Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to computer devices utilizing removable radio frequency communication devices used for transmitting and receiving information and more particularly to an improved apparatus for connecting an appropriate antenna to the radio frequency communication device using an antenna cap, and to an improved method and apparatus for connecting a communication card device such as a radio or modem to an appropriate antenna or telephone line.
• the PCMCIA memory cards are relatively small having a
• Radio frequency communication allows two or more computer terminals to communicate without actually being wired together.
• radio communication many different radio frequencies and frequency ranges can and must be used to accommodate the different types of radio communication.
• a radio that operates by sending the information on a single channel in the TJHF band differs greatly from a radio that sends its information utilizing spread spectrum frequency hopping in the 2400- 2483 MHz range.
• the antennas necessary to operate in the different frequency ranges also differ.
• modem communication whether connected by traditional phone lines or by cellular phones, allow computer devices that are not hardwired together to exchange information.
• connection of the radio card or modem card to an outside antenna or telephone line is typically made by either extending the length of the card beyond the standard card length with the antenna or connection built into the extended portion or by having an antenna or telephone cable protrude out of the end of the radio card to which the user may attach an antenna or telephone line.
• Both connections severely limit the type of device that can accommodate the cards. Most devices cannot accommodate the extra length without some modification and both connections make environmentally sealing the connections difficult. Additionally, both connections are susceptible to increased damage from dropping or other physical trauma. An external antenna to which the user must couple an antenna is inconvenient and subjects the radio periods of unreliability due to wear of the cable and connection.
• An additional problem is converting computer devices that were not designed to utilize radio or modem cards, and thus have no built in or attached antenna, into devices that can utilize radio and
• the present invention relates generally to computer devices utilizing removable radio frequency communication devices used for transmitting and receiving information and more particularly to an improved apparatus for connecting an appropriate antenna to the radio frequency communication device using an antenna cap, and to an improved method and apparatus for connecting a communication card device such as a radio or modem to an appropriate antenna or telephone line.
• a removable radio card can be inserted into a receiving device which is part of a computer terminal.
• radio card has an electrical interface which engages with an interface on the receiving device.
• the interface on the receiving device is connected to the computer terminal and when the interfaces are engaged, communication between the radio card and the computer terminal is possible.
• the receiving device is connected to at least one antenna by means of an antenna cable which has a pair of contacts located on the receiving device. This pair of receiving device antenna contacts encounter a pair of antenna contacts on the radio card. This connection allows the radio card to utilize an antenna located on or within the receiving device.
• the connection of a modem card to a telephone, cellular phone, or antenna for a cellular phone can be accomplished in substantially the same manner.
• a radio card or modem card which is inserted into the computer terminal contains one set of contacts which encounter a corresponding set of contacts located on the receiving device.
• the receiving device contacts are connected to a switching matrix which is in turn connected to at least one of radio frequency antennas, a cellular phone, an antenna for cellular phone, or a jack for connection to a standard telephone line.
• the computer terminal interrogates the radio card or modem card and determines to which antenna or telephone line the card should be connected.
• the radio card antenna contacts are at the opposite end of the radio card with respect to the electrical interface.
• the computer device includes a cap which engages with the opening in the housing through which the radio card was inserted.
• the cap includes antenna contacts positioned to engage the radio card antenna contacts.
• cap is connected to one end of a band.
• the other end of the band is connected to the housing of the computer device.
• An antenna can be embedded in the cap, embedded in the band or embedded in or on the housing of the computer device. Connection of the antenna contacts on the cap and of the antenna is accomplished through the cap and utilizes either wire connections or a micro shield ribbon.
• Different radio cards may transmit on different frequencies and therefore need different antennas. Multiple antennas allow the radio cards to selectively transmit and receive on different antennas based upon the frequency used for communication. Additionally, two similar antennas disposed in different positions can be used to implement an antenna diversity scheme.
• An object of the present invention is to provide an improved antenna connector for use with radio cards which can be inserted into various computer devices.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved antenna connector which is reliable, economical and easy to use.
• Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for connecting a modem card to a telephone line, cellular telephone or antenna for a cellular phone.
• a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus which utilizes only one set of contacts on the radio card or modem card and uses a switching matrix to connect the radio card or modem card to the appropriate antenna or telephone line.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide an antenna cap for use with computer devices utilizing radio cards.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide an antenna cap which is reliable, economical and easy to use.
• a further object of the present invention is to provide an antenna cap whereby an appropriate antenna will be connected to a radio card by selectively positioning the antenna contacts on the radio card.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide an antenna cap whereby a radio card may simultaneously connect to and utilize more than one radio antenna.
• Still another object of the present invention is to provide an
• Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a radio card and a corresponding port for receiving the radio card built in accordance with the present invention
• Fig. 2 is a partial top plan view of a radio card and port for receiving the radio card with the radio card completely inserted in the port;
• Fig. 3 is a partial side elevational view taken along line 3-3 showing the male/female pin connection of the radio card and the port of Fig. 2;
• Fig. 4 is a front view taken along line 4-4 showing the female pin connections of the radio card of Fig. 1;
• Fig. 5 is a perspective view of computer terminal showing the slot for receiving the radio card
• Fig. 6 is front view taken along line 6-6 showing how a radio card to be inserted into the slot of the computer terminal of Fig. 5;
• Fig. 7 is a perspective view of another radio card and a corresponding port for receiving the radio card built in accordance with the present invention
• Fig. 8 is a front view of another computer te ⁇ riinal and end cap capable of receiving a radio card
• Fig. 9 is a top view taken along line 9-9 of the computer terminal of Fig. 8;
• Fig. 10 is a bottom view taken along line 10-10 of the computer terminal of Fig. 8 with the end cap removed;
• Fig. 11 is a side elevation view taken along line 11-11 of the computer terminal of Fig. 8 with the slot for the radio card shown in
• Fig. 12 is a partial top view taken along line 12-12 of the computer terminal of Fig. 11 showing the slot for receiving the radio card and the antennas;
• Fig. 13 is a partial top view of yet another embodiment of a computer terminal built in accordance with the present invention showing the use of a switching matrix;
• Fig. 14 is a back view of a computer device and radio card built in accordance with the present invention;
• Fig. 15 is a side elevational view taken along line 15-15 of Fig. 14 of the computer device and radio card;
• Fig. 16 is a partial top view taken along line 16-16 of Fig. 14 of the computer device;
• Fig. 17 is a partial side elevational view of another computer device built in accordance with the present invention.
• Fig. 18 is a top view taken along line 18-18 of Fig. 17 of the computer device showing the rubber cap inserted therein;
• Fig. 19 is a partial vertical sectional view taken along line 19-
• Fig. 20 is a partial vertical section view taken along line 20-20 of Fig. 19 of the rubber cap;
• Fig. 21 is a partial vertical sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 22 is a partial vertical sectional view of still another embodiment of the present invention
• Fig. 23 is a partial back view taken along line 23-23 of Fig.
• Fig. 24 is a partial back view of still another embodiment built in accordance with the present invention.
• Fig. 25 is a partial horizontal sectional view taken along line 25-25 of Fig. 24 of the band showing the shielded ribbon used to carry the antenna signals;
• Fig. 26 is partial back view of a computer device of yet another embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 27 is a circuit diagram of a switching matrix for microprocessor control of antenna selection.
• Fig. 28 is a circuit diagram showing an antenna diversity scheme which can be incorporated into the switching matrix circuit of Fig. 27.
• Fig. 1 shows a radio card (10) and a receiving device (11) built in accordance with the present invention.
• the radio card 10
• the receiving device (11) in this embodiment of the present invention uses a pair of opposed slots (14) to receive and guide the incoming radio card (10).
• the radio card (10) has an antenna interface, a pair of antenna contacts (15), positioned along the edge of the housing (13).
• the receiving device (11) has a corresponding pair of antenna contacts (16).
• the antenna contacts (15) on the radio card housing (13) electrically encounter the corresponding set of antenna contacts (16) positioned on the receiving device (11).
• the antenna contacts (16) on the receiving device (11) are connected to an antenna cable (18).
• the antenna cable (18) is in turn connected to an antenna (not shown).
• an antenna not shown
• the radio card (10) automatically is connected to an antenna.
• Some antennas may however require an antenna interface with more or less than the illustrated two contacts, thus the exemplary use of two is not meant to limit the scope of the present invention.
• a radio card (10) may have antenna contacts (20), shown in dashed lines, located at different positions on the housing (13).
• the receiving device (11) may have several additional pairs of antenna contacts (22).
• the additional pairs of antenna contacts (22) on the receiving device (13) can be used to allow access to several different antennas depending on the type and frequency of radio communication to be utilized by the radio card
• the receiving device (13) is part of a hand held computer terminal which has more than one antenna attached or built in, different pairs of contacts (16 & 22) can be used to allow access by the radio card to the different antennas depending upon the frequency and range characteristics of each antenna. While a radio card (10) may only operate at one frequency and thereby only need one antenna and therefore only have one pair of antenna contacts, the receiving device (11) still may have several pairs of antenna contacts (16 &22) all but one of which do not correspond to any pair of radio card (10) antenna contacts (15). Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, when the radio card (10) is inserted into the receiving device (11) an interface between the radio card (10) and the receiving device (11) is produced.
• the receiving device (11) has a plurality of pins (30) which form the male portion of a connector.
• the radio card (10) has a corresponding plurality of
• the pins (30) are connected to the computer terminal (not shown) by a series of electrical connections (33) such as wires or electrical ribbon.
• the holes (31) in the radio card (10) are electrically connected to the radio.
• electrical signals can be exchanged between the radio card (10) and the computer terminal.
• the electrical signals can be in the form of information exchange, power supply or both.
• the radio card (10) of Figs. 1-4 might also be a modem card
• a computer terminal (40) is shown built in accordance with the present invention.
• the computer terminal (40) has a slot (42) for receiving a radio card (44).
• the user of the computer terminal (40) lifts up a flexible cover (46) and inserts the radio card (44) into the slot (42).
• the radio card (44) engages with the computer terminal (40) in a similar manner as described in
• the radio card (44) has a pair of antenna contacts (48) which engage with a corresponding pair of contacts inside the computer terminal (40).
• the radio card (50) has two pairs of antenna contacts (52 & 53) which will encounter respectively two pair of antenna contacts (55 & not shown) on the receiving device (58). This embodiment accommodates a radio card (50) which can operate at two different frequencies which require two different antennas.
• Standardization of antenna contact position with antenna type is anticipated and covered by the present invention.
• FIGs. 8-12 another embodiment of a computer terminal (60) built in accordance with the present invention is shown.
• the computer terminal (60) has a removable end cap (62). When the end cap (62) is removed, a slot (60) is revealed which is used to receive a radio card (66).
• the slot (64) in the computer terminal (60) has three pairs of antenna contacts (67, 68 and 69) which are respectively connected to three different radio antennas (71, 72 and
• the radio card (66) in this embodiment only has one pair of antenna contacts (75). Thus, when the radio card (66) is inserted into the slot (64), the antenna contacts (75) will match up to the antenna contacts (67) and the radio will utilize the internal antenna (71). The extemal antenna (73) and the other internal antenna (72) will not be used by this particular radio card (66).
• a communication card (85) is inserted into the computer terminal (80).
• the card (85) can either be a radio card or a modem card.
• the card (85) has a set or pair of contacts (87) which encounter a set or pair of contacts (88) disposed on the receiving portion of the computer terminal (80).
• the contacts (88) are electrically connected to a switching matrix (90), thus the radio card or modem card (85) is electrically connected to the switching matrix
• the switching matrix (90) is connected to a plurality of antennas (92, 93 and 94) and to a telephone jack (95).
• the switching matrix (90) is used to electrically and selectively connect the radio or modem card (85) to the appropriate antenna or to a telephone line.
• the switching matrix (90) is controlled by a controller, a control microprocessor (98), of the computer terminal (80).
• the control microprocessor interrogates the card (85) to determine what kind of card it is and to determine what antenna or telephone connection it needs.
• the control microprocessor then signals the switching matrix
• the circuit (280) allows a radio card to be connected to one of two or more internal or connected antennas of a portable computer device.
• the circuit shown allows antennas (305 and 306) for one of two frequency bands to be selected.
• the design can be extended to allow additional bands to be added by appropriate selection of a switching device.
• the illustrated circuit is based upon a Sony CXG1002 GaAs
• This microprocessor (284) may be a dedicated communications or control microprocessor, or it may be the main processor that runs local applications.
• control microprocessor (284) interrogates the radio card via the bus interface
• PCMCIA standards include provisions for device identification.
• the microprocessor (284) selects the appropriate logic levels from a logic level table (290) for application to the Control A line (292) and Control B line (294) to the
• CXG1002 switch (282) in order to select the proper antenna for the radio card.
• antenna A (288) would be a 900 MHz antenna
• antenna B (289) would be a 2.4 GHz antenna.
• An optional diversity sense circuit is also shown. This circuit allows the radio card to provide a diversity select signal through the RF connector.
• the coil (298) is an RF choke, allowing low frequency signals to pass, but blocking RF signals.
• a second circuit (300) illustrating how the diversity select circuit is implemented is shown.
• the B antenna output (301) from the band selector is applied to a second
• CXG1002 switch (320).
• Two antennas (305 and 306) appropriate for
• 2.4 GHz are designed into the computer device. These antennas (305 and 306) provide either spatial or polarization diversity, or a combination of the two. Selection of the antenna used is controlled by the radio card:
• the diversity sense line (308) is used to control the CXG1002 switch (302).
• the invertor (310) provides buffering and allow a single signal output from the radio card to be used for antenna selection. Altematively, the diversity sense could be provided to the control microprocessor which could then in turn control the selection of antennas.
• Selection diversity could be employed in both the A and B antenna paths if desired with the addition of a CXG1002 switch in the A path. This switch could be controlled by the same circuitry as the B switch, ehminating the need for separate control circuitry for the A path.
• control microprocessor (92) is located within the radio card (85).
• the control microprocessor (92) selects the appropriate antenna by confrolling the switching matrix (90) via the antenna interface (88).
• the control microprocessor (92) either has preset knowledge of the switching matrix and antenna availability, or may interrogate the microprocessor within the receiving unit for such detail.
• the radio card itself contains an antenna (not shown). In most configurations of this embodiment, if no alternate antenna is found within the receiving device, the radio card uses its own antenna. In such configurations, the radio card uses its own antenna as a backup, preferring to use of the receiving device's antennas if available. In other configurations, the radio card may choose the most effective antenna, which may either be its own or the receiving device's antenna. Such a choice may either be predetermined or made based on actual use, i.e., based on received signal strength indications (RSSI) or other signal or communication quality assessments. For example, referring to Fig.
• RSSI received signal strength indications
• a local antenna is housed within the radio card (64).
• the radio card (64) cannot detect receiving device antennas, the radio card (64) chooses its own locally contained antenna.
• the radio card (85) also contains its own internal antenna.
• the control microprocessor (92) not only chooses from among antennas stored within the receiving device, but also considers the antenna stored in the radio card (85). Note that, in addition to any antennas placed in the receiving device, the radio card might also be configured with a plurality of antennas. Referring now to Figs. 14, 15 and 16, a computer device
• the computer device (111) for utilizing a radio card (110) built in accordance with the present invention is shown.
• the computer device (111) has a housing
• the computer device (111) has an opening
• the receiving means for the computer device is a slot
• the computer device (111) has a plurality of pins (not shown) which form the plug or male portion of a connector.
• the radio card (110) has a corresponding plurality of sockets or holes (not shown) which form the receptacle or female portion of the connector and which engage the pins.
• the pins are connected internally and electrically to the computer device (111) by a series of electrical connections such as wires, printed circuit traces or electrical ribbon.
• the holes in the radio card (110) are electrically connected to the radio transceiver. When the pins engage the holes, electrical signals can be exchanged between the radio transceiver inside the radio card (110) and the computer device (111). The electrical signals can be in the form of information exchange,
• the radio card (110) includes antenna contacts (117) to engage corresponding radio antenna contacts that are connected to an appropriate antenna.
• the computer device (111) includes a cap (120) which is designed to matingly engage the opening (115) in the housing (112) of the computer device (111) and thereby cover the slot (115) used to receive the radio card (110).
• a flexible band (122) attaches the cap
• One end of the band (122) is connected to the cap (122) while the other end is attached to the housing (112).
• a handle (124) helps assist the removal of the cap (120) from the housing (112) of the computer device (111).
• the cap (120) is constructed of a closed cell foam material with high air content for low dielectric losses. Alternatively, a quality dielectric material may be used to reduce the size of the antenna structure.
• the cap (120) when made of a foam material helps to protect the radio card from the physical trauma typically associated with computer devices of these types. Additionally, as will be discussed in further detail below, the cap (120) helps to environmentally seal the opening (114) preventing harmful material from the outside such as dust or moisture from reaching the radio card (110) and helps to reduce the escape of electronic noise from the housing (112) created by the radio card (110) and computer device (111). As will be discussed below, a grounded metal shield covering a portion of the cap (120) is used to reduce the escape of electronic noise. While the cap (120) helps to seal the opening, protect the radio card (110) and hold the radio card in place, the primary function of the cap is to provide the radio card (110) access to an
• the connection of the radio card (110) to the antenna is made through the cap (120).
• the antenna or antennas can be embedded in the cap (120), embedded in the band
• a computer device (130) built in accordance with the present invention is shown with a cap
• a band (136) is attached to both the cap (134) and the housing (132). The band (136) helps prevent the loss of the cap (134) when the cap (134) is not engaged in the housing (132) of the computer device (130).
• the cap (132) is shown engaged with the housing (132) of the computer device (130).
• the cap (134) includes an outwardly extending lip (136) which helps to environmentally seal the opening in the housing (132) preventing harmful material from the outside such as dust or moisture from reaching the radio card (140) which has been inserted into the computer device (130).
• the lip (135) sealingly engages the housing (132).
• an antenna (150) Embedded in the cap (134) is an antenna (150).
• the antenna 150
• (150) is connected to the radio card (140) through contacts (151 and 152) disposed on the cap (134) and contacts (141 and 142) disposed on the radio card (140).
• Contact (152) is the ground contact for the antenna (150) and is connected to the end of the antenna (150).
• Contact (142) is the ground contact for the radio card (140).
• the contacts shown in the present embodiment are of the metal button type wherein the connection is made when the two metal surfaces meet. Many variations of the contacts are possible including the use of male/female connections and spring type contacts.
• a shield (148) is disposed around the bottom portion of the cap (134) and is used to reduce the escape of electronic noise.
• the inside of the housing of the computer device is shielded. Additionally, the area • immediately surrounding the radio device such as a radio card may also be shielded.
• the shield (148) is connected to the antenna ground contact (152) on the cap (134). A hole (159) in the shield (148) allows the signal contacts (151 and 141) to engage without being grounded.
• the cap (134) is shown embedded within which are two antennas (160 and 162) designed to receive and transmit different radio frequency signals.
• the first antenna (160) and the second antenna (162) are both connected to a common ground contact (167) which is connected to the shield and which engages the ground contact (177) on the radio card (170).
• the first antenna (160) is connected to a first signal contact (165) and is disposed on the cap (134) to engage a first signal contact (175) disposed on the radio card
• the second antenna (162) is connected to a second signal contact (166) and is disposed on the cap (134) to engage a second signal contact (176) disposed on the radio card (170).
• the radio card (170) will use a signal via contact (175) or via contact (176) depending upon which antenna it would like to use. Which antenna it would like to use is dependent upon the desired frequency upon which it want to transmit and receive.
• the radio card (170) as shown has three contacts (175, 176 and 177). However, if the radio transceiver in the radio card (170) is designed such that it would only be able to transmit and receive signals which correspond to the first antenna (160), then it would not need to have contact (176) and it could be left off. Similarly, if the radio card (170) were only going to use second antenna (162) then contact (175) could be omitted. Thus, standardizing contact position with respect to antenna type allows for flexibility in cap usage with various radio cards such that only appropriate antennas will be connected to the radio card.
• two antennas (180 and 182) are embedded in the cap (134).
• the two antennas (180 and 182) not only share a common ground contact (186) which engages the ground contact (196) of the radio card (190), but they also share a common signal contact (185) which engages the signal contact (195) on the radio card (190).
• both antennas receive and transmit signals using the same two contacts.
• This embodiment requires a radio card
• a computer device (111) built in accordance with the present invention which is designed to implement an antenna diversity scheme.
• a first antenna (201) is embedded in the cap (120).
• a second antenna (202) is shown embedded in the band (122).
• the two antennas (201 and 202) share a common ground contact (207).
• the first antenna (201) is connected to a signal contact (205).
• the second antenna (202) is connected to a signal contact (206).
• the hole (149) in the shield (148) which prevent the signal contacts (205 and 206) from grounding is shown in
• the first antenna (201) is similar to the second antenna (202) and both are designed to transmit and receive similar radio frequency signals.
• the radio card can check the quality of each signal and use the antenna which is currently receiving the stronger signal. Additionally, it can switch to the other antenna when- the * conditions change such that the signal is no longer acceptable.
• antenna diversification can be very important in computer terminals of this type since they are often mobile and are often subjected to a rapidly changing environment. An antenna diversification scheme of this type can be used to help eliminate the reception problems associated with signal multipath.
• FIG. 24 another embodiment of the present invention is shown with the first antenna (211) and the second antenna (212) attached to the housing (112) of the computer terminal (111).
• the first antenna 211
• the second antenna 212
• the first antenna 211
• the second antenna 212
• the antennas (211) are similar to the second antenna (212) and both are designed to transmit and receive similar radio frequency signals and are perpendicular with respect to each other such that an antenna diversity scheme can be implemented.
• the antennas (211 and 212) are connected to the contacts (205, 206 and 207) through the cap
• the embodiment of Fig. 24 is shown with the only differences being that the first antenna (221) and the second antenna (222) are positioned slightly differently and the antennas are designed to transmit and receive different radio frequency signals.
• the radio card uses the signal on contact (205) when it wants to receive signals via the first antenna (221) and uses the signal on contact (206) when it wants to receive signal via the second antenna (222).
• Figs. 23, 24 and 26 the portion of the connection between the contacts (205, 206 and 207) and the antennas which pass through the band (112) are shown schematically as wires. In the best mode of the present invention, the transmission of the signal through the band (112) would be accomplished through the use of a micro shield strip
• the micro shield strip consists of several conductive ribbons running the length of the band (112) and separated by the non-conductive material of the band (112).
• the smaller ribbons (236 and 237) are used to transmit the antenna signals and are connected to contacts
• the wide bands (233 and 234) are common to each other and are used to ground each of the antennas and are connected to the ground contact (207) on the cap (120).
• the wide ground ribbons (233 and 234) shield the smaller antenna signal ribbons (236 and 237) and help to maintain the signal integrity.
• the impedance of the micro-shield strip is determined by relative spacing and dimensions of the strip as well as the dielectric constant of the material of the band.

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• 1994
  • 1994-04-28 EP EP94916663A patent/EP0716786A4/fr not_active Ceased

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