Communications: radio wave antennas – Antennas – With radio cabinet
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-06
2001-01-09
Le, Hoanganh (Department: 2821)
Communications: radio wave antennas
Antennas
With radio cabinet
C343S7000MS
Reexamination Certificate
active
06172645
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to antennas and more particularly to an extendable antenna integral to a PCMCIA type modem card.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The rapid development of worldwide adoption of PC Card technology has been due in large part to the standards efforts of the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA). The PC Card standard defines a 68-pin interface between the peripheral cards and the socket into which it is inserted.
The PC Card standard provides physical specification for three types of cards, with additional provisions for extended cards (increased length). All three card types measure the same length and width, 85.6 mm and 54.0 mm respectively. The thicknesses are 3.3, 5.0 and 10.5 millimeters for the Type I, Type II and Type III cards respectively. Smaller cards can fit into larger sockets.
The card types each have features that fit the needs of different applications. Type I PC Cards are typically used for memory devices. Type II PC Cards are typically used for I/O devices such as data/fax modems (including wireless modems), pagers, LANs, and mass storage devices. Type III PC Cards are used for devices which components are thicker, such as rotating mass storage devices. Extended cards, those having longer lengths than that of the standard three types, allow for the addition of components that must remain outside the system for proper operation. A common example of such components is antennas for wireless modem applications.
A PC modem card can provide wireless communication capability to laptop notebook personal computers, hand held computers and any other host computer system having a PCMCIA-compatible interface. In order for a PC modem card to properly operate, the card must be connected to an antenna.
A conventional antenna arrangement utilizes extended cards. Inherently, these cards have longer lengths than the three PCMCIA standard types. For this reason, this arrangement is undesirable because conformity with the three PCMCIA standard types. Furthermore this arrangement is undesirable because such an extended card must extend beyond the housing of the host computer, regardless of whether the antenna is in use.
Another conventional antenna arrangement employs an antenna attached to a printed circuit board of a modem card. The problem with this arrangement, however, is that by attaching the antenna to the card the overall thickness of the card is increased. In the computer age, however, smaller is better, or in this case, thinner is better. Moreover, it is desirable to have an antenna/card design which conforms to the PCMCIA Card dimensional standards. Depending upon the PCMCIA card type, an arrangement with an antenna affixed on top of the circuit board may violate the standards.
In addition, modem cards are typically randomly oriented during use and, thus, suffer from multipath reflections and rotation of polarization. It is therefore desirable for the antenna connected to the modem card to be reorientated to adjust the polarization and to mitigate multipath reflections.
It is therefore evident that there exists a need in the art for a modem card antenna design which conforms to PCMCIA Card standards, does not require the antenna to be exposed from the host computer when not in use, and allows for freedom of antenna orientation to adjust the antenna polarization and to mitigate multipath reflections.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a PCMCIA modem card which is connectable a host computer and utilizes an integrated, extendable antenna for wireless transmission and reception, is provided with a circuit board. The circuit board is provided with a cavity interior. The cavity extends to a first end of the circuit board. The modem card is further provided with communications circuitry which is formed on the circuit board. The modem card is further provided with an antenna structure which is in electrical communication with the communications circuitry. The antenna structure is translatable from a first position wherein the antenna structure is substantially disposed within the cavity and a second position wherein the antenna structure is extended from the cavity.
Thus, the antenna structure is adapted to slidably engage the cavity of the modem card. Such engagement facilitates extension of the antenna structure, while in the second position, from the host computer only when necessary. It is contemplated that the modem card could be used in a host computer such that the entire modem card is disposed within the structure of the host computer. It is contemplated that when the antenna structure is in operation, it is slid out of the first end of the circuit board and extended, external to the host computer. When the antenna structure is not in use, it can be retracted into the cavity, into the first position, thereby leaving substantially little or no portion of the modem card external to the host computer.
Importantly, the dimensions of the modem card when the antenna structure is retracted into the first position is contemplated to be no greater than the three PCMCIA standard types, namely, Type I, Type II, and Type III, each having a length of 85.6 mm, a width of 54.0 mm, and respective thicknesses of 3.3, 5.0 and 10.5 millimeters.
In addition, the antenna structure is provided with a slide portion and an antenna. The slide portion is in electrical communication with the communications circuitry. The slide portion and the antenna are translatable through the cavity when the antenna structure is moved between the first and second positions. The antenna structure is further provided with a ball joint rotably connected to the slide portion and the antenna. It is contemplated that the ball joint enables the antenna to rotate and pivot and is therefore free to move for proper polarization of the antenna and to mitigate against multipath reflections.
Preferably, the modem card is provided with an extension spring which is disposable in the cavity and is in mechanical communication with the slide portion and the circuit board. The extension spring is formed to urge the antenna out of the cavity when the antenna structure is in the first position. Similarly, modem card is also provided with a retraction spring which is disposable in the cavity and is in mechanical communication with the slide portion and the circuit board. The retraction spring is formed to urge the antenna into the cavity when the antenna structure is in the second position. It is contemplated that the extension spring and the retraction spring are a single extension/retraction spring.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the antenna structure is provided with a slide portion and an antenna and the modem card is further provided with a micro-motor. The micro-motor is in mechanical communication with the slide portion and the circuit board for urging the antenna between the first and second positions. The modem card is provided with a control device which is in electronic communication with the micro-motor, for controlling the micro-motor in response to sensed operation of the modem card. Thus, the micro-motor facilitates automatic extension and retraction of the antenna structure.
In addition, the modem card is provided with a PCMCIA interface which is attachable to a second end of the circuit board. The PCMCIA interface is in electrical communication with the communications circuitry.
Preferably, the modem card is provided with a retraction lock device which is disposed between the slide portion and the circuit board. The retraction lock device is formed to releasably lock the antenna structure into position when the antenna structure is in the first position. The retraction lock device is provided with a first retraction connector attached to the slide portion and a second retraction connector attached to and disposed within the cavity and formed to releasably engage the first retraction connector. Similarly, there is provided an extension lock device formed to releasably lock the antenna
Hollander Evan A.
Stratmoen Scott A.
Anderson Terry J.
Dinh Trinh Vo
Hoch, Jr. Karl J.
Le Hoang-anh
Northrop Grumman Corporation
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