JPH0856109A - Method and apparatus for multiposition antenna - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize an antenna system provided with high performance characteristic both in the state of opening an antenna and in the state of collapsing it. SOLUTION: The antenna system includes a first antenna 107 arranged on a first equipment housing 103 and a parasitic radiator 108 arranged on a second equipment housing 102. The housings mutually move to collapse the equipment in a stand-by mode and to extend the equipment in an active communication mode. The first antenna 107 and the radiator 108 are arranged in the housing of each to be parasitically connected when the housing are collapsed and to avoid being connected when the housings are extended.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to antennas for communication devices.

[0002]

Wireless communication devices include a transmitter and / or receiver coupled to an antenna for radiating and / or detecting radio frequency signals. The device may include a microphone for inputting an audio signal to a transmitter or a speaker for outputting a signal received by a receiver. Examples of such wireless communication devices include one-way radios, two-way radios, wireless telephones, personal communication devices, and various other equipment. These communication devices typically have a standby configuration in which the device is folded for storage and an operational communication configuration in which the antenna is extended for optimal performance.

For wireless telephones and two-way radios,
It is generally desirable for these devices to have small dimensions during standby mode to facilitate their storage and shipping. For example, users prefer that the wireless phone be small enough to allow it to be stored in a shirt or jacket pocket while in standby mode. In the working communication state, the device places a speaker adjacent to the user's ear and a microphone near the user's mouth,
Moreover, it is desirable that the antenna is sufficiently long to be placed away from the user's body. To meet these requirements, radiotelephone housings are reconfigurable to have smaller dimensions in the standby mode than they would have when in the active communication mode.

[0004]

The difficulties associated with prior art reconfigurable communication devices, such as radiotelephones, which must receive call alert signals in standby mode, are high in both standby and active communication modes. It is to provide a high performance antenna system. Although the extended antenna position can provide optimum antenna performance, the retracted position of the antenna in standby mode, which minimizes the size of the communication device, results in degraded antenna performance.

An example of a wireless communication device that includes a multi-position antenna is a wireless telephone that includes a body and a flap, where the flap includes an antenna mounted therein. When closed, the flap covers the radiotelephone keypad and provides a microminiature housing. When the flap is opened, the flap antenna is away from the phone body held by the user. Although the flap antenna works very well when the flap is open, it is not in the ideal position to receive the alert signal in standby mode.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide an antenna system having high performance characteristics when the communication device is extended in the operating communication mode and when the communication device is folded in the standby operation mode.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is for an apparatus including a housing having first and second housing portions that move between a first extended position and a second folded position. Implemented in a multi-position antenna system. Circuitry is disposed within the housing for transmitting or receiving signals. A first antenna is supported on the first housing part and connected to the circuit. Parasitic radiator (parasitic radiator)
tor) is supported by the second housing part. The first antenna and the parasitic radiator are coupled when the housing is in the collapsed position and uncoupled when the housing is in the extended position. The antenna system has high performance characteristics when the housing is extended during active communication and when the first antenna and the parasitic radiator are coupled while the housing is collapsed.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It should be noted initially that elements shown in more than one drawing have the same last two digits in all drawings. However, the first digit indicates the referenced drawing, eg, the element of FIG. 1 has a first digit of 1, the element of FIG. 2 has a first digit of 2, and so on. Also, the antenna system according to the present invention has a flap 1 which is particularly advantageous for the present invention.
It should be noted that it is described by wireless telephones, including 03 (FIG. 1). However, the present invention may also be suitably used in other devices, such as one-way and two-way radios, or any other communication device that uses antennas. Thus, as used herein, "device" and "equipment" refer to all such devices and their equivalents.

A wireless telephone 100 incorporating the present invention is shown in FIG. The wireless telephone has a first housing portion 101.
And housing 10 including second housing part 103
2 inclusive. In the illustrated embodiment, the first housing part 101 is the body of the radiotelephone and the second housing part is a flap rotatably mounted on the body.
The flap 103 moves between the extended position shown in FIG. 1 during the active communication mode and the folded or closed position shown in FIG. 2 during the standby mode.

The radiotelephone body 101 includes a back body housing section 104 and a front body housing section 105 which are interconnected to define an internal volume for housing electronic circuitry (not shown). The keypad 106 is arranged on the body 101 such that the keys 109 associated with the keypad (only some of which are numbered) are accessible by the user for manual actuation. The illustrated flap 103 at least partially covers the keypad 106 when closed. The flap may be larger to cover all keys. The flap prevents actuation of the covered key 109 when the flap is closed. Moreover, the flap can put the phone in standby mode when closed.

The flap 103 includes a first antenna 107, referred to herein as a flap antenna. The flap antenna includes a front flap housing section 11
1 and the back flap housing section 112, and is therefore shown in dotted lines in FIG. The front and rear flap housing sections 111 and 112 are generally flat members, which can be made of a suitable polymer. The flap antenna is sandwiched between these members.
The flap antenna 107 is in the extended position when the flap 103 is open. The flap antenna is in the folded or retracted position when flap 203 (FIG. 2) is closed.

The body 101 includes a parasitic radiator, or second antenna 108. The parasitic radiator 108 is fixed inside the front housing section 105 and is therefore shown in dotted lines in FIG.

The transceiver circuit 315 is shown schematically in FIG. The transceiver can be implemented using any suitable traditional transceiver. The transceiver circuit 315 is disposed within the first housing part 301 by conventional means, such as by mounting it on a printed circuit board assembled between the front and back body housing sections 104, 105. The transceiver circuit 315 has a housing portion 30.
1 is coupled to a microphone (not shown) and a receiver (not shown). The transceiver circuit is also connected to an elastomeric connector 316 or other means that connects to the flex conductor 317. The flex conductor 317 is a knuckle 31.
9 to a hinge assembly 318. As shown in FIG. 4, the hinge assembly 418 also includes a knuckle 420 on the flap 403 for engaging the knuckle 319. The flex conductor 417 is also connected to the first antenna 407 via the hinge assembly 418. Flap antenna 407 and transceiver 31
The hinge assembly that provides the connection between 5 and 5 is of any suitable construction, such as Tanya Rush.
sh) et al. may be the hinge disclosed in U.S. patent application serial number 08 / 148,718, filed November 8, 1993, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Introduced in the specification.

Flap antenna 407 (FIG. 4) includes two conductors 423 and 424 mounted on substrate 425 such that the antenna is in a generally E-shaped configuration. The flap antenna is made of two strips of a suitable conductor, such as copper. Flap antenna 407 electrically connects intermediate finger segments 426 of conductors 423 and 424 to flex conductor 417.
ent) 422. Intermediate finger segment 426
Includes a transmission line transformer 427 that provides impedance matching between antenna 407 and transceiver circuit 315 (FIG. 3). Cross member of conductor 423 (cr
oss member) 428 connects intermediate finger segment 426 to outer finger 429. The outer fingers 429 extend substantially orthogonally from one end of the cross member 428. Conductor 424 also includes an intermediate finger segment 426 that is also coupled to cross member 430. Cross member 430 connects the middle finger segment of conductor 424 to outer finger 431, which extends generally orthogonally to cross member 430. Element 4
32 (only some of which are numbered) extend approximately orthogonally from the outer fingers 429 and 431 to allow the antenna 407 to be shortened to allow the antenna to be mounted on the flap. I will provide a.
Openings 433 cut from each outer finger 429, 431 are provided to receive a respective magnet (not shown). The magnet is a wireless telephone housing 101
The reed switch (not shown) in FIG. The reed switch and magnet are not described in detail here, as they do not form part of the present invention.

The flap antenna 407 is thus a thin dipole antenna whereby it is sandwiched between the front housing section 111 and the rear housing section 112 to form a thin flap. The antenna, as shown in FIG.
It is a half-wave antenna with high performance characteristics when the flap is opened. The cross members 428 and 430 of the conductors 423 and 424 are the high current section of the flap antenna.

Parasitic radiator 508 is shown in FIG.
The parasitic radiator is a feeder line (fe) of the flap antenna 407.
ed line) 317 (FIG. 3), 417 (FIG. 4). Parasitic radiator 508 (FIG. 5) is generally U-shaped in configuration and includes arms 534 and 536 extending generally orthogonal to shoulder 535. An elbow 537 extends at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the arm 534 and the shoulder 535 and connects these members. The elbow portion 538 extends at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the arm 536 and the shoulder portion 535, and connects these members. The parasitic radiator is made of any suitable electrical conductor, such as a thin, flexible copper strip with adhesive on one side.

The parasitic radiator is sized according to the signal frequency of the transceiver. More specifically, the arm 534
Has a length A, the elbow 537 has a length B, the shoulder 535 has a length C, and the elbow has a length C. The longitudinal axis of 538 has a length D and the longitudinal axis of arm 536 has a length E.
Have. The lengths A, B, C, D and E are such that their sum equals approximately one-half the wavelength of the transceiver signal frequency.

Parasitic radiator 608 according to the preferred embodiment.
(FIG. 6) is the inner surface 6 of the front housing section 605.
Connected to 40. The front housing section includes a flat front portion 642 and side walls 643. The opposite side wall 144, not shown in FIG. 6 but visible in FIG. 1, extends parallel to the side wall 643. The parasitic radiator 608 is assembled to the inner surface 640 of the front housing section 605 using a suitable adhesive. The parasitic radiator is flexible so that it fits when attached to the face 640 of the front housing section. More specifically, the shoulder portion 635 of the parasitic radiator 608 extends through the key 10 of the keypad 106.
9 (FIG. 1) is attached to the inner surface 640 between the two rows of openings 660 protruding. The shoulder of the parasitic radiator 608 is narrow, so it is key 109.
Fits comfortably between the rows of apertures without extending into these apertures to avoid interference with the movement of the apertures. Elbow 6
37 is attached to surface 640 such that it curves from front wall 642 to side wall 643. Arm 634 is attached to wall 643 using an adhesive so that it extends along this side wall. Wall 643 is arm 634
Most preferably, it is flat so that it extends in a single plane. Arms 536 and elbows 538 similarly
Connected to four. In this way, a thin flexible strip is attached to the inside of the front housing section, the predetermined positions of the cross members 428, 430 being such that they are between the two rows of openings 660 and the flap 403. It is mounted so that when it is closed it rests on the face of the front wall 642 to which the parasitic radiator shoulder 535 is coupled. Thus, when the flap is closed, the cross members 428, 430 and shoulder 535 are aligned and positioned close to each other as represented by the arrow in FIG. The cross members 428, 430 and the shoulder portion 535 are the flap 1
It is separated by the thickness of the front housing section of 03 and the front housing section of the body 101. Further, the shoulder portion 535 of the parasitic radiator is a cross member 428, 4 which is a high current portion of the flap antenna.
Inductively coupled to 30. Shoulder portion 535 provides cross members 430 and 42 when the flap is closed.
8 is coupled to arm 534 and 536, thus forming a second dipole antenna parasitically coupled to dipole antenna 407. This binding is inductive.

In operation, when the flap is opened, flap antenna 107 (FIG. 1) causes parasitic radiator 10
8 and away from the body 101, which allows the antenna to have high performance characteristics without interference from the user, the circuitry within the body housing 101, or the body housing 101. In this position, the high current section of the flap antenna 107 (cross member 42
8, 430) is a shoulder portion 635 of the parasitic radiator 108.
Away from the antenna, causing the parasitic radiator to
07 and not to transceiver circuit 315. As shown in FIG. 2, when the flap is closed, the flap antenna has a body and housing 10.
Move to a position close to the circuit in 1. This reduces the performance of the antenna 107, but the main body 102 is that the flap antenna near field region or volume (near f).
This is because it is in the field volume). However, the high current section 42 of the flap antenna 407
8,430 is located near the shoulder 635, which causes the two antennas to be parasitically coupled.
The performance characteristics of the antenna system are thus influenced by both the parasitic radiator 108 and the flap antenna 107 while the flap is closed. The parasitic radiator is tuned to the communication signal wavelength of the transceiver circuit 315 when the body is in the near field region or volume, while the flap antenna 107 is tuned to the communication wavelength of the transceiver circuit 315 when the flap is open. . Thus, one of the antennas is tuned to the transceiver communication signal frequency when the flap is open, and the other is tuned to the transceiver circuit when the flap is closed. This coupling of antenna 107 and parasitic radiator 108 greatly improves the characteristics of the antenna system when the flap is closed, thereby eliminating the significant degradation in antenna performance caused by folding the radiotelephone for storage. As a result, the flap antenna does not degrade the radiotelephone's ability to receive incoming call alert, paging, or email signals.

According to another embodiment of parasitic radiator 708,
As shown in FIG. 7, arm 734 and arm 73
6 to base 735, each elbow 738 and elbow 737 having a curved outer edge 90.
It is a corner of degree. Length F of arm 734, base 73
The sum of length G of 5 and length H of arm 736 is approximately one-half the wavelength of the transceiver operating frequency. The embodiment of FIG. 5 is more preferred, but if the total lengths of the antennas are equal (ie, if both antenna embodiments are quarter-wave antennas), arm 53
The tips (tips) 555 and 556 of the nozzles 4,536 extend from the shoulder portions 535 to the tips 75 of the arms 734 and 736.
This is because it is farther than 5,756.

Yet another embodiment of parasitic radiator 808 is shown in FIG. Parasitic radiator 808 includes notches 858 in arms 834 and 836. The arm notch 858 is provided to position the arm around a protrusion (not shown) extending outwardly of the front housing section 605. This is particularly desirable if the inner surface of the front housing section has multiple protrusions. Arms 834, 836 preferably extend in a single plane for optimal antenna performance. This is particularly important because placing the parasitic radiator 508 adjacent to the circuitry within the housing 101 adversely affects the performance of the antenna system. However, a disadvantage of the FIG. 8 embodiment is that the distance from the tip 855, 856 to the shoulder 835 is further reduced by the addition of the notch.

[0022]

Accordingly, it can be seen that the present invention discloses an improved antenna system for a communication device having a movable body section. This antenna system provides high performance characteristics both when the antenna is opened and when the device is folded to facilitate storage.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing a wireless telephone in an expanded state including an antenna system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view showing a folded state of the wireless telephone of FIG. 1 in a standby mode.

3 is a partial illustration showing the inside of the radiotelephone housing according to FIG. 1 including a transceiver.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the flap of the radiotelephone according to FIG. 1 with the front housing section removed and showing the first antenna.

5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion inside a front housing section of the radiotelephone body according to FIG. 1 showing a portion of a parasitic radiator.

FIG. 6 is a top view showing a parasitic radiator according to FIG.

FIG. 7 is a top view showing another embodiment of the parasitic radiator according to FIG.

8 is a top view showing still another embodiment of the parasitic radiator antenna according to FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 wireless telephone 101 first housing part 102 housing 103 second housing part 104 rear body housing section 105 front body housing section 106 keypad 107 first antenna 108 parasitic radiator 109 key 111 front flap housing section 112 rear flap housing Section 200 Radiotelephone 203 Flap 301 First housing part 315 Transceiver circuit 316 Elastomer connector 317 Flex conductor 318 Hinge assembly 319 Knuckle 403 Flap 407 First antenna 417 Flex conductor 418 Hinge assembly 423,424 Conductor 425 Substrate 426 Intermediate finger Segment 427 Transmission line transformer 428,430 Cross member 4 29,431 Outer finger 508 Parasitic radiator 534,536 Arm 535 Shoulder part 537,538 Elbow part 555,556 Tip part

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A first housing part (102, 103) and a second housing part (102, 103) movably interconnected to move between a folded position and an extended position with respect to each other. A multi-position antenna device for a device (100) comprising a housing (101) having 103) and a communication circuit (315) arranged in said housing for transmitting or receiving signals via an antenna system, A first antenna (107) supported in the first housing part, wherein the first antenna is a feeder line (31).
7,417) and coupled to and tuned to the communication circuit in a folded position, and supported within the second housing portion and tuned to the wavelength of the communication circuit. A parasitic radiator (108) not directly coupled to the feed line of the first antenna, the parasitic radiator being coupled to the first antenna when the housing is in a folded position and A parasitic radiator is not coupled to the first antenna when the housing is in the extended position, so that the parasitic radiator passes through the first antenna when the housing is in the collapsed position. A multi-position antenna device, wherein the multi-position antenna device is coupled to a communication circuit in the first housing section. 2. A hinge assembly (3) for rotatably interconnecting the first and second housing parts.
18. The multi-position antenna apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: 18, 418), and wherein the first antenna is coupled to the communication circuit via the hinge assembly. 3. The multi-position antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the first antenna includes two conductors (423, 424) arranged in the second housing part. 4. The multi-position antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the first antenna is a half-wave antenna. 5. The multi-position antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the parasitic radiator has a half wavelength. 6. The multi-position antenna apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first antenna is a dipole antenna. 7. The multi-position antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the first antenna is connected to the communication circuit in an extended position and a folded position. 8. A first housing part (102, 103) and a second movably interconnected to move relative to each other between a collapsed position and an extended position.
A housing (101) having a housing part (102, 103) of the, and a circuit (315) arranged in one of the first or second housing parts for transmitting or receiving signals via an antenna system. A multi-position antenna device for a device (100) including a first antenna (107) supported within the second housing part, the first antenna being in an extended position. And coupled to the communication circuit in a folded position, the first antenna includes two conductors (42
3,424), and each of the two conductors is mounted on the second housing portion and connects the intermediate finger segment to the outer finger (428,
430) and a parasitic radiator (108) supported within the first housing portion, the parasitic radiator being coupled to the first antenna when the housing is in a collapsed position. And the parasitic radiator is not coupled to the first antenna when the housing is in the extended position. 9. The parasitic radiator is substantially U-shaped,
Two arms (5) protruding from the shoulder (535)
55, 556), and the multi-position antenna device according to claim 8. 10. The cross member (428, 430) and the shoulder portion (535) are the first and second cross members.
10. The multi-position antenna apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the housing parts of the two are located close to each other when in the folded position, whereby the first antenna and the parasitic radiator are coupled. .