Portable radio communication device

• US 6,459,916 B1
• Filed: 04/30/1998
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Suguro, Akihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Pablo N
• Application Number:
  US09/068,189
• Time in Patent Office: 1,615 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/128, 455/269, 455/270, 455/351, 455/575, 455/273, 455/89, 455/277.1, 455/33.1, 455/550, 455/283, 455/284, 455/78, 455/101, 455/132-135, 455/140, 343/702, 343/725, 343/700, 343/796, 343/895, 343/701, 343/850
• US Class Current: 455/575.7
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/244 extendable from a housing along a given path
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/245 with means for shaping the antenna pattern, e.g. in order to protect user against rf exposure
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/362 for broadside radiating helical antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 11/08 Helical antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/29 Combinations of different interacting antenna units for giving a desired directional characteristic H01Q25/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3833 Hand-held transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18571 for satellites; for fixed or mobile stations

Abstract

A small-sized flat antenna mounted on a portable radio communication device is available for a narrow bandwidth, and the resonance frequency of the flat antenna varies due to interference between the flat antenna and surrounding dielectrics such as a housing and a human body. As a result, the transmission efficiency and reception sensitivity of the antenna have been impaired. A communicating section (constructed of a coaxial line or a microstrip line)is arranged in a portable radio communication device having a circularly polarized antenna for satellite communication, so that an appropriate distance is provided not only between a housing of the portable radio communication device and the antenna but also between a human body and the antenna.

Claims

1. A portable radio communication device comprising:

a communication section for transmitting a signal arranged at an upper portion of a housing of the radio communication device, the housing accommodating a radio communication section therein; and

a radiating element of a chokeless circularly polarized antenna held on the communication section such that the entire radiating element is held away from the housing,

wherein the radiating element of the circularly polarized antenna is a radiating element of an antenna having an antenna gain at low elevation angles for communication with satellites in low earth orbit,

wherein a main beam of the circularly polarized antenna is directed at a low elevation angle, and

wherein the communication section holds the circularly polarized antenna at a height such that a communication with a satellite at a low elevation angle is not substantially obstructed by a user'"'"'s head.

2. A portable radio communication device comprising:

a communication section for transmitting a signal arranged at an upper portion of a housing of the radio communication device, the housing accommodating a radio communication section therein;

a radiating element of a first chokeless circularly polarized antenna held on the communication section such that the entire radiating element is held away from the housing,

wherein the radiating element of the circularly polarized antenna is a radiating element of an antenna having an antenna gain at low elevation angles for communication with satellites in low earth orbit,

wherein a main beam of the first circularly polarized antenna is directed at a low elevation angle, and

wherein the communication section holds the circularly polarized antenna at a height such that a communication with a satellite at a low elevation angle is not substantially obstructed by a user'"'"'s head; and

a second chokeless circularly polarized antenna, wherein a main beam of the second circularly polarized antenna is directed at a high elevation angle.

3. A portable communication device according to claim 2, wherein the second circularly polarized antenna is a flat antenna and the first circularly polarized antenna is a helical atenna, a conductor surface of a patch of the flat antanna and a top end portion of the helical atenna being directed upward with respect to a housing of the radio communication device.

4. A portable radio communication device according to claim 3, wherein the flat antenna is fixed to the top end portion of the helical atenna.

5. A portable radio communication device according to claim 3, wherein the helical antenna is supported at the upper portion of the housing of the radio communication device so as to be distant from the upper portion of the housing while interposing a signal transmission path between the helical antenna and the upper portion of the housing.