Mobile computer having an external antenna and a method for wireless communication by a mobile computer

• US 6,650,532 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2001
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mind Fusion, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Shin, Jeong-Karb
• Primary Examiner(s): DATSKOVSKIY, MICHAIL V
• Application Number:
  US09/902,714
• Publication Number:
  US 20020101706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/681-682, 361/684, 361/686, 361/728-730, 361/724-727, 364/708.1, 364/705.01, 364/705.05, 439/928, 455/74, 455/550, 455/556-558, 455/90, 455/575, 455/128-129, 455/267, 455/347, 455/351, 343/702, 343/715, 343/872, 343/900, 343/901
• US Class Current: 361/679.27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1607 Arrangements to support accessories mechanically attached to the display housing G06F1/1603, G06F1/1605 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/928 Modular electrically interengaging parts, e.g. stove with replaceable heating elements formed on coupling parts

Abstract

A mobile computer includes an external antenna which is able to wirelessly communicate data with peripheral devices. The mobile computer includes a main body, a display portion connected with the main body, a wireless communication module disposed in the main body, an antenna for transmitting and receiving data from the wireless communication module, contact means for connecting electrically the antenna with the wireless communication module, and mounting means for mounting the antenna on the display portion.

Claims

1. A mobile computer for wirelessly communicating data, comprising:

a main body;

a display device connected to said main body;

a wireless communication module disposed in said main body for wireless communication;

an antenna for transmitting data to and receiving data from said wireless communication module;

contact means for selectively connecting electrically said antenna with said wireless communication module; and

mounting means for selectively mounting said antenna on said display device;

said contact means including;

a first contact terminal connected electrically to said wireless communication module, said first contact terminal being disposed in, and exposed at a side of, said display device; and

a second contact terminal disposed on said antenna for contact with said first contact terminal, said second contact terminal being in the shape of an elastic spring.

2. The mobile computer according to claim 1, said wireless communication module being any of a bluetooth module and an infrared data association module.

3. The mobile computer according to claim 1, said wireless communication module being a bluetooth module.

4. The mobile computer according to claim 1, said wireless communication module being connected to said first contact terminal by means of a coaxial cable.

9. The mobile computer according to claim 1, said wireless communication module being connected to said first contact terminal by means of a coaxial cable.

10. The mobile computer according to claim 1, said mounting means including:

at least one groove formed on said side of said display device adjacent to said first contact terminal; and

at least one projection formed on said antenna for insertion into a corresponding said groove.

11. The mobile computer according to claim 10, said at least one projection being in the shape of a hook.

12. The mobile computer of claim 10, said at least one groove being a guide groove for receiving and for engaging with a corresponding said projection.

13. The mobile computer of claim 12, said guide groove and a corresponding said projection for receiving said guide groove each being T shaped.

14. The mobile computer according to claim 10, said wireless communication module being any of a bluetooth module and an infrared data association module.

15. The mobile computer according to claim 10, said wireless communication module being connected to said first contact terminal by means of a coaxial cable.

16. The mobile computer according to claim 1, said mobile computer wirelessly communicating with at least one peripheral device.

17. The mobile computer according to claim 16, each said at least one peripheral device including a wireless communication module for wirelessly communicating with said mobile computer.

18. The mobile computer according to claim 17, said wireless communication module of each said at least one peripheral device and said wireless communication module of said mobile computer each being any of a bluetooth module and an infrared data association module.

19. The mobile computer according to claim 17, said wireless communication module of each said at least one peripheral device and said wireless communication module of said mobile computer each being a bluetooth module.

5. A mobile computer for wirelessly communicating data, comprising:

a main body;

a display device connected to said main body;

a wireless communication module disposed in said main body for wireless communication;

an antenna for transmitting data to and receiving data from said wireless communication module;

contact means for selectively connecting electrically said antenna with said wireless communication module; and

mounting means for selectively mounting said antenna on said display device;

said mounting means including;

at least one groove formed on said side of said display device adjacent to said first contact terminal; and

at least one projection formed on said antenna for insertion into a corresponding said groove;

said at least one groove and said at least one projection each being T shaped.

6. The mobile computer according to claim 5, said at least one projection being in the shape of a hook.

7. The mobile computer according to claim 6, said wireless communication module being any of a bluetooth module and an infrared data association module.

8. The mobile computer according to claim 5, said wireless communication module being any of a bluetooth module and an infrared data association module.

20. A method for wirelessly communicating data with a mobile computer, comprising the steps of:

disposing a wireless communication module in a main body of said mobile computer;

selectively mounting an antenna on a display device of said mobile computer;

selectively connecting electrically said antenna with said wireless communication module; and

transmitting data to and receiving data from said wireless communication module through said antenna;

wherein said connecting step comprises disposing a first contact terminal in said display device, exposing said first contact terminal at a side of said display device, disposing a second contact terminal on said antenna, and establishing electrical contact between said first contact terminal and said second contact terminal.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising the step of using any of a bluetooth module and an infrared data association module as said wireless communication module.

22. The method according to claim 20, further comprising the step of:

wirelessly communicating with a peripheral device using said wireless communication module of said mobile computer.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of providing said peripheral device with a wireless communication module for wirelessly communicating with said mobile computer.

24. The method according to claim 23, said wireless communication module of said peripheral device and said wireless communication module of said mobile computer each being any of a bluetooth mobile and an infrared data association module.

25. A method for wirelessly communicating data with a mobile computer, comprising the steps of:

disposing a wireless communication module in a main body of said mobile computer;

selectively mounting an antenna on a display device of said mobile computer;

selectively connecting electrically said antenna with said wireless communication module; and

transmitting data to and receiving data from said wireless communication module through said antenna;

wherein said mounting step comprises forming at least one groove on a side of said display device adjacent to said first contact terminal, and forming at least one projection on said antenna for insertion into a corresponding said groove, said at least one groove and said at least one projection each being T-shaped.

26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising the step of using any of a bluetooth module and an infrared data association module as said wireless communication module.

27. The method according to claim 25, further comprising the step of:

wirelessly communicating with a peripheral device using said wireless communication module of said mobile computer.

28. The method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of providing said peripheral device with a wireless communication module for wirelessly communicating with said mobile computer.

29. The method according to claim 28, said wireless communication module of said peripheral device and said wireless communication module of said mobile computer each being any of a bluetooth mobile and an infrared data association module.