Radiating enclosure

• US 6,563,042 B2
• Filed: 05/21/1999
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xircom Wireless Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Barabash, Darrell W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walkenhorst, W. David
• Application Number:
  US09/316,459
• Publication Number:
  US 20020046879A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,453 Days
• Field of Search: 174/35.R, 174/35.MS, 174/35.GC, 174/35.C, 174/52.1, 361/816, 361/818, 343/700, 343/702, 343/895
• US Class Current: 174/359
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/48 Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/006 specially adapted for signal processing applications, e.g. CATV, tuner, antennas amplifier

Abstract

An integrated radiating enclosure is disclosed. The enclosure housing is formed from a dielectric material with a radiating element formed on the exterior surface of the housing and a groundplane material formed on the interior of the housing. The groundplane provides EMI shielding for the enclosed electronics. The three antenna elements are directly connected to the circuitry of a transceiver system, thereby integrating the transceiver antenna components directly into the transceiver enclosure.

Claims

1. A radiating enclosure, comprising:

a dielectric housing having first and second detachable housing portions, each of said first and second housing portions having an inner surface and an outer surface;

at least one radiating element disposed on the exterior surface of said first housing portion;

a transceiver system housed within said second housing portion;

an electrical connection between said at least one radiating element and said transceiver system; and

ground plane material distributed on the interior surface of said first housing portion, said ground plane material electrically coupled to said transceiver system.

2. The radiating enclosure of claim 1, wherein said first housing portion is a housing cover and said second housing portion is a housing container.

3. The radiating enclosure of claim 1, wherein said ground plane material is configured to prevent electromagnetic interference from substantially escaping said dielectric housing.

4. The radiating enclosure of claim 1, wherein said ground plane material is distributed on the interior surface of said second housing portion.

5. The radiating enclosure of claim 4, further comprising one or more conductive links positioned between said ground plane material on said first and second housing portions when attached.

6. The radiating enclosure of claim 1, wherein said electrical connection comprises a reversibly engaging connector device.

7. The radiating enclosure of claim 6, wherein said connector device engages when said first and second housing portions are attached, and disengages when said first and second housing portions are detached.

8. The radiating enclosure of claim 7, wherein said connector device comprises a first connector piece disposed on the interior surface of said first housing portion and a second connector piece disposed on said transceiver system.

9. The radiating enclosure of claim 8, wherein said first connector piece comprises a connector member, and said second connector piece comprises a connector receptacle.

10. The radiating enclosure of claim 8, wherein said first connector piece comprises a boss, and said second connector piece comprises a spring biased connection port.

11. The radiating enclosure of claim 10, wherein said connector device further comprises an elongate conductor in contact with said at least one radiating element, said conductor extending laterally through said boss.

12. The radiating enclosure of claim 10, wherein said connector device comprises a center pin inner contact element located within said connection port.

13. The radiating enclosure of claim 1, wherein said at least one radiating element is formed from a thin sheet of conductive material adhesively applied to the exterior surface of said first housing portion.

14. The radiating enclosure of claim 1, wherein said at least one radiating element is formed on the exterior surface of said first housing portion by an electro-deposition process.

15. The radiating enclosure of claim 1, wherein said at least one radiating element is printed on the exterior surface of said first housing portion.

16. The radiating enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a protective covering over said at least one radiating element.

17. The radiating enclosure of claim 1, wherein said dielectric housing is formed through an injection molding process.

18. The radiating enclosure of claim 1, wherein said dielectric housing is essentially in the shape of a rectangular box.

19. The radiating enclosure of claim 1, wherein said at least one radiating element has an essentially planar shape.

20. The radiating enclosure of claim 1, wherein said at least one radiating element has a curved shape.

21. A radiating enclosure, comprising:

a dielectric housing comprising a container portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, and a cover portion having an inner surface and an outer surface;

at least one radiating element attached to the exterior surface of said cover portion;

a transceiver system housed within said container portion;

an integrated boss disposed on the interior surface of the said cover portion, said boss protruding essentially normal to the interior surface of the cover portion, said boss having a lateral surface and a perpendicular surface;

an elongate conductor between said at least one radiating element and said transceiver system, said conductor extending laterally through the center of said boss; and

ground plane material distributed substantially on the entirety of the interior surface of said cover portion, said ground plane material electrically coupled to said transceiver system.

22. The radiating enclosure of claim 21, wherein said elongate conductor has a proximal end and a.distal end, the proximal end of said conductor extending beyond the exterior surface of said cover portion and contacting said at least one radiating element, the distal end of said conductor extending beyond the perpendicular surface of said boss.

23. The radiating enclosure of claim 21, wherein said elongate conductor has a proximal end terminating within said cover portion and a distal end extending beyond the perpendicular surface of said boss.

24. A radiating enclosure, comprising:

a dielectric housing comprising a container portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, and a cover portion having an inner surface and an outer surface;

at least one radiating element attached to the exterior surface of said cover portion;

a transceiver system housed within said container portion;

ground plane material distributed on the interior surface of said cover portion, said ground plane material electrically coupled to said transceiver system;

a spring biased connection port integrated into said transceiver system, said connection port comprising a center pin inner contact element located in said connection port, said inner contact element including a spring biased chamber, and an outer contact element including a plurality of radially disposed.contact bars, said contact bars being spring biased toward the center of said connection port; and

a connection member formed on the interior surface of said dielectric housing, said connection member protruding essentially normal to the interior surface of said dielectric housing, said connection member having a lateral surface and a perpendicular surface, said ground plane material covering the lateral surface of said connection member.