Abstract:
The extent of outward movement of a spring biased antenna in a personal computer card may be increased by offsetting the coil spring with respect to the track that guides the inward and outward movement of the antenna. By allowing additional extension, better radio reception or transmission may be achieved.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to personal computer cards and particularly to such cards which include an antenna for implementing a wireless capability.  
           [0002]    Personal computers and particularly laptop or mobile computers may receive a card which enables the computer to receive wireless communications. One such card is a Type II PC card. The card slides into a slot in the personal computer and provides the functionality to implement wireless communications, for example between wirelessly connected personal computers. The cards may include a retractable antenna that may spring out to facilitate radio frequency communications.  
           [0003]    Because of the compact size of the card, it is desirable to have an antenna that extends outwardly from the card (which may be largely contained within the personal computer). The further the extension of the antenna, generally the better its reception and transmission.  
           [0004]    However existing personal computer cards have extendable antennas that have a relatively limited range of extension. Thus, it would be desirable to provide a personal computer card with an antenna that extends further outwardly of the body of the card.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 is an enlarged front elevational view of one embodiment of the present invention with the antenna retracted;  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 with the antenna extended;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 3 is an enlarged, horizontal cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a traveler in accordance with one embodiment to the present invention in its retracted position;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the traveler of FIG. 5 in its extended position;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the line  7 - 7  in FIG. 6;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view taken generally along the line  8 - 8  in FIG. 7; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 9 is a cross-section view corresponding to FIG. 8 when the keeper is in its locked position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]    Referring to FIG. 1, a personal computer (PC) card  10  may include a generally flat housing  12  having electrical contacts  14  on one edge and an extendable antenna  16  on the other edge. The housing  12  may house electronic components to implement wireless communications. For example, a personal computer may receive the card  10  and may thereby be able to wirelessly communicate with other personal computers.  
         [0015]    Referring to FIG. 2, by pushing on the retracted antenna  16 , the antenna  16  can be caused to spring outwardly. The antenna  16  includes a antenna element  18  that may be a flat metallic element.  
         [0016]    Referring to FIG. 3, the card  10  may include a printed circuit board  22  with a plurality of components for implementing wireless communications. Those components may be electrically connectable to the antenna element  18  through a spring contact  24 . The spring contact  24  on the printed circuit board  22  makes an electrical connection with the contact  26  when the antenna  16  is extended out of the housing  12 .  
         [0017]    The antenna  16  may include a traveler  20  on one end. The traveler  20  includes the contact  26  that makes an electrical connection to the spring contact  24  when the antenna  16  is extended.  
         [0018]    The outward extension of the antenna  16  is under control of a compressed coil spring  32  which includes an upper portion  32   a  and a lower portion  32   b.  The antenna  16  may be held in a retracted position against the force of the spring  32  by an L-shaped resilient catch  36 . The catch  36  includes a transverse end  36   a  and a helical coil  34 .  
         [0019]    As referred to herein, “proximal” refers to items that are closer to the contact  14  and “distal” refers to items closer to the position where the antenna  16  extends outwardly from the housing  12 . Thus, the helical coil  34  is proximal relative to the distal transverse end  36   a  of the catch  36 .  
         [0020]    The traveler  20  rides on a track  28  so as to extend from its proximal position shown in FIG. 3 to its distal position shown in FIG. 4. The extent of distal extension of the antenna  16  may be controlled by a stop  38  that limits the distal extension of the U-shaped housing  30  on the track  28 .  
         [0021]    Referring to FIG. 4, the spring  32  may be wound around a telescoping rod so as to push the traveler  20  distally, causing the antenna  16  to extend out of the housing  12 . In this position, the end  36   a  of the catch  36  is released from the side of the traveler  20 . The traveler  20  transitions distally over the track  28  to extend the antenna  16 .  
         [0022]    The side-to-side extension of the catch  36  is controlled by the tension supplied by the helical coil  34  and by the internal resiliency of the catch  36 .  
         [0023]    As noted in FIG. 4, the contact  24  makes contact with the contact  26  on the traveler  20 , allowing radio frequency signals to be transmitted or received from the integrated circuits included on the printed circuit board  22 .  
         [0024]    The extent of outward extension of the antenna  16  from the housing  12  may be increased by offsetting the coil spring  32  from the track  28 . That is, by allowing the coil spring  32  to actually extend beyond the track  28  at the proximal end, greater antenna  16  outward extension can be achieved.  
         [0025]    The printed circuit board  22  includes a protrusion  23  that engages a protrusion  25  on the traveler  20 . This provides a snap action when the antenna  16  is retracted to its proximal position, shown on FIG. 3, from its distal position shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0026]    Referring to FIG. 5, the traveler  20  rides on an L-shaped element  42  secured to the housing  12 . One end of the helical coil  34  and one end of the spring  32  may be secured in the L-shaped member  42 . Also secured to the L-shaped element  42  is the track  28 . In one embodiment, the U-shaped housing  30  may include a cantilevered, L-shaped resilient arm  30  on each side of the track  28  to releasably, slideably engage and be guided by the track  28 .  
         [0027]    When the traveler  20  begins to extend distally from the position shown in FIG. 5, the end  36   a  of the catch  36  disengages from the traveler  20  to allow distal movement. Thus, the end  36   a  is flexed laterally, allowing the traveler  20  to extend distally, as shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0028]    Turning next to FIG. 7, the end  36   a  travels in a groove  44  in the edge of the traveler  20 . The groove  44  includes a generally straight portion  45  and, at the distal end, a generally heart-shaped portion  46 . The heart-shaped portion  46  right side includes an inclined track portion  56  that causes the end  36   a  to extend away from the groove  44  and then to fall and be locked in to releasably locked position  50 . In this position, the traveler  20  is held against distal extension outwardly of the housing  12 .  
         [0029]    In order to free the antenna  16  for extension, the antenna  16  must be pushed proximally causing the protrusion  52  to wedge the end  36 a to the left side of the heart-shaped portion  46  of the groove  44 , as shown in FIG. 7, freeing the end  36   a  from its entrapment within the locked position  50 . This release allows the spring  32  to take over, causing the end  36   a  to ride back down the track portion  54  and down the straight portion  45  while the antenna  16  extends distally.  
         [0030]    Thus, referring to FIG. 8, when the end  36   a  is trapped in the position  50 , the antenna  16  is releasably locked against distal movement. When the antenna  16  is pressed down, the protrusion  52  wedges the end  36   a  to the left allowing it to be released through the left lateral track portion  54 .  
         [0031]    In some embodiments the extent of movement of the traveler  20  may be significantly greater than with prior designs. For example, prior designs may provide for limited travel of approximately 17 millimeters. With embodiments of the present invention, a longer stroke of approximately 27 millimeters may be generated resulting in 5 millimeters of extra antenna  16  extension in some embodiments.  
         [0032]    While the present invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous modifications and variations therefrom. It is intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of this present invention.