Integrated extendable PCMCIA antenna

• US 6,172,645 B1
• Filed: 02/06/1998
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Option NV (Crescent NV)
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Inventors: Hollander, Evan A., Stratmoen, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Hoanganh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dinh, Trinh Vo
• Application Number:
  US09/020,074
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/700.MS, 343/767, 343/768, 235/486, 235/487, 235/492, 235/375, 235/384, 375/222, 455/90
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2275 associated to expansion card or bus, e.g. in PCMCIA, PC cards, Wireless USB

Abstract

A PCMCIA modem card which is connectable a host computer and utilizes an integrated, extendable antenna for wireless transmission and reception, is provided with a circuit board. The circuit board is provided with a cavity interior. The cavity extends to a first end of the circuit board. The modem card is further provided with communications circuitry which is formed on the circuit board. The modem card is further provided with an antenna structure which is in electrical communication with the communications circuitry. The antenna structure is translatable from a first position wherein the antenna structure is substantially disposed within the cavity and a second position wherein the antenna structure is extended from the cavity.

Claims

1. A PCMCIA modem card which is connectable to a host computer and utilizes an integrated, extendable antenna for wireless transmission and reception, the PCMCIA modem card comprising:

a circuit board having a cavity interior, the cavity extending to a first end of the circuit board;

communications circuitry formed on the circuit board; and

an antenna structure, in electrical communication with the communications circuitry, the antenna structure being translatable from a first position wherein the antenna structure is substantially disposed within the cavity and a second position wherein the antenna structure is extended from the cavity, the antenna structure having a slide portion and an antenna, the slide portion being in electrical communication with the communications circuitry, the slide portion and the antenna being translatable through the cavity when the antenna structure is moved between the first and second positions; and

a ball joint rotably connected to the slide portion and the antenna.

2. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 1 wherein the modem card further comprises an extension spring, disposable in the cavity, in mechanical communication with the slide portion and the circuit board, the extension spring being formed to urge the antenna out of the cavity when the antenna structure is in the first position.

3. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 2 wherein the modem card further comprises a retraction spring, disposable in the cavity, in mechanical communication with the slide portion and the circuit board, the retraction spring being formed to urge the antenna into the cavity when the antenna structure is in the second position.

4. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 3 wherein the extension spring and the retraction spring are a single extension/retraction spring.

5. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 1 wherein the modem card further comprises a micro-motor, disposed between and in mechanical communication with the slide portion and the circuit board for urging the antenna structure between the first and second positions.

6. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 5 further comprises a control device, in electronic communication with the micro-motor, for controlling the micro-motor in response to sensed operation of the modem card.

7. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 1 further comprises a PCMCIA interface, attachable to the circuit board, in electrical communication with the communications circuitry.

8. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 7 wherein the PCMCIA interface is disposed at a second end of the circuit board.

9. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 1 further comprises a retraction lock device, disposed between the slide portion and the circuit board, formed to releasably lock the antenna structure into position when the antenna structure is in the first position.

10. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 9 wherein the retraction lock device comprises a first retraction connector attached to the slide portion and a second retraction connector attached to and disposed within the cavity and formed to releasably engage the first retraction connector.

11. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 1 further comprises an extension lock device, disposed between the slide portion and the circuit board, formed to releasably lock the antenna structure into position when the antenna structure is in the second position.

12. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 11 wherein the extension lock device comprises a first extension connector attached to the slide portion and a second extension connector attached to and disposed within the cavity and formed to releasably engage the first extension connector.

13. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 1 wherein the antenna is a patch antenna.

14. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 13 wherein the antenna having an antenna side and a circuit side, the antenna further comprises a low-noise amplifier attached to the circuit side, in electrical communication with the antenna side and the communications circuitry.

15. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 14 wherein the antenna is formed of a copper material.

16. A PCMCIA modem card which is connectable a host computer and utilizes integrated, extendable space diverse antennas for wireless transmission and reception, the PCMCIA modem card comprising:

a circuit board having a first cavity and second cavity interior, the first cavity and second cavity extending to a first end of the circuit board;

communications circuitry formed on the circuit board;

a first antenna structure, in electrical communication with the communications circuitry, the first antenna structure being translatable from a first position wherein the first antenna structure is substantially disposed within the first cavity and a second position wherein the first antenna structure is extended from the first cavity; and

a second antenna structure, in electrical communication with the communications circuitry, the second antenna structure being translatable from a first position wherein the second antenna structure is substantially disposed within the second cavity and a second position wherein the second antenna structure is extended from the second cavity.

17. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 16 wherein the first antenna structure and the second antenna structure being generally parallel to each other, and the modem card further comprises a connecting bar having a first end attached to the first antenna structure and a second end attached to the second antenna structure, for manually translating the first and second antenna structures between the first and second positions.

18. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 16 wherein the first and second antenna structures are patch antennas.

19. A PCMCIA modem card which is connectable to a host computer and utilizes an integrated, extendable antenna for wireless transmission and reception, the PCMCIA modem card comprising:

a circuit board having a cavity interior, the cavity extending to a first end of the circuit board;

communications circuitry formed on the circuit board;

an antenna structure, in electrical communication with the communications circuitry, the antenna structure being translatable from a first position wherein the antenna structure is substantially disposed within the cavity and a second position wherein the antenna structure is extended from the cavity, the antenna structure having a slide portion and an antenna, the slide portion being in electrical communication with the communications circuitry, the slide portion and the antenna being translatable through the cavity when the antenna structure is moved between the first and second positions; and

an extension spring, disposable in the cavity, in mechanical communication with the slide portion and the circuit board, the extension spring being formed to urge the antenna out of the cavity when the antenna structure is in the first position.

20. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 19 wherein the antenna structure further comprises a ball joint rotably connected to the slide portion and the antenna.

21. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 19 wherein the modem card further comprises a retraction spring, disposable in the cavity, in mechanical communication with the slide portion and the circuit board, the retraction spring being formed to urge the antenna into the cavity when the antenna structure is in the second position.

22. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 21 wherein the extension spring and the retraction spring are a single extension/retraction spring.

23. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 19 wherein the modem card further comprises a micro-motor, disposed between and in mechanical communication with the slide portion and the circuit board for urging the antenna structure between the first and second positions.

24. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 23 further comprises a control device, in electronic communication with the micro-motor, for controlling the micro-motor in response to sensed operation of the modem card.

25. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 19 further comprises a PCMCIA interface, attachable to the circuit board, in electrical communication with the communications circuitry.

26. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 25 wherein the PCMCIA interface is disposed at a second end of the circuit board.

27. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 19 further comprises a retraction lock device, disposed between the slide portion and the circuit board, formed to releasably lock the antenna structure into position when the antenna structure is in the first position.

28. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 27 wherein the retraction lock device comprises a first retraction connector attached to the slide portion and a second retraction connector attached to and disposed within the cavity and formed to releasably engage the first retraction connector.

29. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 19 further comprises an extension lock device, disposed between the slide portion and the circuit board, formed to releasably lock the antenna structure into position when the antenna structure is in the second position.

30. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 29 wherein the extension lock device comprises a first extension connector attached to the slide portion and a second extension connector attached to and disposed within the cavity and formed to releasably engage the first extension connector.

31. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 19 wherein the antenna is a patch antenna.

32. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 31 wherein the antenna having an antenna side and a circuit side, the antenna further comprises a low-noise amplifier attached to the circuit side, in electrical communication with the antenna side and the communications circuitry.

33. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 32 wherein the antenna is formed of a copper material.

34. A PCMCIA modem card which is connectable to a host computer and utilizes an integrated, extendable antenna for wireless transmission and reception, the PCMCIA modem card comprising:

a circuit board having a cavity interior, the cavity extending to a first end of the circuit board;

communications circuitry formed on the circuit board; and

an antenna structure, in electrical communication with the communications circuitry, the antenna structure being translatable from a first position wherein the antenna structure is substantially disposed within the cavity and a second position wherein the antenna structure is extended from the cavity, the antenna structure having a slide portion and an antenna, the slide portion being in electrical communication with the communications circuitry, the slide portion and the antenna being translatable through the cavity when the antenna structure is moved between the first and second positions; and

a micro-motor, disposed between and in mechanical communication with the slide portion and the circuit board for urging the antenna structure between the first and second positions.

35. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 34 wherein the antenna structure further comprises a ball joint rotably connected to the slide portion and the antenna.

36. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 34 wherein the modem card further comprises an extension spring, disposable in the cavity, in mechanical communication with the slide portion and the circuit board, the extension spring being formed to urge the antenna out of the cavity when the antenna structure is in the first position.

37. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 36 wherein the modem card further comprises a retraction spring, disposable in the cavity, in mechanical communication with the slide portion and the circuit board, the retraction spring being formed to urge the antenna into the cavity when the antenna structure is in the second position.

38. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 37 wherein the extension spring and the retraction spring are a single extension/retraction spring.

39. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 34 further comprises a PCMCIA interface, attachable to the circuit board, in electrical communication with the communications circuitry.

40. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 39 wherein the PCMCIA interface is disposed at a second end of the circuit board.

41. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 38 further comprises a retraction lock device, disposed between the slide portion and the circuit board, formed to releasably lock the antenna structure into position when the antenna structure is in the first position.

42. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 41 wherein the retraction lock device comprises a first retraction connector attached to the slide portion and a second retraction connector attached to and disposed within the cavity and formed to releasably engage the first retraction connector.

43. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 34 further comprises an extension lock device, disposed between the slide portion and the circuit board, formed to releasably lock the antenna structure into position when the antenna structure is in the second position.

44. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 43 wherein the extension lock device comprises a first extension connector attached to the slide portion and a second extension connector attached to and disposed within the cavity and formed to releasably engage the first extension connector.

45. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 34 wherein the antenna is a patch antenna.

46. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 45 wherein the antenna having an antenna side and a circuit side, the antenna further comprises a low-noise amplifier attached to the circuit side, in electrical communication with the antenna side and the communications circuitry.

47. The PCMCIA modem card of claim 46 wherein the antenna is formed of a copper material.