Antenna switch

• US 5,138,329 A
• Filed: 03/22/1991
• Issued: 08/11/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Saarnimo, Timo, Leman, Ari
• Primary Examiner(s): Wimer, Michael C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, HOANGANH T
• Application Number:
  US07/674,526
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/901, 343/876, 343/893
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/10 Telescopic elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/244 extendable from a housing along a given path

Abstract

The invention relates to an antenna switch for radio telephones, which are provided with an extendible external antenna (1) and a built-in internal antenna (2). The antenna switch comprises a microswitch (4) having a switch arm (6) and a press switch (5). The antenna switch accomplishes the switching-on of the microswitch (4), whereupon the signal route is connected with the internal antenna (2). Respectively, when the external antenna (1) is moved in the reverse direction, the signal route is connected with the external antenna (1). The switch arm (6) is in direct contact with the external antenna (1) so that the contact accomplishes the switching-on of the microswitch (4), when the external antenna (1) is in a partly pushed-in position. The switch arm (6) is situated in close vicinity to the lowest part (15) of the external antenna (1) when the external antenna (1) is in its extended extreme position.

Claims

1. An antenna switch for a radio telephone including a casing, a built-in internal antenna located in the casing and an extendable rod-type external antenna having an inner end position, in which it is substantially located within the casing, and an outer end position in which it extends substantially outside the casing, said antenna switch comprising:

a microswitch located within the casing and having a switch-on position in which a signal route is connected with an internal antenna, and a switch-off position in which the signal route is connected with the external antenna;

a press switch operatively connected with said microswitch and having a first position in which it retains said microswitch in said switch-on position, and a second position in which said microswitch is in said switch-off position; and

a resilient switch arm located in said housing and engageable with said press switch, said resilient switch arm being in sliding contact with said external antenna such that it causes said press switch to be retained in said first position while the external antenna is in the inner end position and substantially during movement of the external antenna away from its inner end position, and said resilient switch arm causing said press switch to be released into said second position when said external antenna is in its outer end position.

2. An antenna switch according to claim 1 wherein said resilient switch arm comprises an elongated member having a first end position attached to said microswitch, and a second end portion in sliding engagement with an inner end of the external antenna when said external antenna is in the outer end position.

3. An antenna switch according to claim 2 wherein said elongate member is planar.

4. An antenna switch according to claim 2 wherein said first end portion is pivotally attached to said microswitch.

5. An antenna switch according to claim 2 wherein said elongate member extends substantially parallel to the external antenna and has an inverted V-shaped portion extending transverse to the longitudinal extent of said switch arm.

6. An antenna switch according to claim 5 wherein said inverted V-shaped portion has a first side located in the path of movement of the external antenna from its outer end position to its inner end position and engageable by the inner end of the external antenna when the external antenna moves from its outer end position.

7. An antenna switch according to claim 5 wherein said second end portion extends substantially parallel to the external antenna and is formed as an extension of said inverted V-portion.

8. An antenna switch according to claim 1 wherein said resilient switch arm comprises an elongated member having a first end portion attached to said microswitch and a second end portion which is located in close proximity to an inner end of the external antenna when the external antenna is in the outer end position.

9. An antenna switch according to claim 8 wherein said elongate member is planar.

10. An antenna switch according to claim 8 wherein said first end portion is pivotally attached to said microswitch.

11. An antenna switch according to claim 8 wherein said elongate member extends substantially parallel to the external antenna and has an inverted V-shaped portion extending transverse to the longitudinal extent of said switch arm.

12. An antenna switch according to claim 11 wherein said inverted V-shaped portion has a first side located in the path of movement of the external antenna from its outer end position to its inner end position and engageable by the inner end of the external antenna when the external antenna moves from its outer end position.

13. An antenna switch according to claim 11 wherein said second end portion extends substantially parallel to the external antenna and is formed as an extension of said inverted V-portion.