Antenna and device configurations

Abstract

An electronic device includes a first antenna, a second antenna, and a device cover. The first antenna may be configured to transmit or receive signals at a first frequency, and the second antenna may be configured to transmit or receive signals at a second frequency. The device cover may be configured to enclose at least a portion of the device, and may have a first thickness in a first area and a second thickness in a second area. The first area may be substantially aligned with a boresight of the first antenna, and the second area may be substantially aligned with a boresight of the second antenna. The first thickness may be different than the second thickness.

1 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a plurality of antennas comprising a first antenna configured to transmit or receive signals at a first frequency and a second antenna configured to transmit or receive signals at a second frequency, the first frequency being different than the second frequency;   a device cover configured to enclose at least a portion of the device including the first antenna and the second antenna; and   material disposed between the device cover and at least one of the first antenna and the second antenna, wherein a dielectric constant or a thickness of the material varies according to a frequency at which each antenna of the plurality of antennas is configured to communicate.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first antenna and the second antenna comprise patch antennas. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are disposed in a module. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic device of  claim 3 , wherein the module comprises the material, and wherein the thickness of the module varies. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic device of  claim 4 , wherein the material comprises a molding applied to the module. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic device of  claim 4 , wherein the first frequency is lower than the second frequency, and wherein a thickness of the module in an area in which the first antenna is disposed is greater than a thickness of the nodule in an area in which the second antenna is disposed. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first antenna is disposed in a first module and the second antenna is disposed in a second module, the thickness of the first module being different than the thickness of the second module. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the material comprises a first piece of material disposed between the first antenna and the device cover and a second piece of material disposed between the second antenna and the device cover, the first piece of material having a dielectric constant that is different than the second piece of material. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein a thickness of the first piece of material is approximately equal to a thickness of the second piece of material. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are disposed in different arrays. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the material comprises a first piece of material disposed between the first antenna and the device cover and a second piece of material disposed between the second antenna and the device cover, the first piece of material having a thickness that is different than a thickness of the second piece of material. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the thickness of the first piece of material plus a thickness of the device cover is approximately one half a wavelength at which the first antenna is configured to communicate. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the material is disposed over the first antenna and is not disposed over the second antenna. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein the first frequency is lower than the second frequency. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein a boresight of the first antenna faces a first direction and a boresight of the second antenna also faces the first direction. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein a thickness of the device cover varies in areas substantially aligned with boresights of the plurality of antennas. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein an inner side of the device cover in an area aligned with the plurality of antennas is not curved. 
     
     
         18 . An antenna module, comprising:
 a plurality of antennas comprising a first antenna configured to transmit or receive signals at a first frequency and a second antenna configured to transmit or receive signals at a second frequency, the first frequency being different than the second frequency;   a circuit board comprising signal and ground layers; and   a radio frequency integrated circuit mounted to the circuit board and configured to control power directed to the plurality of antennas,   wherein a thickness of the antenna module varies according to a frequency at which each antenna of the plurality of antennas is configured to communicate.   
     
     
         19 . The antenna module of  claim 18 , further comprising a molding which varies in thickness. 
     
     
         20 . The antenna module of  claim 18 , wherein the first frequency is in a 28 GHz band and the second frequency is in a 39 GHz band or a 60 GHz band.