AN APPARATUS FOR RADIO RECEPTION
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an apparatus for receiving AM radio in a mobile terminal unit such as a cell or mobile telephone, and comprising an antenna unit which, via an impedance converter, is connectable to circuits for AM reception, the mobile telephone displaying a handsfree device with a handsfree unit.
BACKGROUND ART
Radio broadcasting with amplitude modulation, AM radio, is generally transmitted within the frequency range of 0.5 to 1.6 MHz. The relatively low frequencies that are employed in AM radio entail that an antenna for receiving AM radio will be unwieldy if prior art technology is employed.
It is previously known in the art to use, in AM radio, so-called ferrite antennas which have a core of ferrite on which one or more coils are disposed. Such an antenna is heavy but has relatively compact outer dimensions. A major disadvantage in such an antenna if it is to be used in a mobile unit is, however, the manifest directional action which the antenna displays.
In the design and construction of modern cell or mobile telephones, attempts are made to integrate into one and the same apparatus as many different functions as possible. It is an advantage if it is possible to include, in a mobile telephone, also the possibility of listening to AM radio by including in the mobile telephone circuits for AM reception. Such circuits are then intended to drive the standard loudspeakers of the mobile telephone or a handsfree device with ear plugs connected to the mobile telephone.
The above described ferrite antenna is, both because of its directional action and its considerable weight, unsuitable for use in or together with a mobile telephone. Other conventional AM antennas are disqualified because of their large dimensions.
A further problem that arises on use of an AM receiver in or in the proximity of a mobile telephone resides in the fact that the amplitude modulation is extremely sensitive to external
interfering noise within the frequency range of AM radio. Noise in this frequency range is generated with great amplitude by certain components included in the mobile telephone, such as voltage converters, drive units for displays, etc.
The external noise is overlaid on the amplitude modulation and will, therefore, be amplified in the same manner as a radio signal which it is the intention to listen to.
PROBLEM STRUCTURE
The present invention has for its object to design the apparatus intimated by way of introduction so that it obviates the problems inherent in the prior art technology. In particular, the present invention has for its object to design the apparatus so that it will be light in weight and requires only slight space and may be manufactured at low cost. The present invention further has for its object to design the apparatus so that, as far as is possible, it eliminates the interference problems that may be expected.
SOLUTION
The objects forming the basis of the present invention will be attained if the apparatus intimated by way of introduction is characterised in that the antenna unit includes an electrically conductive, elongate and flexible element which is electrically insulated from but mechanically connected to and at least partly supported by a lead included in the handsfree unit for a earphone receiver/ear plug or a microphone.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The present invention will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying Drawings. In the accompanying Drawings:
Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a cell or mobile telephone which is equipped with a handsfree device with two earplugs;
Fig. 2 shows the mobile telephone and the handsfree device of Fig. 1, but supplemented with an apparatus for receiving AM radio;
Fig. 3 shows, on a larger scale, the handsfree device of Fig. 2 and an antenna unit disposed thereat;
Fig. 4 is a detailed view of a connection shown in Fig. 3 between the antenna unit and the handsfree device; and
Fig. 5 is a skeleton diagram of an impedance converter employed in the subject matter of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 relates to a portable terminal unit, such as a cell or mobile telephone. The mobile telephone 1 is connected via a lead connection 3 to a handsfree device which, in the illustrated embodiment, comprises a handsfree unit 2 with operating buttons and two earplugs 5 which are connected to the handsfree unit 2 via leads 4. In addition to the earplugs 5, the handsfree unit 2 may also be connected to a microphone. Variations are also known where the handsfree device displays but a single earplug 5.
As far as the mobile telephone and the handsfree device have been described above, they can be considered as conventional.
In Fig. 2, the mobile telephone and handsfree device illustrated in Fig. 1 have been equipped with an apparatus for receiving AM radio. Thus, there are included in the mobile telephone 1, circuits for AM reception which, via a second lead 7 between the mobile telephone 1 and the handsfree unit 2, are connected to an impedance converter integrated in the handsfree unit 2. Further, the handsfree unit 2 has an input 8 to which an antenna element 6 is connected. The antenna element includes at least one electrically conductive, elongate and flexible element 9 which is electrically insulated from but mechanically connected to and at least partly supported by a lead 4 disposed between the handsfree unit 2 and one earplug 5.
The antenna element 6 is designed as a T, where the cross of the T is, at its opposing ends, connected to and at least partly supported by the two leads 4 which extend from the handsfree unit 2 to the earplugs 5. The foot of the T is connected to the input 8 on the handsfree unit 2.
The above-described antenna unit 6 is a T-shaped wire antenna which, at opposing ends of the cross of the T, have insulation members 10 by means of which the wire antenna is mechanically connected to and at least partly supported by the two leads 4 which extend to the earplugs 5. The insulation members 10 may suitably be produced from plastic and cooperate with the leads 4 in such a manner that they can be displaced along the longitudinal direction of the leads, but also be fixed in relation to the leads.
The above-described wire antenna of T-design is almost entirely directionally independent. Further, it displays high impedance, of the order of several MΩ.
In addition to customary components in the handsfree unit 2, such as operating buttons for responding to and terminating calls, connections to microphone and earplugs, as well as connection to the lead connection 3 with the mobile telephone, the handsfree unit according to the present invention also displays an impedance converter which converts the high output impedance of the antenna unit 6 into an impedance which suits the input impedance, as a rule of the order of magnitude of 50 to 200Ω, to the circuits provided in the mobile telephone for AM reception. A skeleton diagram for the impedance converter is shown in Fig. 5.
In Fig. 5, the antenna unit has been given the same reference numeral as in other Figures, in other words reference numeral 6. The antenna unit 6 has an output impedance of the order of several MΩ. This implies that some form of protection against discharge of static electricity must be provided. Such a discharge protection carries reference numeral 11 in Fig. 5 and is, with its end facing away from the antenna unit 6, connected to earth 20. The supply or excitation conductor 12 of the antenna unit 6 passes via the input 8 of the handsfree unit 2 and further via a capacitor 13 to a transistor 14. Both of the remaining terminals on the transistor are connected via conductors 15 and 16 to a resistance 17 and thereafter to a terminal for voltage supply 18 and a connection point 23, respectively, and further via a resistance 19 to earth 20. The conductor 16 between the transistor 14 and earth 20 is branched in the connecting point 23 and is, via a capacitor 21, connected to a terminal 22 to which the lead 7 between the handsfree unit 2 and the mobile telephone 1 is connectable. The connection point 23 on the conductor 16 between the transistor 14 and earth 20 is, via a branch conductor 24, a capacitor 25 and a resistance 26, connected to the connection of the transistor to the conductor 15. The conductor 24 is connected between the capacitor 25 and the resistance 26 to earth 20
via an additional resistance 27. Further, the conductor 24 between the capacitor 25 and the resistance 26 is, via an additional resistance 28, connected to the lead 12 between the antenna and the transistor 14. The voltage supply conductor 15 between the terminal 18 and the resistance 17 is connected to earth via two capacitors 29 and 30.
As was mentioned by way of introduction, there are certain components in a mobile telephone that generate powerful noise within the frequency range that is normally employed for transmitting AM radio. This noise is generated principally by the voltage converter of the mobile telephone and its drive means for its display. According to the present invention, there is disposed, either in the impedance converter or in the circuits that are intended for AM reception, a signal output which is connected to a switch device which in its turn controls the operation state of the noise-generating sources of interference, such as the voltage converter and the drive means for the display in such a manner that these are deactivated or downswitched to standby when AM reception takes place.
DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS
In the foregoing, the antenna unit 6 has been described as a T-shaped wire antenna which is at least partly mechanically supported by the two leads that lead to the earplugs 5. In such situations where the handsfree device only displays one earplug, such an antenna arrangement cannot be used. In such a situation, a straight wire antenna can, on the other hand be employed, provided that the impedance converter is dimensioned in a suitable manner so that its output displays approximately that impedance of 50 to 200Ω which the input to the circuits intended for AM reception require.
Since the antenna unit 6 has small physical dimensions, it can only emit a very weak signal. In order to compensate for this, the impedance converter includes in itself an amplifier connection which serves the function of an antenna amplifier and which thus amplifies the signal coming from the antenna unit 6 before this reaches the circuits intended for AM reception.
According to the present invention, it may also be possible purely physically to place the impedance converter in the mobile telephone 1 proper instead of, as described above, in the handsfree unit 2.
According to the present invention, it is also possible to provide, in the handsfree unit 2, the circuits, possibly in the form of a chip, for the AM reception. It may also be appropriate to place on the handsfree unit 2 the operating device (on/off, volume, station tuning etc.,) which are required for use of the AM receiver.