Bezel Gap Antennas

Abstract

Electronic devices are provided that contain wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may include radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and antenna structures. A parallel-fed loop antenna may be formed from portions of an electronic device bezel and a ground plane. The antenna may operate in multiple communications bands. An impedance matching circuit for the antenna may be formed from a parallel-connected inductive element and a series-connected capacitive element. The bezel may surround a peripheral portion of a display that is mounted to the front of an electronic device. The bezel may contain a gap. Antenna feed terminals for the antenna may be located on opposing sides of the gap. The inductive element may bridge the gap and the antenna feed terminals. The capacitive element may be connected in series between one of the antenna feed terminals and a conductor in a transmission line located between the transceiver circuitry and the antenna.

1 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a housing having a periphery;   a conductive structure that runs along the periphery and that has at least one gap on the periphery; and   an antenna formed at least partly from the conductive structure.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic device defined in  claim 1  further comprising a display, wherein the conductive structure comprises a bezel for the display. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic device defined in  claim 2  further comprising first and second antenna feed terminals for the antenna, wherein the antenna comprises a parallel-fed loop antenna. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic device defined in  claim 3  further comprising:
 a substantially rectangular ground plane, wherein a portion of the loop antenna is formed from the substantially rectangular ground plane. 
 
     
     
         5 . The electronic device defined in  claim 4  wherein the second antenna feed terminal is connected to the substantially rectangular ground plane. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic device defined in  claim 4  wherein the second antenna feed terminal is connected to the substantially rectangular ground plane and wherein the first antenna feed terminal is electrically connected to the bezel. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the conductive structure forms a conductive loop path, the electronic device further comprising an inductor interposed in the conductive loop path. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic device defined in  claim 1  further comprising first and second antenna feed terminals for the antenna, wherein the first and second antenna feed terminals are located on opposing sides of the gap. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic device defined in  claim 1  further comprising a transmission line having first and second conductors respectively connected to first and second antenna feed terminals for the antenna and a capacitor between the first conductor of the transmission line and the first antenna feed terminal. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic device defined in  claim 1  further comprising first and second antenna feed terminals for the antenna and an inductor coupled between the first and second antenna feed terminals. 
     
     
         10 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a housing having a periphery;   a ground plane in the housing;   a conductive structure that runs along the periphery and that has at least one gap on the periphery;   an open antenna slot formed partly by the conductive structure and partly by the ground plane, wherein the open antenna slot has an opening formed by the gap.   
     
     
         11 . The electronic device defined in  claim 10  further comprising:
 a closed antenna slot formed partly by the conductive structure and partly by the ground plane. 
 
     
     
         12 . The electronic device defined in  claim 11  further comprising:
 an L-shaped conductive region that forms edges of both the open and closed antenna slots and that is disposed between the open and closed antenna slots. 
 
     
     
         13 . The electronic device defined in  claim 12  further comprising:
 radio-frequency transceiver circuitry; 
 first and second antenna feed terminals; and 
 a transmission line having positive and ground conductors, wherein the transmission line is coupled between the radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and the first and second antenna feed terminals. 
 
     
     
         14 . The electronic device defined in  claim 13  wherein the first antenna feed terminal is located on the ground plane and wherein the second antenna feed terminal is located on the L-shaped conductive region. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic device defined in  claim 14  further comprising a display, wherein the conductive structure comprises a bezel for the display. 
     
     
         16 . Wireless circuitry, comprising:
 a ground plane;   a conductive electronic device bezel having a gap;   a solid dielectric that fills the gap; and   first and second antenna feed terminals, wherein the ground plane, bezel, and first and second antenna feed terminals form a parallel-fed loop antenna.   
     
     
         17 . The wireless circuitry defined in  claim 16  wherein the parallel-fed loop antenna comprises an open slot, wherein the open slot has an opening formed by the gap in the conductive electronic device bezel. 
     
     
         18 . The wireless circuitry defined in  claim 17  wherein the first and second antenna feed terminals are located on opposing sides of the gap. 
     
     
         19 . The wireless circuitry defined in  claim 18  wherein the parallel-fed loop antenna further comprises a closed slot, wherein the open and closed slots are each partly defined by the conductive electronic device bezel and by the ground plane, the wireless circuitry further comprising L-shaped conductive structures separating the open and closed slots. 
     
     
         20 . The wireless circuitry defined in  claim 19  wherein the open slot has approximately rectangular shaped interior region and wherein the open slot has an approximately L-shaped interior region.