Wireless communication apparatus

• US 6,295,197 B1
• Filed: 01/25/2000
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Scholder, Erica, Watts, La Vaughn F. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUONG, HUNG V
• Application Number:
  US09/491,485
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/680, 361/681, 361/724-727, 312/223--22, 400/713, 400/714, 206/320, 206/576, 343/702, 455/450
• US Class Current: 361/679.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position

Abstract

A control module includes a control module having a body and a jack portion extending from the body for being received in a mating receptacle. The jack portion carries a plurality of contacts. A wireless communication portion is attached to the body. A switch portion is attached to the body. The switch portion is electrically connected to at least a portion of the contacts. A single receptacle assembly can be used to separately interconnect a plurality of types of communication devices to an electronic device in a space efficient and cost-effective manner.

Claims

1. A control module, comprising:

a body having a jack portion formed therewith and extending from the body for being received in a mating receptacle, the jack portion carrying a plurality of contacts;

a wireless communications portion attached to the body; and

a switch portion attached to the body, the switch portion being electrically connected to at least a portion of the contacts.

2. The control module of claim 1 wherein the switch portion is manually movable between a first position and a second position, a first one of the contacts being electrically connected to a second one of the contacts when the switch is in the first position, the first one of the contacts being electrically disconnected from the second one of the contacts when the switch is moved to the second position.

3. The control module of claim 1 further comprising:

a control element electrically connected to the switch.

4. The control module of claim 1 further comprising:

an operation indicator portion attached to the body.

5. The control module of claim 1 further comprising:

a control element mounted on the jack portion.

6. The control module of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication portion includes a first antenna connector.

7. The control module of claim 4 wherein the operation indicator portion includes a plurality of light conducting members.

8. The control module of claim 7 wherein the light conducting members extend between a first surface and a second surface of the body and wherein the jack portion is attached to the first surface.

9. The control module of claim 5 wherein the control element is electrically connected between at least two of the plurality of contracts.

10. The control module of claim 6 wherein the first antenna connector is mounted on the jack portion.

11. The control module of claim 6 wherein the wireless communication portion includes a substantially integral antenna operably connected to the first antenna connector.

12. A communication apparatus, comprising:

a circuit routing device;

a first communication device electrically connected to the circuit routing device;

a second communication device electrically connected to the circuit routing device;

a receptacle assembly electrically connected to the circuit routing device; and

a control module releasably attached to the receptacle assembly, the first communication device being operably connected to the receptacle when the control module is attached to the receptacle assembly, and the second communication device being operably connected to the receptacle assembly when the control module is released from the receptacle assembly; and

the control module having a jack formed therewith for being received in the receptacle assembly.

13. The communication apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first communication device is a wireless communication device.

14. The communication apparatus of claim 12 wherein the circuit routing device includes a selector input electrically connected to the receptacle assembly.

15. The communication apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

an antenna connector attached to the receptacle assembly and a controlled impedance interface connected between the antenna connector and the first communication device.

16. The communication apparatus of claim 12 wherein the control module includes a wireless communication portion, the wireless communication portion being operably connected to the first communication device when the control module is attached to the receptacle assembly.

17. The communication apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first communication device is a wireless communication device and the second communication device is a network interface device.

18. The communication apparatus of claim 12 wherein the circuit routing device includes a multiplexor having a selector input, the selector input being electrically connected to a contact mounted on the receptacle assembly.

19. The communication assembly of claim 14 wherein the control module includes a control element, the control element being electrically connected to the selector input for operably connecting the first communication device to the receptacle assembly when the control module is attached to the receptacle assembly.

20. The communication apparatus of claim 15 wherein the control module includes a wireless communication portion, the wireless communication portion being operably connected to the antenna connector when the control module is attached to the receptacle assembly.

21. A computer system, comprising:

a microprocessor;

a system memory coupled to provide storage to facilitate execution of computer programs by the microprocessor;

an input coupled to provide input to the microprocessor;

a display coupled to the processor by a video controller;

a mass storage coupled to the microprocessor;

a circuit routing device;

a wireless communication device electrically connected to the circuit routing device and to the microprocessor;

a network interface device electrically connected to the circuit routing device and to the microprocessor;

a receptable assembly electrically connected to the circuit routing device; and

a control module releasably attached to the receptable assembly, the wireless communication device being operably connected to the receptacle assembly when the control module is attached to the receptacle assembly, and the network interface device being operably connected to the receptacle assembly when the control module is released from the receptacle assembly; and

the control module having a jack formed therewith for being received in the receptacle assembly.