18502979. Electronic Device Antenna Arrays Mounted Against a Dielectric Layer simplified abstract (Apple Inc.)

Electronic Device Antenna Arrays Mounted Against a Dielectric Layer

Organization Name

Apple Inc.

Inventor(s)

Jennifer M. Edwards of San Francisco CA (US)

Harish Rajagopalan of San Jose CA (US)

Simone Paulotto of Redwood City CA (US)

Bilgehan Avser of Pacifica CA (US)

Hao Xu of Cupertino CA (US)

Rodney A. Gomez Angulo of Santa Clara CA (US)

Siwen Yong of San Francisco CA (US)

Matthew A. Mow of Los Altos CA (US)

Mattia Pascolini of San Francisco CA (US)

Electronic Device Antenna Arrays Mounted Against a Dielectric Layer - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18502979 titled 'Electronic Device Antenna Arrays Mounted Against a Dielectric Layer

Simplified Explanation

The patent application describes an electronic device with a phased antenna array on a dielectric substrate, covered by a dielectric layer, for conveying millimeter wave signals.

• The array includes conductive traces forming patch elements or parasitic elements.
• The dielectric layer is selected to act as a quarter wave impedance transformer for the array.
• The substrate includes fences of conductive vias surrounding each antenna to minimize signal attenuation and interference.

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1. 1. 1. Potential Applications

• 5G communication devices
• Radar systems
• Satellite communication systems

1. 1. 1. Problems Solved

• Minimizes signal attenuation and interference
• Reduces destructive interference and surface wave generation

1. 1. 1. Benefits

• Improved signal transmission efficiency
• Enhanced performance of phased antenna arrays
• Reduction in signal loss and interference

Original Abstract Submitted

An electronic device may be provided with a dielectric cover layer, a dielectric substrate, and a phased antenna array on the dielectric substrate for conveying millimeter wave signals through the dielectric cover layer. The array may include conductive traces mounted against the dielectric layer. The conductive traces may form patch elements or parasitic elements for the phased antenna array. The dielectric layer may have a dielectric constant and a thickness selected to form a quarter wave impedance transformer for the array at a wavelength of operation of the array. The substrate may include fences of conductive vias that laterally surround each of the antennas within the array. When configured in this way, signal attenuation, destructive interference, and surface wave generation associated with the presence of the dielectric layer over the phased antenna array may be minimized.