Apple Patents Nearly Invisible 'Microslot Antennas' Allowing for Smaller Devices

Apple has been awarded a patent (via AppleInsider) for 'microslot antenna' technology, which could enable 'invisible' radio antennas to be embedded into the housing of a Mac, iPhone or iPad to save space inside and allow for more compact devices.

antenna
Notebook computer with integrated wireless antenna (20) on device housing

The antennas would use microscopic slots in the housing, with widths of just a few microns, making them almost invisible to the naked eye. The patent shows a variety of possible locations for the antennas on a laptop, though the same approach would likely be taken with iPhones and iPads also.

antenna detail
Top view of microslot antenna design supporting multiple frequencies

Current devices may contain antennas for GSM, 3G/LTE, GPS, wifi and Bluetooth, though some of these may be combined. The iPhone 5, for example, uses just two antennas for the five functions, using rapid frequency switching to enable one antenna to do two jobs. Eliminating the need for internal antenna space altogether would, though, allow for slimmer and smaller devices.

As TechCrunch observes, this could also create the possibility of an all-aluminum case. Apple has previously had to have a small area of glass or plastic to provide radio windows for the internal antennas. Microslot antennas would eliminate this need, perhaps leading to more Mac-like iPhones and iPads in future.

Apple's interest in the possibility of implementing microslot antennas dates back to at least 2007 when the patent was filed, meaning that the concept may be requiring significant refinement before arriving in a shipping product or may have been scrapped entirely by this point. Still, it is clear that Apple is continuing to look for ways to handle the increasing complexity of wireless communications while maintaining its design goals for size and aesthetics.

Tag: Patent

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Top Rated Comments

Dr McKay Avatar
166 months ago
I read that as "Apple Patents Microsoft" for a brief second there. :eek:
Score: 37 Votes (Like | Disagree)
L-U-R-C-H Avatar
166 months ago
Good, I've been wondering when they were going to make the iPhone 5 thinner. That sucker is way too thick for me!

:rolleyes:
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
guitarman777 Avatar
166 months ago
I'm always simultaneously fascinated & hopeful when I see patents come through like this. Really makes me curious and optimistic as to the continued and infinite possibilities in technology.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
basesloaded190 Avatar
166 months ago
then that means it's not going to be seen in a product.

Something like this would have arrived in a product by 2010. Seeing that it's 2013 already, it's not going to happen. There was something fundamentally wrong with the implementation.

Or they were waiting to be granted the patent before using the technology and/or still perfecting upon it.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chagla Avatar
166 months ago
go apple! iphones are too thick and heavy. i want it to be lighter be few grams and thinner by few mms
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Plutonius Avatar
166 months ago
I read that as "Apple Patents Microsoft" for a brief second there. :eek:

Let Samsung try to copy that patent :D.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)