Evaluation of a novel integrated antenna assembly for mobile data networks using laptop computers

Antenna choice and location continue to pose important electromagnetic design challenges for wireless laptop network implementation. In response to these challenges, one group has suggested the integration of the mobile antenna into the laptop's display panel. However, this integration location may make the antenna's reception characteristics dependent on the display panel orientation. This paper describes and evaluates an alternate antenna assembly implementation called the vertically-oriented antenna surface (VOAS). The VOAS is attached to the laptop as a form of protective cover and hangs freely from the back of the display panel at a 90/spl deg/ angle to the work surface. The structure, which may contain very thin planar or microstrip antennas, maintains a vertical position resulting in signal reception that is relatively independent of the display panel angle.