Switchless external antenna connector for portable radios

• US 4,661,992 A
• Filed: 07/31/1985
• Issued: 04/28/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Garay, Oscar, Turner, Harvey N. Jr., Balzano, Quirino
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Application Number:
  US06/760,854
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 455/89, 455/99, 455/345, 455/346, 455/348, 455/349, 455/351, 455/129, 455/74.90, 312/7.1, 339/75 M, 200/51.09, 343/702, 343/850-852, 343/860
• US Class Current: 455/90.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters

Abstract

A portable radio transceiver and mobile mount housing are disclosed which utilize a switchless connector for connecting the portable unit to an external antenna which is electrically coupled to the mobile mount. In the preferred embodiment, the portable radio is equipped with an internal antenna which is either coupled to an electrical contact on the exterior of the portable unit adaptable to making electrical contact with a similar contact on the inside of the mobile housing when the portable radio is inserted therein. The internal antenna in the portable unit is shielded by the metallic mobile mount housing which obviates the need to disconnect the same. In one embodiment the contact disposed on the portable unit exterior is connected to a predetermined point on the internal antenna for impedance matching with the external antenna when the portable unit is inserted into the mobile mount housing. Similar switchless contacts can also be utilized for connecting the portable unit to external microphones, speakers, battery chargers and the like.

Claims

1. A portable radio for insertion into a radio mount having an electrostatic shield and having an external antenna contact electrically connected to an external antenna, said portable radio comprising in combination:

a housing having an internal antenna, whereby said electrostatic shield inhibits said internal antenna from radiating when said portable radio is inserted into said radio mount; and

an internal antenna contact adapted for electrical connection to said external antenna contact of said radio mount, said internal antenna contact being connected at a selected point on said internal antenna, whereby said internal antenna provides impedance matching between said portable radio and said external antenna.

2. A radio housing adaptable to being mounted in a mobile unit with an external antenna, for removably mounting a portable radio having an internal antenna and an internal antenna contact therein, said radio housing comprising:

a housing adaptable to receiving said portable radio, said housing including an electrostatic shield for shielding said internal antenna when said portable radio is inserted therein;

first contact means carried by the inside of said housing, adaptable to being electrically coupled to said external antenna for making electrical touch contact with said internal antenna contact of said portable radio when said portable radio is inserted into said housing.

3. A radio housing as described in claim 2 wherein said housing has a metal plating.

4. A radio housing as described in claim 3 wherein said metal plating comprises copper.

5. A radio housing as described in claim 3 wherein said metal plating is coated with zinc to reduce oxidation.

6. A radio housing as described in claim 2 wherein said internal antenna of said portable radio is used to impedance match the portable radio output with said external antenna.

7. A radio mount adaptable to being mounted in a mobile unit with an external antenna for removably mounting a portable radio having at least one electrically conductive terminal on its exterior and an internal antenna, said radio mount comprising:

an electrically conductive housing which functions as an electrostatic shield for shielding said internal antenna of said portable radio when said portable radio is inserted into said housing;

at least one static contact disposed inside said housing so as to be in alignment and to make contact with said conductive terminal on said portable radio when said portable radio is inserted into said housing, said contact adaptable to being electrically coupled to electrical apparatus disposed outside said housing; and

impedance matching means for matching the impedance of said portable radio with said external antenna.

8. A radio mount as described in claim 7 wherein said shielded portable radio internal antenna is used to match the impedance of said portable radio with the impedance of said external antenna.