Abstract: An electronic device is described. This electronic device includes: an interface circuit; and an antenna having a radiator and multiple pairs of reflectors arranged along different axes passing through the radiator in a horizontal plane. A given pair of reflectors includes reflectors on opposite sides of the radiator and along a given axis. During operation, the interface circuit provides control signals to switching elements that selectively electrically couple one or more of the reflectors in the pairs of reflectors to ground, where the one or more of the reflectors modify an antenna radiation pattern of the radiator. Then, the interface circuit communicates, via the antenna, a packet or a frame with a second electronic device, where the communication involves transmitting or receiving wireless signals corresponding to the packet or the frame.

Abstract: An electronic device that uses an arbitrary transmit polarization is described. This electronic device includes: a first antenna having a first predefined polarization; and a second antenna having a second predefined polarization, where the second predefined polarization is different from the first predefined polarization. During operation, an interface circuit in the electronic device selectively transmits, from the first antenna, first wireless signals corresponding to the packet or the frame. Moreover, the interface circuit selectively transmits, from the second antenna, second wireless signals corresponding to the packet or the frame, where the second wireless signals have a same magnitude as the first wireless signals, and the second wireless signals are transmitted from the second antenna concurrently (or at the same time) as the first wireless signals are transmitted from the first antenna. Note that the interface circuit may dynamically modify the transmit polarization during the communication.

Abstract: An electronic device is described. This electronic device includes: an interface circuit; and an antenna having a radiator and multiple pairs of reflectors arranged along different axes passing through the radiator in a horizontal plane. A given pair of reflectors includes reflectors on opposite sides of the radiator and along a given axis. During operation, the interface circuit provides control signals to switching elements that selectively electrically couple one or more of the reflectors in the pairs of reflectors to ground, where the one or more of the reflectors modify an antenna radiation pattern of the radiator. Then, the interface circuit communicates, via the antenna, a packet or a frame with a second electronic device, where the communication involves transmitting or receiving wireless signals corresponding to the packet or the frame.

Abstract: An electronic device that uses an arbitrary transmit polarization is described. This electronic device includes: a first antenna having a first predefined polarization; and a second antenna having a second predefined polarization, where the second predefined polarization is different from the first predefined polarization. During operation, an interface circuit in the electronic device selectively transmits, from the first antenna, first wireless signals corresponding to the packet or the frame. Moreover, the interface circuit selectively transmits, from the second antenna, second wireless signals corresponding to the packet or the frame, where the second wireless signals have a same magnitude as the first wireless signals, and the second wireless signals are transmitted from the second antenna concurrently (or at the same time) as the first wireless signals are transmitted from the first antenna. Note that the interface circuit may dynamically modify the transmit polarization during the communication.

Abstract: Antenna structures and methods of operating the same are described. One apparatus includes a metal cover having a first corner ground element, a second corner ground element, a first strip element, a second strip element, a radio frequency (RF) feed, and a RF circuit. The first strip element is physically separated from the first corner ground element by a first cutout in the metal cover. The first strip element is physically separated from the second strip element by a second cutout in the metal cover. The second strip element is physically separated from the second corner ground element by a third cutout in the metal cover. The RF circuitry is coupled to the RF feed, where the RF circuitry is operable to cause the first corner ground element and the first strip element as well as the second corner ground element and the second strip element to radiate electromagnetic energy.

Abstract: A method to design antennas with broadband characteristics. In an exemplary embodiment, a method comprises loading an antenna structure with multiple reactive loads. The multiple loads are synthesized by applying the theory of Characteristic Modes. Another exemplary embodiment includes an antenna adapted to have broadband characteristics. One example is a wire dipole antenna. In an exemplary embodiment, a loaded antenna may be adapted to resonate an arbitrary current over a wide frequency band. The loads may require non-Foster elements when realized. Exemplary embodiments may include the broadband characteristics of the both the input impedance at the terminal of the antenna as well as the radiation pattern.