Abstract:
An antenna apparatus built in a cover of an electronic device, such as portable data processors, to serve as a latch of the cover in addition to be an antenna for transmitting and receiving wireless communication signals. An antenna unit is embedded in a movable receptacle mounted on the cover so as be rotated to the highest position for a better communication performance when the cover is turned to a using position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to an antenna apparatus applicable to a portable electronic data processor, such as a notebook computer or a personal digital assistant (PDA), and more particularly relates to an antenna apparatus applicable to a portable electronic data processor, in which the antenna is built in a cover of the electronic device to serve as a latch of the cover in addition to an antenna for transmitting and receiving signals. 
     2. Related Art 
     As wireless communication techniques are fast developing, conventional wire transmissions are gradually replaced by wireless transmissions. Many portable electronic data processors, such as notebook computers or a personal digital assistants (PDA), are now using wireless communication methods to transmit and receive signals. The recent Bluetooth and wireless-LAN will further accelerate the applications of wireless communication for more and more products. 
     A portable electronic data processor using wireless communication at least includes an antenna for transmitting and receiving wireless signals; and a signal processing unit for processing the communication signals. The construction of the antenna can be at least classified into four kinds: antennas on PCMCIA cards; detachable outward antennas; retractable antennas mounted on the electronic data processors; and antennas built in the electronic data processors. 
     As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,949,379, a microwave antenna device incorporated on a PCMCIA network card for notebook computers includes an extended base with pivot acceptor connected to input port of a PCMCIA network card; a T-shaped pivot supported by pivot acceptor and capable of 180-degree rotation; a plate hooked up on the pivot and capable of 90-degree rotation in both clockwise and counter-clockwise direction; and a plate or bar microwave antenna capped on the pivot and connected through high frequency transmitting wire. In accordance with the above construction, the antenna is foldable when the network card has been removed from the slot of computer; and can be setup and adjusted to a better receiving angle after mounting the network card. However, the setup and adjustment are rather inconvenient and easy to damage the antenna. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,121,218 and 4,868,576 disclose extendible antennas for portable radios or portable cellular telephones. The antennas can be extended outwards when being used. But the operations are still bothersome and may influence the configuration of the electronic devices. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,131 discloses a mobile computer equipped with a sliding mechanism for securing an antenna within a recess in a stowed away position and in a fully deployed position. The antenna is located on back of a display portion of the computer. A securing mechanism is used to secure the antenna in the fully deployed position as well as in the stowed away position. The securing mechanism located outside will occupy a certain space when the computer is stored. It will influence the configuration of the computer. The antenna is also easy to be broken or damaged. 
     Another approach to equipped an antenna to a personal data processor is to have the antenna built in the case of the device. But, due to the EMI (electromagnetic interface) consideration, the case of a notebook computer, for example, is usually made of metallic material, such as Magnesium alloy, which well prevents any electromagnetic radiation from going outside or penetrating into the case of the computer, but will also obstruct the signal transmission and reception for the built-in antenna. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an antenna apparatus for an electronic device in which the antenna apparatus is built in a cover of the electronic device to serve as a latch of the cover in addition to an antenna for transmitting and receiving signals. 
     An antenna apparatus applicable to a personal data processor, such as a notebook computer, according to the present invention is mounted on a cover of the computer. The cover is a movable unit of the computer which can be equipped with a display so as to be adjusted to a suitable angle for better viewing and folded up for easy carrying. A latch embedded with a plate type antenna apparatus is movably mounted on the cover for locking the cover to the main body of the computer and protecting the computer. While the cover is moved up as the display is being used, the antenna apparatus is moved accordingly to a higher position to attain better transmission and reception of communication signals. 
     The aforesaid built-in antenna apparatus at the latch portion won&#39;t influence the configuration of the computer, and won&#39;t be obstructed of its signal transmission and reception by the design of EMI prevention. 
     Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an embodiment of the present invention showing a notebook computer in a using state; 
     FIG. 2 is further an embodiment of the present invention showing a notebook computer in a closed state; 
     FIGS. 3A and 3B are constructional views of an antenna apparatus of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 4 is another embodiment of the present invention showing a personal digital assistant in a using state. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     An antenna apparatus according to the present invention is applicable to a portable data processor, such as a notebook computer or a personal digital assistant. Taking a notebook computer as an example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the computer  20  includes a main body  21  and a cover  22 . The main body  21  executes the data processing and displays information through a display  23  fixed on the cover  22 . The cover  22  is pivotally mounted on the main body  21  so as to be folded down with the main body  21  to a closed position; and moved up to a viewing position for user to view the display  23 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 3 a  and  3 B, the antenna apparatus  10  of the present invention includes a receptacle  11  arranged at one of the upper, the left and the right rim of the cover  22  (the upper rim as shown); and an antenna unit  12  embedded in the receptacle  11 . The receptacle  11  is a latch movably mounted at a suitable position on upper rim of the cover  22 . The latch is selectively movable between a normally locking position and a manually release position. A hook  11  is formed on the receptacle  1 , while the main body  21  is formed with a latch hole  211  corresponding to the position of the hook  111  so as to lock the hook  111  when the cover  22  is folded up to the main body  21  as in the closed position where the display  23  and the main body  21  are protected. Then, when the computer  20  is to be used, the user unlatches the receptacle  11  to move the cover  22  and display  23  to the viewing position with a suitable angle for easy viewing the information shown on the display  23 . 
     The antenna unit  12  is a plate type antenna embedded in the receptacle  11  for receiving and transmitting wireless signals in radio frequency band. The receptacle  11  is made of plastics so as to be free from obstructing the communication signals. Because the receptacle  11  is located on the upper rim of the cover  22 , it will be turned to the highest position of the computer  20  when the cover and display  23  is rotated to the using position where the antenna apparatus  10  gets a best communication performance. Furthermore, since the receptacle  11  positions at the rim of the cover  22  and a little extrudes outward from the surface thereof to be easily operated by the user, it won&#39;t influence the EMI design of the cover  22  or the main body  21  of the computer  20 , nor be influenced of its communication efficiency by the EMI design of the computer  20 . Also, the receptacle  11  with antenna unit  12  is well designed to be a latch of the cover  22  without further extrusion or moving parts, so that it won&#39;t influence the configuration of the computer  20 , and won&#39;t be damaged easily. 
     The antenna unit  12  is electrically connected via a signal processing interface  13  to the main body  21 . The signal processing interface  13  is a radio frequency interface for processing the signals to be transmitted and the received signals. The signal processing interface  13  can be located in the main body  21 , or in the cover  22  to free its space for the main body  21 . 
     The antenna unit  12  embedded in the receptacle  11  forms an antenna apparatus  10 . A hook  111  also formed on the receptacle  11  to make the antenna apparatus  10  not only an antenna for wireless communication but also a latch for the cover  22 . The antenna apparatus  10  will be moved to the highest position of the computer  20  when the cover  22  with display  23  is rotated to the using position where the antenna apparatus  10  gets a best communication performance. 
     FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention applied to a personal digital assistant. The personal digital assistant  20 ′ includes a main body  21 ′ and a cover  22 ′. The main body  21 ′ executes the data processing and displays information through a display  23 ′ fixed on the cover  22 ′. The cover  22 ′ is pivotally mounted on the main body  21 ′ so as to be folded down with the main body  21 ′ to a closed position; and moved up to a viewing position for user to view the display  23 ′. The antenna apparatus  10 ′ includes a receptacle  11 ′ arranged on upper rim of the cover  22 ′; and a antenna unit  12 ′ embedded in the receptacle  11 ′. The receptacle  11 ′ is a latch movably mounted at a suitable position on upper rim of the cover  22 ′. The latch is selectively movable between a normally locking position and manually release position. The antenna unit  12 ′ embedded in the receptacle  11 ′ and electrically to the main body  21 ′ will be moved to the highest position of the PDA  20 ′ when the cover  22 ′ with display  23 ′ is rotated to the using position where the antenna apparatus  10 ′ gets a best communication performance. 
     In conclusion, an antenna apparatus according to the present invention gets the following advantages: 
     a) the antenna apparatus located at the upper rim of the cover will be moved to the highest position for a best communication performance when the cover is rotated to the using position; 
     b) the antenna apparatus positioned at the rim of the cover won&#39;t influence the EMI design of the personal data processor, nor be influenced of its communication efficiency by the EMI design of the personal data processor; and 
     c) the structure of the antenna apparatus is simple, low-cost and can be easily made. 
     The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.