MULTI-AXIS VERTICALLY CORRECTED ANTENNA FOR HANDHELD WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES

A portable wireless communications device such as a telephone handset having a vertically corrected antenna module pivotally secured to the handset for rotation about a first pivot axis. The antenna module can be rotated into a predetermined orientation, independent of handset orientation. An antenna mounted on the module is oriented vertically when the module is in the predetermined orientation. When the antenna module is rotated for use, a mechanism incorporated in the module support structure automatically rotates the antenna module about a second pivot axis which is substantially perpendicular to the first. This second rotation places the antenna at an angle that compensates for tilting of the handset during use about an axis parallel to the second axis, or along the first. That is, the antenna is shifted by a preselected angle in vertical orientation, typically around 10-15 degrees, in a direction perpendicular to the first direction of rotation to compensate for positioning a speaker and microphone for use.