Multiple antenna ports for electronic devices

• US 6,191,743 B1
• Filed: 04/05/2000
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: LoForte, Steven, Moore, David, Prestwich, Sy, Jones, Jeffrey L., Stewart, Kurt, Wheeler, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Application Number:
  US09/543,037
• Time in Patent Office: 321 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/720, 455/90, 455/97, 455/14, 455/15, 455/128, 455/129
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/24 with receiving set
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/29 Combinations of different interacting antenna units for giving a desired directional characteristic H01Q25/00 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus for facilitating the various placement of an antenna within a wireless transceiver device such as a wireless personal data assistant is presented. Such an apparatus enables the relocation of an antenna device in accordance with a user preferred configuration. The relocation of the antenna device does not effect the overall performance and does not require further termination of unused antenna configurations. Such an apparatus facilitates the preferred placement of an antenna in accordance with a user'"'"'s hand preference (e.g., right handedness verses left handedness).

Claims

1. In a wireless personal data assistant, an apparatus for accommodating a user-selectable placement of an antenna for use in wireless communications by said wireless personal data assistant, said apparatus comprising:

a) a user-removable antenna having a first end for indirectly coupling with a transceiver of said wireless personal data assistant and a second end for extending at least partially outside said wireless personal data assistant for facilitating said user selectable placement of said user-removable antenna;

b) a plurality of receiving channels integral with said wireless personal data assistant, said plurality of receiving channels each capable of receiving therein said user-removable antenna; and

c) a plurality of electrically symmetrical transmission lines electrically coupled at a first end to said transceiver with a second end extending at least partially into a corresponding one of said plurality of receiving channels for electrical coupling with said user removable antenna, said plurality of electrically symmetrical transmission lines configured such that when said user-removable antenna is placed within one of said plurality of receiving channels and electrically coupled to one of said plurality of electrically symmetrical transmission lines, each other of said plurality of electrically symmetrical transmission lines exhibit infinite impedance to said transceiver.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of receiving channels are further configured to receive for storage a stylus of said personal data assistant in at least one of said plurality of receiving channels.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein at least two of said plurality of receiving channels are symmetrically placed about said personal data assistant to enable ambidextrous placement of said user-removable antenna and said stylus.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said second end extending at least partially into said plurality of receiving channels each further comprise transmission line contact interfaces for electrically interfacing with said user-removable antenna.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of electrically symmetrical transmission lines have an electrical length approximating one-half wavelength of the frequency used by said wireless personal data assistant.

6. A wireless personal data assistant for accommodating a user-selectable placement of an antenna for use in wireless communications by said wireless personal data assistant, said wireless personal data assistant comprising:

a) a housing comprised of an interactive screen operably driven by a digital controller, said interactive screen for displaying digital data and responsive to interaction by a user via a stylus, said stylus for interacting with said interactive screen;

b) a transceiver operably coupled to said digital controller for performing transmit and receive functions over a wireless channel;

c) a user-removable antenna having a first end for indirectly coupling with said transceiver; and

d) an apparatus electrically coupled to said transceiver for accommodating a user selectable placement of an antenna for use in wireless communications by said wireless personal data assistant, said apparatus comprising;

e) a plurality of receiving channels each capable of receiving therein said user-removable antenna; and

f) a plurality of electrically symmetrical transmission lines electrically coupled at a first end to said transceiver with said second end extending at least partially into a corresponding one of said plurality of receiving channels for electrical coupling with said user removable antenna.

7. The wireless personal data assistant as recited in claim 6, wherein said plurality of electrically symmetrical transmission lines are configured such that when said user-removable antenna is placed within one of said plurality of receiving channels and electrically coupled to one of said plurality of electrically symmetrical transmission lines, each other of said plurality of electrically symmetrical transmission lines exhibit infinite impedance to said transceiver.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein at least two of said plurality of receiving channels are symmetrically placed about said personal data assistant to enable ambidextrous placement of said user-removable antenna and said stylus.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said second end extending at least partially into said plurality of receiving channels each further comprise transmission line contact interfaces for electrically interfacing with said user-removable antenna.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said plurality of receiving channels are further configured to receive for storage a stylus of said personal data assistant in at least one of said plurality of receiving channels.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said plurality of electrically symmetrical transmission lines have an electrical length approximating one-half wavelength of the frequency used by said wireless personal data assistant.

12. In a wireless transceiver device, an apparatus for accommodating a user selectable placement of a user-removable antenna from among a plurality of possible antenna placements for use in wireless communications by said wireless transceiver device, said apparatus comprising:

a) a plurality of receiving channels configured about said wireless transceiver device, said plurality of receiving channels each capable of receiving therein said user-removable antenna;

b) a plurality of electrically symmetrical transmission lines electrically coupled at a first end to a transceiver of said wireless transceiver device with a second end extending at least partially into a corresponding one of said plurality of receiving channels for electrical coupling with said user removable antenna, said plurality of electrically symmetrical transmission lines configured such that when said user-removable antenna is placed within one of said plurality of receiving channels and electrically coupled to one of said plurality of electrically symmetrical transmission lines, each other of said plurality of electrically symmetrical transmission lines exhibit approximately infinite impedance to said transceiver.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said plurality of receiving channels are further configured to receive for storage a stylus of said wireless transceiver device in at least one of said plurality of receiving channels.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein at least two of said plurality of receiving channels are symmetrically placed about said wireless transceiver device to enable ambidextrous placement of said user-removable antenna and said stylus.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said second end extending at least partially into said plurality of receiving channels each further comprise transmission line contact interfaces for electrically interfacing with said user-removable antenna.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said plurality of electrically symmetrical transmission lines have an electrical length approximating one-half wavelength of the frequency used by said wireless transceiver device.