Communication module with retractable antenae and method therefor

• US 20020082061A1
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Tou, Jarvis C., Collins, Paul S., Davenport, Mark D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,620,435 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.7
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/06 Means for the lighting or illuminating of antennas, e.g. for purpose of warning
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2275 associated to expansion card or bus, e.g. in PCMCIA, PC cards, Wireless USB

Abstract

Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a communication module may include an antennae unit that may extracted or extended from and inserted into the communication module. The antennae unit may be used to disable the operation of the communication module when the antennae unit is inserted into the communication module.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a communication module having an antennae unit, wherein the antennae unit is adapted to disable the communication module when in a first position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is operateable when the antennae unit is in the first position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the antennae unit is further adapted to enable a visual indicator when in the first position.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the visual indicator comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the antennae unit is further adapted to enable the communication module when in a second position.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a majority of the antennae unit is contained within the communication module when in the first position.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein substantially all of the antennae unit is contained within the communication module when in the first position.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication module comprises a radio.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication module is adapted to transmit and receive signals having a frequency ranging from about 1 MHz to 900 MHz.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication module comprises a personal computer memory card international association (PCMIA) card.

11. A system comprising:

a processor;

a static random access memory coupled to the processor; and

a communication module having an antennae module, wherein at least a portion of the antennae unit extends from the communication module in a first position to enable the communication module.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein at least a majority of the antennae unit extends from the communication module when the antennae unit is in the first position.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the antennae unit disables the communication module when in a second position.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein at least a majority of the antennae unit is contained within the communication module when in the second position.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the antennae unit extends less than about 10 centimeters outward from the communication module when in the first position.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the antennae unit is adapted to enable a visual indicator when in the second position.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein disabling the communication module includes moving at least a majority of the antennae unit into the communication module.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising enabling the communication module by extracting at least a majority of the antennae unit from the communication module.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising enabling a visual indicator.

17. A method comprising:

disabling a communication module in a portable device by inserting at least a portion of an antennae unit into the communication module.