Abstract:
A wireless communication device includes a housing, and a retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism operably coupled with the housing. The retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism includes a speaker box with an enclosed acoustic volume, and an antenna. The retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism is movable between at least a retracted position where the retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism is adjacent with the housing, the antenna is in a retracted condition, and the speaker box includes a retracted enclosed acoustic volume, and a deployed position where the retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism is moved away from the housing, the antenna is in a deployed condition farther away from the housing than the retracted condition, and the speaker box includes a deployed enclosed acoustic volume that is greater than the retracted enclosed acoustic volume.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates, in general, to wireless communication devices, and, in particular to, sound and antenna systems for wireless communication devices.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Wireless communication devices (e.g., cell phones) are becoming smaller, sleeker, and more compact. To make cell phones more compact, newer cell phones are being designed with stationary, non-retractable antennas that are built into the cell phone housing. Building the antenna into the cell phone housing allows the cell phone to have a smaller design. Eliminating a projecting antenna also make the cell phone easier and more comfortable to store in one&#39;s pants pocket or purse.  
         [0003]     Newer cell phones have speaker phone speakers that allow one to listen to the speaker without having to hold the cell phone up to one&#39;s ear. A problem with these speaker phone technologies is that the audible quality of the speaker is not very good, especially for listening to a caller or an audio file (e.g., MP3 file) with the speaker.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]     According to one embodiment, a wireless communication device includes a retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism. In a retracted position, the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism is flush with the housing of the wireless communication device. In a deployed position, the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism projects from the housing of the wireless communication device. The projecting combination speaker box and antenna mechanism provides better antenna quality and better speaker sound quality that was available in the past.  
         [0005]     According to another embodiment, a wireless communication device includes a wireless communication device housing and a retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism operably coupled with the housing. The retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism includes a speaker box with an enclosed acoustic volume, and an antenna. The retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism is movable between at least a retracted position where the retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism is adjacent with the housing, the antenna is in a retracted condition, and the speaker box includes a retracted enclosed acoustic volume, and a deployed position where the retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism is moved away from the housing, the antenna is in a deployed condition farther away from the housing than the retracted condition, and the speaker box includes a deployed enclosed acoustic volume that is greater than the retracted enclosed acoustic volume.  
         [0006]     According to another embodiment, a wireless communication device includes a wireless communication device housing including an exposed outer surface that defines a volume in space, and a retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism operably coupled with the housing. The retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism includes a speaker box with an enclosed acoustic volume, an antenna, and an exposed outer surface that defines a volume in space. The retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism is movable between at least a retracted position where the exposed outer surface of the wireless communication device housing and the retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism define a first volume, and a deployed position where the exposed outer surface of the wireless communication device housing and the retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism define a second volume greater than the first volume. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of an embodiment of a wireless communication device including a retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the wireless communication device illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and shows the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism in a deployed condition.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of another embodiment of a wireless communication device including a retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism.  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the wireless communication device illustrated in  FIG. 3 , and shows the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism in a deployed condition.  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of a further embodiment of a wireless communication device including a retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism.  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is a front elevational view of the wireless communication device illustrated in  FIG. 5 , and shows the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism in a deployed condition.  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is a front elevational view of a still further embodiment of a wireless communication device including a retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism.  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  is a front elevational view of the wireless communication device illustrated in  FIG. 7 , and shows the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism in a deployed condition.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]     With reference initially to  FIGS. 1-2 , an embodiment of a wireless communication device  100  including a retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  110  will now be described. Although in the embodiments shown the wireless communication device is a cellular phone, the wireless communication device may be any wireless device including an antenna and a speaker.  
         [0016]     After reading this description it will become apparent to one skilled in the art how to implement the invention in various alternative embodiments and alternative applications. However, although various embodiments of the present invention will be described herein, it is understood that these embodiments are presented by way of example only, and not limitation. As such, this detailed description of various alternative embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope or breadth of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.  
         [0017]     The embodiment of the wireless communication device  100  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  includes a display screen  120 , control keys  130 , and a device housing  140 . The retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  110  and the device housing  140  both include an outer surface that together define a volume.  
         [0018]     The retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  110  includes a body  150 , a speaker  160 , and an internal antenna  170 . Although a single speaker  150  and a single antenna  170  will be shown and described, the wireless communication device may include more than one speaker  150  and/or antenna  170 .  
         [0019]     In the embodiment shown, the body  150  includes a rounded upper member  180  and a generally rectangular lower member  190 . The generally rectangular lower member  190  is slidably received in an upper part of the device housing  140 . The body  150  forms a speaker box and the inside of the body  150  defines an enclosed acoustic volume.  
         [0020]     In the embodiment shown, the internal antenna  170  is internal to and on the inner wall of the rounded upper member  180 . Although the internal antenna is shown as having a generally helical configuration, the internal antenna  170  may have alternative configurations or constructions. The antenna  170  may also be one or more of located internal to the body  150 , within the body  150 , and/or external to the body  150 . The antenna  170  may be constructed of a coplanar metal, steel, ceramic, or other conducting material and located on one or more internal or external surfaces of the housing  140  and/or body  150 . Connections from the housing  140  to the antenna  170  may be by, but not by way of limitation, slide connections, wires, and/or board to speaker connections. In alternative embodiments, the antenna  170  may be a two-piece (or multi-piece) antenna where one piece covers the other and when the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  110  is deployed, all pieces are exposed, improving antenna performance. Although the antenna  170  is shown and described as being within the deployable mechanism  110 , in alternative embodiments, the deployable speaker box and antenna  170  may be separate, and the antenna  170  may be located within the housing  140 .  
         [0021]     The wireless communication device  100  includes a pop-up or deployment mechanism (not shown) such as, but not limited to, a spring latch or a handle, that causes the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  110  to be deployed.  
         [0022]     The wireless communication device  100  will now be described in use. To improve antenna performance and acoustic performance of the speaker  160 , the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  110  is deployed away from the top of the housing  140  in the longitudinal direction of the housing  140 . To deploy the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  110 , a user actuates the deployment mechanism causing the spring latch to release and urge the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  110  into the position shown in  FIG. 2 . In this position, the effective length of the wireless communication device  100  is increased and the enclosed acoustic volume of the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  110  is increased relative to the enclosed acoustic volume of the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  110  in the retracted position shown in  FIG. 2 . The inside of the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  110  is significantly more hollow in the deployed position, providing a larger speaker box and enclosed acoustic volume, then in the retracted position. Also, the total volume defined by the exposed surface of the housing  140  and the body  150  is greater when the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  110  is deployed ( FIG. 2 ) compared to when the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  110  is retracted ( FIG. 1 ). The increased enclosed acoustic volume or larger speaker box improves the sound quality of the speaker  160  during speaker play (e.g., when using speaker phone, when playing audio files). Deploying the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  110  to the position shown in  FIG. 2  also extends the antenna  170  relative to the housing  140 , improving RF performance.  
         [0023]     With reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , another embodiment of a wireless communication device  200  including a retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  210  will be described. Elements in  FIGS. 3 and 4  that are similar to those described previously will be shown and/or described with the same reference numbers.  
         [0024]     The combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  210  includes a telescoping body  220  and an internal antenna  170 . In the embodiment shown, the body  220  has a slightly curved configuration. The body  220  is telescopingly and slidably received in an upper part of the device housing  140 . In the retracted position shown in  FIG. 3 , a top of the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  210  is flush with a top of the housing  140 .  
         [0025]     In use, to improve antenna performance and acoustic performance of the speaker  160 , the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  210  is deployed by actuating a deployment mechanism. This causes the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  210  to telescope and be deployed away from the top of the housing  140  in a longitudinal direction of the housing, out of the top of the wireless communication device  200 , into the position shown in  FIG. 4 . In this position, the enclosed acoustic volume of the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  210  is increased relative to the enclosed acoustic volume of the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  210  in the retracted position shown in  FIG. 3 . The increased enclosed acoustic volume or larger speaker box improves the sound quality of the speaker  160 . Deploying the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  210  out of the top of the wireless communication device  200  to the position shown in  FIG. 4  also extends the antenna  170  relative to the housing  140 , improving antenna performance.  
         [0026]     With reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , another embodiment of a wireless communication device  300  including a retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  310  will be described. Elements in  FIGS. 5 and 6  that are similar to those described previously will be shown and/or described with the same reference numbers.  
         [0027]     The combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  310  includes a deployable and retractable body  320 , a speaker  160 , and an internal antenna  170 . In the embodiment shown, the body  320  includes a rounded front member  330  and a rounded rear member  340 . The rounded rear member  340  is slidably received in an upper part of the device housing  140 . The inside of the body  320  defines an enclosed acoustic volume. In the retracted position shown in  FIG. 5 , a front of the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  310  is flush with a front of the housing  140 .  
         [0028]     To improve antenna performance and acoustic performance of the speaker  160 , the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  310  is deployed laterally forward away from the housing  140  to the position shown in  FIG. 6  by actuating the deployment mechanism. In this position, the front member  330  overhangs the display  120  and the enclosed acoustic volume of the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  310  is increased relative to the enclosed acoustic volume of the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  310  in the retracted position shown in  FIG. 5 . The increased enclosed acoustic volume improves the sound quality of the speaker  160  and extending the antenna  170  relative to the housing  140  improves antenna performance.  
         [0029]     With reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , another embodiment of a wireless communication device  400  including a retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  410  will be described. Elements in  FIGS. 7 and 8  that are similar to those described previously will be shown and/or described with the same reference numbers.  
         [0030]     The combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  410  includes a rotatable lid member  420  and an internal antenna  170 . In the embodiment shown, the lid member  420  has a slightly curved configuration. The lid member  420  is rotatably received in an upper part of the device housing  140 . In the retracted position shown in  FIG. 7 , a top of the lid member  420  of the retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  410  is flush with a top of the housing  140 . Although the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  410  is shown on top of the housing  140 , in alternative embodiments, the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  410  may be located on the front, back, bottom, and/or side of the housing  140 .  
         [0031]     In use, to improve antenna performance and acoustic performance of the speaker  160 , the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  410  is deployed by actuating a deployment mechanism. This causes the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  410  to rotate in a clockwise direction, upward and to the right of the top of the wireless communication device  400 , away from the top of the housing  140 , into the position shown in  FIG. 8 . In alternative embodiments, the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  410  may flip, pivot, and/or rotate in a front-to-back direction, in a back-to-front direction, in a left-to-right (clockwise) direction, in a right-to-left (counter-clockwise) direction, in any combination of these directions, or in alternative directions. In the deployed position shown in  FIG. 8 , the enclosed acoustic volume of the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  410  is increased relative to the enclosed acoustic volume of the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  410  in the retracted position shown in  FIG. 7 . The increased enclosed acoustic volume or larger speaker box improves the sound quality of the speaker  160 . Deploying the combination speaker box and antenna mechanism  410  out of the top of the wireless communication device  200  to the position shown in  FIG. 8  also extends the antenna  170  relative to the housing  140 , improving antenna performance.  
         [0032]     The above description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles described herein can be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is to be understood that the description and drawings presented herein represent a presently preferred embodiment of the invention and are therefore representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention. It is further understood that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments that may become obvious to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure.