JP3528914B2 - Antenna mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an antenna mechanism suitable for use in a mobile satellite terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a mobile satellite communication terminal,
The operating state of the terminal, that is, whether the terminal housing is used vertically with respect to the ground, horizontally, or at a certain angle varies depending on the user. In this case, in a terminal that does not have a mechanism for adjusting the angle of the antenna, the angle of the antenna changes depending on the usage state of the housing, and the directivity of the antenna also changes depending on the usage state. In mobile satellite communications, it is necessary to adjust the directivity of the antenna to cover the communicating satellite regardless of whether the communicating satellite has a geosynchronous orbit or an orbit other than the geostationary orbit, for example, a polar orbit. However, if the antenna angle adjusting mechanism is not provided, communication with a satellite to communicate with a signal having a strength required for communication is not always performed.

In general, as an antenna often used in a mobile satellite communication terminal, a rod-shaped antenna is often used while being kept perpendicular to the ground. In this case, the rod-shaped antenna may be a 4-wire helical antenna or the like. This type of antenna has a directivity that has a uniform antenna gain in the upper hemisphere of the ground when placed perpendicular to the ground,
It is preferred that the antenna is substantially vertical.

In an unfixed device that does not have an antenna angle adjusting mechanism, such as a mobile satellite communication terminal, it is difficult to orient the antenna in a preferred direction.

The mechanism proposed in US Pat. No. 5,844,985 issued Dec. 1, 1998 has a mechanism used in a mobile telephone unit configured to keep the antenna vertical. . This mechanism has a parallel weight member that allows the antenna to face in a vertical direction regardless of the orientation of the mobile phone unit in which it is incorporated.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an antenna angle adjusting mechanism having a simpler structure.

[0007]

An antenna mechanism described below as an example of the present invention has an antenna mechanism connected to a device, for example, a mobile phone. One part of the antenna mechanism extends from the connection part toward the device, and the other part extends from the connection part to the side opposite to the device. It is assumed that the antenna or a connecting mechanism for attaching the antenna is provided in the portion extending from the connecting portion and away from the device, in order to make the attached antenna face in a preferable direction. It is possible to have an angle around the connection. The particular antenna mechanism connection described provides both a pivotal movement between the two parts and a passageway through which the connecting cable can pass from the device to the remote part of the antenna mechanism. The connection cable includes a coaxial cable for feeding the antenna.

Therefore, in the specific antenna mechanism described later, there is no member that pivots at the center of the connecting portion. The pivot point has a connection on the side. A snap-in means is incorporated in the connection to allow the first and second parts to be easily and accurately positioned in the desired specific angular relationship. .

The antenna mechanism described later can be used in other devices than the mobile phone. For example, the antenna mechanism may be used in a portable computer device. A signal level indicator built into the portable device can be used to determine the optimum position of the pivoted antenna part so that the received signal level is maximized and maintained. It is possible to

When using a handheld cell phone, the user attaches the antenna to the second part and orients the extended antenna part in a particular direction using a snapping stop. The small physical movement maneuvers required to maintain the maximum received signal level can be performed.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An antenna mechanism according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, a first portion 2 extending from the handset 1 and a second portion 3 pivotally connected to the first portion 2 at a pivot axis 4. A mobile phone handset 1 having an antenna mechanism including is shown. The handset 1 is shown with the receiver located near the user's ear where the head 5 is schematically shown and the transmitter located near the mouth. The user's head 5 remains in its normal straight position, the first part 2 of the antenna mechanism is in the position of approximately the dashed line AA ', and the second part 3 of the antenna mechanism is in the approximately dashed line PP. When in the'position, the vertical axis of the first part 2 of the antenna mechanism and the dashed line P, indicated by dashed line AA 'in the mechanism in question, are shown.
It has been found that the preferred angle between the longitudinal axis of the second part 3 of the antenna arrangement, indicated by -P ', is 59 °.

FIG. 1 shows a handset 1 held by being pressed against the right ear of a user. The handset 1 is
Of course, it may be pressed against the left ear of the user and held, and in this case, the second portion 3 of the antenna mechanism has the axis PP ′ of the second portion 3 aligned with the axis AA ′. On the other hand, axis A-
A'is pivoted about the pivot axis 4 so as to be positioned at an angle of 59 °, opposite to that shown in the figure.

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 2 and 3 in order to describe in more detail one structure of the connection of the pivot shaft 4.

FIG. 2 shows a first part 2 and a second part 3 of the antenna mechanism. The first part 2 and the second part 3 are tubular and are firmly connected by a connecting part 10 constituting the pivot shaft 4 shown in FIG. First
Part 2 has two parts casings 11 and 12, with a slot 1 at the end 13 having a hemispherical outer surface 14.
5 are provided. Through the slot 15, the connection part 1
The surface 16 of the rotating member 17 of 0 is visible. The hollow rotating member 17 is attached to the second part 3 of the antenna mechanism by means of the neck 24 shown in FIG. A cable 23, which is connected at one end to the antenna in the second part 3 by a connecting member 23a, passes through the connection part 10 and the first part 2 toward a circuit (not shown) of the handset 1.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the casing 12 of the first portion 2 of the antenna mechanism has a pivot hole 18,1.
Rotating member 17 having 9 on opposite sides has been removed for visibility. A pivot member 20 extending from the inner surface of the casing 11 is shown extending into the pivot hole 18, with a corresponding member (not shown) extending from the casing 12 into the pivot hole 19. These two pivot members are separated leaving a passage in the hollow rotating member 17.

The rotary member 17 has a handset 1 for a mobile phone.
A cable 23 connecting the antenna part to the antenna part (not shown) in the second part 3 of the antenna mechanism, the inside of the first part 2, the internal passage provided by the hollow rotating member 17, and the hole of the neck part 24 ( There is a third hole 22 which allows it to pass freely through the antenna part (not visible). The neck 24 extends from the rotating member 17 into the base 25 of the tubular second portion 3 of the antenna mechanism. in this way,
The cable 23 is not exposed to the outside when passing from the first portion 2 to the third portion 3.

The base portion 25 of the second portion 3 is made up of the first portion 2
Has a hemispherical outer surface 14 and a hemispherical shape that cooperates to move the angle between them. This movement causes the neck 2 to move when the hemispherical base 25 of the second part 3 slides on the cooperating outer surface 14 of the first part 2.
4 is allowed to move in the slot 15 between the two part casing 11 and the casing 12.

Therefore, the first part 2 of the antenna mechanism is
The extent of the angle-changing movement that can occur between the and the second part 3 depends on the length of the slot 15.

In order to obtain a preferred relative angular position between the first part 2 and the second part 3, on the surface 16 of the rotating member 17 in the first part 2 of the antenna arrangement. Spring biased pin 28 extending from cylinder 29
There are three recesses 27 cooperating with the rounded ends of the. When the rotating member 17 and the second portion 3 rotate, the pin 28
To snap into each recess 27 of the surface 16 at each of the three preferred angular positions so that the first portion 2 and the second portion 3 are in the preferred angular relationship. Position it. These positions correspond to the position where the first part 2 and the second part 3 are in alignment, or to the angular position preferred for left and right use of the user's face.

Referring to FIG. 4, three recesses 31 corresponding to the recesses 27 of FIG. 3, a groove 31a, and a pivot hole 1 are formed.
9 and the specific shape of the rotating member 17 for the connecting part 10 is shown, which has a third hole 32 through which the cable 23 can pass, which corresponds to the hole 22 in FIG. Extending from the rotating member 17 is a neck 33 corresponding to the neck 24 seen in FIG. 3, and a cable 23 which is a tubular second part of the antenna mechanism.
And a tapered tip 34 that can pass through the base of part 3 of FIG. In the leaf spring 35, the second portion 3 of the antenna mechanism and the hollow rotating member 17 are connected to the pivot hole 1
The tongue 3 which engages the groove 31a and the depression 31 when rotating around the pivot point 4 given by 8, 19
Have six. The cooperation of the tongue 36 and the depression 31 results in a clicking and stopping action, which corresponds to the action between the pin 28 and the depression 27 described with reference to FIG.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the depression 31
A rotating member 17 having a groove 31a, a leaf spring 35 mounted on the casing 11 shown in FIG. 2 and a tapered tip 34 having a neck 33 through which the cable 23 can pass. Has been done. The rotating member 17, the neck portion 33 and the tip portion 34 are rotatable about a pivot shaft 4 formed between the shoulder portion 37 and the shoulder portion 38 of the casing 11 by the pivot holes 18 and 19, and the tongue-like portion is formed. 36
That it can be held in each of the three positions defined by the engagement of the
Can be seen more clearly from.

It will be appreciated that not only can the second part 3 of the antenna be incorporated into a suitable antenna, for example a four-wire helical antenna, but the first part 2 can also be incorporated into the antenna.

A hollow connection, obtained by using a rotating member 17 which is supported for pivotal rotation on the sides, allows the cable 23 to completely as it passes from one part of the antenna arrangement to the other. As hidden, it is possible to connect the antenna in the second part 3 to the transmitter / receiver in the handset 1 of the mobile phone.
Spring biased pin 28 in the antenna mechanism of FIG.
And in the depression 27 and in the antenna mechanism of FIGS.
The click and stop mechanism provided by the tongue 36 and the recess 31 facilitates obtaining a preferred angular relationship between the first portion 2 and the second portion 3. it can.

Although the antenna mechanism has been shown by way of example with reference to the drawings, antenna mechanisms having other configurations are also conceivable within the scope of the claims.

For example, instead of supporting the rotating member 17 to pivot about a pivot member 20 extending from the first portion 2, the second portion 3 extends into the pivot holes 18, 19 of the rotating member 17. A pivot member may be provided to form the pivot shaft 4. In such an antenna mechanism, the second portion 3 is divided, and the pivot member is provided in a through hole provided in the second portion 3 to the first portion 2 or as shown by 18, 19 of the rotating member 17. You may make it directly extend in the hole. Similarly, the leaf spring 35 may be provided in the second portion 2.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a mobile phone in use.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an antenna mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the antenna mechanism shown in FIG. 2 with a part thereof removed.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a connecting portion.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a part of the connecting portion and a part of the antenna mechanism.

6 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of the antenna mechanism shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 handset 2 First part 3 Second part 4 pivot axes 10 connection 11,12 casing 13 edge 14 outside 15 slots 16 surface 17 Rotating member 18,19 Pivot hole 20 pivot members 23 cable 23a connecting member 25 base 27,31 hollow 28 pin 29 cylinders 31a groove 32 Third hole 33 neck 34 Tip 35 leaf spring 36 tongue 37,38 Shoulder

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Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first portion and a second portion, and the first portion.
Connecting part between the first part and the second part, which makes the part of the first part and the second part rotatable relative to each other about a pivot axis, the first part and the second part. Stop with the second part positioned relative to each other in a predetermined angular relationship.
To allow the whole, the and means that came to the connecting member, the connecting in the member, prior Symbol second said cable for connection to the antenna in the portion of the first part or al ago antenna mechanism internal passage is formed for passing the serial second portion. 2. A hole on the opposite side located in the pivot axis for the connecting member to cooperate with a pivot member extending from either the first portion or the second portion. The antenna mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. The first portion and the second portion are mutually
It stops when it is relatively positioned in a predetermined angle relationship.
It said means for enabling the pre-Symbol first portion or the second
The spring member on any one of the first part and the first part
And the second portion are relative to each other in the predetermined angular relationship.
While positioned, the spring member is fitted, are constituted by a recess formed on the surface of the pre-Symbol connecting member,
The antenna mechanism according to claim 1. 4. The spring member is a leaf spring.
Antenna mechanism according to. 5. The first portion and the second portion extend in the longitudinal direction, and the pivot axis is relative to the vertical axis of either the first portion or the second portion. The antenna mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is vertical. 6. The antenna mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the pivot member has a tip portion extending into the second portion and is rotated around the first portion. .