Patent attributes
Reconfigurable antenna systems integrated with a metal case are provided herein. In certain embodiments, user equipment (UE) for a cellular network includes a metal case and an antenna system for transmitting and/or receiving wireless signals. The antenna system includes an antenna element and a tuning conductor that is spaced apart from the antenna element and operable to load the antenna element. At least one of the antenna element or the tuning conductor is formed in the metal case. For example, a plasma process can be used to create transparent electromagnetic windows at a given frequency while shielding underlying components from spurious signals at other frequencies. Such plasma shielding processes can be used to turn conductive regions of the metal case into non-conductive metal oxide, thereby providing a mechanism for electrical isolation between various regions of the metal case.
