Radio transceiver card communicating in a plurality of frequency bands

• US 7,119,750 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2005
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mahany, Ronald L., West, Guy J., Kinney, Patrick W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoang V.
• Application Number:
  US11/232,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20060012531A1
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/876, 343/700.MS, 395/800, 455/101, 455/432
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• 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: G06F 15/0225 User interface arrangements, e.g. keyboard, display; Interfaces to other computer systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1098 the scanning arrangement having a modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/007 specially adapted for indoor communication
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/241 used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM H01Q1/247, H01Q1/248 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/242 specially adapted for hand-held use
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/24 Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction circularly polarised patch antennas H01Q9/0428; circularly polarised horns H01Q13/0241; cross-polarised horns H01Q13/0258; polarisation converters H01Q15/242; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; crossed polarisation dual antenna H01Q25/001
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/29 Combinations of different interacting antenna units for giving a desired directional characteristic H01Q25/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/005 adapting radio receivers, transmitters andtransceivers for operation on two or more bands, i.e. frequency ranges
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 : Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3833 : Hand-held transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 : Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 : Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/324 : in the data link layer [OSI layer 2], e.g. HDLC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/325 : in the network layer [OSI layer 3], e.g. X.25 H04L69/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/326 : in the transport layer [OSI layer 4] H04L69/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A computer apparatus for receiving a removable communication card such as a radio card or a modem card. A radio or modem is self-contained inside a housing of the communication card and has an electrical interface for communicating information to and from the computer apparatus. The computer apparatus receives the communication card such that it engages the electrical interface. These contacts automatically connect the communication card to an appropriate antenna, telephone or telephone line. A radio communication card is connected to the appropriate antenna for the type and frequency of the radio. A modem card is connected to a standard telephone line, a cellular phone, or an antenna for a cellular phone if the cellular phone is also disposed within the housing of the modem communication card. Additionally, a switching matrix can be used to connect one set of contacts on a radio card or a modem card to one or more of a plurality of antennas and telephone lines. A computer device utilizing an antenna cap which covers the opening into which the radio has been inserted is also shown. Antenna contacts are disposed on the cap to engage the antenna contacts positioned on the end of the radio card. At least one antenna is operably connected to the radio card through the cap. A band is used to attach the cap to the housing of the computer device. The antenna or antennas are embedded in the cap, in the band, or embedded in or attached to the housing of the computer device. Positioning two similar antennas in different position creates an antenna diversity scheme. Shielding can be added to the cap to help reduce the escape of electronic noise. A micro shield ribbon can be used to connect the antenna and the antenna contacts on the cap.

Claims

1. A card suitable for use with a radio unit, comprising:

radio circuitry in the card arranged to communicate in a particular cellular frequency band and in a second frequency band that is not the particular cellular frequency band;

a first antenna in the card operably coupled to the radio circuitry;

a second antenna in the card operably coupled to the radio circuitry; and

a processor in the card arranged to select at least one of the first antenna and the second antenna.

2. The card according to claim 1, wherein the first antenna is adapted for use in the particular cellular frequency band and the second antenna is adapted for use in the second frequency band.

3. The card according to claim 1, wherein the first antenna end the second antenna provide at least one of spatial diversity and polarization diversity.

4. The card according to claim 1, wherein the card is adapted in accordance with a PCMCIA standard.

5. The card according to claim 1, comprising:

a switch operably coupled to the first antenna and to the second antenna,

wherein the processor causes the switch to select at least one of the first antenna and the second antenna.

6. The card according to claim 1, wherein the radio circuitry uses a spread spectrum technique to communicate in the particular cellular frequency band.

7. The card according to claim 6, wherein the spread spectrum technique comprises a frequency hopping spread spectrum technique.

8. The card according to claim 1, wherein the radio circuitry uses spread spectrum techniques to communicate in the second frequency band.

9. The card according to claim 1, wherein the card is suitable for use in a cellular phone.

10. A card suitable for use with a radio unit that has a first antenna and a second antenna, comprising:

radio circuitry in the card arranged to communicate in a particular cellular frequency band and in a second frequency band that is not the particular cellular frequency band; and

a processor in the card arranged to select at least one of the first antenna and the second antenna,

wherein the first antenna is operably coupled to the radio circuitry, and

wherein the second antenna is operably coupled to the radio circuitry.

11. The card according to claim 10, wherein the first antenna is adapted for use in the particular cellular frequency band and the second antenna is adapted for use in the second frequency band.

12. The card according to claim 10, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna provide at least one of spatial diversity and polarization diversity.

13. The card according to claim 10, wherein the card is adapted in accordance with a PCMCIA standard.

14. The card according to claim 10, comprising:

a switch operably coupled to the first antenna and to the second antenna,

wherein the processor causes the switch to select at least one of the first antenna and the second antenna.

15. The card according to claim 10, wherein the radio circuitry uses a spread spectrum technique to communicate in the particular cellular frequency band.

16. The card according to claim 15, wherein the spread spectrum technique comprises a frequency hopping spread spectrum technique.

17. The card according to claim 10, wherein the radio circuitry uses spread spectrum techniques to communicate in the second frequency band.

18. The card according to claim 10, wherein the card is suitable for use in a cellular phone.