Antenna coupling apparatus, external antenna connecting apparatus, and onboard external-antenna connecting apparatus

• US 7,109,930 B1
• Filed: 02/19/1998
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kuroda, Shinichi, Tsuda, Shinichiro, Yamaura, Tomoya, Kanayama, Yoshiki
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HOANGANH T
• Application Number:
  US09/072,342
• Time in Patent Office: 3,134 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/713, 343/715, 343/711, 343/712, 343/841, 343/906, 343/846, 343/848, 455/90
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 28/023 only coatings of metal elements only
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/242 specially adapted for hand-held use
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3291 mounted in or on other locations inside the vehicle or vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/03 characterised by the material, e.g. plating, or coating materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/20 using a crimping sleeve H01R4/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters

Abstract

An antenna coupling apparatus, an external-antenna connecting apparatus, and an onboard external-antenna connecting apparatus which inhibits unnecessary power emissions, reduces transmission loss, and offers high durability and high ease of operation. has an electromagnetic coupling element consisting of a conductor that is not in contact with a first antenna with respect to DC components and a ground conductor element consisting of a conductor that is not in contact with the first antenna with respect to DC components and in contact with a ground conductor with respect to DC components and reflecting the power transmitted or received by the first antenna toward the electromagnetic coupling element. An external-antenna connecting apparatus and an onboard external-antenna connecting apparatus have an electromagnetic coupling circuit in their bodies that electromagnetically couples the antenna of a portable radio terminal and an external antenna, with the external-antenna connecting apparatus and the onboard external-antenna connecting apparatus, being not in contact with the portable radio terminal with respect to DC components, when the portable radio terminal is secured in the bodies.

Claims

1. An antenna coupling apparatus comprising:

a first antenna connected to a portable radio terminal, said first antenna being elongated in an axial direction;

a second antenna separated from said first antenna;

an electromagnetic coupling element consisting of a conductor that electromagnetically couples said first and said second antennas together arranged adjacent to said first antenna at a first location along the axial direction of said first antenna;

a ground conductor element arranged proximate said first antenna; and

a reflective ground element separate from said electromagnetic coupling element arranged adjacent to said first antenna and electrically connected to the ground conductor element, wherein said reflective ground element is physically in parallel with and a predetermined distance from said electromagnetic coupling element along said first antenna in the axial direction for reflecting power transmitted from or received by said first antenna toward said electromagnetic coupling element.

2. The antenna coupling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic coupling element and said reflective ground element are in the form of a trough with a U-shaped cross section.

3. The antenna coupling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic coupling element and said ground conductor element are each comprised of a plurality of electrically connected portions.

4. The antenna coupling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a matching circuit for matching an impedance of said first antenna with said second antenna.

5. The antenna coupling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic coupling element, said ground conductor element and said reflective ground element are disposed at predetermined locations taking into account an impedance matching of said first antenna.

6. The antenna coupling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic coupling element and the reflective ground element are formed in a ring shape and disposed coaxially with said axial direction of said first antenna and wherein said ground conductor element is planar.

7. An external antenna connecting apparatus for a portable radio terminal comprising:

an onboard antenna connected to the portable radio terminal;

an external antenna coupled with said onboard antenna;

a body for receiving the portable radio terminal therein;

an electromagnetic coupling circuit disposed in said body for electromagnetically coupling said onboard antenna of the portable radio terminal and said external antenna, said coupling circuit being out of contact with said portable radio terminal with respect to DC components when the portable radio terminal is received in said body, said electromagnetic coupling circuit including;

an electromagnetic coupling element arranged proximate to said onboard antenna at a first location along an axis of said onboard antenna;

a ground conductive element arranged proximate to said onboard antenna for providing a ground plane; and

a reflective ground element separate from said electromagnetic coupling element, electrically connected to said ground connective element, and arranged proximate to said onboard antenna at a second location along the axis of said onboard antenna, wherein said reflective ground element is physically in parallel with and a predetermined distance from said first location for reflecting radio frequency energy toward said electromagnetic coupling element.

8. The external-antenna connecting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said electromagnetic coupling circuit includes a nonconducting cover.

9. The external-antenna connecting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said electromagnetic coupling circuit has a U-shaped cross section.

10. The external-antenna connecting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said body and said electromagnetic coupling circuit form a case for said portable radio terminal, said case being shaped to cover a part of the portable radio terminal which includes said onboard antenna of the portable radio terminal and to hold the entire portable radio terminal when inserted into the case.

11. An antenna coupling apparatus comprising:

an electromagnetic coupling element for receiving an electromagnetic signal, said coupling element having a shape which defines a receiving plane;

a ground plane conductor arranged proximate to the electromagnetic coupling element for establishing a ground plane;

a reflective ground element separate from said electromagnetic coupling element disposed in a predetermined relation to the electromagnetic coupling element and electrically connected with the ground plane conductor and formed of a shape which defines a reflecting plane, said reflecting plane being physically parallel with and disposed a predetermined distance from said receiving plane along a first antenna connected to a portable radio terminal in an axial direction, for reflecting electromagnetic energy toward the electromagnetic coupling element.

12. An antenna coupling apparatus for coupling an external antenna with a fixed antenna connected with a portable radio terminal, the apparatus comprising:

a body for receiving the portable radio terminal therein; and

an electromagnetic coupling having a trough-like shape with a U-shaped cross section elongated in an axial direction for receiving the fixed antenna when the portable terminal is disposed in said body, the coupling including;

an electromagnetic receiving element disposed at a first location along the axial direction of said trough-shaped coupling, electrically insulated from the fixed antenna for receiving electromagnetic oscillating signals from the fixed antenna and having a U-shaped cross section being conformal with the cross section of the electromagnetic coupling;

a ground plane disposed proximate to the receiving element; and

a reflective ground element separate from said electromagnetic receiving element and disposed at a second location, said reflective ground element being physically in parallel with and a predetermined distance from the first location along the axial direction of said coupling, electrically insulated from the fixed antenna, having a U-shaped cross-section being conformal with the cross section of the electromagnetic coupling for reflecting electromagnetic energy transmitted by the fixed antenna toward the receiving element.

13. An onboard external-antenna connecting apparatus for a portable radio terminal comprising:

an onboard antenna installed on the portable radio terminal;

an external antenna connected to said onboard antenna;

an external power for supplying power to the portable radio terminal;

a body for securing said portable radio terminal upon installing the portable radio terminal into said body from above;

an electromagnetic coupling circuit disposed in said body for electromagnetically coupling said onboard antenna of said portable radio terminal and said external antenna, said coupling circuit being out of contact with said portable radio terminal with respect to DC components when the portable radio terminal is secured in said body, said electromagnetic coupling circuit including;

an electromagnetic coupling element for receiving an electromagnetic signal, said electromagnetic coupling element having a shape which defines a receiving plane;

a ground plane conductor arranged proximate to the electromagnetic coupling element for establishing a ground plane;

a reflective ground element separate from said electromagnetic coupling element disposed in a predetermined relation to the electromagnetic coupling element and electrically connected with the ground plane conductor and formed of a shape which defines a reflecting plane, said reflecting plane being physically parallel with and disposed a predetermined distance from said receiving plane along the onboard antenna in an axial direction, for reflecting electromagnetic energy toward the electromagnetic coupling element;

a connecting member arranged in said body for connecting said external power and the portable radio terminal together to supply power from said external power to the portable radio terminal;

a mounting member movably connected to said body and operating in conjunction with installing of the portable radio terminal in said body and including a first connector for communication from said external power; and

a second connector installed on the portable radio terminal communication with said external power when connected with said first connector.