Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6720927
-
Patent Number
6,720,927
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, January 9, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, April 13, 200420 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 343 702
- 343 872
- 343 803
- 343 806
- 455 89
- 455 90
- 235 435
- 235 439
- 235 492
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
The system for deploying an antenna of an integrated circuit card includes a card housing protecting electronic components, and at least one antenna. The antenna has a proximal end and a distal end, and an antenna housing protects the antenna. The antenna housing is movably connected to the card housing such that as the antenna housing moves relative to the card housing, the distal end of the antenna moves relative to the card housing.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to integrated circuit cards, for example, integrated circuit cards meeting the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) specifications; and more particularly, a system for deploying an antenna of an integrated circuit card.
2. Description of Related Art
Integrated circuit card standards such as PCMCIA were established to facilitate uniformity among vendors. PCMCIA for example established specifications for use of credit card sized electronic cards to interface with computers. However, many providers of wireless network interface cards for computers have resorted to using a non-standard PCMCIA card. A standard PCMCIA card is substantially housed within a computer, for example, a laptop computer, when inserted. As a result the radiation characteristics of an antenna or antennas forming a part of a wireless network interface card meeting PCMCIA standards are quite poor.
By resorting to a non-standard PCMCIA card, the antenna or antennas of the wireless network interface card can be positioned outside of the computer to improve radiation characteristics. Because the non-standard PCMCIA card extends out beyond the PCMCIA compartment of the computer, the card is not protected and subject to possible damage. Further, problems arise in transporting the computer. To fit within a carrying case or shipping container, the PCMCIA card often has to be removed, which is seen as a disadvantage by computer users and manufacturers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an integrated circuit card that includes a system for deploying an antenna. An antenna housing is provided movably connected to the card housing. The antenna housing protects the antenna, and by moving the antenna housing relative to the card housing, a distal end of the antenna is extended or retracted relative to the card housing.
Through this design, the integrated circuit card meets standards when the antenna housing is in the retracted state, but provides for beneficial radiation characteristics in the extended state. As such, removing and replacing the integrated circuit card to transport a computer is not required, and when not in use, the integrated circuit card is protected from damage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various drawings, and wherein:
FIGS. 1A-1B
,
2
A-
2
B,
3
A-
3
B and
4
A-
4
B illustrate cross-sectional views of four different integrated circuit card embodiments according to the present invention;
FIGS. 5A and 5B
illustrate a perspective view an integrated circuit card according to the present invention; and
FIGS. 6 and 7
illustrate prior art devices having pop-out components.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIGS. 5A and 5B
illustrate an integrated circuit card
10
according to the present invention. As shown, the integrated circuit card
10
includes a card housing
12
, which houses and protects electronic components, and an antenna housing
14
, which houses and protects at least one antenna.
FIG. 5A
shows the integrated circuit card
10
with the antenna housing
14
in the retracted state, and
FIG. 5B
shows the integrated circuit card
10
with the antenna housing
14
in the extended state. When the antenna housing
14
is in the retracted state as shown in
FIG. 5A
, the length L of the integrated circuit card
10
meets a desired standard such as PCMCIA, discussed above.
FIGS. 1A-1B
,
2
A-
2
B,
3
A-
3
B and
4
A-
4
B illustrates four different embodiments of the integrated circuit card
10
. Each of the illustrated embodiments is a cross-section view of the integrated circuit card
10
shown in
FIGS. 5A-5B
. Even though each embodiment has a differently constructed antenna housing, the same reference numeral as used in
FIGS. 5A-5B
will be used to designate the antenna housing in each embodiment to promote ease of understanding.
Referring to
FIG. 1A
,
FIG. 1A
illustrates a double antenna embodiment of the present invention in the retracted state. As shown, the antenna housing
14
defines two channels
8
. Each channel
8
is L-shaped and one of the channels
8
overlaps the other. A first antenna
16
has a first proximal end
20
fixed to the card housing
12
, and a second antenna
18
has a second proximal end
22
fixed to the card housing
12
. The first and second proximal ends
20
and
22
are electrically connected in any well-known manner to the electronic components within the card housing
12
. Distal ends
24
and
26
of the first and second antennas
16
and
18
, respectively, are disposed and freely slide within a respective one of the channels
8
in the antenna housing
14
.
The antenna housing
14
is moveable (e.g., slides) relative to the card housing
12
. As the antenna housing
14
is slid out from the card housing
12
, the distal ends
24
and
26
of the first and second antennas
16
and
18
slide within their respective channels
8
. In the fully extended state of
FIG. 1B
, flanges
28
of the antenna housing
14
abut the interior wall of the card housing
12
, and prevent the antenna housing
14
from becoming separated from the card housing
12
. As will be appreciated from
FIG. 5B
, as the antennas housing
14
is extended from the card housing
12
, the first and second antennas
16
and
18
are deployed. When deployed, the first and second antennas
16
and
18
extend away from the card housing
12
, thus improving their radiation characteristics. To return to the retracted state, an operator slides the antenna housing back towards the card housing
12
.
FIGS. 2A and 2B
illustrate the retracted and extended states of a single antenna embodiment of the present invention that is similar to the embodiment of the
FIGS. 1A and 1B
. Accordingly, a redundant description of the this embodiment will not be made, and this embodiment is fully understood from the description of the embodiment of
FIGS. 1A and 1B
.
FIGS. 3A and 3B
illustrate another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in
FIG. 3A
, the antenna housing
14
has a U-shape, with a flange
30
and a catch structure
52
at each end. The card housing
12
has a rectangular projection portion
32
that, together with the antenna housing
12
, defines two gap regions
34
. First and second springs
36
and
38
are respectively disposed in the two gap regions
34
, and serve as first and second antennas (hereinafter referred to as first and second antennas
36
and
38
). Proximal ends
40
and
42
of the first and second antennas
36
and
38
are fixed to the projecting portion
32
and are electrically connected to the electronic components housed within the card housing
12
. The distal ends
46
and
48
of the first and second antennas
36
and
38
abut an interior of the antenna housing
14
.
In the retracted state of
FIG. 3A
, the first and second antennas
36
and
38
are compressed and exert a force on the antenna housing
14
to extend the antenna housing away from the card housing
12
. Two catch mechanisms
50
are disposed within the card housing
12
. The catch mechanisms
50
are any well-known mechanical catch mechanisms that, together with an associated catch structure
52
at the ends of the antenna housing
14
, retains the antenna housing
14
when the antenna housing
14
is moved into the retracted state. The catch mechanisms
50
and catch structures
52
also work to together to release the antenna housing
14
when the antenna housing
14
is pressed toward the card housing
12
when the antenna housing
14
is in the retracted state.
Once released, the spring force of the first and second antennas
36
and
38
fully extends the antenna housing
14
as shown in FIG.
3
B. The flange
30
at each end of the antenna housing
14
prevents the antenna housing
14
from separating from the card housing
12
. In the extended state, the first and second antennas
36
and
38
are deployed, thus improving their radiation characteristics. To return the antenna housing
14
to the retracted state, an operator pushes the antenna housing
14
toward the card housing
12
until the catch mechanisms
50
catch the catch structures
52
.
As an alternative to the above-discussed embodiment of
FIGS. 3A-3B
, the distal ends
46
and
48
of the first and second antennas
36
and
38
are fixed to the antenna housing
14
in addition to or instead of fixing the proximal ends
40
and
42
. As a further alternative, neither of the proximal ends
40
and
42
or the distal ends
46
and
48
are fixed. When the proximal ends
40
and
42
are not fixed, then the electrical connection of the first and second antennas
36
and
38
to the electronic components in the card housing
12
is obtained by RF coupling. Also, a single antenna embodiment can be obtained by eliminating one of the first and second antennas
36
and
38
.
FIGS. 4A and 4B
illustrate another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4A
illustrates the antenna housing
14
in the retracted state, and
FIG. 4B
illustrates the antenna housing
14
in the extended state. As shown, the antenna housing
14
has a U-shape defining first and second channels
60
and
62
therein. First and second antennas
66
and
68
are disposed in the first and second channels
60
and
62
. Distal ends
70
and
72
of the first and second antennas
66
and
68
are fixed to the antenna housing
14
, while the proximal ends
74
and
76
of the first and second antennas
66
and
68
are free to slide within the card housing
12
. The antenna housing
14
also has flanges
84
at the ends thereof. The flanges
84
, as shown in
FIG. 4B
, prevent the antenna housing
14
from becoming separated from the card housing
12
when the antenna housing
14
is extended away from the card housing
12
.
As shown in
FIG. 4B
, when an operator slides the antenna housing
14
away from the card housing
12
, the first and second antennas
66
and
68
deploy from the card housing, thus improving their radiation characteristics. Furthermore, portions of the first and second antennas
66
and
68
extending from the antenna housing
14
and into the card housing
12
move into a position for RF coupling by quarter-wavelength RF couplers
80
and
82
. In this manner, the first and second antennas
66
and
68
are electrically connected to the electronic components in the card housing
12
.
As an alternative, the embodiment of
FIGS. 4A and 4B
is configured to have a single antenna. Also, the antenna housing
14
in both the dual and single antenna embodiments is not limited to having a U-shape.
FIGS. 6 and 7
illustrate two different types of circuit cards having pop-out components.
FIG. 6
illustrates a fingerprint recognition card produced by Duel Systems. As shown, the pop-out part of this card includes the scan electronics to take a sample of a fingertip.
FIG. 7
illustrates a connector for wireless Bluetooth products produced by Honda. In this device, the pop-out part includes the radio module for the device. Neither of these devices includes an antenna in the pop-out part
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
- 1. A system for deploying an antenna of an integrated circuit card, comprising:a card housing protecting electronic components; an antenna housing movably connected with said card housing; and at least one antenna having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end protected by the antenna housing, and the distal end of the antenna moving relative to the card housing in association with movement of the antenna housing.
- 2. The system of claim 1, whereinthe proximal end is electrically connected to the electronic components.
- 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the proximal end is fixed relative to the card housing.
- 4. The system of claim 1, whereinthe antenna housing includes a channel formed therein; and the distal end slides within the channel.
- 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna is a spring, the proximal end is fixed relative to the card housing, and the proximal end abuts an interior portion of the antenna housing such that as the antenna housing is extended and retracted relative to the card housing, the spring extends and compresses.
- 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna is a spring, the proximal end abuts the card housing and the distal end abuts an interior portion of the antenna housing such that as the antenna housing is extended and retracted relative to the card housing, the spring extends and compresses.
- 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna is a spring, the proximal end is abuts the card housing, and the proximal end is fixed to the antenna housing such that as the antenna housing is extended and retracted relative to the card housing, the spring extends and compresses.
- 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the distal end is connected to the antenna housing and the proximal end moves relative to the card housing.
- 9. The system of claim 1, whereinthe antenna housing is movable in a first direction relative to the card housing; and the proximal end of the at least one antenna does not move relative to the card housing during movement of the antenna housing in the first direction.
- 10. The system of claim 1, whereinthe antenna housing is movable between a first position and a second position; and the at least one antenna assumes a retracted configuration when the antenna housing is in the first position and assumes an extended configuration when the antenna housing is in the second position, wherein retracted and extended configurations are different.
- 11. A system for deploying an antenna of an integrated circuit card, comprising:a card housing protecting electronic components; at least one antenna have a proximal end and a distal end; an antenna housing protecting the antenna and movably connected to the card housing such that as the antenna housing moves relative to the card housing, the distal end of the antenna moves relative to the card housing.
- 12. The system of claim 11, whereinthe proximal end is electrically connected to the electronic components.
- 13. The system of claim 11, whereinthe proximal end is fixed relative to the card housing.
- 14. The system of claim 11, whereinthe antenna housing includes a channel formed therein, and the distal end slides within the channel.
- 15. The system of claim 11, wherein the antenna is a spring, the proximal end is fixed relative to the card housing, and the proximal end abuts an interior portion of the antenna housing such that as the antenna housing is extended and retracted relative to the card housing, the spring extends and compresses.
- 16. The system of claim 11, wherein the antenna is a spring, the proximal end abuts the card housing and the distal end abuts an interior portion of the antenna housing such that as the antenna housing is extended and retracted relative to the card housing, the spring extends and compresses.
- 17. The system of claim 11, wherein the antenna is a spring, the proximal end is abuts the card housing, and the proximal end is fixed to the antenna housing such that as the antenna housing is extended and retracted relative to the card housing, the spring extends and compresses.
- 18. The system of claims 11, wherein the distal end is connected to the antenna housing and the proximal end moves relative to the card housing.
- 19. The system of claim 11, whereinthe antenna housing is movable in a first direction relative to the card housing; and the proximal end of the at least one antenna does not move relative to the card housing during movement of the antenna housing in the first direction.
- 20. The system of claim 11, whereinthe antenna housing is movable between a first position and a second position; and the at least one antenna assumes a retracted configuration when the antenna housing is in the first position and assumes an extended configuration when the antenna housing is in the second position, wherein retracted and extended configurations are different.
US Referenced Citations (9)