Antenna unit and portable wireless device

• US 20040207558A1
• Filed: 12/30/2003
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Mobile Communications Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Japan Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ito, Ken, Saito, Yuichiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,050,008 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/084 Pivotable antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/244 extendable from a housing along a given path

Abstract

In a rotatable antenna unit capable of being externally rotated away from and folded in a portable wireless device, an antenna detachment mechanism is provided, the antenna detachment mechanism composed of a bearing for rotatably supporting the antenna unit on the device by inserting therein and holding a pivot axis mounted on the device and an opening formed by cutting a part of the bearing. As a result, when an excessive external force is applied to the antenna unit being in an upright position, the opening is widened and the antenna unit comes off the portable wireless device. This prevents the antenna unit from being broken.

Claims

1. An antenna unit rotatably attached to a housing of a portable wireless device so as to be rotated away from and folded in the housing, the antenna unit comprising

antenna supporting means for rotatably supporting said antenna unit on said housing, wherein

said antenna supporting means comprises antenna detachment means for allowing said antenna unit to come off said housing when an excessive external force is applied to the antenna unit while the antenna unit is rotated away from the housing.

2. The antenna unit according to claim 1, wherein:

said antenna detachment means comprises;

a bearing for rotatably supporting said antenna unit on said housing by inserting therein and holding a pivot axis mounted on the housing; and

an opening formed by cutting a part of said bearing;

wherein,

when the excessive external force is applied to said antenna unit, said opening is widened, so that said pivot axis is released from said bearing and the antenna unit comes off the housing.

3. The antenna unit according to claim 2, further comprising

a cap to fit said opening, wherein,

when the excessive external force is applied to said antenna unit, said opening is widened, so that the opening and the cap are separated.

4. The antenna unit according to claim 3, wherein

said cap is sandwiched between said pivot axis and said housing while said antenna unit is detached.

5. An antenna unit comprising:

an antenna section containing an antenna element;

a supporting section provided at one end of said antenna section for rotatably supporting said antenna unit on a housing of a portable wireless device; and

an opening formed by cutting a part of said supporting section so that said antenna section and said supporting section come off the housing when an excessive external force is applied to the antenna section or the housing while the antenna unit is rotated away from the housing.

6. A portable wireless device comprising:

a housing; and

an antenna unit capable of being rotated away from and folded in said housing;

wherein

said antenna unit comprises antenna supporting means for rotatably supporting the antenna unit on said housing, wherein

said antenna supporting means comprises antenna detachment means for allowing said antenna unit to come off the housing when an excessive external force is applied to the antenna unit while the antenna unit is rotated away from the housing.

7. The portable wireless device according to claim 6, wherein:

said antenna detachment means comprises;

a bearing for rotatably supporting said antenna unit on said housing by inserting therein and holding a pivot axis mounted on the housing; and

an opening formed by cutting a part of said bearing;

wherein,

when the excessive external force is applied to said antenna unit, said opening is widened, so that said pivot axis is released from said bearing and the antenna unit comes off the housing.

8. The portable wireless device according to claim 7, further comprising

a cap to fit said opening, wherein,

when the excessive external force is applied to said antenna unit, said opening is widened, so that the-opening and the cap are separated.

9. The portable wireless device according to claim 8, wherein

said cap is sandwiched between said pivot axis and said housing while said antenna unit is detached.

10. A portable wireless device comprising:

a housing; and

an antenna unit capable of being rotated away from and folded in said housing;

wherein

said antenna unit comprising;

an antenna section containing an antenna element;

a supporting section provided at one end of said antenna section for rotatably supporting said antenna unit on the housing; and

an opening formed by cutting a part of said supporting section so that said antenna unit and said supporting section come off said housing when an excessive external force is applied to the antenna unit or the housing while the antenna unit is rotated away from the housing.