RU2465738C2 - Mobile communication device with internal antennae - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: information technology.

SUBSTANCE: mobile communication device has an internal antenna device for receiving low-frequency signals of the operating frequency range lower than 1 GHz and the internal antenna device can be connected in series or parallel to an external antenna such as a headset. The disclosed mobile communication device, which uses an internal antenna device to receive low-frequency signals, is adapted to operate as a radio alarm and for periodical recording of radio programs without connecting an external headset.

EFFECT: possibility of receiving low-frequency signals without using an external headset as an antenna.

19 cl, 10 dwg

Description

Cross references to related applications

This application claims all the benefits and priority of provisional patent application No. 60 / 775.575, filed February 22, 2006, entitled "Small Antenna Electrical Appliance", inventor Fang, and provisional patent application No. 60 / 780.007, filed March 7, 2006, named " Small Antenna Electrical Appliance ”, inventor of Fang, and here includes the entire contents of the mentioned applications.

Technical field

The invention relates to a mobile communication device and, in particular, relates to a mobile communication device with an internal antenna capable of receiving low-frequency signals without connecting an external headphone.

State of the art

Design goals for personal mobile communication devices or wireless terminal equipment focus on light weight, thinness, a compact profile and good communication quality. Mobile phones, for example, are characterized by models with a small streamlined shape with many features and applications and low cost.

A wireless communications device requires more than one antenna so that multiple communications systems can be integrated and deployed. Therefore, there is a constructive task and a critical problem in the location of the antennas in wireless communication equipment and the determination of the size of the antennas. In mobile phones or handsets of GSM systems in the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz bands, WCDMA or CDMA2000 systems, Bluetooth and 2400 or 5200/5800 MHz wireless LAN systems can be integrated into one mobile phone requiring more than three antennas. Unfortunately, all GSM, WCDMA, CDMA2000, Bluetooth and wireless LAN systems operate in the frequency range of about or above 1 GHz, so the necessary antennas can be configured in the mobile phone with great effort by designing antennas based on antennas with 1/4 wavelength.

Figure 1 shows a wireless communication device with many built-in blocks (or systems) of wireless communication. The wireless communication device 100, such as a handset or a mobile phone, comprises a transceiver / RF unit 101 for processing transmissions from a base station, a baseband unit 102, an FM / AM unit 103, a DTV (digital TV) unit 104, a Bluetooth unit 105, a unit 106 Wi-Fi and 107 GPS unit. Note that the HF, VHF, and UHF units, such as the FM / AM unit 103 and the DTV unit 104, operate in the frequency range below 1 GHz, and therefore require antennas with a longer length and size when using antennas with 1/4 wavelength. Because the antenna size for the FM / AM unit 103 or the DTV unit 104 is too large for configuration in the handset or mobile phone, manufacturers configure HF, VHF or UHF antennas outside the handset body or increase the size of the handset to include more HF antennas, VHF or UHF, therefore, the inevitable deterioration of the elegant profile of the handset (or mobile phone) and the increase in the cost of the product.

Figure 2 shows a conventional handset (or mobile phone) 200 with a block 201 FM / AM. An external headphone 202 connected to the headphone jack 203 serves as an antenna for receiving FM / AM signals. FM / AM signals are input to the antenna output 204 of the 201 FM / AM unit and the 201 FM / AM unit provides stereo audio signals Ste_R and Ste_L to an external headphone 202 or speakers Sp_R and Sp_L via amplifiers 205. However, it is inconvenient for users to prepare the head phones for listening to FM radio / AM. Functions for setting the FM / AM alarm and time recording of FM programs cannot be obtained without turning on the external headset.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a mobile communication device with an internal antenna device for receiving low-frequency signals of an operating frequency range below 1 GHz, the internal antenna device being connected in series or parallel to an external antenna, such as a headphone.

The invention is also directed to a mobile communication device with a low-frequency circuit and an internal antenna device for receiving low-frequency signals so that the mobile communication device can control the low-frequency circuit to act as a radio (broadcast) alarm without the need for an external headphone.

The invention is further directed to a mobile communication device with a low-frequency circuit and an internal antenna device for receiving low-frequency signals, so that the mobile communication device can perform time-based recording of radio (broadcast) programs without the need for an external headphone.

To achieve the above objectives, an exemplary embodiment of the invention provides a mobile communication device comprising: a headphone jack having at least first, second and third terminals, the first and second terminals transmitting audio signals to an external headphone connected to the headphone jack, and the third output is defined for connecting the auxiliary line of an external headphone, a low-frequency unit that processes low-frequency signals to generate audio signals, having an an output terminal connected to the third terminal, and an internal antenna device having a signal output terminal connected to the antenna terminal.

To achieve the above objectives, another exemplary embodiment of the invention provides a mobile communication device comprising: a headphone jack having at least first, second and third terminals, the first and second terminals transmitting audio signals to an external headphone connected to the headphone jack, and the third conclusion is defined for connecting the auxiliary line of the external headphone, the low-frequency unit that processes low-frequency signals to generate audio signals, I have an output antenna terminal, and an internal antenna device having a signal input terminal and a second terminal connected, respectively, to the antenna terminal and the third terminal.

A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention can be fully understood by reading the following detailed description and examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a wireless communication device with many built-in wireless communication units.

Figure 2 shows a regular handset (or mobile phone) with an FM / AM unit.

Figure 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a handset (or mobile phone) in accordance with the invention.

4 shows another exemplary embodiment of a handset in accordance with the invention.

5 shows another exemplary embodiment of a handset in accordance with the invention.

6 shows another exemplary embodiment of a handset in accordance with the invention.

7 shows another exemplary embodiment of a handset in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 8 shows an exemplary embodiment of a handset capable of setting the FM / AM alarm function without connecting to an external headphone.

9 shows an exemplary embodiment of a handset capable of time-based recording without connecting to an external headphone.

10 shows an exemplary embodiment of a handset with a Bluetooth unit in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description is the best proposed mode for carrying out the invention. This description is for purposes of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be understood in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is best determined by reference to the attached claims.

For brevity, handsets (mobile phones) are used here as examples of mobile communication devices to describe the invention. However, applications are not limited to handsets or mobile phones. Any wireless devices may be used with this description. For clarity, similar or identical components and blocks in the subsequent drawings are denoted by the same numeric numerals or records.

Figure 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a handset (or mobile phone) according to the invention. The handset 300 includes a headphone jack 301, a low frequency circuit 302, an internal antenna device 303, amplifiers 304, 309 and a speaker 305. For brevity, the RF module and the main antenna for communication with the base station are not shown in FIG. 3. The telephone jack 301 has at least a first terminal A, a second terminal B and a third terminal C, while the first and second terminals A and B transmit stereo audio signals Ste_R and Ste_L through an amplifier 304 to an external headphone 306 connected to the headphone jack 301 telephone, and a third terminal is defined for connecting the auxiliary line of the external headphone 306. The auxiliary line (not shown in FIG. 3) may be the ground line of the headphone 306 or another line not used for signal transmission.

The low-frequency unit 302 processes low-frequency signals, such as HF, VHF, and UHF signals of an operating frequency range below 1 GHz, to generate stereo audio signals Ste_R and Ste_L amplified and transmitted to the speaker 305 and the external headphone 306. In this embodiment, the low-frequency unit 302 is an FM / AM unit (or a DTV unit) having an antenna terminal 307 connected to a third terminal C of the headphone jack 301. When an external headphone 306 is connected to the headphone jack 301, the auxiliary line serves as an external antenna for receiving FM / AM signals for the FM / AM unit 302.

The internal antenna device 303 has a signal output terminal 308 connected to the antenna terminal 307, and is connected in parallel with the auxiliary line (external antenna) when the external headphone 306 is connected to the headphone jack 301. Note that the size of the auxiliary line (external antenna) usually exceeds the size of the internal antenna device 303 and therefore has an antenna gain greater than the gain of the internal antenna device 303, dominating the reception of FM / AM signals when the external headphone 306 connects to the headphone jack 301 . The internal antenna device 303 adapts the FM / AM unit 302 to receive FM / AM signals without connecting an external headphone 306.

4 shows another exemplary embodiment of a handset in accordance with the invention. The handset 400 further comprises an inductor 401 (or an inductive device) connected between the third terminal C and the ground, providing a ground signal for the external headphone 306. The handset 400 further comprises a matching circuit 402 connected between the signal output terminal 308 of the internal antenna device 303 and the antenna terminal 307 of the FM / AM unit 302, to improve impedance matching between the internal antenna device 303 and the FM / AM unit 302.

FIG. 5 shows another exemplary embodiment of a handset in accordance with the invention. The handset 500 further comprises a switch 501 connected to the antenna terminal 307, the signal output terminal 308 and the third terminal C. The switch 501 selectively connects the signal terminal 308 or the third terminal C to the antenna terminal 307 in accordance with the control signal Sc. For example, the control signal Sc may respond to the connection of the external headphone 306 and control the switch 501 to connect the signal output terminal 308 to the antenna terminal 307 when the external headphone 306 is not connected, otherwise connect the third terminal C to the antenna terminal 307 when connected external headphone 306.

6 shows another exemplary embodiment of a handset in accordance with the invention. The handset 600 shown in FIG. 6 contains almost the same components as shown in FIG. 3, except for the location of the internal antenna device 603. In this embodiment, the internal antenna device 603 has a signal supply terminal T1 connected to the antenna terminal 307 unit 302 FM / AM, and terminal T2 connected to the third terminal C. Therefore, the internal antenna device 603 is connected in series to the auxiliary line (external antenna) when the external headphone 306 is connected to the headphone jack 301 . An external antenna (auxiliary line) and an internal antenna device 603 work together to receive FM / AM signals when an external headphone is connected to the headphone jack 301. In addition, the internal antenna device 603 adapts the FM / AM unit 302 to receive FM / AM signals without connecting an external headphone 306.

7 shows another exemplary embodiment of a handset in accordance with the invention. The handset 600 further comprises an inductor 601 (inductance device) connected between the signal supply terminal T1 and the ground, supplying a ground signal to the external headphone 306. The handset 600 further comprises a matching circuit 602 connected between the signal output terminal T1 of the internal antenna device 603 and the antenna terminal 307 of the FM / AM unit 302, improving impedance matching between the internal antenna device 603 and the FM / AM unit 302.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3-7, each internal antenna device has a length shorter than 1/4 of the operating wavelength so that it can be installed inside handsets or mobile phones. These internal antenna devices can be made by using an antenna described in US Pat. No. 6,970,140, or pending patent application filed in 2006, entitled “Antenna Device and Using its Mobile Communication Device”. However, it should be noted that this is not only an embodiment of the internal antenna device of the present invention. Any other internal antenna devices may be used in the present invention.

The present invention can facilitate a large number of handset applications. 8-10 show some embodiments of the present invention that facilitate the use of handsets.

Fig. 8 shows an exemplary embodiment of a handset capable of setting an FM / AM alarm signal without being connected to an external headphone. The handset 800 includes a headphone jack 301, an FM / AM unit (low frequency unit) 302, an internal antenna device 303, a first amplifier 309, a speaker 305, and a main frequency range unit 802. The third terminal C of the telephone jack 301 is connected to the antenna terminal 307 and the signal output terminal T1 of the internal antenna device 303. In an alternative arrangement of the internal antenna device 303, the signal terminal T1 and the terminal T2 are connected to the antenna terminal 307 and the third terminal C, respectively, without connecting a third terminal C and antenna terminal 307.

The main frequency range unit 802 comprises a RTC timer 804 (real-time clock), a GPIO port 806 (GPON) (general purpose input / output), and a second amplifier 808. The alarm time can be set in an 804 RTC timer. When the RTC timer 804 counts the set time, the RTC timer 804 sends a control signal through the GPIO port 806 to activate the FM / AM unit 302 to receive FM / AM signals through the internal antenna device 303. The FM / AM unit 302 generates stereo audio signals Ste_R and Ste_L to the speaker 305 through the second and first amplifiers 808, 304, thus fulfilling the function of (generating) the FM / AM alarm signal without connecting to an external headphone.

FIG. 9 shows an exemplary embodiment of a handset 900 capable of performing a time recording function without being connected to an external headphone. In Fig. 9, the main frequency range block 802 further comprises a recorder 902 connected between the GPIO port 806 and the stereo audio signals Ste_R and Ste_L. Recording time can be set with an 804 RTC timer. When the RTC timer 804 counts the set time, the RTC timer 804 sends a control signal through port 806 of the GPIO to activate the FM / AM unit 302 (if FM / AM is not turned on) to receive FM / AM signals through the internal antenna device 303. The recorder 902 is controlled via port 806 GPIO for recording stereo audio signals Ste_R and Ste_L, thus performing the function of time-based recording.

10, the handset 950 further comprises a Bluetooth unit 904 connected to the stereo audio signals Ste_R and Ste_L. The Bluetooth unit 904 delivers stereo audio signals through its antenna 906, allowing FM / AM radio programs to be transmitted via a Bluetooth headset or any Bluetooth device. For brevity, Bluetooth is used here as an example of a shortwave wireless communication system.

Mobile communication devices in accordance with the invention have internal antenna devices for receiving low-frequency signals of an operating frequency range below 1 GHz, and these internal antenna devices can be connected in series or in parallel with external antennas, such as headphones. Therefore, the mobile communication devices (with low frequency units) of the invention receive low frequency broadcast programs (such as FM / AM or DTV programs) without the need for external head phones.

The mobile communication devices of the invention further receive low frequency signals (such as FM / AM signals) without the need for external headphones as external antennas. Mobile communication devices can control low-frequency units to perform the functions of a radio (broadcast) alarm and time-lapse recording without connecting to external headphones.

In addition, the mobile communication devices of the invention may further have Bluetooth units provided herein, so that users can listen to FM / AM radio programs from Bluetooth headphones.

Although the invention is described by examples and in terms of preferred embodiments, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the described embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar devices (as will be apparent to a person skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the attached claims should be consistent with a broad interpretation to include all such modifications and similar devices.

Claims (19)

1. A mobile communication device comprising:
a headphone jack comprising at least first, second and third terminals, the first and second terminals transmitting audio signals to an external headphone connected to the headphone jack, and a third terminal is defined for connecting an auxiliary line of the external headphone;
a low-frequency unit processing low-frequency signals to generate audio signals, comprising an antenna terminal connected to a third terminal; and
an internal antenna device formed inside a mobile communication device comprising a signal input terminal connected to an antenna terminal; and
a switching unit connected to a third terminal, a signal terminal and an antenna terminal for selectively connecting the third terminal or a signal terminal with an antenna terminal in accordance with a control signal. 2. The mobile communication device according to claim 1, further comprising an inductive device connected between the third terminal and the base ground. 3. The mobile communication device according to claim 2, further comprising a matching circuit connected between a signal input terminal and an antenna terminal. 4. The mobile communication device according to claim 1, wherein the low-frequency unit receives low-frequency signals through an internal antenna device when the external headphone is not connected to the headphone jack. 5. The mobile communication device according to claim 4, in which the internal antenna device operates in the frequency range below 1 GHz. 6. The mobile communication device according to claim 5, in which the low-frequency unit is an FM / AM unit or a digital DTV unit. 7. The mobile communication device according to claim 6, further containing a block of the main frequency range containing at least an RTC timer (real time clock), while the block of the main frequency range activates the FM / AM block to output audio signals as an alarm when the timer RTC will count a predetermined time. 8. The mobile communication device according to claim 7, in which the block of the main frequency range further comprises a recording device connected to the audio signals; the recorder is controlled to perform time-based recording of audio signals when the RTC timer counts down a predetermined time. 9. The mobile communication device according to claim 7, further comprising a Bluetooth unit connected to audio signals for transmitting audio signals to a Bluetooth headset. 10. The mobile communication device according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary line serves as an external antenna when the external headphone is connected to the headphone jack. 11. A mobile communication device comprising:
a headphone jack containing at least first, second and third terminals, the first and second terminals transmitting audio signals to an external headphone connected to the headphone jack, and the third terminal is defined to connect an auxiliary line serving, for example, as an external antenna external headphone;
a low-frequency unit processing low-frequency signals to generate audio signals, comprising an antenna output; and
an internal antenna device, made inside a mobile communication device, comprising a signal input terminal and a second terminal respectively connected to the antenna terminal and the third terminal. 12. The mobile communication device according to claim 11, further comprising an inductive device connected between the third terminal and the base ground. 13. The mobile communication device according to item 12, further containing a matching circuit connected between the output signal and the antenna output. 14. The mobile communication device according to claim 11, in which the low-frequency unit receives low-frequency signals through the internal antenna device when the external headphone is not connected to the headphone jack. 15. The mobile communication device according to 14, in which the internal antenna device operates in the frequency range below 1 GHz. 16. The mobile communication device according to clause 15, in which the low-frequency unit is an FM / AM unit or a digital DTV unit. 17. The mobile communication device according to clause 16, further containing a block of the main frequency range containing at least an RTC timer (real time clock), while the block of the main frequency range activates the FM / AM unit to issue audio signals when the RTC timer counts a predetermined time. 18. The mobile communication device according to 17, the block of the main frequency range further comprises a recording device connected to the audio signals, the recording device is controlled to perform time-based recording of audio signals when the RTC timer counts down a predetermined time. 19. The mobile communication device according to clause 16, further comprising a Bluetooth unit connected to audio signals for transmitting audio signals to the Bluetooth headset.

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