Apple Patent Shows Push Button Antenna

[Paul Daniel Ash]

A patent application from 2006 that was recently revealed by the US Patent and Trademark Office shows a push-button antenna that would be used to "ensure high-quality wireless transmission and reception." - which is increasingly a problem for Apple's handhelds - without marring the elegant design. Though it's a bit "back to the future" (remember when phones had telescoping antennas?) anything to help iPhone users improve their signal would likely be welcomed.

The antenna could be extended with a click of the button, or by software, Patently Apple notes:

Although the antenna could be based on a push button design, it may also be designed to be activated via an icon on your media device UI.

The iPhone would keep its sleek appearance until your signal got so bad that you needed a boost, and then to improve reception you could just press the button and a small-streamlined antenna would pop out. When you got back into an area with better signal, you could just push the antenna back in.

Patently Apple makes much of the fact that the design may utilize a coaxial cable. To them, that implies the ability to pipe in cable television, but it seems more a misreading of the term "coaxial." There's coax in all sorts of devices, not just cable boxes: sometimes it makes sense to have two conductors in a single cable, especially where radio frequency signal is being carried.

However, it's an interesting idea: a cable-ready iPhone?

image via Patently Apple

[ggrassmid]

they could just put better antennas in the phone to begin with. Other phones dont seem to be plagued with such reception issues by having an internal antenna. Come on Apple, you've made money hand over fist with this phone, time to get some good equipment inside of it, instead of trying to make the mid-level antenna perform better.

[aekhamsouk]

they could just put better antennas in the phone to begin with. Other phones dont seem to be plagued with such reception issues by having an internal antenna. Come on Apple, you've made money hand over fist with this phone, time to get some good equipment inside of it, instead of trying to make the mid-level antenna perform better.

i fully agree... it seems like they are half a$sing it and were from the start. F the pop up antenna! talk about cheesy and backwards as hell! i suppose the next 4G iphone will have a cord and case that you carry around. you can stick it under your car seat after you're done talking...

[iLaw-One]

Seriously I don't see apple going for this approach since we know that image matters...having an extending antenna on the iphone would be so stone age tech...much better to put in a powerful miniaturised internal antenna.
Note that the patent had been filed before they came up with the present iphone/ipod design.

[eyepoper]

I thought that the edge .thus the silver iron plate was the atenna...cause..when I opened a 2G iphone..there was a merge place with screws that merge that Silver frame to a plate whereas the plate connects with some wire...and when I tested it that was the Antenna..

Very strange...

IF it is not so that I`m wrong..then they should design it like that..and forget that Push Antenna

[sk8ertim]

Why not make THE DAMN iPHONE 2mm BIGGER and stuff the BEST antenna inside!?

Lately, Apple has been infuriating me more and more!

I dont like where this crap is going. 1st a 8gb 3G-S, NOW A STICK OUT ANTENNA!

Not smart apple, not smart...

[PlatoTheForms]

...Come on Apple, you've made money hand over fist with this phone, time to get some good equipment inside of it, instead of trying to make the mid-level antenna perform better.

yes but they have also spent a lot of money in research and parts; their earnings for the iPhone are not profit completely.

[hollow0]

Lol what a joke. An iPhone with a push antenna...lmao that sir is definitely not welcomed.

[High_Voltage]

hey where do i start my own threads bCause i cant find it anywhere. Can someone help me here?

[hollow0]

I think you would have to go through the "forums" link then choose a category. You can create a thread after that.

[metaserph]

Just because a patent is filed does not mean it is intended for use. The best offense sometimes is defense. Internal antennaes are not perfect (see Nokia devices). That's why there are "antennae boosters" for sale. Just saying..

[ukoda]

Patently Apple makes much of the fact that the design may utilize a coaxial cable. To them, that implies the ability to pipe in cable television, but it seems more a misreading of the term "coaxial." There's coax in all sorts of devices, not just cable boxes: sometimes it makes sense to have two conductors in a single cable, especially where radio frequency signal is being carried.

However, it's an interesting idea: a cable-ready iPhone?

I wouldn't read anything into the use of coax. There is only a few effective ways to move RF to an antenna and coax is the cheapest that is flexible.

The engineer in me has to ask what's worthy of a patent in this idea? I really wonder about the US patent system, even though I hold two US patents.

[PlatoTheForms]

@ metaserph, exactly...most of the patents Apple files are so that other companies don't get any ideas of creating something that Apple is "already in plans of making".

[High_Voltage]

Thx hollow0

[dillonsmith9147]

Thx hollow0

first thats what the thanks button is for and wrong place for this

secondly, i agree that this prolly wont go through, it may have been on an early prototype of the iphone that never went through, it was filed a year before the iphone was released, making it the ideal time to be in testing

[tudtran]

As long as I get a better signal. I don't really care how ugly the thing look.

[rhekt]

sounds pretty ugly to me. just wait. nokia will come out with it first. HAR HAR...

[ifonemaniac]

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOOOLLLLLLL *Gasp* LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOOLOLOLOLLLLOOOOLLLLL

[rwin84]

it looks to extend a whole 1/4 inch. that will improve everything greatly!