Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-22
2001-12-04
Gandhi, Jayprakash N. (Department: 2841)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S753000, C361S800000, C361S818000, C174S034000, C211S041170
Reexamination Certificate
active
06327153
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cover structure for a wireless communication device arranged at least partly as a standard expansion card, and the cover structure being provided with at least one cover surface. The invention relates also to a method in the manufacture of a cover structure for a wireless communication device arranged at least partly as a standard expansion card, and wherein the cover structure is provided with at least one cover surface. The invention relates further to a wireless communication device arranged at least partly as a standard expansion card and comprising at least one cover structure provided with at least one cover surface.
According to prior art, for example portable personal computers (PC) are often provided with an expansion card interface in which a standard expansion card can be linked. These expansion cards have a size and shape of nearly a credit card, and they are intended for forming a functional unit with the PC. Such expansion cards include memory cards (RAM and ROM cards), modem cards and various input/output cards (I/O cards) as well as hard disk cards. Expansion cards can also contain a transmitter/receiver with its antenna for radio communication, wherein the PC can, by means of this card-like wireless communication device, be in a data transmission connection with other devices or with a data communication network, such as a local area network (LAN).
One known expansion card is a PC card according to the PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) standard. The PCMCIA standard defines also the physical size of the PC card, wherein according to the PCMCIA standard the length of the PC card is 85.6 mm and the width is 54 mm. PC cards are further divided into three types, wherein the thickness of the PC card can be 3.3 mm (type I), 5.0 mm (type II) or 10.5 mm (type III). PC cards are arranged to be inserted entirely inside the PC, but so-called extended PC cards can be even 40 mm longer than regular PC cards. These extended PC cards are placed partly outside the PC, wherein the thickness and shape of the PC cards can vary in this projecting part outside the PC. This part can be used for example for the placement of the antenna of the wireless communication device.
One known card-like wireless communication device comprising a transmitter/receiver with its antenna is Nokia Cellular Card Phone, i.e. a card phone which can be coupled to expansion card interfaces of types II and III of the PC card according to the PCMCIA standard. This card phone can be for example a mobile station (MS) according to the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) standard, wherein the PC in which the card phone is installed can be in wireless data transmission connection with base stations (BS) of a public land mobile network (PLMN) by means of radio waves.
To secure the undisturbed function of components, such as integrated circuits (IC), arranged inside the card-like wireless communication device, usually on a circuit board, they must be protected from interference caused e.g. by the electromagnetic field of the antenna, such as induced disturbance signals. Malfunctions can also be caused by electromagnetic fields emitted by radio-frequency (RF) and particularly microwave frequency signals moving from one location to another between components and on the circuit board by means of wires. Further, clock signals for controlling the components and to be transmitted by means of wires are also susceptible to disturbance signals. According to prior art, e.g. inside the above-mentioned card phone there is a flexible and electroconductive sealing used for shielding and which preferably forms a tight RF sealing when being pressed against the cover structures of the card phone.
The RF sealing exerts a force on the cover structure of the card-like wireless communication device, resulting in the bending of the cover structure and particularly warping of its wide planar cover surfaces. As a result of the bending, the thickness of this card-like wireless communication device is increased and it does not fit e.g. in the expansion card slot according to the PCMCIA standard or in the space reserved for the expansion card. Inserting the card-like wireless communication device by forcing it into the space reserved for it may result in mechanical damage of the cover structure or the sealing of the card, or sticking of the card in the expansion card slot.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The purpose of this invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages and to present a remarkable improvement to the prior art. The cover structure of the wireless communication device according to the invention is characterized in that at least one cover surface is provided with at least one elongated bracing groove for increasing the dimensional stability of the cover surface. The method according to the invention in the manufacture of the cover structure of a wireless communication device is characterized in that at least one cover surface is provided with at least one elongated bracing groove for increasing the dimensional stability of the cover surface. The wireless communication device according to the invention is characterized in that at least one cover surface is provided with at least one elongated bracing groove for increasing the dimensional stability of the cover surface.
A remarkable advantage of the cover structure of the wireless communication device according to the invention is its simplicity and easy manufacture, wherein it can be easily made to comply with the requirements for the various card-like wireless communication devices. By the invention, it is possible to avoid preferably totally the use of various screws or supplementary structures, such as reinforcements or ribs of the cover structure, as well as glues for supporting and reinforcing the cover structure to increase its dimensional stability. By the invention it is also possible to arrange the support of the cover structure easily at that point of the cover structure which is subjected to a force causing e.g. bending.
Further, one advantageous embodiment of the invention has the advantage that the RF sealing of the card-like wireless communication device is improved as compared with prior art, because when the cover surface of the cover structure remains substantially planar, it maintains its contact with the RF sealing. Thus, for example, preferably no gaps through which disturbing electromagnetic fields could propagate are formed between the RF sealing and the cover structure by bending or warping.
On the basis of what has been presented above, it is also obvious that the invention can be used to improve the protective ability of also other sealings used in card-like wireless communication devices, wherein these sealings protect e.g. from dust and moisture. Further, it is obvious that by using the invention, bending and warping caused by forces occurring in connection with handling of card-like wireless communication devices and induced e.g. by compression will be decreased in relation to prior art. The invention has also the advantage that thinner cover structures can be used, wherein the space intended for components inside the card-like wireless communication device is increased.
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Herranen Timo
Rauhala Jyri
Gandhi Jayprakash N.
Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd.
Perman & Green LLP
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