Patents by Inventor Juan Zavala
Juan Zavala has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Publication number: 20110136447Abstract: Electronic devices are provided that contain wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may include radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and antenna structures. A parallel-fed loop antenna may be formed from portions of an electronic device bezel and a ground plane. The antenna may operate in multiple communications bands. An impedance matching circuit for the antenna may be formed from a parallel-connected inductive element and a series-connected capacitive element. The bezel may surround a peripheral portion of a display that is mounted to the front of an electronic device. The bezel may contain a gap. Antenna feed terminals for the antenna may be located on opposing sides of the gap. The inductive element may bridge the gap and the antenna feed terminals. The capacitive element may be connected in series between one of the antenna feed terminals and a conductor in a transmission line located between the transceiver circuitry and the antenna.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2009Publication date: June 9, 2011Inventors: Mattia Pascolini, Robert J. Hill, Juan Zavala, Nanbo Jin, Qingxiang Li, Robert W. Schlub, Ruben Caballero
-
Publication number: 20110133995Abstract: Electronic devices are provided that contain wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may include radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and antenna structures. A parallel-fed loop antenna may be formed from portions of an electronic device bezel and a ground plane. The antenna may operate in multiple communications bands. An impedance matching circuit for the antenna may be formed from a parallel-connected inductive element and a series-connected capacitive element. The bezel may surround a peripheral portion of a display that is mounted to the front of an electronic device. The bezel may contain a gap. Antenna feed terminals for the antenna may be located on opposing sides of the gap. The inductive element may bridge the gap and the antenna feed terminals. The capacitive element may be connected in series between one of the antenna feed terminals and a conductor in a transmission line located between the transceiver circuitry and the antenna.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2010Publication date: June 9, 2011Inventors: Mattia Pascolini, Robert J. Hill, Juan Zavala, Nanbo Jin, Qingxiang Li, Robert W. Schlub, Ruben Caballero
-
Patent number: 7898485Abstract: Handheld electronic devices are provided that contain wireless communications circuitry having at least first and second antennas. An antenna isolation element reduces signal interference between the antennas, so that the antennas may be used in close proximity to each other. A planar ground element may be used as a ground by the first and second antennas. The first antenna may be formed using a hybrid planar-inverted-F and slot arrangement in which a planar resonating element is located above a rectangular slot in the planar ground element. The second antenna may be formed from an L-shaped strip. The planar resonating element of the first antenna may have first and second arms. The first arm may resonate at a common frequency with the second antenna and may serve as the isolation element. The second arm may resonate at approximately the same frequency as the slot portion of the hybrid antenna.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2009Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Robert W. Schlub, Robert J. Hill, Juan Zavala, Ruben Caballero
-
Patent number: 7893883Abstract: Handheld electronic devices are provided that contain wireless communications circuitry having at least first and second antennas. An antenna isolation element reduces signal interference between the antennas, so that the antennas may be used in close proximity to each other. A planar ground element may be used as a ground by the first and second antennas. The first antenna may be formed using a hybrid planar-inverted-F and slot arrangement in which a planar resonating element is located above a rectangular slot in the planar ground element. The second antenna may be formed from an L-shaped strip. The planar resonating element of the first antenna may have first and second arms. The first arm may resonate at a common frequency with the second antenna and may serve as the isolation element. The second arm may resonate at approximately the same frequency as the slot portion of the hybrid antenna.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2009Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Robert W. Schlub, Robert J. Hill, Juan Zavala, Ruben Caballero
-
Patent number: 7864123Abstract: Handheld electronic devices are provided that contain wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may include an antenna. The antenna may be formed from a ground plane having a dielectric-filled slot that defines a slot antenna structure and having a planar-inverted-F (PIFA) resonating element located above the opening. The slot antenna structure and the PIFA resonating element may both contribute to the performance of the antenna, so that the antenna exhibits the performance of a hybrid PIFA-slot antenna. The PIFA resonating element may contain multiple antenna resonating element branches. The branches may be configured to operate in different communications bands than the slot antenna structure.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2007Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Hill, Juan Zavala
-
Patent number: 7808438Abstract: Handheld electronic devices are provided that contain wireless communications circuitry having at least first and second antennas. An antenna isolation element reduces signal interference between the antennas, so that the antennas may be used in close proximity to each other. A planar ground element may be used as a ground by the first and second antennas. The first antenna may be formed using a hybrid planar-inverted-F and slot arrangement in which a planar resonating element is located above a rectangular slot in the planar ground element. The second antenna may be formed from an L-shaped strip. The planar resonating element of the first antenna may have first and second arms. The first arm may resonate at a common frequency with the second antenna and may serve as the isolation element. The second arm may resonate at approximately the same frequency as the slot portion of the hybrid antenna.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2009Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Robert W. Schlub, Robert J. Hill, Juan Zavala, Ruben Caballero
-
Publication number: 20100026587Abstract: Compact portable wireless devices and antennas for compact portable wireless devices are provided. The compact portable wireless device may be part of a piece of sports equipment. A compact portable wireless device may include a transceiver module that is used in communicating with equipment such as a handheld electronic device. An antenna for a compact portable wireless device can have a relatively small size while exhibiting high efficiency. A planar ground structure for the antenna may be formed from a circuit board on which integrated circuits have been mounted. A curved inverted-F resonating element may be attached to the ground structure. A battery may be provided to power the compact portable wireless device. The battery may be used as a parasitic antenna element.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2009Publication date: February 4, 2010Inventors: Shu-Li Wang, Juan Zavala, Christopher David Prest
-
Publication number: 20090303139Abstract: Handheld electronic devices are provided that contain wireless communications circuitry having at least first and second antennas. An antenna isolation element reduces signal interference between the antennas, so that the antennas may be used in close proximity to each other. A planar ground element may be used as a ground by the first and second antennas. The first antenna may be formed using a hybrid planar-inverted-F and slot arrangement in which a planar resonating element is located above a rectangular slot in the planar ground element. The second antenna may be formed from an L-shaped strip. The planar resonating element of the first antenna may have first and second arms. The first arm may resonate at a common frequency with the second antenna and may serve as the isolation element. The second arm may resonate at approximately the same frequency as the slot portion of the hybrid antenna.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2009Publication date: December 10, 2009Inventors: Robert W. Schlub, Robert J. Hill, Juan Zavala, Ruben Caballero
-
Patent number: 7623077Abstract: Compact portable wireless devices and antennas for compact portable wireless devices are provided. The compact portable wireless device may be part of a piece of sports equipment. A compact portable wireless device may include a transceiver module that is used in communicating with equipment such as a handheld electronic device. An antenna for a compact portable wireless device can have a relatively small size while exhibiting high efficiency. A planar ground structure for the antenna may be formed from a circuit board on which integrated circuits have been mounted. A curved inverted-F resonating element may be attached to the ground structure. A battery may be provided to power the compact portable wireless device. The battery may be used as a parasitic antenna element.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2006Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Shu-Li Wang, Juan Zavala, Christopher David Prest
-
Publication number: 20090278753Abstract: Handheld electronic devices are provided that contain wireless communications circuitry having at least first and second antennas. An antenna isolation element reduces signal interference between the antennas, so that the antennas may be used in close proximity to each other. A planar ground element may be used as a ground by the first and second antennas. The first antenna may be formed using a hybrid planar-inverted-F and slot arrangement in which a planar resonating element is located above a rectangular slot in the planar ground element. The second antenna may be formed from an L-shaped strip. The planar resonating element of the first antenna may have first and second arms. The first arm may resonate at a common frequency with the second antenna and may serve as the isolation element. The second arm may resonate at approximately the same frequency as the slot portion of the hybrid antenna.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2009Publication date: November 12, 2009Inventors: Robert W. Schlub, Robert J. Hill, Juan Zavala, Ruben Caballero
-
Publication number: 20090275370Abstract: Handheld electronic devices are provided that contain wireless communications circuitry having at least first and second antennas. An antenna isolation element reduces signal interference between the antennas, so that the antennas may be used in close proximity to each other. A planar ground element may be used as a ground by the first and second antennas. The first antenna may be formed using a hybrid planar-inverted-F and slot arrangement in which a planar resonating element is located above a rectangular slot in the planar ground element. The second antenna may be formed from an L-shaped strip. The planar resonating element of the first antenna may have first and second arms. The first arm may resonate at a common frequency with the second antenna and may serve as the isolation element. The second arm may resonate at approximately the same frequency as the slot portion of the hybrid antenna.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2009Publication date: November 5, 2009Inventors: Robert W. Schlub, Robert J. Hill, Juan Zavala, Ruben Caballero
-
Publication number: 20090273526Abstract: Handheld electronic devices are provided that contain wireless communications circuitry having at least first and second antennas. An antenna isolation element reduces signal interference between the antennas, so that the antennas may be used in close proximity to each other. A planar ground element may be used as a ground by the first and second antennas. The first antenna may be formed using a hybrid planar-inverted-F and slot arrangement in which a planar resonating element is located above a rectangular slot in the planar ground element. The second antenna may be formed from an L-shaped strip. The planar resonating element of the first antenna may have first and second arms. The first arm may resonate at a common frequency with the second antenna and may serve as the isolation element. The second arm may resonate at approximately the same frequency as the slot portion of the hybrid antenna.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2009Publication date: November 5, 2009Inventors: Robert W. Schlub, Robert J. Hill, Juan Zavala, Ruben Caballero
-
Publication number: 20090256758Abstract: A portable electronic device is provided that has a hybrid antenna. The hybrid antenna may include a slot antenna structure and a planar inverted-F antenna structure. The planar inverted-F antenna structure may be formed from traces on a flex circuit substrate. A backside trace may form a series capacitance for the planar inverted-F antenna structure. The antenna slot may have a perimeter that is defined by the location of conductive structures such as flex circuits, metal housing structures, a conductive bezel, printed circuit board ground conductors, and electrical components. Springs may be used in electrically connecting these conductive elements. A spring-loaded pin may be used as part of an antenna feed conductor. The pin may connect a transmission line path on a printed circuit board to the planar inverted-F antenna structure while allowing the planar inverted-F antenna structure to be removed from the device for rework or repair.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2008Publication date: October 15, 2009Inventors: Robert W. Schlub, Qingxiang Li, Juan Zavala, Robert J. Hill
-
Patent number: 7595759Abstract: Handheld electronic devices are provided that contain wireless communications circuitry having at least first and second antennas. An antenna isolation element reduces signal interference between the antennas, so that the antennas may be used in close proximity to each other. A planar ground element may be used as a ground by the first and second antennas. The first antenna may be formed using a hybrid planar-inverted-F and slot arrangement in which a planar resonating element is located above a rectangular slot in the planar ground element. The second antenna may be formed from an L-shaped strip. The planar resonating element of the first antenna may have first and second arms. The first arm may resonate at a common frequency with the second antenna and may serve as the isolation element. The second arm may resonate at approximately the same frequency as the slot portion of the hybrid antenna.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2007Date of Patent: September 29, 2009Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Robert W. Schlub, Robert J. Hill, Juan Zavala, Ruben Caballero
-
Patent number: 7551142Abstract: A handheld electronic device is provided that contains wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may include antennas. An antenna in the handheld electronic device may have a ground plane element. A slot antenna resonating element may be formed from an opening in the ground plane element. A near-field-coupled antenna resonating element may be electromagnetically coupled to the slot antenna resonating element through electromagnetic near-field coupling. A transmission line may directly feed the slot antenna resonating element. The transmission line may indirectly feed the near-field-coupled antenna resonating element through the slot antenna resonating element. The slot antenna resonating element may have one or more associated resonant frequencies and the near-field-coupled antenna resonating element may have one or more associated resonant frequencies. The antenna may be configured to cover one or more distinct communications bands.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2007Date of Patent: June 23, 2009Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Zhijun Zhang, Robert J. Hill, Robert W. Schlub, Juan Zavala, Ruben Caballero
-
Publication number: 20090153407Abstract: A handheld electronic device is provided that contains wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may include antennas. An antenna in the handheld electronic device may have a ground plane element. A slot antenna resonating element may be formed from an opening in the ground plane element. A near-field-coupled antenna resonating element may be electromagnetically coupled to the slot antenna resonating element through electromagnetic near-field coupling. A transmission line may directly feed the slot antenna resonating element. The transmission line may indirectly feed the near-field-coupled antenna resonating element through the slot antenna resonating element. The slot antenna resonating element may have one or more associated resonant frequencies and the near-field-coupled antenna resonating element may have one or more associated resonant frequencies. The antenna may be configured to cover one or more distinct communications bands.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2007Publication date: June 18, 2009Inventors: Zhijun Zhang, Robert J. Hill, Robert W. Schlub, Juan Zavala, Ruben Caballero
-
Publication number: 20090058735Abstract: Handheld electronic devices are provided that contain wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may include an antenna. The antenna may be formed from a ground plane having a dielectric-filled slot that defines a slot antenna structure and having a planar-inverted-F (PIFA) resonating element located above the opening. The slot antenna structure and the PIFA resonating element may both contribute to the performance of the antenna, so that the antenna exhibits the performance of a hybrid PIFA-slot antenna. The PIFA resonating element may contain multiple antenna resonating element branches. The branches may be configured to operate in different communications bands than the slot antenna structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2007Publication date: March 5, 2009Inventors: Robert J. Hill, Juan Zavala
-
Publication number: 20080165065Abstract: Handheld electronic devices are provided that contain wireless communications circuitry having at least one antenna. The antenna may have a planar ground element and a planar resonating element. The planar ground element may have a rectangular shape that matches a rectangular housing shape for a handheld electronic device. A dielectric-filled slot may be formed in one end of the planar ground element. The planar resonating element may be located above the slot. The antenna may be a hybrid antenna that contains both a slot antenna structure formed from the slot and a planar inverted-F structure formed from the planar resonating element and the planar ground element. The antenna may be fed using a single transmission line or two transmission lines. With two transmission lines, one transmission line may be associated with the slot antenna structure and one transmission line may be associated with the planar inverted-F antenna structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2007Publication date: July 10, 2008Inventors: Robert J. Hill, Robert W. Schlub, Juan Zavala, Ruben Caballero
-
Publication number: 20080165063Abstract: Handheld electronic devices are provided that contain wireless communications circuitry having at least first and second antennas. An antenna isolation element reduces signal interference between the antennas, so that the antennas may be used in close proximity to each other. A planar ground element may be used as a ground by the first and second antennas. The first antenna may be formed using a hybrid planar-inverted-F and slot arrangement in which a planar resonating element is located above a rectangular slot in the planar ground element. The second antenna may be formed from an L-shaped strip. The planar resonating element of the first antenna may have first and second arms. The first arm may resonate at a common frequency with the second antenna and may serve as the isolation element. The second arm may resonate at approximately the same frequency as the slot portion of the hybrid antenna.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2007Publication date: July 10, 2008Inventors: Robert W. Schlub, Robert J. Hill, Juan Zavala, Ruben Caballero
-
Publication number: 20080167073Abstract: A handheld device may include one or more antennas and a connector both disposed at a base of the handheld device. The connector may have a shell comprising a conductive material. The connector shell may include at least one opening in a portion of the conductive material to reduce electromagnetic interference between the connector shell and the one or more antennas.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 2, 2008Publication date: July 10, 2008Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Phillip M. Hobson, Robert J. Hill, Robert W. Schlub, Juan Zavala, Tang Yew Tan, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Kenneth A. Jenks, Robert Sean Murphy, Erik L. Wang