Method and apparatus for detecting physical position of a retractable antenna

In a wireless terminal, a method for detecting a position of a retractable antenna relative to a fixed antenna, comprising steps of:

• positioning an electrical contact for being electrically coupled to said retractable antenna only when said retractable antenna is in a retracted position by being retracted within a body of said wireless terminal and at least partially contained within said fixed antenna;
• detecting, using said electrical contact, a presence of RF energy that is coupled into said retractable antenna from said fixed antenna, wherein said detected presence of said RF energy is indicative of said retractable antenna being in said retracted position;
• and
• if said retractable antenna is not indicated to be in said retracted position, transmitting RF energy from said retractable antenna using more RF power than if said retractable antenna were indicated to be in said retracted position.

A circuit for detecting a position of a movable antenna relative to a fixed antenna, comprising:

• an electrical contact positioned for being electrically coupled to said movable antenna only when said movable antenna is in a first predetermined position relative to said fixed antenna;
• and
• an RF detection circuit having an input coupled to said electrical contact for detecting a presence of RF energy that is coupled into said movable antenna from said fixed antenna, wherein said detected presence of said RF energy is indicative of said moveable antenna being in said predetermined position relative to said fixed antenna, said RF detection circuit comprising a detection diode;
• at least one RF filter coupled in series between an input of said detection diode and said electrical contact;
• a capacitance coupled to an output of said detection diode for storing charge detected by said detection diode, said capacitance having a potential impressed thereon by said charge;
• and a comparator for comparing said potential to a predetermined potential, said comparator having an output the state of which indicates whether or not said movable antenna is in said first predetermined position.

A method for detecting a position of a movable antenna relative to a fixed antenna, comprising:

• positioning an electrical contact for being electrically coupled to said movable antenna only when said movable antenna is in a first predetermined position relative to said fixed antenna;
• and
• detecting a presence of RF energy that is coupled into said movable antenna from said fixed antenna, wherein said detected presence of said RF energy is indicative of said moveable antenna being in said predetermined position relative to said fixed antenna;
• wherein detecting comprises (i) providing a detection diode, a least one RF filter coupled in series between an input of said detection diode and said electrical contact, and a capacitance coupled to an output of said detection diode;
• (ii) storing charge detected by said detection diode resulting from RF energy that is coupled into said movable antenna from said fixed antenna, said capacitance having a potential impressed thereon by said charge;
• and (iii) comparing said potential to a predetermined potential for indicating whether or not said movable antenna is in said first predetermined position.