that flexible printed circuit portion  114 A overlaps flexible printed circuit portion  108 A despite being laterally offset from flexible printed circuit portion  108 A when unfolded. Axis  112 A may extend parallel to axis  112 B and the Z-axis of  FIG.  10   . Flexible printed circuit portion  114 B may extend from an end of flexible printed circuit portion  108 B and may be folded about axis  112 B with respect to flexible printed circuit portion  108 B, such that flexible printed circuit portion  114 B overlaps flexible printed circuit portion  108 B despite being laterally offset from flexible printed circuit portion  108 B when unfolded. The tip of flexible printed circuit portion  114 A may face the tip of flexible printed circuit portion  114 B. 
     A first set of the antennas  40  in phased antenna array  54  may be distributed between flexible printed circuit portions  108 A and  114 A (e.g., as described above in connection with flexible printed circuit portions  108  and  114  of  FIG.  9   ). Similarly, a second set of the antennas  40  in phased antenna array  54  may be distributed between flexible printed circuit portions  108 B and  114 B (e.g., as described above in connection with flexible printed circuit portions  108  and  114  of  FIG.  9   ). There may be the same number of antennas  40  in the first and second sets or there may be a different number of antennas  40  in the first set than in the second set. Component  74 A may be mounted to flexible printed circuit portion  108 A and/or component  74 B may be mounted to flexible printed circuit portion  108 B if desired. Component  74 A may include radio-frequency components for the antennas  40  in flexible printed circuit portions  108 A and  114 A whereas component  74 B may include radio-frequency components for the antennas  40  in flexible printed circuit portions  108 B and  114 B, for example. 
     A layer of adhesive such as adhesive  118 A (e.g., pressure sensitive adhesive) may be interposed between flexible printed circuit portions  108 A and  114 A. Adhesive  118 A may ensure that the patch elements for each antenna  40  are laterally aligned between flexible printed circuit portions  108 A and  114 A while also ensuring that the patch elements in flexible printed circuit portion  108 A are separated from a corresponding patch element in flexible printed circuit portion  114 A by distance D. Similarly, a layer of adhesive such as adhesive  118 B (e.g., pressure sensitive adhesive) may be interposed between flexible printed circuit portions  108 B and  114 B. Adhesive  118 B may ensure that the patch elements for each antenna  40  are laterally aligned between flexible printed circuit portions  108 B and  114 B while also ensuring that the patch elements in flexible printed circuit portion  108 B are separated from a corresponding patch element in flexible printed circuit portion  114 B by distance D. 
     Distributing the antennas  40  in phased antenna array  54  across multiple branches of the flexible printed circuit in this way may, for example, reduce the routing complexity and density for the radio-frequency transmission lines used by antennas  40  relative to examples where the flexible printed circuit includes only a single branch. The example of  FIG.  10    is merely illustrative. Phased antenna array  54  may include any desired number of antennas  40  arranged in any desired one or two-dimensional array pattern. In examples where patch elements  60  are directly fed, radio-frequency transmission lines for patch elements  60  may pass around axes  112 A and  112 B and into flexible printed circuit portions  114 A and  114 B and/or conductive vias may be used to feed patch elements  60 . In another implementation, ground traces  82  are formed in flexible printed circuit portions  108 A and  108 B whereas patch elements  58  and patch elements  60  are formed in flexible printed circuit portions  114 A and  114 B. In another implementation, ground traces  82  are formed in flexible printed circuit portions  108 A and  108 B, patch elements  58  are formed in flexible printed circuit portions  114 A and  114 B, and patch elements  60  are omitted. In another implementation, multiple patch elements  60  for each antenna  40  are formed in flexible printed circuit portions  114 A and  114 B (e.g., in scenarios where antennas  40  include multiple stacked patch elements  60 ). In another implementation, ground traces  82 , patch element  58 , and a first patch element  60  in each antenna  40  are formed in flexible printed circuit portions  108 A and  108 B whereas a second patch element  60  and optionally additional patch elements  60  in each antenna  40  are formed in flexible printed circuit portions  114 A and  114 B. The example of  FIG.  10    in which antennas  40  are stacked patch antennas is merely illustrative and, in general, antennas  40  may be formed using any desired antenna structures that are distributed between flexible printed circuit portions  108 A/ 108 B and  114 A/ 114 B. 
     The examples of  FIGS.  9  and  10    are merely illustrative. If desired, the flexible printed circuit in antenna module  72  may include additional folds.  FIG.  11    is a cross-sectional top view showing one example of how the flexible printed circuit in antenna module  72  may include additional folds. The folding arrangement of  FIG.  11    may be used when the flexible printed circuit has a single branch (e.g., as shown in  FIG.  9   ) or may be used for each branch when the flexible printed circuit has multiple branches (e.g., as shown in  FIG.  10   ). Antennas  40  and component  74  have been omitted from  FIG.  11    for the sake of clarity. 
     As shown in  FIG.  11   , the flexible printed circuit in antenna module  72  may include a flexible printed circuit portion  120  that extends from the end of flexible printed circuit portion  114  (or flexible printed circuit portions  114 A or  114 B in the arrangement of  FIG.  10   ). Flexible printed circuit portion  120  may be folded about axis  124  with respect to flexible printed circuit portion  114  and may overlap flexible printed circuit portions  108  and  114 . Axis  124  may extend parallel to axis  112  and the Z-axis of  FIG.  11   . A layer of adhesive such as adhesive  122  (e.g., pressure sensitive adhesive) may be interposed between flexible printed circuit portions  114  and  120 . 
     One or more of the conductive layers in antennas  40  may be disposed within flexible printed circuit portion  120  and/or on lateral surfaces  110  or  116  of flexible printed circuit portion  120 . For example, ground traces  82  and patch element  58  may be located on flexible printed circuit portion  108  whereas one or more patch elements  60  may be located on flexible printed circuit portion  114  and one or more patch elements  60  may be located on flexible printed circuit portion  120  (e.g., in scenarios where antennas  40  are stacked patch antennas having two or more stacked patch elements  60  as shown in  FIG.  5   ). This is merely illustrative and, in general, the conductive layers of each antenna  40  may be distributed across flexible printed circuit portions  108 ,  114 , and  120  in any desired manner. The flexible printed circuit may have additional flexible printed circuit portions that extend from the end of flexible printed circuit portion  120  and that are folded about additional axes parallel to axes  112  and  124  if desired (e.g., the flexible printed circuit may have any desired number of folds). 
     In another implementation, the flexible printed circuit in antenna module  72  may have a folded tab that passes over flexible printed circuit portion  114 , as shown in the example of  FIG.  12   . The layers of adhesive in antenna module  72  have been omitted from  FIG.  12    for the sake of clarity. As shown in  FIG.  12   , the flexible printed circuit may include a folded tab  128  that extends from flexible printed circuit portion  108  and that is wrapped or folded around axis  126  and flexible printed circuit portion  114 . The flexible printed circuit may include an additional flexible printed circuit portion  130  that extends from an end of folded tab  128  and parallel to flexible printed circuit portions  108  and  114 . 
     One or more of the conductive layers in antennas  40  may be disposed within flexible printed circuit portion  130  and/or on lateral surfaces  110  or  116  of flexible printed circuit portion  130 . For example, ground traces  82  and patch element  58  may be located on flexible printed circuit portion  108  whereas one or more patch elements  60  may be located on flexible printed circuit portion  114  and one or more patch elements  60  may be located on flexible printed circuit portion  130  (e.g., in scenarios where antennas  40  are stacked patch antennas having two or more stacked patch elements  60  as shown in  FIG.  5   ). This is merely illustrative and, in general, the conductive layers of each antenna  40  may be distributed across flexible printed circuit portions  108 ,  114 , and  130  in any desired manner. 
     The examples of  FIGS.  9 - 12    are merely illustrative. The folding arrangements of  FIGS.  9 - 12    may be combined in any desired manner. Other folding arrangements may be used if desired. In another implementation, flexible printed circuit portion  114 A of  FIG.  10    may be extended to overlap flexible printed circuit portion  114 B and flexible printed circuit portion  114 B may be extended to overlap flexible printed circuit portion  114 A to provide three overlapping flexible printed circuit portions for distributing the conductive layers of antennas  40 . Alignment structures such as alignment structures  119  of  FIG.  9    may be provided in the flexible printed circuits of  FIGS.  10 - 12    if desired. 
       FIG.  13    is a cross-sectional side view showing how antenna module  72  of  FIGS.  9  and  10    may be mounted within device  10  in alignment with a corresponding aperture  98  in peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W (e.g., as taken at the location of a given antenna in the antenna module). As shown in  FIG.  13   , display  14  may include a display cover layer  132  that is mounted to ledge (datum)  134  of peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W. Aperture  98  may be formed in peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W. Rear housing wall  12 R may extend from peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W opposite display cover layer  132 . 
     Aperture  98  may include a cavity formed in peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W. A dielectric substrate such as dielectric substrate  138  may be disposed within the cavity. Dielectric substrate  138  may be formed from injection molded plastic, as one example. Flexible printed circuit portion  114  of antenna module  72  may be mounted to dielectric substrate  138  using a layer of adhesive such as adhesive  140 . Dielectric cover layer  136  may also be mounted within the cavity. Dielectric cover layer  136  may have an inner surface that contacts dielectric substrate  138 . Dielectric cover layer  136  also has an outer surface at the exterior of device  10 . The outer surface of dielectric cover layer  136  may, for example, lie flush with exterior surface of peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W. Dielectric cover layer  136  may also sometimes be referred to herein as dielectric antenna window  136 . 
     When mounted in this way, patch elements  58  and  60  in antenna module  72  may radiate through aperture  98  and through peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W. When the antenna module is formed using a rigid printed circuit board, the thickness of the antenna module (e.g., thickness T 1 ) may be relatively large and may, for example, extend beyond ledge  134  of peripheral conductive housing structures  12 W and into the interior of device  10 . Distributing the antennas in antenna module  72  across multiple overlapping portions of a folded flexible printed circuit may configure the antenna module  72  to exhibit a thickness T 2  that is significantly less than thickness T 1  and that does not protrude beyond ledge  134 . The example of  FIG.  13    is merely illustrative. Antenna module  72  may have additional folds (e.g., as shown in  FIGS.  11  and  12   ). Aperture  98  may have other shapes. 
     Device  10  may gather and/or use personally identifiable information. It is well understood that the use of personally identifiable information should follow privacy policies and practices that are generally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or governmental requirements for maintaining the privacy of users. In particular, personally identifiable information data should be managed and handled so as to minimize risks of unintentional or unauthorized access or use, and the nature of authorized use should be clearly indicated to users. 
     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: 20210430
Publication Date: 20240227
Grant Date: 20240227
Priority Date: 20210430
Inventors: Compton, Lucas R.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01Q9/0407", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1698", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/243", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/48", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q21/065", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/028", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/0393", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K5/0017", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/053", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/055", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/10098", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/08", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/243", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q9/0407", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q9/42", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q9/0407", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/38", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q21/00", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/48", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B1/40", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/38", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q9/0407", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/48", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1698", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/165", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/055", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/10098", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/0393", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/38", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q9/0414", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q21/065", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/243", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q9/0407", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/48", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/028", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/053", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1698", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/10098", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/055", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K5/0017", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/243", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/0393", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q21/065", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 81753186