COMMUNICATION MODULE AND METHOD TO RECEIVE SIGNAL USING THE SAME

• US 20100176996A1
• Filed: 12/29/2009
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: LEE, Sung Han
• Application Number:
  US12/648,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20100176996A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/22 RF wavebands combined with non-RF wavebands, e.g. infrared or optical
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/364 Creating multiple current paths
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/42 with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength

Abstract

A communication module includes an infrared (IR) receiver to receive an IR signal, and an antenna to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal. The IR receiver and the antenna are configured into a single mountable module.

Claims

1. A communication module comprising:

an infrared (IR) receiver to receive an IR signal; and

an antenna to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal,

wherein the IR receiver and the antenna are part of a single mountable module.

2. The communication module according to claim 1, wherein the antenna is a planar inverted F antenna to receive RF signals in a plurality of frequency bands.

3. The communication module according to claim 2, wherein a length of the planar inverted F antenna is changed according to a wavelength of a received frequency.

4. The communication module according to claim 3, wherein the IR receiver includes a power supply lead line, an output lead line, and a ground lead line, and the planar inverted F antenna is connected to the ground line.

5. The communication module according to claim 3, wherein the planar inverted F antenna is part of a structure to mount the IR receiver.

6. The communication module according to claim 5, wherein a length of the planar inverted F antenna is longer than a length of the IR receiver.

7. The communication module according to claim 5, further comprising a second antenna press-processed to the planar inverted F antenna to extend a length of the planar inverted F antenna.

8. The communication module according to claim 7, wherein a shape, a width, or a length of the second antenna is changed according to a wavelength of the received frequency.

9. A method to receive a signal in a communication module having an infrared (IR) receiver and a radio frequency (RF) receiver are mounted thereto, the method comprising:

receiving one of an IR signal and an RF signal;

acquiring a data signal by processing the one of the IR signal and the RF signal; and

outputting the data signal.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the RF signal has one of a plurality of frequency bands.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the IR data signal is processed in the communication module.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the RF signal is processed by an RF signal processor outside the communication module.

13. A communication module, comprising:

a main body including an infrared (IR) receiver, and

a frame to mount the main body, the frame including a radio frequency (RF) antenna.

14. The communication module according to claim 13, further comprising:

a power supply lead,

an output lead, and

a ground lead,

wherein the power supply lead, the output lead, and the ground lead are connected to the main body.

15. The communication module of claim 14, wherein the RF antenna is connected to the ground lead.

16. The communication module of claim 13, wherein the main body includes an optical processor and the IR receiver is a photodiode.

17. The communication module of claim 16, wherein the photodiode receives an IR signal and sends a corresponding electrical signal to the optical processor, and the optical processor processes the electrical signal and outputs an output signal to an output lead.

18. The communication module according to claim 13, wherein the main body includes a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, the bottom surface being defined as a surface to face a mounting surface upon which the communication module is to be mounted, and a plurality of lateral surfaces between the top surface and the bottom surface, the lateral surfaces being substantially perpendicular to the top and bottom surfaces.

19. The communication module of claim 18, wherein the RF antenna comprises a second antenna portion mounted to the top surface of the main body.

20. The communication module according to claim 18, wherein the RF antenna is located along an entire length of a first lateral surface of the plurality of lateral surfaces.

21. The communication module according to claim 20, wherein a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface defines a mounting direction and the RF antenna extends in the mounting direction past a junction of the first lateral surface to the bottom surface.

22. The communication module according to claim 20, wherein the RF antenna extends past an end of the first lateral surface, such that a length of the RF antenna is greater than a length of the first lateral surface.

23. The communication module according to claim 22, wherein a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface defines a mounting direction, and the RF antenna extends past an end of the first lateral surface in a lateral direction perpendicular to the mounting direction.

24. A device to receive infrared (IR) and radio frequency (RF) signals, the device comprising:

a printed circuit board;

a communication module mounted on the printed circuit board, the communication module comprising;

a main body including an infrared (IR) receiver including an IR-signal-receiving element and an optical processor to process a signal from the IR-signal-receiving element; and

a frame to mount the main body to the printed circuit board, the frame including a radio frequency (RF) antenna; and

an RF signal processor to receive and process signals from the RF antenna.

25. The device according to claim 24, further comprising a receiving window to pass an infrared beam from outside the device to the IR-signal-receiving element inside the device.