Abstract:
In a radio apparatus having a rod-like antenna ( 6 ), a cable ( 12 ) has one end electrically and mechanically connected to the antenna and is urged by a urging arrangement ( 22,24 ) so that it is prevented from slackening. The other end of the cable is fixed to an electrical part such as a circuit board (14) contained in a casing ( 4 ) of the radio apparatus. The antenna is stored in a storage portion ( 8 ) of the casing so as to be movable in a direction parallel to an extension axis of the antenna. It is preferable that the urging arrangement is constituted by a combination of a tension pulley ( 22 ) and a spring member ( 24 ) which is interposed between the tension pulley and the casing for urging the tension pulley to make said cable have tension.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a radio apparatus such as a satellite personal handy-phone, in which an antenna stored in a case thereof is to be pulled out of the case for communication. 
     A conventional radio transmitter adopts a structure in which an antenna is stored in a storage portion provided in a main body case so as to enhance portability. The antenna is pulled out of the storage portion in the main body case only when communication is carried out. The antenna is stored in the storage portion in the main body case when communication is not carried out. 
     A radio apparatus having such a structure for storing the antenna is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-303295. 
     In the conventional radio transmitter, the length of the cable connected to the antenna in the main body case is set to be larger than necessary so as to allow pulling-out/storing of the antenna. As a result, there occurs such a problem that the cable is moved around with the motion of the antenna. 
     Additionally, the cable is deformed into various shapes when the antenna is pulled out of or stored in the case. Therefore, there is a problem in which the cable in the main body case may hit or catch on other parts and damage the parts provided in the main body case or the cable itself 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a radio apparatus capable of restricting various deformations and motions of a cable connected to an antenna when the antenna is pulled out or stored. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a radio apparatus of the type described, in which any part or cable in the main unit case is never damaged. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a radio apparatus of the type described, in which slackening is prevented as regards the cable. 
     Other objects of the present invention will be clear as the description proceeds. 
     According to the present invention, there is provided a radio apparatus comprising a rod-like antenna with an extension axis and a casing which has a storage portion for storing the antenna so as to be movable in a particular direction parallel to the extension axis. The radio apparatus further comprises a cable, one end of which is electrically and mechanically connected to the antenna and the other end of which is fixed to an electrical part contained in the casing, and urging means engaged with the cable for urging the cable to prevent the cable from slackening. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing the first embodiment or a radio apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an external view of the ratio apparatus shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the radio apparatus shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a front sectional view showing a state in which an antenna is pulled out of a main unit case of the radio Apparatus shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a front sectional view showing the second embodiment of the radio apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a front sectional view showing the third embodiment of the radio apparatus of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 7 is a front sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of the radio apparatus of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to the drawing, description will be made as regards radio apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention. Each radio apparatus will be described by referring to a satellite personal handy-phone utilizing satellite communication as a specific example of the radio apparatus. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a radio apparatus  2  according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a casing or a box-shaped main unit case  4  and a rod-like antenna  6  which can be stored in or pulled out of the main unit case  4 . 
     The main unit case  4  comprises a first side wall portion  4   a , a second side wall portion  4   b  opposing the first side wall portion  4   a  in parallel therewith, a third side wall portion  4   c  joining ends of the first and second side wall portions  4   a  and  4   b , and a fourth side wall portion  4   d  joining the other ends of the first and second side wall portions  4   a  and  4   b.    
     The main unit case  4  is formed to have a box-like appearance by further comprising a top plate portion  30   a  for closing top ends of the first-fourth side wall portions  4   a - 4   d  and a bottom plate portion  30   b  for closing bottom ends of the first-fourth side wall portions  4   a - 4   d.    
     A storage portion  8  having a space large enough for storing the antenna  6  is formed in the main unit case  4 . The antenna  6  is supported in the storage portion  8  such that it is capable of being axially moved in upward and downward moving directions I and II. Even in a condition in which the antenna  6  is stored in the storage portion  8 , an upper end portion  6   a  of the antenna  6  is projected slightly from the top plate portion  30   a  of the main unit case  4 . In this condition, a base portion  6   b  at a lower portion or the antenna  6  is located in a bottom portion of the storage portion  8 . 
     One end of a coaxial cable (hereinafter referred to as cable)  12  is electrically and mechanically connected to the base portion  6   b  or the antenna  6 . A connection portion  16  is provided at the other end of the cable  12 . The connection portion  16  is electrically and mechanically connected to a circuit board  14  like a printed circuit board, stored in the main unit case  4 . The cable  12  has an enough length for allowing the pulling-out and storing operations of the antenna  6 . 
     As evident from FIG. 3, the surface of the circuit board  14  on which a circuit is formed is located so that it is opposite to the third side wall portion  4   c  of the main unit case  4  in parallel therewith at predetermined distance. Further, a partition wall portion  20  which will be later described in detail is provided between the third side wall portion  4   c  and the circuit board  14  in parallel with the third side wall portion  4   c  at a predetermined distance. 
     A tension pulley or a first pulley  22  as a tension pulley is provided in the main unit case  4 . The first pulley  22  is supported by a supporting shaft  26  between the partition wall portion  20  and third side wall portion  4   c  so that it is capable of moving in the aforementioned moving directions I, II of the antenna  6 . A coil spring  24  is located between a base portion  28  (or the side wall portion  20 ) of the storage portion  8  and the first pulley  22 . The first pulley  22  is urged by the coil spring  24  at the supporting shaft  26  in the moving direction II of the antenna  6  being stored. A combination of the first pulley  22  and the coil spring  24  in referred to as an urging arrangement. 
     The coaxial cable  12  extending from the base portion  6   b  of the antenna  6  toward the first pulley  22  in the moving direction II of the antenna  6  being stored as shown in FIG.  1  and is turned back by the first pulley  22 . That is, the cable  12  is urged by the first pulley  22  to prevent slackening thereof. 
     Grooves  32  are formed vertically on the third side wall portion  4   c  and partition wall portion  20  such that they are opposite to each other. In FIG. 1, only the groove  32  on the partition wall portion  20  is shown. Both ends of the supporting shaft  26  of the first pulley  22  are slidably fitted within the grooves  32 . The groove  32  includes a first groove portion  32   a  extending upward from the vicinity of the bottom plate portion  30   b  so that it is slightly inclined relative to the moving directions I, II of the antenna  6  and a second groove portion  32   b  extending upward from an upper end of the first groove portion  32   a  up to the position near the storage portion  8 . The second groove portion  32   b  is in parallel with the moving directions I, II of the antenna  6 . Arrows shown by broken lines in FIG. 1 indicate directions in which the first pulley  22  moves within the groove  32 . 
     A guide pulley or a second pulley  34  for restricting the direction of the extending cable  12  is provided in the vicinity of the base portion  28  as the bottom portion of the storage portion  8 . A supporting shaft  36  for the second pulley  34  is provided so that it is mounted on and fixed to the partition wall portion  20 . 
     The connection portion  16  is fixed on the circuit board  14  substantially in the middle of the circuit board  14 . A cylindrical guide protrusion  40  having a circular transverse section is provided in the vicinity of the connection portion  16  on the circuit board  14  for restricting the direction of the extending cable  12 . The guide protrusion  40  and second pulley  34  are located at substantially the same height above the bottom plate portion  30   b . As clearly shown in FIG. 1, a top end portion  38  of the second-groove  32   b  is located between the guide protrusion  40  and second pulley  34 . 
     The storage portion  8  for storing the antenna  6  has the first side wall portion  4   a  and a plate-like fifth side wall portion  46  which is opposite to the upper part of the first side wall portion  4   a  at a predetermined distance. The fifth side wall portion  46  extends in the moving directions I, II of the stored antenna  6 . 
     The antenna  6  has an antenna engaging portion  44  as a dent on a side of the base portion  6   b . The storage portion  8  has a first locking mechanism  41  for locking the antenna  6  in a condition that it is stored in the main unit case  4 . 
     The first locking mechanism  41  includes a first holding chamber  48  formed in a dent shape at a position on the fifth side wall portion  46  facing the base portion  6   b  of the stored antenna  6 , a first compression spring  42  one end of which is in contact with an innermost portion  48   a  of the first holding chamber  48 , and a first pressing piece  54  in contact with the other end of the first compression spring  42 . The first compression spring  42  is located between the innermost portion  48   a  of the first holding chamber  48  and the first pressing piece  54 . The first pressing piece  54  is hold so that it is capable of coming in and out of the first holding chamber  48  via the first compression spring  42 . 
     The storage portion  8  has a second locking mechanism  56  for locking the antenna  6  in a condition that the antenna  6  is pulled out of the main unit case  4 . The second locking mechanism  56  is provided on a portion of the top plate portion  30   a  which faces an antenna hole portion  30   f  formed in the top plate portion  30   a.    
     The second locking mechanism  56  includes a second holding chamber  58  formed in a dent shape on an upper portion of the fifth side wall portion  46  facing the antenna  6 , a second compression spring  52  one end of which is in contact with an innermost portion  58   a  of the second holding chamber  58  and a second pressing piece  60  in contact with the other end of the second compression spring  52 . The second compression spring  52  is located between the innermost portion  58   a  of the second holding chamber  58  and second pressing piece  60 . The second pressing piece  60  is held so that it is capable of coming in or out of the second holding chamber  58  via the second compression spring  52 . 
     Next, an operation of the radio apparatus  2  having such a structure will be described. In a condition in which the antenna  6  is stored in the storage portion  8  as shown in FIG. 1, most of the cable  12  extends into the interior of the main body case  2  from the storage portion  8 . At this time, the first pulley  22  urged by the coil spring  24  has been moved to the bottom end portion of the first groove  32   a . Therefore, at this time, the first pulley  22  has boon moved to a position the farthest from the storage portion  8 . Thus, the first pulley  22  urges the cable  12  so as to prevent it from slackening. At this time, on the circuit board  14 , the direction of extending the cable  12  between the first pulley  22  and connection portion  16  is restricted by the guide protrusion  40 . In addition, the cable  12  between the guide protrusion  40  and connection portion  16  is appropriately guided so as to be in parallel with the moving directions I, II of the antenna  6 . 
     On the other hand, when the antenna  6  is pulled out of the storage portion  8 , the antenna  6  is pulled out against an urging force applied to the first pulley  22  by the coil spring  24  As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the first pulley  22  is moved along the groom  32  to the nearest position to the bass portion  28  of the storage portion  8 . At this time, the final position or the moved supporting shaft  26  of the first pulley  22  is the top end portion  38  of the second groove portion  32   b . In a condition shown in FIG. 4, the first pulley  22  urges the coaxial cable  12  so as to prevent the cable  12  from slackening. At this time, the portion of the cable  12  extending from the base portion  6   b  of the antenna  6  to the second pulley  34  is appropriately guided by the second pulley  34  so that its direction is restricted to be in parallel with the moving directions I, II of the antenna  6 . 
     In a condition in which the antenna  6  is stored in the storage portion  8  as shown in FIG. 1, the first pressing piece  54  constituting the first locking mechanism  41  is projected into the storage portion  8  by the first compression spring  42  so that it is fitted to the antenna engaging portion  44  formed on the circumference of the antenna  6 . Then, the antenna  6  is locked by the first locking mechanism  41  in this stored state. 
     On the other hand, in a condition in which the antenna  6  is pulled out of the storage portion  8 , the second pressing piece  60  is projected into the storage portion  8  by the compression spring  52  so that it is fitted to the antenna engaging portion  44 . Then, the antenna  6  is locked by the second locking mechanism  56  with the antenna  6  being pulled out against an urging force of the coil spring  24 . 
     As described above, in the radio apparatus  2  of the present embodiment, the cable  12  is always urged by the first pulley  22  to prevent the coaxial cable  12  from slackening. 
     Thus, when the antenna  6  is pulled out of or stored in the main unit case  4 , the cable  12  moves always along a specified path in a predetermined region. Therefore, there never occurs such a problem that the cable  12  hits or catches any of the other parts in the main unit case  4  to damage the parts or the cable  12  itself. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, the description will be made as regards a radio apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof being omitted. 
     The main unit case  4  of a radio apparatus  62  of the second embodiment comprises the first pulley  22  which is the same tension pulley as that in the first embodiment and the second pulley  34  for restricting the direction of the extending cable  12 . The first pulley  22  is located in the vicinity of a portion below the base portion  28  of the storage portion  8 . The supporting shaft  26  of the first pulley  22  is movably fitted within a groove  66  vertically formed in a straight line in each of the partition wall portion  20  and the third side wall portion  4   c.    
     The second pulley  34  is located below the storage portion  8  and near the bottom plate portion  30   b . The supporting shaft  36  of the second pulley  34  is provided so that it is mounted on and fixed to the partition wall portion  20 . 
     The cable  12  is extended from the base portion  6   b  of the antenna  6  in the moving direction II for storing the antenna  6  and turned back in a substantially U shape at the second pulley  34 . The cable  12  turned back at the second pulley  34  is further turned back at the first pulley  22  in a substantially U shape. The first pulley  22  is movably supported by the supporting shaft  26  in the moving directions I, II of the antenna  6 . Further, the supporting shaft  26  of the first pulley  22  is urged by the coil spring  24  in the moving direction I of the antenna  6  being pulled out. An end of the coil spring  24  is supported by the supporting shaft  26  of the first pulley  22  and the other end is supported by the bottom plate portion  30   b  or partition wall portion  20 . 
     Like the first embodiment, the grooves  66  formed on the partition wall portion  20  and third side wall portion  4   c  opposite to this partition wall portion  20  extend in parallel with the moving directions I, II of the antenna  6 . Both end portions of the supporting shaft  26  are slidably fitted within the grooves  66 . Thus, the first pulley  22  is capable of traveling along the groove  66 . 
     The other end portion of the cable  12 , namely, an opposite end to the antenna  6  is electrically and mechanically connected and fixed to the connection portion  16  on a circuit board  68  located at the same position as that in the first embodiment. The connection portion  16  in the second embodiment is located at a position near the bottom plate portion  30   b  of the circuit board  68  and further near the groove  66 . 
     In the second embodiment also, the cable  12  is always urged by the first pulley  22  to prevent the cable  12  from slackening. 
     Thus, when the antenna  6  is pulled out of or stored in the main body case  4 , the cable  12  moves always in a specified path in a predetermined region. Therefore, there never occurs a problem that the cable  12  hits or catches any of the parts in the main unit case  4  to damage the parts of the cable  12  itself. In this second embodiment, it is not necessary to provide the circuit substrate  14  with a protrusion like the guide protrusion  40  adopted in the first embodiment. In addition, the shape of the groove  66  is formed to be linear and well simplified. Arrows shown by broken lines in FIG. 5 indicate the moving direction of the cable  12  and the moving direction of the first pulley  22 . 
     Referring to FIG. 6, the description will be made as regards a radio apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in FIG. 1, the description thereof being omitted. 
     In the main unit case  4  of the radio apparatus  70  of the third embodiment, the first pulley  22  which is the same as the first pulley  22  of a tension pulley described in the first embodiment is movably supported by the partition wall portion  20 . The first pulley  22  is supported by the supporting shaft  26  between the partition wall portion  20  and third side wall portion  4   c  so that it is capable of being moved with a movement of the antenna  6  in the moving directions I, II. Further, the first pulley  22  is urged by the coil spring  24  via the supporting shaft  26  in the moving direction II of the antenna  6  being stored. 
     The cable  12  is extended from the base portion  6   b  of the antenna  6  in the moving direction II of the antenna  6  being stored, and then turned back by the first pulley  22 . That is, the cable  12  is urged by the first pulley  22  so that it is prevented from slackening. 
     On each of the third side wall portion  4   c  and partition wall portion  20  a groove  71  is formed which is in parallel with the other. The grooves  71  extend from near the bottom of the storage portion  8  to a position near the bottom plate portion  30   b.    
     In FIG. 6, there is shown only the groove  71  formed in the partition wall portion  20 . Both end portions of the supporting shaft  26  of the first pulley  22  are slidably fitted within the grooves  71 . 
     The coaxial cable  12  is extended from the base portion  6   b  of the antenna  6  in the moving direction II or the antenna  6  being stored and then turned back by the first pulley  22 . An opposite end of the coaxial cable  12  is connected to the connection portion  16  provided near the storage portion  8  on the circuit substrate  72 . 
     The first pulley  22  is supported by the linear groove  71  so that it is capable of moving in the direction of extending the antenna  6 . Then, the first pulley  22  is urged in the moving direction II of the antenna  6  by the coil spring  24 . Therefore, in the third embodiment as well, the coaxial cable  12  is always urged by the first pulley  22  so that it is prevented from slackening, hence the same effect as in the aforementioned first and second embodiments can be assured. Since, in the third embodiment, since only the first pulley  22  is used as a pulley, the structure is made simple so that the apparatus can be brought to realization with low cost. Meanwhile, arrows of broken lines shown in FIG. 7 indicate a moving direction of the cable  12  and a moving direction of the first pulley  22 . 
     The fourth embodiment of the present invention will next be described. FIG. 7 is a front sectional view showing the fourth embodiment. In the same figure, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in FIG.  1  and other Figures and a description thereof is omitted. 
     In the radio apparatus  70  of the fourth embodiment, there are provided the first pulley  22  which is the same tension pulley as the first pulley  22  mentioned in the first embodiment and the second pulley  34  disposed near the base portion  28  of the storage portion  8  for restricting the direction of extending the cable  12 . The supporting shaft  36  of the second pulley  34  is provided so that it is mounted on and fixed on the partition wall portion  20 . 
     The first pulley  22  is fixed to a lower end portion of a swingably supported arm  74 . The arm  74  is urged by a coil spring  78  in such a direction that the first pulley  22  moves away from the base portion  28  of the storage portion  8  and the connection portion  16  of the cable  12  on the circuit substrate  76  (direction indicated by an arrow A of broken line). One end of the coil spring  78  is supported by the partition wall portion  20  and the other end thereof is supported by the supporting shaft  36  of the second pulley  34  joined to the arm  74 . The arm  74  is swingably attached to supporting shaft  36  of the second pulley  34  provided near the base portion  28  of the storage portion  8 , at an upper end portion  80  thereof. 
     Therefore, in the fourth embodiment as well, the cable  12  is always urged by the first pulley  22  so that it is prevented from slackening. Thus, the same effect as in the first to third embodiments can be assured. Additionally, in this embodiment, it is not necessary to form any groove for movably supporting the first pulley  22 .