Expansion band antenna for a wristwatch application

• US 4,754,285 A
• Filed: 05/01/1987
• Issued: 06/28/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Timex Corporation Waterbury CT A Corporation of
• Original Assignee: Timex Corporation (Tanager Group BV)
• Inventors: Robitaille, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wise, Robert E.
• Application Number:
  US07/044,634
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 343/718, 343/723, 343/868
• US Class Current: 343/718
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence

Abstract

An antenna for a radio frequency transmitter or receiver carried in a wrist instrument is made as a loop of individually insulated multistrand wire embedded in an elastic fabric which comprises an expansion wristband for the wrist instrument, together with a capacitor embedded in a strap end. The multistrand wire is longer than the unstretched fabric and is either interwoven into the elastic field or sandwiched between two layers of fabric. The wire is folded back and forth in a serpentine shape in order to accomodate expansion. One end of the multistrand wire is soldered to a ground connection clip and the connection is embedded in a molded strap end. The other end of the multistrand wire is soldered to an insulated wire leading into the instrument case and to one lead of a capacitor. The other lead of the capacitor is soldered to a ground connection clip and all connections, as well as the capacitor are embedded in the other molded strap end.

Claims

1. An expansion band antenna for a wrist instrument having a case providing a ground connection, said wrist instrument incorporating a radio device therein operating within a preselected frequency band, comprising:

an elastic strap member adapted to hold to said wrist instrument in place and stretchable to pass over the hand of a wearer,

a continuous wire member having an extended length greater than that of said strap member, said wire member being folded back and forth across the width of the strap member and disposed within the strap member, and having opposite ends of the wire member terminating at opposite respective ends of the strap member, and

first and second insulating strap ends attached to said strap member,

first and second ground connection clips adapted for electrical connection to said case and having portions embedded in said first and second strap ends respectively,

means embedded in said first strap end electrically connecting one end of the wire member to said first ground connection clip, and

an insulated lead electrically connected at one end to said radio device and having its other end embedded in said second strap end and connected to said wire member.

2. The expansion band antenna in accordance with claim 1 and further including a capacitor embedded in said second strap end and electrically connected between said wire member and said second ground connection clip, said capacitor being selected to tune said antenna to resonance within said preselected frequency band.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said frequency band includes 40 MHz, wherein said wire member comprises a multistrand wire of between 2 and 200 individually insulated strands, and wherein said capacitor is of a capacitance between 100 and 120 pf.

4. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said strap ends comprise plastic insulating material molded around said ground connection clips, capacitor and wire member ends to hold them in place.

5. The expansion band antenna in accordance with claim 1, wherein said wire member comprises a multistrand wire of individually insulated strands.

6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein the number of strands lies within a range of 2 to 200.

7. The expansion band antenna according to claim 1, wherein said strap member comprises inner and outer plies of woven elastic fabric material having said wire member disposed between said plies.

8. The expansion band antenna according to claim 1, wherein said strap member comprises a sleeve of woven elastic fabric material having said wire member disposed inside said sleeve.

9. The expansion band antenna according to claim 1, wherein said strap member comprises a woven elastic fabric material of longitudinal and transverse strands, and having said wire member interwoven among said strands.

10. An expansion band antenna for a wrist instrument having a case providing a ground connection and having a radio device incorporated therein, said radio device operating at a preselected frequency, comprising:

an elastic strap member adapted to hold said wrist instrument in place and stretchable to pass over the hand of a wearer,

a continuous multistrand wire member of individually insulated strands selected from a number on the order of 2 to 200 strands and having an extended length greater than that of said strap member, said wire member being folded back and forth in serpentine shape across the width of the strap member and carried within the strap member and having opposite ends of the wire member terminating at opposite ends of the strap member,

a pair of ground connection clips adapted for attachment to said case,

a capacitor selected to tune the antenna to resonance at said preselected frequency,

first and second molded plastic insulated strap ends attached to opposite ends of said strap member,

first means connecting one end of said wire member to one of said ground connection clips, and

second means connecting the other end of said wire member both to said radio device lead and to one said of said capacitor, and further connecting the other side of said capacitor to the other of said ground connection clips, and

wherein said capacitor and said first and second connecting means are attached using soldered connections and are embedded in said first and second strap ends, whereby electrical noise and contact resistance due to each connection is minimized.