PDA antenna device for switching between antennae of a PDA unit based on detected use condition

• US 6,628,962 B1
• Filed: 08/16/1999
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1997
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Katsura, Takatoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gesesse, Tilahun
• Application Number:
  US09/367,521
• Time in Patent Office: 1,506 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/557, 455/536, 455/466, 455/575, 455/90, 340/568.1, 340/5.74, 340/539, 340/571, 340/825
• US Class Current: 455/556.2
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/084 Pivotable antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/241 used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM H01Q1/247, H01Q1/248 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/242 specially adapted for hand-held use
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/244 extendable from a housing along a given path
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• 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: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3833 Hand-held transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/401 for selecting or indicating operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/48 in circuits for connecting transmitter and receiver to a common transmission path, e.g. by energy of transmitter H04B1/46 takes precedence

Abstract

A PDA use antenna device comprising a first antenna for use in a first use configuration, a second antenna for use in a second use condition, a control part which discriminates between said first use condition and said second use condition and outputs a discrimination signal and a antenna selection device which selects which one of said first antenna and said second antenna should be used on the basis of the discrimination signal of said control part and connects the selected antenna to the wireless circuit. By selecting and using the optimal antenna for each use condition, use conditions can be easily discriminated. Moreover improved and stable antenna reliability can be ensured irrespective of use condition.

Claims

1. A PDA use antenna device provided in a PDA unit which has at least a body and a wireless circuit for carrying out a data communication function and a telephone communication function, the PDA use antenna device comprising an antenna used in a first use condition and a second use condition, a first conforming circuit which conforms the impedance of said antenna to said first use condition as a function of positional orientation of said PDA unit, a second conforming circuit which conforms the impedance of said antenna to said second use condition as a function of positional orientation of said PDA unit, a control part which discriminates between said first use condition and said second use condition and outputs a discrimination signal, and a conforming circuit selection device which selects that one of said first conforming circuit and said second conforming circuit to use on the basis of the discrimination signal from said control part and connects said antenna to the wireless circuit through the selected conforming circuit.

2. A PDA use antenna device provided in a PDA unit which has at least a body and a wireless circuit for carrying out a data communication function and a telephone communication function, the PDA use antenna device comprising a first antenna used in a first use condition in which positional orientation of said PDA unit is optimized for use of said first antenna, a second antenna used in a second use condition in which positional orientation of said PDA unit is optimized for use of said second antenna, a control part which discriminates between said first use condition and said second use condition and outputs a discrimination signal, and an antenna selection device which selects that one of said first antenna and said second antenna to use on the basis of the discrimination signal from said control part and which connects the selected antenna to the wireless circuit;

wherein the use conditions comprise at least data communication, telephone communication, data/telephone communication carrying out both data communication and telephone communication, and data processing carrying out processing of fixed data prior to data communication and data/telephone communication, said telephone communication being a first use condition, said data communication and said data/telephone communication being a second use condition, and said data processing being a first use condition or a second use condition.

3. The PDA antenna device according to claim 2 wherein the second antenna is in the form of a pole and is adjustable with respect to at least one of its distance from or angle relative to an interference obstacle.

4. The PDA use antenna device according to claim 3 wherein the second antenna is capable of being extended from or stored in the body.

5. The PDA use antenna device according to claim 2 wherein an antenna installation cover is provided on the body and is capable of optionally changing the orientation of the antenna with respect to an interference obstacle, said second antenna being provided on the surface or in the interior of the antenna installation cover.

6. The PDA use antenna device according to claim 5 wherein the second antenna is formed by one of printing, deposition or transferal with respect to the antenna installation cover.

7. The PDA use antenna device according to claim 2 wherein the second antenna is provided in the part of the body which can optionally change its orientation with respect to the interference obstacle.

8. The PDA use antenna device according to claim 7 wherein the second antenna is formed by one of printing, deposition or transferal with respect to one part of the body.

9. The PDA use antenna device according to claim 3, wherein an orientation sensor which detects the orientation of the body in order to discriminate between a first use condition and a second use condition is provided in the control part.