Retractable antenna for personal computer card

• US 6,847,830 B1
• Filed: 03/24/2000
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NETGEAR, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sierra Wireless Incorporated
• Inventors: Gleener, Andrey, Vanderhelm, Ron, Mou, Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): WASHINGTON, ERIKA ALISE
• Application Number:
  US09/534,016
• Time in Patent Office: 1,768 Days
• Field of Search: 455556-558, 455/550.1, 455/575.1, 455/90.3, 455/556.1, 455/575.7, 343/702, 343/872, 343882-883, 343/889, 343/901, 361/737
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/08 Means for collapsing antennas or parts thereof collapsible loop antennas H01Q7/02; means for collapsing H-antennas or Yagi antennas H01Q19/04
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2275 associated to expansion card or bus, e.g. in PCMCIA, PC cards, Wireless USB
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/24 with receiving set

Abstract

A device for providing wireless communication is disclosed. The device includes an antenna mounted on a personal computer card. The antenna has a pivotal connection for pivoting the antenna and a rotatable connection for rotating the antenna in a direction which differs from the direction of rotation. The antenna is rotatable about two axes and is retractable. In the extended position, the antenna is electrically connected with the personal computer card and can receive and transmit signals. The antenna also has a base which is detachably mounted to the personal computer card so that the antenna can be removed from said personal computer card and replaced.

Claims

1. A device for providing wireless communication, the device comprising:

a personal computer card; and

an antenna mounted to the personal computer card, the antenna comprising at least a first section and a second section;

the antenna including a pivotal connection for pivoting said first section of the antenna about a first axis relative to said second section of the antenna; and

a rotational connection for rotating the antenna about a second axis which differs from the first axis;

the rotational connection allows the antenna to reciprocally move therein so that the antenna has a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the antenna is substantially received by the personal computer card in the retracted position.

2. The device for providing wireless communication of claim 1, wherein the antenna is in the extended position, the antenna substantially extends beyond the personal computer card and the antenna is electrically connected to the personal computer card.

3. The device for providing wireless communication of claim 1, further comprising the antenna being detachably mounted to the personal computer card.

4. The device for providing wireless communication of claim 3, wherein the personal computer card has a top portion and a bottom portion, and the antenna is detachable from the personal computer card without separating the top and bottom portions of said personal computer card.

5. The device for providing wireless communication of claim 1, wherein a spring located inside of the personal computer card is in electrical contact with the antenna.

6. The device for providing wireless communication of claim 5, wherein the spring provides an electrical connection between the personal computer card and the antenna when antenna is extended a distance beyond said personal computer card.

7. The device for providing wireless communication of claim 5, wherein the spring is a torsion spring.

8. The device for providing wireless communication of claim 4, wherein the top portion of the personal computer card has a conductive layer for providing electrical shielding for the personal computer card.

9. The device for providing wireless communication of claim 8, wherein the conductive layer has a cut out portion which electrically separates the conductive layer from the antenna.

10. The device of providing wireless communication of claim 3, wherein the device further comprises a collar that is removably fastened to the personal computer card to secure the antenna.

11. A device for providing wireless communication, comprising:

a personal computer card;

an antenna mounted to the personal computer card, the antenna having a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the antenna is slideably excased by the personal computer card in the retracted position; and

a collar detachably mounted to the personal computer card wherein, when the collar is detached from the personal computer card, the antenna can be removed from said personal computer card.

12. The device for providing wireless communication of claim 11, wherein the antenna has a rotational connection with the personal computer card.

13. The device for providing wireless communication of claim 12, wherein the antenna has a pivotal connection.

14. The device for providing wireless communication of claim 13, wherein the rotational connection and the pivotal connection allow the antenna to be moved about two axes.

15. The device for providing wireless communication of claim 11, wherein the personal computer card includes a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the antenna is detachable from the personal computer card without separating the top and bottom portions of said personal computer card.

16. The device for providing wireless communication of claim 11, wherein the personal computer card includes a conductive layer that has a cut out portion which electrically separates the conductive layer from the collar.