Mobile computing device having a modal antenna

A mobile computing device comprising:

• a main body;
• a display screen support member;
• a hinge member pivotally coupled to each of the display screen support member and the main body;
• a radio frequency circuit located on the main body;
• a modal antenna mechanically coupled to the hinge member at a location that is remote from the radio frequency circuit, the modal antenna comprising a driven element and a parasitic element positioned proximate to the driven element, the modal antenna operable in a plurality of different modes, each mode of the plurality of different modes is associated with a different radiation pattern;
• a tuning circuit located on the hinge member, the tuning circuit configured to control an electrical characteristic associated with the parasitic element of the modal antenna to operate the modal antenna in the plurality of different modes;
• and
• a transmission line coupling the radio frequency circuit to the modal antenna and the tuning circuit;
• wherein the radio frequency circuit is configured to transmit an RF signal over the transmission line to the modal antenna and configured to communicate a control signal to adjust a mode of the modal antenna over the transmission line;
• wherein the radio frequency circuit comprises a control circuit that is configured to modulate the control signal onto the RE signal to generate a transmit signal for communication over the transmission line to the tuning circuit;
• and
• wherein the tuning circuit is configured to demodulate the control signal such that the radio frequency circuit adjusts the mode of the modal antenna via the control signal.