PERIPHERAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE HAVING MOVABLE COVER WITH INTEGRATED ANTENNA

• US 20090158062A1
• Filed: 12/11/2008
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Option Incorporated (Crescent NV)
• Original Assignee: Option Incorporated (Crescent NV)
• Inventors: Pan, Sheng-Gen, Steiner, Georg, Delmotte, Peter, Nijs, Walter, Laurisch, Roger
• Granted Patent: US 8,354,966 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• 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 1/2275 associated to expansion card or bus, e.g. in PCMCIA, PC cards, Wireless USB
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0278 of USB type details relating to connectors H01R27/00

Abstract

A computer peripheral telecommunications device having an electronic interface for connection to a computer and being configured for adding wireless telecommunication functionality to the computer, the device comprising a movable cover portion for covering the electronic interface while not in use and an antenna integrated in the movable cover portion.

Claims

1. A computer peripheral telecommunications device configured for adding wireless telecommunication functionality to a computer, the device comprising

a housing containing a plurality of electronic components providing said wireless telecommunication functionality, said housing defining a plane,

an electronic interface for connecting the device to a computer, provided on a first side of the housing and extending parallel to the plane of the housing,

a movable cover portion with integrated antenna, movably connected to the housing and movable between a protective position in which it covers the electronic interface and at least one predefined use position in which the integrated antenna is extended from the housing,

an electronic connection between the antenna and the electronic components in the housing,

wherein, in each predefined use position, the movable cover portion forms an extension of the housing in the plane of the housing.

2. A computer peripheral telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a length, measured perpendicularly to the first side, the movable cover portion being hingeably mounted on the housing with a hinge axis at a distance from the first side, the distance being between ½

and ¾

of the length of the housing.

3. A computer peripheral telecommunications device according to claim 2, wherein the distance is about ⅔

of the length of the housing.

4. A computer peripheral telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the cover portion is a U-shaped swivel member of which ends are hingeably fixed to hinge members on top and bottom sides of the housing, the top and bottom sides being parallel to said plane.

5. A computer peripheral telecommunications device according to claim 4, wherein the hinge members have a diameter of at least half the width of the housing.

6. A computer peripheral telecommunications device according to claim 4, wherein the hinge members are made in a self-lubricating plastic material.

7. A computer peripheral telecommunications device according to claim 4, wherein the hinge members comprise integral resilient positioning members for defining at least one of the protective and use positions.

8. A computer peripheral telecommunications device according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the hinge members comprises an opening exposing a LED mounted within the housing and at least the part of the movable cover portion covering said opening is constructed in an at least partially transparent material for passing light emitted by said LED to a user.

9. A computer peripheral telecommunications device according to claim 4, wherein the hinge members comprise integral resilient teeth for engaging complementary parts on the ends of the U-shaped swivel member in a snap-fitting manner.

10. A computer peripheral telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises a radiation pattern having different legs for radiating in different frequency bands and a connection part connecting the radiation pattern to the electronic connection, the radiation pattern being located in a part of the movable cover portion forming the extension in each predefined use position.

11. A computer peripheral telecommunications device according to claim 10, wherein the radiation pattern extends throughout the part of the movable cover portion forming the extension.

12. A computer peripheral telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein multiple use positions are defined.

13. A computer peripheral telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the cover portion is 360°

rotatable on the housing.

14. A computer peripheral telecommunications device according to claim 13, wherein a range of use positions are defined by a semi-circle of 90°

over 180°

to 270°

, with 0°

being the protective position.

15. A computer peripheral telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the integrated antenna comprises a radiation pattern provided on a thin foil which is fixed to an inner surface of the cover portion.

16. A computer peripheral telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the integrated antenna comprises a sheet metal radiation pattern which is sandwiched between two layers of the cover portion.

17. A computer peripheral telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic connection comprises a resilient contact.

18. A computer peripheral telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic connection comprises a pogo pin.

19. A computer peripheral telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic connection comprises a capacitive coupling.

20. A computer peripheral telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the device further comprises at least one slot for receiving an electronic card.

21. A computer peripheral telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a connector for connecting additional equipment.

22. A computer peripheral telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a movable or removable covering lip for covering a slot or a connector on the housing.

23. A computer peripheral telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a diversity antenna adjacent to the first side.

24. A computer peripheral telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the interface is a USB plug.

25. A computer peripheral telecommunications device according to claim 24, wherein the USB plug is eccentrically mounted on the housing to avoid that the device in use covers two adjacent USB sockets on a computer.