WO2000013257A1 - An antenna collar apparatus for operating switches and the like - Google Patents

An antenna collar apparatus for operating switches and the like Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2000013257A1
WO2000013257A1 PCT/GB1998/002564 GB9802564W WO0013257A1 WO 2000013257 A1 WO2000013257 A1 WO 2000013257A1 GB 9802564 W GB9802564 W GB 9802564W WO 0013257 A1 WO0013257 A1 WO 0013257A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
collar
antenna
longitudinal axis
movement
receiving
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1998/002564
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Clive Cushion
David Taylor
Original Assignee
Maxon Systems Inc. (London) Ltd.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Maxon Systems Inc. (London) Ltd. filed Critical Maxon Systems Inc. (London) Ltd.
Priority to PCT/GB1998/002564 priority Critical patent/WO2000013257A1/en
Publication of WO2000013257A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000013257A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/12—Supports; Mounting means
    • H01Q1/22—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles
    • H01Q1/24—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set
    • H01Q1/241—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM
    • H01Q1/242—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM specially adapted for hand-held use
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B1/00—Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission
    • H04B1/38—Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
    • H04B1/3827—Portable transceivers
    • H04B1/3833—Hand-held transceivers

Definitions

  • An antenna collar apparatus for operating switches and the like An antenna collar apparatus for operating switches and the like
  • the invention concerns an antenna collar apparatus for operating switches and the like. More specifically the invention is related to an apparatus for actuating switches, potentiometers and the like at the location of an antenna.
  • the invention therefore has the object to solve the above- mentioned problems and to provide a way whereby a smaller device with added features may retain function keys of adequate size for efficient use without sacrificing other features of the device.
  • the invention comprises an antenna collar actuation apparatus having the features of claim 1.
  • one or more functions of a device traditionally requiring the use of function keys may be actuated at the antenna location, thus increasing the amount of space available for use of the remaining function keys.
  • an antenna collar actuation apparatus includes a movable collar with an opening for receiving an antenna.
  • the antenna may be secured onto the collar by such means, for example, as a screw thread, one or more pegs for insertion through corresponding openings in the collar and antenna, and/or one or more spring-loaded protrusions that would spring into one or more corresponding holes, openings and/or depressions once the antenna is positioned into place on the collar.
  • the one or more spring- loaded protrusions may be on the collar with one or more matching holes, openings and/or depressions located on the antenna.
  • the one or more holes, openings and/or depressions may be on the collar with the one or more spring-loaded protrusions being located on the antenna.
  • the collar may be movable whilst the antenna remains stationary.
  • the collar will have an external surface with a region where the collar's movement may be facilitated.
  • a region may include, for example, a knurl, one or more bars, or any suitable combination of protrusions or textures that will facilitate the collar movement.
  • the collar will also preferably have on its external surface a region suitable for receiving an electrical contact.
  • Such a region may take the form, for example, of a plain cylindrical section that could be used to receive one or more spring contacts. Other forms are equally possible and envisioned by the invention. It is preferable that the electric contact will be positioned such that electrical contact between the antenna and circuit board may be maintained whilst the collar moves.
  • the antenna collar actuation apparatus will include a means for operating one or more devices by movement of the collar.
  • a means can include, though is not limited to, a cam.
  • Collar movement may be rotable about, along, and/or radial with respect to the longitudinal axis of the antenna. The collar's movement will preferably operate the one or more devices without interfering with the electrical operation of the antenna.
  • fig. 1 shows a side sectional view of the invention with an antenna fixed to it
  • fig. 2 shows top and side external views of the invention near the base of an antenna
  • fig.3A and B illustrate top sectional views of the invention operating a switch.
  • the preferred example embodiment includes an elongated collar 10 with an opening 12 for receiving an antenna 14.
  • the collar 10 is rotatbly movable mounted in a housing (not showed) of an electronic device.
  • the base 16 of collar 10 is secured to the antenna 14 using a screw thread 18, which may be screwed into a corresponding internal groove surface 20 of the collar 10.
  • the external surface 22 of the collar 10 includes at a base 16 a region 24 that facilitates outside manual rotation (see fig. 2) .
  • the remainder of the external surface 22 is enclosed by an antenna casing 26 which may be part of the housing of the electric devices.
  • the housing also houses a spring contact 28 with a circuit board 30 and a switch 32 preferably also mounted on the circuit board 30.
  • the antenna casing 26 is secured to the collar 10 at a groove 34, which is located circumferencially adjacent to the base 16 along the longitudinal axis 36 of the collar 10 and the antenna 14.
  • the external surface 22 includes a region 38 in the form of a plain cylindrical section suitable for the use of the spring contact 28. Such an arrangement allows for a rotating electrical contact between the antenna 14 and the circuit board 30.
  • the external surface 22 also includes a cam section 40 located adjacent to the region 38. Located radially above the cam section 40 is the switch 32.
  • the cam section 40 operates the switch 32 by causing a moveable member 42 of the switch 32 to go from an undepressed state (see fig. 3a) to a depressed state (see fig. 3b) .
  • a moveable member 42 of the switch 32 may go from an undepressed state (see fig. 3a) to a depressed state (see fig. 3b) .
  • one or more predetermined functions may be performed by the operation of the switch 32 without interfering with the electrical operation of the antenna 14.
  • the collar 10 serves two purposes: First, it is a mounting or guiding member of the antenna. Second, it serves to operate a switch or a plurality of switches provided in operational proximity of the collar.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Support Of Aerials (AREA)

Abstract

An antenna collar apparatus, comprising a movable collar and a means for operating one or more devices operatively coupled to said collar by movement of said collar. This apparatus allows functions normally requiring the use of function keys to be performed without such function keys, with little or no interference with the overall electrical operation of the device that the apparatus is used with.

Description

An antenna collar apparatus for operating switches and the like
The invention concerns an antenna collar apparatus for operating switches and the like. More specifically the invention is related to an apparatus for actuating switches, potentiometers and the like at the location of an antenna.
Many devices requiring the use of function keys, such as a keypad on a cellular phone, have become more compact due to the general advance of technology. Additionally, technological advances have also produced devices with an increasing number of functions. The problem is that as such devices have become more compact, so to have the corresponding function keys needed to operate the device. The problem becomes even more pronounced with devices needing additional function keys to accommodate new features. In order to address these situations, either the function keys have had to become smaller, leading to greater difficulty of use, or some device functions or features have had to be sacrificed in order to retain a function key size adequate enough for efficient use of the device. The problem is most apparent in, for example, cellular phones.
The invention therefore has the object to solve the above- mentioned problems and to provide a way whereby a smaller device with added features may retain function keys of adequate size for efficient use without sacrificing other features of the device.
The invention comprises an antenna collar actuation apparatus having the features of claim 1.
According to the invention, one or more functions of a device traditionally requiring the use of function keys may be actuated at the antenna location, thus increasing the amount of space available for use of the remaining function keys.
In a preferred embodiment, an antenna collar actuation apparatus includes a movable collar with an opening for receiving an antenna. The antenna may be secured onto the collar by such means, for example, as a screw thread, one or more pegs for insertion through corresponding openings in the collar and antenna, and/or one or more spring-loaded protrusions that would spring into one or more corresponding holes, openings and/or depressions once the antenna is positioned into place on the collar. The one or more spring- loaded protrusions may be on the collar with one or more matching holes, openings and/or depressions located on the antenna. Alternatively, the one or more holes, openings and/or depressions may be on the collar with the one or more spring-loaded protrusions being located on the antenna. In another alternative arrangement, the collar may be movable whilst the antenna remains stationary.
Preferably, the collar will have an external surface with a region where the collar's movement may be facilitated. Such a region may include, for example, a knurl, one or more bars, or any suitable combination of protrusions or textures that will facilitate the collar movement. The collar will also preferably have on its external surface a region suitable for receiving an electrical contact. Such a region may take the form, for example, of a plain cylindrical section that could be used to receive one or more spring contacts. Other forms are equally possible and envisioned by the invention. It is preferable that the electric contact will be positioned such that electrical contact between the antenna and circuit board may be maintained whilst the collar moves.
In a preferred embodiment, the antenna collar actuation apparatus will include a means for operating one or more devices by movement of the collar. Such a means can include, though is not limited to, a cam. Collar movement may be rotable about, along, and/or radial with respect to the longitudinal axis of the antenna. The collar's movement will preferably operate the one or more devices without interfering with the electrical operation of the antenna.
Further preferred embodiments of the invention are recited in the dependent claims.
In the following paragraphs, a preferred example embodiment of the invention is described in greater detail. Reference is made to the accompanying figures, in which:
fig. 1 shows a side sectional view of the invention with an antenna fixed to it,
fig. 2 shows top and side external views of the invention near the base of an antenna, and
fig.3A and B illustrate top sectional views of the invention operating a switch.
Referring to fig. 1, the preferred example embodiment includes an elongated collar 10 with an opening 12 for receiving an antenna 14. The collar 10 is rotatbly movable mounted in a housing (not showed) of an electronic device. The base 16 of collar 10 is secured to the antenna 14 using a screw thread 18, which may be screwed into a corresponding internal groove surface 20 of the collar 10. The external surface 22 of the collar 10 includes at a base 16 a region 24 that facilitates outside manual rotation (see fig. 2) . The remainder of the external surface 22 is enclosed by an antenna casing 26 which may be part of the housing of the electric devices. In this embodiment the housing also houses a spring contact 28 with a circuit board 30 and a switch 32 preferably also mounted on the circuit board 30. The antenna casing 26 is secured to the collar 10 at a groove 34, which is located circumferencially adjacent to the base 16 along the longitudinal axis 36 of the collar 10 and the antenna 14.
Further along the longitudinal axis 36 from the base 16, the external surface 22 includes a region 38 in the form of a plain cylindrical section suitable for the use of the spring contact 28. Such an arrangement allows for a rotating electrical contact between the antenna 14 and the circuit board 30.
Continuing along the longitudinal axis 36 of the collar 10 and the antenna 14 and further distant from the base 16, the external surface 22 also includes a cam section 40 located adjacent to the region 38. Located radially above the cam section 40 is the switch 32.
When the collar 10 is rotated, the cam section 40 operates the switch 32 by causing a moveable member 42 of the switch 32 to go from an undepressed state (see fig. 3a) to a depressed state (see fig. 3b) . Thus, one or more predetermined functions may be performed by the operation of the switch 32 without interfering with the electrical operation of the antenna 14.
Effectively, the collar 10 serves two purposes: First, it is a mounting or guiding member of the antenna. Second, it serves to operate a switch or a plurality of switches provided in operational proximity of the collar.

Claims

Claims
1. An antenna collar apparatus, comprising a movable collar (10) having an opening (12) for receiving an antenna (14) , and a means (40) for operating one or more devices (32) operatively coupled to said collar (10) by movement of said collar (10) .
2. The antenna collar actuation apparatus of claim 1, wherein said collar (10) further comprises an external surface (22) having a region (24) for initiating movement of said collar (10) and/or a region (38) for receiving an electrical contact (28) , particularly a spring contact, for electrical communication between said external surface (22) and an electrical component (30) , particularly a circuit board.
3. The antenna collar apparatus of claims 1 or 2 , wherein said operating means (40) includes a cam provided at the external surface (22) of the collar for operating said one or more devices (32) by a rotational or translational movement.
4. The antenna collar apparatus of claim 2 or 3 , wherein said region (24) for initiating movement includes a knurl and/or one or more bars and/or a series of protrusions; and/or wherein said region (38) for receiving an electrical contact (28) includes a plain cylindrical section.
5. The antenna collar apparatus of one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein said collar (10) further comprises an internal groove surface (20) for receiving a screw thread (18) of the antenna (14) to secure the antenna (14) onto said collar (10) ; and/or wherein said collar (10) includes one or more peg openings spaced radially above a longitudinal axis (36) of said collar (10) for the insertion of one or more pegs, whereby said one or more pegs may be inserted in said one or more peg openings and corresponding openings and/or passages in the antenna (14) to secure the antenna (14) onto said collar (10) .
6. The antenna collar apparatus of one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said collar (10) includes one or more internal spring-loaded protrusions spaced radially above the longitudinal axis (36) of said collar (10) , whereby said protrusions compress radially outward from the longitudinal axis (36) until said collar (10) is positioned into place with the antenna (14) allowing said protrusions to spring radially inward into one or more matching openings and/or depressions on the antenna (14) to secure said collar (10) onto the antenna (14) ; and/or wherein said collar (10) includes one or more internal depressions and/or openings spaced radially above the longitudinal axis (36) for receiving corresponding one or more spring-loaded protrusions to secure the antenna (14) onto said collar (10) .
7. The antenna collar apparatus of one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said movement is rotation about a longitudinal axis (36) of the antenna (14) ; and/or wherein said movement is along the longitudinal axis (36) of the antenna (14) ; and/or wherein said movement is radial with respect to the longitudinal axis (36) of antenna (14) .
PCT/GB1998/002564 1998-08-26 1998-08-26 An antenna collar apparatus for operating switches and the like WO2000013257A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/GB1998/002564 WO2000013257A1 (en) 1998-08-26 1998-08-26 An antenna collar apparatus for operating switches and the like

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/GB1998/002564 WO2000013257A1 (en) 1998-08-26 1998-08-26 An antenna collar apparatus for operating switches and the like

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000013257A1 true WO2000013257A1 (en) 2000-03-09

Family

ID=10826583

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1998/002564 WO2000013257A1 (en) 1998-08-26 1998-08-26 An antenna collar apparatus for operating switches and the like

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2000013257A1 (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN100369318C (en) * 2003-12-30 2008-02-13 乐金电子(中国)研究开发中心有限公司 Antenna assembly for portable terminal
USRE43817E1 (en) 2004-07-12 2012-11-20 Cardinal Cg Company Low-maintenance coatings
US9738967B2 (en) 2006-07-12 2017-08-22 Cardinal Cg Company Sputtering apparatus including target mounting and control
US10604442B2 (en) 2016-11-17 2020-03-31 Cardinal Cg Company Static-dissipative coating technology

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1381275A (en) * 1971-04-06 1975-01-22 Electrical Remote Control Co Cam-operated control devices
US5276454A (en) * 1991-06-17 1994-01-04 Motorola, Inc. Control and antenna mount assembly
GB2276703A (en) * 1993-04-01 1994-10-05 Motorola As Antenna incorporating a function selector in a radio communications device.
GB2311415A (en) * 1996-03-13 1997-09-24 Motorola Inc Wireless communication device with antenna-activated switch in impedance-matching circuit

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1381275A (en) * 1971-04-06 1975-01-22 Electrical Remote Control Co Cam-operated control devices
US5276454A (en) * 1991-06-17 1994-01-04 Motorola, Inc. Control and antenna mount assembly
GB2276703A (en) * 1993-04-01 1994-10-05 Motorola As Antenna incorporating a function selector in a radio communications device.
GB2311415A (en) * 1996-03-13 1997-09-24 Motorola Inc Wireless communication device with antenna-activated switch in impedance-matching circuit

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN100369318C (en) * 2003-12-30 2008-02-13 乐金电子(中国)研究开发中心有限公司 Antenna assembly for portable terminal
USRE43817E1 (en) 2004-07-12 2012-11-20 Cardinal Cg Company Low-maintenance coatings
USRE44155E1 (en) 2004-07-12 2013-04-16 Cardinal Cg Company Low-maintenance coatings
US9738967B2 (en) 2006-07-12 2017-08-22 Cardinal Cg Company Sputtering apparatus including target mounting and control
US10604442B2 (en) 2016-11-17 2020-03-31 Cardinal Cg Company Static-dissipative coating technology
US11325859B2 (en) 2016-11-17 2022-05-10 Cardinal Cg Company Static-dissipative coating technology

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