Patents by Inventor Robert W. Schlub
Robert W. Schlub 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).
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Publication number: 20150236426Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a satellite positioning system slot antenna. The slot antenna may include a slot in a metal housing. The slot may be directly fed or indirectly fed. In indirectly fed configurations, the antenna may include a near-field-coupled antenna feed structure that is near-field coupled to the slot. The near-field-coupled antenna feed structure may be formed from a planar metal structure. The planar metal structure may be a metal patch that overlaps the slot and that has a leg that protrudes towards the metal housing. A positive antenna feed terminal may be coupled to the leg and a ground antenna feed terminal may be coupled to the metal housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2014Publication date: August 20, 2015Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jiang Zhu, Harish Rajagopalan, Rodney A. Gomez Angulo, Qingxiang Li, Robert W. Schlub
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Publication number: 20150214602Abstract: A handheld electronic device may be provided that contains a conductive housing and other conductive elements. The conductive elements may form an antenna ground plane. One or more antennas for the handheld electronic device may be formed from the ground plane and one or more associated antenna resonating elements. Transceiver circuitry may be connected to the resonating elements by transmission lines such as coaxial cables. Ferrules may be crimped to the coaxial cables. A bracket with extending members may be crimped over the ferrules to ground the coaxial cables to the housing and other conductive elements in the ground plane. The ground plane may contain an antenna slot. A dock connector and flex circuit may overlap the slot in a way that does not affect the resonant frequency of the slot. Electrical components may be isolated from the antenna using isolation elements such as inductors and resistors.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2015Publication date: July 30, 2015Inventors: Phillip M. Hobson, Stephen P. Zadesky, Erik L. Wang, Tang Yew Tan, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Adam D. Mittleman, Kenneth A. Jenks, Robert J. Hill, Robert W. Schlub
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Patent number: 9093745Abstract: An electronic device may have a conductive housing with an antenna window. A display cover layer may be mounted on the front face of the device. Antenna and proximity sensor structures may include a dielectric support structure with a notch. The antenna window may have a protruding portion that extends into the notch between the display cover layer and the antenna and proximity sensor structures. The antenna and proximity sensor structures may have an antenna feed that is coupled to a first conductive layer by a high pass circuit and capacitive proximity sensor circuitry that is coupled to the first conductive layer and a parallel second conductive layer by a low pass circuit. The first conductive layer may be formed from a metal coating on the support structure. The second conductive layer may be formed from patterned metal traces in a flexible printed circuit.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2012Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Salih Yarga, Nirali Shah, Qingxiang Li, Robert W. Schlub
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Patent number: 9093752Abstract: An electronic device may have an antenna for providing coverage in wireless communications bands of interest such as a low frequency communications band, a middle frequency communications band, and a high frequency communications band. Slot structures in the antenna that might reduce efficiency in the high frequency communications band may be avoided by capacitively loading the antenna and omitting meandering paths in the antenna. A capacitor may be coupled between an antenna ground formed from a metal housing structure and an antenna resonating element having a curved shape that conforms to the shape of the edge of the electronic device. The capacitor may have interdigitated fingers and may be adjustable to tune the antenna. The antenna may transmit and receive radio-frequency signals through a display cover layer in a display and a dielectric antenna window portion of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2013Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Salih Yarga, Qingxiang Li, Robert W. Schlub
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Patent number: 9070968Abstract: A wireless electronic device may contain an antenna tuning element for tuning the device's operating frequency range. The antenna tuning element may include radio-frequency switches, continuously/semi-continuously adjustable components such as tunable resistors, inductors, and capacitors, etc. A test system may be used to measure the radio-frequency characteristics associated with the tuning element assembled with an electronic device. The test system may include a test host, a test chamber, a signal generator, power meters, and radio-frequency testers. The electronic device under test (DUT) may be placed in the test chamber. The signal generator may generate radio-frequency test signals for energizing the antenna tuning element. The power meters and radio-frequency testers may be used to measure conducted and radiated signals emitted from the DUT while the DUT is placed in different desired orientations. A phantom object is optionally placed in the vicinity of the DUT to simulate actual user scenario.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2012Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Matthew A. Mow, Rocco V. Dragone, Jr., Thomas E. Biedka, Robert W. Schlub, Ruben Caballero
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Patent number: 9070969Abstract: An electronic device has wireless communications circuitry including an adjustable antenna system coupled to a radio-frequency transceiver. The adjustable antenna system may include one or more adjustable electrical components that are controlled by storage and processing circuitry in the electronic device. The adjustable electrical components may include switches and components that can be adjusted between numerous different states. The adjustable electrical components may be coupled between antenna system components such as transmission line elements, matching network elements, antenna elements and antenna feeds. By adjusting the adjustable electrical components, the storage and processing circuitry can tune the adjustable antenna system to ensure that the adjustable antenna system covers communications bands of interest.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2010Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Matt A. Mow, Robert W. Schlub, Mattia Pascolini, Robert J. Hill, Ruben Caballero
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Patent number: 9071336Abstract: An electronic device such as a portable electronic device has wireless communications circuitry. Antennas in the electronic device may be used in transmitting radio-frequency antenna signals. A coupler and antenna signal phase and magnitude measurement circuitry may be used to determine when external objects are in the vicinity of the antenna by making antenna impedance measurements. In-band and out-of-band phase and magnitude signal measurements may be made in determining whether external objects are present. Additional sensors such as motion sensors, light and heat sensors, acoustic and electrical sensors may produce data that can be combined with the proximity data gathered using the antenna-based proximity sensor. In response to detecting that an external object such as a user's body is within a given distance of the antenna, the electronic device may reduce transmit powers, switch antennas, steer a phased antenna array, switch communications protocols, or take other actions.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2014Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Robert W. Schlub, Ruben Caballero
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Patent number: 9065175Abstract: An electronic device may have a conductive housing with an antenna window. Antenna structures may be mounted adjacent to the antenna window. The antenna structures may have a dielectric carrier. Patterned metal antenna traces may be formed on the surface of the dielectric carrier. A proximity sensor may be formed from a flexible printed circuit mounted on the dielectric carrier. The flexible printed circuit may have a tail that contains a transmission line for feeding the antenna structures. The transmission line may include a positive signal conductor that is maintained at a desired distance from the conductive housing using a polymer sheet. A portion of the antenna structures may protrude between a microphone and a camera module. Plastic camera module housing structures may have an inner surface coated with a shielding metal. A U-shaped conductive fabric layer may be used as a grounding structure.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2012Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Sean S. Corbin, Taylor H. Gilbert, Rodney A. Gomez Angulo, Yi Jiang, Conor P. Lenahan, Qingxiang Li, Stephen R. McClure, Robert W. Schlub, Salih Yarga, Jiang Zhu
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Patent number: 9048537Abstract: An electronic device may have a conductive housing with an antenna window. A display cover layer may be mounted on the front face of the device. Antenna and proximity sensor structures may include a dielectric support structure with a notch. The antenna window may have a protruding portion that extends into the notch between the display cover layer and the antenna and proximity sensor structures. The antenna and proximity sensor structures may have an antenna feed that is coupled to a first conductive layer by a high pass circuit and capacitive proximity sensor circuitry that is coupled to the first conductive layer and a parallel second conductive layer by a low pass circuit. The first conductive layer may be formed from a metal coating on the support structure. The second conductive layer may be formed from patterned metal traces in a flexible printed circuit.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2012Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Salih Yarga, Nirali Shah, Qingxiang Li, Robert W. Schlub
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Publication number: 20150145734Abstract: Electronic devices may be provided that contain wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may include radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and first and second antennas. An electronic device may include a housing. The first antenna may be located at an upper end of the housing and the second antenna may be located at a lower end of the housing. A peripheral conductive member may run around the edges of the housing and may be used in forming the first and second antennas. The radio-frequency transceiver circuitry may have a transmit-receive port and a receive port. Switching circuitry may connect the first antenna to the transmit-receive port and the second antenna to the receiver port or may connect the first antenna to the receive port and the second antenna to the transmit-receive port.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2015Publication date: May 28, 2015Inventors: Ruben Caballero, Mattia Pascolini, Mohit Narang, Matt A. Mow, Robert W. Schlub
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Patent number: 9041619Abstract: Electronic devices may be provided with antennas. An antenna may be formed from conductive antenna structures that include a frequency-dependent distributed capacitor. The antenna may include an antenna ground and an antenna resonating element that are separated by a gap. A low pass filter circuit may bridge the gap. The antenna resonating element may have antenna resonating element conductive structures that serve as first and second electrodes for the distributed capacitor. The second electrode may have first and second conductive elements coupled by a filter. The filter may be a low pass filter implemented using an inductor. The inductor may have a first terminal coupled to the first conductive element and a second terminal coupled to the second conductive element. A first antenna feed terminal may be coupled to the first conductive element and a second antenna feed terminal may be coupled to the antenna ground.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2012Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Emily B. McMilin, Qingxiang Li, Robert W. Schlub
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Publication number: 20150109167Abstract: An electronic device may include balance-fed antenna structures that do not have direct paths to ground. The antenna structures may serve as a Global Positioning System (GPS) antenna and may have a dipole structure having a first and second antenna resonating element arms. The antenna structures may include a conductive path that conveys antenna signals between a first feed terminal on the first antenna resonating element arm and a transmission line. The conductive path may overlap with the second antenna resonating element arm such that current flow through the conductive path induces corresponding current flow in the second antenna resonating element arm. The antenna structures may include an impedance matching short-circuit stub path that couples the first antenna resonating element arm to the second antenna resonating element arm. Choke inductors may be used to help block indirect paths from the antenna structures to ground through adjacent circuitry.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2013Publication date: April 23, 2015Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Salih Yarga, Miroslav Samardzija, Enrique Ayala Vazquez, Harish Rajagopalan, Qingxiang Li, Robert W. Schlub
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Publication number: 20150099474Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a primary antenna that is used for transmitting and receiving signals and a secondary antenna that is used for receiving signals. The primary and secondary antennas may be used together in a diversity arrangement when receiving signals. The electronic device may have a transceiver. A phase shifter may be interposed between the transceiver and the secondary antenna. Control circuitry may select a communications band of interest for transmitting signals with the primary antenna. The control circuitry can adjust the phase shifter in real time based on which communications band of interest has been selected for transmission with the primary antenna. The phase shifter may impose a phase shift on signals carried between the secondary antenna and the transceiver that ensures that primary antenna efficiency degradation associated with the presence of the secondary antenna in the vicinity of the primary antenna is avoided.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2013Publication date: April 9, 2015Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Salih Yarga, Miroslav Samardzija, Qingxiang Li, Robert W. Schlub
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Patent number: 9002287Abstract: A test system for testing multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) systems is provided. The test system may convey signals bidirectionally between two test chambers. Each test chamber may be lined with foam to minimize electromagnetic reflections. Each test chamber may include structure three-dimensional array of test antennas. The test antennas may be mounted in a sphere using an antenna mounting structure. The antenna mounting structure may include multiple rings of different sizes. Test antennas may be embedded in the inner walls of the antenna mounting structure. There may be multiple receiving antennas located in each test chamber. One test chamber may include a device under test inside an array of test antennas and another test chamber may include base station antennas inside another array of test antennas. Signals may be conveyed between the test chambers using channel emulators.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2009Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Matt A. Mow, Robert W. Schlub, Ruben Caballero
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Patent number: 8994597Abstract: A portable electronic device is provided that has a hybrid antenna. The hybrid antenna may include a slot antenna structure and an inverted-F antenna structure. The slot antenna portion of the hybrid antenna may be used to provide antenna coverage in a first communications band and the inverted-F antenna portion of the hybrid antenna may be used to provide antenna coverage in a second communications band. The second communications band need not be harmonically related to the first communications band. The electronic device may be formed from two portions. One portion may contain conductive structures that define the shape of the antenna slot. One or more dielectric-filled gaps in the slot may be bridged using conductive structures on another portion of the electronic device. A conductive trim member may be inserted into an antenna slot to trim the resonant frequency of the slot antenna portion of the hybrid antenna.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2013Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Hill, Scott A. Myers, Robert W. Schlub, Dean F. Darnell, Zhijun Zhang
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Patent number: 8995926Abstract: Radio frequency test systems for characterizing antenna performance in various radio coexistence scenarios are provided. In one suitable arrangement, a test system may be used to perform passive radio coexistence characterization. During passive radio coexistence characterization, at least one signal generator may be used to feed aggressor signals directly to antennas within an electronic device under test (DUT). The aggressor signals may generate undesired interference signals in a victim frequency band, which can then be received and analyzed using a spectrum analyzer. During active radio coexistence characterization, at least one radio communications emulator may be used to communicate with a DUT via a first test antenna. While the DUT is communicating with the at least one radio communications emulator, test signals may also be conveyed between DUT 10 and a second test antenna. Test signals conveyed through the second test antenna may be used in obtaining signal interference level measurements.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2012Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Matthew A. Mow, Thomas E. Biedka, Ming-Ju Tsai, Liang Han, Xu Han, Anand Lakshmanan, Nanbo Jin, Hongfei Hu, Dean F. Darnell, Joshua G. Nickel, Jayesh Nath, Yijun Zhou, Hao Xu, Yuehui Ouyang, Nirali Shah, Mattia Pascolini, Robert W. Schlub, Ruben Caballero
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Patent number: 8989672Abstract: An electronic device may transmit and receive wireless signals using wireless circuitry that is controlled by control circuitry. The wireless circuitry may include adjustable components such as adjustable antenna structures, adjustable front end circuitry, and adjustable transceiver circuitry. During characterization operations, the electronic device may be tested to identify operating settings for the wireless circuitry that lead to potential wireless interference between aggressor transmitters and victim receivers. The control circuitry can adjust the wireless circuitry to mitigate the effects of interference based on settings identified during characterization operations or real time signal quality measurements.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2011Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Mattia Pascolini, Matt A. Mow, Robert W. Schlub, Ruben Caballero
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Publication number: 20150070219Abstract: A housing for a personal electronic device is described herein. The housing may include at least one modular subassembly configured to be arranged within an internal cavity of the housing. The at least one modular subassembly is aligned with a feature external to the housing, is affixed to an interior surface of the internal cavity, and is configured to function both as an antenna and as an internal support member of the housing. A hybrid antenna is also described herein. The hybrid antenna can include first and second flexible members capable of facilitating wireless communication, where the first and second flexible members are affixed to one another via a metal member.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2013Publication date: March 12, 2015Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Hao XU, Jayesh NATH, Peter I. BEVELACQUA, Jennifer M. EDWARDS, Daniel W. JARVIS, Jared M. KOLE, Mattia PASCOLINI, Robert W. SCHLUB, Ruben CABALLERO
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Patent number: 8971874Abstract: Test systems for characterizing devices under test (DUTs) are provided. A test system for testing a DUT in a shunt configuration may include a signal generator and a matching network that is coupled between the signal generator and the DUT and that is optimized to apply desired voltage/current stress to the DUT with reduced source power. The matching network may be configured to provide matching and desired stress levels at two or more frequency bands. In another suitable embodiment, a test system for testing a DUT in a series configuration may include a signal generator, an input matching network coupled between the DUT and a first terminal of the DUT, and an output matching network coupled between the DUT and a second terminal of the DUT. The input and output matching network may be optimized to apply desired voltage/current stress to the DUT with reduced source power.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2013Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Liang Han, Matthew A. Mow, James G. Judkins, Thomas E. Biedka, Ming-Ju Tsai, Robert W. Schlub
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Patent number: 8971821Abstract: A test system may include a wireless test chamber with metal walls lined with pyramidal absorbers. A trapdoor may be provided in a wall opening to accommodate a robotic arm. The robotic arm may have grippers that grip a device under test or a support structure that is supporting a device under test. The robotic arm may move the device under test to a docking station for automatic battery charging during testing. When it is desired to perform wireless tests on a device under test, the robotic arm may move the device under test through the trapdoor into an interior portion of the test chamber. A turntable and movable test antenna may be used to rotate the device under test while varying angular orientations between test antenna and device under test. Emitted radiation levels can be measured using a liquid filled phantom and test probe on a robotic arm.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2012Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Robert W. Schlub, Boon Wai Shiu, Chun-Lung Chen, Jonathan M. Haylock, Hagan P. O'Connor