Abstract: A wireless terminal comprises a ground conductor (1102) and a transceiver coupled to an antenna feed, the antenna feed being coupled directly to the ground conductor (1102). In one embodiment the ground conductor is a conducting case (1102). The coupling may be via a parallel plate capacitor (504) formed by a plate (506) and a surface (1108) of the case (1102). The case (1102) acts as an efficient, wideband radiator, eliminating the need for a separate antenna. In a modification of this embodiment a slot (1112) is provided to increase the resistance of the case (1102) as seen by the transceiver, thereby increasing the radiating bandwidth of the terminal.

Abstract: An antenna arrangement comprises a multi-band antenna (102) fed via a multiplexer (106) having at least one input (110) and implemented close to the antenna feed (104). The multiplexer (106) may incorporate antenna matching and broadbanding circuitry.

Abstract: A garment 10, such as a pair of trousers, skirt or full-length coat, comprises an antenna 12 and means 14 for connection of the same to a portable electronic device 16 to permit wireless communications of said device 16 via the antenna 12. The antenna 12 is a longitudinal conductive element attached to the garment 10 in such an orientation as to be close to the ground and to extend substantially vertically when a wearer of the garment is in a standing position. The antenna orientation close to the natural ground plane gives improved reception for, e.g. FM radio broadcasts.

Abstract: A dual band patch antenna (700) comprises a conventional patch conductor (106) having a resonant circuit (702, 704) connected between the patch conductor and a ground conductor (102). The resonant circuit (702, 704) modifies the behavior of the antenna (700) in the vicinity of its resonant frequency, thereby providing a dual band antenna in which both bands can be used simultaneously. The total radiating bandwidth of the dual band antenna is significantly greater than that of an equivalent antenna having no resonant circuits. Additional resonant circuits can be employed to provide a multi-band antenna.

Abstract: A wireless terminal has an antenna arrangement including one or more antennas (102a, 102b) designed to reduce substantially currents flowing on ground conductors (104a, 104b, 104c) within the device. In known terminals, these currents generate radiation of unwanted polarisations and radiation in unwanted directions, and can also reduce radiation efficiency.

Abstract: In an ad-hoc radio communication system comprising a plurality of stations (100) formed into at least one network (102a,102b), each station (100) is assigned a rank representative of its suitability for performing the role of master station in a network (102a). The rank may for example be assessed depending on the performance of the station's antenna (204) or its access to mains power. It is arranged that the station (100) having the highest rank in a network (102a,102b) performs the role of master for that network, thereby improving the efficiency of communication in the network.