Patents by Inventor Nanbo Jin

Nanbo Jin 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: 20240272681
    Abstract: This is directed to connecting two or more elements using an intermediate element constructed from a material that changes between states. An electronic device can include one or more components constructed by connecting several elements. To provide a connection having a reduced or small size or cross-section and construct a component having high tolerances, a material can be provided in a first state in which it flows between the elements before changing to a second state in which it adheres to the elements and provides a structurally sound connection. For example, a plastic can be molded between the elements. As another example, a composite material can be brazed between the elements. In some cases, internal surfaces of the elements can include one or more features for enhancing a bond between the elements and the material providing the interface between the elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2024
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Inventors: Scott A. Myers, Mattia Pascolini, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Trent Weber, Robert Schlub, Josh Nickel, Robert Hill, Nanbo Jin, Tang Yew Tan
  • Patent number: 11994916
    Abstract: This is directed to connecting two or more elements using an intermediate element constructed from a material that changes between states. An electronic device can include one or more components constructed by connecting several elements. To provide a connection having a reduced or small size or cross-section and construct a component having high tolerances, a material can be provided in a first state in which it flows between the elements before changing to a second state in which it adheres to the elements and provides a structurally sound connection. For example, a plastic can be molded between the elements. As another example, a composite material can be brazed between the elements. In some cases, internal surfaces of the elements can include one or more features for enhancing a bond between the elements and the material providing the interface between the elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Scott A. Myers, Mattia Pascolini, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Trent Weber, Robert Schlub, Josh Nickel, Robert Hill, Nanbo Jin, Tang Yew Tan
  • Publication number: 20230176625
    Abstract: This is directed to connecting two or more elements using an intermediate element constructed from a material that changes between states. An electronic device can include one or more components constructed by connecting several elements. To provide a connection having a reduced or small size or cross-section and construct a component having high tolerances, a material can be provided in a first state in which it flows between the elements before changing to a second state in which it adheres to the elements and provides a structurally sound connection. For example, a plastic can be molded between the elements. As another example, a composite material can be brazed between the elements. In some cases, internal surfaces of the elements can include one or more features for enhancing a bond between the elements and the material providing the interface between the elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2023
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Scott A. Myers, Mattia Pascolini, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Trent Weber, Robert Schlub, Josh Nickel, Robert Hill, Nanbo Jin, Tang Yew Tan
  • Publication number: 20230170927
    Abstract: A radio frequency device has a multifunctional tuner that stores measurements of reflection coefficient parameter in a register. The radio frequency device also has a transceiver that has a transmitter. The transceiver may detect a transmitter signal from the transmitter to an antenna in an initial tuning state and then determine whether the transmitter signal is stable. In response to the transmitter signal being stable, the transceiver may measuring the reflection coefficient parameters at the multifunctional tuner. Furthermore, the radio frequency device has a baseband controller that has a memory to store instructions and a processor to execute the instructions. The instructions cause the processor to determine an antenna impedance based on the reflection coefficient parameters, and in response to determining that the antenna impedance is greater than or less than a threshold antenna impedance, iteratively tune the antenna using the multifunctional tuner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Liang Han, Enrique Ayala Vazquez, Thomas E. Biedka, Hongfei Hu, Erdinc Irci, Nanbo Jin, James G. Judkins, Victor C. Lee, Matthew A. Mow, Mattia Pascolini, Ming-Ju Tsai, Yiren Wang, Yuancheng Xu, Yijun Zhou
  • Patent number: 11664601
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with an antenna module. A phased antenna array of dielectric resonator antennas may be disposed within the antenna module. The dielectric resonator antennas may include dielectric columns excited by feed probes. A flexible printed circuit may include transmission lines coupled to the feed probes. The flexible printed circuit may have a first end coupled to the antenna module and extending towards peripheral conductive housing structures forming an additional antenna and a second end coupled to transceiver circuitry. Ground traces on the flexible printed circuit may be shorted to ground structures at the first and second ends to improve the antenna efficiency of the additional antenna. The flexible printed circuit may include an elongated slot with overlapping conductive structures and laterally surrounded by a fence of conductive vias to improve the flexibility of the flexible printed circuit while providing satisfactory antenna performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Erdinc Irci, Bilgehan Avser, Han Wang, Harish Rajagopalan, Hongfei Hu, Jingni Zhong, Ming Chen, Nanbo Jin, Yijun Zhou
  • Patent number: 11573608
    Abstract: This is directed to connecting two or more elements using an intermediate element constructed from a material that changes between states. An electronic device can include one or more components constructed by connecting several elements. To provide a connection having a reduced or small size or cross-section and construct a component having high tolerances, a material can be provided in a first state in which it flows between the elements before changing to a second state in which it adheres to the elements and provides a structurally sound connection. For example, a plastic can be molded between the elements. As another example, a composite material can be brazed between the elements. In some cases, internal surfaces of the elements can include one or more features for enhancing a bond between the elements and the material providing the interface between the elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Scott A. Myers, Mattia Pascolini, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Trent Weber, Robert Schlub, Josh Nickel, Robert Hill, Nanbo Jin, Tang Yew Tan
  • Patent number: 11569858
    Abstract: A radio frequency device has a multifunctional tuner that stores measurements of reflection coefficient parameter in a register. The radio frequency device also has a transceiver that has a transmitter. The transceiver may detect a transmitter signal from the transmitter to an antenna in an initial tuning state and then determine whether the transmitter signal is stable. In response to the transmitter signal being stable, the transceiver may measuring the reflection coefficient parameters at the multifunctional tuner. Furthermore, the radio frequency device has a baseband controller that has a memory to store instructions and a processor to execute the instructions. The instructions cause the processor to determine an antenna impedance based on the reflection coefficient parameters, and in response to determining that the antenna impedance is greater than or less than a threshold antenna impedance, iteratively tune the antenna using the multifunctional tuner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Liang Han, Enrique Ayala Vazquez, Thomas E. Biedka, Hongfei Hu, Erdinc Irci, Nanbo Jin, James G. Judkins, Victor C. Lee, Matthew A. Mow, Mattia Pascolini, Ming-Ju Tsai, Yiren Wang, Yuancheng Xu, Yijun Zhou
  • Patent number: 11322840
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with wireless circuitry and a housing with upper and lower ends. The lower end may include first and second open slot antennas that are directly fed by respective feeds and that radiate in a cellular ultra-high band. The lower end may also include first and second inverted-F antennas. The upper end may include third and fourth inverted-F antennas. The first inverted-F antenna may have a first feed that conveys currents below 2700 MHz and a second feed that conveys antenna currents in the cellular ultra-high band, a wireless local area network band, and/or ultra-wideband frequency bands. If desired, the upper end may include a third open slot antenna that is directly fed by a corresponding antenna feed and that radiates in the cellular ultra-high band and/or in the ultra-wideband frequency bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yiren Wang, Daisong Zhang, Erdinc Irci, Han Wang, Hongfei Hu, Jingni Zhong, Liang Han, Mattia Pascolini, Ming Chen, Nanbo Jin, Tiejun Yu, Yijun Zhou, Yuan Tao, Yuancheng Xu
  • Patent number: 11309628
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a housing and four antennas at respective corners of the housing. Cellular telephone transceiver circuitry may concurrently convey signals at one or more of the same frequencies over one or more of the four antennas using a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) scheme. In order to isolate adjacent antennas, dielectric-filled openings may be formed in conductive walls of the housing to divide the walls into segments that are used to form resonating element arms for the antennas. If desired, first and second antennas may include resonating element arms formed from a wall without any gaps. The first and second antennas may include adjacent return paths. A magnetic field associated with currents for the first antenna may cancel out with a magnetic field associated with currents for the second antenna at the adjacent return paths, thereby serving to electromagnetically isolate the first and second antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Enrique Ayala Vazquez, Hongfei Hu, Mattia Pascolini, Nanbo Jin, Matthew A. Mow, Erdinc Irci, Erica J. Tong, Han Wang
  • Publication number: 20220102867
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with an antenna module. A phased antenna array of dielectric resonator antennas may be disposed within the antenna module. The dielectric resonator antennas may include dielectric columns excited by feed probes. A flexible printed circuit may include transmission lines coupled to the feed probes. The flexible printed circuit may have a first end coupled to the antenna module and extending towards peripheral conductive housing structures forming an additional antenna and a second end coupled to transceiver circuitry. Ground traces on the flexible printed circuit may be shorted to ground structures at the first and second ends to improve the antenna efficiency of the additional antenna. The flexible printed circuit may include an elongated slot with overlapping conductive structures and laterally surrounded by a fence of conductive vias to improve the flexibility of the flexible printed circuit while providing satisfactory antenna performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Erdinc Irci, Bilgehan Avser, Han Wang, Harish Rajagopalan, Hongfei Hu, Jingni Zhong, Ming Chen, Nanbo Jin, Yijun Zhou
  • Publication number: 20220094059
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with wireless circuitry and a housing with upper and lower ends. The lower end may include first and second open slot antennas that are directly fed by respective feeds and that radiate in a cellular ultra-high band. The lower end may also include first and second inverted-F antennas. The upper end may include third and fourth inverted-F antennas. The first inverted-F antenna may have a first feed that conveys currents below 2700 MHz and a second feed that conveys antenna currents in the cellular ultra-high band, a wireless local area network band, and/or ultra-wideband frequency bands. If desired, the upper end may include a third open slot antenna that is directly fed by a corresponding antenna feed and that radiates in the cellular ultra-high band and/or in the ultra-wideband frequency bands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Yiren Wang, Daisong Zhang, Erdinc Irci, Han Wang, Hongfei Hu, Jingni Zhong, Liang Han, Mattia Pascolini, Ming Chen, Nanbo Jin, Tiejun Yu, Yijun Zhou, Yuan Tao, Yuancheng Xu
  • Patent number: 11228345
    Abstract: A device with near-field communications (NFC) capabilities is provided. A housing may include first and second segments and a support plate separated from the segments by a slot. A first inductor may be coupled between the first segment and the plate. A second inductor may be coupled between the second segment and the plate. A transceiver may have a first signal terminal coupled to the first segment over a first path and a second signal terminal coupled to the second segment over a second path. The transceiver may convey differential signals in an NFC band over a loop path for an NFC antenna that includes the first conductive path, the first segment, the first inductor, a portion of the plate between the first and second inductors, the second inductor, the second segment, and the second conductive path. This may optimize wireless performance and volume for the NFC antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yiren Wang, Daisong Zhang, Erdinc Irci, Han Wang, Hongfei Hu, Jingni Zhong, Liang Han, Mattia Pascolini, Ming Chen, Nanbo Jin, Tiejun Yu, Yijun Zhou, Yuan Tao, Yuancheng Xu
  • Patent number: 11205834
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a conductive housing and an antenna. The antenna may include an arm formed from a first segment of the housing. A gap may separate the first segment from a second segment. The antenna may include a feed coupled to a transmission line having a signal conductor. The feed may include first and second positive terminals on the first segment and a third positive terminal on the second segment. An adjustable component may be coupled between the first and third terminals. The signal conductor may be coupled to the first terminal. A wide conductive trace may be coupled between the signal conductor and the second terminal. A switch may be interposed on the signal conductor. The second terminal may cover a cellular low band when the switch is open. The first terminal may cover the cellular low band and higher bands when the switch is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Enrique Ayala Vazquez, Hongfei Hu, Mattia Pascolini, Nanbo Jin, Kevin M. Froese, Erica J. Tong, Xu Han
  • Publication number: 20210218430
    Abstract: A radio frequency device has a multifunctional tuner that stores measurements of reflection coefficient parameter in a register. The radio frequency device also has a transceiver that has a transmitter. The transceiver may detect a transmitter signal from the transmitter to an antenna in an initial tuning state and then determine whether the transmitter signal is stable. In response to the transmitter signal being stable, the transceiver may measuring the reflection coefficient parameters at the multifunctional tuner. Furthermore, the radio frequency device has a baseband controller that has a memory to store instructions and a processor to execute the instructions. The instructions cause the processor to determine an antenna impedance based on the reflection coefficient parameters, and in response to determining that the antenna impedance is greater than or less than a threshold antenna impedance, iteratively tune the antenna using the multifunctional tuner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Liang Han, Enrique Ayala Vazquez, Thomas E. Biedka, Hongfei Hu, Erdinc Irci, Nanbo Jin, James G. Judkins, Victor C. Lee, Matthew A. Mow, Mattia Pascolini, Ming-Ju Tsai, Yiren Wang, Yuancheng Xu, Yijun Zhou
  • Patent number: 10938092
    Abstract: A disclosed antenna assembly includes a first flexible circuit having a first signal line, at least one first shielding layer, and a first attachment region. The first attachment region includes a first signal pad and first shielding pads disposed around the first signal pad. The antenna assembly further includes a second flexible circuit having a second signal line, at least one second shielding layer, and a second attachment region. The second attachment region includes a second signal pad and second shielding pads disposed around the second signal pad. The first attachment region is attached to the second attachment region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nanbo Jin, Devon A. Monaco, Donald J. Parr, Erica J. Tong, Han Wang
  • Publication number: 20210044012
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a housing and four antennas at respective corners of the housing. Cellular telephone transceiver circuitry may concurrently convey signals at one or more of the same frequencies over one or more of the four antennas using a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) scheme. In order to isolate adjacent antennas, dielectric-filled openings may be formed in conductive walls of the housing to divide the walls into segments that are used to form resonating element arms for the antennas. If desired, first and second antennas may include resonating element arms formed from a wall without any gaps. The first and second antennas may include adjacent return paths. A magnetic field associated with currents for the first antenna may cancel out with a magnetic field associated with currents for the second antenna at the adjacent return paths, thereby serving to electromagnetically isolate the first and second antennas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Enrique Ayala Vazquez, Hongfei Hu, Mattia Pascolini, Nanbo Jin, Matthew A. Mow, Erdinc Irci, Erica J. Tong, Han Wang
  • Patent number: 10886607
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a housing and four antennas at respective corners of the housing. Cellular telephone transceiver circuitry may concurrently convey signals at one or more of the same frequencies over one or more of the four antennas using a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) scheme. In order to isolate adjacent antennas, dielectric-filled openings may be formed in conductive walls of the housing to divide the walls into segments that are used to form resonating element arms for the antennas. If desired, first and second antennas may include resonating element arms formed from a wall without any gaps. The first and second antennas may include adjacent return paths. A magnetic field associated with currents for the first antenna may cancel out with a magnetic field associated with currents for the second antenna at the adjacent return paths, thereby serving to electromagnetically isolate the first and second antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Enrique Ayala Vazquez, Hongfei Hu, Mattia Pascolini, Nanbo Jin, Matthew A. Mow, Erdinc Irci, Erica J. Tong, Han Wang
  • Patent number: 10833410
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a conductive housing and an antenna. The antenna may include an arm formed from a first segment of the housing. A gap may separate the first segment from a second segment. Respective first and second slots may separate an antenna ground from the first and second segments. The antenna may have a first positive antenna feed terminal on the first segment and a second positive antenna feed terminal on the second segment. A transmission line may include a signal conductor having a first branch coupled to the first positive antenna feed terminal and a second branch coupled to the second positive antenna feed terminal. A switch may be interposed on the second branch for switching the antenna between a first mode in which the second slot is directly fed and a second mode in which the second segment is indirectly fed by the first segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Inventors: Enrique Ayala Vazquez, Hongfei Hu, Nanbo Jin, Xu Gao, Erica J. Tong, Erdinc Irci, Han Wang, Mattia Pascolini, Kevin M. Froese
  • Publication number: 20200249724
    Abstract: This is directed to connecting two or more elements using an intermediate element constructed from a material that changes between states. An electronic device can include one or more components constructed by connecting several elements. To provide a connection having a reduced or small size or cross-section and construct a component having high tolerances, a material can be provided in a first state in which it flows between the elements before changing to a second state in which it adheres to the elements and provides a structurally sound connection. For example, a plastic can be molded between the elements. As another example, a composite material can be brazed between the elements. In some cases, internal surfaces of the elements can include one or more features for enhancing a bond between the elements and the material providing the interface between the elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Scott A. Myers, Mattia Pascolini, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Trent Weber, Robert Schlub, Josh Nickel, Robert Hill, Nanbo Jin, Tang Yew Tan
  • Patent number: 10707558
    Abstract: An electronic device may have wireless circuitry with antennas. An antenna resonating element arm for an antenna may be formed from peripheral conductive structures running along the edges of a device housing. The peripheral conductive structures may form housing sidewalls. A slot may be machined into a metal housing that separates the housing sidewalls from a planar rear housing portion that forms a ground for an antenna. The slot may be filled with plastic filler. A parasitic antenna resonating element arm that supports an antenna resonance at high band frequencies may be embedded within the plastic filler. The parasitic antenna resonating element may be formed from a portion of the planar rear housing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hongfei Hu, Benjamin Hane Bustle, Enrique Ayala Vazquez, Nanbo Jin, Miguel Christophy, Erdinc Irci, Salih Yarga, Erica Tong, Anand Lakshmanan, Mattia Pascolini, Tyler Cater, Christopher T. Cheng