Antenna arrangement of an information processor

• US 6,285,328 B1
• Filed: 12/07/1999
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Client Solutions CO., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Sekine, Syuichi, Kobayashi, Koichi, Horiguchi, Yoshinori, Masaki, Toshiyuki, Iwahara, Hiroki, Miyasaka, Toshiki
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Clinger, James
• Application Number:
  US09/456,986
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/901, 455/90, 455/575
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2266 disposed inside the computer

Abstract

An information processor includes a display case having a display panel therein. A antenna is disposed in an upper end of the display case opposite a hinge mechanism connecting the display case to a main body. The display case is movable between an open and a closed position. The antenna has radiation characteristics that provide reception and transmission capability when the display case is either in the open or closed position.

Claims

1. An information processor, comprising:

a main unit;

a hinge mechanism mounted at a back end of said main unit;

a display unit connected to the hinge mechanism at a lower end of the display unit and movable between a first position and a second position;

an antenna disposed on an upper surface portion of said display unit, said upper surface being opposite the lower end;

a display driver circuit disposed adjacent a first side of said display unit; and

a coaxial cable wired between said antenna and said main unit via a second side of said display unit opposite the first side.

2. The information processor according to claim 1, wherein the display unit has an inner surface and an outer surface, and wherein the information processor has a vector normal to the inner surface and pointing outward from the inner surface and a plane orthogonal to the inner surface and parallel to the lower end, wherein said antenna is disposed so that a majority of radiated energy in the plane exists in a first 90 degree region between +45 degrees from the vector to −

45 degrees of the vector and a second 90 degree region between +135 degrees from the vector to −

135 degrees from the vector.

3. The information processor according to claim 1, wherein said antenna is disposed so that its directivity pattern extends more above than below said display unit when seen from the front of said display unit.

4. The information processor according to claim 1, wherein said antenna is disposed so that its directivity pattern extends more above than below said display unit when seen from the side of said display unit.

5. The information processor according to claim 1, wherein said antenna is mounted to be turnable between first and second orientations relative to said display unit.

6. An information processor, comprising:

a display case including a main unit, a hinge mechanism at a back end of said main unit, and a display unit connected to the hinge mechanism at a lower end of the display unit and turnable between a first position and a second position;

an opening lock button disposed approximately at the center of a free end of said display unit, said lock button for locking together the main unit and the display unit; and

an antenna mounted in said opening lock button.

7. The information processor according to claim 6, wherein the display unit has an inner surface and an outer surface, and wherein the information processor has a vector normal to the inner surface and pointing outward from the inner surface and a plane orthogonal to the inner surface and parallel to the lower end, wherein said antenna is disposed so that a majority of radiated energy in the plane exists in a first 90 degree region between +45 degrees from the vector to −

45 degrees of the vector and a second 90 degree region between +135 degrees from the vector to −

135 degrees from the vector.

8. The information processor according to claim 6, wherein said antenna is disposed so that its directivity pattern extends more above than below said display unit when seen from the front of said display unit.

9. The information processor according to claim 6, wherein said antenna is disposed so that its directivity pattern extends more above than below said display unit when seen from the side of said display unit.

10. The information processor according to claim 6, wherein said antenna is mounted to be turnable between first and second orientations relative to said display unit.

11. An information processor, comprising:

a first unit;

a processing unit mounted on the first unit;

a second unit having an inner surface, an outer surface, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and two opposing sides;

a display unit mounted on the inner surface of the second unit;

a hinge mechanism connected between the first unit and the first end of of the second unit; and

an antenna mounted on a predetermined position of the outer surface, the predetermined position being closer to the second end than the first end and approximately midway between the first and second sides.

12. The information processor according to claim 11, wherein the information processor has a vector normal to the inner surface and pointing outward from the inner surface and a plane orthogonal to the inner surface and parallel to the first end, wherein said antenna is disposed so that a majority of radiated energy in the plane exists in a first 90 degree region between +45 degrees from the vector to −

45 degrees of the vector and a second 90 degree region between +135 degrees from the vector to −

135 degrees from the vector.

13. The information processor according to claim 11, wherein said antenna is disposed so that its directivity pattern extends more above than below the display unit when seen from the front of said display unit.

14. The information processor according to claim 11, wherein said antenna is disposed so that its directivity pattern extends more above than below the display unit when seen from the side of said display unit.

15. The information processor according to claim 11, wherein said antenna is mounted to be turnable between first and second orientations relative to said display unit.

16. The information processor of claim 11, wherein the predetermined region is on an upper surface portion of said display unit, wherein the upper surface portion is opposite the lower end of the display unit.

17. The information processor according to claim 16, wherein the information processor has a vector normal to the inner surface and pointing outward from the inner surface and a plane orthogonal to the inner surface and parallel to the first end, wherein said antenna is disposed so that a majority of radiated energy in the plane exists in a first 90 degree region between +45 degrees from the vector to −

45 degrees of the vector and a second 90 degree region between +135 degrees from the vector to −

135 degrees from the vector.

18. The information processor according to claim 16, wherein said antenna is disposed so that its directivity pattern extends more above than below the display unit when seen from the front of said display unit.

19. The information processor according to claim 16, wherein said antenna is disposed so that its directivity pattern extends more above than below the display unit when seen from the side of said display unit.

20. The information processor according to claim 16, wherein said antenna is mounted to be turnable between first and second orientations relative to said display unit display case.

21. The information processor of claim 11 wherein the predetermined region is approximately at the center of an upper surface portion of said display unit, wherein the upper surface portion is opposite the lower end of the display unit.

22. The information processor according to claim 21, wherein the information processor has a vector normal to the inner surface and pointing outward from the inner surface and a plane orthogonal to the inner surface and parallel to the first end, wherein said antenna is disposed so that a majority of radiated energy in the plane exists in a first 90 degree region between +45 degrees from the vector to −

45 degrees of the vector and a second 90 degree region between +135 degrees from the vector to −

135 degrees from the vector.

23. The information processor according to claim 21, wherein said antenna is disposed so that its directivity pattern extends more above than below the display unit when seen from the front of said display unit.

24. The information processor according to claim 21, wherein said antenna is disposed so that its directivity pattern extends more above than below the display unit when seen from the side of said display unit.

25. The information processor according to claim 21, wherein said antenna is mounted to be turnable between first and second orientations relative to said display unit.

26. An information processor, comprising:

a main unit;

a display unit;

means for moving the display unit between a first position and a second position;

an antenna disposed on an upper surface portion of said display unit, said upper surface being opposite a lower end of said display unit;

means for driving the display unit disposed adjacent a first side of said display unit; and

means for electrically connecting the antenna and said main unit via a second side of said display unit opposite the first side.

27. An information processor, comprising:

a main unit;

a display unit;

means for moving the display unit between a first position and a second position relative to the main unit; and

means for locking the display unit and the main unit together in the first position, the locking means being disposed approximately at the center of a free end of said display unit; and

including means for electromagnetically communicating with an external apparatus mounted in said locking means.