Radiative focal area antenna transmission coupling arrangement

• US 7,400,858 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ambit Corporation, Antennatech LLC
• Original Assignee: Ambit Corporation
• Inventors: Crowley, Robert J, Halgren, Donald N.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US11/020,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20050192067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,301 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.5, 455/575.1, 455/90.3, 455/575.6, 455/575.7, 455/575.9, 455/115.1, 455/95, 455/117, 455/9, 455/405, 455/406, 455/14, 455/456.1, 455/128, 455/129, 455/347, 455/351, 340/870.03, 340/870.02
• US Class Current: 455/14
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0012 Seats or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/241 used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM H01Q1/247, H01Q1/248 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• 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: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers

Abstract

The present invention comprises a docking system for connecting a portable communication device to a further signal transmission line, The docking system may be arranged within a workstation such as a desk or a tray, The system may also envelope a room in a building or be located in a vehicle, to control and restrict the radiative emission from the communication device and to direct such radiation to a further remote antenna and or signal distribution system connected to the transmission line.

Claims

1. A system for enabling communication from personal computer communication devices located within a passenger vehicle to a distant communication system located outside of said passenger vehicle, each of said personal computer devices having a radiative RF antenna, said system comprising:

at least one first RF antenna arranged within said passenger vehicle to communicate an RF signal wirelessly with said personal computer communication devices;

at least one second RF antenna arranged to radiate outside of said passenger vehicle to wirelessly communicate with said distant communication system located outside of said passenger vehicle;

a control computer arranged to control a communications link between said at least one of said first RF antenna within said passenger vehicle and said at least one second RF antenna arranged to radiate outside of said passenger vehicle, said control computer arranged to control use and time in which said personal computer communication devices are enabled to communicate with said distant communication system outside of said passenger vehicle, wherein said passenger vehicle is an aircraft.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said control computer operates to filter or switch communication of said personal computer communication devices within said passenger vehicle and said distant communication system outside of said passenger vehicle.

3. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said control computer operates to control the time said personal computer communication devices are enabled to wirelessly communicate by RF communication through said system, and to bill for the time said personal computer communication devices are communicatively enabled within said passenger vehicle.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said control computer enables the monitoring of wireless RF communication between said personal computer communication devices within said passenger vehicle and said distant communication system.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said distant communication system comprises a satellite.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said passenger vehicle has an RF signal shield arranged therein to restrict undesired travel of a wireless RF signal transmission within said passenger vehicle.

7. A method of utilizing a variety of different radiatively communicative wireless personal RF communication devices within a local environment in an aircraft, in RF communication with a communication system distant from said local environment, comprising:

arranging at least one first RF antenna within said local environment;

arranging at least one second RF antenna radiating outside of said passenger vehicle defining said local environment;

operating a control computer in a communications link between said at least one said first RF antenna within said local environment and said at least one second RF antenna arranged to radiate outside of said local environment;

wirelessly communicating RF signals between a radiative RF antenna of said variety of personal communication devices and said at least one first RF antenna;

controlling said RF signals sent between said variety of different radiatively communicative wireless personal RF communication devices within said local environment and said second RF antenna radiating outside of said local environment, by said control computer; and

limiting the time said variety of different radiatively communicative wireless personal RF communication devices may be utilized to communicate wirelessly by an RF signal, from within said local environment of said aircraft to said at least one second RF antenna radiating outside of said local environment.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, including:

filtering said RF signals sent between said radiatively communicative wireless personal RF communication devices within said local environment and said second RF antenna radiating outside of said local environment, by said control computer.

9. The method as recited in claim 7, including:

regulating use of multiple wireless personal RF communication devices located within said local environment, by said control computer.

10. The method as recited in claim 7, including:

shielding at least a portion of said local environment to restrict undesired travel of wireless RF signals within said local environment.

11. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein said at least one of said variety of different radiatively communicative wireless RF communication devices utilized within said local environment, comprises a laptop computer.

12. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein said local environment comprises at least a partially RF signal shielded area.

13. A method of utilizing a variety of different radiatively communicative wireless personal RF communication devices within a local RF restricted environment, which environment is selected from the group consisting of:

an automobile, a building, an elevator, an airplane or a desk, so as to enable RF signal communication between said different radiatively communicative wireless personal RF communication devices with a communication system distant from said local environment, the method comprising;

arranging at least one first RF antenna within said local RF restricted environment;

arranging at least one second RF antenna radiating outside of said local RF restricted environment;

placing a control computer in a communications link between said at least one said first RF antenna within said local RF restricted environment and said at least one second RF antenna radiating outside of said local RF restricted environment;

wirelessly communicating wireless RF signals between an RF radiative antenna of said personal communication devices and said at least one first RF antenna, in a spaced-apart and non-touching manner;

controlling said RIF signals and limiting the time said RF signals are sent between said variety of different radiatively communicative wireless personal RF communication devices within said RF restricted environment and said second RF antenna radiating outside of said RF restricted environment, by said control computer.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, including:

RF shielding at least a portion of said local RF restricted environment to control undesired travel of any of said wireless RF signals communicated within said local RF restricted environment.

15. The method as recited in claim 13, including:

billing for use of any of said variety of different radiatively communicative RF communication devices utilized within said RF restricted environment.

16. The method as recited in claim 13, including:

arranging a plurality of first RF antennae within said local RF restricted environment.

17. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein at least one of said radiatively communicative wireless personal RF communication devices is a personal laptop computer.