US 12,407,100 B2
Metal structure for steering and broadening mmWave antenna coverage
Pei Li, Milpitas, CA (US); Ming Zheng, Santa Clara, CA (US); and Vijay L. Asrani, San Jose, CA (US)
Assigned to Google LLC, Mountain View, CA (US)
Appl. No. 18/247,510
Filed by Google LLC, Mountain View, CA (US)
PCT Filed Sep. 1, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/048692
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 31, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/072112, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 7, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/086,501, filed on Oct. 1, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0378643 A1, Nov. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. H01Q 1/24 (2006.01); H01Q 3/34 (2006.01); H01Q 3/44 (2006.01); H01Q 19/28 (2006.01)
CPC H01Q 3/34 (2013.01) [H01Q 1/243 (2013.01); H01Q 3/44 (2013.01); H01Q 19/28 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus comprising:
a housing;
at least one millimeter-wave antenna configured to generate a near-field radiation region; and
a metal structure:
comprising one or more metal pieces, the one or more metal pieces comprising a first metal piece that is grounded in a middle region and electrically open on ends of the first metal piece;
disposed between the millimeter-wave antenna and the housing; and
disposed within the near-field radiation region, wherein the metal structure overlaps the at least one millimeter-wave antenna in an x-z plane, the x-z plane being normal to a direction of maximum radiation of the millimeter-wave antenna.