Adjustable antenna system
US8599098B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 5, 2011 |
| Grant date | Dec 3, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 7, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01Q1/085
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention is directed to an antenna system comprising two rigid portions, an electrical conductor located between the two rigid portions, and a connector that extends between the two rigid portions and: (a) allows the position of one of the rigid portions relative to the other rigid portion to be altered when a force is applied to one of the rigid portions, such as when one of the rigid portions encounters an obstacle, and (b) maintains the altered position until a subsequent force is applied. In one embodiment, the connector comprises a ball-and-socket joint with the spring force produced by the socket causing sufficient frictional force between the ball and socket so that the position relationship of the ball to the socket is maintained when only gravity is being applied to the rigid portions and the connector but allowing the positional relationship to be altered when an additional force is applied. In another embodiment, the connector is comprised of multiple ball-and-socket links that each provide a limited angular range of motion and cumulatively allow an angular range of motion that is the sum of the limited angular ranges of motion associated each of the links.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.