Patent Application
20070063900
Several types of wireless communication systems are available for use with portable computer systems. These systems include local area networks (LAN) that operate within a small area, such as a single building, and wide area networks (WAN) that operate over a large area, such as a metropolitan area. These different types of systems utilize distinct signals. In order to utilize both LAN and WAN networks, a portable computer system must be able to transmit and receive the signals for both types of networks. The antennas required for transmitting and receiving signals for one type of network are often not suitable for use with other types of networks. Therefore, portable computer systems that are designed to operate on WAN, LAN, and other wireless networks need to have multiple antennas.
In portable computer systems, such as notebook computer systems, placement of multiple wireless network antennas is complicated by the need for compact and efficient packaging. Thus, portable computer systems utilize externally-mounted wireless network antennas due to limited space available within the system chassis for the placement of multiple wireless network antennas.
For a detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular system components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, computer companies may refer to a component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. In the following discussion and in the claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to . . . ” Also, the term “couple” or “couples” is intended to mean either an indirect or direct connection. Thus, if a first device couples to a second device, that connection may be through a direct connection, or through an indirect connection via other devices and connections.
Referring now to
Display screen 24 is supported by housing 22 so that space is available between the screen and the outer edges of the housing. Housing 22 is connected to main body 12 at hinged edge 42. Latch assembly 26 is disposed between display screen 24 and outer edge 44 of housing 22. Engagement members 32 project through front surface 38 of housing 22. Slider 36 projects through outer surface 40 of housing 22.
In certain embodiments, first antenna pair 28 is a LAN antenna and second antenna pair 30 is a WAN antenna. Thus, computer system 10 can provide wireless communication on two networks without any external antenna. In notebook computer systems, the area between screen 24 and outer edge 44 may offer the most beneficial location for antenna pairs 28, 30 as this portion of a notebook computer system may be at the highest elevation during normal use. In certain embodiments, only one antenna from each of first antenna pair 28 and second antenna pair 30 may be utilized in a single system and the other antenna of each pair can be omitted from the system so as to provide room for other components.
Referring now to
In many applications, because of the size of both the antenna and the latch assembly, at least a portion of the antenna may overlap with the latch body. In order to prevent interference with the performance of the antenna, latch body 34 may be constructed from plastic, or some other non-metallic material. Second antenna pair 30 can have a variety of shapes and configurations that provide acceptable performance while not interfering with the operation of latch assembly 26.
For example,
The above discussion is meant to be illustrative of the principles and various embodiments of the present invention. Numerous variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated. For example, various latch assemblies and configurations may be used in cooperation with antenna arranged as described herein. It is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such variations and modifications.
