Mobile cradle antenna and heat sink enhancement
US6031492A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 10, 1996 |
| Grant date | Feb 29, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 10, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M1/6041
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A cradle unit for use in transmitting radiocommunication signals from within a vehicle between a portable phone unit inside a vehicle and an external antenna connected to an exterior of the vehicle is provided with a heat sink for dissipating heat generated at the cradle unit, wherein the heat sink also functions as a dipole antenna for communicating with the portable phone. In addition, the cradle unit can be provided with circuitry for charging a battery of the portable phone, along with a hands-free unit, including a speaker and microphone. The heat sink antenna allows the portable phone to receive and transmit radio frequency signals as if it were directly RF-coupled to the external antenna, thereby avoiding a 10 dB attenuation loss normally associated with using a portable phone inside a vehicle due to the RF shielding of the metal vehicle body.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.