Antenna structure in an expansion card for an electronic device

• US 6,594,506 B1
• Filed: 05/25/2000
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Alanko, Lauri-Pekka, Vapaakoski, Simo
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Application Number:
  US09/579,254
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/129, 455/557, 455/558, 379/433.09, 379/433.01, 343/797, 343/702, 343/767, 439/131
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/085 Flexible aerials; Whip aerials with a resilient base
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2275 associated to expansion card or bus, e.g. in PCMCIA, PC cards, Wireless USB
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142

Abstract

The present invention relates to an expansion card for an electronic device, preferably a card-like wireless communication device, which card (CP) comprises a cover surface (1) and a bottom surface (2) as well as an outer surface (3) edging said card (CP), and which card (CP) further comprises at least an antenna structure. Said antenna structure (ANT) is arranged as a flexible strip (4) attaching to said card (CP) and extending at least partly outside said outer surface (3). According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the strip is also arranged for pulling out said card (CP) from an expansion card interface slot. According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, said strip (4) is arranged to be folded against said card (CP).

Claims

1. A wireless communication device card, which card comprises a cover surface and a bottom surface as well as an outer surface edging said card, and which card further comprises at least an antenna structure, wherein said antenna structure is arranged as a flexible strip directly attaching to said card and extending at least partly outside said outer surface so as to hang free of said card.

2. The wireless communication device card according to claim 1, wherein said strip is arranged foldable against said card.

3. The wireless communication device card according to claim 1, wherein said strip is also arranged for pulling out said card from an expansion card interface slot.

4. The wireless communication device card according to claim 1, wherein said antenna structure comprises at least a first antenna element and at least a second antenna element, which antenna elements are placed in said strip outside said outer surface, wherein said first antenna element is placed further away from said outer surface and said second antenna element is placed close to said outer surface.

5. The wireless communication device card according to claim 1, wherein it is formed at least partly as an expansion card complying with the PCMCIA standard.

6. The wireless communication device card according to claim 1, wherein it is formed at least partly as an expansion card complying with the CFA standard.

7. A method in the manufacture of an expansion card for an electronic device, which card comprises a cover surface and a bottom surface as well as an outer surface edging said card, and which card further comprises at least an antenna structure, wherein said antenna structure is arranged as a flexible strip directly attaching to said card and extending at least partly outside said outer surface so as to hang free of said card.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said card is arranged as an adapter to connect another card of a smaller size to said electronic device.

9. An expansion card for an electronic device, which card comprises a cover surface and a bottom surface as well as an outer surface edging said card, and which card further comprises at least an antenna structure, wherein said antenna structure is arranged as a flexible strip directly attaching to said card and extending at least partly outside said outer surface so as to hang free of said card.

10. The expansion card according to claim 9, wherein said card is arranged as an adapter to connect another card of a smaller size to said electronic device.

11. A wireless communication device card, which card comprises a cover surface and a bottom surface as well as an outer surface edging said card, and which card further comprises at least an antenna structure, wherein said antenna structure is arranged as a flexible strip attaching to said card and extending at least partly outside said outer surface;

wherein said antenna structure further comprises at least a first antenna element and at least a second antenna element, which antenna elements are placed in said strip outside said outer surface, and wherein said first antenna element is placed further away from said outer surface and said second antenna element is placed close to said outer surface.

12. The wireless communication device card according to claim 11, wherein said strip is arranged foldable against said card.

13. The wireless communication device card according to claim 11, wherein said strip is also arranged for pulling out said card from an expansion card interface slot.

14. The wireless communication device card according to claim 11, wherein it is formed at least partly as an expansion card complying with the PCMCIA standard.

15. The wireless communication device card according to claim 11, wherein it is formed at least partly as an expansion card complying with the CFA standard.