Antenna system including closely spaced antennas adapted for operating at the same or similar frequencies

Abstract

The present application provides an antenna system for use in an electronic device. The antenna system includes a conductive housing for the electronic device having a perimeter, which extends around the device. The conductive housing has a plurality of arms formed in the conductive housing at or near the perimeter. The antenna system further includes a conductive substrate, coupled to the conductive housing and located within the perimeter of the conductive housing. The conductive substrate has a notch located proximate the position of one of the plurality of arms in the conductive housing, where each of the plurality of arms respectively couples to the conductive substrate proximate the perimeter, and where the notch causes one of the plurality of arms to couple to the conductive substrate at a point having a different relative distance along the length of the perimeter of the conductive housing. The antenna system still further includes a plurality of signal sources, respectively coupled between the conductive substrate and a corresponding one of the plurality of arms. In at least some or other embodiments a selectable shunt circuit can be used to affect the polarization of the wireless signals associated with one or more of the antenna arms.