3com Corporation

Megahertz Corporation

Other

U.S. Robotics Mobile Communications Corp.

Stephen C Aldous

Guy M Dake

James B Henrie

Greg A Putnam

Lorraine Bolt

D Scott Beckham

Tim Urry Price

Darrell E Goff

The invention discloses a retractable antenna system for wireless communication devices. The invention allows the entire antenna assembly, including ground plane and impedance matching circuitry, to be moved away from the wireless communication device and extend beyond any housing, such as a portable computer, to improve antenna performance. The disclosed embodiments include movable sections which can move the ground plane and active radiating element of the antenna outside a housing which encloses or partially encloses the communication device, such as when a PC Card cellular modem is placed within the housing of a laptop or notebook computer. Other embodiments include sections which are detachable from the wireless communication device.

Retractable antenna assembly

An electrical apparatus has an aperture block either retractably mounted or detachably mounted thereto. The aperture block has an aperture extending therethrough. The first end of a contact wire is disposed within the aperture while the opposed second end of the contact wire is coupled to the internal circuitry of the electrical apparatus. The aperture has a configuration complementary to the transverse cross section of a physical/electrical media plug. The media plug includes a contact block having a slot formed in the end that leads to a metal contact. As the media plug is inserted into the aperture, the first end of the contract wire is biased against the metal contact forming electrical connection between the media plug and the electrical apparatus. The aperture is also configured with grooves that releasably capture a flexible retention clip mounted on the pin block, thereby enabling mechanical engagement between the media plug and the aperture block.

Media connector interface for electrical apparatus

Retractable antenna system

The present invention is directed to a novel system and method for connecting and interfacing a communications device, such as a modem, to a two-wire telephone line via a telephone base set, thereby allowing for data or voice communications on the telephone line. The modem and the telephone base are interconnected by way of an interface adapter, which also provides a connector for connecting the telephone's handset. Relay circuitry present within the interface adapter automatically switches between a data mode state and a voice mode state, depending upon what kind of communication is desired over the telephone line. In a preferred embodiment, the system also includes a cable detector circuit that allows the modem to automatically detect when it is connected to a telephone base by way of the interface adapter. Also disclosed, is a novel method for programming the host computer connected to the modem, and the communication processor located on the modem. The program method controls and automates the connection sequence and also functions so as to allow for the calculation of the particular transmit volume level to be used by the modem depending upon the particular type of telephone base to which it is connected. In one preferred embodiment, the program method automatically calculates the optimum transmit volume to be used. In another embodiment, the user selects from a displayed list of telephone base types and, depending upon the telephone type selected, the correct transmit volume will be determined.

System and method for connecting and interfacing a communications device to a telephone line via a telephone set

A retractable coaxial jack (14) includes a base (52) slidably positioned within a PC card (12) or other electrical apparatus. Projecting from the front face (89) of the base (52) is a tubular insulator (90) that encircles a conductive socket (92). The socket (92) bounds an opening (94) for receiving a contact pin (20). Also projecting from the front face (89) of the base (52) on opposing sides of the tubular insulator (90) is a conductive, outwardly extending first arm (95) and a conductive, outwardly extending second arm (96). The separate outwardly extending arms (95, 96) are desirably arranged to create a thinner coaxial jack (14) than conventional types of coaxial jacks to enable the jack to be retracted into the PC card (12). Preferably each of the retention arms (95, 96) has a curved inside face (98), an opposing curved outside face (100) and a knob (102) projecting from the outside face. The outwardly extending arms (95, 96) are desirably spaced from the tubular insulator (90) to form a gap (104). The tubular insulator (90), conductive socket (92) and outwardly extending arms (95, 96) are configured to selectively couple with a conventional coaxial connector such as a bayonet connector or BNC.

Retractable coaxial jack

An aperture block is retractably or removably mounted to an electrical apparatus. The aperture block has an aperture extending therethrough. The aperture is configured to removably receive a physical/electrical media plug so that opposing ends of the media plug freely project from opposing side of the aperture block. A contact wire is mounted to the aperture block and is configured to bias against the media plug when the media plug is received within the aperture. A rotatable stirrup or lip is mounted to the aperture block to prevent passage of the media plug completely through the aperture block. The aperture is also configured with grooves that releasably capture a flexible retention clip mounted on the media plug, thereby enabling mechanical engagement between the media plug and the aperture block.

Media connector interface for use with electrical apparatus

A communications card capable of being mounted in electrical communications with a computer has formed therethrough an aperture so sized and shaped as to be capable of receiving a physical/electrical media connector. The media connector has a biased retention clip, a contact pin block, and contact pins. The retention clip has several standardized characteristics including a broad fixed end protruding from an outer surface of the contact pin block. The broad fixed end tapers abruptly at a transition notch down to a narrow free end, capable of being manipulated by a user to remove the physical/electrical media connector from the aperture in the communications card. In use, a media connector is inserted directly into the aperture in the communications card, the aperture being in contact with a plurality of contact wires is fixed within the communications card. The communications card is divided into a retractable access portion of the communications card which can be directly accessed by manipulating an actuating mechanism releasing a retention means thereby allowing a spring to push the retractable access portion of the card outside of the computer housing. The retractable access portion of the communications card may be reinserted back into the computer housing to be carried internally when not in use.

Media connector interface for use with a PCMCIA-architecture

A communications card capable of being mounted in electrical communications with a computer has formed therethrough an aperture so sized and shaped as to be capable of receiving a physical/electrical media connector. The cross-section of the media connector is greater than the thickness of the communication card. The media connector also has a biased retention clip, a contact pin block, and contact pins. The retention clip has several standardized characteristics including a broad fixed end protruding from an outer surface of the contact pin block. The broad fixed end tapers abruptly at a transition notch down to a narrow free end, capable of being manipulated by a user to remove the physical/electrical media connector from the aperture in the communications card. In use, a media connector is inserted directly into the aperture in the communications card, the aperture being in contact with a plurality of contact wires fixed within the communications card. The aperture is formed either within the communications card itself, or within a detachable aperture block which my be attached to the communications card. All embodiments utilize retractable aperture blocks, but the term retractable also includes detachable aperture blocks. Therefore, some embodiments utilize a detachable aperture block to enable connection to a telephone or network cable while other embodiments utilize an aperture block which does not detach.

Media connector interface for use with a thin-architecture

An electrical power management system for supplying power to a computer peripheral having a relatively high intermittent power demand, such as a packet-switched data radio. A first self-contained rechargeable power supply, outputting power appropriate for the electrical appliance, stores electrical energy and supplies power to the appliance. A second self-contained rechargeable power supply stores electrical energy and supplies electrical power to intermittently recharge the first power supply. The first and the second power supplies can be such self-contained units as single or multicell batteries or capacitors. Preferably, the first power supply is a battery or a capacitor and the second power source is an internal power supply of a portable personal computer.

Portable computer/radio power management system

A communications card capable of being mounted in electrical communications with a computer has formed therethrough an aperture so sized and shaped as to be capable of receiving a physical/electrical media connector. The cross-section of the media connector is greater than the thickness of the communication card. The media connector also has a biased retention clip, a contact pin block, and contact pins. The retention clip has several standardized characteristics including a broad fixed end protruding from an outer surface of the contact pin block. The broad fixed end tapers abruptly at a transition notch down to a narrow free end, capable of being manipulated by a user to remove the physical/electrical media connector from the aperture in the communications card. In use, a media connector is inserted directly into the aperture in the communications card, the aperture being in contact with a plurality of contact wires fixed within the communications card. The aperture is formed either within the communications card itself, or within a detachable aperture block which may be attached to the communications card.

A communications card cap of being mounted in electrical communication with a laptop computer has formed therethrough an aperture so sized and shaped as to be capable of receiving a physical/electrical media connector. In use, a media connector is inserted directly into the aperture in the communications card, the aperture being in contact with a plurality of contact wires fixed within the communications card. The communications card is divided into a retractable access portion of the communications card which can be directly accessed by manipulating an actuating mechanism releasing a retention means thereby allowing a spring to push the retractable access portion of the card outside of the computer housing. The retractable access portion of the communications card may be reinserted back into the computer housing to be carried internally when not in use.

A communications card capable of being mounted in electrical communications with a computer has formed therethrough an aperture so sized and shaped as to be capable of receiving a physical/electrical media connector. The media connector has a biased retention clip, a contact pin block, and contact pins. The retention clip has several standardized characteristics including a broad fixed end protruding from an outer surface of the contact pin block. The broad fixed end tapers abruptly at a transition notch down to a narrow free end, capable of being manipulated by a user to remove the physical/electrical media connector from the aperture in the communications card. In use, a media connector is inserted directly into the aperture in the communications card, the aperture being in contact with a plurality of contact wires fixed within the communications card. The communications card is divided into a retractable access portion of the communications card which can be directly accessed by manipulating an actuating mechanism releasing a retention means thereby allowing a spring to push the retractable access portion of the card outside of the computer housing. The retractable access portion of the communications card may be reinserted back into the computer housing to be carried internally when not in use.

Growing community of inventors

Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America

Stephen C Aldous