Abstract: Antenna assembly for a portable device. The antenna assembly includes a nonconductive base, a conductive bushing held within a lower end of the base, and a flex antenna wrapped around the base. The flex antenna includes a trace having substantially all of its length disposed around an upper end of the base axially away from the conductive bushing and terminating in a flexible end contact that extends over the bushing. A conductive mechanism engages the conductive bushing and presses the flexible end contact against the bushing. The conductive mechanism includes an exposed elongated contact. A whip antenna extends through the nonconductive base, and includes a nonconductive extension extending from a top end thereof and a lower contact for electrically contacting the bushing when the whip antenna is extended relative to the base.

Abstract: Antenna assembly for a portable device. The antenna assembly includes a nonconductive base, a conductive bushing held within a lower end of the base, and a flex antenna wrapped around the base. The flex antenna includes a trace having substantially all of its length disposed around an upper end of the base axially away from the conductive bushing and terminating in a flexible end contact that extends over the bushing. A conductive mechanism engages the conductive bushing and presses the flexible end contact against the bushing. The conductive mechanism includes an exposed elongated contact. A whip antenna extends through the nonconductive base, and includes a nonconductive extension extending from a top end thereof and a lower contact for electrically contacting the bushing when the whip antenna is extended relative to the base.

Abstract: A method and system (10) for reducing errors in a vehicle manufacturing process is provided. The system is a non-segmented network that includes a plurality of servers (30, 40, 46, 48) for storing build data and transmitting the data to a tracking controller (20). The tracking controller (20) identifies the assembly (18) entering a manufacturing zone (14) and generates positioning information related to the assembly as it passes through the zone (14). The tracking controller (20) is electronically coupled to a series of local I/O interfaces (32) for transmitting the identity, the position information, and the build data of the assembly (18) thereto. Each local I/O interface (32) has one or more I/O manufacturing tools (34, 36) coupled thereto for allowing an operator to perform an assembly task pursuant to the build data. In addition, the I/O manufacturing tools (34, 36) detect whether a successful build condition or an unsuccessful build condition results from performance of the assembly task.