Telecommunications – Transmitter and receiver at same station – Radiotelephone equipment detail
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-21
2001-06-19
Trost, William G. (Department: 2683)
Telecommunications
Transmitter and receiver at same station
Radiotelephone equipment detail
C455S019000, C343S7000MS, C343S715000, C343S729000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06249688
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to antenna couplings and relates more particularly to the coupling of cellular telephone antennas to the internal operating circuitry.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Cellular and radiotelephones sometimes include antennas with radiating elements which are extendable away from the radiotelephone body. As such, the antenna is moveable between an extended active use position and a retracted stow position. The stow position is typically defined by the antenna being disposed adjacent the radiotelephone body, while in the active use the antenna is extended above and away from the radiotelephone body to increase signal gain.
In operation, the antenna is configured to connect electrically with telephone operating circuitry that is typically positioned on a printed circuit board inside the radiotelephone body. However, electrically connecting a moveable antenna, especially a pivoting or rotating antenna can be difficult. For example, a rotary type antenna generally requires a direct electrical signal interconnection therethrough. This rotary connection must be designed according to operational considerations which can be especially problematic when attempting to interconnect compact cellular telephone components. Unfortunately, such compact interconnection considerations can result in rotary signal transmission interconnections which are complex, fragile, and can introduce signal losses into the signal path.
Conventionally, rotating connectors have been used to provide an electrical signal line or path engaging the antenna-radiating element with the printed circuit board. Unfortunately, a rotating connector designed to provide the signal path for the antenna can be a relatively complex component and can also be susceptible to performance degradation during use due to its size and operational limitations and its exposure to handling abuses.
In addition, conventional radiotelephones have attempted to provide a paging mode when the antenna is in the stow position. Disadvantageously, the paging mode can be subject to signal interference and the performance in this mode can be less than satisfactory.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a antenna electrical coupling for a pivoting antenna structure which does not require a direct signal path between the antenna and the radiotelephone internal circuitry.
It is another object of the present invention to allow an improved more robust pivoting antenna configuration with improved signal performance and/or improved reliability over conventional radiotelephone models.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a radiotelephone with improved paging mode performance.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved pivotable flat blade antenna electrical connection for a cellular telephone.
These and other objects are satisfied by the present invention, which is directed to a radiotelephone having an indirect electrical signal path coupling or interconnection which employs spatially separated primary and secondary antenna members. In particular, a first aspect of the present invention is directed toward an antenna coupling assembly which includes a primary antenna member having a first radiating element thereon and a stationary secondary antenna member having a second radiating element thereon. The primary antenna member is configured to pivotably rotate about an axis of rotation from a stow position to an extended position. When the primary antenna is in the extended position, the secondary antenna element is electrically coupled to the primary antenna via an electrical connection between the first and second radiating elements. When the primary antenna is in the stow position, it is separated from the secondary antenna member automatically (electrically) disengages the primary antenna radiating element from the secondary antenna radiating element.
Another aspect of the present invention is directed to radiotelephone comprising a radiotelephone body having a top end portion and a top surface with an electrical operating circuit therein. The telephone also includes a primary antenna pivotably attached to the radiotelephone body such that the primary antenna has a first stow position and a second extended position. The primary antenna rotates about an axis of rotation to longitudinally extend above the top end of the radiotelephone body when in the extended position. The telephone also includes a paging antenna attached to the radiotelephone body and configured to electrically connect to the electrical operating circuit in the radiotelephone body. When the primary antenna is in the second extended position, the paging antenna and the primary antenna are positioned proximate to each other and define an electrical coupling therebetween, thereby connecting the primary antenna to the electrical operating circuit. When the primary antenna is in the first stow position, the primary antenna is electrically disengaged from the paging antenna.
An additional aspect of the present invention is directed to a cellular telephone with a pivoting flexible blade antenna. The telephone comprises a telephone body having opposing first and second ends and a top surface. The telephone also includes a flat blade-paging antenna having a paging-radiating element thereon attached to the telephone body and configured to extend a predetermined distance from the first end of the telephone body. The telephone further includes an operating circuit disposed in the telephone body and electrically connected to the paging antenna and a primary blade antenna having a primary radiating element thereon. The primary blade antenna is configured to pivotably attach to the telephone body such that the primary antenna has a first stow position overlying a portion of the top surface of the telephone body and a second extended position such that the primary antenna longitudinally extends away from the first end of the telephone body. When the primary antenna is in the extended position, the primary antenna is positioned proximate to the paging antenna to define an electrical coupling therebetween such that the paging and primary radiating elements define a half-wave radiating resonator to the operating circuit. When the primary antenna is in the stow position, the primary antenna is electrically disengaged from the paging antenna and the operating circuit. The paging radiating element defines a quarter-wave-radiating resonator to the operating circuit when the primary antenna is stowed. In a preferred embodiment, the primary antenna also includes an inductive component and is continually connected to an electrical ground (or grounding element) in the telephone.
The present invention is advantageous because it allows a more robust mechanical connection between the pivoting antenna and the telephone body by eliminating the direct electrical path dictations generally found in conventional pivoting antenna models. Further, the instant configuration provides improved paging mode performance and does not require a complex electrical path through a rotating connector. Eliminating such a potentially complex component can provide cost advantages as well as performance and reliability improvements and is especially suitable for compact radiotelephones. Also, the configuration of the instant invention enables the radiating elements and the positions of the paging and primary antennas with respect to the other to provide the electrical signal path. Conveniently, the configuration of the instant invention may not require traditional switching of matching networks to facilitate the operation of the radiotelephone in the paging versus operative mode. In addition, the electrical coupling of the instant invention is relatively insensitive to the proximate positions of the two antenna members and defines the matching of the varying antenna loads with respect to the internal circuitry by adjusting the length of the parasitic (radiating)
Hayes Gerard J.
Holshouser Howard E.
Ericcson Inc.
Myers Bigel Sibley & Sajovec P.A.
Tran Congvan
Trost William G.
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