Combination lanyard and external antenna for wireless communication device

• US 6,810,237 B1
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Issued: 10/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: McEowen, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILLER, BRANDON J
• Application Number:
  US09/752,148
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: 455/82-83, 455/274, 455/344, 455/346, 455/351, 455/575.1, 455/575.6, 455/575.7, 455/90.3, 379/142
• US Class Current: 455/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/085 Flexible aerials; Whip aerials with a resilient base
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/29 Combinations of different interacting antenna units for giving a desired directional characteristic H01Q25/00 takes precedence

Abstract

A combination lanyard and external antenna for use with wireless communication devices such as interactive pagers or telephones. The lanyard antenna is connected to wireless communication devices to improve radio frequency transmission and reception performance for wireless communication devices. The device increases the gain and maximizes radiation efficiency. An antenna conductive element is embedded within, runs alongside, or is woven into a flexible strength member to form the lanyard antenna. The antenna conductive element is formed from a wire, wire braid, or wire mesh produced from a flexible, conductive material, while the flexible strength member is non-binding, non-twisting, and produced from nonconductive material.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a wireless telephony device;

a lanyard antenna including at least one antenna conductive element and a flexible strength member,

wherein the at least one antenna conductive element is enbedded in the flexible strength member and coupled to at least one of a transmitter and a receiver of the wireless telephony device, and the at least one antenna conductive element has a length that is a function of at least a frequency range operation of the wireless telephony device and a desired gain; and

wherein the flexible strength member is substantially non-twisting and includes one end coupled to the wireless telephony device and the other end adapted to be connected to an article of clothing of a user in a manner that allows the flexible strength member at least partially to suspend the wireless telephony device from said clothing, said flexible strength member being a single, continuous member and said antenna conductive element being a single, continuous element, said other end being unsecured to said one end to be connected to said article of clothing independent of said one end.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one antenna conductive element is a dipole.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one antenna conductive element is a half-wave dipole.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one antenna conductive element is coupled to the at least one of a transmitter and a receiver of the wireless telephony device with a matching circuitry that includes components selected from a group consisting of an inductive component, a capacitative component, or both.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one antenna conductive element is end-loaded.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless telephony device is an interactive messaging pager.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one antenna conductive element is substantially six and one-half inches in length.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless telephony device is a cellular telephone.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one conductive element and the flexible strength member are the same structural member.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one conductive element is located alongside the flexible strength member.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one antenna conductive clement is a random length wire antenna.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the other end of the flexible strength member is adapted to be connected to the article of clothing by a loop.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the other end of the flexible strength member is adapted to be connected to the article of clothing by a clip.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a wireless telephony device;

a lanyard antenna including at least one antenna conductive element and a flexible strength member,

wherein the at least one antenna conductive element is embedded in the flexible strength member and coupled to at least one of a transmitter and a receiver of the wireless telephony device, and the at least one antenna conductive element includes a half-wave dipole; and

wherein the flexible strength member is substantially non-twisting and includes one coupled to the wireless telephony device and the other end adapted to be connected to an article of clothing of a user in a manner that allows the flexible strength member at least partially to suspend the wireless telephony device from said clothing, said flexible strength member being a single, continuous member and said antenna conductive element being a single, continuous element, said other end being secured to said one end to be connected to said article of clothing independent of said one end.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one antenna conductive element is coupled to the at least one of a transmitter and a receiver of the wireless telephony device with a matching circuitry that includes components selected from a group consisting of an inductive component, a capacitative component, or both.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one antenna conductive element is end-loaded.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the wireless telephony device is an interactive messaging pager.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the least one antenna conductive element is substantially six and one-half inches in length.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the wireless telephony device is a cellular telephone.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one conductive element and the flexible strength member are the same structural member.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one conductive element is located alongside the flexible strength member.

22. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the other end of the flexible strength member is adapted to be connected to the article of clothing by a loop.

23. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the other end of the flexible strength member is adapted to be connected to the article of clothing by a clip.

24. An apparatus comprising:

an interactive messaging pager;

a lanyard antenna including at least one antenna conductive element and a flexible strength member

wherein the at least one antenna conductive element is embedded in the flexible strength transmitter and coupled to at least one of a transmitter and a receiver of the interactive messaging pager with a matching circuitry that includes components selected from a group consisting of an inductive component, a capacitative component, or both, the at least one antenna conductive element comprising a half-wave dipole; and

wherein the flexible strength member is substantially non-twisting and includes one end coupled to the interactive messaging pager and the other end adapted to be connected to an article of clothing of a user in a manner that allows the flexible strength member at least partially to suspend the interactive messaging pager from said clothing, said flexible strength member being a single, continuous member and said antenna conductive element being a single, continuous element, said other end being unsecured to said one end to be connected to said article of clothing independent of said one end.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the at least one antenna conductive element is substantially six and one-half inches in length.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the at least one conductive element and the flexible strength member arc the same structural member.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the at least one conductive element is located alongside the flexible strength member.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the other end of the flexible strength member is adapted to be connected to the article of clothing by a loop.

29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the other end of the flexible strength member is adapted to be connected to the article of clothing by a clip.