Mobile wireless communications terminals and wireless communications cards for use with an electronic device

• US 7,460,076 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2006
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2006
• 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: Thornton, Curtis W., Hayes, Gerard J., Mellage, Brian F.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, SHIH CHAO
• Application Number:
  US11/485,607
• Publication Number:
  US 20070285320A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/702, 343/853, 343/860, 343/880, 343/893
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07732 the record carrier having a housing or construction similar to well-known portable memory devices, such as SD cards, USB or memory sticks housings for electrical equipment in general, see H05K5/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07743 External electrical contacts
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07767 the first and second communication means being two different antennas types, e.g. dipole and coil type, or two antennas of the same kind but operating at different frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/084 Pivotable antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2275 associated to expansion card or bus, e.g. in PCMCIA, PC cards, Wireless USB
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/24 Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction circularly polarised patch antennas H01Q9/0428; circularly polarised horns H01Q13/0241; cross-polarised horns H01Q13/0258; polarisation converters H01Q15/242; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; crossed polarisation dual antenna H01Q25/001
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/29 Combinations of different interacting antenna units for giving a desired directional characteristic H01Q25/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system

Abstract

A wireless communications card for use with an electronic device includes a frame and an antenna system. The frame is configured for removable installation in the electronic device. The antenna system includes first and second antennas each integral with the frame. At least one of the first and second antennas is selectively movable relative to the other between a first antenna configuration and a second antenna configuration.

Claims

1. A wireless communications card for use with an electronic device, the wireless communications card comprising:

a frame configured for removable installation in the electronic device; and

an antenna system including first and second antennas each integral with the frame, wherein at least one of the first and second antennas is selectively movable relative to the other between a first antenna configuration and a second antenna configuration;

wherein the first antenna is internal to the frame and the second antenna is mounted on an extension member that is movably mounted on the frame such that the extension member and the second antenna can be selectively moved between a retracted position adjacent the frame and a second position extended from the frame.

2. The wireless communications card of claim 1 wherein the extension member is pivotally mounted on the frame for movement between the retracted and extended positions.

3. The wireless communications card of claim 1 wherein, when the extension member is in the retracted position, the extension member and the second antenna are disposed within the frame.

4. The wireless communications card of claim 1 including at least one switch operative to communicatively connect the second antenna to an associated antenna circuit when the extension member is in the extended position and to disconnect the second antenna from the associated antenna circuit when the extension member is in the retracted position.

5. The wireless communications card of claim 4 wherein the at least one switch is operative to communicatively connect the second antenna to a second associated circuit when the extension member is in the retracted position.

6. The wireless communications card of claim 1 wherein movement of the antenna system from the first antenna configuration to the second antenna configuration switches the second antenna from a connection to a first associated antenna circuit to a second associated antenna circuit.

7. The wireless communications card of claim 6 wherein the first and second associated antenna circuits are alternative impedance matching networks.

8. The wireless communications card of claim 6 wherein the first and second associated antenna circuits are alternative radio frequency circuits.

9. The wireless communications card of claim 1 wherein, when the first and second antennas are in the second antenna configuration, the antenna system comprises a diversity antenna system wherein the first and second antennas have different dominant polarizations from one another.

10. The wireless communications card of claim 9 wherein, when the first and second antennas are in the first antenna configuration, the second antenna couples to the first antenna as a parasitic element to broaden a bandwidth of the antenna system.

11. The wireless communications card of claim 9 wherein, when the first and second antennas are in the first antenna configuration, the first antenna is communicatively connected to a first antenna circuit adapted to radiate and/or receive radio signals over a first frequency range and the second antenna is communicatively connected to a second antenna circuit adapted to radiate and/or receive radio signals over a second frequency range different from the first frequency range.

12. The wireless communications card of claim 9 wherein, when the first and second antennas are in the first antenna configuration, the second antenna is inactive.

13. The wireless communications card of claim 1 wherein, when the first and second antennas are in the second antenna configuration, the first antenna is communicatively connected to a first antenna circuit adapted to radiate and/or receive radio signals over a first frequency range and the second antenna is communicatively connected to a second antenna circuit adapted to radiate and/or receive radio signals over a second frequency range different from the first frequency range.

14. The wireless communications card of claim 13 wherein, when the first and second antennas are in the first antenna configuration, the second antenna couples to the first antenna as a parasitic element to broaden a bandwidth of the antenna system.

15. The wireless communications card of claim 13 wherein, when the first and second antennas are in the first antenna configuration, the first antenna is communicatively connected to a third antenna circuit adapted to radiate and/or receive radio signals over a third frequency range different from the first and second frequency ranges.

16. The wireless communications card of claim 13 wherein, when the first and second antennas are in the first antenna configuration, the second antenna is inactive.

17. The wireless communications card of claim 1 wherein, when the first and second antennas are in the second antenna configuration, the second antenna is communicatively connected to an associated active antenna circuit and the first antenna is inactive.

18. The wireless communications card of claim 17 wherein, when the first and second antennas are in the first antenna configuration, the second antenna couples to the first antenna as a parasitic element to broaden a bandwidth of the antenna system.

19. The wireless communications card of claim 17 wherein, when the first and second antennas are in the first antenna configuration, the first antenna is communicatively connected to a first antenna circuit adapted to radiate and/or receive radio signals over a first frequency range and the second antenna is communicatively connected to a second antenna circuit adapted to radiate and/or receive radio signals over a second frequency range different from the first frequency range.

20. The wireless communications card of claim 17 wherein, when the first and second antennas are in the first antenna configuration, the second antenna is inactive.

21. The wireless communications card of claim 1 wherein the wireless communications card is at least one of a wireless communications PC Card and a wireless communications ExpressCard.

22. A mobile wireless communications terminal comprising:

a housing; and

an antenna system including first and second antennas each integral with the housing, wherein at least one of the first and second antennas is selectively movable relative to the other between a first antenna configuration and a second antenna configuration;

wherein the first antenna is internally mounted on the housing and the second antenna is mounted on an extension member that is movable mounted on the housing such that the extension member and the second antenna can be selectively moved between a retracted position adjacent the housing and a second position extended from the housing.