Portable communication system with concealing features

• US 5,404,583 A
• Filed: 07/12/1993
• Issued: 04/04/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corporation (Ball Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ball Corporation
• Inventors: Marshall, Robert, Lalezari, Farzin
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H.
• Application Number:
  US08/090,894
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.2, 455/89, 455/90, 455/128, 455/129, 455/344, 455/347, 455/351, 455/269, 379/58, 379/437, 361/814, 343/702, 343/832, 343/834, 343/839, 343/872, 343/912, 343/895
• US Class Current: 455/90.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3827 Portable transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers

Abstract

The present invention provides a portable communication system with functional components whose functions are not readily apparent to an observer. One embodiment of the system includes a carrying case in which the antenna portion of the communication system is concealed between the shell of the case and an inner liner; a reflector to protect the radio portion of the system from electromagnetic radiation and direct electromagnetic radiation to or from the antenna that is covered so that it simulates the appearance of the file folder portion of a briefcase; and a radio that is covered with a shell upon which are mounted the keyboard and CRT of an actual personal computer or a simulation thereof, so that when the case is open, it appears to contain a laptop computer.

Claims

1. A portable communication system comprising:

a carrying case that includes a first side shell with a first hinged edge, a first free edge and a first receptacle portion, a second side shell with a second hinged edge, a second free edge, and a second receptacle portion, wherein said second side shell is made of a material that is electromagnetically transmissive, a hinge for operatively joining said first hinged edge and said second hinged edge, a means for releasably latching said first free edge to said second free edge so that said carrying case can be placed in a closed condition that conceals said first receptacle portion and said second receptacle portion or in an open condition which exposes said first receptacle portion and said second receptacle portion, and a hand grip that is operatively connected to at least one of said first side shell and said second side shell;

a radio that is located in said first receptacle portion;

an antenna that is located in said second receptacle portion, wherein said second side shell covers said antenna to reduce exterior visual indications of the presence of said antenna;

means for operatively connecting said radio and said antenna;

a reflector for directing electromagnetic radiation relative to said antenna that is located between said antenna and said radio when said carrying case is in an open condition and serves to at least partly cover said antenna when said carrying case is in said open condition; and

a liner that is located between said antenna and said reflector, wherein said liner substantially reduces interior visual indications of the presence of said antenna when said carrying case is in said open condition.

2. A portable communication system, as claimed in claim 1, further including:

means for covering said reflector to camouflage said reflector when said carrying case is in said open condition.

3. A portable communication system, as claimed in claim 1, further including:

means for covering said radio so that when said carrying case is in said open condition, the presence of said radio can be camouflaged.

4. A portable communication system, as claimed in claim 1, further including:

means for covering said radio so that when said carrying case is in said open condition, the presence of said radio is camouflaged, said means for covering includes a computer terminal or means for visually simulating a computer terminal.

5. A portable communication system, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

means for deploying said radio from a first radio location to a second radio location that is different than said first radio location when said carrying case is in an open condition.

6. A portable communication system, as claimed in claim 1, further including:

means for covering said radio; and

means for deploying said radio from a first radio location to a second radio location that is different than said first radio location when said carrying case is in an open condition, wherein when said radio is in said first radio location, said means for covering substantially camouflages the presence of said radio and when said radio is in said second radio location, an operator interface portion of said radio is exposed.

7. A portable communication system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said radio includes a computer terminal or means for simulating a computer terminal;

said portable communication system further including means for deploying, when said carrying case is in said open condition, said radio from a first radio location at which substantially only said computer terminal or said simulated computer terminal of said radio is visible to a second radio location that is different than said first location and exposes an operator panel of said radio.

8. A portable communication system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said second side shell is visually opaque.

9. A portable communication system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said second side shell is substantially continuous in the area overlying said antenna.

10. A portable communication system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said antenna includes a spiral antenna.

11. A portable communication system, as claimed in claim 1, further including:

means for deploying said reflector from a first reflector location to a second reflector location between said antenna and said radio when said carrying case is in said open condition.

12. A portable communication system comprising:

a carrying case that includes a first side shell with a first hinged edge, a first free edge and a first receptacle portion, a second side shell with a second hinged edge, a second free edge and a second receptacle portion, a hinge for operatively joining said first hinged edge and said second hinged edge, a means for releasably latching said first free edge to said second free edge so that said carrying case can be placed in a closed condition that conceals said first receptacle portion and said second receptacle portion or in an open condition which exposes said first receptacle portion and said second receptacle portion, and a hand grip that is operatively connected to at least one of said first side shell and said second side shell;

a radio that is located in said first receptacle portion;

an antenna that is located in said second receptacle portion;

means for operatively connecting said radio and said antenna;

a reflector for directing electromagnetic radiation relative to said antenna and at least partly covering said antenna when said carrying case is in said open condition; and

first means for deploying said reflector from a first reflector location to a second reflector location between said antenna and said radio when said carrying case is in said open condition.

13. A portable communication system, as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said reflector includes a first portion and a second portion that is movable relative to said first portion.

14. A portable communication system, as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said reflector includes a first portion, a second portion, and second means for deploying said second portion from a third reflector location at which said first and second portions provide a first surface area for directing electromagnetic radiation relative to said antenna to a fourth reflector location at which said first and second portions provide a second surface area for directing electromagnetic radiation relative to said antenna that is greater than said first surface area.

15. A portable communication system, as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said antenna includes a spiral antenna.

16. A portable communication system, as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

a liner that is located between said antenna and said reflector, said liner substantially reducing interior visual indications of the presence of said antenna when said carrying case is in said open condition;

means for covering said reflector to disguise the presence of said reflector when said carrying case is in said open condition;

second means for deploying said radio from a first radio location to a second radio location that is different than said first radio location when said carrying case is in said open condition; and

means for covering said radio so that when said carrying case is in said open condition and said radio is in said first radio location, the presence of said radio is camouflaged and when said radio is in said second radio location, an operator interface of said radio is exposed;

wherein said second side shell is made of a material that is electromagnetically transmissive and covers said antenna to reduce exterior visual indications of the presence of said antenna.

17. A portable communication system comprising:

a carrying case that includes a first side shell with a first hinged edge, a first free edge and a first receptacle portion, a second side shell with a second hinged edge, a second free edge, and a second receptacle portion, a hinge for operatively joining said first hinged edge and said second hinged edge, a means for releasably latching said first free edge to said second free edge so that said carrying case can be placed in a closed condition that conceals said first receptacle portion and said second receptacle portion or in an open condition which exposes said first receptacle portion and said second receptacle portion, and a hand grip that is operatively connected to at least one of said first side shell and said second side shell;

a radio that is located in said first receptacle portion;

a spiral antenna that is located in said second receptacle portion and includes a first arm and a second arm which is separate from said first arm; and

a reflector for directing electromagnetic radiation relative to said spiral antenna that is located between said radio and said spiral antenna and serves to, at least partly, cover said antenna when said carrying case is in said open condition;

means for operatively connecting said radio to said antenna.

18. A portable communication system, as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

said spiral antenna includes an archimedean spiral antenna.

19. A portable communication system, as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

said second side shell has a circumference approximately equal to the wavelength of the signal to which said antenna is responsive.

20. A portable communication system, as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

said hinge means includes means for adjusting the angle of said second side shell to said first said shell when said case is in said open condition.

21. A portable communication system, as claimed in claim 17, further including:

a liner that is located between said spiral antenna and said reflector, said liner substantially reducing interior visual indications of the presence of said spiral antenna;

first means for deploying said reflector from a first reflector location to a second reflector location between said antenna and said radio when said carrying case is in said open condition;

means for covering said reflector to disguise the presence of said reflector;

second means for deploying said radio from a first radio location to a second radio location that is different than said first radio location when said case is in said open condition; and

means for covering said radio so that when said carrying case is in said open condition and said radio is in said first radio location, the presence of said radio is camouflaged and when said radio is in said second radio location, an operator interface of said radio is exposed;

wherein said second side shell is made of a material that is electromagnetically transmissive and reduces external visual indications of the presence of said antenna in said second receptacle portion of said second side shell.

22. A portable communication system comprising:

a carrying case that includes a first side shell with a first hinged edge, a first free edge and a first receptacle portion, a second side shell with a second hinged edge, a second free edge, and a second receptacle portion, wherein said second side shell is made of a material that is electromagnetically transmissive, a hinge for operatively joining said first hinged edge and said second hinged edge, a means for releasable latching said first free edge to said second free edge so that said carrying case can be placed in a closed condition that conceals said first receptacle portion and said second receptacle portion or in an open condition which exposes said first receptacle portion and said second receptacle portion, and a hand grip that is operatively connected to at least one of said first side shell and said second side shell;

a radio that is located in said first receptacle portion;

an antenna that is located in said second receptacle portion, wherein said second side shell covers said antenna to reduce exterior visual indications of the presence of said antenna;

means for operatively connecting said radio and said antenna;

means for deploying said radio from a first radio location to a second radio location that is different than said first radio location when said case is in said open condition; and

means for covering said radio so that when said carrying case is in said open condition and said radio is in said first radio location, the presence of said radio is camouflaged, and when said carrying case is in said open condition and said radio is in said second radio location, an operator interface of said radio is exposed.

23. A portable communication system, as claimed in claim 22, wherein:

said means for covering includes a computer terminal or means for visually simulating a computer terminal.

24. A portable communication system, as claimed in claim 22, further including:

a liner that is located adjacent to said antenna to substantially reduce interior visual indications of the presence of said antenna when said carrying case is in said open condition;

a reflector for directing electromagnetic radiation relative to said antenna that is located between said liner and said radio when said carrying case is in said open condition and at least partly covers said antenna when said carrying case is in said open condition;

means for covering said reflector to camouflage said reflector when said carrying case is in said open condition; and

means for deploying said reflector from a first reflector location to a second reflector location between said antenna and said radio when said carrying case is in said open condition.

25. A portable communication system comprising:

a carrying case that includes a first side shell with a first hinged edge, a first free edge and a first receptacle portion, a second side shell that includes a second hinged edge, a second free edge, a second receptacle portion and is made of a material that is electromagnetically transmissive, a hinge for joining said first hinged edge and said second hinged edge, means for releasably latching said first free edge and said second free edge so that said case can be placed in a closed condition in which said first receptacle portion and said second receptacle portion are concealed and an open condition in which said first receptacle portion and said second receptacle portion are exposed, and a hand grip that is operatively connected to at least one of said first side shell and said second side shell;

a radio that is located in said first receptacle portion, said radio includes a computer terminal or means for simulating a computer terminal;

means for deploying said radio from a first radio location at which substantially only said computer terminal or said means for simulating a computer terminal are visible when said carrying case is in said open condition to a second radio location that exposes an operator panel of said radio when said carrying case is in said open condition;

a substantially rectangular spiral antenna located in said second receptacle portion, wherein said second side shell substantially reduces exterior visual indications of the presence of said antenna in said second receptacle portion of said second side shell;

a liner that is located in said second receptacle portion and covering said antenna to reduce interior visual indications of the presence of said antenna;

a reflector that is located between said liner and said radio to direct electromagnetic radiation relative to said antenna and to at least partly cover said antenna when said carrying case is in said open condition;

means for deploying said reflector from a first reflector location to a second reflector location between said antenna and said radio when said carrying case is in said open condition; and

means for covering said reflector to disguise the presence of said reflector when said carrying case is in said open condition.