Antenna module interface extension

Details Antenna module interface extension Antenna module interface extension

2001-01-26

2003-03-25

Wong, Don (Department: 2821)

Communications: radio wave antennas

Antennas

With radio cabinet

C343S906000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06538606

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Background
This disclosure relates to a computer system, and more particularly to a mobile computing system or platform using a removable antenna module containing an antenna to support wireless communication devices in the mobile computing system or platform.
2. Description of the Related Art
Mobile personal computers (PC), also known as “laptops” and “notebooks” (notebook), typically provide wireless communications by the use of what are commonly known as PC cards defined by the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA). In typical applications, a PC card used for wireless communication will use an antenna interface to establish a wireless connection to a remote terminal or access point. A wireless communication PC card can have a built-in radio modem and an antenna. In certain configurations, the antenna protrudes out of the PC card. These integrated antennas are designed exclusively for wireless technology used by that particular PC card.
Manufacturers in order to provide cost effective and seamless end user wireless communication capabilities have found advantages in integrating wireless technologies into the architecture of a notebook system. Instead of relying on a PC card that is externally added via a card slot, the user can have wireless technology built into the notebook.
Wireless communications technologies continue to evolve and mature. Available wireless communication technologies that are now available to notebook systems include: wireless personal area networks (WPAN); wireless local area networks (WLAN); and wireless wide area networks (WWAN).
WPAN is an evolving area that includes an industry driven specification known as “Bluetooth,” which is used as the basis for Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard 802.15.1. WPAN standards are specifically targeted as cable replacement wireless technologies for a range of diverse computing devices such as PCs, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), peripherals, cell phones, pagers, and consumer electronics. WPAN allows these enabled devices to communicate and operate with one another over a short range.
WLAN allows communication to a local network such as an Ethernet network within a building or locally on a campus or public “hotspot” areas such as hotels or airports. The IEEE standard 802.11 addresses this type of wireless communication technology.
WWAN generally refers to cellular and PCS telephone communication and covers code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA) and their variant standards. WWAN works over a longer distance and accommodates user mobility.
Wireless communication technologies can operate at varying frequencies and rely on antennas capable of transmitting and receiving at specific frequencies that support particular wireless communication technology.
Now referring to
FIG. 1
illustrated is a chart of wireless communication technologies and their operating frequencies. Wireless communications can be grouped under communication category
10
, further categorized as communication technology
15
and further defined by operating frequency band
20
. In the industry WWAN
25
includes general packet radio service (GPRS)
40
that may operate at a switching frequency of 900/1800 megahertz (MHz) or 1900 Mhz; code division multiple access (CDMA)
45
that operates at 850/1900 MHz; time division multiple access (TDMA)
50
operating at 850/1900 MHz; and wideband CDMA (W-CDMA)
55
operating at 2.0 gigahertz (GHz). The WLAN
30
category includes IEEE standard 802.11b
60
operating at 2.4 GHz and IEEE 802.11a
65
operating at 5.2 GHz. In WPAN
35
, Bluetooth
70
technology operates at 2.4 GHz. WPAN also includes the evolving IEEE standard 802.15
75
at 2.4 GHz. Since it is to be finalized, IEEE 802.15
75
potentially may operate at a different frequency in the future. Other technologies in the future may operate in other frequencies.
Antennas that support wireless communication technologies can be as diverse as the wireless technologies that they support. Antennas can come in varying shapes and sizes, including straight dipole antennas and patch antennas. Antennas are able to support a range of frequencies that support various technologies, however, one antenna or antenna system cannot support all of the wireless communication technologies that are expected to be integrated within a notebook system. A notebook manufacturer must therefore determine what antenna or antenna system to include to support whatever wireless communication technology is part of the notebook architecture. Since wireless communication is an evolving area, frequency and antenna requirements will also evolve and change over time.
Manufacturers have realized the need to provide wireless communication technologies and solutions into notebooks. To this end, antennas are often integrated into the chassis of notebooks or in the LCD panel of the notebook. The integrated antenna of the notebook is typically a custom design to the particular notebook platform.
Now referring to
FIG. 2
, illustrated is a connection of an integrated antenna to a notebook chassis. Antenna
200
is connected by a jumper wire
210
to a module
205
. The module
205
can be placed on a mother board or a system board of the notebook system. A design consideration is to make the jumper wire
210
as short as possible. In other words, a connection of the antenna
200
to the module
205
should be as short as possible. Considering that analog radio frequency (RF) signals are transmitted along the connection, a shorter connection allows for a reduction of transmission noise, but more importantly transmission loss from the antenna. Integrating an antenna into a notebook system adds to design considerations; a manufacturer must be able to know or plan as to the size, shape and location of an antenna, and design the notebook architecture with that particular antenna in mind. Adding a jumper wire further adds to the design and manufacturing cost of the notebook.
An antenna may be part of a device that includes specific wireless communication technology such as transmitters, receivers and transceivers. Such a device is an integrated wireless device. Antennas and integrated wireless devices may be designed, integrated and certified along with a notebook. Changing an antenna or integrated wireless device for a different function or purpose can require a redesign or change to the notebook chassis which would can be a lengthy, expensive, or impractical design change.
If a different antenna to replace an existing integrated antenna is desired, a new notebook chassis intended for the new antenna must be created, the old chassis must be disassembled, the parts of the computer system integrated into the new assembly, and certification conducted on the new notebook package. Modular devices such as transceivers or radio devices may easily be replaced on a notebook computer architecture, but an antenna that is integrated into the chassis of a notebook presents a more complicated modification. To create different notebook chassis for a multitude of antennas in existence can be impractical. In certain cases, a notebook user may be in a situation where the wireless communication technology that is being used requires a change of wireless communication devices and an antenna to support the change. This may be the case when a user has a notebook designed for the United States WWAN market, and the user brings the notebook to Europe where there is a difference WWAN standard. The wireless communication system, including the antenna, built into the United States market notebook, is useless in Europe. A simple change of transceivers inside the system board may be all that is needed, however the user does not have the ability to replace the antenna. Antennas that are fixed or integrated into a notebook chassis do not allow for factory customization and limit flexibility to manufacturers that provide customization of notebook systems for their customers.
In the timeline of notebook devel

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