Google Inc.

Motorola Mobility LLC

Motorola Corporation

Waymo LLC

Google Technology Holdings LLC

Vijay L Asrani

Adrian Napoles

Gregory Redmond Black

Greg R Black

Jiang Zhu

Nan Xu

Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera

Louis Jay Vannatta

Michael E Russell

Douglas Blake Kough

Timothy J Sutherland

Paul Lynn Fordham

Roshni Murari Srinivasan

Vimalkaushik Natarajan

Paul Morningstar

Katherine H Coles

Hardik D Shah

Jibing Wang

Erik Richard Stauffer

Ming Zheng

Peter Nanni

Mark Daniel Janninck

Aamir Akram

Istvan Janos Szini

Warren Jones

Arthur Christopher Leyh

Aaron L Dietrich

Pei Li

Narendra Pulimi

Sung-Hoon Oh

Deven M Patel

Ross J Lahlum

Jonathan Nivet

Young Hun Kim

Ali Ghoreishi

Amin T Jalali

Peruvemba Ranganathan Sai Ananthanarayanan

Nicholas Matthew McDonnell

Ben White

Pete Nanni

Matthew Biggerstaff

Dennis D Wang

David R Vogel

Khan Mohammed Shams

Peruvemba Raganathan Sai Ananthanarayanan

Krishna Katragadda

Khan Mohammed Z Shams

Chun Kit Lai

Techniques and apparatuses are described that implement a metal structure for steering and broadening millimeter-wave (mmWave) antenna coverage. A user device includes at least one mmWave antenna that produces a near-field radiation region and a far-field radiation pattern. Disposed within the near-field radiation region is the metal structure comprising one or more metal pieces. The metal pieces are able to reflect energy associated with the far-field radiation pattern or produce another far-field radiation pattern based on currents induced in the metal pieces by the near-field radiation region in such a way that the far-field radiation pattern from the mmWave antenna is positively affected (e.g., steered and/or broadened). In this way, the far-field radiation pattern can be effectively steered and/or broadened with a simple cost and space-effective design.

Metal structure for steering and broadening mmWave antenna coverage

A user equipment (UE) manages thermal levels of antenna modules with reference to a temperature threshold. The UE includes multiple antenna modules having a first antenna module and a second antenna module and at least one wireless transceiver coupled to the multiple antenna modules. The UE also includes a processor and memory system implementing an antenna module thermal manager. The manager is configured to obtain a first temperature indication corresponding to the first antenna module of the multiple antenna modules. The manager is also configured to perform a comparison of the first temperature indication to at least one temperature threshold. The manager is further configured to switch, based on the comparison, from using the first antenna module to using the second antenna module for wireless communication with the at least one wireless transceiver.

Thermal management with antenna modules

The present disclosure provides a metal structure, or antenna radiator, for an accessory that is configured to function as both an antenna and an input control. The device may be a wearable device with a first surface shaped to be in contact with the human body and a second surface shaped to be exposed when the device is being worn. The antenna radiator may be located internally within the housing of the device and coupled to a printed circuit board ('PCB'). The PCB may be located between the antenna radiator and the surface of the housing such that the PCB may shield the antenna radiator from antenna loss due to the human body. An electric field may extend between the PCB and the antenna radiator. The fringe electric field may improve cross-head and cross-body connectivity between the accessory and another device.

Antenna design for robust cross-head and cross-body link

Systems, methods, and apparatuses, including electronic devices and computer-readable storage media, for adaptively switching wireless connections between antennas of a wearable electronic device and a host electronic device. One device includes a wearable electronic device with a first and second housing, each housing including two or more antennas. The wearable electronic device is configured to establish and monitor a wireless cross-link between two antennas in different housings, or between antennas in one housing and antennas of a host electronic device. The wearable electronic device can monitor the integrity of the wireless cross-link, and establish an updated cross-link in response to the wireless cross-link not meeting a predetermined integrity threshold. The wearable electronic device can monitor a wireless cross-head link between housings of a wearable electronic device at the same time as a wireless cross-body link between the wearable electronic device and the host electronic device.

Cross-communication between wireless devices with multiple antennas

This document describes a multi-function module for mmWave communication and user input using mechanical switches in an electronic device. The multi-function module may be located behind a non-conductive button (e.g., volume button, power button) of the electronic device. Further, the multi-function module includes an elongated antenna substrate with mechanical switches mounted thereon and distributed along a longitudinal length of the antenna substrate. At least one of the mechanical switches is implemented as a radiating element for a mmWave patch antenna. The multi-function module also includes one or more integrated circuit components mounted to the antenna substrate and configured to use the at least one mechanical switch as the radiating element for the mmWave patch antenna to provide the mmWave communication. In this way, the multi-function module enables the mechanical switches to coexist with the mmWave patch antennas.

Multi-function module for mmWave communication and user input using mechanical switches in an electronic device

The present disclosure describes one or more aspects of surface-cell patch antenna arrays integrated as part of a user equipment housing. As part of integration, surface-cell patch antennas are formed from surface-cells that comprise an electromagnetic-transparent metallic surface proximate an outer surface of the housing. The surface-cell patch antennas, in turn, form a surface-cell patch antenna array. A transceiver module, disposed proximate an inner surface of the user equipment housing, includes a transceiver device and a flexible printed circuit board having traces that electrically couple the transceiver device to the surface-cell patch antenna array. The described aspects alleviate manufacturing and design challenges that are associated with use of patch array modules.

Antenna arrays integrated into an electromagnetic transparent metallic surface

The present disclosure describes apparatuses and methods of performance-based antenna selection for user devices. In some aspects, a user device includes a transceiver having a first receiver, as well as second and third receivers. The transceiver is coupled to a first antenna to enable communication via the first antenna and the second receiver is coupled to the second antenna to enable reception via the second antenna. The third receiver is coupled to a third antenna to enable monitoring of performance of the third antenna. Based on a comparison of respective performance of the first antenna and the third antenna, the first antenna or third antenna is coupled the transceiver to enable subsequent communication. By monitoring and comparing respective performance of the antennas before antenna switching is implemented, a better-performing antenna of the two antennas can be selected for coupling to the transceiver without impacting communication performance.

Performance-based antenna selection for user devices

Implementations relate to systems and methods for location assistance using devices () in a personal area network (PAN). In one scenario, a user may use two separate location-enabled devices, such as a wearable personal device () and a cellular telephone device (). In cases, one of those devices may have reached a higher or farther-developed state in terms of generating or storing location information () for the user's current position, as compared to the opposite device. This can take place, for instance, when the first (e.g. wearable) device () is first turned on. The two devices use platforms and techniques to exchange location information and carry out GPS or other operations to furnish the device that is lagging in position processing progress with assistance which will speed up or otherwise enhance the position fix for that device.

Systems and methods for location assistance with personal area network devices

In one aspect of the present subject matter, systems and methods are disclosed that allow for the detection of which of a user's hands is currently holding an electronic device. Based on such detection, an appropriate tuning correction may be applied to a first antenna and/or a second antenna of the electronic device to correct for any detuning caused by the user's hand.

System and method for applying an antenna tuning correction within an electronic device based on left/right hand detection

The present disclosure is related to an antenna system for a vehicle, such as a vehicle that has a non-metallic roof. The antenna system includes two metallic supports coupled to the roof. Additionally, the antenna system includes a first MIMO antenna pair. A first antenna of the first MIMO antenna pair is coupled to a first support of the two metallic supports, and a second antenna of the first MIMO antenna pair is coupled to a second support of the two metallic supports. The antenna system further includes a second MIMO antenna pair. A first antenna of the second MIMO antenna pair is coupled to the first support of the two metallic supports, and a second antenna of the second MIMO antenna pair is coupled to the second support of the two metallic supports. Yet further, the two metallic supports of the antenna system are physically separated from each other.

LTE MIMO antenna system for automotive carbon fiber rooftops

A method and system for detecting whether the position of a user's hand gripping a mobile communication device chassis affects an external antenna is provided. A sectioned metal band about a periphery of a mobile communication device has a radiating antenna in at least one metal section. The radiating antenna section is bounded on both sides by electrically floating metal sections. Each of the electrically floating metal sections is bounded on the side distal from the antenna section by a ground metal section. Each metal section separated from an adjacent metal section by an insulating gap. Embodiments measure a differential capacitance between the antenna section and the floating metal section and measure a single and capacitance between the floating metal section and the grounded section to determine whether a user's hand is bridging one or more of the insulating gaps.

Hand grip sensor for external chassis antenna

According to an implementation, a computing device includes electronic circuitry, and an antenna and heat venting chamber having an antenna radiating element disposed in at least a first plane, a ground plane element disposed in at least a second plane, a first side wall member defining a plurality of perforations, and a second side wall member having a portion that is disposed opposite to the first side wall member, where the portion of the second side wall member defines at least one opening. The computing device includes a cooling system configured to vent heat generated by the electronic circuitry through the antenna and heat venting chamber.

Antenna chamber with heat venting

Growing community of inventors

Round Lake, IL, United States of America

Vijay L Asrani