Retractable Antenna for Portable Communicator

The present invention generally concerns an antenna for a portable communicator that retracts to a length smaller than its extended length, while maintaining electrical connection to one or more contacts within the portable communicator. More specifically, the present invention concerns an antenna having an elongated electrical contact sleeve which is movable with the antenna and is movable relative to the antenna to permit an extended length greater than the stored length of the antenna.

Usability of portable communicators, particularly cell phones, is greatly enhanced when size is reduced. Smaller packaged cell phones may be conveniently stored by a user in purses, briefcases, and more recently, even in shirt pockets.

One impediment to reducing the size of a cell phone is the antenna. Cell phone antennas need to extend to a length to sufficiently avoid interference with the human operator. The blocking effect of a human head can adversely affect the low power signal between a base station and a cell phone, thereby reducing the quality of communications. Since a cell phone antenna should retract into the cell phone housing for protection when not in use, the length of typical elongated conductor antennas used in cell phones must not exceed the overall housing length.

Presently, some of the smallest commercially available cell phones use a thin elongated flexible conductor. Two separate contacts are disposed on a printed circuit board within the phone to electrically contact a contact at the end of the antenna in separate retracted and extended positions. This simple elongated flexible conductor design is for protection and longevity. When extended outside of the housing, cell phone antennas are frequently subjected to forces which would permanently deform or break rigid conductors. For this reason, the retractable antenna designs used in other applications, such as automobile radio antennas, are avoided in cell phones and similar portable communicators.

In sum, cell phone antennas should be flexible, should retract for protection during times of nonuse, and should provide a sufficient length when extended to maximize signal quality by avoiding user interference, while also permitting the cell phone housing which accepts the antenna in its retracted state to be as small as possible. In addition to these specific desirable qualities, the performance of the antenna should be robust and should not significantly degrade from a small number of cycles of retraction and extension during use.

Size and operational improvements would result from an improved antenna which has an extended length exceeding that of its retracted length, maintains electrical contact in separate retracted and extended positions, and withstands operational cycling. There is therefore a need for an improved cell phone antenna which exhibits such qualities.

The present antenna retracts to a size within a portable communicator, such as a cell phone, which is smaller than the extended size of the antenna. A contact sleeve is capable of moving relative to an elongated conductor of the antenna, and is also capable of moving with the antenna, while allowing the antenna to maintain electrical contact with one or a plurality of electrical contact points within the communicator.

More specifically, the antenna of the present invention includes an elongated conductor that is coated with a protective material. An end of the conductor may include an additional helical conductor coated with a protective material. The helical conductor and elongated conductor are joined by an electrode. The size of the helical conductor is such that it also acts as a convenient grip for a user, and prevents the entire antenna from being pushed through a hole in the phone large enough to accommodate the elongated conductor.

For cell phones using direct electrical contact to internal circuits, there is an enlarged electrical contact opposite the end of the conductor including the helical conductor. The enlarged electrical contact is enclosed by an elongated conductive sleeve that is in a spring-loaded frictional engagement with the enlarged contact. The sleeve is preferably restricted at both ends, through crimping, tapering, press fitting, or other suitable means, so that the enlarged contact may not pass through either end. Relative movement between the sleeve and the enlarged contact is otherwise permitted over a range generally defined by the length of the sleeve. The sleeve moves with the enlarged contact between separate electrical contacts in the phone which directly or eventually complete electrical contact between the antenna and phone transmission and reception circuits.

When a user pulls the antenna upward, e.g. out of the housing, the enlarged contact and sleeve move together. The sleeve moves to a point at which further movement is prevented by contact with a portion of the cell phone housing or another fixed object. In a preferred embodiment, the sleeve is tapered so that it can pass through the hole for the elongated conductor and partially extend out of the housing. Further extension of the antenna is then realized by relative movement between the sleeve and the enlarged contact.

For phones having a capacitive coupling, the elongated sleeve need only be conductive on its inner surface. In this embodiment, the inner surface of the sleeve is preferably attached to an electrode which connects with the helical conductor. The enlarged contact is within the elongated sleeve, which is restricted at the end opposite the electrode. In a fully retracted position, the enlarged contact is at the electrode end of the sleeve and the sleeve is partially or fully within the housing, since it passes through the hole for the elongated conductor. When a user extends the antenna, the sleeve and contact move together until a non-conductive formation at the opposite end of the elongated conductor within the housing prevents further upward movement. Further extension is then realized by relative movement between the sleeve and the enlarged contact until the enlarged contact reaches the restricted end of the sleeve which is away from the electrode. This position is maintained as the antenna is retracted until the non-conductive formation reaches a stop within the housing which prevents further movement of the elongated conductor. Retraction is completed by relative movement between the sleeve and the enlarged contact.

For phones having a combination of direct and capacitive coupling, the elongated sleeve may be divided in two sections each of which have a contact within the sleeve. In a retracted position, the sleeve may contact a retracted electrical contact, while capacitive coupling may be used in the extended position. Since the sleeve is pulled completely out of the phone, the capacitive coupling is not shorted in the extended position.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art with reference to the detailed description and the drawings, of which:

FIG. 1(a) schematically depicts an antenna constructed in accordance with the present invention mounted in a portable communicator and in a fully retracted position;

FIG. 1(b) schematically depicts an antenna constructed in accordance with the present invention mounted in a portable communicator and in a fully extended position;

FIG. 2(a) is a partial cross section of a sleeve and contact in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2(b) is a full cross section of the sleeve shown in FIGS. 1(a), 1(b) and 2(a);

FIG. 2(c) shows a cap for use with the sleeve shown in FIG. 2(b);

FIG. 3(a) is a perspective and partially cut away view of an uncoated antenna according to a second embodiment of the present invention for use with a capacitive coupled portable communicator;

FIG. 3(b) is a first side view of the FIG. 3(a) antenna;

FIG. 3(c) is an alternate side view of the FIG. 3(a) antenna;

FIG. 3(d) schematically depicts an antenna constructed in accordance with the second embodiment mounted in a portable communicator and in a fully retracted position;

FIG. 3(e) schematically depicts an antenna constructed in accordance with the second embodiment mounted in a portable communicator and in a fully extended position;

FIG. 3(f) schematically depicts an antenna constructed in accordance with a third embodiment mounted in a portable communicator and in a fully retracted position;

FIG. 3(g) schematically depicts an antenna constructed in accordance with the third embodiment mounted in a portable communicator and in a fully extended position;

FIG. 3(h) is a side cross section of a sleeve and dual contact structure of the third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a preferred contact shown in FIGS. 3(a)-3(c);

FIG. 5 is a preferred clip for an alternate contact shown in FIGS. 6(a)-6(b);

FIG. 6(a) is a perspective view showing the alternate contact;

FIG. 6(b) is a perspective view of the bushing shown in FIG. 6(a); and

FIG. 7 is a side view of a second alternate contact.

According to the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which is shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b), an antenna 10 constructed primarily from a protectively coated thin, flexible elongated conductor 12 has a fully retracted length L.sub.1 which is less than its fully extended length L.sub.2. The length L.sub.3 of an elongated contact sleeve 14 is approximately equal to the difference between L.sub.1 and L.sub.2. The elongated conductor 12 is flexible to prevent the antenna 10 from permanently deforming or breaking when it is subjected to external forces while in its extended position, shown in FIG. 1(b). Such forces frequently result from typical usage of a portable communicator 16, such as a cellular phone, in which the antenna 10 is installed, because of accidental contact with other objects or rough manipulation by a user of the portable communicator 16.

A protectively coated helical conductor 18 forms part of the antenna 10 and also forms a convenient grip for a user when the antenna 10 is in its retracted position, shown in FIG. 1(a). The helical conductor 18 is attached at an upper end 20 of the elongated conductor 12. An opposite end 22 of the elongated conductor 12 is within a bottom portion of the sleeve 14 in FIG. 1(a), and electrically contacts an inner surface 24 (shown in FIG. 2(a)) of the sleeve 14. Referring to FIG. 2(a), the electrical contact is preferably an enlarged contact 26, which exerts a spring force on the inner surface 24 to form a mechanical frictional engagement between the contact 26 and the sleeve 14. The sleeve 14 shown in FIG. 1(a) is formed from a conductor by machining or another suitable technique, so that electrical contact is established between the elongated conductor 12 and a retracted contact point 28 within the portable communicator 16 when the antenna 10 is in the FIG. 1(a) retracted state. The retracted contact point 28 is preferably shaped to accommodate a lower end of the sleeve 14 while also opposing downward movement of the sleeve 14. The retracted contact point 28 is directly or eventually connected to communication circuits 30 of the portable communicator 16, consisting, for example, of transmission and reception circuits.

By pulling up on the helical conductor 18, a user may extend the antenna out of the portable communicator 16. As the antenna 10 is extended, the sleeve 14 moves with the elongated conductor 12 as a result of the spring loaded frictional engagement between the contact 26 and the inner surface 24 of the sleeve 14. The elongated conductor 12 and a majority of the sleeve 14, excepting its lowermost portion 30, are sized to pass through a hole 32 in an antenna mount 34 of the portable communicator 16. As shown in FIG. 2(b), the lowermost portion 30 of the sleeve 14 is slightly enlarged to prevent passing through the hole 32. Referring again to FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b), the antenna 10 may also include a mounting ferrule 36 which couples with the mount 34 through a threaded engagement and through which the elongated conductor 12 and a majority of the sleeve 14 preferably also pass.

Upward joint movement of the elongated conductor 12 and the sleeve 14 continues until the lowermost portion 30 of the sleeve engages the mounting ferrule 36, an extended electrical contact point 38, or another fixed object proximate to a lower portion of the mounting ferrule 36. The extended electrical contact point 38 is also connected directly or eventually to the communication circuits 30, and is preferably shaped to accommodate and contact the sleeve 14, while also opposing further upward movement of the sleeve 14 after its lowermost portion 30 engages the extended electrical contact point 38. As seen in FIG. 1(b), the sleeve 14 of the preferred embodiment is allowed to partially pass outside of the portable communicator 16. In this position, the sleeve 14 makes electrical contact with the extended electrical contact point 38 and prevents the elongated conductor 12 from being pulled completely out of the portable communicator 16.

Once further upward movement of the sleeve 14 is prevented, further extension of the antenna 10 is realized by relative movement between the sleeve 14 and the elongated conductor 12. The force exerted by a user pulling upward overcomes the frictional engagement between the contact 26 and the inner surface 24 of the sleeve 14, allowing the contact to slide within the sleeve 14 while always maintaining electrical contact with its inner surface 24. As shown in FIG. 2(a), upward movement may continue until the contact 26 reaches a restricted end 40 of the sleeve 14, which may be crimped or tapered to form the restricted end 40. The length L.sub.3 of the sleeve 14 therefore generally defines a range of relative movement between itself and the contact 26, and accordingly between itself and the elongated conductor 12.

Retraction back to the state shown in FIG. 1(a) is commenced when the user pushes down on the antenna 10. Normally, the sleeve 14 and the elongated conductor 12 will begin movement together as they did during initial extension of the antenna. However, it is possible that the sleeve 14 may, because of frictional contact with extended electrical contact point 38, the ferrule 36, or any other fixed object, resist initial movement with the elongated conductor 12. In the former case, relative movement between the contact 26 and the sleeve 14 to fully retract the antenna 10 occurs after the sleeve 14 engages the retracted contact point 28. In the latter case, the relative movement occurs as the first part of retraction and the joint movement after the contact 26 reaches the restricted sleeve's lowermost portion 30, which is also crimped or otherwise restricted to prevent passing of the contact 26 out of the sleeve 14. One alternative to crimping is shown in FIG. 2(c), which illustrates a locking cap 41 that may be used to plug the sleeve 14 at its lowermost portion 30.

Some cellular phones use a capacitive coupling to the elongated conductor 12. As shown in FIGS. 3(d)-3(g), the capacitive coupling element 28a is typically disposed in or around the antenna mount 34. In such phones, the conductive sleeve 14 would short the capacitive coupling when the antenna 10 reached its extended position if the sleeve 14 was within the capacitive coupling element 28a. However, the advantages of the present invention may still be obtained through the arrangement shown in FIGS. 3(a)-3(e).

FIGS. 3(a)-3(e) show an antenna 10 according to a second embodiment of the present invention in which the sleeve 14 is attached to the helical conductor 18 (shown without protective coating) via an electrode 42, e.g. at an opposite end of the elongated conductor 12 from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b). The antenna's respective retracted and extended positions are respectively shown schematically in FIGS. 3(d) and 3(e), in which reference numerals from FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) are used to identify identical parts. An additional nonconductive enlarged formation 43 is used to prevent passing of the entire antenna 10 out through the hole 32 in the antenna mount 34. With this arrangement, the communicator's contact points may be replaced by the capacitive coupling element 28a.

In the alternative arrangement of FIGS. 3(a)-(e), an outer surface 44 of the sleeve 14 need not be conductive since the sleeve 14 need only function to maintain electrical contact between the electrode 42 and the contact 26. Preferably, the outer surface is coated with a protective material, such as plastic, along with the coating applied to the helical conductor 18. Alternatively, the entire sleeve 14 may be formed from a non-conductive material such as platable plastic with its inner surface 24 being coated with conductive material through plating or other suitable methods.

The operation of the sleeve 14 in FIGS. 3(a)-3(e) mirrors that of the FIGS. 1(a)-1(b) arrangement, with the sleeve 14 and contact 26 moving jointly during initial retraction and extension, and moving relative to each other to complete retraction and extension. Referring to FIGS. 3(d) and 3(e), relative movement to complete extension is commenced when the nonconductive formation 43 reaches the bottom portion of the hole 32 in the antenna mount 34. Relative movement to complete retraction is commenced when the formation 43 reaches a stop 43a, or if no stop is used, when it reaches an inner surface of the portable communicator 16. As pointed out above, the order of relative and joint movement may change without adversely affecting operation of the antenna 10.

Another configuration is shown in 3(f)-3(h), and is useful, for example, when capacitive coupling is used in an extended state and direct coupling is used in the retracted state. In this third embodiment, the elongated conductor is divided into two sections 12a and 12b, each of which includes a separate contact 26a, 26b (shown in FIG. 3(h)) within the sleeve 14. The sleeve makes direct electrical contact with the retracted contact point 28 in the retracted state of FIG. 3(f), while capacitive coupling is realized in the extended position shown in FIG. 3(g). Similarly to the FIGS. 3(a)-3(e) embodiment, extension is commenced with joint movement as both sections 12a, 12b and the sleeve 14 move together. Extension is completed through relative movement commenced when the nonconductive formation 43 reaches the hole 32 at the bottom of the mounting ferrule 36. Retraction is completed through relative movement commenced when the nonconductive formation 43 reaches the stop 43a, or if no stop is used, when it reaches an inner surface of the communicator 16 or some other fixed object. As pointed out above, the order of relative and joint movement may change without adversely affecting operation of the antenna 10.

Referring again to FIGS. 3(a)-3(c), the sructure of a preferred elongated conductor 12, sleeve 14, and contact 26 are shown in more detail. The contact structure is illustrative of the sleeve and contact engagement for any of the illustrated embodiments, and also shows the specific sleeve mounting arrangement of the second embodiment. The conductive portion of the elongated conductor 12 may be a thin, solid, elongate, and flexible metallic core 46. Other arrangements, such as wrapped, helical, or wound conductors are also suitable. A protective coating 48 of plastic, rubber or other suitable insulator surrounds the core 46, but leaves an exposed portion 50 at one end for attachment of the contact 26. The contact 26 is attached to the exposed portion 50 via crimping or other suitable means.

The contact 26 includes plural legs 54 which exert spring force on the sleeve's inner surface 24. The legs 54 have a natural distance of separation from each other which is greater than that permitted by the inner diameter of the sleeve 14. Accordingly, the legs are pushed together so that their distance of separation is reduced when within the sleeve 14, as is best seen in FIG. 2(a).

To facilitate entry of the sleeve 14 into the hole 32 in the antenna mount 34, the sleeve 14 preferably has a tapered end 56, or in the third embodiment of FIGS. 3(f) and 3(g), two tapered ends since both need to pass through the hole 32. Both ends of the sleeve 14 should be restricted by a crimp 58 or other means to prevent passing of the contact 26 out of the sleeve. In the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 3(a)-3(e), one end of the sleeve 14 need not be restricted since the electrode 42 will prevent passing of the contact 26.

The contact 26 is also shown in FIG. 4, and has rounded portions 59 that facilitate sliding movement when the contact 26 is in the sleeve. An alternate contact 26a is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and includes a collar 62 above and below a neck 60. The collar 62 positions a clip 63, which will exert a spring force on the inner surface 24 of the sleeve 14. The neck 60 is crimped or otherwise locked on the exposed portion 50, and electrical contact to sleeve 14 is through the neck 60 and clip 63. A second alternate contact 26b is shown in FIG. 7, and includes a neck 60 and collar 62, with legs 54.

Other alterations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments used to illustrate the principles of the invention. Instead, the scope of the invention is properly determined by reference to the appended claims and any legal equivalents thereof.