Antenna coupling apparatus, external-antenna connecting apparatus, and onboard external-antenna connecting apparatus

• US 5,777,585 A
• Filed: 04/04/1996
• Issued: 07/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yamaura, Tomoya, Kuroda, Shinichi, Tsuda, Shinichiro, Kanayama, Yoshiki
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Hoanganh T.
• Application Number:
  US08/627,580
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/713, 343/715, 343/711, 343/712, 343/841, 343/906, 343/846, 343/848, 455/89, 455/90
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 28/023 only coatings of metal elements only
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/242 specially adapted for hand-held use
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3291 mounted in or on other locations inside the vehicle or vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/03 characterised by the material, e.g. plating, or coating materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/20 using a crimping sleeve H01R4/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters

Abstract

An antenna coupling apparatus, an external-antenna connecting apparatus, and an onboard external-antenna connecting apparatus which inhibits unnecessary power emissions, reduces transmission loss, and offers high durability and high ease of operation, has an electromagnetic coupling element consisting of a conductor that is not in contact with a first antenna with respect to DC components and a ground conductor element consisting of a conductor that is not in contact with the first antenna with respect to DC components and in contact with a ground conductor with respect to DC components and reflecting the power transmitted or received by the first antenna toward the electromagnetic coupling element. An external-antenna connecting apparatus and an onboard external-antenna connecting apparatus have an electromagnetic coupling circuit in their bodies that electromagnetically couples the antenna of a portable radio terminal and an external antenna, with the external-antenna connecting apparatus and the onboard external-antenna connecting apparatus, being not in contact with the portable radio terminal with respect to DC components, when the portable radio terminal is secured in the bodies.

Claims

1. An antenna coupling apparatus comprising:

a first antenna connected to a portable radio terminal;

a second antenna separated from said first antenna;

an electromagnetic coupling element consisting of a conductor that electromagnetically couples said first and second second antennas together;

a ground conductor coupling element arranged adjacent said electromagnetic coupling element and being electromagnetically coupled to said first antenna; and

a ground conductor element arranged proximate said first antenna and being electrically connected to said ground conductor coupling element for reflecting power transmitted from or received by said first antenna toward said electromagnetic coupling element, wherein said electromagnetic coupling element and said ground conductor coupling element each include an electrical conductor in the form of a ring and said ground conductor element is planar in shape.

2. An antenna coupling apparatus comprising:

a first antenna connected to a portable radio terminal;

a second antenna separated from said first antenna;

an electromagnetic coupling element consisting of a conductor that electromagnetically couples said first and second second antennas together;

a ground conductor coupling element arranged adjacent said electromagnetic coupling element and being electromagnetically coupled to said first antenna; and

a ground conductor element arranged proximate said first antenna and being electrically connected to said ground conductor coupling element for reflecting power transmitted from or received by said first antenna toward said electromagnetic coupling element, wherein said electromagnetic coupling element and said ground conductor coupling element each have a plurality of electrical conductors in the form of rings.

3. An onboard external-antenna connecting apparatus for a portable radio terminal comprising:

an onboard antenna installed on the portable radio terminal;

an external antenna connected to said onboard antenna;

an external power for supplying power to the portable radio terminal;

a body for securing said portable radio terminal upon installing the portable radio terminal into said body from above;

an electromagnetic coupling circuit disposed in said body for electromagnetically coupling said onboard antenna of said portable radio terminal and said external antenna, said coupling circuit being out of contact with said portable radio terminal with respect to DC components when the portable radio terminal is secured in said body;

a connecting member arranged in said body for connecting said external power and the portable radio terminal together to supply power from said external power to the portable radio terminal;

a mounting member movably connected to said body and operating in conjunction with the installing of the portable radio terminal in said body and including a first connector for feeding power from said external power to the portable radio terminal installed on said mounting member; and

a second connector installed on the portable radio terminal for receiving power from said external power when connected with said first connector.

4. The onboard external-antenna connecting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said mounting member is movably disposed at a predetermined angle relative to a side of said body for movement by a spring arranged between said mounting member and the side of said body, so that the portable radio terminal is stably secured when installed in said body.

5. The onboard external-antenna connecting apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

a plurality of first metal pieces formed in said body for feeding power from said external power supply to said portable radio terminal when the portable radio terminal is installed in said body; and

a plurality of second metal pieces formed in the portable telephone terminal for receiving power from said external power supply when connected with said plurality of first metal pieces.

6. The onboard external-antenna connecting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

one of said plurality of first metal pieces and said plurality of second metal pieces comprises protruded connnectors and the other comprises mutually matching recessed connectors.