Embedded antenna in a type II PCMCIA card

• US 6,404,393 B1
• Filed: 10/04/2000
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Hughes, Edward, Nelson, Jon A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): VANNUCCI, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US09/680,549
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/700.MS, 343/872, 455/90, 455/89, 439/916, 439/98, 439/584, 439/610
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2266 disposed inside the computer

Abstract

A peripheral component providing multiple types of interfaces. In one embodiment, the peripheral component comprises a housing with logical circuitry within. A platform operable to move in and out of the housing is coupled to the housing. The platform has a receptacle interface which is electrically connected to the logical circuitry. Additionally, the platform has a wireline interface also electrically connected to the logical circuitry. Furthermore, an antenna is embedded in the platform and electrically connected to the logical circuitry. In another embodiment, the receptacle is an X-jack™, and the wireline interface is a 15-pin connector. In another embodiment, the peripheral component is a type II PCMCIA card. In one embodiment, the logical circuitry comprises a wireless device. In one embodiment, the wireless device is a Bluetooth™ device.

Claims

1. A peripheral component providing for multiple types of interfaces, said peripheral component comprising:

a housing;

logical circuitry within said housing;

a platform coupled to said housing and operable to move in and out of said housing;

a receptacle interface in said platform and electrically connected to said logical circuitry;

a wireline interface in said platform and electrically connected to said logical circuitry; and

an antenna embedded in said platform and electrically connected to said logical circuitry.

2. The peripheral component of claim 1 wherein said antenna is electrically coupled to a ground of said logical circuitry.

3. The peripheral component of claim 1 wherein said logical circuitry functions as a resonator for transmitting wireless signals through said antenna.

4. The peripheral component of claim 1 wherein said antenna is adapted to transmit at a radio frequency.

5. The peripheral component of claim 1 wherein said antenna is adapted to transmit at a frequency suitable for Bluetooth.

6. The peripheral component of claim 1 wherein said peripheral component is a PCMCIA card.

7. The peripheral component of claim 1 wherein said receptacle is operable to connect to a plug selected from a group consisting of:

an RJ-11 plug, and an RJ-45 plug.

8. The peripheral component of claim 1 wherein said wireline interface is selected from a group consisting of:

a serial interface, a parallel interface, a 15 pin interface, a Firewire (IEEE

     1394) interface, and a small computer system interface (SCSI) interface.

9. The peripheral component of claim 1 wherein said logical circuitry comprises a wireless device and said antenna is electrically connected to said wireless device.

10. The peripheral component of claim 1 further comprising a peripheral interface for connecting to a host device, said interface selected from a group consisting of:

a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, a Personal Computer (PC) Card interface, a CardBus, a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) interface, a mini-PCI interface, a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) interface, an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) interface, and an RS-232 interface.

11. An apparatus for providing multiple types of interfaces to a peripheral component, said apparatus comprising:

a receptacle interface;

a wireline interface; and

an embedded antenna;

said apparatus operable to slideably engage said peripheral component, wherein said apparatus may be moved in and out of said peripheral component.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said peripheral component is a type II PCMCIA card.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said receptacle is operable to connect to a plug selected from a group consisting of:

an RJ-11 plug, and an RJ-45 plug.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said antenna is adapted to connect to wireless device.

15. A type II Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) card allowing multiple types of interfaces, said type II PCMCIA card comprising:

a housing;

logical circuitry within said housing, said logical circuitry comprising a wireless device;

a platform operable to move in and out of said housing;

a receptacle interface in said platform and electrically connected to said logical circuitry;

a wireline interface in said platform and electrically connected to said logical circuitry; and

an antenna embedded in said platform and electrically connected to said wireless device.

16. The type II PCMCIA card of claim 15 wherein said antenna is connected to said wireless device via a micro-coaxial cable.

17. The type II PCMCIA card of claim 15 wherein said receptacle is operable to connect to a plug selected from a group consisting of:

an RJ-11 plug, and an RJ-45 plug.

18. The type II PCMCIA card of claim 15 wherein said receptacle is an X-jack.

19. The type II PCMCIA card of claim 15 wherein said wireline interface is selected from a group consisting of:

a serial interface, a parallel interface, a 15 pin interface, a Firewire (IEEE

     1394) interface, and a small computer interface (SCSI) interface.

20. The type II PCMCIA card of claim 15 wherein said antenna is adapted to transmit at a frequency suitable for Bluetooth.