Electronic device antennas having split return paths

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10854968-B2
Application number	US-201715701239-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 11, 2017
Priority date	Sep 11, 2017
Publication date	Dec 1, 2020
Grant date	Dec 1, 2020

Abstract

An electronic device may be provided with wireless circuitry and control circuitry. The wireless circuitry may include multiple antennas and transceiver circuitry. An antenna in the electronic device may have an inverted-F antenna resonating element formed from portions of a peripheral conductive electronic device housing structure and may have an antenna ground that is separated from the antenna resonating element by a gap. A split return path may bridge the gap. The split return path may be coupled between a first point on the inverted-F antenna resonating element arm and second and third points on the antenna ground. The split return path may include a first inductor coupled between the first and second points and a second inductor coupled between the first and third points. The first and second inductors may be adjustable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device, comprising:
an electronic device housing having peripheral conductive structures, wherein the peripheral conductive structures include first, second, and third segments;
an antenna ground that includes the second and third segments, a first edge that intersects the second segment, and a second edge connected to the first edge;
an antenna resonating element arm formed from the first segment of the peripheral conductive structures;
an antenna feed having a positive feed terminal coupled to the antenna resonating element arm and a ground feed terminal coupled to the antenna ground; and
a split return path coupled between a first point on the antenna resonating element arm and second and third points on the antenna ground, wherein the second point is located along the first edge and the third point is located along the second edge.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1 , wherein the split return path comprises a first inductor coupled between the first point and the second point.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 2 , wherein the split return path comprises a second inductor coupled between the first point and the third point.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 3 , wherein the first inductor is adjustable.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 4 , wherein the second inductor is adjustable.

6. The electronic device defined in claim 5 , wherein the antenna ground has a cutout region defined by the first and second edges of the antenna ground.

7. The electronic device defined in claim 6 , further comprising:
an electronic component within the cutout region.

8. The electronic device defined in claim 7 , wherein the antenna ground comprises a conductive rear housing wall that extends between the second and third segments of the peripheral conductive structures.

9. The electronic device defined in claim 8 , wherein the first inductor is formed on a flexible printed circuit board that is coupled between the first point on the antenna resonating element arm and the second point on the antenna ground, the antenna ground further comprises a conductive display plate, and the electronic device further comprises:
a conductive fastener that electrically connects the flexible printed circuit board to the conductive rear housing wall at the second point; and
a conductive structure that electrically connects the conductive rear housing wall to the conductive display plate at the second point.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 1 , wherein the second point is located adjacent to a first intersection between the first edge and the second segment, the antenna ground includes a third edge that is connected to the second edge, and the third point is located adjacent to a second intersection between the second edge and the third edge.

11. An electronic device, comprising:
an electronic device housing having peripheral conductive structures;
an antenna ground;
an antenna resonating element arm formed from a first segment of the peripheral conductive structures;
an antenna feed having a positive feed terminal coupled to the antenna resonating element arm and a ground feed terminal coupled to the antenna ground;
a split return path coupled between a first point on the antenna resonating element arm and second and third points on the antenna ground, wherein the split return path comprises a first inductor coupled between the first point and the second point, the antenna ground comprises a conductive rear housing wall that extends between second and third segments of the peripheral conductive structures, the first inductor is formed on a flexible printed circuit board that is coupled between the first point on the antenna resonating element arm and the second point on the antenna ground, and the antenna ground further comprises a conductive display plate;
a conductive fastener that electrically connects the flexible printed circuit board to the conductive rear housing wall at the second point; and
a conductive structure that electrically connects the conductive rear housing wall to the conductive display plate at the second point.

12. An electronic device, comprising:
an electronic device housing having peripheral conductive structures;
an antenna ground that comprises a conductive rear housing wall and a conductive display plate that is formed separately from the rear housing wall and that is parallel to the rear housing wall;
an antenna resonating element arm formed from a segment of the peripheral conductive structures;
an antenna feed having a positive feed terminal coupled to the antenna resonating element arm and a ground feed terminal coupled to the antenna ground; and
a split return path coupled between a first point on the antenna resonating element arm and second and third points on the antenna ground; and
a conductive structure that electrically connects the conductive rear housing wall to the conductive display plate at the second point.

13. The electronic device defined in claim 12 , wherein the segment of the peripheral conductive structures is a first segment of the peripheral conductive structures, the conductive rear housing wall extends between second and third segments of the peripheral conductive structures, and the conductive display plate overlaps the rear housing wall.

14. The electronic device defined in claim 13 , wherein a flexible printed circuit board is coupled between the first point on the antenna resonating element arm and the second point on the antenna ground and the electronic device further comprises:
a conductive fastener that electrically connects the flexible printed circuit board to the conductive rear housing wall at the second point.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Zhou Yijun
• Wang Yiren
• Edwards Jennifer M
• Xu Hao
• Pascolini Mattia

Classifications

• H01Q1/50

  Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors · CPC title

• H01Q1/48

  Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises · CPC title

• H01Q1/44

  using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna {, e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspect}(H01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01Q1/36 Primary

  Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; {Particular materials used therewith}(H01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01Q13/103

  with variable reactance for tuning the antenna (tuning resonant circuits H03J) · CPC title