Antenna apparatus and wristwatch radio communication device using same

• US 20010010662A1
• Filed: 01/11/2001
• Published: 08/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Nagano, Isamu, Saitou, Yutaka, Haruki, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 6,765,846 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 368/281
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/08 Means for collapsing antennas or parts thereof collapsible loop antennas H01Q7/02; means for collapsing H-antennas or Yagi antennas H01Q19/04
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop

Abstract

An antenna apparatus for use in a wristwatch radio communication device equipped with, for example, a PHS is provided. The antenna apparatus includes a loop conductor and a feed. The loop conductor has a given length and connects electrically at one end to a ground plate installed in the wristwatch radio communication device. The feed is disposed between the other end of the loop conductor and the ground plate. This provides a higher horizontal pattern average gain both during conversation and waiting times of radio communication.

Claims

1. An antenna apparatus for use in a wristwatch radio communication device comprising:

a loop conductor having a given length, said loop conductor being connected electrically at one end to a ground member installed in the wristwatch radio communication device; and

a feed disposed between the other end of said loop conductor and the ground member.

2. An antenna apparatus as set forth in

claim 1

, wherein said loop conductor is rectangular and has a circumferential length equivalent to a wavelength of a frequency used in radio communication of the wristwatch radio communication device, said loop conductor having at least one side disposed closer to the ground member installed in the wristwatch radio communication device.

3. An antenna apparatus as set forth in

claim 1

, wherein said loop conductor is arranged along a periphery of an openable cover installed on the wristwatch radio communication device, and wherein said loop conductor, the ground member, and said feed are connected electrically through a support mechanism designed to support the cover pivotably on a body of the wristwatch radio communication device.

4. An antenna apparatus as set forth in

claim 3

, wherein said support mechanism is provided on a side of the body of the wristwatch radio communication device to which a wristband is attached.

5. An antenna apparatus as set forth in

claim 3

, wherein said loop conductor is printed on a board installed within the cover of the wristwatch radio communication device.

6. An antenna apparatus as set forth in

claim 5

, wherein said board has a matching circuit disposed thereon.

7. An antenna apparatus as set forth in

claim 4

, further comprising a ground conductor disposed within the wristband which is connected electrically to the ground member in the wristwatch radio communication device.

8. A wristwatch radio communication device comprising:

a wristwatch body having a radio communication circuit;

a ground member installed in said wristwatch body; and

an antenna including (a) a loop conductor having a given length, connected electrically at one end to said ground member, and (b) a feed disposed between the other end of said loop conductor and the ground member.