Having Specific Antenna Arrangement Patents (Class 455/575.7)
  • Patent number: 8768421
    Abstract: An electronic device and an antenna reception tuning method thereof are provided. The electronic device includes a first main body, a second main body, a sensing unit, and a processing unit. The second main body, including an antenna and a matching unit, is disposed on the first main body through a hinge and adapted for being opened or closed relative to the first main body. The sensing unit is disposed on the electronic device, adapted for detecting a distance between the first main body and the second main body, and generates a control signal according to the distance, wherein the distance includes an angle and an open/close state between the first and the second main bodies. The processing unit is electrically connected to the sensing unit and the matching unit, and adjusts the matching unit according to the received control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Compal Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kuo-Chiang Hung, Cheng-Wen Wang, Chieh-Tsao Hwang, Chang-Chih Chen, Shih-Chia Liu
  • Patent number: 8761847
    Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing, a substrate carried by the portable housing, and wireless communications circuitry carried by the substrate. The mobile wireless communications device may also include at least one an antenna assembly carried by the substrate and coupled to the wireless communications circuitry. The at least one antenna assembly may include an electrically conductive base conductor having a first rectangular base portion and a second rectangular base portion offset therefrom. The first and second base portions may be coupled at respective diagonally opposing corners thereof and having an antenna feed defined along an outer portion of one of the first and second rectangular base portions. The at least one antenna assembly may include at least one electrically conductive arm extending along at least one side of one of the first and second rectangular base portions and spaced apart therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Mina Ayatollahi
  • Publication number: 20140171159
    Abstract: In a communication antenna unit which is stored inside a casing, a flexible circuit board is supported by a support member in a bent state. A first antenna conductor pattern which configures a first communication antenna and a human body sensor are substantially formed on a flat plane section of the flexible circuit board adjacent to a curved section of the flexible circuit board. A second antenna conductor pattern which configures a second communication antenna is substantially formed on the curved section. The first antenna conductor pattern and the second antenna conductor pattern are connected to each other through an inductor coil which configures a resonant circuit portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keita ENDO, Teruo KATO, Futoshi KURIYAMA, Tatsuo SAWADA, Kenya YASUTOMI, Chizu FUKAO, Kotaro YOSHIDA, Daigo IMANO
  • Publication number: 20140170977
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a phone holder for holding a mobile phone. The holder includes at least one lateral support. At least one insert can be located between the lateral support and the phone. Preferably, the insert can be replaceable, and the lateral support is manufactured separately and fastenable to a common body used with holders for multiple phone types.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Camel IP Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Christopher John Ryan, Alexei Kholodov
  • Patent number: 8755833
    Abstract: A MIMO wireless communications device supports a dual polarized mode of antenna operation and a single polarized mode of antenna operation. Antenna mode selection is performed as a function of signal to noise ration information and/or rank information corresponding to a communications channel matrix. One of a communications device's processing chains is switched between first and second polarization orientation antennas, e.g., vertical and horizontally polarized antennas, as a function of the antenna mode selection. In various embodiments, the dual polarized mode is advantageously used for high SNR users, while in the low SNR regime, where the capacity is limited by received power, the single polarized antenna configuration, sometimes referred to as the spatial MIMO configuration, is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Vikram Reddy Anreddy, Xinzhou Wu, Rajiv Laroia
  • Publication number: 20140162566
    Abstract: A system and method for antenna diversity in a communication system are provided, the system including multiple antennas, including at least one modal antenna, wherein each of the at least one modal antenna has multiple modes corresponding to multiple radiation patterns, and a processor coupled to the multiple antennas and configured to select a mode among the multiple modes to optimize signal quality for each time interval based on a CQI.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Ethertronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Laurent Desclos, Sebastian Rowson, Jeffrey Shamblin
  • Publication number: 20140162734
    Abstract: A multiband monopole antenna for a mobile device is disclosed that can be dynamically switched between a quarter-wave monopole antenna and a half-wave folded monopole antenna. In one embodiment, a radiator element can be built into at least part of a decorative trim on an outer casing of the mobile device. A circuit element embedded into the radiator element can electrically connect or disconnect a radiator element tip from a grounded portion of the decorative trim. In some embodiments, the circuit element can be a switch or a passive filter element, such as an inductor/capacitive-based filter. In other embodiments, the circuit element can be a tunable filter circuit whose impedance can be dynamically changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Benjamin Shewan, Javier Rodriguez De Luis, Alireza Mahanfar
  • Patent number: 8750949
    Abstract: Electronic devices may be provided that contain wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may include antenna structures that are formed from an internal ground plane and a peripheral conductive housing member. The internal ground plane and peripheral conductive housing member may be separated by a gap. The internal ground plane may be formed from sheet metal structures having engagement features such as tabs bent upwards at an angle. Plastic structures may be insert molded over the engagement features. When the internal ground plane is mounted in the electronic device, the plastic structures may bridge the gap between the internal ground plane and the peripheral conductive housing member. An adjustable structure such as a washer with a selectable thickness may be mounted to the peripheral conductive housing member opposing conductive structures across the gap. The thickness may be adjusted to adjust antenna performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas G. L. Merz, Dean F. Darnell
  • Patent number: 8750798
    Abstract: A multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna module, comprising a first signal feed port coupled to a first antenna element disposed along a first edge of an antenna array board, a second signal feed port coupled to a second antenna element disposed on the antenna array board and a transceiver operable to be selectively coupled to either or both of the first and second signal feed ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Qinjiang Rao, James Paul Warden, Mina Ayatollahi
  • Patent number: 8744539
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and a corresponding method for controlling radiation characteristics of a transmitter of a wireless device. The wireless device includes a transmitting portion that includes one or more antennas that are characterized by one or more radiation patterns. The wireless device further comprises a sensor system for determining an orientation of the transmitting portion and a control system that is operatively coupled to the sensor system and configured to control the supply of power to each antenna depending on the orientation of the transmitting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: NETGEAR, Inc.
    Inventors: Behrouz Pourseyed, Vincent Maddock Smith, Ying Wang, Kevin Alexander Goodfellow, Colin Lee
  • Patent number: 8738099
    Abstract: Electronic devices and other apparatuses adapted to receive electromagnetic wave communications are disclosed. An outer housing encloses various device components, including at least an internal antenna located fully therewithin and adapted to receive/send communications from/to an outside source via RF or other electromagnetic waves. A ceramic coating can be a thermal spray coating that covers at least a portion of the outer surface proximate to the internal antenna, and can be “RF transparent”—adapted to allow communications to/from the internal antenna via electromagnetic waves. The outer housing can be plastic, metal or a combination thereof. For metal or other non-RF transparent housings, an RF-transparent insert can be fitted into a window in the housing to permit communications to the internal antenna. The ceramic coating covers some or all of the metal, plastic and/or insert that comprise the outer housing and surface for a final aesthetic finish to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Weber, Naoto Matsuyuki, David A. Pakula, Evans Hankey
  • Patent number: 8738103
    Abstract: A multifunction wireless device having at least one of multimedia functionality and smartphone functionality, the multifunction wireless device including an upper body and a lower body, the upper body and the lower body being adapted to move relative to each other in at least one of a clamshell, a slide, and a twist manner. The multifunction wireless device further includes an antenna system disposed within at least one of the upper body and the lower body and having a shape with a level of complexity of an antenna contour defined by complexity factors F21 having a value of at least 1.05 and not greater than 1.80 and F32 having a value of at least 1.10 and not greater than 1.90.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Fractus, S.A.
    Inventors: Carles Puente Baliarda, Josep Mumbru, Jordi Ilario
  • Publication number: 20140141847
    Abstract: Disclosed is a wireless communication system. The wireless communication system includes an embedded-type antenna embedded in a base, and a wireless communication unit including a communication unit that is connected to the embedded-type antenna and exchanges information with an external device, and a housing that is arranged to surround the communication unit, wherein at least one of the communication unit and the housing performs transmission and reception of electric waves as a substitute of the embedded-type antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Ju Derk PARK, Ho Yong KANG, In Hwan LEE, Cheol Sig PYO
  • Patent number: 8725095
    Abstract: An embodiment of an antenna includes a radiation frame and a planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA). The radiation frame has a frame shape that defines a central opening. The PIFA includes an antenna arm, a feed arm, and a shorting arm. A distal end of the shorting arm is conductively coupled with the radiation frame. The antenna may be coupled to a substrate of an RF module. The RF module may be included in a system that also includes a non-RF component that produces a signal for transmission. In such a system, the RF module is configured to receive the signal, convert the signal to an RF signal, and radiate the RF signal over an air interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Qiang Li, Jon T. Adams, Olin L. Hartin
  • Patent number: 8718727
    Abstract: An antenna that suppresses deterioration of communication performance depending on an angle with respect to a reading surface of a reader/writer includes a rectangular spiral coil conductor provided on a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate includes an aperture in a winding center portion of the coil conductor. A magnetic sheet penetrates the aperture of the flexible substrate. An antenna coil is provided near an end of a circuit board. A first conductor portion and a second conductor portion of the coil conductor are provided at positions opposing each other across the aperture. A portion of the magnetic sheet close to the second conductor portion is bent in a direction to get close to the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kubo, Hiromitsu Ito, Kuniaki Yosui
  • Publication number: 20140113693
    Abstract: A mobile communication device includes a substrate, a metal frame, a feeding portion, and a parasitic portion. The substrate includes a ground plane and a non-ground area. The metal frame surrounds the substrate and includes a plurality of gaps to form a first frame element and a second frame element separated from each other. The first frame element is electrically connected to the ground plane. The feeding portion and the parasitic portion are located in the non-ground area. A first end of the feeding portion is configured to receive a feeding signal, and a second end of the feeding portion is an open end. The parasitic portion is electrically connected to the second frame element and the ground plane. The feeding portion, the second frame element, and the parasitic portion of the mobile communication device constitute a loop antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Acer Incorporated
    Inventors: Wan-Chu Wei, Pei-Yuan Chiu, Chih-Hua Chang
  • Publication number: 20140105204
    Abstract: Antenna swapping methods for a wireless electronic device may include repeatedly swapping back and forth between activating a first antenna and activating a second antenna, and measuring an antenna performance characteristic of the wireless electronic device, during a time period of repeated swapping. The methods may include comparing the antenna performance characteristic of the wireless electronic device during the time period of repeated swapping and an antenna performance characteristic of the wireless electronic device before the time period of repeated swapping. The methods may include, in response to determining that the antenna performance characteristic of the wireless electronic device during the time period of repeated swapping is stronger than the antenna performance characteristic of the wireless electronic device before the time period of repeated swapping, swapping once between the first and second antennas. Related devices are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventor: Erik Bengtsson
  • Patent number: 8699965
    Abstract: A low loss quarter wave Radio Frequency (RF) relay switch apparatus and method provides more efficient transmission of RF energy to downstream antenna switching elements in an antenna switching network. The antenna switching network may include multiple antenna multiplexer modules which are configured to operate in a local use configuration or a pass through configuration. The antenna multiplexer modules are designed for maximum efficiency in the pass through configuration acting virtually lossless when passing through RF energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark W. Duron
  • Patent number: 8699964
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an antenna apparatus comprises a first antenna element, a first lumped constant element, a first lumped constant element, a switch and at least one second lumped constant element. The first antenna element comprises a forward part, a folded part and a backward part, the forward part includes a start point connected to a feeding point, and the backward part includes an end point connected to ground. The first lumped constant element is inserted in the backward part. The switch is configured to select a current path in accordance with a control signal. The at least one second lumped constant element is to be selectively connected in parallel to the first lumped constant element through the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Isao Ohba, Hiroyuki Hotta, Koichi Sato, Masao Teshima
  • Patent number: 8699980
    Abstract: A car audio system having a tuner unit and an active antenna integrated into a single module, the car audio system being connected to an antenna for a vehicle and receiving broadcast signals, is provided. The car audio system includes an antenna-tuner integration module, in which the active antenna for receiving and amplifying the broadcast signals and the tuner unit for selecting a broadcast signal corresponding to a specific frequency among the received broadcast signals are formed as a single module; and a car audio device connected to the antenna-tuner integration module using a data cable of a certain length corresponding to a spaced distance for preventing effects of electrical noise generated by the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Kwang Sung Electronics Korea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyu Young Lee
  • Patent number: 8694063
    Abstract: A radio-frequency (RF) device for a wireless communication device includes an antenna disposition area, and a plurality of antennas of a same type, formed in the antenna disposition area by different arrangements, for receiving or transmitting a plurality of wireless signals of a same frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Wistron NeWeb Corporation
    Inventors: Tso-Ming Hung, Jhih-Yuan Ke, Chih-Sen Hsieh, Ming-Feng Chang, Chih-Ming Wang
  • Patent number: 8694057
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mobile terminal, and more particularly, to a mobile terminal which can enlarge a transparent portion region, increase design freedoms, provide transparent mounting regions by forming various electronic components of a transparent material, and produce a variety of light emission pattern in particular scenarios by using the transparent portion region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seok Yong Park, Chang Won Yun, Jung Hyeong Ha, Seung Su Yang, Gi Hoon Tho, Young Tae Im, Hyo Sung Park, Byung Woon Jung
  • Publication number: 20140094230
    Abstract: There is provided a portable communication apparatus which includes a main antenna including a first element and a second element to be capable of being resonant at a first and a third frequencies, respectively, the third frequency being one between the first frequency and a second frequency higher than the first frequency, a switch provided between the main antenna and a high-frequency circuit, a capacitor disposed in parallel to the switch, the capacitor being connected between the main antenna and the high-frequency circuit, and a control circuit configured to control the switch to turn on and off such that when the switch is in an ON state, the first element is resonant at the first frequency, while when the switch is in an OFF state, the main antenna is coupled to the high-frequency circuit via the capacitor, and the second element is resonant at the second frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Kouji SOEKAWA, Shinya TACHIBANA
  • Patent number: 8688180
    Abstract: A system for detecting the use of wireless devices such as a mobile phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), or pagers in a moving vehicle receives wireless signals inside a vehicle using a radio frequency (RF) sensor(s) and converts the RF signals into voltage signals. The voltage signals are then compared with known waveforms to determine if the wireless signals indicate a received call, if the received call is answered, a transmitted call, an SMS text message, data associated with internet browsing on a wireless device, or Bluetooth activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Inthinc Technology Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan C. Catten
  • Patent number: 8687778
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods for interactive property communication. In various embodiments, an interactive property communication system includes two or more property communication nodes (PCNs) each adapted for coupling to an electrical service. PCNs include a radio transceiver for communications with a broker service adapted for controlling communications with one or more PCNs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventor: Curtis E. Quady
  • Patent number: 8687353
    Abstract: Electronic equipment is obtained, which is capable of regulating the arrangement position of a connection cable connected to an antenna module and preventing antenna properties from being degraded by a positional shift of the connection cable. The electronic equipment includes a housing, an antenna module placed in an end portion of the housing, and a connection cable connecting the antenna module to another electric circuit, wherein a guide groove accommodating the connection cable and regulating an arrangement position of the connection cable is formed on the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Masato Murakata
  • Patent number: 8688176
    Abstract: Components and methods for forming such components with mechanically-bonded plastic are provided. A representative method includes: providing a metal chassis, the chassis having an opening extending through; placing the chassis in a mold; flowing plastic into the mold such that the plastic flows into the opening, the plastic being mechanically bonded to the metal of the chassis to form an integrated metal and plastic component; and removing the integrated metal and plastic component from the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventor: Jason Donald Mareno
  • Patent number: 8688179
    Abstract: A mobile terminal includes a terminal main body including a circuit board for processing a radio signal, a conductive member including an exposed surface exposed to the outside of the main body and a plurality of recesses formed to be recessed toward the interior of the main body from the exposed surface and disposed to be spaced apart, at least a portion thereof being formed to transmit and receive the radio signal, and a filling member forming an external appearance of the main body and filling the recess portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Zhimin Choo, Daeyong Kwak, Sanghyun Choi, Hophil Lee, Kangjae Jung
  • Publication number: 20140087789
    Abstract: A Lightning connector compatible accessory device includes circuitry that is completely enveloped by a mobile device when the accessory device is inserted in a Lightning connector. The accessory device may include a microUSB connector on one end of a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board may be offset in a housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventors: Siva G. Narendra, Prabhakar Tadepalli, Saurav Chakraborty
  • Patent number: 8682256
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for managing a plurality of antennas on user equipment. A connection status module is configured to monitor the plurality of antennas for a data packet of a plurality of data. A control module is configured to power more than one of the plurality of antennas to measure signal quality in response to receiving the data packet. The signal quality comprises a power level of each of the plurality of antennas and a correlation of the plurality of antennas. An antenna quality module is configured to determine whether the correlation of the plurality of antennas is greater than a threshold in response to the connection status being active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Mobile Communications GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Zimmermann, Thorsten Kneip, Michael Schneider
  • Patent number: 8681953
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods for interactive property communication. In various embodiments, an interactive property communication system includes two or more property communication nodes (PCNs) each adapted for coupling to an electrical service. PCNs include a radio transceiver for communications with a broker service adapted for controlling communications with one or more PCNs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Inventor: Curtis E. Quady
  • Patent number: 8682261
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments include an antenna for receiving electromagnetic radiation in a broadcast radiation band and a near-field radiation band to generate a Radio Frequency (RF) signal. A coupling element couples the RF signal to a first port and at least one additional port, which may be a second port and a third port. A wireless power receiver on the first port includes a rectifier for converting the RF signal to a DC signal when the antenna couples to radiation in the near-field radiation band in a coupling-mode region of the antenna. A near-field communication transceiver includes circuitry for communicating information on the antenna in the near-field radiation band when the coupling element couples the second port to the RF signal. A broadcast receiver on the third port includes circuitry for receiving and tuning the broadcast radiation band when the coupling element couples the third port to the RF signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Ernest T. Ozaki, Stanley S. Toncich
  • Publication number: 20140080551
    Abstract: A mobile device and a support of the mobile device are disclosed in the present invention. The support is a retractable pull rod, where a tail end of the retractable pull rod is configured to be fixedly set in the mobile device, and at least one rotating shaft is set on the retractable pull rod. After the retractable pull rod is bent through the rotating shaft in a fully stretched or partially stretched state, at least one of all supporting points of the retractable pull rod is configured to contact the mobile device, and at least another one of the supporting points is configured to contact a surface on which the mobile device is placed. All the supporting points of the retractable pull rod include a head end of the retractable pull rod and all rotating shafts set on the retractable pull rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Huawei Device Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daixi LIANG
  • Patent number: 8675835
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods for interactive property communication. In various embodiments, an interactive property communication system includes two or more property communication nodes (PCNs) each adapted for coupling to an electrical service. PCNs include a radio transceiver for communications with a broker service adapted for controlling communications with one or more PCNs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Inventor: Curtis E. Quady
  • Patent number: 8670712
    Abstract: A method and mobile terminal for enhanced contactless communication are discussed. According to an embodiment, the invention provides a mobile terminal comprising: a plurality of antennas designated for a contactless reception/transmission of signals from/to an external device, each of the plurality of antennas configured to receive a signal provided from the external device; and a contactless module operatively coupled to the plurality of antennas, and including a controller, the controller configured to check a strength of the signal received from each of the plurality of antennas, to select one of the plurality of antennas based on the checked result, and to receive the signal continuously or a new signal using the selected antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Jolivet
  • Patent number: 8670802
    Abstract: An apparatus including an array of directional antenna elements is provided. The apparatus is configured to identify an angular relationship between a transmitting device and the apparatus by sampling data from antenna elements and analyzing reception patterns relating to antenna elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Inventors: Danko Antolovic, Steven Wallace
  • Patent number: 8670803
    Abstract: The invention relates to a radiofrequency communication device that comprises a gripping beating body having a surface; an electronic and/or electric circuit extending in the gripping beating body; at least one antenna provided in the vicinity of the electronic circuit. The device includes a connection circuit for connection to the antenna, that is provided at least partially in the gripping beating body and extends from the electronic circuit up to connection points of the antenna, said antenna connection points being accessible from the outside of the beating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Gemalto SA
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Schuh, Didier Bonnet
  • Publication number: 20140063345
    Abstract: A communication apparatus equipped with switchable antenna mechanism is provided, where the communication apparatus includes at least a portion of a portable electronic device, which includes a plurality of wireless communication functions respectively corresponding to different communication standards, and the wireless communication functions include a mobile phone function and at least one other wireless communication function. The communication apparatus includes: an antenna; a processing circuit; a plurality of processing modules arranged to provide the portable electronic device with a plurality of functions, respectively, where the functions include at least a portion of the wireless communication functions; and a switching unit. It is an advantage that, by utilizing the switching unit, different portions of the communication apparatus can share the antenna to achieve the best beneficial result through the limited area of a printed circuit board (PCB).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventor: Cho-Yi Lin
  • Patent number: 8665235
    Abstract: A touch structure having an antenna function includes a substrate unit and an antenna unit. The substrate unit has a touch surface on the top surface thereof for an external object to touch in order to operate a touch-controlled module. The substrate unit includes at least one transparent substrate having at least one transparent portion and at least one nontransparent portion disposed around the transparent portion and combined with the transparent portion, the transparent portion has an image-viewing area on the top surface thereof, and the nontransparent portion has a non-image-viewing area on the top surface thereof. The antenna unit includes at least one antenna radiation structure disposed on the transparent substrate or embedded in the transparent substrate, and the layout of the antenna radiation structure shows an antenna radiation pattern having a predetermined operation band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Auden Techno Corp.
    Inventors: Chia-Lun Tang, Yu-Pin Chang
  • Patent number: 8666445
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method manage a transmission antenna system by measuring an antenna performance indicator of an alternate antenna configuration during a reduced data rate transmission. After an antenna performance indicator is measured in a current (first) antenna system configuration, the antenna system is configured to an alternate (second) configuration during a reduced data rate transmission and the antenna performance indicator of the alternate (second) configuration is measured. The antenna performance indicators for both configurations are evaluated to determine the optimum antenna system configuration for transmission. If the alternate (second) configuration will result in decreased performance, the antenna system is changed back to the first antenna system configuration. Otherwise, the alternate (second) configuration is defined as the current configuration and the first antenna configuration is evaluated during reduced rate transmissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Henry Chang, Doug Dunn, Gregory Poilasne
  • Patent number: 8660623
    Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing, a circuit board carried by the portable housing, a wireless communications circuit carried by the circuit board, and an audio circuit carried by the circuit board. The device may further include an antenna assembly including an antenna carrier frame coupled to the circuit board and defining a cavity therein, and at least one antenna element carried on the carrier frame and coupled to the wireless communications circuit. The device may also include an audio output transducer carried within the cavity of the antenna carrier frame and coupled to the audio circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Ying Tong Man, Yihong Qi, Joshua Kwan Ho Wong
  • Patent number: 8660612
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a housing including a speaker compartment, processing circuitry within the housing, and wireless transceiver circuitry within the housing and coupled to the processing circuitry. The electronic device may also include NFC transceiver circuitry within the housing and coupled to the processing circuitry, a speaker in the speaker compartment and coupled to the processing circuitry, and an NFC antenna positioned within the speaker compartment and coupled to the NFC transceiver circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Lizhong Zhu, Libo Zhu, Michael Stephen Corrigan
  • Patent number: 8660483
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an antenna switching system includes a (a?3) antennas and a selector. The selector selects b1 (2?b1<a) antennas out of the antennas at first timing, causes the selected antennas to configure an array antenna, selects, at second timing, b2 (2?b2<a) antennas including c (1?c<b1) antennas among the antennas used to configure the array antenna at the first timing out of the antennas, and causes the selected antennas to configure an array antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sunao Tsuchida, Masakazu Kato, Jun Yaginuma
  • Patent number: 8660512
    Abstract: A filter stage for use in a receiver includes a switch with an input coupled to an antenna terminal, a first output and a second output; a first filter of a first type coupled to the first output; and a second filter of a second type different from the first type, coupled to the second output. A receiver includes a filter stage as mentioned above; and a switching unit coupled to the filter stage for controlling a switching state of the switch, to selectively connect the antenna terminal to the second output, depending on a selection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Inventors: Bernd Adler, Feridoon Jalili, Mikael Bergholz Knudsen, Michael Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 8655288
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a mobile wireless communications device having a first housing, a spatial diversity wireless transceiver carried by the first housing, and a first antenna carried by the first housing and coupled to the spatial diversity wireless transceiver. The electronic device may include an external antenna device having a second housing, and a second antenna carried thereby and configured to be coupled to the spatial diversity wireless transceiver. The spatial diversity wireless transceiver may be configured to selectively operate one of the first antenna and the second antenna to provide spatial diversity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Nasserullah Khan
  • Patent number: 8655421
    Abstract: A portable wireless device and a wireless communication method, which can transmit and receive wireless signal without affecting influence from metallic part that is included in an expandable mechanism, are provided. In the portable wireless device taking two statuses of an expanded status in which an upper housing 2 and a lower housing 7 are arranged approximately in series and a contracted status in which the upper housing 2 and the lower housing 7 are overlapped each other, at least a part of rotating mechanism 1 which makes the expanded status and the contracted status variable is formed of metal, and the metal part of rotating mechanism 1 operates as an antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Masanori Sakurai
  • Patent number: 8655410
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing signal interference within a cellular radio system to increase both coverage and capacity. The method and apparatus include altering the direction of beams within cell sectors is among discrete angular positions according to a predetermined, cyclic pattern. The predetermined, cyclic pattern varies in a group of adjacent cell sectors such that inter-cell interference is significantly reduced or eliminated by rotating at a different cycle the beams in adjacent cells. This discrete, angular movement of beams provides for downlink transmissions to be timed in such a way (i.e., scheduled) such that transmission to a user will occur in accordance with the beam and time slot having the best carrier to interference (C/I) ratio for that user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Apple, Inc.
    Inventors: Nimal Gamini Senarath, Yoon Chae Cheong, Shalini Periyalwar, Robert Matyas
  • Publication number: 20140045560
    Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device may include a plurality of antennas, a plurality of wireless transceivers, and signal processing circuitry. The device may further include a controller for selectively switching the signal processing circuitry to a desired one of the wireless transceivers, and for selectively switching a desired one of the antennas to the desired one of the wireless transceivers. Moreover, the controller may also be for selectively connecting and disconnecting the at least one other one of the antennas to an unused one of the wireless transceivers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
    Inventors: YIHONG QI, YING TONG MAN, PERRY JARMUSZEWSKI
  • Patent number: 8649832
    Abstract: Antenna characteristics of a folding cellphone are adjusted to appropriate values. The cellphone includes a first casing 10a containing a first circuit member 15a, and a second casing 10b containing a second circuit member 15b. The first circuit member 15a and the second circuit member 15b are connected by a connection structure consisting of a first connecting conductor 23a extending from each lateral end of the first circuit member 15a downward (toward the second casing), and a second connecting conductor 25a extending from each lateral end of the second circuit member 15b upward (toward the first casing). The first circuit member 15a and the second circuit member 15b are each comprised of shields, substrates, and so on. Antenna 111 is disposed at an upper edge of the first casing 10a. The effective casing length is affected by the length of the first casing 10a and the second casing 10b, which are both electrically conductive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Takebe
  • Patent number: 8649833
    Abstract: A user device includes a conductive structure coupled to a receiver and a sensor. The conductive structure is configured to operate as an antenna for the receiver and as a sensor pad for the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng-Jung Lee, Michael M. Lee, Mark Corbridge, Nagendra Bage Jayaraj, Khaled Ahmad Obeidat, Joseph C. Modro