Patent Application
20070290932
The present invention may be further understood with reference to the following description and the appended drawings, wherein like elements are provided with the same reference numerals. The present invention relates to mobile devices (e.g., mobile units, (“MUs”)) with antennas. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to an MU with a barcode scanner, however those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention may be implemented with any type of antenna-based MU such as, for example, an RFID reader, a cell phone, a PDA, a laptop, an image-/laser-based scanner, a network interface card, etc.
The wireless communications arrangement includes an antenna 300 (shown in
As shown in
In an exemplary embodiment, the antenna cover 200 is formed using the same or similar materials and methods as the housing 100. For example, the antenna cover 200 may be formed using a substantially rigid polymer that undergoes little or no deformation when subjected to temperatures consistent with an operating environment of the MU 50. In other embodiments, the antenna cover 200 may be formed of a substantially different material from that of which the housing 100 is formed. For example, the material may be more or less rigid than that used for the housing 100, the material may have different temperature response, different density, etc.
Thicknesses of the antenna cover 200 and the housing 100 are preferably selected based on physical characteristics of the MU 50 (e.g., size, weight, etc.) and/or based on the operating environment (e.g., industrial environments may require greater thicknesses than home environments). As would be understood by those skilled in the art, larger thicknesses may increase rigidity and/or enhance shock absorption, while smaller thicknesses may decrease the size and/or weight of the MU 50, making it easier to handle.
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As shown, the ridge 120 extends only partially into the inner end 220, terminating before the sway space 290. In other embodiments, the ridge 120 may extend into the sway space 290 without contacting the antenna 300. The ridge 120 may provide additional structural support for the antenna cover 220 by, for example, resisting inwardly directed compressive forces while providing stability by restricting longitudinal displacement of the antenna cover 200. Although in the exemplary embodiment only one ridge 120 is utilized, in other embodiments a plurality of ridges 120 may be placed along a perimeter of the innermost surface of the inner end 220. For example, at each corner of the innermost surface of the inner end 220, along a middle of each side of the innermost surface of the inner end 220, etc.
As previously discussed, the antenna cover 200 may be ultrasonically welded to the housing 100 to form a permanent bond between any surface (e.g., an inner surface of the collar 210, a lateral surface of the inner portion 220, etc.) of the antenna cover 200 and the shoulder 110 and/or the ridge 120. This provides an extremely strong bond which is stable and resists external forces. For example, if the force is a pulling force directed outward against the antenna cover 200, the force may be transferred to part or all of the housing 100 and dispersed, since the antenna cover 200 and the housing 100 act as a single structure. If the force is a compressive force, it may also be transferred to the housing 100 and dispersed.
Dispersal of the force may cause a portion of the housing 100 which is weaker relative to the antenna cover 200 and/or the shoulder 110 (e.g., which has been intentionally weakened) to yield. For example, the force may cause the weaker portion to break (e.g., crack, deform, snap, etc.) and dispose the force before the antenna cover 200 is damaged, thereby preventing damage to the antenna 300. Thus, the housing 100 may be designed to include one or more weaker portions in non-critical areas of the MU 50, where breakage would not cause permanent damage and/or impairment of functionality.
Alternatively, according to an exemplary embodiment the designer may choose to make the housing 100 stronger than the antenna cover 200, allowing the cover 200 to yield before the housing 100. So long as the space 290 prevents damage to the antenna 300, the antenna cover 200 may be replaced. In other embodiments, the antenna cover 200 and the housing 100 may be equally strong so that external forces applies to the antenna cover 200, cause the ultrasonic weld to yield separating the antenna cover 200 from the housing 100 to disperse the force.
The present invention has been described with reference to the above exemplary embodiments. One skilled in the art would understand that the present invention may also be successfully implemented if modified. Accordingly, various modifications and changes may be made to the embodiments without departing from the broadest spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings, accordingly, should be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.
