IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,261,359
Granted Patent B2
US 12,261,359 · App. 18/103,311 · Granted Mar 25, 2025

Slip ring for an electronic device

Inventors: Xiaofang Mu (San Jose, CA); Jorge L Rivera Espinoza (San Jose, CA); Bernd W Adler (San Jose, CA); Evan N Dvorak (San Francisco, CA); Samuel E Vinci (San Francisco, CA); Shaohua Lin (Cupertino, CA)
Assignee: Apple Inc.
H01Q1/50H01P1/067H01P3/00H01P5/107
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,261,359
App. No.
18/103,311
Granted
Mar 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic device may include a first set of antennas, a second set of antennas, and a slip ring disposed between the first set of antennas and the second set of antennas. The slip ring may include a waveguide that provides a pathway for signals transmitted between the first set of and the second set of antennas. A diameter and a length of the waveguide may enable efficient transmission of the signals between the sets of antennas by reducing signal attenuation. Additionally, gaps between the sets of antennas and the slip ring may be sized to reduce radiation emitted from the electronic device. The gaps between the sets of antennas and the slip ring may enable wireless data transfer between the sets of antennas.

Claims (36)

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a first set of antennas configured to transmit a signal;

a second set of antennas configured to receive the signal;

a slip ring disposed between the first set of antennas and the second set of antennas, the slip ring comprising:

a rotor;

a waveguide formed by an inner channel extending through the rotor and configured to guide the signal, wherein the rotor is configured to rotate relative to the first set of antennas and the second set of antennas; and

a housing, wherein the first set of antennas, the second set of antennas, and the slip ring are disposed within the housing.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the waveguide is greater than or equal to 3 millimeters.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , comprising a first gap between the first set of antennas and the slip ring.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the first gap comprises less than or equal to 2 millimeters.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 , comprising a second gap between the second set of antennas and the slip ring.

6. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the second gap comprises less than or equal to 2 millimeters.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first set of antennas is non-rotatably coupled to the slip ring.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein a frequency of the signal comprises 60 gigahertz or greater.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein a length of the slip ring is 17 millimeters or less.

10. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first set of antennas comprises a circularly polarized patch antenna, and the second set of antennas comprises a circularly polarized patch antenna or a linearly polarized patch antenna.

11. A wireless data transfer system, comprising:

a first set of antennas configured to transmit a signal;

a second set of antennas configured to receive the signal; and

a slip ring disposed between the first set of antennas and the second set of antennas, the slip ring comprising:

a rotor; and

a waveguide formed by an inner channel extending through the rotor and configured to guide the signal, wherein the rotor is configured to rotate relative to the first set of antennas and the second set of antennas.

12. The wireless data transfer system of claim 11 , comprising a first gap between the first set of antennas and the slip ring.

13. The wireless data transfer system of claim 12 , wherein the first gap comprises less than or equal to 1.5 millimeters.

14. The wireless data transfer system of claim 13 , comprising a second gap between the second set of antennas and the slip ring.

15. The wireless data transfer system of claim 14 , wherein the second gap comprises less than or equal to 1.5 millimeters.

16. An electronic device, comprising:

a first set of antennas configured to transmit a signal;

a second set of antennas configured to receive the signal; and

a slip ring disposed between the first set of antennas and the second set of antennas, the slip ring comprising:

a stator; and

a rotor comprising a waveguide configured to transmit the signal from a first end of the slip ring to a second end of the slip ring, wherein the waveguide is configured to be disposed apart from the first set of antennas and the second set of antennas.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the rotor is configured to rotate relative to the first set of antennas and the second set of antennas.

18. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the first end of the slip ring is coupled to a first surface of the electronic device, and the second end of the slip ring is coupled to a second surface of the electronic device.

19. The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the rotor is configured to enable the first surface of the electronic device to rotate relative to the second surface of the electronic device.

20. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the rotor is disposed in the stator.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 31, 2023
From: MU, XIAOFANG; RIVERA ESPINOZA, JORGE L; ADLER, BERND W; VINCI, SAMUEL E; DVORAK, EVAN N; LIN, SHAOHUA
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 062543/0355 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63408722 · Sep 21, 2022
Related Publication 20240097319A1 · Mar 21, 2024
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