Moveable antenna employing a hybrid RF and DC circuit

• US 6,453,154 B1
• Filed: 10/08/1999
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CDC Propriete Intellectuelle
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: House, Kevin Duane, Edwards, David Wilson, Haber, William Joe
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Thuan T.
• Application Number:
  US09/415,894
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/95, 455/575, 455/414, 455/129, 455/550
• US Class Current: 455/90.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/084 Pivotable antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/242 specially adapted for hand-held use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/02 for antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/04 Turnable line connectors with limited rotation angle with frictional contact members

Abstract

A moveable antenna system with a position sensor circuit and a circuit which transmits the position sensing data and the radio frequency (RF) on the same wire. The position sensor comprises a sensing pin and a sense track concentric with the coaxial cable for the RF signal. When the antenna is in the preferred position for transmission, the sensing pin is in contact with the sense track, thus closing a switch, allowing the unit to transmit RF signals. Otherwise, the sensing pin is not in contact with the sense track, preventing any transmission of data. The signal that results from the opening and closing of the switch is carried on the same transmission line as the RF signal. This is accomplished by using capacitors to block direct current (DC) from the transmission line and using resistors and shunt capacitors to prevent any leakage of RF signals onto the sensing circuit.

Claims

1. A connector assembly for removably attaching an antenna to a communication device, comprising;

a connector arm pivotably mounted to said communication device, said connector arm having said antenna extending therefrom and being configured for manual rotation about a pivot axis;

an antenna connector circuit mounted to said connector arm, said antenna connector circuit comprises a first RF conductor, a first shield circumscribing said first RF conductor, and a sense pin;

a board track mounted to said communication device opposite said antenna connector circuit for electronic communication therewith, said board track comprises;

a second RF conductor configured for electrical contact with said first RF conductor;

a second shield circumscribing said second BF conductor and configured for mechanical contact with said first shield; and

a sense track configured for electrical contact with said sense pin when an angular position of said antenna is within a permissible range of positions;

wherein said antenna connector circuit and said board track cooperate to produce an output signal indicative of said angular position of said antenna about said pivot axis.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein said communication device comprises a host processor, and said connector assembly further comprises an output conductor configured to communicate said output signal to said host processor.

3. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said communication device further comprises an RF transmitter circuit configured to apply RF signals to said antenna; and

said connector assembly further comprises an output conductor configured to communicate said output signal to said RF transmitter circuit to enable said transmitter circuit when said angular position of said antenna is within said permissible range of positions, and to disable said transmitter circuit when said angular position of said antenna is not within said permissible range of positions.

4. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said sense tack comprises a conductive arc;

and said board track and said antenna connector circuit are disposed with respect to each other such that said sense pin remains in electrical contact with said sense track when said angular position of said antenna is within said permissible range, and said sense pin is moved out of electrical contact with said sense track when said antenna is moved out of said permissible range.

5. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said first and second RF conductors are disposed along said pivot axis;

said first and second shields are concentric about said pivot axis; and

said sense track comprises a conductive arc concentric with said pivot axis.

6. A connector assembly for removably attaching an antenna to a communication device, comprising:

a connector arm pivotabiy mounted to said communication device, said connector arm having said antenna extending therefrom and being configured for manual rotation about a pivot axis;

an antenna connector circuit mounted to said connector arm, said antenna circuit comprises a first shield circumscribing a first RF conductor disposed along said pivot axis, and a pair of sense pins; and

a board track mounted to said communication device opposite said antenna connector circuit for electronic communication therewith, said board track comprises a second shield circumscribing a second RF conductor disposed along said pivot axis, and a conductive, arc shaped sense track;

wherein said antenna connector circuit and said board track cooperate to produce an output signal indicative of an angular position of said antenna about said pivot axis,

wherein said connector assembly is configured such that said first and second RF conductors are in electrical contact, said first and second shields are in mechanical contact, and said pair of sense pins interact with said sense track when said angular position of said antenna is within a permissible range of positions.

7. The connector assembly of claim 6, wherein said pair of sense pins are configured with respect to said sense track such that only one of said sense pins remains in contact with said sense track when said antenna is within said permissible range, and wherein both of said sense pins contact said sense track when said antenna is at an optimum position within said permissible range.

8. The connector assembly of claim 6, wherein said sense track comprises two arc segments concentrically disposed about said pivot axis.

9. A coupling circuit for transmitting radio frequency (PF) signals between an antenna and an associated communication device to which said antenna is removably mounted for manual movement within a predetermined range of positions, the communication device having a transmitter circuit for transmitting RF signals, said coupling circuit comprising:

a coaxial conductor for carrying said RF signals and having a first end configured for electrical communication with said communication device and a second end configured for electrical communication with said antenna;

a switch configured to remain closed when said antenna is within said predetermined range and to remain open when said antenna is not within said predetermined range;

a comparator circuit configured for electrical cooperation with said switch, said comparator circuit being further configured to generate a first output signal when said switch is closed and a second output signal when said switch is open, and to communicate said first output signal to said transmitter circuit to disable said transmitter circuit when said switch is open.

10. The coupling circuit of claim 9, wherein:

said comparator circuit comprises a first input to which a reference voltage signal is applied and a second input to which a direct current voltage (DCV) signal is applied;

said comparator is configured to output a logic high signal when said reference voltage signal is greater than said DCV signal, and to output a logic low signal when said reference voltage signal is less than said DCV signal.

11. The coupling circuit of claim 9, further comprising a first capacitor disposed along said coaxial conductor proximate said communication device, and a second capacitor disposed along said coaxial conductor proximate said antenna, said first and second capacitors being configured to pass signals in the RF range and to not pass signals in the range of one hertz.

12. The coupling circuit of claim 10 further comprising a voltage divider comprising:

a first resistive element having a first characteristic impedance disposed between said coaxial conductor and said switch; and

a second resistive element having a second characteristic impedance disposed between said coaxial conductor and said comparator

wherein current flows through said voltage divider when said switch is closed, and current is substantially prevented from flowing through said voltage divider when said switch is open.

13. The coupling circuit of claim 12 wherein said first and second characteristic impedance are sufficiently high relative to said antenna and said transceiver circuit to substantially prevent said RF signals from passing through said first and second resistive elements.

14. The coupling circuit of claim 9, further comprising a first reactance element coupled to said comparator and a second reactance element coupled to said switch, said first and second reactance elements being configured to shunt said RF signals away from said comparator and said switch, respectively.

15. The coupling circuit of claim 14, wherein each of said first and second reactance elements comprise a capacitor.

16. The coupling circuit of claim 12, wherein each of said first and second resistive elements comprise a resistor.

17. The coupling circuit of claim 9, wherein said predetermined range of positions includes said antenna being connected to said communication device, such that said antenna is outside said predetermined range when said antenna is disconnected from said communication device.

18. A communication device, comprising:

a transceiver circuit configured to transmit and receive radio frequency (RF) signals;

a connector arm having an antenna extending therefrom, said connector arm including an antenna connector circuit including a sense pin;

a connector assembly coupled to said connector arm and configured to removably attach said connector arm to said communication device such that, when said connector arm is attached to said device, said antenna may be manually rotated within a permissible rotation range;

a board track affixed to said communication device and having a sense track configured for electrical communication with said sense pin;

a coupling circuit including a coaxial conductor, a switch, and a comparator circuit configured for electrical communication with said transceiver circuit, said coaxial conductor having a first end in electrical communication with said transceiver circuit and a second end in electrical communication with said antenna;

wherein said sense pin electrically engages said sense track to close said switch when said antenna is within said permissible rotation range, and wherein said comparator circuit is configured to enable transmission by said transceiver circuit when said switch is closed;

and further wherein said sense pin electrically disengages said sense track to open said switch when said antenna is outside said permissible rotation range, and wherein said comparator circuit is configured to disable transmission by said transceiver when said switch is open.

19. The communication device of claim 18, wherein a current path is established between said comparator circuit and said switch when said switch is closed, said current path including at least a portion of said coaxial conductor.