/Patent Tracker
AppleGranted patentChips & hardwareInterest 4/10

Apple patents split radio circuitry for flexible device design

Apple describes a radio frequency system where the signal-boosting components are physically separated from the main logic board. This 'remote head' setup uses two different types of chip manufacturing to amplify data before it reaches the antenna, allowing the radio parts to be placed in different sections of a device.

Why it mattersThis design allows engineers to place antennas and radio components in thinner or more unusual parts of a device, potentially improving signal strength in compact gadgets.

In the filing’s own words

Techniques for implementing and/or operating a radio frequency system, which includes a logic board that outputs an analog electrical signal indicative of data to be wirelessly transmitted from the radio frequency system and a remote head. The remote head includes an antenna that generates an electromagnetic wave to facilitate wirelessly transmitting the data, an antenna integrated circuit implemented using a first semiconductor manufacturing technique, in which the antenna integrated circuit amplifies the analog electrical signal to generate a first amplified analog electrical signal, and a remote front-end integrated circuit coupled between the antenna integrated circuit and the antenna. The remote front-end integrated circuit is implemented using a second semiconductor manufacturing technique different from the first semiconductor manufacturing technique and amplifies the first amplified analog electrical signal based on a target output power of the antenna to generate a second amplified analog electrical signal indicative of the data.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An electronic device having a radio frequency system, the radio frequency system comprising: a logic board located in a first part of the electronic device and configured to output an analog electrical signal indicative of first data to be wirelessly transmitted from the radio frequency system via a first electrical connector; and a remote head that is remote from the logic board and located in a second part of the electronic device, wherein the remote head is coupled to the logic board via the first electrical connector and comprises: an antenna configured to generate an electromagnetic wave to facilitate wirelessly transmitting the first data from the radio frequency system; an antenna circuit board configured to receive the first data from the antenna; an antenna integrated circuit configured to amplify the analog electrical signal received via the first electrical connector to generate an amplified analog electrical signal indicative of the first data; and an external terminal configured to enable wired communication from the remote head to external components external to the remote head based on the first data, wherein the external components comprise an external antenna that is external to the remote head.

Facts

Company
Apple (Apple Inc.)
Official title
Radio frequency remote head front-end circuitry systems and methods
Patent number
US12738637B2
Application number
18767315
Filed
Jul 9, 2024
Granted
Sep 15, 2026
Inventors
3
Claims
20

Classified under

H01Q 1/38 Electricity & electronicsH01Q 1/2283 Electricity & electronicsH04B 1/0458 Electricity & electronicsH04B 1/1607 Electricity & electronicsH04B 17/101 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

More from Apple in Chips & hardware

Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.