Apple applies for a patent for a bipolar antenna that enables ultra-wideband communication for car keys to unlock car doors

According to foreign media reports, the US Patent & Trademark Office recently published a patent application from Apple. This patent is related to the iPhone and will be first implemented on the iPhone 11. It can use dipole antennas to improve communication circuits and achieve ultra-wideband (UWB) communication. Ultra-wideband is traditionally used for non-cooperative radar imaging, and has recently been applied to sensor data collection, precise positioning and tracking.

Image source: patentlyapple.com

For Apple, UWB technology can be used in the Car Keys feature developed by Apple and NXP to unlock the doors of BMW cars. Neil Shah, an analyst at Counterpoint Research, believes that Apple can use UWB technology in financial transactions in ATMs, point-of-sale terminals and other devices in the future.

It's possible that the ultra-wideband technology used in iPhones could be used to provide indoor navigation in shopping malls and airports, and in addition to car doors, it could also be used in smart homes and future office door systems.

Apple's patent FIG. 1 shows an iPhone, and patent FIG. 9 shows an iPad. The dipole antenna can be mounted on both sides of such a device, allowing the dipole of the antenna to cover all surrounding ranges and create a complete coverage sphere around the device.

Image source: patentlyapple.com

Apple's patent FIG. 10 shows how a dipole antenna can be mounted in a corresponding area of ​​a device. In patent FIG. 10, the peripheral conductive housing structure may include an insulating antenna window that overlaps one pole of a given antenna. The insulating antenna window may also be filled with an insulating material such as plastic, ceramic, glass or other insulator to protect the antenna from damage while also hiding the antenna from view.

Apple also noted that in the conductive structure, each pole of the antenna may include corresponding slots, such as covering a 6.5 GHz ultra-wideband band and covering an 8.0 GHz ultra-wideband band, respectively.