Abstract:
A rotational antenna is disclosed. The rotational antenna includes a radiating member and a pivot. The radiating member preferably comprises a curved portion. The pivot further includes an axle and a body. The axle is coupled to the curved portion, and the body is electrically connected to a wireless communication device. Accordingly, the pivot is disposed within the wireless communication device and hidden inside the wireless communication device. The damage of the pivot can be avoided when moving the wireless communication device.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number 95218342, filed Oct. 17, 2006, which is herein incorporated by reference. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to a rotational antenna. More particularly, this invention relates to a rotational antenna with a hidden pivot. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Wireless communication technology is highly developed and becoming more popular. Wireless communication devices, such as conventional radios, computer wireless devices or digital television boxes, normally use an antenna to transmit and receive wireless signals. However, most wireless communication devices include pivots protruding from the bodies of the wireless communication devices. The protruding pivot may easily interfere with surrounding environmental objects when the wireless communication device is used in a limited and restricted space. In addition, the protruding pivot can easily be damaged by accident. 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of a conventional rotational antenna. The conventional rotational antenna  100  includes a bar portion  102  and a pivot  104 . The bar portion  102  can rotate on the pivot  104 . However, the pivot  104  protrudes from the body of the wireless communication device  106 . Therefore, when moving the wireless communication device, the pivot  104  of the rotational antenna  100  may easily touch other objects and therefore be damaged. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is an objective of the present invention to provide a rotational antenna with a hidden pivot that does not reduce the wireless communication efficiency. 
         [0006]    To accomplish the above objectives, the present invention provides a rotational antenna with a radiating member that includes a curved portion and a pivot. The pivot includes an axle and a pivot holder. The axle is connected to the curved portion and the pivot holder electrically connects to a wireless communication device. The pivot is preferably disposed inside the body of the wireless communication device. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a conventional rotational antenna; 
           [0009]      FIGS. 2A-2C  illustrate a preferred embodiment of a rotational antenna according to the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3A  is a front view of the pivot of the preferred embodiment of  FIGS. 2A-2C ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3B  is a side view of the pivot of the preferred embodiment of  FIGS. 2A-2C ; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 4A-4E  illustrate another preferred embodiment of a rotational antenna according to the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5A  is a front view of the pivot of the preferred embodiment of  FIGS. 4A-4E ; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 5B  is a side view of the pivot of the preferred embodiment of  FIGS. 4A-4E . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0015]    The following description is currently the best implementation of the present invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely to describe the general principles of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined by referencing the appended claims. 
         [0016]      FIG. 2A ,  FIG. 2B  and  FIG. 2C  illustrate a preferred embodiment of a rotational antenna  200  according to the present invention. The antenna  200  includes a curved portion  204  and a pivot  206 . The curved portion  204  is a radiating member and transmits and receives wireless signals. One end of the curved portion  204  connects to a bar portion  202  to extend the radiating member. The bar portion  202  connects to the curved portion  204 , and the curved portion  204  connects to the axle  208  of the pivot  206 . The pivot holder  210  of the pivot  206  electrically connects to a wireless communication device  212  to transmit/receive wireless signals to/from a communication module disposed inside the body of the wireless communication device  212 . The pivot  206  is disposed inside the wireless communication device  212  so that the pivot  206  is not protruding from the surface of the wireless communication device  212 . During the rest period, the bar portion  202  of the rotational antenna  200  can be stored parallel to the surface of the wireless communication device  212  and the curved portion  204  is stored in the receiving portion  214  of the wireless communication device  212 . Referring to  FIG. 2B , when the bar portion  202  of the rotational antenna  200  is rotated up about 45 degrees from the horizontal, a part of the curved portion  204  is exposed. Referring to  FIG. 2C , when the bar portion  202  of the rotational antenna  200  is rotated up about additional 45 degrees, the bar portion  202  is perpendicular to the surface, to store the bar portion  202 , of the wireless communication device  212 . In addition, the curved portion  204  is exposed outside the wireless communication device  212 . Since the total length of the bar portion and the curved portion is similar to the length of the bar portion of a conventional rotational antenna, the wireless communication efficiency of the present embodiment is similar to the conventional rotational antenna. The rotational antenna is preferably installed in a digital TV box to receive digital, analogy and/or multi-frequency signals. 
         [0017]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a front view of the pivot of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 2A ,  FIG. 2B  and  FIG. 2C , and  FIG. 3B  illustrates a side view thereof. The pivot  206  includes an axle  208  and a pivot holder  210 . The axle  208  is disposed in a receiving portion  216  of the pivot holder  210  so that the rotational antenna  200  can be rotated through the axle  208  on the pivot  206  to about 180 degrees. 
         [0018]      FIG. 4A ,  FIG. 4B ,  FIG. 4C ,  FIGS. 4D and 4E  illustrate another preferred embodiment of the rotational antenna according to the present invention. The rotational antenna  400  includes a bar portion  402 , a curved portion  404  and a pivot  406 . The rotational antenna  400  includes a semi-circle curved portion  404 . The curved portion  404  is approximately a quarter of a circle longer than the curved portion  204  of  FIG. 2A-2C  and the length of the bar portion  402  is therefore shorter than that of  FIG. 2A-2C . The rotational antenna  400  can also be used in a wireless communication device with a small volume. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 4A , the bar portion  402  connects to the curved portion  404  and the curved portion  404  connects to the axle  408  of the pivot  406 . The pivot holder  410  of the pivot  406  is electrically connected to a wireless communication device  412 . The pivot  406  is disposed inside the wireless communication device  412  so that the pivot  406  does not protrude from the surface of the wireless communication device  412 . When the wireless communication device  412  at rest, the bar portion  402  of the rotational antenna  400  is parallel to one surface of the wireless communication device  412  and the curved portion  404  is stored inside a receiving portion  414  of the wireless communication device  412 . 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 4B , when the bar portion  402  of the rotational antenna  400  is rotated up about 45 degrees from the horizontal, a part of the curved portion  404  is exposed outside the wireless communication device  412 . Referring to  FIG. 4C , when the bar portion  402  of the rotational antenna  400  is rotated up by additional 45 degrees, the bar portion  402  is perpendicular to the surface, to store the bar portion  402 , of the wireless communication device  412 . In addition, a half of the curved portion  404  is exposed outside the wireless communication device  412 . Referring to  FIG. 4D , when the bar portion  402  of the rotational antenna  400  is rotated about 135 degrees from the horizontal, three quarters of the curved portion  404  is exposed outside the wireless communication device  412 . Referring to  FIG. 4E , when the bar portion  402  of the rotational antenna  400  is rotated about 180 degrees from the horizontal, the whole curved portion  404  is exposed outside the wireless communication device  412  and the bar portion  402  is parallel to the surface, to store the bar portion  402  of the rotational antenna  400 . Since the total length of the bar portion  402  and the curved portion  404  is similar to the length of the bar portion of a conventional rotational antenna, the wireless communication efficiency of the present embodiment is similar to the conventional rotational antenna. 
         [0021]      FIG. 5A  illustrates a front view of the pivot of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 4A ,  FIG. 4B ,  FIG. 4C ,  FIG. 4D  and  FIG. 4E , and  FIG. 5B  illustrates a side view thereof. The pivot  406  includes an axle  408  and a pivot holder  410 . The axle  408  is disposed in a receiving portion  416  of the pivot holder  410  so that the rotational antenna  400  can be rotated through the axle  408  on the pivot  406  by about 180 degrees. 
         [0022]    As is understood by a person skilled in the art, the foregoing preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrative of the present invention rather than limiting to the present invention. It is intended that various modifications and similar arrangements be included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.