Antenna structures having resonating elements and parasitic elements within slots in conductive elements

Antenna structure having a resonant element and a parasitic element in a groove in a conductive element

ANTENNA STRUCTURES HAVING RESONATING ELEMENTS AND PARASITIC ELEMENTS WITHIN SLOTS IN CONDUCTIVE ELEMENTS

This invention relates to wireless electronic devices and, more particularly, to antenna structures for wireless electronic devices.

Electronic devices such as computers and handheld electronic devices often have wireless communication capabilities. For example, an electronic device can use a cellular telephone circuit to communicate using a cellular telephone frequency band. The electronic device can use a short-range wireless communication link to handle communication with nearby devices. For example, electronic devices can be used at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.<img id="i0001" he="54" wi="175" file="TWI525904B_D0001.tif" img-content="character" img-format="tif" orientation="portrait" inline="no" />(IEEE 802.11) band and at 2.4 GHz<img id="i0002" he="56" wi="327" file="TWI525904B_D0002.tif" img-content="character" img-format="tif" orientation="portrait" inline="no" />The frequency band communicates.

In order to meet consumer demand for small form factor wireless devices, manufacturers are continually striving to implement wireless communication circuits such as antenna assemblies using compact structures. For example, the antenna has been mounted in a clutch barrel portion of a portable computer housing. The portable computer clutch cartridge contains a hinge that allows the top cover of the portable computer to be opened and closed. In computers where the antenna has been assembled in a clutch barrel, the outer surface of the clutch barrel has been formed of plastic. The plastic is transparent under the RF, so the antenna in the clutch barrel can transmit and receive RF antenna signals.

However, if you are not careful, the antenna assembled in this way may exhibit performance changes as the top cover of the computer is opened and closed, may experience undue loss, or may not have a small clutch cylinder or multiple antennas. Satisfactory performance in the configuration.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved manner of providing an antenna for providing electronic devices such as portable computers.

An electronic device such as a portable computer can have components that are assembled within the housing, such as a display and a processor. A housing for an electronic device such as a portable computer can, for example, include an upper housing having a display and having a keyboard, trackpad, and internal components (such as components mounted on a printed circuit board) a lower outer casing.

The upper and lower housings of this type of device can be connected by a hinge structure. The hinge structures can be fitted into a clutch barrel portion of one of the upper housings. The clutch barrel can have a dielectric structure, such as a dielectric clutch barrel cover. The upper outer casing and the lower outer casing may contain metal casing walls and other electrically conductive structures forming a conductive element surrounding the clutch barrel. Accordingly, the dielectric structures of the clutch barrel can form a dielectric opening in the form of a slot in the electrically conductive outer casing structure.

The antenna structure can be assembled in the slot. The slot can have electromagnetic resonance properties that can be considered when assembling the antenna structures. For example, the slot can affect antenna performance primarily when the upper housing of the portable computer or other electronic device is open, and does not affect antenna performance when the upper housing of the portable computer or other electronic device is closed. In order to avoid aligning the operation of the antenna structures with respect to the position of the upper housing relative to the lower housing, the antenna structures may be desensitized to the effect of the slots.

The antenna structures can include a plurality of isolated antenna resonating elements. The antenna resonating elements can each be a dual band antenna resonating element that is fed by a transmission line at respective antenna feed line terminals. The resonant elements can be formed from conductive traces on a common dielectric carrier. A ground trace can be formed on the carrier.

Parasitic antenna elements can be incorporated into the antenna structures to help desensitize the antenna structures for the presence of the slots while meeting other antenna performance criteria. The parasitic antenna element can have a structure formed by conductive traces on the dielectric carrier, the dielectric carrier being the same dielectric carrier as the dielectric carrier formed with the antenna resonant elements. The ground trace on the carrier can serve as a common ground for the antenna resonating elements and for one of the parasitic antenna elements.

The dielectric carrier can be mounted in the slot in the electrically conductive housing structure or other electrically conductive element. The clutch barrel cover can overlap the slot and can cover the dielectric carrier.

The features of the invention, the nature of the invention, and the advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the Detailed Description.

An electronic device such as electronic device 10 of Figure 1 can contain a wireless circuit. For example, electronic device 10 may include wireless communication circuitry operating in a long-range communication band such as a cellular telephone band, and in, for example, 2.4 GHz Bluetooth<img id="i0003" he="42" wi="42" file="TWI525904B_D0003.tif" img-content="character" img-format="tif" orientation="portrait" inline="no" />Band and 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi<img id="i0004" he="43" wi="41" file="TWI525904B_D0004.tif" img-content="character" img-format="tif" orientation="portrait" inline="no" />A wireless circuit operating in a short-range communication band of a wireless local area network band (sometimes referred to as the IEEE 802.11 band).

The device 10 can be a handheld electronic device such as a cellular phone, media player, gaming device or other device, which can be a laptop, tablet or other portable computer, can be a desktop computer, can be a television or A set-top box, or other electronic device. The configuration of device 10 having a rotatable top cover (as in a portable computer) is sometimes described herein as an example. However, this example is merely illustrative. Device 10 can be any suitable electronic device.

As shown in the example of FIG. 1, device 10 can have a housing such as housing 12. The outer casing 12 may be formed from plastic, metal (e.g., aluminum), fiber composites such as carbon fibers, glass, ceramics, other materials, and combinations of such materials. The unitary construction can be used to form the outer casing 12 or components of the outer casing 12, wherein the outer casing structure is formed from a sheet of integrated material. Multi-part housing constructions may also be utilized in which the housing 12 or components of the housing 12 are formed from frame structures, housing walls, and other components that are attached to one another using fasteners, adhesives, and other attachment mechanisms.

Some of the structures in the outer casing 12 can be electrically conductive. For example, a metal component of the outer casing 12, such as a metal outer casing wall, can be electrically conductive. Other components of the outer casing 12 may be formed from a dielectric material such as plastic, glass, ceramic, non-conductive composite, and the like. To ensure proper functioning of the antenna structure in device 10, care should be taken when placing the antenna structure relative to the conductive portion of housing 12. Portions of the outer casing 12 may form components for the antenna structure of the device 10, as necessary. For example, the conductive housing sidewalls can form an antenna grounding element. The antenna can be mounted in an opening in the housing 12, such as a slotted opening. In this case, the resonant behavior of the opening (i.e., the electromagnetic behavior of the opening at the radio frequency) is preferably considered to ensure satisfactory antenna operation.

As shown in FIG. 1, device 10 can have input-output devices such as trackpad 18 and keyboard 16. Camera 26 can be used to collect image data. Device 10 may also have components such as a microphone, a speaker, a button, a removable storage drive, a status indicator light, a buzzer, a sensor, and other input-output devices. These devices can be used to collect input for device 10 and can be used to supply output to a user of device 10. A device 10 such as port 28 can house a mating connector (eg, an audio plug, a connector associated with a data cable such as a universal serial bus cable, a data cable for processing video data and audio data (eg, Connect device 10 to a computer monitor, TV or other monitor cable, etc.).

Device 10 can include a display such as display 14. Display 14 can be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, an electronic ink display, or a display implemented using other display technologies. The touch sensor can be incorporated into the display 14 (ie, the display 14 can be a touch screen display). The touch sensor for the display 14 can be a resistive touch sensor, a capacitive touch sensor, an acoustic touch sensor, and a light-based touch sensor. , force sensors, or touch sensors implemented using other touch technologies.

Device 10 can have a one-piece housing or a multi-piece housing. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the electronic device 10 can be a device such as a portable computer, or other device having a two-part housing formed by the upper housing 12A and the lower housing 12B. The upper housing 12A can include a display 14 and can sometimes be referred to as a display housing or a top cover. Lower housing 12B may sometimes be referred to as a base or main housing. The outer casings 12A and 12B may be connected to each other using a hinge (for example, a hinge located in an area 20 along the upper edge of the lower outer casing 12B and the lower edge of the upper outer casing 12A). The hinge may allow the upper outer casing 12A to rotate about the axis 22 in the direction 24 relative to the lower outer casing 12B. The plane of the top cover (upper casing) 12A and the plane of the lower casing 12B can be separated by an angle varying between 0° (when the top cover is closed) to 90° or more (when the top cover is completely open).

As shown in FIG. 2, device 10 can include control circuitry 30. Control circuitry 30 may include memory such as flash memory, hard drive memory, solid state storage devices, other non-volatile memory, random access memory and other volatile memory, and the like. Control circuit 30 can also include processing circuitry. The processing circuitry of control circuit 30 may include a digital signal processor, a microcontroller, a special application integrated circuit, a microprocessor, a power management unit (PMU) circuit, and processing circuitry for components of other types of integrated circuits.

Wireless circuitry 36 can be used to transmit and receive radio frequency signals. Wireless circuitry 36 may include a wireless radio frequency transceiver 32 and one or more antennas 34 (sometimes referred to herein as antenna structures). The wireless transceiver 32 can use the antenna structure 34 to transmit and receive radio frequency signals from the device 10. Circuitry 36 can be used to handle one or more communication bands. Examples of communication bands that may be handled by circuit 36 include cellular telephone bands, satellite navigation bands (e.g., global positioning system bands at 1575 MHz), and bands for short-range links (such as Bluetooth at 2.4 GHz).<img id="i0005" he="41" wi="39" file="TWI525904B_D0005.tif" img-content="character" img-format="tif" orientation="portrait" inline="no" />Bands) and wireless local area network (WLAN) bands (such as the IEEE 802.11 band at 2.4 GHz and the IEEE 802.11 band at 5 GHz), and so on.

When more than one antenna is used in device 10, RF transceiver circuitry 32 can use the antennas to implement multiple input and multiple output (MIMO) protocols (e.g., protocols associated with IEEE 802.11(n) networks) and antennas. Diversity scheme. A multiplexed configuration can be used to allow different types of traffic to be transmitted and received via a common antenna structure. For example, transceiver 32 can transmit and receive 2.4 GHz Bluetooth via a shared antenna<img id="i0006" he="42" wi="41" file="TWI525904B_D0006.tif" img-content="character" img-format="tif" orientation="portrait" inline="no" />Both signals and 802.11 signals.

A transmission line path such as path 38 can be used to couple antenna structure 34 to transceiver 32. The transmission line in the path 38 may include a coaxial cable path, a microstrip transmission line, a strip line transmission line, an edge coupled microstrip transmission line, an edge coupled strip line transmission line, and a transmission line formed by a combination of the types of transmission lines, etc. Wait.

During operation, antenna 34 can receive incoming radio frequency signals that are routed to radio frequency transceiver circuitry 32 via path 38. During signal transmission operations, the radio frequency transceiver circuitry 32 can transmit radio frequency signals that are transmitted by path 38 to the antenna structure 34 and to the remote receiver.

The hinge can be used to allow portions of the electronic device to rotate relative to each other. For example, a hinge can be used to allow the upper outer casing 12A of FIG. 1 to rotate about the axis of rotation 22 relative to the lower outer casing 12B. The hinge structure used to attach the outer casing 12A to the outer casing 12B is sometimes referred to as a clutch structure or clutch. An illustrative clutch (hinge) is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the clutch (hinge) 40 can have a structure such as structure 42 and a structure such as structure 46 that rotates about axis 22 relative to each other. The structure 42 can have a bore such as a bore 44 that receives a screw. A screw can be used to attach the structure 42 to the frame structure 12A-1 or other structure in the upper outer casing 12A. The structure 46 can be attached to the outer casing 12B using a screw that passes through the aperture 48. Other attachment techniques may be used to assemble the structure 42 to the outer casing 12A and the outer structure 12 to the outer casing 12B as necessary. The use of the screw is merely illustrative.

A structure 42 that may sometimes be referred to as a clutch pillar may include a shaft member 50. Structure 46, which may sometimes be referred to as a clutch band, may have a portion 52 that clamps shaft member 50 with a predetermined amount of friction. During operation, the clutch band holds the clutch post with an appropriate amount of force that allows the upper housing 12A to rotate relative to the lower housing 12B. There is sufficient friction to allow the user to place the upper housing 12A at a desired angle relative to the lower housing 12B without slipping. Structure 12A-1 can be attached to other structures in housing 12A, such as display 14, housing wall structure (eg, metal housing structure), and the like. Portions of the outer casing 12B that are attached to the structure 46 may include outer casing structures such as metal frames, metal sidewalls, and other outer casing structures.

A pair of hinge structures, such as hinge 40 of FIG. 3, can be assembled within a portion of outer casing 12. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a hinge structure such as hinge 40 can be fitted into a portion of housing 12A, such as clutch barrel 54. The clutch barrel 54 may have a cylindrical shape as shown in FIG. 4 or may have other shapes. The clutch barrel 54 can be formed as part of the outer casing 12B as necessary.

The clutch barrel 54 can have a cover formed of a dielectric such as plastic. This situation allows the clutch barrel to act as an assembly site for the antenna structure. During operation, the clutch barrel cover allows transmission and reception of radio frequency signals by the antenna structure within the clutch barrel. The antenna structure can also be mounted at other locations within the device 10, such as along the upper edge of the display 14 (e.g., below the bezel of the housing 12A), in the lower housing 12B, in the housing 12A or housing 12B. Below the dielectric window structure, behind the glass or other dielectric layer, or elsewhere in the housing 12. The advantage of fitting the antenna structure into the clutch barrel is that this portion does not require the use of potentially unsightly antenna windows on the conspicuous portion of the housing 12, and allows for antenna operation when the top cover 12A is open and when the top cover 12A is closed. .

The clutch barrel 54 can be formed primarily of a dielectric material (eg, a dielectric carrier (such as a plastic carrier) for supporting a patterned conductive antenna structure, a plastic cover or a cover formed of other dielectrics, etc.) . Air (which is a dielectric) may also be present within the clutch barrel 54. The surrounding portion of device 10 can be substantially electrically conductive. For example, the structures in the upper housing 12A (such as the frame 12A-1 of FIG. 3, the display 14 of FIG. 1, and the metal housing sidewalls that are equipped with the display 14 and the frame 12A-1) can be electrically conductive. Likewise, structures in the outer casing 12B (such as metal casing sidewalls, metal frame structures, ground planes on printed circuit boards, radio frequency shield structures, and other device components in the outer casing 12B) can be electrically conductive.

Due to this configuration, the clutch barrel 54 can be substantially formed of a dielectric, and a portion of the outer casing 12 surrounding the clutch barrel 54 can be formed of a conductor. As illustrated in Figure 5, this condition causes a slotted dielectric opening (shown by dashed line 56) within the surrounding conductive structure of the outer casing 12. The opening 56 can sometimes be referred to as a slot. The conductive portions around the outer casing 12 are sometimes collectively referred to as forming conductive elements (ground). Because the conductive elements completely surround the slots, slots such as slots 56 are sometimes referred to as closed slots.

One or more antenna assemblies, such as assembly 60, can be mounted within slot 56. Assembly 60 can include an active antenna assembly, such as a direct feed antenna resonating element (sometimes referred to herein as an "antenna resonating element" or "resonant element"). Assembly 60 may also include a passive (un-fed) antenna assembly, such as a parasitic antenna resonating element (sometimes referred to herein as a parasitic element). Assembly 60 can be used to form antenna structure 34 (see, for example, Figure 2). A respective transmission line path 38 (Fig. 2) can be coupled between the transceiver 32 and each of the resonant elements in the antenna structure 34.

The slot 56 (i.e., the shape of the conductive element surrounding the dielectric fill slot 56) has electromagnetic characteristics that affect the behavior of the antenna structure 34. Antenna slot 56 can serve as a type of parasitic antenna resonator that operates in conjunction with assembly 60. In some cases, the electromagnetic characteristics of the slot 56 make it easier for a particular resonant element to transmit and receive signals (i.e., the antenna efficiency of the resonant element increases as compared to the situation in which the resonant element operates in free space). In other cases (i.e., when the resonant elements are differently positioned in the slots or operated at different frequencies), the electromagnetic characteristics of the slots 56 make it more difficult for the resonant elements to transmit and receive signals (i.e., relative to the free space group). State, antenna efficiency is reduced).

Thus, the presence of the slot 56 can have a significant impact on antenna performance and should be considered when determining the optimal location of the assembly 60. For example, portions for the component 60 that allow the antenna structure 34 to be rendered efficiently without exhibiting excessive coupling between the resonant elements should be selected. When the resonant element exhibits satisfactory electromagnetic isolation (e.g., 10 dB or more), an agreement such as a MIMO protocol can be effectively utilized by the transceiver 32.

It may also be desirable to select a location for assembly 60 that does not overly distort the antenna structure 34 to the location of the top cover 12A. The shape of the outer casing 12 can cause the groove 56 primarily when the top cover 12A is open, and does not cause the groove 56 (as an example) when the top cover 12A is closed. In this type of environment (i.e., when the effect of the slot 56 is due to changes in device geometry as the top cover position changes), it may be desirable to position the assembly 60 at substantially the same antenna performance regardless of the top cover position. In the location. These locations are typically associated with locations within the slots 56 that do not overlap the slot resonance too much.

The slot resonance associated with slot 56 (sometimes referred to as a mode) is affected by the shape of slot 56. The shape of the groove 56 is determined by the shape of the conductive structure (conductive element) surrounding the groove. The upper edge of the slot 56 is typically bounded by the lower edge of the display housing 12A (i.e., the lowermost conductive portion of the housing 12A, such as the frame structure, display structure, and metal housing wall). The lower edge of the slot 56 is typically formed by the upper edge of the outer casing 12B (e.g., a metal outer casing wall, other electrically conductive structure, etc.). The hinges 40L and 40R and the fastening structure that attaches the hinges 40L and 40R to the outer casings 12A and 12B may be formed of a conductive material such as metal. The conductive nature of the hinge allows current to flow through the hinges 40R and 40L (and other portions of the conductive elements surrounding the slot 56) as shown by the looped arrow 58 in FIG. 5 (which roughly surrounds the perimeter of the slot 56). Thus, the shape of the groove 56 is affected by the shape of the left hinge 40L at the left edge of the groove and the shape of the right hinge 40R at the right edge of the groove.

The exact shape of the grooves (i.e., the extent to which the edges of the grooves are straight and parallel) generally have a lesser effect on the electromagnetic behavior of the grooves than the groove perimeter. An illustration is shown in Figure 6 which shows how the slot 56 can be modeled as a rectangular shape having a length L and a width W. As shown in FIG. 6, the slot 56 can be formed by a conductive element 62 (i.e., a conductive structure of the device 10, such as the metal housing wall of the housing 12, and other structures surrounding the air, plastic, and other dielectrics within the slot 56). The opening is formed. The width W is typically significantly less than the length L. For example, the width W can be less than 3 centimeters, less than 2 centimeters, or less than 1 centimeter (as an example). The length L can be, for example, 5 cm to 35 cm, 10 cm to 20 cm, 20 cm to 30 cm, about 20 cm, less than 20 cm, more than 20 cm, 7 cm to 28 cm, 15 cm to 20 cm, etc. Wait. The length of the perimeter P of the slot 56 (i.e., 2L + 2W) is typically associated with the resonant peak (i.e., the slot 56 will typically exhibit resonance for an electromagnetic signal having a wavelength equal to P). The harmonic frequency (for example, an integer multiple of the fundamental resonant frequency) can also exhibit resonance.

A typical slot formed by a housing structure such as clutch barrel 54 (Fig. 4) is slightly narrower (i.e., for a typical clutch barrel, W &lt; L). In a groove such as such a groove, the groove perimeter P can be approximated as twice the length L of the groove (i.e., the groove length can be considered to be of primary importance in determining the electromagnetic properties of the groove). Thus, the behavior of slot 56 is sometimes discussed herein in the context of the content of the length of slot 56. In practice, additional factors (such as the shape of the perimeter of the trench, the dielectric constant of the dielectric within the trench and adjacent the trench, and the conductivity and shape of the conductive components of the device 10 in the trench and adjacent to the trench) will also affect the antenna. Respond.

The antenna assembly 60 of Figure 6 can include a resonant element, such as an inverted F-type element, a variant of an inverted-F antenna, or other suitable antenna resonant element. Figure 7 shows an example of an inverted-F antenna resonant element RE and associated ground G. The resonant element RE of FIG. 7 may have a primary resonant element branch B, a shorted branch SC, and a feeder branch F. Source 64 (i.e., a transmission line, such as one of transmission lines 38 of FIG. 2 coupled to transceiver 32) can be coupled to an antenna feed line including positive antenna feed terminal 66 and grounded antenna feed terminal 68.

Another example of a resonant element that can be used as one of the components 60 within the slot 56 of the antenna structure 34 is shown in FIG. In the example of Figure 8, the resonant element RE has been configured to be in two different frequency bands (eg, for example, for Bluetooth)<img id="i0007" he="42" wi="40" file="TWI525904B_D0007.tif" img-content="character" img-format="tif" orientation="portrait" inline="no" />And WiFi<img id="i0008" he="43" wi="40" file="TWI525904B_D0008.tif" img-content="character" img-format="tif" orientation="portrait" inline="no" />The lower frequency band of the 2.4 GHz band used for communication, and such as for WiFi<img id="i0009" he="42" wi="40" file="TWI525904B_D0009.tif" img-content="character" img-format="tif" orientation="portrait" inline="no" />Operation under the higher frequency band of the 5 GHz band used for communication. At higher frequency bands (e.g., 5 GHz), there is an impedance discontinuity at node 78. This is because section 74 is perpendicular to ground plane element G, which sets section 74 and section 76 to be spaced a greater distance D from ground G than section 72. The increased distance D between sections 74 and 76 and ground G (compared to the distance of section 72 from ground G) results in a reduction in capacitance of sections 74 and 76 compared to section 72, and thus results in 5 GHz The impedance of the lower sections 74 and 76 is higher than that of the section 72. The impedance discontinuity at node 78 will effectively limit the active portion of component RE to segment 72 at 5 GHz. The length of section 72 can be selected to resonate at 5 GHz such that resonant element RE exhibits a 5 GHz resonance peak. Section 70 can act as an impedance matching stub. At 2.4 GHz, the impedance of section 72 to section 76 is comparable because the effect of the section capacitance difference is reduced at lower frequencies. The total length of sections 72, 74, and 76 can be selected to resonate at 2.4 GHz, while section 70 again acts as a matching stub. Therefore, the resonant element RE of FIG. 8 can exhibit resonance peaks at both 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz (that is, the resonant element RE of FIG. 8 functions as a low frequency band covering 2.4 GHz and at 5 Dual-band resonant element of both high frequency bands in GHz). This type of structure can be used to cover other communication bands if necessary. The use of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz as illustrative communication bands in the example of Figure 8 is merely illustrative.

The antenna resonating element RE of Figure 9 can also exhibit dual band operation (e.g., in the low frequency band of 2.4 GHz and the high frequency band of 5 GHz, or in other communication bands of interest). In the high frequency band, section 82, which acts as a shunt inductor, tends to be open (i.e., section 82 exhibits relatively high impedance). The length of section 80 can be selected such that section 80 resonates in the high frequency band. This situation provides high frequency band resonance to the antenna resonating element RE. In the low frequency band, segments 80 and 82 act as impedance matching stubs. The length of section 84 can be selected such that section 84 resonates in the low frequency band. This situation provides low band resonance to the antenna resonating element RE of FIG. Therefore, the resonant element RE of FIG. 9 has both a low-band resonance peak and a high-band resonance peak, and can function as a dual-band antenna.

Figure 10 shows an illustrative multi-band antenna configuration that can be used in the low frequency band of 2.4 GHz and the high frequency band of 5 GHz (as an example). The length of the conductor associated with the dashed line LB can contribute to a resonant frequency of 2.4 GHz. The length of the conductor associated with the dotted line HB1 may be associated with a first high frequency band resonance (eg, approximately 5 GHz), and the length of the conductor associated with the dotted line HB2 may resonate with the second high frequency band (eg, close to Associated with the resonance of HB1 at approximately 5 GHz. The HB1 resonance and the HB2 resonance can operate together to provide coverage at 5 GHz to the antenna structure of FIG. The wedge-shaped conductive structure TP may have an edge that is not parallel to the lower portion of the ground G. This situation causes the degree of separation VD between the lower edge of the structure TP and the ground G to vary with the lateral distance DS along the ground plane G and the resonant element branches associated with the segment HB1. In the example of FIG. 10, the structure TP has a triangular shape, and the distance VD varies linearly with the distance DS. The structure TP may have curved lower edges or other shapes as necessary. The wedge-shaped nature of the structure TP can help smooth the transition between the antenna feed and the branches of the resonant element, and thus can improve impedance matching.

Figure 11 shows an illustrative multi-band antenna that can be used to operate at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz (as an example). The antenna structure of Figure 11 can include a resonant element conductor having a wedge-shaped structure TP and a tortuous section MS. The length of the resonant element conductor between point PTA and point PTB can be correlated with half-wavelength resonance at 2.4 GHz and full-wavelength resonance at 5 GHz. The zigzag shape of the section MS saves space. The wedge-shaped nature of the segment TP provides a smooth transition for the antenna feed, which improves impedance matching (eg, at 5 GHz).

In addition to the resonant element (RE), the component 60 within the slot 56 can also include a parasitic element (PAR). The parasitic element can be configured such that it is effective at a particular frequency. For example, the parasitic element PAR can have an L-shape, a T-shape, a spiral shape, a loop shape, or other shape having a conductive segment that causes resonance at a desired frequency.

An example of a resonant element that is tuned to operate at a frequency associated with a high communication band (5 GHz) is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 12, the parasitic element PAR can have sections 86 and 88. The section 88, which can act as a short circuit path, can be perpendicular to ground G (i.e., the longitudinal axis of section 88 can be perpendicular to the uppermost surface of ground G). Section 86 can form a resonant branch that is parallel to ground G. The length of segment 86 can be selected such that segment 86 interacts with electromagnetic signals at a high band frequency of 5 GHz (as an example). When this type of parasitic element is included in slot 56, the electromagnetic signal at 5 GHz will interact with the resonant branch of element PAR and will be shorted to ground via section 88. Therefore, the parasitic element PAR forms a low impedance path to ground for the RF signal at about 5 GHz. Signals at other frequencies (i.e., at 2.4 GHz) will exhibit a significant reduction in interaction (i.e., the parasitic element PAR of Figure 12 will act as an open circuit at 2.4 GHz).

As shown in FIG. 13, the parasitic element PAR can have a longer resonant branch, such as a branch formed by the segment 90. Section 90 is longer than section 86 of Figure 12, and therefore parasitic element PAR is effective at lower frequencies (e.g., low frequency bands of about 2.4 GHz). In the case of this type of configuration, the parasitic element PAR of FIG. 13 forms an open circuit at a high band frequency (eg, 5 GHz) and a short circuit to ground G at a low band frequency (eg, 2.4 GHz). If necessary, the components of section 90, such as tip segment TP, can be bent to form segment FT. The parasitic element PAR may have a space-saving spiral shape when the segment 90 has a curved (tortuous) tip of the type illustrated by the segment FT. This type of spiral shape can be used for the parasitic element PAR or other parasitic element structure of FIG.

Parasitic elements in slot 56 can be configured to operate in multiple frequency bands, if desired. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, parasitic element PAR can have both short branches such as section 86 and long branches such as section 90. Therefore, the parasitic resonance element PAR of FIG. 14 has a T-shape having two branches of different lengths. Short branches can be configured to respond at high band frequencies (eg, at 5 GHz), and long branches can be configured to respond at low band frequencies (eg, at 2.4 GHz). In the case of this type of configuration, the parasitic element PAR will form a low impedance path to ground G in both the low and high frequency bands (ie, at 2.4 Ghz and at 5 GHz) and will be at other frequencies. The lower impedance is shown (open circuit). If necessary, the branches in the T-element of Figure 14 can be bent to form a helix, as described in connection with the curved tip portion FT of section 90 of Figure 13. Parasitic elements can also be implemented using a loop parasitic structure. An illustrative dual-band parasitic element PAR formed from a meandering loop shape is shown in FIG. The parasitic element PAR of Figure 15 can operate at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz (as an example).

Resonant element RE and parasitic element PAR may be formed from wires of several lengths, patterned metal sheets, foil strips, or other electrically conductive structures. In a suitable configuration, the resonant element RE and the parasitic element PAR (and at least some portions of the ground G) may be formed on the substrate by conductive traces. Substrates that can be used include polymer substrates (eg, plastics), printed circuit boards (eg, rigid printed circuit boards such as printed circuit boards formed of fiberglass filled epoxy, one of polythene or other polymers) A flexible printed circuit board formed of a plurality of sheets, a soft and hard composite board, or the like, a glass substrate, a ceramic substrate, or the like.

An illustrative set of two resonant elements RE and a single plug-in parasitic element PAR that have been formed on a plastic substrate is shown in FIG. The plastic substrate 92 of Figure 16 (which may sometimes be referred to as a carrier) may be formed from a rigid or flexible polymer. As an example, the carrier 92 may have a width X1 of about 3 mm to 20 mm, a thickness X2 of about 0.5 mm to 3 mm, and a length X3 of about 7 cm to 30 cm or other suitable fit in the clutch barrel 54 and the groove 56. A molded plastic sheet of length is formed. As shown in FIG. 16, resonant element RE and parasitic element PAR may be formed on surface 94 of carrier 92 by patterned metal traces 98. A ground G, which can serve as a common ground for both the antenna resonant element and the parasitic antenna element, can be formed on the surface 96 of the carrier 92 by the patterned metal trace 100.

Traces 98 and 100 can be formed by electroplating or other metallization techniques. To sensitize the carrier 92 such that the traces 98 and 100 are deposited in a desired pattern, the carrier 92 can be formed using a two-shot molding process. In the case of this type of procedure, the first shot plastic may be formed from a material that does not attract metal during metallization, and the second shot plastic may be formed from a material that attracts metal during metallization. The first shot plastic can be used to form portions of the carrier 92 that do not require deposition of metal. The second shot plastic can be used to form portions of the carrier 92 that require metal deposition (i.e., the pattern of traces 98 and 100). Another sensitization technique that may be used involves the use of laser light to modify (e.g., roughen) the surface properties of the carrier 92 such that the traces 98 and 100 will be formed where the laser light has patterned the surface of the carrier and renders the metal free It will be deposited where no laser light is applied. Other patterning techniques can be used if desired (eg, based on photolithography, embossed metal foil, patterned wires or metal parts, etc.).

Figure 17 shows how a transmission line, such as coaxial cable 38, can be used to feed a resonant element. As shown in Figure 17, the coaxial cable 38 can have a first portion such as a portion 102 that is insulated using a plastic sheath. Conductive outer braided conductor 104 can be exposed along portions of ground conductor G and can be electrically connected to ground G using solder joint 108. The solder connection 108 forms a first antenna feed line terminal (eg, the antenna ground feed line 68 of Figures 7-11). Traces 112 on carrier 92 may form antenna resonating elements RE. The center positive conductor 106 of the cable 38 can be soldered to a point 110 on the trace 112 to form a positive antenna feed terminal (eg, positive antenna feed 66 of Figures 7-11). If necessary, the additional cable 38 can be guided along the ground G in this way to feed the additional resonant element RE. Only one resonant element RE and one feeder transmission line 38 are shown in Figure 17 to avoid overcomplicating the pattern.

Satisfactory antenna performance of structure 34 can be obtained by optimizing the placement of resonant element RE and parasitic element PAR within trench 56. The antenna efficiency supported by the resonant element operating at a particular location within the slot 56 can be increased or decreased by the distribution of the electric field supported by the slot 56 (i.e., the mode supported by the slot 56). Antenna performance is also typically a function of operating frequency and is affected by the inclusion of additional resonant components and parasitic components in the trench. A satisfactory configuration includes a sufficient number of resonant elements RE to implement the desired agreement (e.g., a MIMO protocol or other agreement involving multiple antennas) while exhibiting sufficient isolation between the individual resonant elements RE. In some applications, it may only be necessary to use one or two resonant elements RE, but other designs may require three or more resonant elements RE to meet the requirements of the MIMO protocol or other design criteria. The isolation level between the individual resonant elements may need to be about 10 dB or more (as an example). Because the size and shape of the slot 56 and thus its potential to affect the performance of the antenna can be increased and decreased depending on the angle of the top cover 12A relative to the base 12B, it may also be desirable to reduce the impact of the antenna structure 34 on the top cover portion. Min. Adequate antenna efficiency and the required operating band should also be achieved.

Design constraints that meet design constraints such as these can be challenging. For example, a change in the resonant placement of the antenna to achieve a desired amount of isolation between the resonant elements may increase the sensitivity of the antenna structure to the placement of the top cover, or may cause the efficiency of the antenna to become too low or become unbalanced. The incorporation of one or more parasitic elements PAR operating at the appropriate frequency may provide additional degrees of freedom in designing structure 34.

A typical electric field distribution supported by slots 56 is shown in FIG. As shown by dashed line 114 in FIG. 18, slot 56 can exhibit a mode in which a small electric field magnitude is near the end of slot 56 (see, for example, electric field E1 at location 116 near end 124 of slot 56). And the magnitude of the strong electric field is near the middle of the slot 56 (see, for example, the electric field E3 at a location 120 near the midpoint of the length of the slot 56). If the antenna resonating element RE is placed at the location 120 in the slot 56, the resulting antenna may be overly sensitive to the opening and closing of the top cover 12A because, in some types of devices 10, the effect of the slot 56 It may only exist when the top cover 12A is open, but not when the top cover 12A is closed. The location, such as location 116, is insensitive to the presence or absence of the groove 56 and thus provides a satisfactory desensitization of the position of the cap. However, portions such as portion 116 along the length dimension 122 of the trench generally provide insufficient separation between the conductive material of conductive element 62 (e.g., the conductive portion of outer casing 12) and the resonant element, resulting in unsatisfactory Antenna efficiency and / or bandwidth. Therefore, it may generally be desirable to position the antenna resonating element RE within the slot 56 at a location characterized by an intermediate electric field strength E2 (i.e., position 118 in the example of FIG. 18).

In some antenna configurations, it may be possible to position the resonant element at a location in the slot 56 that is well represented in the multiple communication bands of interest. In other cases, it may not be possible at first to identify a single location for the resonant element that satisfies design criteria while both the low and high frequency bands (eg, at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz). The mode of the pattern supported by the slot 56 is frequency dependent, so that even if the position of the antenna resonating element that works well in a communication band can be identified, the part may not work well for another communication band of interest. . In situations such as these and in other situations where it is difficult to satisfy all design criteria at the same time, one or more parasitic elements PAR (such as parasitic elements PAR of Figures 12-15) may be incorporated into the slots 56.

The incorporation of one or more parasitic resonant elements PAR within the slot 56 provides additional freedom in designing the antenna structure. For example, the incorporation of parasitic element PAR can change the effective length of slot 56 in one or more frequency bands, and/or can effectively divide slot 56 into one or more shorter slots. This situation makes it possible to satisfy design constraints in ways that would otherwise be impossible.

As an example, consider the antenna structure 34 of FIG. In the example of FIG. 19, the antenna resonating element RE has been built into the slot 56 at a location 126 along the longitudinal slot dimension 122. The length of the slot 56 can be determined primarily by external factors (e.g., for the desired form of the device 10). Therefore, the physical length of the slot 56 may not be adjustable. The placement of the resonant element RE at location 126 may be desirable to avoid excessive slot resonance when the antenna structure 34 is operating in a high communication band (e.g., at 5 GHz), but in the antenna structure 34 in a low communication band. Medium (e.g., at 2.4 GHz) can poorly conform to the groove resonance. By the incorporation of the parasitic element PAR, the length (and perimeter) of the groove 56 can be effectively shortened (e.g., from length LG2 to length LG1 in the example of Figure 19).

The effect of including the parasitic element PAR into the slot 56 of Figure 19 in this type of context is illustrated by the graph of Figure 20. In Fig. 20, the resonance characteristics of the resonance element RE are indicated by a solid line 132. In this example, it is necessary to ensure that the antenna structure 34 is in the two communication bands of interest (i.e., in the communication band centered on the low band frequency f1 and in the communication band centered on the high band frequency f2) ) Good performance. In the case of using a dual-band resonant element design (for example, a design of the type described in connection with FIG. 8 or FIG. 9), the resonant element RE of FIG. 19 can exhibit a satisfactory standing wave ratio (SWR) at f1 and f2. As shown by solid line 132 in FIG.

The resonance characteristics of the groove 56 in the absence of the parasitic element PAR are indicated by dashed line 128. The groove 56 exhibits resonance peaks at fa, fb, fc, and fd. The frequency fd is sufficiently far from the high frequency band f2 such that the performance of the antenna structure 34 in the high frequency band will not be significantly affected by the slot 56. However, the groove resonance at the frequency fc conforms to the low band frequency f1. This situation can cause the antenna structure 34 to be overly sensitive to the effects of the slots 56 if no corrective action is taken.

To ensure that both the low frequency band and the high frequency band are sufficiently desensitized to the presence of the trench 56, the parasitic element PAR of FIG. 19 can be included in the trench 56. The parasitic element PAR can be designed using a type shown in Figure 13 such that the parasitic element is only effective at low frequency frequencies (i.e., at frequencies close to f1, rather than at frequencies about frequency f2). Therefore, the parasitic element PAR causes the effective length of the slot 56 to be unchanged at LG2 for the high band frequency, but shortens the effective length of the slot 56 to LG1 at the low band frequency.

This effect is illustrated by the dashed line 130 of Figure 20, which shows the effectiveness of the slot 56 when the parasitic element PAR is included. As shown in FIG. 20, due to the presence of the parasitic element PAR, the high frequency resonance of the slot 56 is slightly shifted to the frequency fdn at the frequency fd. The shift between the frequency fd and the frequency fdn is relatively small (in this example) because the parasitic element PAR is tuned to operate in the low frequency band and not in the high frequency band. Since the resonance peak at frequency fdn is still sufficiently far from the high band frequency f2, the antenna structure 34 including the parasitic element PAR will operate satisfactorily in the presence of the parasitic element PAR and will not be overly sensitive to the presence of the slot 56. At a frequency that is approximately the low frequency band f1, the parasitic element PAR is active and acts as a "short circuit" to ground G (see, for example, Figure 13). This situation shortens the effective length of the slot 56 to the length LG1 in the low frequency band (Fig. 19). As a result, the groove resonance at the frequency fc shifts to the frequency fcn. The slot resonance at frequency fc overlaps with the low band frequency f1 and thus causes the antenna structure 34 to be overly sensitive to the presence of the slot 56 in the absence of the parasitic element PAR. However, when the parasitic element PAR is present in the slot 56, the shifted slot resonance at fcn no longer overlaps the low band frequency f1. Thus, the inclusion of parasitic element PAR in slot 56 de-sensitizes the effect of antenna structure 34 of FIG. 19 on slot 56 such that antenna structure 34 meets design criteria at both low band frequencies and high band frequencies.

The parasitic element PAR can also be used to optimize performance in situations where more than one resonant element RE is to be included in the slot 56. When a single resonant element is included in a slot of physical length L, antenna structure 34 can (as an example) exhibit satisfactory low frequency band (e.g., 2.4 GHz) resonance and high frequency band (e.g., 5 GHz) resonance, as shown 22 is shown.

However, when the second resonant element RE is included in the slot 56 (as shown in Figure 23), the presence of the second resonant element can disturb the mode of the slot. This situation can hinder the performance of the first antenna resonating element such that its high band resonance peak shifts, as shown in Figure 24 (as an example). The antenna response curve of Figure 24 may be unsatisfactory because the high-band resonance has shifted from 5 GHz to 6 GHz.

The effect of the second component can be eliminated or reduced by introducing the parasitic element PAR of FIG. When the parasitic element PAR is present, the effective length of the slot can be reduced (e.g., reduced to length LS), the harmonics of the slot 56 can be correspondingly redistributed, and the performance of the antenna structure 34 of Figure 25 can be restored to the response of Figure 22. (as an example).

Figure 26 shows how sometimes similar results can be obtained by inserting a parasitic element PAR between the respective resonant elements RE. In the example of Figure 26, the antenna structure 34 exhibits the improper resonance peak of Figure 24 when the parasitic element PAR is not present. However, when the parasitic element PAR is present, the slot 56 is effectively divided into two sub-grooves (i.e., the left side slot having a length LL and the right side slot having a length LR). When the slots 56 are divided in this manner, the modes of each slot are redistributed such that the resonant peaks of the slots no longer interfere with the resonant peaks of the resonant elements. Thus, the antenna structure 34 of FIG. 26 can exhibit an antenna response of the type shown in FIG. 22, which satisfactorily covers both the low frequency band at 2.4 GHz and the high frequency band at 5 GHz.

As shown in Figure 27, when the top cover 12A is in the open position, the slot 56 can be formed by the conductive portion of the top cover 12A and the base housing 12B (e.g., the portion of the housing of the device 10 that surrounds the clutch barrel 54 of Figure 4). . In this case, the slot 56 is present and can affect the performance of the antenna structure 34. Structure 34 can transmit and receive radio frequency signals in directions such as direction 134 and direction 136 (as an example). When the user closes the top cover 12A (shown in Figure 28), the position of the antenna structure 34 and the configuration of the outer casing structures 12A and 12B can be displaced such that the slot 56 no longer exists (i.e., the electromagnetic effect of the slot 56) It no longer exists or has the effect of a reduction) and causes transmission and reception of radio frequency signals in directions such as direction 138. Because the user may need to use the wireless capabilities of the device 10 regardless of whether the top cover 12A is open (as in Figure 27) or closed (as in Figure 28), it may be desirable to desensitize the antenna structure 34 to the presence of the slot 56. As described in connection with Figures 18-26.

The antenna structure 34 can be desensitized to the presence of the slot 56 by the positioning of the component 60 (i.e., the antenna resonating element RE and/or the parasitic element PAR) at a suitable location within the slot 56 and the antenna resonating element RE and The locations of the parasitic elements PAR are optimized to ensure satisfactory antenna efficiency and isolation between the resonant elements. An example of a configuration that has been shown to provide satisfactory antenna performance for an electronic device such as a portable computer having a clutch barrel antenna structure is shown in FIGS. 29-33. In such an illustrative configuration, the dual band (e.g., 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) configurations of the type illustrated in Figures 8 through 11 can be used to form the antenna resonating element RE. Other types of resonant elements RE (eg, single-band resonant elements, dual-band resonant elements of different configurations, etc.) can also be used. If necessary, antenna configurations other than the antenna configurations shown in Figures 29-33 can be used (i.e., different antennas having one or more antenna resonating elements and one or more selected parasitic elements in slot 56) structure). The configurations of Figures 29 through 33 are merely illustrative.

29 shows an illustrative configuration that may be used for antenna structure 34 in which three resonant elements RE are present in slot 56 and in which parasitic element PAR is not used.

30 shows an illustrative configuration for antenna structure 34 that may be used in slot 56, which includes three resonant elements RE and one of the parasitic elements PAR is interposed between the three resonant elements. The parasitic element PAR of Figure 30 can be configured to operate in a low frequency communication band while not operating in a high communication band. For example, the parasitic element PAR of Figure 30 can have a configuration of the type shown in Figure 13, which is valid at 2.4 GHz but not valid at 5 GHz (as an example).

In the illustrative configuration shown in FIG. 31, the antenna structure 34 has three resonant elements RE and two parasitic elements PAR. The leftmost parasitic element PAR positioned adjacent to the left end of the slot 56 can be configured to operate in a low frequency communication band (eg, at 2.4 GHz) but in a high frequency band (eg, at 5 GHz) ) does not operate. For example, the leftmost parasitic element can be implemented using a structure of the type shown in FIG. The rightmost parasitic element PAR between the leftmost resonant element RE and the leftmost resonant element RE can be configured to be in both a low frequency band (eg, 2.4 GHz) and a high frequency band (eg, 5 GHz). operating. For example, the parasitic element configuration of the type shown in Figure 14 can be used to implement the rightmost parasitic element.

FIG. 32 shows an illustrative configuration for an antenna structure 34 in which a resonant element RE is present at either end of the slot 56. A single parasitic element PAR can be inserted between the respective resonant elements RE. The parasitic element PAR in the antenna structure 34 of Figure 32 can have a configuration of the type shown in Figure 14 (e.g., the parasitic element can be configured to be in a low frequency band such as the 2.4 GHz band and a high frequency band such as the 5 GHz band. In the operation).

In the configuration of the type shown in Figure 33, the slot 56 contains two resonant elements RE inserted with parasitic elements PAR. For example, the parasitic element PAR of Figure 33 can be implemented using a configuration of the type shown in Figure 12, which is effective in a high frequency communication band (e.g., 5 GHz) but in a low frequency communication band (e.g., 2.4 GHz) Invalid.

According to an embodiment, a device is provided, the device comprising: a conductive element having an opening; at least two antenna resonating elements located in the opening; and a parasitic antenna element located in the opening.

In accordance with another embodiment, each of the antenna resonating elements includes a dual band antenna resonating element that operates in a first communication band and a second communication band.

In accordance with another embodiment, the electrically conductive element includes a conductive outer casing portion in an electronic device, and the opening includes a closed slot that includes a dielectric clutch barrel structure associated with the electronic device.

In accordance with another embodiment, the parasitic antenna element includes conductive traces on a substrate, the conductive traces being configured such that the parasitic antenna element is active in the first communication band and in the second communication band invalid.

In accordance with another embodiment, the parasitic antenna element includes conductive traces on a substrate, the conductive traces being configured such that the parasitic antenna elements are both in the first communication band and the second communication band effective.

In accordance with another embodiment, the conductive member includes a metal housing wall in a portable computer, the opening including a slot including a dielectric clutch barrel structure in the portable computer, and the parasitic antenna element is inserted At least between the two antenna resonant elements.

In accordance with another embodiment, the parasitic antenna element includes a conductor that is tuned to operate at 2.4 GHz and not operate at 5 GHz.

In accordance with another embodiment, the antenna resonating elements include a first antenna resonating element, a second antenna resonating element, and a third antenna resonating element within the slot.

In accordance with another embodiment, the conductive member includes a metal housing wall in a portable computer, the opening including a slot including a dielectric clutch barrel structure in the portable computer, the parasitic antenna element being included One of the at least two parasitic elements in the slot, the first parasitic element, the at least two antenna resonating elements comprising a first antenna resonating element, a second antenna resonating element, and a third antenna resonating element, the slot in the slot One of the at least two parasitic elements is interposed between the first antenna resonating element and the second antenna resonating element, and the first antenna resonating element is inserted into the first parasitic antenna element and Between the second parasitic antenna elements.

In accordance with another embodiment, the first parasitic antenna element includes a conductor that is tuned to operate at 2.4 GHz and does not operate at 5 GHz, and the second parasitic antenna element includes a conductor that is tuned to It operates at both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.

In accordance with another embodiment, the conductive member includes a metal housing wall in a portable computer, the opening including a slot including a dielectric clutch barrel structure in the portable computer, the antenna resonant elements including An antenna resonant element and a second antenna resonant element are interposed between the first antenna resonant element and the second antenna resonant element.

In accordance with another embodiment, the first antenna resonating element and the second antenna resonating element are the only antenna resonating elements within the slot, and the parasitic antenna element includes a conductor that is tuned to at 2.4 GHz Under operation and not operating at 5 GHz.

In accordance with another embodiment, the first antenna resonating element and the second antenna resonating element are the only antenna resonating elements within the slot, and the parasitic antenna element includes a conductor that is tuned to at 2.4 GHz And operate at 5 GHz.

According to an embodiment, a portable computer is provided, the portable computer comprising: a housing having an upper housing portion including a display and having a lower housing portion; a hinge connecting the upper housing portion to the a lower outer casing portion, wherein the upper outer casing portion includes a clutch barrel fitted with the hinges, and the upper outer casing and the lower outer casing include a conductive structure, wherein the clutch cylinder includes the upper outer casing portion and the lower outer casing portion The conductive structure surrounds to form a slotted dielectric structure; a plurality of antenna resonating elements are embedded in the slot, each of the plurality of antenna resonating elements having an antenna feed line formed for one of the antenna resonating elements An associated positive antenna feed terminal and a grounded antenna feed terminal, wherein each of the antenna feeds is coupled to a respective transmission line; and at least one parasitic antenna element is enclosed within the slot.

In accordance with another embodiment, the antenna resonating elements include traces on a dielectric carrier, and the at least one parasitic antenna element includes traces on the dielectric carrier.

In accordance with another embodiment, the portable computer also includes a grounded trace on the dielectric carrier, wherein the traces of the parasitic antenna element have a shape having a connection to the ground A trace segment and having a second trace segment parallel to one of the grounds.

In accordance with another embodiment, the portable computer also includes a grounded trace on the dielectric carrier, wherein the traces of the parasitic antenna element have a shape having a connection to the ground A trace segment and having a second trace segment and a third trace segment parallel to the ground.

According to an embodiment, there is provided an antenna structure in an electronic device, the antenna structure comprising: a conductive electronic device housing structure surrounding a closed slot; and a plurality of antenna resonating elements and at least one parasitic antenna element, Inside the closed slot.

In accordance with another embodiment, the electrically conductive electronic device housing structure has an upper housing portion, a lower housing portion, and a hinge structure connecting the upper housing portion to the lower housing portion, the closing slot including one of the hinge structures A dielectric cover is disposed, and the dielectric cover substantially overlaps the slot.

In accordance with another embodiment, the antenna resonating elements include at least a first dual band antenna resonating element and a second dual band antenna resonating element formed by conductive traces over a dielectric substrate covered by the dielectric cap. The parasitic antenna element includes a conductive trace on the dielectric substrate, and the first dual band antenna and the second dual band antenna each have a positive antenna feed terminal and a negative antenna feed terminal, and the parasitic antenna elements do not have An antenna feed line terminal, and the parasitic antenna elements share a common ground trace on the dielectric substrate with the first dual band antenna and the second dual band antenna.

The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, and various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

<p>10. . . Electronic device</p><p>12. . . shell</p><p>12A. . . Upper housing</p><p>12A-1. . . Frame structure/frame</p><p>12B. . . Lower housing</p><p>14. . . monitor</p><p>16. . . keyboard</p><p>18. . . Trackpad</p><p>20. . . region</p><p>twenty two. . . Rotation axis</p><p>twenty four. . . direction</p><p>26. . . camera</p><p>28. . . port</p><p>30. . . Control circuit</p><p>32. . . Wireless RF Transceiver / RF Transceiver Circuit</p><p>34. . . Antenna/antenna structure</p><p>36. . . Wireless circuit</p><p>38. . . Transmission line path / coaxial cable / feeder transmission line</p><p>40. . . Clutch / hinge</p><p>40L. . . Left hinge</p><p>40R. . . Right hinge</p><p>42. . . structure</p><p>44. . . hole</p><p>46. . . structure</p><p>48. . . hole</p><p>50. . . Shaft</p><p>52. . . section</p><p>54. . . Clutch cylinder</p><p>56. . . Opening/slot</p><p>58. . . Surroundings of the trough</p><p>60. . . Antenna assembly</p><p>62. . . Conductive component</p><p>64. . . source</p><p>66. . . Positive antenna feeder terminal / positive antenna feeder</p><p>68. . . Grounding antenna feeder terminal / antenna grounding feeder</p><p>70. . . Section</p><p>72. . . Section</p><p>74. . . Section</p><p>76. . . Section</p><p>78. . . node</p><p>80. . . Section</p><p>82. . . Section</p><p>84. . . Section</p><p>86. . . Section</p><p>88. . . Section</p><p>90. . . Section</p><p>92. . . Plastic substrate/carrier</p><p>94. . . Surface of the carrier</p><p>96. . . Surface of the carrier</p><p>98. . . Patterned metal trace</p><p>100. . . Patterned metal trace</p><p>102. . . section</p><p>104. . . Conductive external braided conductor</p><p>106. . . Central positive conductor</p><p>108. . . Solder connection</p><p>110. . . point</p><p>112. . . Trace</p><p>114. . . Harmonic mode</p><p>116. . . Location/site</p><p>118. . . position</p><p>120. . . Location/site</p><p>122. . . Longitudinal groove size / groove length size</p><p>124. . . End of the slot</p><p>126. . . position</p><p>128. . . Resonance characteristics of the groove</p><p>130. . . Slot performance</p><p>132. . . Resonance characteristics of resonant elements</p><p>134. . . direction</p><p>136. . . direction</p><p>138. . . direction</p><p>B. . . Primary resonance component branch</p><p>D. . . distance</p><p>DS. . . Transverse distance</p><p>E1. . . electric field</p><p>E2. . . Intermediate electric field strength</p><p>E3. . . electric field</p><p>F. . . Feeder branch</p><p>f₁. . . Low frequency band</p><p>f₂. . . High frequency band</p><p>f_A. . . frequency</p><p>f_B. . . frequency</p><p>f_C. . . frequency</p><p>F_CN. . . frequency</p><p>f_D. . . frequency</p><p>f_DN. . . frequency</p><p>FT. . . Fragment/curved tip portion</p><p>G. . . Ground/ground plane component/ground conductor</p><p>HB1. . . Section</p><p>HB2. . . Section</p><p>L. . . Physical length</p><p>LB. . . Section</p><p>LG1. . . length</p><p>LG2. . . length</p><p>LL. . . length</p><p>LR. . . length</p><p>LS. . . length</p><p>MS. . . Zigzag section</p><p>PAR. . . Parasitic element</p><p>PTA. . . point</p><p>PTB. . . point</p><p>RE. . . Antenna resonance element</p><p>SC. . . Short circuit branch</p><p>TP. . . Wedge conductive structure / tip segment</p><p>VD. . . Resolution / distance</p><p>X1. . . width</p><p>X2. . . thickness</p><p>X3. . . length</p>

1 is a perspective view of an illustrative electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative electronic device having a wireless circuit including an antenna structure and a transceiver circuit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a perspective view of an illustrative hinge that can be used in an electronic device having a housing portion that rotates relative to one another, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a perspective view of an illustrative electronic device, such as a portable computer, showing how the electronic device can have a clutch barrel that is equipped with an antenna and a hinge structure, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a diagram showing how a housing structure in an electronic device such as a portable computer having a hinge can form a slot, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a diagram showing how an antenna structure, such as an antenna resonating element and a parasitic element, can be assembled within a slot, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a diagram showing how an antenna for an electronic device can have an inverted-F antenna resonant element, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

8 and 9 are diagrams of illustrative antenna structures having dual band antenna resonant elements in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

10 is a diagram showing how an antenna for an electronic device can have a multi-band inverted-F antenna resonant element having a triangle such as an impedance matching structure, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The conductive structure of the shape conductor.

11 is a diagram showing how an antenna for an electronic device can have a multi-band inverted-F antenna resonant element having an impedance matching structure, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

12 is a diagram of an illustrative parasitic antenna element that can be used in an antenna structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

13 is an illustration of an illustrative parasitic antenna element configured to operate at a lower frequency than the parasitic element of FIG. 12, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

14 is a diagram of an illustrative parasitic antenna element configured to be at a frequency encompassed by a parasitic element of the type illustrated in FIG. 12 and by FIG. 13 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The frequencies covered by the parasitic elements of the type shown operate under both frequencies.

15 is a diagram of an illustrative dual band parasitic antenna element implemented using a meander loop configuration in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

16 is a perspective view of an illustrative antenna carrier having traces forming two antenna resonating elements and one parasitic antenna element, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

17 is a perspective view of a portion of an antenna carrier of the type illustrated in FIG. 16 showing how a transmission line such as a coaxial cable can be attached to the carrier and for feeding to the carrier, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Antenna resonance element.

18 is a diagram of an illustrative resonant harmonic mode for an antenna slot in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

19 is a diagram showing how an antenna resonant element and a parasitic element can be formed in a slot, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

20 is a graph showing how a slot harmonic can interact with the performance of a dual band antenna resonant element mounted in a slot and showing how parasitic elements can be used to adjust antenna performance, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

21 is a diagram showing an illustrative portion of an antenna resonating element that can be assembled in a slot in a conductive structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 22 is a graph showing how the antenna resonating elements and slots of Figure 21 can behave in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

23 is a diagram showing how a second resonant element can fit within the slot of FIG. 21, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

24 is a graph showing how the performance of the antenna structure of FIG. 21 can be modified by introducing the second antenna resonating element of FIG. 23, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 25 is a diagram showing how parasitic antenna elements can be introduced into one of the ends of the slot of Figure 23 to modify the characteristics of the slot and thereby adjust antenna performance, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

26 is a diagram showing how parasitic antenna elements can be introduced into the slots of FIG. 23 between adjacent resonant elements to modify the characteristics of the slots and thereby adjust antenna performance, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

27 is a cross-sectional side view of an electronic device, such as a portable computer, showing how a trough structure may be present when the top cover of the device is in an open position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

28 is a cross-sectional side view of the electronic device of FIG. 27 showing how the trench structure can be effectively absent when the top cover of the device is in the closed position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

29 is a diagram showing how three antenna resonating elements can fit within a slot in a conductive structure, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

30 is a diagram showing how three antenna resonating elements and parasitic antenna elements located between adjacent antenna resonating elements can fit within a slot, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

31 is a diagram showing how three antenna resonating elements and two parasitic antenna elements can be assembled in a slot, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

32 is a diagram showing how two antenna resonating elements and a dual band parasitic antenna element interposed between the two antenna resonating elements can be assembled in a slot, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 33 is a diagram showing how two antenna resonating elements and a single band parasitic antenna element interposed between the two antenna resonating elements can be assembled in a slot, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.