Adjustable multiple-input and multiple-output antenna structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10476167-B2
Application number	US-201715655660-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 20, 2017
Priority date	Jul 20, 2017
Publication date	Nov 12, 2019
Grant date	Nov 12, 2019

Abstract

An electronic device may include antennas, a ground, and a housing. First and second gaps in the housing may define a segment that forms a resonating element for a first antenna. First, second, third, and fourth antenna feeds may be coupled between the segment and ground. Control circuitry may control adjustable components to place the device in first, second, third, or fourth modes. In the first and second modes, the first and fourth feeds convey signals at the same frequency using a multiple-input and multiple-output scheme while the second and third feeds are inactive. In the third mode, the second feed is active and the first, third, and fourth feeds are inactive. In the fourth mode, the third feed is active and the first, second, and fourth antenna feeds are inactive. Isolating return paths may be coupled between the segment and ground in the first and second modes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device, comprising:
a housing having peripheral conductive structures;
first and second gaps in the peripheral conductive structures that define a segment of the peripheral conductive structures;
an antenna ground;
a first antenna feed coupled between a first location on the segment and the antenna ground;
a second antenna feed coupled between a second location on the segment and the antenna ground;
a third antenna feed coupled between a third location on the segment and the antenna ground, wherein the second location is interposed between the first and third locations on the segment;
a plurality of adjustable components coupled to the segment; and
control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is configured to adjust the plurality of adjustable components to place the electronic device in a selected one of a first operating mode in which the first and third antenna feeds are active and the second antenna feed is inactive and a second operating mode in which the second antenna feed is active and the first and third antenna feeds are inactive.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1 , further comprising:
a fourth antenna feed coupled between a fourth location on the segment and the antenna ground, wherein the fourth location is interposed between the second and third locations.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 2 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to adjust the plurality of adjustable components to place the electronic device in a third operating mode in which the fourth antenna feed is active and the first, second, and third antenna feeds are inactive, the fourth antenna feed being inactive in the first and second operating modes.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 3 , wherein the second antenna feed comprises a first positive feed terminal and the fourth antenna feed comprises a second positive feed terminal, wherein the plurality of adjustable components comprises:
a first adjustable component coupled between the first positive feed terminal and the second location on the segment; and
a second adjustable component coupled between the second positive feed terminal and the fourth location on the segment.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 4 , wherein the first adjustable component forms a first short circuit path between the second location on the segment and the antenna ground and the second adjustable component forms a second short circuit path between the fourth location on the segment and the antenna ground in the first operating mode.

6. The electronic device defined in claim 5 , wherein the plurality of adjustable components further comprises:
a third adjustable component coupled between a fifth location on the segment and the antenna ground, the fifth location being interposed between the first and second locations on the segment; and
a fourth adjustable component coupled between a sixth location on the segment and the antenna ground, the sixth location being interposed between the third and fourth locations on the segment.

7. The electronic device defined in claim 6 , wherein the third adjustable component forms a third short circuit path between the fifth location on the segment and the antenna ground and the fourth adjustable component forms an open circuit between the sixth location on the segment and the antenna ground in the second operating mode.

8. The electronic device defined in claim 7 , wherein the fourth adjustable component forms a fourth short circuit path between the sixth location on the segment and the antenna ground and the third adjustable component forms an open circuit between the fifth location on the segment and the antenna ground in the third operating mode.

9. The electronic device defined in claim 6 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to adjust the plurality of adjustable components to place the electronic device in a fourth operating mode in which the first and third antenna feeds are active and the second and fourth feeds are inactive, wherein the third adjustable component forms a short circuit between the fifth location on the segment and the antenna ground and the fourth adjustable component forms a short circuit between the sixth location on the segment and the antenna ground in the first operating mode, and the third and fourth adjustable components form open circuits between the segment and the antenna ground the fourth operating mode.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 5 , further comprising:
third and fourth gaps in the segment of the peripheral conductive structures, wherein the second adjustable component shorts the second positive feed terminal to opposing sides of the third gap and the first adjustable component shorts opposing sides of the fourth gap in the second operating mode, and the first adjustable component shorts the first positive feed terminal to opposing sides of the fourth gap and the second adjustable component shorts opposing sides of the third gap in the third operating mode.

11. The electronic device defined in claim 5 , further comprising:
radio-frequency transceiver circuitry in the housing and configured to concurrently convey radio-frequency signals over the first and third antenna feeds at a given frequency using a multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) antenna scheme in the first operating mode.

12. An electronic device, comprising:
a housing having peripheral conductive structures;
an antenna ground;
a first antenna that includes a first resonating element formed from a segment of the peripheral conductive structures extending between first and second dielectric-filled gaps in the peripheral conductive structures, a first antenna feed, and the antenna ground;
a second antenna that includes a second resonating element formed from a first portion of the first resonating element, a second antenna feed, and the antenna ground;
a third antenna that includes a third resonating element formed from a second portion of the first resonating element that is different from the first portion, a third antenna feed, and the antenna ground, wherein the electronic device is operable in a first mode of operation in which the first feed is enabled and the second and third feeds are disabled and in a second mode of operation in which the second and third feeds are enabled and the first feed is disabled; and
first and second adjustable components coupled between the segment and the antenna ground, wherein the first and second adjustable components are configured to form respective first and second short circuit paths between the segment and the antenna ground in the second mode of operation.

13. The electronic device defined in claim 12 , wherein the first antenna feed comprises first and second feed terminals, the second feed terminal is coupled to the antenna ground, the first adjustable component is configured to short the first feed terminal to the segment in the first mode of operation, and the second adjustable component is configured to form an open circuit between the segment and the antenna ground in the first mode of operation.

14. The electronic device defined in claim 13 , wherein the first antenna includes a fourth feed that is disabled in the first and second modes of operation and the electronic device is operable in a third mode of operation in which the fourth feed is enabled and the first, second, and third feeds are disabled.

15. The electronic device defined in claim 14 , further comprising:
sensor circuitry that gathers sensor data; and
control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is configured to place the electronic device i

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Ayala Vazquez Enrique
• Jin Nanbo
• Hu Hongfei
• Wang Han
• Irci Erdinc
• Tong Erica J
• Mow Matthew A
• Tsai Ming-Ju
• Han Liang
• Atmatzakis Georgios
• Pascolini Mattia

Classifications

• H01Q9/145

  by varying the electrical length · CPC title

• H01Q5/342

  for different propagation modes (H01Q5/314 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01Q1/48

  Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises · CPC title

• H01Q9/42

  with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength · CPC title

• H01Q21/28

  Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems {(multiple beam H01Q25/00)} · CPC title