초록 ▼

An integrated diversity antenna solution is presented that positions multiple antennas within the digital device case. The integrated diversity antenna solution works equally well with diversity radios, such as 802.11, and non-diversity radios, such as Bluetooth. The non-diversity radios are support

An integrated diversity antenna solution is presented that positions multiple antennas within the digital device case. The integrated diversity antenna solution works equally well with diversity radios, such as 802.11, and non-diversity radios, such as Bluetooth. The non-diversity radios are supported via a power splitter attached to the antennas that give the necessary directional coverage. The integrated antenna array solves the main problem associated with wireless communication on laptop computers, specifically, that laptops perturb the radiation pattern because of the influence that laptop components have on standard antennas and the presence of interfering objects, most notably the laptop user, in the surrounding environment.

대표청구항 ▼

An integrated diversity antenna solution is presented that positions multiple antennas within the digital device case. The integrated diversity antenna solution works equally well with diversity radios, such as 802.11, and non-diversity radios, such as Bluetooth. The non-diversity radios are support

An integrated diversity antenna solution is presented that positions multiple antennas within the digital device case. The integrated diversity antenna solution works equally well with diversity radios, such as 802.11, and non-diversity radios, such as Bluetooth. The non-diversity radios are supported via a power splitter attached to the antennas that give the necessary directional coverage. The integrated antenna array solves the main problem associated with wireless communication on laptop computers, specifically, that laptops perturb the radiation pattern because of the influence that laptop components have on standard antennas and the presence of interfering objects, most notably the laptop user, in the surrounding environment. itter is configured to transmit a cellular phone signal and a radio frequency (RF) signal which are representative of the position information and the environmental signal, and wherein the base station receiver is configured to receive the cellular telephone signal and the RF signal, such that the transmitter will transmit the RF signal when in an RF range of the base station and will transmit the cellular signal when out of the RF range of the base station so as to maintain contact with the base station independent of location of the field unit and the base station. 8. The system of claim 6, wherein the base station further includes a GPS processing unit configured to process the position information received from the field unit, and an environmental measurement processing unit configured to process the environmental signal received from the field unit. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the field unit further includes a GPS processing unit configured to process the position information received from the plurality of GPS satellites, and an environmental measurement processing unit configured to process the environmental signal produced by the environmental circuit. 10. The system of claim 1, further including an interrogation circuit configured to generate an interrogation signal, and wherein the field unit further includes a receiver configured to receive the interrogation signal, wherein the field unit transmits the position information and the environmental signal upon receipt of the interrogation signal. 11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a base station, wherein the interrogation circuit resides within the base station. 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the field unit further includes a timing circuit such that the field unit transmits the position information and the environmental signal at an at least one predefined time. 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the field unit is encased in a mylar package. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the field unit is fixable to a person. 15. The system of claim 13, wherein the field unit is fixable to an animal. 16. The system of claim 13, wherein the field unit is fixable to an object. 17. The system of claim 13, wherein the field unit is fixable to a package, such that the field unit transmits the position information and the environmental signal when the package is enroute to a predefined destination. 18. The system of claim 1, further comprising a memory residing in the field unit whereby the position information and the environmental information may be saved and transmitted at a later time. 19. The system of claim 1, further comprising a field unit power source and a power management scheme residing in the field unit, whereby the power management scheme conserves the use of power in the power source. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the power management scheme is active. 21. The system of claim 19, wherein the power management scheme is passive. 22. A system for monitoring a field unit according to claim 1, wherein said object information comprises data identifying the object. 23. A system for monitoring a field unit according to claim 1, wherein said object information comprises data representing the name of the object. 24. A system for monitoring a field unit according to claim 1, wherein said object information comprises data representing the contents of the object. 25. A system for monitoring a field unit according to claim 1, wherein said object information comprises data representing the weight of the object. 26. A system for monitoring a field unit according to claim 1, wherein said object information comprises data representing the destination of the object. 27. A system for monitoring a field unit according to claim 1, wherein said object information comprises data representing the origin of the object. 28. A system for monitoring a field unit according to claim 1, wherein the field unit is associated with the predetermined object by attachment to the ob