Apple Reveals Push Button Antenna that may Point to Cable TV Content
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a newly granted patent of Apple's that would suggest that they may be considering a push button style antenna for future devices such as their iPhone, iPod Touch or perhaps even a new tablet. According to Apple such an antenna would "ensure high-quality wireless transmission and reception." Although the antenna could be based on a push button design, it may also be designed to be activated via an icon on your media device UI. There could also be an interesting twist to this patent, in that the antenna may utilize a coaxial cable. Coaxial cable is used as a transmission line for radio frequency signals, in applications such as connecting radio transmitters and receivers with their antennas, computer network (Internet) connections, and distributing cable television signals. It's the latter possibility that may be the secret to this patent and one that I think is worth emphasizing. Then again, if New York City is having trouble with the iPhone now with simple data, how would it ever handle wireless television transmissions? That aside, the ability to drive cable content to Apple's media players and/or future tablet is just too delicious an idea to ignore.
Push Button Close-Up
A portion of illustrative button antenna 14 is shown in Apple's patent FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, button antenna 14 may be formed from a button member 52. Button member 52 may be formed from plastics such as polycarbonate-based plastics or plastics based on acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) copolymers.
A Flexible Conductor Arrangement on a Coaxial Cable
Apple's patent Figures 23 and 24 show side views of illustrative handheld electronic device 10 that uses a flexible conductor arrangement based on a coaxial cable. In the situation shown in FIG. 23, button member 52 is in its undeployed state, so that button top surface 134 lies nearly even with the top side surface 136 of case 12. In the situation shown in FIG. 24, the button member is in its deployed state, so the button top surface 134 protrudes significantly from the surface 126.
Push Button Antenna Construction Options
Patent Figures 18-22: FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an illustrative handheld electronic device button antenna formed using a helical conductor structure; FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an illustrative handheld electronic device button antenna formed using a curled portion of flex circuit board; FIG. 20 is a view of an illustrative handheld electronic device button antenna formed using a zig-zag structure on a substrate such as a flex circuit substrate; FIG. 21 is a perspective view of an illustrative handheld electronic device button antenna formed using a zig-zag structure contained in a plane that is parallel with a rounded or circular button's top surface; FIG. 22 is a perspective view of an illustrative handheld electronic device button antenna formed using a zig-zag structure contained in a plane that is parallel with a rectangular button's top surface.
Button Options & Possible Directions of Travel for Button Antennas
Patent Figures 8-12: FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an illustrative retracted handheld electronic device button antenna that protrudes from a corner of a conductive case; FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an illustrative deployed handheld electronic device button antenna that protrudes from a corner of a conductive case; FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an illustrative retracted handheld electronic device button antenna that protrudes from a front or rear surface of a conductive case; FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an illustrative deployed handheld electronic device button antenna that protrudes from a front or rear surface of a conductive case; FIG. 12 is a schematic top view of an illustrative handheld electronic device case showing possible directions of travel for button antennas.
Illustrative States
Apple's patent FIG. 38 is a state diagram showing illustrative states and state transitions that may be exhibited during operation of a handheld electronic device containing a pushbutton antenna in accordance with the present invention.
Comments