WO2001033723A1

WO2001033723A1 - Combined antenna and battery release mechanism

Info

Publication number: WO2001033723A1
Application number: PCT/EP2000/010777
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mats Olsson; Mats Larsson; Peter SÖDERGREN; Ulrika Renmark
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ)
Priority date: 1999-11-03
Filing date: 2000-11-01
Publication date: 2001-05-10
Also published as: AU1516901A

Abstract

A terminal unit includes a battery having a first locking member and an antenna housing having a second locking member. The first locking member is engageable with the second locking member so that the battery and the antenna housing are detachably connected. A method of engaging and disengaging a terminal unit is also provided.

Description

COMBINED ANTENNA AND BATTERY RELEASE MECHANISM

"This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/183,354 and Swedish Application No. 9904002-4, which is hereby incorporated by reference. "

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a portable telecommunication device, more specifically, a portable telecommunication device having a combined antenna and battery release mechanism.

Background and Summary of the Invention

As mobile phones have become smaller in size the need for integration of functions of mechanical and electrical components has increased. A common placement of the stub antenna, which is generally a fixed component, has been in the top region of the mobile phone. These antennas and their respective parts, as do other components, take up valuable space which may be used by other parts. The present invention permits providing a portable communication device which has a terminal unit which allows for the battery to quickly and easily be engaged, in the sense of locked in an operating or closed position, and disengaged, in the sense of released from an operating or closed position, from the portable communication device. The present invention further provides the advantage, amongst other advantages, of allowing the battery to be easily engaged and disengaged so the user may replace or recharge the battery.

The present invention permits providing a portable communication device which has a terminal unit which allows the portable communication device to be more compact or allow more space for additional parts to be added on to the portable communication device.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the terminal unit includes a battery having a first locking member, an antenna housing having a second locking member, wherein the first locking member is able to receive the second locking member so that the battery and the antenna housing are detachably connected.

According to a further aspect of the invention the first locking member includes a protrusion and the second locking member includes an opening. The first locking member is received by the opening so that the battery and the antenna housing are detachably connected.

The present invention further provides a method of engaging and disengaging a terminal unit. More specifically, a method of disengaging a battery of a terminal unit is disclosed wherein the terminal unit includes the battery having a first locking member which is detachably connected to a second locking member on an antenna housing, including the steps of disengaging the first locking member from the second locking member so that the battery is disengaged from the terminal unit by pulling the antenna housing away from the terminal unit.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a method of engaging a battery of a terminal unit is disclosed wherein the terminal unit includes the battery having a first locking member and an antenna housing having a second locking member, including the steps of pushing a first locking member of an antenna housing toward a second locking member of a terminal unit, and locking the first locking member with the second locking member. Brief Description of the Drawings

As shown in the drawings, wherein like references numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views: FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a portable communication device and the terminal unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the terminal unit in a closed position; and

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the terminal unit in an unassembled view.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

The present invention allows for, amongst other advantages, a battery in a portable communication device, e.g. cellular phone, to be easily disengaged by pulling the antenna housing. Furthermore, the present invention allows the portable communication device to be more compact.

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate an embodiment of a portable communication device 100, more specifically, a terminal unit 105 which includes, amongst other components, a battery 128 which is detachably connected to an antenna housing 120. When the antenna housing 120 is pulled in a direction away from the frame 112, the battery is able to be detached from the terminal unit. Furthermore, a spring member 190 urges the antenna housing into a "closed position" as shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the antenna housing 120 preferably includes a first protruding member 126 which extends outward, in the direction of A, from the body of the antenna housing 120. The first protruding member 126 includes at least one locking member 127 which also extends outwardly (in the A direction) from the end of the first protruding member 126. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the locking member 127 is a substantially rigid member that has a length from 1 mm to 7 mm, but preferably from 3 mm to 5 mm. Locking member 129, located on the battery 128, is able to receive the locking member 127 so that the battery 128 and the antenna housing 120 are detachably connected to one another. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the locking member 129 preferably comprises an opening which has a depth anywhere from 1 mm to 4 mm, but preferably about 2 mm. The opening 129 receives the first locking member 127 which enters the opening and then expands in a direction perpendicular to the A direction until the locking member 127 is received in the cavity 130. The engagement, e.g. snap-fit, of the locking member 127 and locking member 129 enables the two parts to be quickly attached and detached by pushing the two parts towards each other (to place in closed position) or by pulling the antenna housing away from the battery 128 (to disengage the two parts), by moving the antenna housing anywhere from 1 mm to 5 mm depending on the desired configuration of the locking member 127 and 129. It should be appreciated that the locking member 127 could be located on the battery and the locking member 129 could be located on the antenna housing.

The terminal unit 105 preferably further includes a frame 112 which supports the various parts of the terminal unit 105 and other components of the portable communication device 100. Thus, the frame 112 should be made of a material which is capable of supporting the various components of the portable communication device 100, such as a rigid plastic material. For example, the portable communication device may include other components which include, but are not limited to, microphone, buttons, back-up batteries, an outer protective casing, receivers and other parts known to one skilled in the art.

The frame 112 preferably includes a first slide guide 118 which is located on a surface of an opening 114 in the frame 112. The first slide guide 118 comprises at least one slot, preferably two slotted portions that are parallel to one another and each slotted portion being located between two protrusions. The frame 112 is able to slidably connect to the antenna housing 120 by having the first slide guide 1 18 slidably engage with a second slide guide 132 located on the outer periphery of the antenna housing 120. The second slide guide 132 comprises at least one protruding portion, preferably two protruding portions that are parallel to one another and separated by at least one slot. Thus, each slotted portion of the first slide guide 118 is engageable with one protrusion of the second slide guide 132 and vice-versa. When the frame 112 and antenna housing 120 are connected, the only way to disengage the antenna housing 120 from the frame 112 is to slide the antenna housing relative to the frame 112. Furthermore, the frame 112 has an opening 119 which receives the protruding portion 126 of the antenna housing 120, so that the first locking member 127 can come in contact with the locking member 129 located on the battery 128.

The terminal unit 105 further includes a connector block 140 comprising a plurality of connector elements, wherein in the exemplary embodiment the connector elements are spring ledges or pogo pins 144a- 144c connected to a connecting member 141. When the antenna housing 120 is mounted into the frame the connector block 140 is connected, e.g. snap-fit, into the antenna housing 120. The connector elements 144a- 144c connect, e.g. electrically or galvanically, the antenna flex-film 180 to the PCB 117. The connector elements enable the various types of radio frequency (RF) signals received by the antenna flex-film 180 to be transmitted to the printed circuit board (PCB) 117, and/or an external antenna connector. As shown in FIG. 3, the antenna flex film 180 includes a plurality of connection areas 182 which communicate with the connector elements. Thus, the pogo pins should be made of a material which conducts various types of radio frequency signals, e.g. metal, aluminum, tin or the like. The pogo pins should separated by non-conducting material, e.g. plastic, so that the signals between the various pogo pins are not mixed up. Thus, the connecting member 141 should be made from plastic or other non-conducting materials. As shown in FIG. 1 , the connector elements 144a-144c have a general pin shape with a head portion 131 which contacts the PCB 1 17 and a tip portion 147 which contacts the antenna flex-film 180 located in the antenna housing 120. The connector block 140 has at least one connector element, but, as seen in FIG. 2, there is preferably one connector element 144a located on one end of the connecting member 141 and two connector elements 144b, 144c located on the opposite end of the connecting member 141.

Preferably, the antenna housing 120 is mounted into the frame 112. The connector block 140 is snap-fitted into the antenna housing. The connector elements 144a- 144c then connect, galvanically or electrically, the antenna flex-film to the PCB. When the antenna housing 120 is pulled in a release position, the connector elements slide on plated pads located on the PCB. Wear protectors may be soldered onto the PCB to protect against wear from the sliding.

The PCB 117 has various types of electronic components located within the PCB for transmitting and receiving the signals transmitted by an antenna 121 in the antenna housing 120. For example, the PCB may include a transceiver 124, which acts as both a receiver and a transmitter. Preferably, the antenna housing includes an multiband antenna. If the antenna is located in the antenna housing then the antenna housing should be made from a material which will allow the radio waves to penetrate through the antenna housing and be received by the antenna. For example, in an exemplary embodiment the antenna housing is made of plastic or the like.

The connector block 140 further includes a grooved portion 149 which is able to receive a spring member 190. As shown in FIG. 2, in the exemplary embodiment the spring member 190 has a curved shape with two front legs 192 and a rear portion 194. After the spring member 190 is placed in the grooved portion 149, the connector block 140 is snap-fitted into the opening 121 of the antenna housing 120 and the spring member 190 is then engaged towards the inside of the frame. The rear portion 194 of the spring member 190 comes in contact with the wall of the frame 112 and the leg portions 192 are in contact with the grooved portion 149 of the connector block 140. The spring member 190 contacts the frame 1 12 and the connector block 140 to urge the connector block 140 and the antenna housing 120 to which it is attached in the A direction, which in turn causes the antenna housing to be urged into a "locked position" as shown in FIG. 2.

Thus, anytime the antenna housing 120 is pulled in the direction of the B arrow out of the closed position, the spring member 190 urges the antenna housing 120 to return to the closed position.

The battery 128 is received in an opening 113 on the frame 112 and supported by the frame 112 by resting on a ridge portion 1 11 which runs around the outer periphery of opening 113. The battery 128 is positioned so that the second locking means, i.e. opening 129, is facing the antenna housing 120 and aligned with the opening 119.

Thus, a user can disengage the battery 128 from the various components of the terminal unit 105 by pulling on the antenna housing by several millimeters.

Also, the user is able to engage the battery 128 by snap-fitting the battery onto the portable communication device 100 into the opening 113 located in the frame 112. The present invention provides a terminal unit that is space saving, user friendly and ergonomically practical. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof.

Claims

Claims:

1 . A terminal unit comprising: a battery having a first locking member; an antenna housing having a second locking member; and wherein the first locking member is engageable with the second locking member so that the battery and the antenna housing are detachably connected.

2. The terminal unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first locking member includes a protrusion and the second locking member includes an opening, wherein the protrusion is received by the opening so that the battery and the antenna housing are detachably connected.

3. The terminal unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the battery is disengagable from the antenna housing by pulling on the antenna housing.

4. The terminal unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the antenna housing is displacable relative to the battery by anywhere from 1 mm to 5 mm.

5. The terminal unit as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a frame of a portable communication device, wherein the antenna housing is slidably detachably connected to the frame.

6. The terminal unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame includes a first opening with a first guide slide located around a surface of the first opening, the first slide guide being slidably engageable with a second guide slide located on an outer surface of the antenna housing.

7. The terminal unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna housing includes an multiband antenna.

8. The terminal unit as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a connector block, the connector block being releasably connected to the antenna housing, the connector block including a connecting member which includes at least connector element adapted to conduct signals between an antenna flex film and a printed circuit board.

9. The terminal unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connector block is spring loaded.

10. A method of disengaging a battery of a terminal unit, the terminal unit comprising the battery having a first locking member which is detachably connected to a second locking member on an antenna housing, comprising the steps of: disengaging the first locking member from the second locking member so that the battery is disengaged from the terminal unit by pulling the antenna housing away from the terminal unit.

11. The method claimed in claim 11 , wherein a spring member urges the antenna housing back to a closed position.

12. A method of engaging a battery of a terminal unit, the terminal unit comprising the battery having a first locking member and an antenna housing having a second locking member, comprising the steps of: pushing a first locking member of an antenna housing toward a second locking member of a terminal unit; and locking the first locking member with the second locking member.