Antenna extraction on removal of stylus for handheld device
Assignee3Com Corporation
InventorsJay B. McCleary, Kenneth A. Croft, Curtis D. Thompson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An antenna configuration for storing and deploying an antenna used with a hand-held wireless device, and method thereof. The device housing has a molded opening for holding a stylus element used with the device. The antenna is also stored in the housing within the molded opening. When the stylus is removed from the molded opening, the antenna can slide within the opening to a position in which it protrudes at one end from the housing. Thus, the antenna can be stored where it is protected and out of the way. In addition, the current form factor (size, shape and appearance) of the hand-held device can be retained.
Claims20
A device for sending and receiving signals to and from another device via a wireless connection, said device comprising:
- a housing having an opening adapted to hold a removable stylus element, wherein said removable stylus element used as a mechanism for user's input;
- a transceiver disposed within said housing, said transceiver adapted to send and receive wireless signals;
- and
- an extractable antenna having a base end and a distal end, said base end coupled to said housing;
- wherein said extractable antenna is stored in a first position within said opening;
- and
- wherein withdrawal of said removable stylus element from said opening allows said extractable antenna to slide within said opening to a second position wherein said distal end is external to said housing.
In a device comprising a transceiver and an antenna, a method for storing and deploying said antenna, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) storing a removable stylus element in an opening of a housing of said device wherein said removable stylus element used as a mechanism for user's input;
- and
- b) storing said antenna in a first position within said opening;
- wherein withdrawal of said removable stylus element from said opening allows said antenna to slide within said opening to a second position wherein a distal end of said antenna is external to said housing.
A portable computer system comprising:
- a housing having an opening adapted to hold a removable stylus element, wherein said removable stylus element used as a mechanism for user's input;
- a transceiver disposed within said housing, said transceiver adapted to send and receive wireless signals;
- an extractable antenna having a base end and a distal end, said base end coupled to said housing;
- a processor disposed within said housing;
- and
- a memory unit coupled to said processor;
- wherein said extractable antenna is stored in a first position within said opening;
- and
- wherein withdrawal of said removable stylus element from said opening allows said extractable antenna to slide within said opening to a second position wherein said distal end is external to said housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.