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US6107971A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Portable electronic device with an antenna

Assignee: US Philips Corp
•
Filing: 1999-03-29
•
Granted: 2000-08-22
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Expires: 2019-03-29
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Abstract

Abstract A portable electronic device has a housing, a printed circuit board within the housing, and an antenna. The printed circuit board has two parts, a first part to be electrically coupled to the antenna, and a second part with electronic circuitry that, before assembly of the portable electronic device, is mechanically coupled to the first part via a weak spot. The first and second parts are electrically connected to each other. Upon assembly of the portable electronic device, the first and second parts are mechanically separated from each other while still being electrically connected to each other. The first part is then fastened to a housing part of the portable electronic device, and the antenna is electrically connected to the fastened first part.

Inventors

  • 👤 Arnaud Flegeo

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 21:12
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/27; H04; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/38; H04B1/3827; H04B1/3833; H01Q1/08; H01Q1/10; H01Q1/12; H01Q1/22; H01Q1/24; H01Q1/241; H01Q1/242; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/02

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 100 words
A portable electronic device comprising: a housing; an antenna; internal fastening means for fastening the antenna to the housing; and a printed circuit board, the internal fastening means comprising a first part of the printed circuit board, and an internal part of the housing, whereby the first part is mechanically connected to a second part of the printed circuit board before assembly of the portable electronic device, and the first part is separated from the second part after the assembly, and the first and second parts are electrically connected to each other via a conductor, before and after said assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 100 words
A portable electronic device comprising: a housing; an antenna; internal fastening means for fastening the antenna to the housing; and a printed circuit board, the internal fastening means comprising a first part of the printed circuit board, and an internal part of the housing, whereby the first part is mechanically connected to a second part of the printed circuit board before assembly of the portable electronic device, and the first part is separated from the second part after the assembly, and the first and second parts are electrically connected to each other via a conductor, before and after said assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 97 words
A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first part comprises a metallized area having a bore, the metallized area being electrically connected to the conductor, and wherein the internal part is a hollow support with holes in-line with the bore, the hollow support accommodating the first part, a lower end of the antenna being threaded and passing through the holes and the bore, such that a shoulder of the lower end of the antenna is in close contact with the metallized area, the threaded lower end being part of the internal fastening means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 16 words
A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductor is a metal sheet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 21 words
A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second parts stretch out in substantially perpendicular planes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 246 words
A portable electronic device comprising: a housing; an antenna partly mounted outside said housing; a printed circuit board within said housing, said printed circuit board comprising a first circuit board part at least provided with circuitry, and a second circuit board part for electrically coupling said circuitry to said antenna, said first and second circuit board parts being mechanically connected to each other via a weak material spot in printed circuit board substrate material before mounting of said printed circuit board in said portable electronic device, and said first and second circuit board parts being separated from each other after mounting of said printed circuit board in said portable electronic device, whereby said separation of said first and second circuit board parts is caused by bending said second circuit board part when mounting said printed circuit board in said housing, and said first and second circuit board parts comprising at least one deformable conductor for electrically coupling said circuitry to said antenna, said deformable conductor deforming but not breaking off when said second circuit board part is bent during said mounting; said housing comprising a first housing part through which said antenna extends, and a second housing part inside said housing, said second housing part receiving said second circuit board part when mounting said printed circuit board in said electronic device, and said second housing part and said second circuit board part forming antenna fastening means for electrically and mechanically fastening said antenna within said housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 246 words
A portable electronic device comprising: a housing; an antenna partly mounted outside said housing; a printed circuit board within said housing, said printed circuit board comprising a first circuit board part at least provided with circuitry, and a second circuit board part for electrically coupling said circuitry to said antenna, said first and second circuit board parts being mechanically connected to each other via a weak material spot in printed circuit board substrate material before mounting of said printed circuit board in said portable electronic device, and said first and second circuit board parts being separated from each other after mounting of said printed circuit board in said portable electronic device, whereby said separation of said first and second circuit board parts is caused by bending said second circuit board part when mounting said printed circuit board in said housing, and said first and second circuit board parts comprising at least one deformable conductor for electrically coupling said circuitry to said antenna, said deformable conductor deforming but not breaking off when said second circuit board part is bent during said mounting; said housing comprising a first housing part through which said antenna extends, and a second housing part inside said housing, said second housing part receiving said second circuit board part when mounting said printed circuit board in said electronic device, and said second housing part and said second circuit board part forming antenna fastening means for electrically and mechanically fastening said antenna within said housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 32 words
A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second circuit board part is bent over substantially ninety degrees when mounting said printed circuit board in said portable electronic device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 120 words
A portable electronic device comprising: a housing; an antenna a having a wire; an electrically conducting antenna support that is fastened to the housing at a location of a reinforced feedthrough of the housing, the wire freely running through the electrically conducting antenna support; and a printed circuit board comprising a first part and a second part, whereby the first part is mechanically connected to the second part before assembly of the portable electronic device, and the first part is separated from the second part after the assembly, and the first and second parts are electrically connected to each other via a conductor, before and after said assembly, the electrically conducting antenna support and the first part fastening the antenna.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 120 words
A portable electronic device comprising: a housing; an antenna a having a wire; an electrically conducting antenna support that is fastened to the housing at a location of a reinforced feedthrough of the housing, the wire freely running through the electrically conducting antenna support; and a printed circuit board comprising a first part and a second part, whereby the first part is mechanically connected to the second part before assembly of the portable electronic device, and the first part is separated from the second part after the assembly, and the first and second parts are electrically connected to each other via a conductor, before and after said assembly, the electrically conducting antenna support and the first part fastening the antenna.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 116 words
A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 7, wherein a lower end of the electrically conducting antenna support is threaded, and the first part of the printed circuit board has a metallized area and a metallized feedthrough hole that is electrically connected to the metallized area, the metallized area being electrically connected to the conductor, and the electrically conducting antenna support being fastened to the housing by pinching the electrically conducting antenna support, at the location of the reinforced feedthrough of the housing, between an outside shoulder of the electrically conducting antenna support and the first part, and by tight-screwing the pinched electrically conducting antenna support in the metallized feedthrough hole in a self-tapping way.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 16 words
A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the conductor is a metal sheet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 21 words
A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first and second parts stretch out in substantially perpendicular planes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 75 words
A portable electronic device comprising: a housing; an antenna; a printed circuit board comprising a first part and a second part, before assembly of the portable electronic device the first part being mechanically attached to the second part and being electrically connected to the second part via a conductor, and, after the assembly the first part being mechanically separated from the second part, the first part, in conjunction with a housing part, fastening the antenna.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 75 words
A portable electronic device comprising: a housing; an antenna; a printed circuit board comprising a first part and a second part, before assembly of the portable electronic device the first part being mechanically attached to the second part and being electrically connected to the second part via a conductor, and, after the assembly the first part being mechanically separated from the second part, the first part, in conjunction with a housing part, fastening the antenna.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5969682A Cited
EP0773633A2 Cited
EP0773632A1 Cited
US5754141A Cited
JPH09214225A Cited
US5973646A Cited
JPH10173420A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2003-08-22 2004-02-21 2004-08-22 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2007-08-22 2008-02-21 2008-08-22 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2011-08-22 2012-02-21 2012-08-22 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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