Abstract:
A device for providing wireless communication is disclosed. The device includes an antenna mounted on a personal computer card. The antenna has a pivotal connection for pivoting the antenna and a rotatable connection for rotating the antenna in a direction which differs from the direction of rotation. The antenna is rotatable about two axes and is retractable. In the extended position, the antenna is electrically connected with the personal computer card and can receive and transmit signals. The antenna also has a base which is detachably mounted to the personal computer card so that the antenna can be removed from said personal computer card and replaced.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates to personal computer cards, and more particularly, the invention relates to personal computer cards having adjustable antennas. 
   2. Brief Description of the Related Art 
   Personal computer cards, particularly cards conforming to the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) standard, have become a mainstay of mobile computing. A variety of devices are available in the PCMCIA format, including memory cards, modems, and disk drives. 
   PCMCIA cards are available in multiple form factors, including, in order of increasing thickness, Type I, Type II, and Type III cards. The development of mobile computing has resulted in an increased demand for wireless modems. 
   Typically, a PCMCIA wireless modem card has a receive/transmit antenna attached. The conventional antenna substantially protrudes from the PCMCIA wireless modem card. This is a vulnerable position for the antenna since antennas mounted on mobile computers are prone to damage due to accidental bumping. 
   Accordingly, what is needed is an antenna for use with a PCMCIA card that is easily adjustable and replaceable. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Disclosed is a device that is used with a personal computer to provide wireless communication. 
   In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the device includes an antenna mounted on a personal computer card. The antenna has a pivotal connection, for pivoting the antenna about a first axis, and a rotatable connection for rotating the antenna in a direction which differs from the direction of pivot about the pivotal connector. Further, the antenna is retractable. In the retracted position, the antenna is substantially received by the personal computer card. When the antenna moves from the retracted position to the extended position, the antenna is electrically connected with the personal computer card and can receive and transmit signals. 
   In accordance with an additional aspect of the present invention, the device includes a personal computer card, a base detachably mounted to the personal computer card, and a retractable antenna reciprocally mounted to the base. The personal computer card has a top portion which is attachable to a bottom portion. The ba se is detachable from the personal computer card so that the antenna can be removed from the personal computer card without separating the top and bottom portions of the personal computer card. 
   The foregoing and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from following description and accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like elements bear like reference numerals, and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an antenna mounted to a personal computer card which is connected with a personal computer in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the personal computer card with the antenna in a retracted position; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the personal computer card illustrating that the antenna is rotatable about the X-axis and about a pivotal connection; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an inside surface of a top portion of the personal computer card; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an inside surface of a bottom portion of the personal computer card; 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged partial view from  6 — 6  of  FIG. 5. ; and 
       FIG. 7  is a close-up exploded view of the antenna and the personal computer card according to the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of a device  10  which provides for wireless communication. The device  10  includes a receive/transmit antenna  12  connected to the base of a personal computer card  14  which may include a modem or a radio. The personal computer card  14  plugs into a PCMCIA Type II slot  16  of a personal computer  18  and enables a user to communicate with a wireless system using an air interface. 
   The antenna  12  has a retracted position and an extended position. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the antenna  12  can reciprocally move between the retracted position and the extended position, shown in phantom lines as  12 ′, in a direction of arrow A. In the retracted position, the antenna  12  is substantially received by the personal computer card  14 . In the extended position, the antenna  12 ′ substantially extends beyond the personal computer card  14 . 
     FIG. 3  illustrates the antenna  12  pivotally rotated about a pivotal connection  20  from the extended position of  FIG. 2 , shown in phantom lines as  12 ′, to a raised position where the antennae has been moved in a direction of arrow B. The pivotal connection  20  enables a user to adjust the position of the antenna  12  with respect to the personal computer card  14 . The pivotal connection  20  may comprise any suitable means including, but not limited to, a hinge, such as a tongue-in-groove hinge. The pivotal connection allows the antenna  12  to pivot about an X-axis. Moreover, the antenna  12  is rotatable within a collar  58 , and, therefore, has a rotatable connection for rotating the antenna about a Z-axis. Therefore, the antenna  12  can move from the lifted position to a lowered position, shown in phantom lines as  12 ″, when the antenna is moved in the direction of arrow C. Accordingly, when the antenna  12 ′ is in the extended position, the antenna has multiple axes of rotation. In particular, the antenna  12  can pivot about the pivotal connector  20  and can rotate about the X and Z axes so that the antenna may be moved into the most appropriate position to maximize the effectiveness of use. 
   One embodiment of the antenna  12 ′, as shown in  FIG. 4 , includes three main elongated elements: a first antenna portion  22  having a substantially constant outer diameter, a narrower second antenna portion  24 , and a third antenna portion  26  which has an end cap  28  mounted at a distal end  30 . The first antenna portion  22  includes a first end  32 , a second end  34 , and the pivotal connector  20  positioned between the first and second ends. The first antenna portion  22  is formed of a conductive metal or has a conductive metal plating. 
   The first antenna portion  22  connects to a matching circuit which performs the impedance matching function for the extended antenna. In a preferred embodiment, the matching circuit comprises an inductor/capacitor (LC) circuit. The connection of the antenna to the electronics of the personal computer card will be further described below. 
     FIGS. 3-5  illustrate one embodiment of the personal computer card  14 . In this configuration, the personal computer card  14  includes a top portion  36 , a bottom portion  38  which is attachable to the top portion, electrical components which are entirely enclosed by the top and bottom portions, and channel portions  40  located in the top and bottom portions. Also shown is a PCMCIA connector  42 .  FIG. 5  illustrates the bottom portion  38  of the personal computer card  14  having at least one alignment pin  44  ( FIG. 5  shows three alignment pins) which extends from an inside surface  46  of the bottom portion.  FIG. 4  shows the top portion  36  having corresponding openings  48  which receive the alignment pins  44  when the top and bottom portions  36 ,  38  are attached to form a housing  50  for the personal computer card  14 . 
   Preferably, the top and bottom outside surfaces  52 ,  54  of the top and bottom portions  36 ,  38  are substantially coated with a conductive material to provide shielding for the electrical components located inside the personal computer card  14 . The top and bottom portions  36 ,  38  are preferably otherwise formed of plastic. As best shown in  FIG. 3 , a cut out portion  56  is provided in the top and bottom outside surfaces  52 ,  54  adjacent to the collar  58 , which supports the antenna  12  when the antenna is extended. The cut out portion  56  electrically separates the conductive shielding material and the collar  58 . In an alternative embodiment, the inside surfaces  60 ,  46  of the top and bottom portions  36 ,  38  are coated with a conductive material to provide good shielding for the electrical components located inside the personal computer card  14 . 
     FIG. 5  shows the collar  58 , which is detachably mounted to the housing  50  of the personal computer card  14 . The collar  58  connects the antenna to the personal computer card  14 . The collar  58  includes a distal end  62  having a flange  64 , a proximal end  66 , and a passage  68  which extends from the distal end to the proximal end. As will be further described below, the collar  58  and antenna  12  are designed to be removable from the housing  50  without separating the top and bottom portions  36 ,  38  of the personal computer card  14 . The flange  64  is mounted outside of the housing  50  and has at least one groove  70  to facilitate the removal of the collar  58  from the housing. The collar  58  is formed of a conductive metal. For example, the collar  58  may be threaded or otherwise fastened onto the personal computer card  14  to secure the antenna  12  in place. The collar  58  may then be unthreaded or otherwise unfastened from the card so that the antenna  12  may be replaced. 
   The passage  68  in the collar  58  is configured to slideably receive the antenna  12 . Preferably, there is a friction fit between the outer diameter of the first antenna portion  22  and the inner diameter of the passage  68  to provide an electrical connection between the antenna  12  and the collar  58  and to provide a rotational connection between the antenna and the card. When the antenna  12  is in the extended position, the first antenna portion  22  snaps into and is juxtaposed to the collar  58 . In addition, the second antenna portion  24  of the antenna  12  has a smaller outer diameter than the internal diameter of the first antenna portion  22 . Accordingly, the second antenna portion  24  can slide freely within the passage  68  of the collar  58 . The second antenna portion  24  is covered or coated with a nonconductive material. 
   Similarly, the third antenna portion  26  is covered or coated with a nonconductive material. The end cap  28  mounted at the distal end  30  of the third antenna portion  26  has an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the passage  68  of the collar  58 . The end cap  28  prevents further insertion of the antenna  12  into the personal computer card  14  beyond a predetermined distance. Moreover, the end cap  28  provides a means for the user to grasp and reciprocally move the antenna  12  between the retracted position and the extended position. 
   A conductive member  72  is provided in the personal computer card  14  adjacent to the collar  58 . The conductive member  72  is connected to electrical components enclosed in the personal computer card  14 . The conductive member  72  may comprise any suitable means including, but not limited to, a torsion spring, a leaf spring, or a cantilever member. In one embodiment, the conductive member  72  is a torsion spring. As best shown in  FIG. 6 , the torsion spring  72  is compressed against the collar  58 , thereby contacting the collar and ensuring a good electrical connection between the antenna and the electronics  74  in the personal computer card. 
   The antenna  12  is removable and replaceable from the personal computer card  14  so that the antenna may be replaced if it becomes damaged or broken. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the antenna  12  includes a base  74  with external threads  76 . The threads engage internal threads located inside of a base housing  78  located in the personal computer card. The inner-most part of the base housing  78  includes a coil spring  80  that is used as the antenna electrical contact with the electronics in the personal computer card. The coil spring  80  is soldered to a connection to the electronics of the personal computer card and snaps into a corresponding groove inside channel  40 . Since the antenna  12  may be unthreaded from the base  78 , this embodiment allows the antenna to be replaced by the user without having to ship the personal computer card back to the manufacturer or to a repair technician. 
   In the alternative, the antenna base  74  and the base housing  78  may be fastened together by a snap fit, wherein one of the pieces would have a raised male portion and the corresponding piece would have a female portion to accept the male portion, one piece snapping into the other. 
   In operation, the device functions to receive and transmit electrical signals to and from the personal computer card  14 . When the antenna  12  is in the retracted position, the channel portions  40  of the personal computer card  14  substantially receive the antenna. Further, the third antenna portion  26 , formed of a nonconductive material, is adjacent to the collar  58 . The antenna  12  does not receive or transmit any signals when in the retracted position. By slidably moving the antenna  12  from the retracted position to the extended position, the first antenna portion  22 , formed of a conductive material, contacts the collar  58 , wherein a signal can be transmitted from electrical components enclosed in the personal computer card  14  through the conductive member  72  to the collar  58  and then to the antenna. As discussed, the antenna can pivot about the pivotal connector  20  and can rotate about the X-axis so that the antenna may be moved into the most appropriate position to maximize the effectiveness of use. 
   In an alternative embodiment, the antenna  12  is substantially similar to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , except that the third antenna portion  26  is formed of a conductive material or has a conductive metal plating, similar to the first antenna portion  22 . Moreover, the third antenna portion  26  includes a secondary antenna substantially contained in the end cap  28 . Preferably, there is a very small clearance or a close fit between the outer diameter of the third antenna portion  26  and the inner diameter of the passage  68  in the collar  58 . The close fit between the third antenna portion  26  and the collar  58  allows for an electrical connection between the antenna  12  and the collar when the third antenna portion is juxtaposed to the collar. For example, the end cap  28  can substantially contain a supplemental helical antenna. Accordingly, when the antenna  12  is in the retracted position, the third antenna portion  26  is adjacent to the collar  58 , and an electrical connection is provided between the collar  58  and the helical antenna. Thus, the antenna  12  can transmit and receive signals in the retracted position, as well as in the extended position. 
   The personal computer card  14  shown in the figures is a PCMCIA Type II card, but it is within the scope of the invention to use a PCMCIA Type I or Type III card, as well. Likewise, it is within the scope of the invention that the personal computer card  14  can be any of a variety of removable cards that are not restricted to the PCMCIA standard specifications. 
   While the invention has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made and equivalents employed without departing from the present invention.