Antennae attachable to an electronic device enclosure or other structure

• US 7,834,810 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2004
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Ransdell, Clinton R., Reece, John K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wimer; Michael C
• Application Number:
  US10/881,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20050285800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,331 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/872, 343/878, 343/880, 343/892, 343/905, 343/906, 455/575.7
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1207 for fastening a rigid aerial element
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2258 used with computer equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2275 associated to expansion card or bus, e.g. in PCMCIA, PC cards, Wireless USB

Abstract

Attachable/detachable antennae for use with electronic systems.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an antenna element;

an antenna enclosure that encloses the antenna element, the antenna enclosure having a clamping mechanism to attach the antenna enclosure to an external structure, wherein the clamping mechanism includes a clamping element connected to the antenna enclosure with a pin and a spring such that the clamping element to apply pressure toward the antenna enclosure;

a cable coupled with the antenna element and extending beyond the antenna enclosure; and

a connector at an end of the cable opposite the antenna element to connect with an interface of an electronic system wherein the interface comprises a removable card wherein the removable card comprises a Type II PCMCIA card.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cable comprises a radio frequency cable.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the radio frequency cable comprises a coaxial cable.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the radio frequency cable comprises a twisted pair cable.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the radio frequency cable comprises an optical fiber.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the antenna element communicates cellular telephone signals.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the cellular telephone signals are transmitted in a range of 824 MHz to 960 MHz.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the cellular telephone signals are transmitted in a range of 1710 MHz to 1990 MHz.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the antenna element communicates local area network signals.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the local area network signals conform to IEEE Std. 802.11b and/or IEEE Std. 802.11g.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the antenna element communicates personal area network signals.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the personal area network protocol comprises a Bluetooth protocol.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the antenna enclosure completely encloses the antenna element.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the clamping mechanism comprises:

a clamping element; and

a spring configured to cause the clamping element to be forced toward the antenna enclosure to cause a clamping force against the antenna enclosure.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the external structure comprises a display of a laptop computer.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the antenna element is configured to attach to the external structure in a substantially vertical position.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the antenna element is configured to attach to the external structure in a substantially horizontal position.

18. A system comprising:

a bus;

a digital signal processor coupled with the bus;

an antenna element coupled with the bus; and

an antenna enclosure that encloses the antenna element, the antenna enclosure having a clamping mechanism to attach the antenna enclosure to an external structure, wherein the clamping mechanism includes a clamping element connected to the antenna enclosure with a pin and a spring such that the clamping element to apply pressure toward the antenna enclosure;

a cable coupled with the antenna element and extending beyond the antenna enclosure; and

a connector at an end of the cable opposite the antenna element to connect with an interface of an electronic system wherein the interface comprises a removable card wherein the removable card comprises a Type II PCMCIA card.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising a cable coupled with the antenna element and extending beyond the antenna enclosure.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the cable comprises a radio frequency cable.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the radio frequency cable comprises a coaxial cable.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the radio frequency cable comprises a twisted pair cable.

23. The system of claim 20 wherein the radio frequency cable comprises an optical fiber.

24. The system of claim 18 wherein the antenna element communicates cellular telephone signals.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the cellular telephone signals are transmitted in a range of 824 MHz to 960 MHz.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein the cellular telephone signals are transmitted in a range of 1710 MHz to 1990 MHz.

27. The system of claim 18 wherein the antenna element communicates local area network signals.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the local area network signals conform to IEEE Std. 802.11b and/or IEEE Std. 802.11g.

29. The system of claim 18 wherein the antenna element communicates personal area network signals.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the personal area network protocol comprises a Bluetooth protocol.

31. The system of claim 18 wherein the antenna element is configured to attach to the external structure in a substantially vertical position.

32. The system of claim 18 wherein the antenna element is configured to attach to the external structure in a substantially horizontal position.