Built-in miniature radio antenna

• US 4,123,756 A
• Filed: 09/22/1977
• Issued: 10/31/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nippon Electric Company Limited (NEC Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nippon Electric Company Limited (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Nagata, Koichi, Yamashita, Koji, Oda, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Alfred E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barlow, Harry E.
• Application Number:
  US05/835,755
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/718, 343/748, 343/873, 325/354
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/40 Radiating elements coated with or embedded in protective material
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop

Abstract

A miniature radio antenna formed integral with a molded plastic housing comprising a body 1 and a cover 2. The antenna 1'"'"', 1", 2'"'"', 2" includes sheets, foils or films of electrically conductive metal or coats of conductive paint laid on the inside surfaces of the opposing housing sections, or conductors embedded therein. The antenna is free from adverse acoustic effects due to resonant vibrations in sympathy with a speaker mounted in the housing, and the housing may be molded into any desirable external shape, including fully rounded corners, without increasing the size.

Claims

1. An antenna for a miniature radio of the type having a housing structure formed of plastic material in two sections including a casing member adapted to accommodate a radio circuit and a cover member overlying said casing member, comprising:

(a) first and second electrically conductive members provided, respectively, on opposing sections of said housing structure,

(b) first means for interconnecting said first and second conductive members at their one ends when said cover member is fitted to said casing member, and

(c) second means for connecting said first and second conductive members to said radio circuit at their other ends.

2. An antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein said conductive members are sheets of electrically conductive metal attached to the respective inside surfaces of said casing member and cover member.

3. An antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein said conductive members are foils of electrically conductive material adhered onto the respective inside surfaces of said casing member and cover member.

4. An antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein said conductive members are layers of electrically conductive paint coated or imprinted on the respective inside surfaces of said casing member and cover member.

5. An antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein said conductive members are embedded in said casing member and cover member.

6. An antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said cover member is slidably assembled to said casing member from one end thereof, and

(b) said conductive members comprise substantially flat, parallel portions and inwardly projecting end portions at said one ends, whereby said end portions are brought into electrical contact with each other upon the assembly of said cover member to said casing member to thereby form a U-shaped antenna.