Telecommunications – Transmitter and receiver at same station – Having particular housing or support of a transceiver
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-03
2001-12-04
Urban, Edward F. (Department: 2683)
Telecommunications
Transmitter and receiver at same station
Having particular housing or support of a transceiver
C455S562100, C343S702000, C343S895000, C343S725000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06327461
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally concerns antennas for a wireless communication device. More specifically, the present invention concerns antennas which are unique in that they operate effectively in both an extended and retracted position. The antenna design is diverse due to its ability to operate in multiple frequency bands and continue to function in partially extended positions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
New generation portable communicators, particularly wireless phones, operate in multiple frequency bands. Portable phones used in wireless applications that function in multiple frequency bands typically require more than one antenna to allow use in both band, e.g., the cellular and digital frequency bands. Additional costs are incurred in a phone using multiple antennas. They include additional component costs, added assembly procedures requiring labor intensive operations, rejection ratio increase due to manufacturing issues such as crimping/soldering repeatability, and reliability concerns involving the complexity of the electrical connection of the two separate antennas.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Wireless phones that use antennas that are retractable alleviate this problem. They function in two modes of operation. In the retracted position, the phone is in standby, ready to receive a call and still convenient for the user to store and transport. After a call is made or received the antenna can be extended, and known as the enhanced mode of operation. With the antenna in the fully extended position, optimal reception is achieved allowing fringe area coverage. Also, from the standpoint of the safety, coupling to the user's head is greatly decreased resulting in better phone performance with the added benefit of reducing the absorption of RF energy by the user.
The retractable antenna's functionality, when designed properly, is greatly improved if it has the ability to operate in two separate frequencies bands. This is important for a user that must travel extensively for business reasons. Because both cellular and digital systems are used across the country, only one wireless phone would be necessary to accommodate any situation encountered when traveling.
Such needs are met or exceeded by the present dual radiator antenna. The present antenna is in continuous contact with the phone circuits in both the extended, partially extended, and retracted positions and operates in two frequency bands simultaneously. Ease of assembly is a natural by-product of the antenna of the invention which lends itself to efficiency in the production and reliability of the product.
More specifically, a preferred embodiment of the present antenna includes both a helical and elongate radiator. The helical radiator is held between a core and a sheath. The core snap fits to an inside surface of the sheath. A conductive ferrule secures at an end of the sheath to make an electrical contact between the helical and the elongate of the antenna/wireless communicator interface. A pusher element is disposed on the elongate radiator from the ferrule when the elongate is located in the first position (extended). The bumper is slid to move in a space between the core and the ferrule. Being held between the core and the sheath, the helical radiator extends at least partially into the space between the ferrule and the core to electrically contact the ferrule when not compressed by the pusher (extended partially or fully).
The switching contact multiple band antenna functions in both the retracted (standby) or extended (enhanced) modes at two different frequency bands simultaneously. In the retracted position, the helical radiator radiates in both the cellular and digital frequency bands. In the cellular band, the helical radiator is approximately &lgr;/4 and presents a 50 ohm impedance to antenna input of the phone, while in the digital frequency band the coil is &lgr;/2 with an impedance of about 600 ohms and is matched to the phone's antenna input impedance via conventional matching techniques. This phenomena is also exhibited in the extended position with only the elongate radiator.
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Greer Burns & Crain Ltd.
Jackson Blane J.
T & M Antennas
Urban Edward F.
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