ANTENNA APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REDUCING BACKGROUND NOISE AND INCREASING RECEPTION SENSITIVITY

An antenna apparatus includes an electrically conductive section having peripheral edges, an antenna element coupled to the electrically conductive section, which transmits or receives electromagnetic signals, and an electromagnetic absorbing carbon material component. The carbon material component is generally disposed adjacent to the electrically conductive section, and includes a border region extending beyond the peripheral edges of the electrically conductive section by a given distance based on λ, where λ corresponds to the maximum wavelength of the one or more electromagnetic signals capable of being transmitted or received using the antenna element. Also, a distance between a surface of the carbon material component and the electrically conductive section is less than or equal to a value determined by λ. The carbon material component is constructed and arranged to increase the effective signal to noise ratio of the antenna apparatus and enhances antenna performance without increasing the baseline power consumption level.