US6259409B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Retractable sliding antenna assembly for wireless communication
Assignee: HP Inc
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Filing: 1999-07-22
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Granted: 2001-07-10
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Expires: 2019-07-22
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus is disclosed for wireless communication of a computer with a wireless network or a wireless device. In one embodiment of the present invention, a pc card is configured for insertion into a computer pc card slot. Additionally, a sliding assembly is housed within the pc card. This sliding assembly is operable for sliding into a retracted position and a protruded position. When in the retracted position, the sliding assembly is mostly concealed within the pc card. When in the protruded position, the sliding assembly is partly exposed outside of the pc card. Furthermore, an antenna element is fitted inside the sliding assembly. When the sliding assembly is in retracted position, this antenna element enables wireless communication of a computer with a wireless network or a wireless device.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Fulton
- 👤 Thomas A. Johnson
- 👤 Tim Urry Price
- 👤 Steven C. Aldous
- 👤 Carlos A. Rios
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 10:17
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/12; H01Q1/22; H01Q1/2258; H01Q1/2275; H01Q1/24; H01Q1/241; H01Q1/242; H01Q1/243; H01Q1/244; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
An apparatus for enabling wireless communication with a wireless communication system, comprising: a device adapted to communicate with a wireless communication system; a sliding assembly contained within said device, wherein said sliding assembly is operable for sliding into a retracted position and sliding into a protruded position, and wherein said sliding assembly has a frontal portion and a rear portion; and an antenna element contained within said frontal portion of said sliding assembly, said antenna element for communicating with said wireless network when said sliding assembly is in said protruded position wherein said sliding assembly is made of translucent material, and wherein said sliding assembly is illuminated in its protruded position to indicate wireless communication in progress.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
117 words
An apparatus for enabling wireless communication with a wireless communication system, comprising: a device adapted to communicate with a wireless communication system; a sliding assembly contained within said device, wherein said sliding assembly is operable for sliding into a retracted position and sliding into a protruded position, and wherein said sliding assembly has a frontal portion and a rear portion; and an antenna element contained within said frontal portion of said sliding assembly, said antenna element for communicating with said wireless network when said sliding assembly is in said protruded position wherein said sliding assembly is made of translucent material, and wherein said sliding assembly is illuminated in its protruded position to indicate wireless communication in progress.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said wireless communication system is a wireless network, and wherein said device is operable as a part of a node within said wireless network.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said device is selectable from a group consisting of pc cards, compact flash cards, Palm devices, PDA's, phones, mobile phones, desktop computers and laptop computers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein when said sliding assembly is in said retracted position, said sliding assembly is concealed within said device such that only an activation surface of said frontal portion of said sliding assembly is exposed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein in said protruded position said rear portion of said sliding assembly is concealed within said device, and wherein in said protruded position said frontal portion containing said antenna element protrudes outside of said device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said antenna element is selectable from a group consisting of inverted-F antenna, mono-pole antenna, dipole antenna, and Disk antenna.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for enabling a computer to communicate with a wireless communication system, comprising: a pc card configured for insertion into a computer pc card slot; a sliding assembly contained within said PC card, wherein said sliding assembly is operable for sliding into a retracted position and sliding into a protruded position, and wherein said sliding assembly has a frontal portion and a rear portion; and an antenna element contained within said frontal portion of said sliding assembly, said antenna element for communicating with a wireless communication system when said sliding assembly is in said protruded position, wherein said sliding assembly is made of translucent material, and wherein said sliding assembly is illuminated in its protruded position to indicate wireless communication in progress.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for enabling a computer to communicate with a wireless communication system, comprising: a pc card configured for insertion into a computer pc card slot; a sliding assembly contained within said PC card, wherein said sliding assembly is operable for sliding into a retracted position and sliding into a protruded position, and wherein said sliding assembly has a frontal portion and a rear portion; and an antenna element contained within said frontal portion of said sliding assembly, said antenna element for communicating with a wireless communication system when said sliding assembly is in said protruded position, wherein said sliding assembly is made of translucent material, and wherein said sliding assembly is illuminated in its protruded position to indicate wireless communication in progress.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said wireless communication system is a wireless network, and wherein said pc card is operable as a part of a node for said wireless network.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said pc card is a type II pc card.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein in said retracted position said sliding assembly is concealed within said device such that only an activation surface of said frontal portion of said sliding assembly is exposed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein in said protruded position said rear portion of said sliding assembly is concealed within said computer, and wherein in said protruded position said frontal portion containing said antenna element protrudes outside of said computer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said antenna element is selectable from a group consisting of inverted-F antenna, mono-pole antenna, dipole antenna, and Disk antenna.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for enabling wireless communication with a wireless communication system, said method comprising the steps of: a) releasing a sliding assembly contained within a device from a retracted position for transitioning to a protruded position, wherein said device is adapted for communicating with a wireless communication system; b) communicating wirelessly with said wireless communication system using an antenna element contained within said sliding assembly, wherein said antenna element is operable when said sliding assembly is in said protruded position, and wherein said sliding assembly is made of translucent material, and wherein said sliding assembly is illuminated in its protruded position to indicate wireless communication in progress; and c) retracting said sliding assembly from said protruded position to said retracted position when said communicating step b) terminates.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for enabling wireless communication with a wireless communication system, said method comprising the steps of: a) releasing a sliding assembly contained within a device from a retracted position for transitioning to a protruded position, wherein said device is adapted for communicating with a wireless communication system; b) communicating wirelessly with said wireless communication system using an antenna element contained within said sliding assembly, wherein said antenna element is operable when said sliding assembly is in said protruded position, and wherein said sliding assembly is made of translucent material, and wherein said sliding assembly is illuminated in its protruded position to indicate wireless communication in progress; and c) retracting said sliding assembly from said protruded position to said retracted position when said communicating step b) terminates.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein said wireless communication system is a wireless network.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein said step a) further comprises the step of: activating an activation surface on a frontal portion of said sliding assembly to begin said transitioning from said retracted position to said protruded position, wherein said antenna element is within said frontal portion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein said step b) further comprises the step of: commencing wireless communication programs for using said antenna element with said device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein said step b) further comprises the step of: commencing wireless networking programs for using said antenna element with said device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein said device is selectable from a group consisting of pc cards, compact flash cards, Palm devices, PDA's, phones, mobile phones, desktop computers and laptop computers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein in said retracted position said sliding assembly is concealed within said device such that only an activation surface on a frontal portion of said sliding assembly is exposed, wherein said antenna element is contained within said frontal portion.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein in said protruded position a rear portion of said sliding assembly is concealed within said device, and wherein in said protruded position a frontal portion containing said antenna element protrudes outside of said device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein said antenna element is selectable from a group consisting of inverted-F antenna, mono-pole antenna, dipole antenna, and Disk antenna.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-07-09 | 2005-01-08 | 2005-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-07-09 | 2009-01-08 | 2009-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-07-09 | 2013-01-08 | 2013-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |