WO1991001576A1

WO1991001576A1 - Apparatus for making and sealing an electrical contact between two wrist band antenna portions of a selective call receiver

Info

Publication number: WO1991001576A1
Application number: PCT/US1990/003070
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Wuthrich; Robert Kurcbart; John F. Macdonald; David F. Capolupo; Michael P. Goldenberg
Original assignee: Motorola, Inc.
Priority date: 1989-07-21
Filing date: 1990-06-04
Publication date: 1991-02-07
Also published as: KR920704372A; JPH04507035A

Abstract

A wrist band for an electronic device (103) comprises first (104) and second (102) band portions mechanically coupled to said electronic device. First (302) and second (301) antenna portions are secured within said first and second band portions, respectively, and electrically coupled to said electronic device. A clasp assembly (106) is adjustably positioned on said first band portion for providing electrical contact to said first antenna portion and preventing contaminants from intervening therebetween. A hook assembly (101) is mechanically coupled to said second band portion and electrically coupled to said second antenna portion for selectably providing both mechanical and electrical coupling to said first means.

Description

APPARATUS FOR MAKING AND SEALING AN ELECTRICAL CONTACT BETWEEN TWO WRIST BAND ANTENNA PORTIONS

OF A SELECTIVE CALL RECEIVER

Field of the Invention

This invention relates in general to loop-type antennas contained within the bands of wrist-worn electronic products and, more specifically, to a method of protecting the electrical contacts contained therein from external contaminants.

Background of the Invention

Loop-type antennas contained within wrist bands are applicable to wrist- worn products that contain a radio frequency communications device such as a wrist-worn selective call pager or a wrist-worn combination pager watch. In the typical configuration, a wrist band antenna comprises two strap portions with an antenna portion contained within each strap. One strap has, connected at the end, a hook assembly which is also electrically connected to the antenna portion contained within that strap. The other strap has, connected at some point, a clasp assembly that is also electrically connected to the antenna portion contained within that strap. The ends of the antenna portions opposite the hook and clasp ends are electrically connected to the appropriate points in the product electrical circuitry (typically, one end is connected to a radio frequency receiver input while the other end is connected to ground). When the watch band is secured to the user's wrist, the hook and clasp are engaged, thereby mechanically coupling the two strap portions and electrically connecting and enabling the two portions of the loop antenna. A major shortcoming of the current art in this area is the lack of a provision for protecting the electrical contact point between the clasp and corresponding antenna portion from the intrusion of potentially contaminating external agents such as water and dust. Additionally, in the case where the wrist-worn product must accommodate various user wrist sizes and the clasp is, therefore, moveable along the corresponding strap and antenna portion, a plurality of antenna contacts located along some length of the strap are required. In this case, the current art does not address the issue of protecting unused contacts. Since a wrist-worn product such as a wrist watch is subject to potential water and dust intrusion in everyday use, it would be advantageous to have some means of protecting used and unused electrical contacts from intrusion from such elements to prevent contamination of the contact and possible resultant electrical degradation of antenna performance. Thus, what is needed in a product with a wrist band antenna is a means of protecting from external contaminants the used and unused electrical contacts along the clasp strap.

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved wrist band antenna clasping apparatus.

In carrying out the above and other objects of the invention in one form, there is provided a wrist band for an electronic device comprising first and second band portions mechanically coupled to said electronic device. First and second antenna portions are secured within said first and second band portions, respectively, and electrically coupled to said electronic device. A clasp assembly is adjustably positioned on said first band portion for providing electrical contact to said first antenna portion and preventing contaminants from intervening therebetween. A hook assembly is mechanically coupled to said second band portion and electrically coupled to said second antenna portion for selectably providing both mechanical and electrical coupling to said first means. The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawing

FIG. 1 is a top view of a wrist-band electronic product including the clasp and hook assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional top view of the wrist-band electronic product taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the wrist-band electronic product taken along the line 1-1 of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the clasp, strap, and antenna assembly of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a clasped position side view of a wrist-band electronic product containing a loop-type antenna. FIG. 7 is a enlarged cross-sectional side view of an antenna contact interconnect portion of the strap in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Referring to FIGs. 1 and 2, a wrist-band electronic product in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a strap portion 102 coupled between one end of an electronic device body 103 and a hook assembly 101. A strap portion 104 is also connected at one end to the electronic device body 103. A clasp assembly 106 is attached upon the strap portion 104 at one of a plurality of selectable positions. The particular selectable position chosen depends on the particular wrist size of the device user. Since each selectable position requires an aperture through the strap to allow electrical connection between the clasp assembly 106 and the antenna, a plurality of apertures 105 are provided. The electronic device body 103 includes a display (not shown) thereon and at least one button for controlling the function thereof.

Referring to FIG. 3, the antenna portion 301, which resides within the strap portion 102, is electrically connected to the hook assembly 101. The antenna portion 302 resides within the strap portion 104. The antenna portions 301 and 302 both extend into the electronic device body 103, where they are connected to the appropriate points in the device electrical circuitry (typically, one is connected to the radio-frequency receiver input while the other is connected to ground). Referring to FIG. 4, the antenna portions 301 and 302 are located within the strap portions 102 and 104, respectively. Clasp assembly 106 achieves electrical contact with antenna portion 302 through one of the plurality of apertures 105.

Referring to FIG. 5, a hook pin 506 serves to mechanically and electrically couple the clasp assembly 106 to the hook assembly 101 when the product is in the clasped position. Electrical connection between the hook pin 506 and the antenna portion 302 is made through the contact portion 504, the pressure- plate/ contact 503, the latch 501, the latch pivot 502, the clasp outer-body 507, and the hook pin 506, respectively. Hence, when the clasp assembly 106 and hook assembly 101 are coupled (clasped position), the antenna portions 301 and 302 are electrically connected at one end, forming a loop. The bottom of pressure-plate /contact 503 is held flush with the top of the strap portion 104 by pressure from the latch 501. The pressure plate 503 and the top portion of the strap 104 form a seal 505 to resist the intrusion of external contaminants into the selected aperture 105 and the electrical contact point 508. Referring to FIG. 6, the strap 104 is positioned within the clasp 106 and the hook 101 (not shown) is mechanically coupled to the clasp 106 for providing a generally circular figure having a circumference approximately the size of the wrist of the intended wearer.

Referring to FIG. 7, an enlarged cross-sectional side view of a typical aperture 105 is shown in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the portion of the antenna that is exposed in each unused aperture 105 in the preferred embodiment is now substantially covered with an insulation layer 701 to protect the antenna from contaminant intrusion through unused apertures. The insulation layer 701 is preferably composed of a material such as rubber-and has the properties of being penetrable by the contact 504 to permit electrical contact to the antenna and being resilient enough to effectively self-reseal the aperture 105 upon adjustment of the clasp 106 and, hence, the contact 504, to a different aperture.

By now it should be appreciated that there has been provided an apparatus for sealing the used and unused contacts for a loop-type antenna in a wrist-band electronic device.

Claims

1. A wrist band for an electronic device compπsing: a first band portion mechanically coupled to said electronic device; a second band portion mechanically coupled to said electronic device; first and second antenna portions secured within said first and second band portions, respectively, and electrically coupled to said electronic device; first means adjustably positioned on said first band portion for providing electrical contact to said first antenna portion and preventing contaminants from intervening therebetween; second means mechanically coupled to said second band poπion and electπcally coupled to said second antenna poπion for selectably providing both mechanical and electπcal coupling to said first means.

2. The wπst band according to claim 1 wherein said first band poπion compπses a plurality of apertures on a side thereof extending to said first antenna portion, said first means electπcally coupled to said first antenna portion through a selected one of said apeπures.

3. The wπst band according to claim 2 wherein said first m eans compπses third means substantially coveπng said selected aperture for preventing access thereto by contaminants.

4. The wrist band according to claim 3 wherein said third means compπses: a first member having a substantially flat side, said flat side juxtaposed to said first band portion; a second member integrally coupled to said first member and extending from said first member substantially perpendicular to said flat side and engaging said first antenna portion for providing electrical contact therebetween.

5. The wπ≤t band according to claim 4 further comprising fourth means, each integrally coupled to said first band portion and coveπng one or said plurality of apertures, wherein the particular fourth means covering said selected aperture is penetrated by said second member

6. A wrist band for an electronic device, comprising : first and second strap portions mechanically coupled to said electronic device; first and second antenna portions contained respectively within said first 5 and second strap portions and electπcally coupled to said electronic device; clasp means moveably coupled to said first antenna portion and said first strap portion for varying the size of said wrist band; hook means coupled to said second antenna portion and said second strap portion for selectably engaging said clasp means, thereby providing 0 electrical contact therebetween.; and wherein said first strap portion includes at least one antenna access aperture for receiving said clasp means and allowing for electπcal connection between said clasp means and said first antenna portion, said clasp means and said first strap portion forming a seal to prevent intrusion of contaminants 5 between said clasp means and said first antenna poπion.

7. The wπst watch antenna of claim o wherein said antenna access apertures are substantially covered with a layer, wherein said clasp means substantially punctures the layer over the antenna access apeπure receiving said clasp means.

D

8. The wπst band according to claim o wherein said clasp means comonses plate means substantially covering said selected aperture tor preventing access thereto by contaminants.

9. The wπst band according to claim S wherein said piate means compπse≤: a first member having a substantially flat side, said flat side juxtaposed to said first strap portion; a second member integrally coupled to said first member and extending from said first member substantially perpendicular to said flat sice and engaging said first antenna portion tor providing electπcal contact therebetween.