The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 29, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 10, 1996
Lee Daniel Griffin, Raleigh, NC (US);
Gerard James Hayes, Wake Forest, NC (US);
Ericsson Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC (US);
Abstract
A cradle unit for use in transmitting radiocommunication signals from within a vehicle between a portable phone unit inside a vehicle and an external antenna connected to an exterior of the vehicle is provided with a heat sink for dissipating heat generated at the cradle unit, wherein the heat sink also functions as a dipole antenna for communicating with the portable phone. In addition, the cradle unit can be provided with circuitry for charging a battery of the portable phone, along with a hands-free unit, including a speaker and microphone. The heat sink antenna allows the portable phone to receive and transmit radio frequency signals as if it were directly RF-coupled to the external antenna, thereby avoiding a 10 dB attenuation loss normally associated with using a portable phone inside a vehicle due to the RF shielding of the metal vehicle body.