Portable radiotelephones including patch antennas having openings therein

• US 6,411,826 B1
• Filed: 11/17/1998
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Camp, William O. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gesesse, Tilahun
• Application Number:
  US09/193,587
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556, 455/566, 455/90, 455/575, 455/12.1, 343/100.MS, 343/702
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/242 specially adapted for hand-held use
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers

Abstract

A portable radiotelephone includes a transceiver, a processor, a speaker, a microphone, and a patch antenna. The transceiver transmits and receives radiotelephone communications, and the processor processes the radiotelephone communications transmitted and received by the transceiver. The speaker generates sound responsive to the received radiotelephone communications, the microphone generates electrical signals for the transmitted radiotelephone communications responsive to outside sound, and the patch antenna includes a conductive layer coupled to at least one of the processor and the transceiver. More particularly, the patch antenna can be a global position patch antenna that receives electromagnetic global position signals from a global position satellite.

Claims

1. A portable radiotelephone comprising:

a transceiver that transmits and receives radiotelephone communications;

a processor coupled to the transceiver that processes the radiotelephone communications transmitted and received by the transceiver;

a speaker coupled to the processor that generates sound responsive to the received radiotelephone communications;

a microphone coupled to the processor that generates electrical signals for the transmitted radiotelephone communications responsive to outside sound;

a patch antenna including a conductive layer coupled to at least one of the processor and the transceiver that receives electromagnetic signals wherein the patch antenna has an opening therein wherein the patch antenna comprises a global position patch antenna that receives electromagnetic global position signals from a global position satellite wherein the processor comprises a global position receiver that processes the received electromagnetic global position signals; and

a display coupled to the processor, wherein the processor generates a message on the display during global position processing to encourage a horizontal orientation of the patch antenna.

2. A portable radiotelephone according to claim 1 further comprising:

a radiotelephone body housing the processor, transceiver, microphone and speaker, wherein the conductive layer is provided on a dielectric layer inside the radiotelephone body.

3. A portable radiotelephone according to claim 1 further comprising:

a radiotelephone body housing the processor, transceiver, microphone, and speaker, wherein the conductive layer is provided on a surface of the radiotelephone body.

4. A portable radiotelephone according to claim 3 wherein the conductive layer is provided on an inside surface of a face-of the radiotelephone body.

5. A portable radiotelephone according to claim 3 wherein the conductive layer is provided on an outside surface of a face of the radiotelephone body.

6. A portable radiotelephone according to claim 1 further comprising:

a radiotelephone body housing the processor, transceiver, microphone, and speaker, wherein the radiotelephone body includes a flip portion that closes to cover a portion of the radiotelephone body and opens to extend the radiotelephone body wherein the patch antenna is located on the flip portion of the radiotelephone body.

7. A portable radiotelephone according to claim 1 wherein the processor generates the message on the display during global processing to encourage the horizontal orientation of the patch antenna and to encourage a corresponding horizontal orientation of the radiotelephone.

8. A portable radiotelephone according to claim 1 wherein the processor generates the message on the display during global processing to encourage the horizontal orientation of the patch antenna and to encourage a corresponding horizontal orientation of the display.

9. A portable radiotelephone comprising:

a transceiver that transmits and receives radiotelephone communications;

a processor coupled to the transceiver that processes the radiotelephone communications transmitted and received bV the transceiver;

a speaker coupled to the processor that generates sound responsive to the received radiotelephone communications;

a microphone coupled to the processor that generates electrical signals for the transmitted radiotelephone communications responsive to outside sound; and

a patch antenna including a conductive layer coupled to at least one of the processor and the transceiver that receives electromagnetic signals wherein the patch antenna has an opening therein to allow the generated sound from the speaker to pass therethrough.

10. A portable radiotelephone according to claim 9 wherein the patch antenna comprises a global position patch antenna that receives electromagnetic global position signals from a global position satellite.

11. A portable radiotelephone according to claim 10 wherein the processor comprises a global position receiver that processes the received electromagnetic global position signals.

12. A portable radiotelephone according to claim 11 further comprising:

a display coupled to the processor, wherein the processor generates a message on the display during global position processing to encourage a horizontal orientation of the patch antenna.

13. A portable radiotelephone comprising:

a transceiver that transmits and receives radiotelephone communications;

a processor coupled to the transceiver that processes the radiotelephone communications transmitted and received by the transceiver;

a speaker coupled to the processor that generates sound responsive to the received radiotelephone communications;

a microphone coupled to the processor that generates electrical signals for the transmitted radiotelephone communications responsive to outside sound; and

a patch antenna including a conductive layer coupled to at least one of the processor and the transceiver that receives electromagnetic signals wherein the patch antenna has an opening therein to allow the outside sound to pass through to the microphone.

14. A portable radiotelephone comprising:

a transceiver that transmits and receives radiotelephone communications;

a processor coupled to the transceiver that processes the radiotelephone communications transmitted and received by the transceiver;

a speaker coupled to the processor that generates sound responsive to the received radiotelephone communications;

a microphone coupled to the processor that generates electrical signals for the transmitted radiotelephone communications responsive to outside sound; and

a patch antenna including a conductive layer coupled to at least one of the processor and the transceiver that receives electromagnetic signals; and

a keypad having a key coupled to the processor, wherein the patch antenna is adjacent the keypad and wherein the patch antenna has an opening therein to allow movement of the key therethrough.

15. A portable radiotelephone comprising:

a radiotelephone body having face;

a speaker within the radiotelephone body;

a microphone within the radiotelephone body;

a patch antenna including a conductive layer substantially parallel to the face of the radiotelephone body wherein the patch antenna has an opening therein wherein the patch antenna comprises a global position patch antenna that receives global position signals from a global position satellite;

a display on the radiotelephone body; and

a processor in the radiotelephone body wherein the processor is coupled to the display and to the patch antenna to process the global position signals received from the global position satellite, and wherein the processor generates a message on the display during global position processing to encourage a horizontal orientation of the patch antenna.

16. A portable radiotelephone according to claim 15 wherein the conductive layer is provided on a dielectric layer inside the radiotelephone body.

17. A portable radiotelephone according to claim 15 wherein the conductive layer is provided on a surface of the radiotelephone body.

18. A portable radiotelephone according to claim 17 wherein the conductive layer is provided on an inside surface of the radiotelephone body.

19. A portable radiotelephone according to claim 17 wherein the conductive layer is provided on an outside surface of the radiotelephone body.

20. A portable radiotelephone according to claim 15 wherein the radiotelephone body includes a flip portion that closes to cover a portion of the radiotelephone body and opens to extend the radiotelephone body wherein the patch antenna is located on said flip portion of the radiotelephone body.

21. A portable radiotelephone according to claim 15 wherein the processor generates the message on the display during global processing to encourage the horizontal orientation of the patch antenna and to encourage a corresponding horizontal orientation of the radiotelephone.

22. A portable radiotelephone according to claim 15 wherein the processor generates the message on the display during global processing to encourage the horizontal orientation of the patch antenna and to encourage a corresponding horizontal orientation of the display.

23. A portable radiotelephone comprising:

a radiotelephone body having face;

a speaker within the radiotelephone body;

a microphone within the radiotelephone body; and

a patch antenna including a conductive layer substantially parallel to the face of the radiotelephone body wherein the patch antenna has an opening therein to allow sound from the speaker to pass therethrough.

24. A portable radiotelephone comprising:

a radiotelephone body having face;

a speaker within the radiotelephone body;

a microphone within the radiotelephone body; and

a patch antenna including a conductive layer substantially parallel to the face of the radiotelephone body wherein the patch antenna has an opening therein to allow sound to pass through to the microphone.

25. A portable radiotelephone according to claim 24 wherein the patch antenna comprises a global position patch antenna that receives global position signals from a global position satellite.

26. A portable radiotelephone according to claim 25 further comprising:

a display on the radiotelephone body; and

a processor in the radiotelephone body wherein the processor is coupled to the display and to the patch antenna to process the global position signals received from the global position satellite, and wherein the processor generates a message on the display during global position processing to encourage a horizontal orientation of the patch antenna.

27. A portable radiotelephone comprising:

a radiotelephone body having face;

a speaker within the radiotelephone body;

a microphone within the radiotelephone body; and

a patch antenna including a conductive layer substantially parallel to the face of the radiotelephone body; and

a keypad having a key on the radiotelephone body wherein the patch antenna is adjacent the keypad and wherein the patch antenna has an opening therein allowing movement of the key therethrough.

28. A method of receiving global position satellite signals at a portable radiotelephone including a global position antenna and a global position receiver coupled to the global position antenna, the method comprising the step of:

generating a message during global position processing to encourage a desired orientation of the global position antenna;

wherein the global position antenna is a patch antenna including a conductive layer and wherein the desired orientation of the antenna and a corresponding desired orientation of the radiotelephone are approximately horizontal during global position processing.

29. A portable radiotelephone comprising:

a transceiver that transmits and receives radiotelephone communications;

a processor coupled to the transceiver that processes the radiotelephone communications transmitted and received by the transceiver;

a speaker coupled to the processor that generates sound responsive to the received radiotelephone communications;

a microphone coupled to the processor that generates electrical signals for the transmitted radiotelephone communications responsive to outside sound;

a global position antenna coupled to at least one of the processor and the transceiver that receives global position signals from a global position satellite wherein the processor comprises a global position receiver that processes the received global position signals; and

a display coupled to the processor wherein the processor generates a message on the display during global position processing to encourage a desired orientation of the global position antenna;

wherein the global position antenna is a patch antenna including a conductive layer and wherein the desired orientation of the antenna and a corresponding desired orientation of the radiotelephone are approximately horizontal during global position processing.

30. A method of receiving global position satellite signals at a portable radiotelephone including a global position antenna and a global position receiver coupled to the global position antenna, the method comprising the step of:

generating a message during global position processing to encourage a desired orientation of the global position antenna;

wherein the message is generated on a display, wherein the global position antenna is a patch antenna including a conductive layer, wherein the desired orientation of the antenna and a corresponding desired orientation of the display are approximately horizontal during global position processing.

31. A portable radiotelephone comprising:

a transceiver that transmits and receives radiotelephone communications;

a processor coupled to the transceiver that processes the radiotelephone communications transmitted and received by the transceiver;

a speaker coupled to the processor that generates sound responsive to the received radiotelephone communications;

a microphone coupled to the processor that generates electrical signals for the transmitted radiotelephone communications responsive to outside sound;

a global position antenna coupled to at least one of the processor and the transceiver that receives global position signals from a global position satellite wherein the processor comprises a global position receiver that processes the received global position signals; and

a display coupled to the processor wherein the processor generates a message on the display during global position processing to encourage a desired orientation of the global position antenna;

wherein the global position antenna is a patch antenna including a conductive layer, wherein the desired orientation of the antenna and a corresponding desired orientation of the display are approximately horizontal during global position processing.