Antenna cap for computer device utilizing a radio card

• US 5,870,279 A
• Filed: 12/31/1996
• Issued: 02/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Norand Corporation (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Mahany, Ronald L., West, Guy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bowler, Alyssa H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Davis, Jr., Walter D.
• Application Number:
  US08/775,391
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 395/800, 395/800.01, 343/803, 343/702, 361/600, 361/679
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0225 User interface arrangements, e.g. keyboard, display; Interfaces to other computer systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1098 the scanning arrangement having a modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/007 specially adapted for indoor communication
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2258 used with computer equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2275 associated to expansion card or bus, e.g. in PCMCIA, PC cards, Wireless USB
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/24 with receiving set
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/241 used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM H01Q1/247, H01Q1/248 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/24 Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction circularly polarised patch antennas H01Q9/0428; circularly polarised horns H01Q13/0241; cross-polarised horns H01Q13/0258; polarisation converters H01Q15/242; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; crossed polarisation dual antenna H01Q25/001
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/29 Combinations of different interacting antenna units for giving a desired directional characteristic H01Q25/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1615 Switching on; Switching off, e.g. remotely battery saving circuits associated with selective call operation H04W52/00; details of power consumption reduction in a PLL, H03L7/0802, H03L7/14, H03L2207/08, H03L2207/18; muting amplifiers by gain control see H03G3/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 : Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3833 : Hand-held transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 : Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 : Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/324 : in the data link layer [OSI layer 2], e.g. HDLC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/325 : in the network layer [OSI layer 3], e.g. X.25 H04L69/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/326 : in the transport layer [OSI layer 4] H04L69/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A computer device for receiving and utilizing a radio card. The radio transceiver is self contained inside the radio card and has antenna contacts disposed on the radio card on one end and an electrical interface on the other. The computer device receives the radio card such that it engages the electrical interface. The computer device additionally has and cap which covers the opening into which the radio has been inserted. Antenna contacts are disposed on the cap to engage the antenna contacts on the radio card. At least one antenna is operably connected to the radio card through the cap. A band is used to attach the cap to the housing of the computer device. The antenna or antennas are embedded in the cap, in the band, or embedded in or attached to the housing of the computer device. Positioning two similar antennas in different position creates an antenna diversity scheme. Shielding can be added to the cap to help reduce the escape of electronic noise. A micro shield ribbon can be used to connect the antenna and the antenna contacts on the cap.

Claims

1. A radio assembly used in an electronic device having a device housing that has an opening, the radio assembly comprising:

a radio card comprising a card housing, a radio circuit disposed within the card housing, and at least one antenna contact coupled to the radio circuit;

the radio card coupling with the electronic device via the opening in the device housing;

a cap disposed to matingly engage the opening in the device housing;

a plurality of cap contacts disposed on the cap;

a plurality of antennas coupled to the plurality of cap contacts; and

the at least one antenna contact of the radio card being positioned to selectively couple with less than all of the plurality of cap contacts.

2. The radio assembly of claim 1 wherein the cap includes a lip disposed to sealingly engage the device housing at the periphery of the opening in the device housing.

3. The radio assembly of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of one of the plurality of antennas is disposed on the cap.

4. The radio assembly of claim 1 further comprising a band connected to the cap and the electronic device.

5. The radio assembly of claim 4 wherein at least a portion of one of the plurality of antennas is attached to the band.

6. The radio assembly of claim 5 wherein at least a portion of one of the plurality of antennas is disposed on the cap.

7. The radio assembly of claim 5 wherein a first of the plurality of antennas having a different orientation than a second of the plurality of antennas.

8. The radio assembly of claim 7 wherein the radio circuit selects between the first and the second of the plurality of antennas.

9. The radio assembly of claim 5 wherein a first of the plurality of antennas having a different performance characteristics than that of a second of the plurality of antennas.

10. The radio assembly of claim 9 wherein the radio circuit selects between the first and the second of the plurality of antennas.

11. A radio assembly used in an electronic device having a device housing, the radio assembly comprising:

a radio card comprising a card housing, a radio circuit disposed within the card housing, and a plurality of antenna contacts coupled to the radio circuit;

the radio card coupling with the electronic device when operably installed into the electronic device;

a cap with a plurality of contacts coupled to a corresponding plurality of antennas;

the plurality of antennas, each having different operational characteristics, coupling with the plurality of antenna contacts of the radio card via the plurality of contacts of the cap; and

the radio circuit selecting from the plurality of antennas based on the operational characteristics of the plurality of antennas.

12. The radio assembly of claim 11 a first of the plurality of antennas having a different orientation than a second of the plurality of antennas.

13. The radio assembly of claim 11 wherein the device housing having an opening for receiving the radio card, and the cap engaging the opening of the device housing.

14. The radio assembly of claim 13 wherein at least a portion of the plurality of antennas is disposed on the cap.

15. The radio assembly of claim 13 further comprising a band connected to the cap and the electronic device.