Portable radio communication apparatus having diversity reception function

• US 4,914,714 A
• Filed: 08/28/1987
• Issued: 04/03/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Tamura, Yoshiharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Moskowitz, Nelson
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B.
• Application Number:
  US07/090,673
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 455/272, 455/275-278, 455/280, 455/78, 455/133-135, 455/137, 455/139, 455/140, 343/883, 343/901, 343/915
• US Class Current: 455/78
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/244 extendable from a housing along a given path
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0802 using antenna selection H04B7/0868 takes precedence; antenna beam directivity switching H01Q3/24

Abstract

A portable radio communication apparatus includes a first antenna that can extend away from, or be retracted towards, an apparatus housing. The apparatus includes a second, usually flat antenna mounted within or around the outer periphery of the housing. When the first antenna is extended away from the housing, it is connected via a switch to a node, in turn, connected via respective filters to both a transmitter and a diversity receiver. At this time, the second antenna is connected to the diversity receiver via a respective filter. When the first antenna is sufficiently retracted towards the housing, a switch, mechanically coupled to the first antenna, disconnects the first antenna from the node, connects the second antenna to such node, and disconnects the second antenna from the diversity receiver.

Claims

1. A portable radio communication apparatus, comprising:

a housing for the apparatus;

transmitter means;

diversity receiver means;

transmission filter means connected to said transmitter means;

first and second reception filter means connected to said diversity receiver means;

first antenna means normally extending away from said housing but capable of being retracted towards said housing;

second antenna means mounted inside of or on an outer periphery of said housing; and

switch means for connecting said second antenna means to a node which, in turn, is connected to said transmission filter means and first reception filter means in a first condition in which said first antenna means is retracted towards said housing, and for connecting said first antenna means to said node and said second antenna means to said second reception filter means in a second condition in which said first antenna means is extended away from said housing.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switch means comprises first and second switches which are mechanically coupled to said first antenna means so as to change switch states when said antenna is retracted towards or extended away from said housing;

said first switch, in the first condition, disconnecting said first antenna means from said node while connecting said second antenna means to said node and, in the second condition, disconnecting said second antenna means from said node while connecting said first antenna means to said node;

said second switch, in the first condition, disconnecting said second antenna means from said second reception filter means, and in the second condition, connecting said second antenna means to said second reception filter means.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein a line extending between said first and second switches has a length which is shorter than λ

/4, where λ

is a wavelength of a received signal.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein a line extending between said first and second switches has a length which is an integral multiple of λ

/2, where λ

is a wavelength of a received signal.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first antenna means comprises a sleeve antenna.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first antenna means comprises a whip antenna.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second antenna means comprises a microstrip antenna.

8. A portable radio communication apparatus, comprising:

first antenna means capable of selectively assuming a first condition wherein said first antenna means does not protrude from a housing of said apparatus, and a second condition wherein said first antenna means protrudes from said housing;

second antenna means supported by said housing in such a manner as not to protrude from said housing;

transmitter means;

diversity receiver means; and

switch means for, in the first condition, connecting said second antenna means to said transmitter means and diversity receiver means and, in the second condition, connecting said first antenna means to said transmitter means and diversity receiver means while connecting said second antenna means to said diversity receiver means.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said switch means comprises first and second switches which are actuated in response to a change of condition of said first antenna means;

said first switch, in the first condition, disconnecting said first antenna means from said transmitter means and diversity receiver means while connecting said second antenna means thereto and, in the second condition, connecting said first antenna means to said transmitter means and diversity receiver means while disconnecting said second antenna means therefrom;

said second switch, in the first condition, disconnecting said second antenna means from said diversity receiver means and, in the second condition, connecting said second antenna means to said diversity receiver means.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

a transmission filter connected to said transmitter means;

a first reception filter connected to said diversity receiver means;

said transmission filter and first reception filter being connected to each other at a junction which is connected to said first switch; and

a second reception filter connected between said second switch means and said diversity receiver means.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein a line extending between said first and second switches has a length which is shorter than λ

/4, where λ

is a wavelength of a received signal.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein a line extending between said first and second switches is an integral multiple of λ

/2 in length, where λ

is a wavelength of a received signal.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first antenna means comprises a sleeve antenna which is received in said housing in the first condition and pulled out from said housing in the second condition.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first antenna means comprises a whip antenna which is received in said housing in the first condition and pulled out of said housing in the second condition.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first antenna means comprises a whip antenna which is folded along an outer periphery of said housing in the first condition and unfolded to stand on said housing in the second condition.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said second antenna means comprises a microstrip antenna contained in said housing.

17. A portable radio communication apparatus, comprising:

a first antenna capable of being retracted towards said housing of said apparatus;

a second antenna disposed in said housing or on an outer periphery of said housing;

a duplexer comprising a transmission filter, a first reception filter having a band pass which is a receive frequency band and an antenna terminal connected to both of the foregoing filters; and

a second reception filter having a pass band which is a receive frequency band and an antenna terminal connected to the foregoing filter;

said antenna terminal of said duplexer and said antenna terminal of said second reception filter being connected, respectively, to said first and second antennas for effecting reception diversity when said first antenna is extended away from said housing;

a first switch for switching said antenna terminal of said duplexer from said first antenna to said second antenna when said first antenna is retracted towards said housing; and

a second switch for disconnecting said second reception filter from said second antenna, said second switch being interlocked with said first switch.

18. A method of switching a first antenna of a portable radio communication apparatus of the type including a transmitter and a diversity receiver and being capable of assuming a first condition wherein said first antenna does not protrude from a housing of said apparatus and a second condition wherein said first antenna protrudes from said housing, and further including a second antenna supported by said housing in such a manner as not to protrude from said housing, said method comprising the steps of;

connecting said second antenna to said transmitter and diversity receiver in the first condition; and

connecting said first antenna to said transmitter and diversity receiver while connecting said second antenna to said diversity receiver in the second condition.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said connecting of said first and second antennas to said transmitter and diversity receiver under the respective first and second conditions comprises, in the first condition, connecting said first antenna to said transmitter and diversity receiver through respective transmission and first reception filters, and comprises, in the second condition, connecting said second antenna to said diversity receiver through a second reception filter.

20. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said connecting of said first and second antennas to said transmitter and diversity receiver are each responsive to a change of condition of said first antenna from one to the other of said first and second conditions.

21. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said first antenna is received in said housing in the first condition and pulled out of said housing in the second condition.

22. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said first antenna means comprises a whip antenna which is received in said housing in the first condition and pulled out of said housing in the second condition.

23. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said first antenna means comprises an antenna which is folded along an outer periphery of said housing in the first condition and unfolded to stand on said housing in the second condition.

24. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said second antenna means comprises a microstrip antenna contained in said housing.

25. A method as claimed in claim 23, wherein said first antenna comprises a whip antenna.