# US 10,763,581 B2 · Wireless router with automatic switching between internal and external antennas

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- Number: US 10,763,581 B2
- Document ID: US10763581B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/255,931
- Filed: 2019-01-24
- Published: 2019-05-23
- Granted: 2020-09-01
- Earliest claimed: 2015-12-21
- Assignees: Ventus IP Holdings, LLC
- Applicants: Ventus IP Holdings, LLC
- Inventors: Keith Charette
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10763581B2

## CPC

- H01Q 3/24: varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
- H01M 50/251: specially adapted for stationary devices, e.g. power plant buffering or backup power supplies
- H01Q 1/243: {with built-in antennas}
- H01Q 1/38: formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support {(patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142)}
- H04L 45/60: Router architectures
- H04W 88/08: Access point devices
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72)
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A router includes a housing, a printed circuit board disposed within the housing, a cellular module disposed within the housing and electrically connected to the printed circuit board, the cellular module being configured to enable connection to a mobile broadband network, at least one antenna terminal formed in the housing for connecting an external antenna to the cellular module, and a switch associated with the at least one antenna terminal, the switch being configured to automatically switch from an internal antenna of the router to the external antenna when the external antenna is connected to the router via the at least one antenna terminal.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for connecting a router to a network, comprising the steps of:
providing a router with a cellular module configured for connection with an internal antenna and an external antenna;
providing the router with at least one antenna terminal for connecting the external antenna to the cellular module;
automatically establishing a connection between the cellular module and the external antenna when the external antenna is connected to the at least one antenna terminal; and
automatically establishing a connection between the cellular module and the internal antenna when the external antenna is disconnected from the at least one antenna terminal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:
providing the router with a magnetic switch, the magnetic switch being configured to automatically switch from the internal antenna to the external antenna when the external antenna is connected to the router via the at least one antenna terminal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, wherein:
the external antenna includes a corresponding at least one antenna terminal configured to mate with the at least one antenna terminal of the router, and a magnet configured to actuate the switch when the external antenna is connected to the router.