Vertically correcting antenna for portable telephone handsets
First Claim
1. A portable telephone unit, comprising:
- a telephone handset having a microphone and a speaker;
an antenna module capable of housing electronic components for transferring signals between an antenna and other signal processing components within said handset;
orienting means secured to a lower portion of said module for urging the module to rotate relative to the handset into a predetermined vertical orientation independent of the handset orientation under the influence of gravitational forces;
the antenna projecting in a pointing direction from the module, the antenna being oriented vertically when said module is in said predetermined orientation; and
a pivot joint pivotally securing the antenna module to the handset for rotation relative to the handset about a pivot axis, with the antenna module being rotatable about said pivot axis from an inoperative, stored position in which the antenna is located alongside said handset into any orientation relative to said handset depending on the handset orientation;
releasable locking means for releasably securing said antenna and module in said stored position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable phone unit for use in satellite communication systems has a vertically correcting antenna module pivotally secured to the handset for free rotation about a pivot axis. The module contains a mechanism, such as a gravitational counterweight for urging the module to pivot into a predetermined vertical orientation regardless of the handset orientation. An antenna projects from the module in a direction which is vertically upright when the module is in its predetermined vertical orientation. A mast mounted antenna module can also be used to take advantage of dissimilar antenna segment weights for multiple frequency antennas. As the handset is moved into an angular orientation, the module pivots under the weight of the counterweight, or a portion of the antenna itself, until the antenna is oriented vertically.
45 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A portable telephone unit, comprising:
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a telephone handset having a microphone and a speaker; an antenna module capable of housing electronic components for transferring signals between an antenna and other signal processing components within said handset; orienting means secured to a lower portion of said module for urging the module to rotate relative to the handset into a predetermined vertical orientation independent of the handset orientation under the influence of gravitational forces; the antenna projecting in a pointing direction from the module, the antenna being oriented vertically when said module is in said predetermined orientation; and a pivot joint pivotally securing the antenna module to the handset for rotation relative to the handset about a pivot axis, with the antenna module being rotatable about said pivot axis from an inoperative, stored position in which the antenna is located alongside said handset into any orientation relative to said handset depending on the handset orientation; releasable locking means for releasably securing said antenna and module in said stored position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification