Patent Application
20060114160
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to systems and methods for wireless communication between electronic devices, and, more particularly, to antennas used with such wireless communication systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wireless ethernet, (or Wi-Fi, or IEEE 802.11), is becoming a mainstream technology. The integration of an antenna/radio solution within a notebook PC involves the ability to build a wireless radio directly on the main board or on a mini-PCI card, both of which are considered “integrated” within the case of the notebook personal computer (PC). Currently, many notebook PCs integrate IEEE 802.11 technology via a mini-PCI card which contains the wireless radio and Media Access Controller (MAC) electronics. The mini-PCI card is a portable, small card that is integrated or plugged directly onto the motherboard via a PCI interface socket located in the notebook PC. An upgrade using a mini-PCI card is not as easily performed as those wireless systems located on a PCMCIA card, but the risk of damage and loss of components are greatly reduced with the internal mini-PCI card system.
A mini-PCI card includes two connectors on the card (i.e., Hirose U.FL) which are available to connect two pre-installed cabled antennas to the card. The antennas are not internally integrated into these mini-PCI radios. Even though these commodity radio units are certified for various world geographies, re-certification is necessary when external antennas are attached.
If a printer or other electronic device makes use of the cost/performance/reliability of these commodity mini-PCI radios to enable wireless connectivity, each product requires recertification of the radio section for each product, even if the radio/antenna system is identical to the previously certified system. Again, this is due to the variation of external antenna geometry which is considered a new configuration.
What is needed in the art is an antenna for use with a mini-PCI radio card which is quickly and easily attached to the mini-PCI radio card, provides good performance, and does not require re-certification when used in different electronic devices.
The present invention provides an antenna card with at least one antenna and a pair of coaxial connectors which electrically and mechanically connect with a pair of mating coaxial connectors on a mini-PCI wireless radio card.
The invention comprises, in one form thereof, an electronic wireless communication system having an electronic device with a plug-in circuit card. The plug-in circuit card includes a wireless radio circuit and at least one on-board coaxial connector coupled with the wireless radio circuit. An antenna card includes at least one antenna and at least one on-board coaxial connector. At least one on-board coaxial connector on the antenna card is coupled with a corresponding antenna. Each on-board coaxial connector on the antenna card is also coupled with a mating on-board coaxial connector on the plug-in circuit card.
The invention comprises, in another form thereof, an antenna assembly for use with a plug-in circuit card including a wireless radio circuit and a pair of on-board coaxial connectors, at least one of the on-board coaxial connectors being coupled with the wireless radio circuit. The antenna assembly includes an antenna card having at least one antenna and a pair of on-board coaxial connectors. At least one on-board coaxial connector on the antenna card is coupled with a corresponding antenna. Each on-board coaxial connector on the antenna card is couplable with a mating on-board coaxial connector on the plug-in circuit card.
The invention comprises, in yet another form thereof, a method of connecting an antenna to a plug-in circuit card having a wireless radio circuit and a pair of on-board coaxial connectors, at least one on-board coaxial connector being coupled with the wireless radio circuit. The method includes the steps of: providing an antenna card including at least one antenna and a pair of on-board coaxial connectors, at least one of the on-board coaxial connectors coupled with a corresponding antenna; and connecting the pair of on-board coaxial connectors on the antenna card with the pair of on-board coaxial connectors on the plug-in circuit card.
It is expected that the present invention of the plug-in circuit card, such as a mini-PCI wireless radio card, and the attached antenna card can be certified as an integrated unit, regardless of the type of electronic device in which the integrated unit is used (e.g., computer or printer). Further, the pair of quick-connect coaxial connectors allow the antenna card to be electrically and mechanically connected to the plug-in circuit card at a fixed geometric orientation. Still further, one or both of the quick-connect coaxial connectors can be coupled with a corresponding antenna, such as a main and/or auxiliary antenna.
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to
Mini-PCI card 14 is in the form of a wireless Ethernet card conforming to the IEEE standard 802.11 radio card. Mini-PCI card 14 includes an edge connector 16 which connects with the PCI interface socket within notebook PC 12. The various terminals on edge connector 16 are electrically connected with various functional circuits shown schematically in
Wireless radio circuit 20 is electrically coupled with a main antenna connector 24 and an auxiliary antenna connector 26. In the embodiment shown, main antenna connector 24 and auxiliary antenna connector 26 are in the form of Hirose U. FL coaxial connectors having a same sex configuration. Main antenna connector 24 and auxiliary antenna connector 26 are provided to couple with a main and auxiliary antenna, respectively.
Diversity circuit 22 is optional and allows selective use of one or both of main antenna connector 24 and auxiliary antenna connector 26. Diversity wireless systems or radios generally provide better performance than similar non-diversity systems. A diversity system is desirable because it effectively combats the most common problem with wireless equipment, namely, signal dropouts or multipath, when RF signals arrive at a location via different transmission paths, consisting of a combination of direct and reflected signals. Under these conditions, the output can be noisy, lost, or undecipherable. These problems generally occur in closed areas where metal objects are present, but may also exist in other environments. Diversity systems are able to avoid signal dropouts because they have two antennas and two receiver channels. Special circuits in the receiver select the signal from the antenna and receiver channel with the best signal. Because the chances that there will be a simultaneous signal dropout at both antennas 24 and 26 are extremely low, diversity systems avoid signal dropouts. Diversity systems can also improve the useful operating range for wireless systems. This is because, even when there are no actual signal dropouts, the amount of signal available or strength of signal available at long ranges can be reduced. This can cause the wireless system to briefly lose the wireless signal well before the transmitter is truly out of range. With a diversity system, complete signal loss is unlikely and the operating range is extended.
Exemplary diversity wireless protocols include the IEEE 802.11 RF wireless standards: 802.11 HR, 802.11b, and 802.11 @ 5 GHz standards. Other diversity wireless protocols include HiperLan, HiperLan II, and OpenAir wireless protocols. If a mini-PCI card is used without a diversity circuit, exemplary non-diversity wireless protocols include the Bluetooth protocol, HomeRF protocol, and SWAP protocol.
Main antenna connector 24 and auxiliary antenna connector 26 are intended to be connected with coaxial cables attached to external antennas. The main antenna is necessary for proper operation. If both the main and auxiliary external antennas are used, diversity circuit 22 is enable and compensates for multipath signal drop outs. If the main and auxilliary antennas are spaced apart at least one wavelength in distance, diversity is ensured.
Referring now to
During installation, antenna card 28 is oriented relative to mini-PCI card 14 such that coaxial connectors 30 and 32 align with main antenna connector 24 and auxiliary antenna connector 26, respectively. The mating coaxial connectors are then pressed together to mechanically couple and geometrically fix antenna card 28 relative to mini-PCI card 14. Moreover, the pair of mated coaxial connectors 30, 32 and 24, 26 electrically couple main antenna 34 and auxiliary antenna 38 with wireless radio circuit 20.
Antenna card 28 advantageously transforms mini-PCI card 14 into a complete system that can be certified for worldwide use, regardless of the end application in which it is installed. By geometrically fixing antenna card 28 relative to mini-PCI card 14, this integrated unit is considered as a self-contained unit which requires only a single certification. The certified system including the integrated mini-PCI card 14 and antenna card 28 can be installed in a variety of different products without the burden and cost of recertification.
Main antenna connector 24 and auxiliary antenna connector 26 are typically maintained with a standard spacing therebetween. This allows antenna card 28 to be used with multiple different makes of mini-PCI radio cards. Antenna card 28 therefore does not require a special platform for use.
Referring now to
It will also be appreciated that an antenna card having a single coaxial connector for mechanically and electrically connecting with main antenna connector 24 on mini-PCI card 14 is possible. Of course, such an antenna card would have only a single main antenna. If only a single coaxial connector is used and that connector is not capable of fixing the orientation of the antenna card with respect to the mini-PC card, then it is necessary to provide another type of mechanical locating feature and interconnection between antenna card 28 and mini-PCI card 14. In other words, means must be provided to fix the geometric or spatial orientation between the antenna card and mini-PCI card 14.
While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
