Apple patent application puts antenna in the logo
A recently discovered Apple patent application dated from June 2009 suggests Apple may build future devices with an antenna housed directly underneath the familiar Apple logo. The idea is genius -- the Apple logo is going to be on the iPhone or MacBook anyway, so why not stick an antenna underneath it? This internal design would bring the antenna close to the surface without increasing the risk of accidental contact from your hand or any other interfering material. Such a design could have prevented the iPhone 4 antennagate scandal that rocked Apple's world earlier this year.
According to the patent details, the logo would be made of a dielectric material that allows for the transmission and reception of radio-frequency signals. The patent applies to Wi-Fi signals as well as GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz so this technology could find its way into the MacBook as well as the iPhone. Unfortunately, Apple is not the first to apply for a patent for an antenna-fied logo. An earlier patent from Dell describes a logo-shaped antenna that actually takes the place of the logo in the device.
This antenna technology is also not new to Apple, as a variation is already in use on the 27-inch iMac and the Apple iPad. A teardown of the iPad by iFixit uncovered the iPad's antenna which was resting directly underneath the Apple logo. A similar iMac teardown, also by iFixit, revealed the presence of an AirPort antenna hiding behind the aluminum-encased, plastic Apple logo. This patent presumably describes the next generation of this antenna-logo design. How much do you want to bet we see the second iteration of this in an upcoming iPhone, maybe even the iPhone 5?
[Via Engadget]
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A recently discovered Apple patent application dated from June 2009 suggests Apple may build future devices with an antenna housed...
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> Such a design could have prevented the iPhone 4 antennagate scandal…
Right, because who would have their hand on the back of their phone?
Oh, and -10 points for using “antenagate.â€
Given a phone of about 4x8cm and an antenna of about 1x1cm, maybe I should have taken out 32 patents last year. One for each possible location of the antenna...I'd be rich! And a genius!!
December 26 2010 at 2:46 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyAre you new at this?
The iPad already uses this design plus other apple products. It's not designed for 3G or GSM, it's for Wifi and Bluetooth.
Why does putting an antenna in a certain area of the phone need a patent anyway? A little exaggerated to call this "idea" "genius".
The iMac already does this.
December 24 2010 at 5:52 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyOops, already in the article.
December 24 2010 at 5:53 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyClearly, this isn't about the iPhone. It's about MacBooks.
December 24 2010 at 5:03 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyOK this patent business is getting ridiculous. A patent for the 'location' of an antenna?
So if this goes through, no other company can hide an antenna behind their logo without a license from Apple?
Does Apple have a patent on the English language yet?
Is this the one patent that finally tipped you over the edge?
It's been ridiculous for a while, dude. Where you been?
Actually, it makes sense. Especially if you think apple plays a lot with materials. I don't recall any mobile phone made of glass nor notebooks made from metal before them. Who knows what they have next? Ceramic?
Anyway, this is bummer. The ipad and the iMac are already using this technique.
"This internal design would bring the antenna close to the surface without increasing the risk of accidental contact from your hand or any other interfering material."
With respect to the iPhone, if it's not in our hands, pockets, or a dock, we normally keep it flat on, say, a table, with the Apple logo facedown. The iPhone 4's antenna is in the metal band around the device, which I would expect to have more exposure than an antenna underneath the logo. Wouldn't the table be interfering material then?
That depends on what material the table is made of. Electromagnetic waves can pass easily through matter if the waves are at a frequency at which the material isn't lossy. That's why signals degrade during rainy days (water droplets absorb the waves)
December 24 2010 at 11:23 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyUh, my hand definitly covers the logo, along with cases and such. That's a lot of material to go through.
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