REMOVABLE ANTENNAS FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES
First Claim
1. Apparatus comprising:
- an electronic device having a first magnetic coupling structure; and
a removable antenna having a second magnetic coupling structure that is coupled to the first magnetic coupling structure and having an antenna resonating element, wherein at least one of the first and second magnetic coupling structures comprises a magnet, and wherein the removable antenna is configured to rotate into an extended position.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A removable antenna is provided for an electronic device such as a laptop computer. An antenna resonating element is mounted within the antenna. Magnetic coupling structures are used to magnetically attach the antenna to the electronic device. The magnetic coupling structures couple the antenna resonating element to circuitry in the electronic device. The electronic device may have an antenna receptacle that holds the antenna in a stowed position and allows the antenna to extend to an extended position. A user may extend the antenna by sliding the antenna or by rotating the antenna to its extended position. The coupling structures may allow the antenna to break away from the electronic device without damage.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising:
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an electronic device having a first magnetic coupling structure; and a removable antenna having a second magnetic coupling structure that is coupled to the first magnetic coupling structure and having an antenna resonating element, wherein at least one of the first and second magnetic coupling structures comprises a magnet, and wherein the removable antenna is configured to rotate into an extended position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus comprising:
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an electronic device having a first springless coupling structure and having a radio-frequency transceiver; a communications path that conveys radio-frequency signals between the radio-frequency transceiver and the first springless coupling structure; and a removable antenna having a second springless coupling structure that is removably coupled to the first springless coupling structure and that has an antenna resonating element, wherein at least one of the first and second springless coupling structures comprises a magnet, and wherein the antenna resonating element is electrically coupled to the communications path through the first and second springless coupling structures so that the radio frequency signals are conveyed between the radio-frequency transceiver and the antenna resonating element over the communications path and through the first and second springless coupling structures. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. Apparatus comprising:
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an electronic device having a first coupling structure and having a radio-frequency transceiver; a communications path that conveys radio-frequency signals between the radio-frequency transceiver and the first coupling structure; and an unextendable removable antenna having a second coupling structure that is coupled to the first coupling structure and having an antenna resonating element, wherein at least one of the first and second coupling structures comprises a magnet, and wherein the antenna resonating element is electrically coupled to the communications path through the first and second coupling structures so that the radio frequency signals are conveyed between the radio-frequency transceiver and the antenna resonating element over the communications path and through the first and second coupling structures. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of using a removable antenna in an electronic device having a springless antenna receptacle and transceiver circuitry, comprising:
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when the removable antenna is in the antenna receptacle, magnetically coupling the removable antenna to the antenna receptacle; with the transceiver circuitry, generating and receiving radio-frequency signals over a communications path; electrically coupling the removable antenna to the transceiver circuitry by electrically coupling an antenna resonating element in the removable antenna to the communications path; and with the removable antenna, transmitting and receiving the radio-frequency signals with the antenna resonating element. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification