Retractable sliding antenna assembly for wireless communication
First Claim
1. An apparatus for enabling wireless communication with a wireless communication system, comprising:
- a device adapted to communicate with a wireless communication system;
a sliding assembly contained within said device, wherein said sliding assembly is operable for sliding into a retracted position and sliding into a protruded position, and wherein said sliding assembly has a frontal portion and a rear portion; and
an antenna element contained within said frontal portion of said sliding assembly, said antenna element for communicating with said wireless network when said sliding assembly is in said protruded position wherein said sliding assembly is made of translucent material, and wherein said sliding assembly is illuminated in its protruded position to indicate wireless communication in progress.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus is disclosed for wireless communication of a computer with a wireless network or a wireless device. In one embodiment of the present invention, a pc card is configured for insertion into a computer pc card slot. Additionally, a sliding assembly is housed within the pc card. This sliding assembly is operable for sliding into a retracted position and a protruded position. When in the retracted position, the sliding assembly is mostly concealed within the pc card. When in the protruded position, the sliding assembly is partly exposed outside of the pc card. Furthermore, an antenna element is fitted inside the sliding assembly. When the sliding assembly is in retracted position, this antenna element enables wireless communication of a computer with a wireless network or a wireless device.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for enabling wireless communication with a wireless communication system, comprising:
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a device adapted to communicate with a wireless communication system;
a sliding assembly contained within said device, wherein said sliding assembly is operable for sliding into a retracted position and sliding into a protruded position, and wherein said sliding assembly has a frontal portion and a rear portion; and
an antenna element contained within said frontal portion of said sliding assembly, said antenna element for communicating with said wireless network when said sliding assembly is in said protruded position wherein said sliding assembly is made of translucent material, and wherein said sliding assembly is illuminated in its protruded position to indicate wireless communication in progress. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for enabling a computer to communicate with a wireless communication system, comprising:
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a pc card configured for insertion into a computer pc card slot;
a sliding assembly contained within said PC card, wherein said sliding assembly is operable for sliding into a retracted position and sliding into a protruded position, and wherein said sliding assembly has a frontal portion and a rear portion; and
an antenna element contained within said frontal portion of said sliding assembly, said antenna element for communicating with a wireless communication system when said sliding assembly is in said protruded position, wherein said sliding assembly is made of translucent material, and wherein said sliding assembly is illuminated in its protruded position to indicate wireless communication in progress. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for enabling wireless communication with a wireless communication system, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) releasing a sliding assembly contained within a device from a retracted position for transitioning to a protruded position, wherein said device is adapted for communicating with a wireless communication system;
b) communicating wirelessly with said wireless communication system using an antenna element contained within said sliding assembly, wherein said antenna element is operable when said sliding assembly is in said protruded position, and wherein said sliding assembly is made of translucent material, and wherein said sliding assembly is illuminated in its protruded position to indicate wireless communication in progress; and
c) retracting said sliding assembly from said protruded position to said retracted position when said communicating step b) terminates. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
activating an activation surface on a frontal portion of said sliding assembly to begin said transitioning from said retracted position to said protruded position, wherein said antenna element is within said frontal portion.
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16. The method of claim 13, wherein said step b) further comprises the step of:
commencing wireless communication programs for using said antenna element with said device.
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17. The method of claim 13, wherein said step b) further comprises the step of:
commencing wireless networking programs for using said antenna element with said device.
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18. The method of claim 13, wherein said device is selectable from a group consisting of pc cards, compact flash cards, Palm devices, PDA'"'"'s, phones, mobile phones, desktop computers and laptop computers.
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19. The method of claim 13, wherein in said retracted position said sliding assembly is concealed within said device such that only an activation surface on a frontal portion of said sliding assembly is exposed, wherein said antenna element is contained within said frontal portion.
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20. The method of claim 13, wherein in said protruded position a rear portion of said sliding assembly is concealed within said device, and wherein in said protruded position a frontal portion containing said antenna element protrudes outside of said device.
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21. The method of claim 13, wherein said antenna element is selectable from a group consisting of inverted-F antenna, mono-pole antenna, dipole antenna, and Disk antenna.
Specification