Terminal apparatus

• US 7,392,073 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2003
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tokuda, Katsuhiko, Kashima, Yukiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Lana N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GONZALES, APRIL GUZMAN
• Application Number:
  US10/529,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20060009263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,730 Days
• Field of Search: 455/558, 455/90.3, 455/550.1, 455/575.7, 455/575.8, 174/66
• US Class Current: 455/575.7
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2266 disposed inside the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2275 associated to expansion card or bus, e.g. in PCMCIA, PC cards, Wireless USB
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/29 Combinations of different interacting antenna units for giving a desired directional characteristic H01Q25/00 takes precedence

Abstract

Terminal equipment has mounted thereon a wireless module including a communication device having a transmission and reception antenna for connection to a wireless network and includes a first antenna unit which is connected to the transmission and reception antenna physically or spatially and a second antenna unit which is connected to the first antenna unit and transmits and receives radio signals directly to and from the wireless network such that not only communication quality is upgraded, but a radio signal reach distance between the terminal equipment and the wireless network is extended.

Claims

1. A terminal device for connecting to a wireless network, the terminal device comprising:

a housing having a front panel including a slot therein for receiving a wireless module including a transmission and reception antenna, the transmission and reception antenna being located outside of the housing when the wireless module is received in the slot;

a first antenna unit for connection to the transmission and reception antenna physically or spatially;

a second antenna unit connected to the first antenna unit so as to be connected to the transmission and reception antenna via the first antenna unit, the second antenna unit for transmitting and receiving radio signals directly to and from the wireless network; and

a cover for accommodating the transmission and reception antenna when the wireless module is received in the slot, the first antenna unit, and the second antenna unit, the cover being attached to the front panel of the housing, wherein

the first and second antenna units each have a first end and a second end,

the second end of the first antenna unit is farther away from the housing than the first end of the first antenna unit, and

the second end of the first antenna unit is connected to the first end of the second antenna unit.

2. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein

the second end of the second antenna unit is closer to the housing that the first end of the second antenna unit.

3. The terminal device according to claim 2, wherein

the second end of the second antenna unit is open ended.

4. A terminal device for connecting to a wireless network, the terminal device comprising:

a housing having a front panel including a slot therein;

a wireless module including a transmission and reception antenna, the wireless module passing through the slot whereby the transmission and reception antenna is located outside of the housing;

a first antenna unit physically or spatially connected to the transmission and reception antenna;

a second antenna unit connected to the first antenna unit so as to be connected to the transmission and reception antenna via the first antenna unit, the second antenna unit for transmitting and receiving radio signals directly to and from the wireless network; and

a cover accommodating the transmission and reception antenna, the first antenna unit, and the second antenna unit, the cover being attached to the front panel of the housing, wherein

the first and second antenna units each have a first end and a second end,

the second end of the first antenna unit is farther away from the housing than the first end of the first antenna unit, and

the second end of the first antenna unit is connected to the first end of the second antenna unit.

5. The terminal device according to claim 4, wherein

the second end of the second antenna unit is closer to the housing that the first end of the second antenna unit.

6. The terminal device according to claim 5, wherein

the second end of the second antenna unit is open ended.