Communication module with retractable antennae and method therefor

• US 7,620,435 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Issued: 11/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Collins, Paul S., Davenport, Mark D., Tou, Jarvis C.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US09/745,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20020082061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,252 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575, 455/574, 455/89, 455/90, 455/558, 455/556, 455/565, 455/550, 455/95, 455/90.3, 455/575.1, 455/575.4, 455/575.5, 455/575.6, 455/575.7, 343/702, 343/795, 343/841, 343/763, 343/880, 343/883, 439/131, 439/676, 439/946, 439/630, 439/55, 439/76, 439/135
• US Class Current: 455/575.7
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/06 Means for the lighting or illuminating of antennas, e.g. for purpose of warning
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2275 associated to expansion card or bus, e.g. in PCMCIA, PC cards, Wireless USB

Abstract

Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a communication module may include an antennae unit that may extracted or extended from and inserted into the communication module. The antennae unit may be used to disable the operation of the communication module when the antennae unit is inserted into the communication module.

Claims

1. A personal computer memory card international association card comprising:

a housing mountable in a personal computer;

an antenna reciprocatable in and out of said housing; and

a torsion spring mounted in said housing, said spring including a coiled portion and an arm coupled to said coiled portion, said arm extending along a length of said housing and to stay in sliding spring biased contact with said reciprocating antenna.

2. The card of claim 1 wherein said spring makes electrical contact with said antenna.

3. The card of claim 1 wherein said spring is electrically conductive.

4. The card of claim 1 including a compression spring between said housing and said antenna.

5. The card of claim 1 wherein said arm is substantially straight.