Antenna adapter

• US 5,959,583 A
• Filed: 06/11/1997
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Funk, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wimer, Michael C.
• Application Number:
  US08/873,286
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/906, 455/129, 455/351, 455/115, 455/226.1, 455/89, 455/67.1, 455/575
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/242 specially adapted for hand-held use
• 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

Abstract

A novel and improved antenna adapter for interfacing a portable radiotelephone 200 with test equipment is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the adapter assembly comprises an RF connector 104 at one end of an elongated conductor 102 which connects directly to the radiotelephone'"'"'s 200 antenna port, replacing the normal antenna assembly. The elongated conductor 102 makes electrical contact with an external ground 204 of the battery charging ports at the bottom of the radiotelephone 200 at another end. The RF connector 104 may be impedance-matched to minimize RF signal attenuation when connected to the RF test equipment. In an exemplary embodiment, the RF connector 104 comprises a 50Ω impedance-matched SMA connector.

Claims

1. An apparatus for interfacing a radiotelephone with test equipment, the radiotelephone having an antenna port and an internal ground plane accessible via an external ground port spaced apart from the antenna port, comprising:

an electrically conductive elongated member having a first end and a second end;

a connector, coupled to said elongated member at said first end, for electrically connecting the antenna port of the radio telephone to the test equipment; and

an electrical contact assembly, coupled to said elongated member at said second end, for contacting the external ground port of the radiotelephone to provide a return path from the ground plane of the radiotelephone to the test equipment.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a connector clip, coupled to said elongated member at said first end, for capturing said connector such that said connector is rotatable about a longitudinal axis.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrical contact assembly comprises at least one electrically conductive pin and at least one non-electrically conductive pin.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said connector is an impedance-matched coaxial connector.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said connector is an impedance-matched coaxial connector.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said coaxial connector comprises:

a threaded metal lug for inserting within said antenna port and conducting a signal generated by said radiotelephone;

a plastic insulator, connected to said threaded metal lug, for electrically isolating said coaxial connector;

a contact pin, coupled to said threaded metal lug, for conducting a signal generated by said radiotelephone;

a metal housing, coupled to said elongated member and substantially surrounding said contact pin, said metal housing for electrically shielding said contact pin; and

a threaded receptacle, disposed within said metal housing, for receiving a mating connector.

7. An apparatus for connecting a radiotelephone with an external apparatus, the radiotelephone having a removable antenna coupled to an antenna port and an internal ground plane accessible via an external ground port spaced apart from the antenna port, comprising:

an electrically conductive elongated member having first and second ends defining a ground return path;

a connector, coupled to said elongated member at said first end, for electrically connecting the antenna port to the external apparatus when the removable antenna is removed; and

an electrical contact assembly, coupled to said elongated member at said second end, for contacting the external ground port of the radiotelephone to provide a return path from the ground plane of the radiotelephone to the external apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a connector clip, coupled to said elongated member at said first end, for capturing said connector such that said connector is rotatable about a longitudinal axis.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising electrical matching circuitry within said connector to match a predetermined impedance.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said predetermined impedance is fifty ohms.