Antenna for portable electronic device wireless communications adapter

An antenna that is associated with a handheld electronic device and a separate wireless communications adapter that is mounted to the handheld electronic device, the antenna comprising:

• an antenna structure in the wireless communication adapter that forms a resonating element for the antenna;
• a ground plane in the wireless communications adapter that forms an antenna ground for the antenna;
• and
• a conductive handheld electronic device housing portion of the handheld electronic device that forms a parasitic antenna element for the antenna.

Electronic equipment comprising:

• a handheld electronic device comprising:
• processing circuitry that generates and consumes data;
• and
• a conductive housing portion that forms a parasitic antenna element;
• a handheld electronic device connector having a shield that is electrically connected to the conductive housing portion;
• and
• a wireless communications adapter that is mounted to the handheld electronic device, comprising:
• a printed circuit board;
• a wireless communications connector that is mounted to the printed circuit board and that has a shield that is electrically connected to the handheld electronic device connector;
• an antenna ground plane formed on the printed circuit board;
• a resonating antenna element mounted to the printed circuit board, wherein the resonating antenna element, the antenna ground plane, and the parasitic antenna element form an antenna for the wireless communications adapter;
• and
• a radio-frequency transceiver mounted to the printed circuit board that transmits and receives the data as radio-frequency signals through the antenna.