3com Corporation

World Wireless Communications, Inc.

David C Andrus

Jeffrey L Jones

Sy Prestwich

David D Oliphant

Ryan A Kunz

Dirk Ostermiller

Stuart Biddulph

Kurt Stewart

John Marshall

Tom Johnson

Philip Alan Bunker

Vance D Campbell

Richard L Sawyer

Matthew Scott Martin

An apparatus and system for providing wireless communication for a portable computer system. In one embodiment, the present invention is a wireless communication apparatus. The wireless communication apparatus is adapted to be communicatively coupled to a portable computer system. In the present embodiment, the apparatus is comprised of a PCB (printed circuit board). It is noted that the PCB of the present invention is separate from and in addition to the PCB of the portable computer system to which it is coupled. The apparatus is further comprised of an antenna, coupled to the PCB adapted to transceive a specific radio frequency band. The apparatus is further comprised of a passive radiator coupled to the PCB. The passive radiator is adapted to provide an omindirectional radiation pattern for the wireless communication apparatus.

Wireless communication apparatus for portable electronic devices

An integrated diversity antenna solution is presented that positions multiple antennas within the digital device case. The integrated diversity antenna solution works equally well with diversity radios, such as 802.11, and non-diversity radios, such as Bluetooth. The non-diversity radios are supported via a power splitter attached to the antennas that give the necessary directional coverage. The integrated antenna array solves the main problem associated with wireless communication on laptop computers, specifically, that laptops perturb the radiation pattern because of the influence that laptop components have on standard antennas and the presence of interfering objects, most notably the laptop user, in the surrounding environment.

Integrated laptop antenna using two or more antennas

The present invention relates to an antenna which is configured to plug into a retractable connector on an electronic apparatus. Some embodiments of the present invention may be configured to plug into common RJ-11 or RJ-45 jacks allowing devices equipped with these jack to utilize external antennas to increase range and functionality. Further, some embodiments of the present invention comprise at least a partial ground plane located in the antenna plug which connects to a jack. The present invention also comprises connectors such as RJ jacks which comprise ground plane elements which may be used to improve antenna range and efficiency.

Removable antenna for connection to miniature modular jacks

The present invention relates to an antenna which is physically combined with a physical/electrical media connector. Some embodiments of the present invention may be configured with connectors which can accommodate RJ-11 or RJ-45 plugs allowing devices equipped with these connectors to utilize cable connections as well as wireless connections via the combined antenna. Some embodiments of the present invention comprise antennas which hinge or otherwise deploy from the combined connector/antenna unit and some embodiments include automatic activation of wireless circuitry when the antenna is deployed. Certain embodiments also comprise units with particular antenna and ground plane configurations.

Combination miniature cable connector and antenna

Antenna

Synchronized receiver circuitry and methods are provided for a spread-spectrum communications system which includes a transmitter for generating a data-modulated carrier signal encoded with a predetermined discrete-stepped, cyclical pseudo-random noise code sequence, and a receiver for despreading and demodulating the encoded spread-spectrum modulated carrier signal. The receiver has a pseudo-random noise code generator, a mixer connected to the pseudo-random noise code generator for mixing the encoded spread-spectrum modulated carrier signal with the code sequence provided by the pseudo/random noise code generator to despread the carrier signal, and an indicator in the receiver for generating a received signal strength indicator analog signal. The synchronized receiver includes a clock which provides a frequency output corresponding to the frequency of the clock driving the pseudo-random noise code generator in the transmitter. The synchronized receiver also has an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog signal to a digital signal indicative of the best correlation between the frequency and PN phase of the transmitted modulated carrier signal and the received modulated carrier signal. The synchronized receiver also includes decoding circuitry connected to the clock and the analog-to-digital converter for sampling the analog signal received at each of a plurality of discrete steps in the PN code, and code chips for determining the peak step when the sampled signal reaches its maximum strength during the code sequence and chip partial period, and for aligning the receiver code sequence with the transmitted code sequence.

Spread spectrum synchronized receiver and synchronizing methods

The present invention relates to a compact antenna for use with small, wireless, electronic devices. The antenna is particularly suited for adaptation to thin profile expansion cards such as the PC Card standard card as well as other thin form factor devices. This antenna comprises a ground plane element from which a radiator element protrudes. When the ground plane element occupies a substantially horizontal plane, the radiator element extends upwardly from a centralized location on the ground plane element and bends away from the device in which the antenna is used. The radiator may then bend back to a more vertical orientation in some embodiments. The shape of the radiator element allows the antenna to be retracted into a host device while minimizing the amount of space required to house the antenna in the device. Particular embodiments of the present invention comprise hinging mechanisms to make the antenna more compact and switching mechanisms for automatic activation of wireless functionality when the antenna is deployed.

Growing community of inventors

Provo, UT, United States of America

David C Andrus