Computing device antenna identification system and method

• US 7,589,647 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2006
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Homer, Steven S., Doczy, Paul J., Walker, Paul N., Neill, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US11/412,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20070252699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,237 Days
• Field of Search: 340/999, 340/825.72, 455/13.3, 710/15, 710/16
• US Class Current: 340/999
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position

Abstract

A portable computing device antenna identification system comprises an antenna configured to be disposed in the portable computing device, the antenna having a sensor connector uniquely configured to transmit a signal indicative of an identity of the antenna.

Claims

1. A portable computer, comprising:

a base coupled to a display;

plural antennas coupled to a wireless module; and

a sensor that transmits a signal indicative of a unique identity for each of the plural antennas to the wireless module.

2. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to transmit a binary signal indicative of the unique identity of the plural antennas.

3. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the plural antennas include different types of antennas.

4. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the signal pairs a single one of the plural antennas with the wireless module.

5. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein each of the plural antennas have different operating parameters.

6. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the signal facilitates a comparison of an identity of one of the plural antennas with compatibility information of the wireless module.

7. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes plural sensors with each of the plural sensors transmitting a unique signal that identifies one of the plural antennas.

8. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the plural antennas include antennas of different types, and the signal identifies a particular type of antenna.

9. A portable computer, comprising:

a base with a display;

a wireless module; and

an antenna identification system connected to the wireless module and including an antenna portion with plural antennas and an identification portion, wherein the identification portion transmits a signal to the wireless module to identify a type of the plural antennas.

10. The portable computer of claim 9, wherein the plural antennas have different operating parameters.

11. The portable computer of claim 9, wherein the plural antennas are different models.

12. The portable computer of claim 9, wherein the plural antennas are different types of antennas.

13. The portable computer of claim 9, wherein the signal uniquely identifies the plural antennas to facilitate compatible pairing of one of the plural antennas with the wireless module.

14. A computer, comprising:

a base with a display;

first and second antennas; and

first and second sensors connected to the first and second antennas, wherein the first sensor transmits a first signal that uniquely identifies the first antenna, and the second sensors transmits a second signal that uniquely identifies the second antenna.

15. The computer of claim 14, wherein the first and second sensors are different types of sensors.

16. The computer of claim 14, further comprising a wireless module connected to the first and second sensors, wherein the first and second signals are transmitted to the wireless module to facilitate compatible pairing of the first and second antennas with the wireless module.

17. The computer of claim 14, wherein the first and second signals verify compatibility of the first and second antennas with a wireless module disposed in the computer.

18. The computer of claim 14, wherein the first signal uniquely identifies the first antenna, and the second signal uniquely identifies the second antenna.

19. The computer of claim 14, wherein the first and second antennas and the first and second sensors are disposed in the display.

20. The computer of claim 14, wherein the computer is a notebook computing device.

21. A notebook computer, comprising:

a wireless module; and

an antenna identification system that includes antennas connected to a sensor identification portion that transmits a signal indicative of an identify of one of the antennas to the wireless module.