Portable communication device and antenna device with removeable matching circuit

A portable communication device and antenna device with removeable matching circuit is provided. The antenna device includes: a base; an antenna element; an electrical connector at the base; a matching circuit removably positioned between the electrical connector and the antenna element, the electrical connector and the antenna element in electrical communication via the matching circuit; and a shell removably attached to the base, the shell surrounding and protecting the matching circuit. The portable communication device includes the antenna device, for example removably attached to an antenna receptacle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Some portable communication devices include removeable antenna devices that have multiband capability. However, such multiband capability may result in complicated matching circuits.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Some portable communication devices include removeable antenna devices that have multiband capability. However, such multiband capability may result in complicated matching circuits. Furthermore, at an antenna device of the present specification, a matching circuit may comprise a printed circuit board (PCB) and/or be mounted on a PCB which, due to the complexity of the matching circuit is longer than a PCB onto which a non-multiband matching circuit may be mounted. As the antenna devices generally should meet a drop test, and as such longer PCBs are more vulnerable to damage and/or failure, the matching circuit of the present specification is removeable and further protected by a removable shell, which may be made of metal, to facilitate easy changing and/or removability of the matching circuit. An antenna element of the antenna device of the present specification may further be flexible, with an intermediate dielectric component between the shell and a flexible form of the antenna element; in particular, the shell may be more rigid that the dielectric component, and the dielectric component may be more rigid than the flexible form.

In particular, an aspect of the present specification provides an antenna device comprising: a base; an antenna element; an electrical connector at the base; a matching circuit removably positioned between the electrical connector and the antenna element, the electrical connector and the antenna element in electrical communication via the matching circuit; and a shell removably attached to the base, the shell surrounding and protecting the matching circuit.

Another aspect of the present specification provides a portable communication device comprising: a housing; a transceiver; an antenna receptacle; and an antenna device comprising: a base removably attached to the antenna receptacle; an antenna element; an electrical connector at the base, the electrical connector in communication with the transceiver; a matching circuit removably positioned between the electrical connector and the antenna element, the electrical connector and the antenna element in electrical communication via the matching circuit; and a shell removably attached to the base, the shell surrounding and protecting the matching circuit.

Attention is directed toFIG. 1, which depicts a perspective view of an example communication device100comprising an antenna device101, an antenna receptacle103, and a transceiver105. The communication device100is interchangeably referred to hereafter as the device100. The transceiver105is depicted in dotted lines indicating that the transceiver105is internal to the device100.

As depicted, the device100comprises a portable communication device such as a land-mobile radio (LMR), for example used by first responders; however, the device100may comprise any suitable communication device configured to receive detachable antennas, including, but not limited to, push-to-talk (PTT) radios, citizens broadband radio service (CBRS) radios and the like. However, while the device100as depicted is a portable communication device, in other examples the device100may not be mobile and/or may be adapted for use in a vehicle.

The antenna device101is removably attachable to the device100via the antenna receptacle103using, for example, a twisting motion to remove and attach the antenna device101to the antenna receptacle103, though any suitable attachment mechanism and corresponding motion for removably attaching the antenna device101to the device100is within the scope of the present specification. Hence, the antenna receptacle103may alternatively be referred to as the corresponding receptacle103(e.g., a receptacle corresponding to, and/or configured to receive, the antenna device101). The transceiver105is generally in communication with an antenna element of the antenna device101via the antenna receptacle103and a base of the antenna device101to wirelessly communicate via the antenna element. While not depicted, the antenna device101may be one of a plurality of antenna devices that are removably attachable to the device100, each of the plurality of antenna devices configured to operate at different (or the same) frequency bands, including, but not limited to, a range of about 100 MHz to about 900 MHz, with the transceiver105adapted accordingly. However, the antenna device101may comprise a multiband antenna device configured to operate over a plurality of bands.

Indeed, the transceiver105may comprise one or more of a digital mobile radio (DMR) transceiver, a Project 25 (P25) transceiver, a terrestrial trunked radio (TETRA) transceiver, a Bluetooth transceiver, a Wi-Fi transceiver, for example operating in accordance with an IEEE 802.11 standard (e.g., 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g), an LTE (Long-Term Evolution) transceiver and/or other types of GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) transceivers, a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) transceiver, for example operating in accordance with an IEEE 802.16 standard, and/or another similar type of wireless transceiver configurable to communicate via a wireless radio network. While not depicted, the transceiver105may be generally controlled by a processor of the device100implementing instructions stored at a computer-readable medium of the device100, for example to control a frequency range in which the transceiver105is to communicate, depending on a frequency range of an antenna device attached to the device100.

Attention is next directed toFIG. 2which depicts an exploded view of the antenna device101. As depicted, the antenna device101comprises two units201,202,209and encased by an external sheath204(as depicted, split into two portions to show the units201,202209therein) to form the antenna device101. As depicted, when the units201,202are assembled, a floating antenna element207may be inserted into the unit202, and spaced from the unit201via a spacer209. Alternatively, the floating antenna element207and the spacer209may be incorporated into the unit202prior to assembly. However, the antenna device101may be provided and/or assembled in any suitable configuration.

The unit201generally comprises a base assembly of the antenna device101, and the unit202generally comprises an antenna assembly of the antenna device101. As will be explained hereafter, with regards toFIG. 3, the unit201generally comprises a removable matching circuit (e.g. a removable matching circuit307depicted inFIG. 3), and a removable shell (e.g. a removable shell309depicted inFIG. 3) which protects the matching circuit. The antenna device101and/or unit202generally comprises an antenna element221and a flexible form222, As depicted, the antenna element221comprises a helical antenna element which is also flexible, and which is wrapped around the flexible form222. The flexible form222may be made of silicone and/or liquid silicone rubber, and the antenna element221may be made from a flexible conducting material and/or a plurality of flexible conducting materials; for example, the antenna element221may include, but is not limited to, a flex antenna element.

As depicted inFIG. 2, the antenna device101and/or the unit202may comprise the floating antenna element207, for example internal to the antenna element221(e.g. internal to the flexible form222) and/or the helical antenna element, which is mechanically held in place in the flexible form222by the spacer209, as described in more detail below. The spacer209generally comprises an insulator material and/or a dielectric material, including, but not limited to, Teflon™. In some examples, the spacer209may be a component of the unit202.

While depicted as helical, the antenna element221may alternatively comprise a straight antenna element and/or a monopole antenna element and/or a folded monopole antenna element, and/or combination of a straight antenna element and a helical antenna element (e.g., the antenna element221may comprise one or more of a straight antenna element and a helical antenna element). Furthermore, the internal floating antenna element may be optional.

The antenna element221(e.g., together with, and/or separately from, the optional internal floating antenna element) may generally be configured to operate over a plurality of bands.

The external sheath204may comprise a thermo-plastic material, such as thermo-plastic polyurethane (TPU) which may be formed around the units201,202(e.g., when the units201,202are assembled including the floating antenna element207and the spacer209). Hence, while the external sheath204is depicted as being two parts, the external sheath204may be formed in a unified manner.

Attention is next directed toFIG. 3which depicts an exploded view of the unit201. As depicted, the antenna device101and/or the unit201comprises a base301; an electrical connector303at the base301(as depicted, the electrical connector303is integrated with a signal pin305, described in more detail below); a matching circuit307removably positioned between the electrical connector303and the antenna element221(e.g., when the antenna device101is assembled), the electrical connector303and the antenna element221in electrical communication via the matching circuit307(e.g., when the antenna device101is assembled); and a shell309removably attached to the base301(e.g., when the antenna device101is assembled), the shell309surrounding and protecting the matching circuit307.

As depicted, the base301comprises first threads311that extend towards the matching circuit307(and/or extend internally into the antenna device101), and second threads312that extend away from the matching circuit307. As depicted, the threads311,312at the base301are separated by a circular lip and/or ledge313described in more detail below. For example, the base301, including the threads311,312and the circular lip and/or ledge313may be formed from metal as an integrated unit.

The shell309comprises complementary threads321that removably mate with the first threads311of the base301, the shell309being removably attached to the base301via the complementary threads321and the first threads311of the base301. Hence, for example, during assembly of the unit201, the shell309may be screwed onto the base301via the threads311,321, and reside against an internal side of the circular ledge313when assembled.

The second threads312are generally configured to mate with the antenna receptacle103(e.g., at complementary threads of the antenna receptacle103) at the communication device100. Hence, for example, during attachment of the antenna device101to the communication device100, the antenna device101may be screwed into the antenna receptacle103via the threads312(and complementary threads at the antenna receptacle103) and the antenna receptacle103may reside against an external side of the circular ledge313when attached to the device100.

As the base301may be conducting, and as the shell309may be conducting (e.g., formed from metal), the shell309may be electrically connected to the antenna receptacle103when the antenna device101is attached to the device100, for example to ground the shell309. As such, as will be explained in more detail below, when the shell309comprises metal, the shell309is generally electrically isolated from the antenna element221, the electrical connector303and the matching circuit307. Furthermore, the shell309is generally rigid and generally surrounds the matching circuit307to mechanically protect the matching circuit307. In some examples, when the shell209is metal, and in particular a conducting metal (and/or a any suitable conducting material), the unit202may comprise a grounded antenna element connected to the shell309, for example in a double helix arrangement with the depicted helical antenna element221(e.g. the grounded antenna also being helical, and electrically isolated from the helical antenna element221).

For example, as depicted, the matching circuit307comprises a printed circuit board (PCB)327upon which radio-frequency (RF) matching electrical components of the matching circuit307are mounted. As the antenna element221may be configured to operate over a plurality of bands, when the antenna device101is attached to the device100, the transceiver105may communicate via the antenna element221for example via the matching circuit307, over a plurality of bands. Hence the matching circuit307may be generally configured to perform RF matching between the transceiver105and the antenna element221over the plurality of bands. As such, the PCB327may be longer, and hence more fragile than PCBs of matching circuits that are not configured to perform RF matching over a plurality of bands. The additional length may be due to the PCB327having to accommodate a large number of RF matching components of the matching circuit307.

As the shell309is rigid, and generally surrounds the matching circuit307, including the PCB327, the shell309generally physically and/or mechanically protects the matching circuit307, which may prevent the matching circuit307and/or the PCB327from being damaged during a fall test of the antenna device101and/or the device100.

As depicted, the antenna device101and/or the unit201further comprises a receptacle329for removable receiving the PCB327when the shell309is removed from the base301.

For example, as depicted, the receptacle329comprises one or more slots331(as depicted at least two slots331) into which the PCB327may be removably received, for example when the shell309is removed from the base301.

As depicted, the electrical connector303comprises a signal pin305extending through an aperture333in the receptacle329. As depicted, the signal pin305is configured to removably mate with the matching circuit307when the PCB327is received at the receptacle329(e.g., in slots331). As depicted, the signal pin305comprises a respective slot335which extends into the receptacle329, for example between the slots331, and into the which an end of the PCB327is removably received. In particular, an end of the PCB327which is received at the slot335includes an electrical connection337to the RF components of matching circuit307, which electrically connects to the signal pin305, and which electrically connects the matching circuit307to the electrical connector303.

As depicted, sides of the PCB327may slide into the slots331of the receptacle329, which may comprise metal and be electrically connected to the base301and/or the shell309; hence, when a portion of the matching circuit307is to be grounded, the sides of the PCB327which slide into the slots331of the receptacle329may include electrical connectors to the portion of the matching circuit307to be grounded. In other examples, the sides of the PCB327which slide into the slots331may be insulating.

In general, the electrical connection337is in electrical communication with the transceiver105when the antenna device101is attached to the device100; as such, the electrical connection337is generally electrically isolated from the electrical connectors to the portion of the matching circuit307that is to be grounded. As well the electrical connection337is generally electrically isolated from the receptacle329, the base301and the shell309.

Furthermore, as depicted, the antenna device101and/or the unit201further comprises an insulating spacer339which is received in an aperture341in the base301(e.g., at an internal side of the base301). The spacer339includes a respective aperture343into which the signal pin305is received such that the electrical connector303and the signal pin305are electrically isolated from the base301, when the antenna device101and/or the unit201is assembled, and which locates the electrical connector303at the base301, for example at an external side of the aperture341. Hence, when the antenna device101is attached to the device100, the electrical connector303is electrically connected to the transceiver105, while the base301is grounded. Put another way, the base301may be configured to mate with an antenna receptacle (e.g., the antenna receptacle103) at a communication device (e.g., the device101), and the electrical connector303may be configured to electrically communicate with a transceiver (e.g., the transceiver105) of the communication device when the base301is mated with the antenna receptacle.

As depicted, the matching circuit307further comprises a respective signal pin345extending towards the antenna element221(e.g., when the antenna device101is assembled). As depicted, the signal pin345may extend from the PCB327at an end opposite of the end where the electrical connection337is located and/or where the PCB327is received in the slots331of the receptacle329. As depicted, a head of the signal pin345comprises opposing biased portions, which may be compressed towards each other to mate with an electrically conducting receptacle that receives the respective signal pin345, for example an electrically conducting receptacle451as best seen inFIG. 4andFIG. 5, described below. Such an electrically conducting receptacle is generally configured to removably receive the respective signal pin345, and is electrically connected to the antenna element221, such that the respective signal pin345and the antenna element221are electrical communication via the electrically conducting receptacle.

As depicted, the antenna device101and/or the unit201further comprises a dielectric component347configured to removably mate with, and/or removably attach to, the shell309, for example via threads349located at a shell end of the dielectric component347. The threads349removably mate with complementary threads (not visible inFIG. 3) at an internal surface of the shell309. Hence, the dielectric component347may be removably attached to the shell309, for example prior to, or after, the shell is attached to the base301. Indeed, the dielectric component347is generally removably attachable to the shell309at an end opposite the base301.

As described below, but not visible inFIG. 3, the dielectric component347comprises: an electrically conducting receptacle therein configured to removably mate with, and electrically connect to, the matching circuit307, for example via the respective signal pin345. In general, the matching circuit307and the antenna element221are in electrical communication via the electrically conducting receptacle internal to the dielectric component347.

In particular, as depicted inFIG. 3, the dielectric component347may further comprise an electrical contact351at an external surface353, the electrical contact351in electrical communication with the electrically conducting receptacle therein and a respective end of the antenna element221(e.g., when the antenna device101is assembled), such that the matching circuit307and the antenna element221are in electrical communication via the electrically conducting receptacle and the electrical contact351. For example, the respective signal pin345may connect to the electrically conducting receptacle internal to the dielectric component347(for example via an aperture355in the dielectric component347at the end which attaches to the shell309), which is electrically connected to the electrical contact351, which electrically connects to an end of the antenna element221.

Hence, the dielectric component347includes electrical connections used to connect the matching circuit to the antenna element221, while electrically insulating the electrical connections and the antenna element221from the shell309.

However, the dielectric component347may further act as a partially flexible mechanical interface between the rigid shell309and the flexible components of the unit202. For example, as depicted inFIG. 3, the dielectric component347further comprises, at an antenna end, opposite a shell end of the dielectric component347, a mechanical connector357which mates with the flexible form222. The dielectric component347may comprise a material with rigidity between that of the shell309and the flexible form222.

For example, attention is next directed toFIG. 4which depicts a cross-section of the antenna device101, as assembled, the depicted cross-section being through a longitudinal axis401thereof. In particular,FIG. 4depicts the units201,202assembled via the flexible form222mating with the mechanical connector357of the dielectric component347. For example, at a mechanical connection end, the flexible form222comprises a receptacle complementary to a mushroom shape of the mechanical connector357, and which receives and/or fits over the mechanical connector357, the flexible form222being frictionally retained by the mechanical connector357. However, the mechanical connector357and the mechanical connection end, the flexible form222may be any suitable respective shapes that connect and, and the like.

In general, the dielectric component347is attached to, and resides between, the shell309and the flexible form222(and/or the antenna element221, which is also flexible in the depicted examples). Indeed, as depicted inFIG. 4, the dielectric component347has been attached to the shell309via the threads349and complementary threads at the shell309; furthermore, the flexible form222has been attached to the dielectric component347. Hence, in general, the dielectric component347may be configured to: removably mate with the shell309; and removably mate with the flexible form222of the antenna element221. Furthermore, the shell309(e.g., made of metal) may be more rigid that the dielectric component347(e.g., made of plastic), and the dielectric component347may be more rigid than the flexible form222(e.g., made of silicone and/or liquid silicone rubber, and the like).

FIG. 4further depicts the floating antenna element207internal to the antenna element221. For example, the floating antenna element207may comprise a monopole antenna element and/or a folded monopole floating antenna element located internal to the flexible form222. For example, the flexible form222is generally insulating and includes an internal channel422along the longitudinal axis401into which the floating antenna element207may be inserted to form the unit202. The floating antenna element207is not in galvanic electrical connection to other electrical components of the antenna device101but may be capacitively connected to other electrical components of the antenna device101, including, but not limited to, the antenna element221. The presence of the floating antenna element207may favorably affect a radiation pattern of the antenna device101.

FIG. 4further depicts the spacer209located in the internal channel422.FIG. 4further depicts the electrically conducting receptacle451of the dielectric component347, located at an interior of the dielectric component347and which receives the signal pin345of the matching circuit307. In general, one end of the spacer209extends from the internal channel422, through the aperture355of the dielectric component347(e.g., through the mechanical connector357) and resides against the electrically conducting receptacle451, which may be generally cylindrical in shape and centered on the internal channel422and/or the aperture355. An opposite end of the spacer209is located at a respective end of the floating antenna element207, and generally locates the floating antenna element207at a distance of about the length of the spacer209from the electrically conducting receptacle451, and further locates the floating antenna element207relative to the antenna element221. The length of the spacer209may be selected to locate the floating antenna element207relative to the antenna element221so as to favorably affect a radiation pattern of the antenna device101.

Attention is next directed toFIG. 5which depicts details of a box499of the cross-section depicted inFIG. 4. In particular,FIG. 5depicts details of the electrical connections of the antenna device101when assembled, as well as details of some aspects of the mechanical assembly of the unit201.

FIG. 5depicts the insulating spacer339as inserted into the aperture341and in particular a lip501of the insulating spacer339resides on an internal ledge502of the base301to hold the insulating spacer339in the aperture341. Similarly, the signal pin305is inserted into the aperture343of the insulating spacer339, with a lip503of the signal pin305held in place by the lip501of the insulating spacer339, which forms an external ledge against which the lip503resides. The signal pin305is of a length that locates the electrical connector303at the base301so that the electrical connector303may electrically connect with a complementary electrical connector at the antenna receptacle103, and hence to the transceiver105, when the antenna device101is attached to the device100.

FIG. 5further depicts the PCB327of the matching circuit307being removably held in place by the slot335of the signal pin305and the electrically conducting receptacle451. For example, as depicted, the signal pin345is removably inserted into the electrically conducting receptacle451and opposing biased portions of the signal pin305are compressed towards each other to mate with the electrically conducting receptacle451.

Indeed, the signal pin345may rotate within the electrically conducting receptacle451; furthermore the receptacle329, which resides against the insulating spacer339, may also rotate against the insulating spacer339, and similarly the signal pin305, which is electrically separated from the receptacle329by an air gap504, may also rotate against the insulating spacer339. For example, an external lip505of the receptacle329may further reside against an end of the base301and rotate against the end of the base301as well as against the insulating spacer339. As such, the components holding the PCB327in place in the antenna device101may all rotate, which may allow the PCB327to rotate, while maintaining electrical connects with the electrical connector303and the electrically conducting receptacle451. Such an arrangement may relieve rotational stress on the matching circuit307and/or the PCB327when torque and/or a twisting motion is used to tighten or loosen the antenna device101at the antenna receptacle103.

FIG. 5further depicts the electrical connection between the signal pin345and the antenna element221. For example,FIG. 5shows that the electrical contact351is electrically connected to the electrically conducting receptacle451at which the signal pin345is received, for example via one or more electrical connections507internal to the dielectric component347. As depicts, an electrically conducting end509of the antenna element221contacts the electrical contact351, which electrically connects the signal pin345, and hence the matching circuit307to the antenna element221via the electrically conducting receptacle451, the one or more electrical connections507and the electrical contact351.

In general, the antenna device101may be partially assembled by assembling the units201,202together with the spacer209. The matching circuit307of the antenna device101may be electrically tested, for example in a factory setting. If the matching circuit307does not pass a test, the antenna device101may be easily disassembled by first disassembling the units201,202, and then disassembling the unit201. The unit201may be disassembled by unscrewing the shell309from the base301and optionally unscrewing the dielectric component347from the shell309. When the unit201is disassembled, signal pin345is removed from the electrically conducting receptacle451, and the matching circuit307and the PCB327may be removed from the slots331,335and replaced with another matching circuit on a respective PCB. The unit201may be reassembled with the replacement matching circuit and PCB, and reassembled with the unit202, and the spacer209, for further electrical testing. Once the antenna device101passes the electrical testing, the external sheath204may be formed on the units201,202using thermoplastic forming techniques such that the external sheath204contains at least the antenna element221, the electrical connector303, the matching circuit307and the shell309, as well as other components internal to the antenna device101as described herein; the external sheath204is formed in such a manner such that the threads312are not covered, and the electrical connector303is electrically accessible via the aperture341.

While the antenna device101is described herein as being assembled in a particular example, and similarly components of the antenna device101are described as being removably attachable to each other via particular mechanisms (e.g. threads), such as threads, the antenna device101may be assembled in any suitable manner and further the components of the antenna device101that are removably attachable to each other may be removably attachable via any suitable mechanism. For example, one or more of the components of the antenna device101that are removably attachable may be removably attachable via any suitable fasteners (e.g. flexible tabs that removably mate with complementary ridges, retractable buttons that removably mate with complementary apertures, and the like).

In this document, language of “at least one of X, Y, and Z” and “one or more of X, Y and Z” may be construed as X only, Y only, Z only, or any combination of two or more items X, Y, and Z (e.g., XYZ, XY, YZ, XZ, and the like). Similar logic may be applied for two or more items in any occurrence of “at least one . . . ” and “one or more . . . ” language.