Telecommunications – Transmitter and receiver at same station – Radiotelephone equipment detail
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-29
2001-05-29
Kuntz, Curtis (Department: 2643)
Telecommunications
Transmitter and receiver at same station
Radiotelephone equipment detail
C455S090300, C455S556200, C455S558000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06240301
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of mechanical packaging of wireless communications devices, and more particularly to a module having dimensions no larger than a SIM card that includes a diversity antenna for a wireless communications device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are many different standards worldwide for wireless communication devices, with differing requirements. For example, wireless communication mobile terminals, such as cellular telephones, adapted for use according to the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) standard require a subscriber identity module (SIM) and SIM card reader for their operation. For reference, the GSM technical specifications are published by the European Telecommunications Standard Institute (ETSI) and are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein. In contrast, cellular phones operating to the Pacific Digital Cellular (PDC) standard such as that used in Japan, do not require a SIM card or SIM card reader, but do require a secondary, or diversity, antenna in addition to the main antenna. The diversity antenna is a radiowave antenna of a different type than the mobile terminal's main antenna which provides an alternate source of received signals; typically the receiver portion of the wireless communications device monitors the received signal at both the main antenna and the diversity antenna, and selects the stronger signal for processing. Because of these differing requirements, phones designed to service these markets typically require different mechanical components to meet the different requirements, even if the phones are otherwise very similar in functionality.
Until now, wireless communication devices designed for such different systems have simply employed different mechanical platforms, such as different shell enclosures and the like. However, developing totally different mechanical platforms for different standards and markets consumes considerable engineering time and increases tooling costs. As such, there remains a need for a common mechanical approach which can be used for several different wireless communication standards.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention utilizes a diversity antenna module which includes a diversity antenna and preferably has outer dimensions no larger than a SIM card. The diversity antenna module mates with a shell housing communications electronics for a wireless communications device, such as communications electronics adapted for PDC operation. The diversity antenna module, when mated to the shell, provides the communications electronics within the shell with an alternative antenna, as is required by the PDC specifications. However, the same shell, or another shell of the same mechanical dimensions, may alternatively house a different set of communications electronics, such as some adapted for GSM operation. Another module, e.g., a traditional SIM module required for GSM operation, may be mated to this second shell to provide alternative communications functionality. Thus, the diversity antenna module allows for a single mechanical design of the shell to be used to house alternative communications electronics and mate with the corresponding modules to provide wireless communications functionality under differing standards. Accordingly, the number of mechanical packaging designs that must be developed is lessened, thereby reducing design time and tooling costs.
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CEN Specification ENV 1375-1, “Identification Card Systems—Intersector Integrated Circuits(s) Card Additional Formats—Part 1: ID-000 Card Size and Physical Characteristics”.
Coats & Bennett, P.LLC.
Ericcson Inc.
Kuntz Curtis
Taylor Barry W.
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