Wireless network card with antenna selection option
AssigneeBroadcom Corporation
InventorDavid Fifield
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A wireless network card includes an adaptable antenna connection structure that includes connections for one or more internal antennas and for one or more Radio Frequency (RF) connectors that may be coupled to one or more external antennas. A Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and electronic components located thereon form the wireless network card. The PCB includes a removable portion that, when removed, leaves an opening that receives an RF antenna connector. When the PCB is used to create a client wireless network card, one or more surface mount antennas are mounted on the PCB and coupled to surface mount antenna conductive pads formed thereon. The wireless network card may include (1) the surface mount antenna; (2) the RF connector; or (3) both the surface mount antenna and the RF connector.
Claims16
A wireless network card configurable for an internal antenna and an external antenna comprises:
- a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) including a removable portion defined by a boundary;
- a pair of surface mount antenna conductive pads located on the PCB;
- a pair of conductive pads formed on the PCB located adjacent the removable portion;
- a first controlled impedance transmission line formed on the removable portion that provides a connection between the pair of conductive pads, wherein when the removable portion is removed, the first controlled impedance transmission line is severed;
- and
- a second controlled impedance transmission line formed on the PCB that couples a first one of the pair of conductive pads to one of the pair of surface mount antenna conductive pads.
A wireless network card comprises:
- a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) that defines a removable portion with a facilitating boundary;
- a pair of surface mount antenna conductive pads located on the PCB;
- a pair of conductive pads formed on the PCB adjacent the removable portion;
- a first controlled impedance transmission line formed on the removable portion and coupled between the pair of conductive pads, wherein the first controlled impedance transmission line is severed when the removable portion is removed;
- a second controlled impedance transmission line formed on the PCB that couples a first one of the pair of conductive pads to one of the pair of surface mount antenna conductive pads;
- Radio Frequency (RF) circuitry mounted on the PCB;
- a baseband processor mounted on the PCB and coupled to the RF circuitry;
- and
- a third controlled impedance transmission line that couples the RF circuitry to a second one of the pair of conductive pads adjacent the removable portion.
A method for constructing a wireless network card comprises:
- constructing a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) with a removable portion defined by a boundary;
- forming a pair of surface mount antenna conductive pads on the PCB;
- forming a pair of conductive pads on the PCB adjacent the removable portion of the PCB;
- forming a controlled impedance transmission line on the removable portion that provides a connection between the pair of conductive pads, wherein when the removable portion is removed, the connection between the pair of conductive pads is severed;
- and
- forming a controlled impedance transmission line on the PCB that couples a first one of the pair of conductive pads to one of the pair of surface mount antenna conductive pads.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.