IP Library Granted Patent US 9,945,895
Granted Patent B2
US 9,945,895 · App. 14/585,412 · Granted Apr 17, 2018

Antenna checking circuit

Inventor: Takashi Maruyama (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
G01R31/026G01R27/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,945,895
App. No.
14/585,412
Granted
Apr 17, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

An antenna checking circuit includes an antenna-connection-input terminal, a check-request-input terminal, a check-result-output terminal, a switching element having a control end connected to the check-request-input terminal, an input end connected to the antenna-connection-input terminal, and an output end connected to the check-result-output terminal, and a first resistance connected between the check-request-input terminal and the check-result-output terminal. A DC impedance of an antenna between a power supplying point and a ground point is 0Ω, and when a high-level check-request signal is applied to the check-request-input terminal, in a case where the antenna is connected to an antenna-connection terminal, the switching element turns on, and in a case where the antenna is not connected to the antenna-connection terminal, the switching element turns off. Check-result signals that are output to the check-result-output terminal in these cases are different from each other.

Claims (15)

1. An antenna checking circuit built into a communication device having an antenna-connection terminal, wherein the communication device is configured to check a connection state of an antenna, the antenna checking circuit comprising:

an antenna-connection-input terminal connected to the antenna-connection terminal;

a check-request-input terminal to which a high-level or low-level check-request signal is input;

a check-result-output terminal to which check results are output;

a switching element having a control end connected to the check-request-input terminal, an input end connected to the antenna-connection-input terminal, and an output end connected to the check-result-output terminal; and

a first resistance connected between the check-request-input terminal and the check-result-output terminal,

wherein the antenna has a ground point, and a DC impedance between a power supplying point and the ground point is 0Ω,

wherein, when the high-level check-request signal is applied to the check-request-input terminal, in a case where the antenna is connected to the antenna-connection terminal, the switching element turns on, and a low-level signal is output to the check-result-output terminal, and in a case where the antenna is not connected to the antenna-connection terminal, the switching element turns off, and a high-level signal is output to the check-result-output terminal,

wherein the switching element is a bipolar transistor having an emitter as the input end and a collector as the output end,

wherein the collector is connected to the check-result-output terminal,

wherein a second resistance having a resistance value smaller than a resistance value of the first resistance is connected between the emitter and the antenna-connection-input terminal, and

wherein a third resistance having a resistance value greater than the resistance value of the second resistance is connected between a base of the transistor and the check-request-input terminal.

2. The antenna checking circuit according to claim 1 , further comprising a communication circuit that includes a high-frequency input/output terminal,

wherein the high-frequency input/output terminal is connected to the antenna-connection terminal 41 via a capacitor.

3. The antenna checking circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the antenna is an inverted F-shaped antenna and includes an antenna conductive portion formed of a metal conductor, a power supplying point, a ground point, and an open end.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 5, 2019
From: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 048260/0950 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 30, 2014
From: MARUYAMA, TAKASHI
To: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 034598/0835 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2014-014554 · Jan 29, 2014 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150212141A1 · Jul 30, 2015