Antenna for portable communication device equipped with a hinge

• US 7,209,084 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2003
• Issued: 04/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Lindell, Bo
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan; Tho
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran; Chuc
• Application Number:
  US10/536,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20060071863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/895, 343/846, 455/90, 455/550, 455/575
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/242 specially adapted for hand-held use
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3833 Hand-held transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0212 with a two degrees of freedom mechanism, i.e. folding around a first axis and rotating around a second axis perpendicular to the first
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge

Abstract

A portable communication device includes a first part including a first antenna element located within and extending through a portion of the first part and radio circuit feeding antenna elements, a second part hingedly joined to an end of the first part for providing at least one open and one closed position of the phone, and a hinge element connected to the first and second parts. The hinge element stretches along the end of the first part for providing rotation of one part in relation to the other part around a first axis having a first and second end. The hinge element includes a second antenna element. The radio circuit is connected between the first and second antenna elements.

Claims

1. A portable communication device comprising:

a first part comprising a first antenna element located within and extending through a portion of the first part and radio circuit feeding antenna elements;

a second part hingedly joined to an end of the first part for providing at least one open and one closed position of the phone;

a hinge element connected to the first and second parts, stretching along the end of the first part for providing rotation of one of the first and second parts in relation to the other one of the first and second parts around a first axis and having a first and second end, wherein a second antenna element is provided in the interior of the hinge element;

a third antenna element located within and extending through a portion of the second part and being electrically connected to the second antenna element at least at the first end of the hinge element; and

a radio circuit connected between the first and second antenna elements.

2. The portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein the second antenna element encircles the axis of rotation defined by the hinge element.

3. The portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein the radio circuit is connected to the second antenna element between the first and second ends of the hinge element.

4. The portable communication device according to claim 3, wherein the radio circuit is connected to the second antenna element in proximity of the second end of the hinge element.

5. The portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein the radio circuit is connected to the first antenna element at approximately the connecting point between the second antenna element and the radio circuit.

6. The portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein the first antenna element is electrically connected to the second antenna element at the first end of the hinge element so as to provide a gap between the first and second antenna elements, the length of which is substantially defined by the first and second ends of the hinge element.

7. The portable communication device according to claim 6, wherein the electrical connection between the first and second antenna elements provides a screen for conductors provided between at least the first part and the hinge.

8. The portable communication device according to claim 7, wherein the electrical connection between the first and second antenna elements is provided by screening of a screened cable.

9. The portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein the connection between the second and third antenna elements provides a screen for conductors provided between at least the second part and the hinge.

10. The portable communication device according to claim 9, wherein the electrical connection between the second and third antenna elements is provided by screening of a screened cable.

11. The portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein the second and third antenna elements are electrically connected at the first end of the hinge element so as to provide a gap between the third and second antenna elements, the length of which is substantially defined by the first and second ends of the hinge element.

12. The portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein the third and second antenna elements are provided with at least one connection configured to interconnect the third and second antenna elements when in the open position of the device and to disconnect the third and second antenna elements when the device is in the closed position.

13. The portable communication device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one connection is a continuous connection substantially provided along the entire length of the hinge element.

14. The portable communication device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one connection comprises a plurality of connections configured to interconnect the third and second antenna elements when in the open position of the device and to disconnect the third and second antenna elements when the device is in the closed position.

15. The portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein the second part comprises a first section connected to the hinge element and a second section, the second section being rotatable around a second axis in relation to the first section, said second axis being provided substantially perpendicular to the first axis.

16. The portable device according to claim 15, wherein the third antenna element comprises a first and second section, the first section of the third antenna element being provided in the first section of the second part and the second section of the third antenna element being provided in the second section of the second part, said first and second sections of the third antenna element being electrically connectable to each other along substantially the entire interface between the first and second sections of the second part.

17. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein the radio circuit comprises at least one tuning network for tuning the antenna elements to one or more frequency bands.

18. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is a cellular phone.

19. An antenna arrangement for use in a portable communication device having a first part comprising antenna elements, a second part hingedly joined to an end of the first part, and a hinge element connected to the first and second parts and providing an open and a closed position of the portable communication device, the hinge element stretching along the end of the first part for providing rotation of one the first and second parts in relation to the other one of the first and second parts around a first axis and having a first and second end, wherein the antenna arrangement comprises:

a first antenna element located within and extending through a portion of the first part of the portable communication device and connected to the radio circuit;

a second antenna element located in the interior of the hinge element of the portable communication device and also connected to the radio circuit, and

a third antenna element located within and extending through a portion of the second part and electrically connected to the second antenna element at least at the first end of the hinge element.