US 12,136,514 B2
Device having a multimode antenna with variable width of conductive wire
Alberto Peralta, Chicago, IL (US); Vinit Singh, Austin, TX (US); Ajit Rajagopalan, Chicago, IL (US); Jason Luzinski, Chicago, IL (US); Jacob Babcock, Chicago, IL (US); and Christine A. Frysz, Orchard Park, NY (US)
Assigned to NuCurrent, Inc., Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by NuCurrent, Inc., Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Sep. 25, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/473,997.
Application 18/473,997 is a continuation of application No. 17/962,896, filed on Oct. 10, 2022, granted, now 11,769,629.
Application 17/962,896 is a continuation of application No. 16/706,382, filed on Dec. 6, 2019, granted, now 11,469,598, issued on Oct. 11, 2022.
Application 16/706,382 is a continuation of application No. 14/821,177, filed on Aug. 7, 2015, granted, now 10,658,847, issued on May 19, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0282514 A1, Aug. 22, 2024
Int. Cl. H02J 50/12 (2016.01); H01F 27/28 (2006.01); H01F 27/29 (2006.01); H01F 41/04 (2006.01); H01F 41/074 (2016.01); H01Q 7/00 (2006.01); H01Q 7/06 (2006.01); H02J 5/00 (2016.01); H02J 7/00 (2006.01); H02J 50/80 (2016.01); H01F 21/02 (2006.01); H01F 21/12 (2006.01); H01F 29/02 (2006.01); H01F 38/14 (2006.01)
CPC H01F 41/041 (2013.01) [H01F 27/2828 (2013.01); H01F 27/29 (2013.01); H01F 27/292 (2013.01); H01F 41/074 (2016.01); H01Q 7/00 (2013.01); H01Q 7/005 (2013.01); H01Q 7/06 (2013.01); H02J 5/00 (2013.01); H02J 7/00034 (2020.01); H02J 7/0025 (2020.01); H02J 50/12 (2016.02); H02J 50/80 (2016.02); H01F 21/02 (2013.01); H01F 21/12 (2013.01); H01F 29/02 (2013.01); H01F 38/14 (2013.01); Y10T 29/49016 (2015.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device comprising:
a flexible substrate comprising a plurality of substrate layers;
a first coil having first and second coil ends, wherein the first coil comprises a first plurality of conductive traces, each trace of the first plurality of conductive traces having a first plurality of turns; and
a second coil having third and fourth coil ends, wherein the second coil is electrically connected in series with the first coil at a junction point between the second coil end of the first coil and the third coil end of the second coil, and wherein the second coil comprises a second plurality of conductive traces, each trace of the second plurality of conductive traces having a second plurality of turns,
wherein at least one substrate layer of the plurality of substrate layers is positioned between each trace of both the first plurality of conductive traces of the first coil and the second plurality conductive traces of the second coil,
wherein the first coil includes at least one first connector connecting the first plurality of conductive traces and the second coil includes at least one second connector connecting the plurality of conductive traces, and
wherein the second plurality of conductive traces have (i) a first turn comprising a varying first width in a first range, and (ii) a second turn comprising a varying second width in a second range, wherein the second range is different than the first range; and
first, second, and third terminals that are physically available for connection with circuitry, wherein each of the first, second, and third terminals is configured to connect to one of the first coil end of the first coil, the fourth coil end of the second coil, or the junction point, wherein the at least one first connector includes a plurality of first shunted connections configured to provide a plurality of first shunted electrical connections under at least one of the first, second, and third terminals, and the at least one second connector includes a plurality of second shunted connections configured to provide a plurality of second shunted electrical connections under at least one of the first, second, and third terminals,
wherein the device is capable of operating in at least two operating modes comprising:
(i) a first operating mode in which a conducting path is formed across a first pairwise combination of two of the first, second, or third terminals such that electrical current flows through both the first coil and the second coil that are electrically connected in series via the junction point, wherein the device has a first inductance while placed in the first operating mode,
(ii) a second operating mode in which a conducting path is formed across a second pairwise combination of two of the first, second, and third terminals such that electrical current flows through the second coil but not the first coil, wherein the device has a second inductance while placed in the second operating mode, and
(iii) a third operating mode in which a conducting path is formed across a third pairwise combination of two of the first, second, and third terminals such that electrical current flows through the first coil but not the second coil, wherein the device has a third inductance while placed in the third operating mode,
wherein the at least two operating modes includes the first operating mode and at least one of the second operating mode or the third operating mode.