Diversity antenna in a SIM card package

• US 6,240,301 B1
• Filed: 10/29/1998
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Phillips, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Taylor, Barry W.
• Application Number:
  US09/181,983
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 361/737, 361/752, 361/796, 361/803, 361/814, 361/727, 361/728, 361/730, 361/809, 455/90, 455/550, 455/551, 455/552, 455/553, 455/556, 455/558, 235/441, 235/486, 257/678, 257/679, 439/325, 439/326
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2283 mounted in or on the surface of a semiconductor substrate as a chip-type antenna or integrated with other components into an IC package
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/242 specially adapted for hand-held use
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• 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 7/04 using two or more spaced independent antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0256 wherein the modules are operable in the detached state, e.g. one module for the user interface and one module for the transceiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device

Abstract

A diversity antenna module includes a diversity antenna and preferably has outer dimensions no larger than a SIM card. The diversity antenna module mates with a shell housing communications electronics for a wireless communications device, such as communications electronics adapted for PDC operation. The diversity antenna module, when mated to the shell, provides the communications electronics within the shell with an alternative antenna, as is required by the PDC specifications. The same shell, or another shell of the same mechanical dimensions, may alternatively house a different set of communications electronics, such as some adapted for GSM operation. A traditional SIM module may be mated to this second shell to provide alternative communications functionality. Thus, the diversity antenna module allows for a single mechanical design of the shell to be used to house alternative communications electronics and mate with the corresponding modules to provide wireless communications functionality under differing standards, thereby reducing the number of mechanical packaging designs that must be developed.

Claims

1. A wireless communications device, comprising:

a) a shell adapted to receive either first communications electronics requiring a cooperating SIM module or second communications electronics requiring a cooperating diversity antenna, having a main antenna connected thereto and containing therein said second communications electronics;

b) a discrete module mated to said shell and having outer dimensions of a SIM card, adapted to include either SIM electronics or a diversity antenna, and including a diversity antenna suitable for a wireless communication mobile terminal;

c) said shell adapted to receive said module;

d) wherein said communications electronics connect to said main antenna and said diversity antenna when said module is joined to said shell for receiving signals from a remote location.

2. The wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said shell has a front and a rear and further including a battery pack attached to a lower portion of said rear and wherein said module mates to said shell in an upper portion of said shell so as to be not shielded by said battery pack.

3. The wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said shell includes a module bay and further including a normally closed flap on said shell proximate said module bay and wherein said module removably mates to said shell in said module bay wherein said module is disposed substantially within said module bav when mated to said shell.

4. The wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said wireless communications device is a cellular telephone.

5. The wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein said communications electronics are adapted for operation in a PDC system.

6. The wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein:

a) said shell has a front and a rear and further including a battery pack attached to a lower portion of said rear and wherein said module mates to said shell in an upper portion of said shell so as to be not shielded by said battery pack;

b) said shell includes a module bay and further including a normally closed flap on said shell proximate said module bay and wherein said module mates to said shell in said module bay; and

c) said wireless communications device is a cellular telephone adapted for operation in a PDC system.

7. A housing set for manufacturing first and second wireless communications devices using the same shell manufacturing process, comprising:

a) a first shell having a slot therein and housing a first set of communications electronics for the first wireless communications device;

b) a discrete first module removably mated to said first shell through said slot;

said first module having outer dimensions of a SIM card and including SIM electronics and a plurality of first module contacts;

c) a second shell having a slot therein and housing a second set of communications electronics for the second wireless communications device;

d) a discrete second module removably mated to said second shell through said slot;

said second module having outer dimensions of a SIM card and including a diversity antenna suitable for a wireless communications mobile terminal and a plurality of second module contacts;

e) wherein said first shell and said second shell are manufactured according to the same process, and are mechanically of the same dimensions.

8. The housing set of claim 7 wherein said first shell and said second shell are mechanically identical.

9. The housing set of claim 7 wherein said first shell and said second shell are physically identical.

10. The housing set of claim 7 further including a first main antenna connected to said first shell and in communication with said first set of communications electronics and a second main antenna connected to said second shell and in communication with said second set of communications electronics.

11. The housing set of claim 7 further including;

a) a first set of main contacts in communication with said first set of communications electronics and a second set of main contacts in communication with said second set of communications electronics;

b) wherein said first module contacts associated with said first module are in communication with said SIM electronics and said second module contacts associated with said second module are in communication with said diversity antenna;

c) wherein said first set of module contacts contact said first set of main contacts when said first module mates to said first shell and said second set of module contacts contact said second set of main contacts when said second module mates to said second shell.

12. The housing set of claim 7 further including a main antenna attached to said second shell and wherein said second set of communications electronics communicate with said main antenna and said diversity antenna of said second module.

13. The housing set of claim 7 wherein said second set of communications electronics are adapted for operation in a PDC wireless communications environment.

14. The housing set of claim 13 wherein said first set of communications electronics are adapted for operation in a GSM wireless communications environment.

15. The housing set of claim 7 further including:

a) a first main antenna connected to said first shell and in communication with said first set of communications electronics;

b) a second main antenna connected to said second shell and in communication with said second set of communications electronics;

c) a first set of main contacts in communication with said first set of communications electronics;

d) a second set of main contacts in communication with said second set of communications electronics;

e) and wherein;

i) said first shell and said second shell are mechanically identical;

ii) said first module contacts associated with said first module are in communication with said SIM electronics and said second module contacts associated with said second module are in communication with said diversity antenna;

iii) said first set of module contacts contact said first set of main contacts when said first module mates to said first shell and said second set of module contacts contact said second set of main contacts when said second module mates to said second shell; and

iv) said second set of communications electronics communicate with said second main antenna and said diversity antenna of said second module.

16. The housing set of claim 15 wherein said second set of communications electronics are adapted for operation in a PDC wireless communications environment.