Wireless communication device and information-processing apparatus which can hold the device

• US 6,670,926 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2002
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Miyasaka, Toshiki
• Primary Examiner(s): Wimer, Michael C.
• Application Number:
  US10/235,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20030080906A1
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/720, 455/90, 455/347, 455/90.3, 455/575.5, 455/575.7
• US Class Current: 343/702
• 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 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/088 Quick-releasable antenna elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2258 used with computer equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 23/00 Antennas with active circuits or circuit elements integrated within them or attached to them
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40

Abstract

A wireless communication device to be removably held in a host apparatus. The wireless communication device comprises a printed circuit board, a cover, and a planar antenna module. The printed circuit board comprises electronic components configured to perform wireless communication. The cover covers the electronic components and the upper surface of the board. The planar antenna module has an electromagnetic radiation surface and is provided in the upper surface of the cover such that it is substantially flush with an outer surface of the host apparatus during operation of the wireless communication device.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device removably held in a host apparatus, said wireless communication device comprising:

a printed circuit board including electronic components configured to perform wireless communication;

a cover which covers the printed circuit board and the electronic components; and

a planar antenna module provided in an upper surface of the cover such that the planar antenna module is opposed to the printed circuit board and arranged in parallel with the printed circuit board, the planar antenna module having an electromagnetic radiation surface substantially flush with a surface of the host apparatus during operation of the wireless communication device, the electromagnetic radiation surface being electrically connected to the printed circuit board.

2. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the host apparatus is an outer surface such that the electromagnetic radiation surface is substantially flush with the outer surface during operation of the wireless communication device.

3. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a connector provided on a surface of the printed circuit board and configured to connect the printed circuit board to the host apparatus.

4. The wireless communication device according to claim 3, wherein the surface of the printed circuit board is a lower surface of the printed circuit board.

5. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a power source removably mounted on the printed circuit board and electrically connected thereto for supplying electric power to the electronic components.

6. The wireless communication device according to claim 5, wherein the power source is rechargeable.

7. The wireless communication device according to claim 6, wherein the power source remains mounted on the printed circuit board during recharging and wherein the power source is recharged by a power source providing power to the host apparatus.

8. The wireless communication device according to claim 1 further comprising a solar power source electrically connected to the printed circuit board.

9. The wireless communication device according to claim 5, wherein the power source is removably mounted on a lower surface of the printed circuit board.

10. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the cover has an inner surface covered with a metal layer.

11. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the cover has a recess, and the planar antenna module is provided in the recess.

12. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a solar cell module provided in the upper surface of the cover, surrounding the planar antenna module and including a plurality of solar cells for generating electric power to be supplied to the electronic components.

13. A wireless communication device removably held in a host apparatus, said wireless communication device comprising:

a printed circuit board having an upper surface and a lower surface and including electronic components configured to perform wireless communication, the electronic components being mounted on the upper surface of the printed circuit board;

a cover covering the upper surface of the printed circuit board and the electronic components;

a connector provided on the lower surface of the printed circuit board and configured to connect the printed circuit board to the host apparatus; and

a planar antenna module provided in an upper surface of the cover such that the planar antenna module is opposed to the printed circuit board and arranged in parallel with the printed circuit board, the planar antenna module having an electromagnetic radiation surface substantially flush with a surface of the host apparatus during operation of the wireless communication device, the electromagnetic radiation surface being electrically connected to the printed circuit board.

14. An information-processing apparatus for performing wireless communication, comprising:

a housing having a surface and a recess therein; and

a wireless communication device removably provided in the recess, the wireless communication device comprising;

a printed circuit board having electronic components thereon configured to perform wireless communication;

a cover which covers the printed circuit board and the electronic components; and

a planar antenna module provided in an upper surface of the cover such that the planar antenna module is opposed to the printed circuit board and arranged in parallel with the printed circuit board, the planar antenna module having an electromagnetic radiation surface substantially flush with a surface of the information-processing apparatus during operation of the wireless communication device, the electromagnetic radiation surface being electrically connected to the printed circuit board.

15. An information-processing apparatus for performing wireless communication, comprising:

a housing;

a display unit rotatable, with respect to the housing, between an opened position and a closed position, and having a front surface and a back surface, the back surface having a recess therein; and

a wireless communication device removably provided in the recess and comprising;

a printed circuit board having electronic components thereon configured to perform wireless communication;

a cover which covers the printed circuit board and the electronic components; and

a planar antenna module provided in an upper surface of the cover such that the planar antenna module is opposed to the printed circuit board and arranged in parallel with the printed circuit board, the planar antenna module having an electromagnetic radiation surface substantially flush with the back surface of the display unit during operation of the wireless communication device, the electromagnetic radiation surface being electrically connected to the printed circuit board.

16. An information-processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the display unit incorporates a flat panel display exposed at the front surface and having a back surface covered with a metal plate for shielding against electromagnetic waves.

17. An information-processing apparatus for performing wireless communication, comprising:

a housing;

a display unit rotatably connected to the housing, the display unit having a surface with a recess provided therein;

a first printed circuit board provided in the display unit, the first printed circuit board having a first connector; and

a wireless communication device removably provided in the recess, the wireless communication device comprising;

a second printed circuit board having electronic components and a second connector thereon, the second connector for connecting to the first connector when the wireless communication device is stored in the recess; and

an electromagnetic radiation surface configured to form a part of the surface of the display unit when the wireless communication device is stored in the recess.

18. The information-processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the wireless communication device includes an antenna having the electromagnetic radiation surface.