Radio communication apparatus equipped with temperature control function

• US 20030139142A1
• Filed: 01/08/2003
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gemtek Technology Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Gemtek Technology Company Limited
• Inventors: Wang, James
• Application Number:
  US10/337,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20030139142A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/67.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/036 Cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20 Modifications to facilitate cooling, ventilating, or heating

Abstract

A radio communication apparatus equipped with temperature control function consists of a circuit board, a metal lid and a heater. The circuit board has a surface mounted with a plurality of electronic elements for processing and converting radio signals. The metal lid is coupled with the circuit board for encasing the electronic elements. The heater has a thermo-control switch to detect the temperature of circuit board surface, and based on the detected temperature to control heater to heat the metal lid for maintaining the temperature of the circuit board surface within a selected temperature range.

Claims

1. A radio communication apparatus equipped with temperature control function, comprising:

a circuit board including a plurality of electronic elements for processing and converting radio signals;

a metal lid coupled with the circuit board for encasing the electronic elements; and

a heater including a thermo-control switch for sensing temperature of the circuit board to control heating of the metal lid to maintain the temperature of circuit board surface within a selected temperature range.

2. The radio communication apparatus equipped with temperature control function of claim 1, wherein the electronic elements include at least an analog-digital converter, a signal amplifier and a digital signal processor.

3. The radio communication apparatus equipped with temperature control function of claim 1, wherein the heater is a ceramic heater adhering to a surface of the metal lid.

4. The radio communication apparatus equipped with temperature control function of claim 1, wherein the thermo-control switch is a composite metal strip consisting of a bi-metallic strip of two different expansion coefficients.

5. The radio communication apparatus equipped with temperature control function of claim 4, wherein the thermo-control switch is located below the circuit board.

6. The radio communication apparatus equipped with temperature control function of claim 1, wherein the heater maintains the temperature of the circuit board surface in a range between 5 and 20 degrees Celsius.

7. The radio communication apparatus equipped with temperature control function of claim 1, wherein the metal lid is selectively made of aluminum or aluminum alloy.

8. The radio communication apparatus equipped with temperature control function of claim 1, wherein the radio communication apparatus communicates externally by radio signals through an antenna.

9. The radio communication apparatus equipped with temperature control function of claim 8, wherein the radio communication apparatus is separated from the antenna and employs a signal transmission line for transmission, and is housed in a metal casing.

10. The radio communication apparatus equipped with temperature control function of claim 8, wherein the radio communication apparatus and the antenna are integrated inside a casing, the casing proximate to the antenna being made of a non-metal material for preventing shielding effect from incurring to the antenna and affecting signal transmission.