Abstract: One embodiment is an LTE antenna optimized for North American Electricity meters. In one example, the carrier assembly component is a device comprising a carrier having first and second asymmetrical voids on a surface; a backer on a first side of the surface of the carrier; and first, second, third, and fourth structures on a second side of the carrier connected to the backer via the asymmetrical voids.

Abstract: One embodiment is an LTE antenna optimized for North American Electricity meters. In one example, the carrier assembly component is a device comprising a carrier having first and second asymmetrical voids on a surface; a backer on a first side of the surface of the carrier; and first, second, third, and fourth structures on a second side of the carrier connected to the backer via the asymmetrical voids.

Abstract: A wireless terminal includes an RF transceiver, an auto tuner, and an antenna. When a remote signal is received at the wireless terminal, the auto tuner is adjusted in accordance with the received signal to optimize OTA performance of the wireless terminal. As further remote signals are received by the wireless terminal, the tuner is readjusted. As a user inputs information to be transmitted, the tuner is also readjusted in accordance with the transmission signals to optimize OTA performance of the wireless terminal, and a best compromise between the TX OTA performance and the RX OTA performance is calculated. Current/temperature information may also be obtained for readjusting the tuner.

Abstract: A cellular modem card that conforms to a PCMCIA standard includes a balanced antenna. The balanced antenna minimizes susceptibility to limited available ground plane and limited ground connections between the modem card and a host device, such as laptop computer. The balanced antenna may be a dipole antenna, loop antenna, capacitively loaded antenna, or any other suitable balanced antenna.

Abstract: A capacitively-loaded loop antenna and corresponding radiation method have been provided. The antenna comprises a transformer loop having a balanced feed interface and a capacitively-loaded loop radiator. In one aspect, the capacitively-loaded loop radiator is a balanced radiator. In another, the transformed loop and capacitively-loaded loop radiator are physically connected. That is, the transformer loop and the capacitively-loaded loop radiator have a portion shared by both of the loop perimeters. Alternately, the loops are physically independent of each other. In one aspect, the perimeters have a rectangular shape. Other shapes such as round or oval are also possible. In another aspect, the planes formed by the transformer and capacitively-loaded loop radiator can be coplanar or non-planar, while both loops are orthogonal to a common magnetic near-field generated by the transformed loop.

Abstract: Multi-plane antennae on a substrate having a front face and a back face are provided. A plurality of through holes extend through the substrate between the front face and the back face of the substrate. A first antenna component is on the front face of the substrate and a second antenna component is on the back face of the substrate. A conductive via extends through a selected one of the through holes that electrically connects the first antenna component and the second antenna component to define the multi-plane antenna on the substrate. The substrate may be a printed circuit board (PCB). Mobile terminals including a multi-plane antenna and methods of configuring a multi-plane antenna are also provided.

Abstract: A wireless terminal includes an RF transceiver, an auto tuner, and an antenna. When a remote signal is received at the wireless terminal, the auto tuner is adjusted in accordance with the received signal to optimize OTA performance of the wireless terminal. As further remote signals are received by the wireless terminal, the tuner is readjusted. As a user inputs information to be transmitted, the tuner is also readjusted in accordance with the transmission signals to optimize OTA performance of the wireless terminal, and a best compromise between the TX OTA performance and the RX OTA performance is calculated. Current/temperature information may also be obtained for readjusting the tuner.

Abstract: Multi-plane antennae on a substrate having a front face and a back face are provided. A plurality of through holes extend through the substrate between the front face and the back face of the substrate. A first antenna component is on the front face of the substrate and a second antenna component is on the back face of the substrate. A conductive via extends through a selected one of the through holes that electrically connects the first antenna component and the second antenna component to define the multi-plane antenna on the substrate. The substrate may be a printed circuit board (PCB). Mobile terminals including a multi-plane antenna and methods of configuring a multi-plane antenna are also provided.

Abstract: A method of changing a resonant frequency of an antenna includes coupling the antenna to a ground plane of a circuit board, where the ground plane includes conductive material. The method further includes removing a section of conductive material from a first location of the ground plane, where the shape of the removed section and the first location determine the resonant frequency of the antenna.

Abstract: A multiple band capacitively-loaded magnetic dipole antenna includes a plurality of magnetic dipole radiators connected to a transformer loop where the magnetic dipole radiators include at least one capacitively-loaded magnetic dipole radiator. The transformer loop has a balanced feed interface and includes a side that provides a transformer interface of quasi loops formed by the plurality of magnetic dipole radiators. Each quasi loop has a configuration and length to maximize antenna performance within a different frequency band. The at least one capacitively-loaded magnetic dipole radiator may be formed with a meander line structure and may include an electric field bridge such as a dielectric gap, lumped element, circuit board surface-mounted, ferroelectric tunable, or a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) capacitor.

Abstract: The method and apparatus described herein improves the bandwidth of a selected frequency band of a multi-band antenna. In particular, a selection circuit selectively applies capacitive coupling to the multi-band antenna to improve the bandwidth of a first frequency band without adversely affecting the bandwidth of a second frequency band. To that end, the multi-band antenna of the present invention comprises a main antenna element and a parasitic element disposed proximate the main antenna element. When the multi-band antenna operates in the first frequency band, the main antenna element capacitively couples to the parasitic element. However, when the multi-band antenna operates in the second frequency band, the selection circuit disables the capacitive coupling.

Abstract: A multiband planar inverted F antenna (PIFA) can provide improved performance and operating efficiency, and utilizes a capacitive element configured to provide high efficiency operation, and a tuning area that allows the antenna to be tuned independently of the capacitive element. As a result of this feature, the antenna can be tuned to the desired operating frequencies, while allowing the capacitive element to remain configured for optimal operating efficiency. The antenna can be configured in a loop for effective utilization of a given volume and can therefore be relatively small in size and high efficiency. A capacitive loading section can be included to allow improved antenna efficiency and radiation. Additionally, tuning section can be provided to allow the antenna to be tuned without adjusting the capacitive loading section. To obtain operation at an additional frequency band, a parasitic element or a slot configuration can be included.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided that includes a housing having an upper slider portion and a lower slider portion. The upper slider portion and the lower slider portion are slidably engaged to permit relative sliding motion therebetween along a sliding axis. The electronic device further includes an upper printed circuit board and upper ground plane housed within the upper slider portion, the upper printed circuit board having circuitry assembled thereon. In addition, the electronic device includes a lower printed circuit board and lower ground plane housed within the lower slider portion, the lower printed circuit board having additional circuitry assembled thereon. Furthermore, the electronic device includes at least one of a radio transmitter or receiver within the housing for transmitting/receiving communications via the electronic device, and an antenna housed within the lower slider portion generally laterally adjacent a first edge of the lower ground plane.

Abstract: The method and apparatus described herein improves the impedance matching of a multi-band antenna. In particular, the multi-band antenna comprises a radiating element vertically displaced from an antenna ground plane by feed and ground elements, and a parasitic element interposed between the feed and ground elements. When the multi-band antenna operates in the first frequency band, a selection circuit connects the parasitic element to the ground plane to capacitively couple the ground element to the feed element. However, when the multi-band antenna operates in the second frequency band, the selection circuit disables the capacitive coupling. By applying the capacitive coupling only when the multi-band antenna operates in the first frequency band, the present invention improves the performance of the antenna in the first frequency band without adversely affecting the performance of the antenna in the second frequency band.

Abstract: A capacitively-loaded loop antenna and corresponding radiation method have been provided. The antenna comprises a transformer loop having a balanced feed interface and a capacitively-loaded loop radiator. In one aspect, the capacitively-loaded loop radiator is a balanced radiator. In another, the transformed loop and capacitively-loaded loop radiator are physically connected. That is, the transformer loop and the capacitively-loaded loop radiator have a portion shared by both of the loop perimeters. Alternately, the loops are physically independent of each other. In one aspect, the perimeters have a rectangular shape. Other shapes such as round or oval are also possible. In another aspect, the planes formed by the transformer and capacitively-loaded loop radiator can be coplanar or non-planar, while both loops are orthogonal to a common magnetic near-field generated by the transformed loop.

Abstract: A meander line capacitively-loaded magnetic dipole antenna is disclosed. The antenna includes a transformer loop having a balanced feed interface, and a meander line capacitively-loaded magnetic dipole radiator. The meander line capacitively-loaded magnetic dipole radiator also includes an electric field bridge. For example, the meander line capacitively-loaded magnetic dipole radiator may include a quasi loop with a first end and a second end, with the electric field bridge interposed between the quasi loop first and second ends. The electric field bridge may be an element such as a dielectric gap, lumped element, circuit board surface-mounted, ferroelectric tunable, or a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) capacitor. The transformer loop has a radiator interface coupled to a quasi loop transformer interface. In one aspect, the coupled interfaces are a shared perimeter portion shared by both loops.

Abstract: A multiple band capacitively-loaded magnetic dipole antenna includes a plurality of magnetic dipole radiators connected to a transformer loop where the magnetic dipole radiators include at least one capacitively-loaded magnetic dipole radiator. The transformer loop has a balanced feed interface and includes a side that provides a transformer interface of quasi loops formed by the plurality of magnetic dipole radiators. Each quasi loop has a configuration and length to maximize antenna performance within a different frequency band. The at least one capacitively-loaded magnetic dipole radiator may be formed with a meander line structure and may include an electric field bridge such as a dielectric gap, lumped element, circuit board surface-mounted, ferroelectric tunable, or a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) capacitor.

Abstract: A cellular modem card that conforms to a PCMCIA standard includes a balanced antenna. The balanced antenna minimizes susceptibility to limited available ground plane and limited ground connections between the modem card and a host device, such as laptop computer. The balanced antenna may be a dipole antenna, loop antenna, capacitively loaded antenna, or any other suitable balanced antenna.

Abstract: A capacitively-loaded loop antenna and corresponding radiation method have been provided. The antenna comprises a transformer loop having a balanced feed interface and a capacitively-loaded loop radiator. In one aspect, the capacitively-loaded loop radiator is a balanced radiator. In another, the transformed loop and capacitively-loaded loop radiator are physically connected. That is, the transformer loop and the capacitively-loaded loop radiator have a portion shared by both of the loop perimeters. Alternately, the loops are physically independent of each other. In one aspect, the perimeters have a rectangular shape. Other shapes such as round or oval are also possible. In another aspect, the planes formed by the transformer and capacitively-loaded loop radiator can be coplanar or non-planar, while both loops are orthogonal to a common magnetic near-field generated by the transformed loop.

Abstract: A method of changing a resonant frequency of an antenna includes coupling the antenna to a ground plane of a circuit board, where the ground plane includes conductive material. The method further includes removing a section of conductive material from a first location of the ground plane, where the shape of the removed section and the first location determine the resonant frequency of the antenna.