Communications: radio wave antennas – Antennas – With radio cabinet
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-30
2001-10-02
Wimer, Michael C. (Department: 2821)
Communications: radio wave antennas
Antennas
With radio cabinet
C343S894000, C455S090300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06297778
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention is directed toward a communication device, and more particularly toward a cordless communication device having an antenna.
2. Background Art
A cordless communication device having a retractable antenna, for example a cellular telephone, receives and transmits signals using the retractable antenna. The communication device operates whether the retractable antenna is in an extended position or a retracted position but, when the antenna is in the extended position, maximum performance is achieved. For example, in a cellular telephone, an antenna rod and an antenna coil mounted on the cellular telephone at a base of the antenna rod radiate the signal from the communication device, providing the ability for maximum performance. However, while the antenna is in the retracted position, minimum performance may be realized. For example, for the cellular telephone, only the antenna coil radiates the signal from the cellular telephone, potentially minimizing performance. Such degraded performance is often disappointing to a user of the cordless communication device.
The present invention is directed to overcoming the problem discussed above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention, a cordless communication device including a retractable antenna includes a detector mounted to the cordless communication device for detecting the antenna position and a controller coupled to the detector for determining the antenna position responsive to the detector. An indicator is coupled to the controller for indicating the antenna position.
In one form of this aspect, the detector includes a light emitting diode (LED) for emitting light and a photosensor positioned to sense the LED emitted light when the antenna is in the extended position, and to not sense the LED emitted light when the antenna is in the retracted position. In a further form, the LED is mounted adjacent the photosensor on an inner surface of the electronic device. In a further form, the inner surface is a first inner surface, and a reflector is mounted on a second inner surface for reflecting the emitted light to the photosensor, wherein the reflector, LED and photosensor are relatively positioned such that the emitted light reaches the photosensor when the antenna is in the extended position, and the emitted light does not reach the photosensor when the antenna is in the retracted position.
In another form, the detector includes a coil positioned to change an inductance of the coil when the antenna is placed in the extended position.
In yet another form, the cordless communication device is a cellular telephone.
In another form, the detector detects the antenna position only at a beginning of a call.
In another form of the present invention, the indicator is a speaker, and the controller is adapted to block operation of the speaker when the antenna is in the retracted position.
In another form, the indicator is a speaker, and the controller is adapted to provide an audible signal using the speaker when the antenna is in the retracted position.
In yet another form, the indicator is a display for displaying the antenna position.
In another aspect ofthe present invention, a method for indicating an antenna position of a cordless communication device having a retractable antenna is provided, including detecting the antenna position, and responsive to the detecting, providing an indication of the antenna position when the antenna is in a retracted position.
In a form of this aspect ofthe present invention, the detecting includes emitting light from an LED, and sensing for the emitted light at a photosensor, where the emitted light reaches the photosensor when the antenna is in the extended position, and the emitted light does not reach the photosensor when the antenna is in the retracted position. In a further form, the sensing for emitted light includes reflecting the emitted light from a reflector toward the photosensor.
In another form ofthe present invention, the detecting includes detecting inductance of a coil proximately spaced from the antenna. In a further form, a current is provided through the coil.
In another form, the cordless communication device is a cellular telephone, and the detecting is done only when a call is initiated.
In yet another form, providing an indication includes displaying the antenna position on a visual display for the communication device.
In another form ofthis aspect, providing an indication includes disabling a speaker for the communication device when the antenna position is detected as the retracted position.
In yet another form of this aspect, providing an indication includes providing an audible signal using a speaker for the communication device when the antenna position is detected as the retracted position.
It is an object of the present invention to improve performance of the cordless communication device.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5212491 (1993-05-01), Chin et al.
patent: 5255001 (1993-10-01), Tamura et al.
patent: 5548827 (1996-08-01), Hanawa et al.
patent: 5754141 (1998-05-01), Thompson et al.
patent: 5815820 (1998-09-01), Kiem et al.
patent: 5854972 (1998-12-01), Pennock et al.
patent: 5867127 (1999-02-01), Black et al.
Peele James C.
Phillips John Charles
Coats & Bennett
Ericsson Inc.
Wimer Michael C.
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