Antenna assembly utilizing metal-dielectric structures

An antenna assembly for a wireless communication device that produces a radio frequency signal, said antenna assembly comprising:

• a substrate of dielectric material and having a first surface and a second surface;
• a ground plane formed by a layer of electrically conductive material on the first surface;
• an antenna disposed on the substrate proximate to the ground plane and having a structure that is resonant at a first frequency, wherein the antenna has a port for receiving the radio frequency signal;
• and
• at least one metal-dielectric structure disposed proximate to the antenna and resonating at a given frequency, wherein each metal-dielectric structure comprises an electrically conductive pattern on the second surface of the substrate, a via connected to the electrically conductive pattern, and a switch coupling the via to the layer of electrically conductive material on the first surface, and wherein the at least one metal-dielectric structure alters resonance of the antenna to resonate at a second frequency instead of the first frequency.

An antenna assembly for a wireless communication device that produces a radio frequency signal, said antenna assembly comprising:

• a ground plane;
• an antenna disposed proximate to the ground plane and having a structure that is resonant at a first frequency, wherein the antenna has a port for receiving the radio frequency signal;
• and
• at least one metal-dielectric structure disposed proximate to the antenna and resonating at a given frequency, wherein each metal-dielectric structure comprises a pair of concentric rings each having a gap, and wherein the at least one metal-dielectric structure alters resonance of the antenna to resonate at a second frequency instead of the first frequency.

An antenna assembly for a wireless communication device that produces a radio frequency signal, said antenna assembly comprising:

• a ground plane;
• an antenna disposed proximate to the ground plane and having a structure that is resonant at a first frequency, wherein the antenna has a port for receiving the radio frequency signal;
• and
• at least one metal-dielectric structure disposed proximate to the antenna and resonating at a given frequency, wherein each metal-dielectric structure comprises a rectilinear ring within which is an element shaped like a Jerusalem cross, and wherein the at least one metal-dielectric structure alters resonance of the antenna to resonate at a second frequency instead of the first frequency.

An antenna assembly for a wireless communication device comprising:

• a substrate of dielectric material and having a first surface and a second surface on opposite sides of the substrate;
• a ground plane formed by a layer of electrically conductive material on the first surface;
• an antenna disposed on the substrate and having a physical length;
• and
• a plurality of metal-dielectric structures forming a non-periodic array disposed on the substrate, wherein each metal-dielectric structure interacts with the antenna wherein as a result the antenna has an effective electrical length that is greater than the physical length.