Abstract:
A wireless communication device is provided having an infrared transducer integrated on certain components. If the wireless communication device has an external antenna, the infrared transducer may be positioned at the tip of the antenna; if the wireless communication device has a clam-shell construction, the infrared transducer may be positioned within the hinge structure. In either position, the infrared transducer can establish line-of-sight connectivity and fill a space previously considered unusable for functional components.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Not applicable.  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not applicable.  
       REFERENCE TO A COMPUTER LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX  
       [0003]     Not applicable.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0004]     1. Field  
         [0005]     The present invention relates generally to the field of wireless communication devices, and, more particularly, to a wireless mobile handset having an infrared transducer.  
         [0006]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0007]     Wireless communication devices are becoming increasingly complex due to the integration of different functionalities within the devices. For example, wireless mobile handsets today cannot only receive and transmit voice signals, but can also connect to the internet, send and receive e-mail, and perform certain computational functions originally performed only by computers. As another example, personal digital assistants today can not only perform certain basic scheduling and computational functions, but can also transmit and receive data and voice signals and, in certain instances, connect to WiFi systems.  
         [0008]     At the same time, wireless communication devices are continuously undergoing a miniaturization process, in order to increase portability and fit different lifestyles. Therefore, designers and manufacturers of wireless communication devices are continuously confronted with the opposing requirements of adding functionalities while reducing size.  
         [0009]     Infrared communication has recently been added to the functional capabilities of wireless communication devices, in order to provide line-of-sight communication not only with other wireless devices, but also with office appliances such as palm handhelds, personal computers, printers, and various types of peripherals. Therefore, the designer must integrate an infrared transducer and the related electrical circuitry within the very severe space constraints of a wireless communication device while still maintaining line-of-sight connection. This is particularly challenging considering the different modes of use of a wireless communication device, for instance, in the hand of a user, laid flat on a support surface, or lodged in a cradle holder.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,264 to Sulavouri et al. discloses a radio telephone system, which utilizes an infrared communication link and which comprises a transceiver unit and an external device. This invention, however, does not teach the positioning of the infrared transducer within the severe space limitations of a radio telephone housing and in a way that will still enable line-of-sight connectivity. Additionally, this invention does not disclose how to integrate the infrared transducer within any specific components of the radio telephone.  
         [0011]     A need therefore exists to integrate an infrared transducer on a wireless communication device having very limited housing space. A further need exists to position the infrared transducer on the wireless communication device so to have an unobstructed line of sight and optimized infrared communication capabilities.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0012]     A wireless communication device is provided having an infrared transducer that is integrated with an antenna or hinge structure, so to fill a portion of space previously considered unusable for functional accessories and to enable line-of-sight connectivity for the infrared transducer.  
         [0013]     In one example, the infrared transducer is positioned in an external antenna, which may be either of fixed, “stub” design or of retractable, “whip” design. The resulting antenna system comprises a casing having a proximal end mounted to the device and a distal end extending from the device; an infrared transducer located at the distal end of the casing and connected to an infrared signal circuitry; a plurality of conduits for electrically connecting the infrared transducer to the infrared signal circuitry; and an RF radiator connected to a radio frequency signal circuitry and radiating radio frequency signals.  
         [0014]     In another example, a wireless device is provided in a hinged “clam-shell” or folded construction. The infrared transducer is positioned in the hinge system. The resulting hinge system comprises a first hinge member at the main body of the device; an infrared transducer situated on the first hinge member and connected to an infrared signal circuitry; a plurality of conduits extending from the infrared transducer within the first hinge member; and a second hinge member at the fold of the device to enable a relative rotation between the hinge members.  
         [0015]     These and other features of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description, and may be realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a wireless mobile handset in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are cross-sectional views showing detailed variations of the wireless mobile handset of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating another wireless mobile handset in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are cross-sectional views showing detailed variations of the wireless mobile handset of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating yet another wireless mobile handset in accordance with the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]     Detailed descriptions of examples of the invention are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be exemplified in various forms. Therefore, the specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to employ the present invention in virtually any detailed system, structure, or manner.  
         [0023]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a wireless communication device is illustrated as a wireless mobile handset  10 , but it will be appreciated that the present description is equally applicable to other types of wireless communication devices. Wireless mobile handset  10  comprises a housing  12  holding a circuit board (not shown) and an antenna system  14  that has a fixed configuration, otherwise known as a “stub” configuration. The circuit board includes circuitry for generating and receiving both infrared signals and radio frequency signals. Because the designs of infrared and radio frequency circuitries are known in the art, the circuit board will not be described in detail here.  
         [0024]     The operation of antenna system  14  may be understood upon reference to  FIG. 2A . Stub antenna  18  generally comprises a casing  20  and an infrared transducer  22 . The infrared transducer  22  may typically be implemented as an infrared emitting diode, and is electrically connected to the infrared signal circuitry. In this way the infrared transducer  22  is enabled to radiate and receive infrared signals. The antenna system  14  also has an RF radiator, which in the illustrated example is a coil  24 . The coil  24  may typically of helical shape, and is electrically connected to the radio frequency signal circuitry to enable the radiating and receiving of radio frequency signals. A plurality of conduits  26 , typically electrical wires, extend through coil  24  and connect the infrared transducer  22  to the infrared signal circuitry. In the illustrated example, infrared transducer  22  is situated at that end of stub antenna system  18  which is at the greatest distance from the housing of the wireless communication device. This arrangement enables a sufficiently wide and unobstructed line-of-sight during transmission and reception of infrared signals; however, it will be appreciated that other positions on stub  18  may be possible. Further, conduits  26  are typically wound together, in order to minimize cross-talk interference with coil  24 . Alternatively, the conduits may be constructed as a co-axial line. Although the RF radiating structure for antenna  18  is illustrated as a coil  24 , it will be understood that other RF radiators may be used. For example, a printed meander-line may be disposed on a flexible material, which in turn is wrapped or positioned around a support element. The support element may be constructed as a plastic cone or cylinder, for example, and may be electrically or capacitively coupled to the radio frequency signal source.  
         [0025]     Turning now to  FIG. 2B , there are shown possible variations of the antenna system. In addition to an infrared transducer  30 , a stub antenna  28  may comprise a coil for radiating radio frequency signals that includes both a helical radiating element  30  and a linear radiating element  32 , with linear radiating element  32  being in direct electrical contact with, and extending through, helical radiating element  30 . Further, stub antenna  28  may comprise conduits that are both wound together and electrically shielded, for instance, by the addition of an insulating sheathing  38 , in order to further reduce cross-talk interference.  
         [0026]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , another wireless communication device is shown as a wireless mobile handset  40 , but it will be appreciated that the present description is equally applicable to other types of wireless communication devices. Wireless mobile handset  40  comprises a housing  42  holding a circuit board (not shown) and a retractable antenna system  44  having an extensible or “whip” design. The circuit board includes circuitry for generating and receiving both infrared and radio frequency signals. Instead, antenna system  44  comprises a base portion  48 , mounted on housing  42 ; a lower retractable portion or “straw”  50 ; and an upper retractable portion or “tip”  52 . Further, antenna system  42  includes a radio frequency antenna for radiating radio frequency signals and an infrared transducer for radiating infrared signals.  
         [0027]     The operation of whip antenna  44  may be understood upon reference to  FIG. 4A . Tip  54  comprises an infrared transducer  58 , typically an infrared emitting diode, that is electrically connected to an infrared signal circuitry and that radiates infrared signals. A casing  56  holds infrared transducer  58  and also encloses a coil  60 , typically of helical design, that is electrically connected to a radio frequency signal circuitry and that radiates radio frequency signals. A plurality of conduits  62 , typically electrical wires, electrically connect infrared transducer  58  to the infrared signal circuitry. Infrared transducer  58  is typically situated at that end of tip  54  which is at the greatest distance from the housing of the wireless communication device, to enable a sufficiently wide and unobstructed line of sight during transmission and reception of infrared signals. Further, conduits  62  are typically wound together, both to avoid a cupping effect when the straw is retracted, and to minimize cross-talk interferences between coil  60  and conduits  62 . Alternatively, the conduits may be constructed using a coaxial line.  
         [0028]     Turning now to  FIG. 4B , there is shown a variation of the whip antenna system, wherein the radio frequency radiating coil is situated in the base portion of the retractable antenna system rather than in the tip. In this configuration, a tip  64  comprises a casing  66  that contains an infrared transducer  68 , typically an infrared emitting diode. Tip  64  is connected to straw  70 , which is hollow and which provides a passageway for conduits  72  connecting infrared transducer  68  to the infrared signal circuitry. Even in this configuration, conduits  72  are typically wound together, in order to minimize cross-talk interference. Alternatively, the conduits may be constructed using a coaxial line.  
         [0029]     Some wireless communication devices are designed to be foldable, in order to protect the display screen and the keys of the devices, and to provide more compact packages. For example, some wireless mobile handsets have “clam-shell” housings that comprise a first part, or main body; a second part, or fold; and a hinge connecting the main body with the fold. This arrangement enables the main body and fold to rotate in relation to each other between an open position and a closed position. Additionally, the hinge structure allows the passage of electrical conduits, enabling the transmission of electrical signals between the main body and the fold. Because the design of clam-shell handsets is known in the art, the hinge structure will not be described in detail here.  
         [0030]      FIG. 5  illustrates still another wireless communication device, shown as a wireless mobile handset  74 . Handset  74  generally comprises a main body  76 ; a fold  78 ; and a hinge system  80  rotatably connecting the main body  76  to the fold  78 . More specifically, hinge system  80  comprises a first hinge member arranged as a fixed member  82 . The fixed member  82  is provided at main body  76 , and includes an infrared transducer  84  (typically an infrared emitting diode) in an external opening of fixed member  82 . A second hinge member is arranged as rotary member  86 , which is provided at fold  78  and connected to fixed member  82 . In one construction of the hinge, one or more shafts (not shown in detail) may be used to connect the rotary member  86  to the fixed member  82  by extending through predetermined portions of fixed member  82  and of rotary member  86 . A plurality of conduits (also not shown in detail) connects infrared transducer  84  to an infrared signal circuitry.  
         [0031]     It will be appreciated that alternative constructions of the hinge system are possible, and that the position of the infrared transducer may be adjusted to fit the selected design alternative. In one design, the one or more shafts may be entirely enclosed within the hinge system and, therefore, may not be visible to an outside observer. In this configuration, the plurality of conduits extends through a cavity in the fixed member and may or may not extend through a cavity in the one or more shafts.  
         [0032]     In another design, the one or more shafts extend to the outer surface of the fixed member, becoming visible to an outside observer. In such a configuration, the infrared transducer may be positioned in a cavity within one of the one or more shafts, and the plurality of conduits may extend at least partially within an inner passageway of the one or more shafts.  
         [0033]     While the invention has been described in connection with a number of embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular forms set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the scope of the invention.