# US 12,009,576 B2 · Handheld electronic device

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,009,576 B2
- Document ID: US12009576B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/068,541
- Filed: 2020-10-12
- Published: 2021-06-03
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2019-12-03
- Assignees: Apple Inc.
- Applicants: Apple Inc.
- Inventors: Arun R. Varma; David Hurrell; Eric N. Nyland; Ihtesham H. Chowdhury; Jennifer M. Edwards; Matthew D. Hill; Benjamin J. Kallman; Trent Canales; Daniel C. Wagman; Bilgehan Avser; Elisabeth Lang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12009576B2

## CPC

- H01Q 1/243: {with built-in antennas}
- H04M 1/026: {Details of the structure or mounting of specific components}
- H01Q 1/38: formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support {(patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142)}
- H01Q 21/28: Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems {(multiple beam H01Q25/00)}
- H01Q 25/005: {providing two patterns of opposite direction; back to back antennas (H01Q25/004 takes precedence)}
- H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72)
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)

## Abstract

A mobile phone includes a housing structure, the housing structure defining a side surface of the mobile phone, a front cover coupled to the housing structure and defining a front surface of the mobile phone, a rear cover coupled to the housing structure and defining a rear surface of the mobile phone, a display positioned below the front cover, a first directional antenna defining a first radiation pattern extending through the front surface of the mobile phone, a second directional antenna defining a second radiation pattern extending through the rear surface of the mobile phone, and a third directional antenna defining a third radiation pattern extending through the side surface of the mobile phone.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A mobile phone comprising:
a housing structure defining a plurality of radiating elements of a first antenna group configured to operate at a first frequency band and comprising:
a first conductive member defining:
at least a portion of a first side surface of the mobile phone; and
a first radiating element of the first antenna group;
a second conductive member coupled to the first conductive member and defining:
at least a portion of a second side surface of the mobile phone; and
a second radiating element of the first antenna group; and
a third conductive member coupled to the second conductive member and defining a first hole and a second hole, the first hole and second hole at least partially defining an antenna window;
a first nonconductive cover element positioned in the first hole;
a second nonconductive cover element positioned in the second hole;
a front cover coupled to the housing structure and defining a front surface of the mobile phone;
a rear cover coupled to the housing structure and defining a rear surface of the mobile phone;
a display positioned below the front cover; and
a second antenna group configured to operate at a second frequency band different from the first frequency band, the second antenna group comprising:
a first directional antenna positioned in an internal volume defined by the housing structure, the front cover, and the rear cover and defining a first radiation pattern extending through the rear surface of the mobile phone; and
a second directional antenna positioned in the internal volume and defining a second radiation pattern extending through the antenna window of the third conductive member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the first directional antenna and the second directional antenna are configured to operate at a frequency band between about 25 GHz and about 39 GHz.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein:
the first antenna group defines a first multiple-in multiple-out antenna array; and
the second antenna group defines a second multiple-in multiple-out antenna array.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein:
the first radiation pattern extends along a first primary transmission direction; and
the second radiation pattern extends along a second primary transmission direction that is different from the first primary transmission direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The mobile phone of claim 4, wherein:
a first antenna gain of the first directional antenna is highest along the first primary transmission direction; and
a second antenna gain of the second directional antenna is highest along the second primary transmission direction.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The mobile phone of claim 4, wherein the second primary transmission direction is orthogonal to the first primary transmission direction.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the second directional antenna comprises:
a first directional antenna element configured to operate at a first frequency;
a second directional antenna element configured to operate at a second frequency different from the first frequency;
a third directional antenna element configured to operate at the first frequency; and
a fourth directional antenna element configured to operate at the second frequency.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the housing structure further comprises a nonconductive joining element retaining the first conductive member and the second conductive member and defining a third portion of the first side surface of the mobile phone.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The mobile phone of claim 1, further comprising a third nonconductive cover element positioned over the first nonconductive cover element and the second nonconductive cover element.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the second directional antenna comprises:
a first directional antenna element configured to operate at a first frequency; and
a second directional antenna element configured to operate at a second frequency different from the first frequency.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The mobile phone of claim 10, wherein:
the first directional antenna element is configured to operate at about 25 GHz; and
the second directional antenna element is configured to operate at about 39 GHz.

### Claim 12

A mobile phone comprising:
a housing structure defining a plurality of radiating elements of a first antenna group configured to operate at a first frequency band and comprising:
a first metal side wall defining a first radiating element of the first antenna group;
a second metal side wall coupled to the first metal side wall and defining a second radiating element of the first antenna group; and
a third metal side wall coupled to the second metal side wall and defining an antenna window;
a front cover coupled to the housing structure and defining a front surface of the mobile phone;
a rear cover coupled to the housing structure and defining a rear surface of the mobile phone;
a display positioned below the front cover;
a second antenna group configured to operate at a second frequency band different from the first frequency band, the second antenna group comprising:
a first directional antenna positioned within the mobile phone and defining a first radiation pattern extending through the rear surface of the mobile phone and along a first primary transmission direction; and
a second directional antenna positioned within the mobile phone and defining a second radiation pattern extending through the antenna window of the third metal side wall and along a second primary transmission direction, the second directional antenna comprising:
a first directional antenna element configured to operate at a first frequency; and
a second directional antenna element configured to operate at a second frequency different from the first frequency.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The mobile phone of claim 12, wherein the first directional antenna and the second directional antenna are configured to operate at a frequency band between about 25 GHz and about 39 GHz.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The mobile phone of claim 13, wherein:
the first directional antenna element is configured to operate at about 25 GHz; and
the second directional antenna element is configured to operate at about 39 GHz.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The mobile phone of claim 14, wherein:
the antenna window is defined at least in part by:
a first hole extending through the third metal side wall; and
a second hole extending through the third metal side wall.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The mobile phone of claim 12, wherein the second primary transmission direction is orthogonal to the first primary transmission direction.

### Claim 17

A mobile phone comprising:
a front cover defining a front surface of the mobile phone;
a rear cover defining a rear surface of the mobile phone;
a housing structure extending from the front cover to the rear cover and defining at least a portion of a peripheral side wall of the mobile phone and a plurality of radiating elements of a first antenna group configured to operate at a first frequency band, the housing structure comprising:
a first conductive member defining:
at least a portion of a first side surface of the mobile phone; and
a first radiating element of the first antenna group;
a second conductive member coupled to the first conductive member and defining:
at least a portion of a second side surface of the mobile phone; and
a second radiating element of the first antenna group; and
a third conductive member coupled to the second conductive member and defining a first hole extending therethrough and a second hole extending therethrough;
a display positioned below the front cover; and
a second antenna group configured to operate at a second frequency band different from the first frequency band, the second antenna group comprising:
a first directional antenna positioned between the front cover and the rear cover and defining a first radiation pattern extending through the rear surface of the mobile phone and along a first primary transmission direction; and
a second directional antenna comprising:
a first directional antenna element defining a second radiation pattern extending through the first hole and along a third primary transmission direction orthogonal to the first primary transmission direction; and
a second directional antenna element defining a third radiation pattern extending through the second hole and along the third primary transmission direction.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The mobile phone of claim 17, wherein:
the first directional antenna element is configured to operate at a first frequency; and
the second directional antenna element is configured to operate at a second frequency different from the first frequency.

### Claim 19 (depends on 8)

The mobile phone of claim 8, wherein:
the first hole defines a first waveguide; and
the second hole defines a second waveguide.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The mobile phone of claim 19, further comprising:
a first nonconductive cover element in the first hole; and
a second nonconductive cover element in the second hole.