WO2017006501A1

WO2017006501A1 - Antenna device

Info

Publication number: WO2017006501A1
Application number: PCT/JP2016/001824
Authority: WO
Inventors: 早川　温雄; 小柳　芳雄; 達也佐野; 藤井　輝也; 太田　喜元
Original assignee: ソフトバンク株式会社; パナソニック株式会社
Priority date: 2015-07-07
Filing date: 2016-03-29
Publication date: 2017-01-12

Abstract

An antenna device (1) is provided with: a case (10) having a bottom member (12) and a cover member (13); a top cover (20) attached to the case; a ground (40) accommodated in the case, the ground (40) having a patch ground (41), a first movable ground (42), and a second movable ground (43); a first antenna element (50) attached to the cover member (13); a second antenna member (55) attached to the top cover (20); and an antenna element for ground communication (third antenna element) (30). The antenna element for ground communication (30) is brought out from the case (10), whereby the antenna element for ground communication (30) functions as a support leg capable of supporting the case (10) while the angle of the first antenna element (50) and the second antenna element (55) relative to a satellite is adjusted. Also, an engagement section (70) configured from the top cover (20) and the ground (40) is released, and the first and second movable grounds (42, 43) are brought outside the case (10) and used as a satellite antenna.

Description

Antenna device

The present disclosure relates to an antenna device capable of performing satellite communication using a satellite as well as communication on the ground.

A technique for performing satellite communication using an antenna device is known (Patent Document 1).

Patent Document 1 includes an antenna device including a planar antenna and a movable main body device including a transmitter / receiver. The antenna device can be attached to and detached from the main body device, and has both an azimuth angle and an elevation angle. It is disclosed that it is an adjustable satellite communication earth station that facilitates the direction adjustment of a planar antenna without degrading the portable performance.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-287350

Although the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a portable antenna device, a large planar antenna is necessary, and there is a problem that handling is inconvenient in an emergency such as a disaster.

This disclosure is intended to provide an antenna device that is small and can easily perform satellite communication using an existing mobile terminal device or the like.

The antenna device of the present disclosure includes a case, a ground housed in the case, a first antenna element housed in the case and having a power feeding unit, a top cover attached to the case, A second antenna element that is attached to the top cover and is not supplied with power, and a third antenna element that is provided so as to be able to be pulled out from the case on a surface opposite to the surface facing the top cover of the case. The third antenna element functions as a ground communication antenna, and when the third antenna element is pulled out of the case, the third antenna element functions as a satellite communication antenna. A support leg capable of supporting the case while adjusting an angle of the first antenna element and the second antenna element with respect to the satellite. Functional.

As an aspect of the antenna device of the present disclosure, for example, the third antenna element is a rod-shaped antenna element, and one end of the rod-shaped antenna element is rotatably attached to the case.

As an aspect of the antenna device of the present disclosure, for example, two rod-shaped antenna elements as the third antenna element are provided along the longitudinal direction of the case at positions close to each of the two side surfaces of the case. It is done.

The antenna device of the present disclosure includes a case, a ground that is housed inside the case, and a ground that can be deformed to take at least two states of a projecting state in which at least a part projects from the case, An antenna device comprising: a first antenna element housed in a case and having a power feeding portion; a top cover attached to the case; and a second antenna element attached to the top cover and not receiving power feeding. And the relative position with respect to the said case of the said top cover can be fluctuate | varied, and the distance with respect to the said ground and the said 1st antenna element of the said 2nd antenna element fluctuates by the said relative position fluctuating.

As one aspect of the antenna device of the present disclosure, for example, the ground is fixed to the inside of the case, and is electrically connected to the patch ground and movable to the outside from the case. Including ground.

As an aspect of the antenna device of the present disclosure, for example, the movable ground includes a first movable ground and a second movable ground that respectively protrude from two opposite side surfaces of the case.

As one aspect of the antenna device of the present disclosure, for example, an elastic member is disposed between the top cover and the case, and the first locking portion included in the top cover is the second locking portion included in the ground. The elastic member is in a compressed state, and an approaching state in which the relative distance of the top cover to the case is reduced is realized, and the first locking portion is separated from the second locking portion. When released, the elastic member is in an extended state, and a separated state in which the relative distance of the top cover to the case is increased.

As an aspect of the antenna device of the present disclosure, for example, the case includes a bottom member and a cover member that covers the bottom member, and the ground is housed in a space between the bottom member and the cover member. The first antenna element is attached to the cover member so as to be directly opposed to the ground, and the elastic surface is provided on the second surface of the first antenna element opposite to the first surface attached to the cover member. A member is attached.

As one aspect of the antenna device of the present disclosure, for example, the ground is fixed to the inside of the case, and is electrically connected to the patch ground and movable to the outside from the case. And the movable ground has the second locking portion.

As an aspect of the antenna device of the present disclosure, for example, the second antenna element is a patch antenna element attached to a surface of the top cover facing the case.

In the antenna device of the present disclosure, the third antenna element provided so as to be able to be pulled out from the case functions as a ground communication antenna, and when pulled out from the case, the first antenna element functions as a satellite communication antenna; It functions as a support leg that can support the case while adjusting the angle of the second antenna element with respect to the satellite. For this reason, the gain as an antenna for satellite communications can be increased. The antenna device is a small and portable device, can be used for wireless communication with a simple operation, is easy to carry, and the convenience of the antenna device can be increased.

In addition, the antenna device of the present disclosure can be deformed by changing the relative position of the first antenna element housed in the case and the second antenna element attached to the top cover, expanding the frequency band of satellite wireless communication. A large ground increases the area of the ground and increases the directivity as an antenna for satellite communication. The antenna device is a small and portable device, can be used for wireless communication with a simple operation, is easy to carry, and the convenience of the antenna device can be increased.

1A and 1B show an antenna device according to the present disclosure, wherein FIG. 1A is a front perspective view, and FIG. 1B is a rear perspective view. FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the first embodiment showing a use state of the antenna device according to the present disclosure as a wireless router. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the antenna device according to the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a front perspective view showing a use preparation state of the antenna device according to the present disclosure for satellite communication. 5 shows a procedure for starting use following FIG. 4, (a) a front perspective view when the locking portion is released, and (b) a front perspective view when a predetermined position of the movable ground is set. 6 shows a state in which the top cover of the antenna device according to the present disclosure is removed, (a) a front perspective view corresponding to FIG. 4, and (b) a front perspective view corresponding to FIG. 5 (b). 7A and 7B show an example of the operation of the locking portion of the antenna device according to the present disclosure, where FIG. 7A is a sectional view in a locked state, and FIG. 7B is a sectional view in a released state. 8A and 8B show an example of the operation of the locking portion of the antenna device according to the present disclosure, in which FIG. 8A is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view in a locked state, FIG. 8B is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view in a locked state, and FIG. ) Partial enlarged cross-sectional view of the state in which the movable ground is pulled out with the elastic member extended. FIG. 9 shows an example of an antenna circuit of the antenna device according to the present disclosure, and FIG. 9A is a block diagram, and FIG. 9B is a table showing the relationship between satellite signal input and output phase. FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of the second embodiment showing a usage state of the antenna device according to the present disclosure as a wireless router. FIG. 11 shows a state in which the antenna element for ground communication based on FIG. 10 is pulled out, (a) a rear perspective view, and (b) an enlarged view of part A in (a). 12 shows a standing state of the antenna element for ground communication based on FIG. 10, (a) a rear perspective view, and (b) an enlarged view of part A of (a).

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the antenna device according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.

1A is a front perspective view of the antenna device 1, FIG. 1B is a rear perspective view of the antenna device 1, and FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view showing the antenna device 1 in use as a wireless router. An example of an embodiment of the antenna device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The antenna device 1 is also a communication terminal device having a communication function such as a router, a smartphone, a tablet, a data communication terminal, and a portable information device. In the embodiment, a wireless router is shown as an example of the antenna device 1. The antenna device 1 includes a case 10 made of a substantially rectangular synthetic resin, a top cover 20 that covers the upper surface of the case 10 and made of synthetic resin, and a semicircular recess 11 provided on the back side of the case 10. And a ground communication antenna element 30 attached to the ground. The top cover 20 is attached to the case 10 by an engaging portion 70 described later.

When the antenna device 1 is used as a wireless router, the terrestrial communication antenna element 30 is recessed with the one end as a fixed rotation axis as in the first embodiment showing the use state of the terrestrial communication antenna element 30 in FIG. 11 may be raised at a predetermined angle. The ground communication antenna element 30 is a rod-shaped antenna element having a pair of substantially circular cross sections, and is a so-called whip antenna. In addition, the ground communication antenna element 30 has one end rotatably attached to the recess 11 of the case 10, and the longitudinal direction of the case 10 at a position close to each of the two opposite side surfaces 10 a and 10 b of the case 10. It is provided along.

The communication may be short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or UWB (Ultra Wide Band), or may be ad hoc communication that does not require a base station. It is also possible to use low power consumption BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity), mobile WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), and the like. Also, by providing two ground communication antenna elements 30, it is possible to cope with MINO (Multiple Input Multiple Multiple Output) that uses a plurality of antennas (elements) for transmission and reception.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the antenna device 1. The antenna device 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

In addition to the above-described configuration, the antenna device 1 includes a bottom member 12 that constitutes the case 10 and a cover member 13 that covers the bottom member 12. The antenna device 1 is a central portion of the antenna device 1 and includes the bottom member 12 of the case 10. A ground 40 is disposed in a space between the cover member 13 and the cover member 13. The antenna device 1 includes a first antenna element 50 attached to the cover member 13, a second antenna element 55 attached to the top cover 20, a power supply battery 60 attached to the bottom member 12, and a circuit. And a mounted substrate 61. The first antenna element 50 is attached to the cover member 13 so as to directly face the ground 40. Further, an elastic member 65 is attached to the second surface 13b opposite to the first surface 13a attached to the cover member 13 of the first antenna element 50.

Further, the first antenna element 50 has a power feeding unit 51, and the second antenna element 55 is a non-contact antenna element that does not receive power feeding. The ground (ground plane antenna element) 40 includes a patch ground 41 fixed inside the case 10, and a first movable ground 42 protruding from the two

side surfaces

10 a and 10 b of the case 10 to the outside of the case 10. The second movable ground 43 is provided.

The antenna device 1 of the present embodiment is normally used as a wireless router or the like, but the ground 40 is a satellite antenna by pulling out the first movable ground 42 and the second movable ground 43 from the case 10 in an emergency such as a disaster. Function as. An example of a satellite antenna installation procedure will be described with reference to FIGS.

Terrestrial communication antenna element (third antenna element) 30 is raised at a predetermined angle (see FIG. 4). The angle can be freely set by adjusting the standing angle of the ground communication antenna element 30. The ground communication antenna element 30 functions as a support leg capable of supporting the case 10 while adjusting the angle with respect to the satellite.

Next, the engaging portion 70 for holding the two

movable grounds

42 and 43 in the case 10 is released (see FIG. 5A), and the first

movable side

10a and 10b of the case 10 are moved to the first movable side. The ground 42 and the second movable ground 43 are pulled out to a predetermined position (see FIG. 5B).

In the present embodiment, pull-out

handles

42a and 43a are provided on the end surfaces of the first movable ground 42 and the second movable ground 43, respectively, and both the

movable grounds

42 and 43 are gripped by gripping the

respective handles

42a and 43a. Can be pulled out. When the engaging portion 70 is released, part of the side surfaces of the first and second

movable grounds

42 and 43 may protrude.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of protrusions 41 a can be provided on the patch ground 41 to determine the stationary positions of the first movable ground 42 and the second movable ground 43 within the case 10. It is. The procedure for pulling out the first and second

movable grounds

42 and 43 after raising the ground communication antenna element 30 has been described. However, after the first and second

movable grounds

42 and 43 are pulled out, The antenna element 30 may be erected.

When the first and second

movable grounds

42 and 43 are stored in the case 10, the

respective grips

42 a and 43 a are pressed and stored in the direction of the case 10, and the top cover 20 is pressed against the case 10 and engaged portions. 70 may be in a locked state. The first and second

movable grounds

42 and 43 are deformable grounds 40 that can be deformed so as to take at least two states, that is, a housed state housed inside the case 10 and a projecting state projecting from the case 10. is there.

When the first movable ground 42 and the second movable ground 43 are pulled out to predetermined positions, the first movable ground 42 and the second movable ground 43 are maintained in an electrically connected state with the patch ground 41. ing. That is, the first and second

movable grounds

42 and 43 have a laminated structure of

synthetic resin substrates

42b and

43b having grips

42a and 43a and engaging portions 70 and

conductive antenna portions

42c and 43c. The patch ground 41 is mainly made of a conductive member. The

antenna portions

42c and 43c of the first and second

movable grounds

42 and 43 and the patch ground 41 are in an electrically conductive state, and the ground region is expanded.

An example of a specific embodiment of the engaging portion 70 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is an overall view, and FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged view.

The engaging portion 70 is a first locking portion 71 formed on the back surface side of the top cover 20 and a second end formed on the tip side of each of the first and second

movable grounds

42 and 43. And a locking portion 72. In the embodiment, claw engagement is used as an example of the engagement portion 70. When the engaging portion 70 is in the locked state, the elastic member 65 provided between the cover member 13 and the top cover 20 is in a compressed state in which it is pressed.

In this embodiment, a spring is used as an example of the elastic member 65. A plurality of elastic members 65 are provided, one end of which is placed in the recess 13 c formed in the second surface 13 b of the cover member 13, and the other end is fixed to the inner surface side of the top cover 20.

When releasing the engaging part 70, in this embodiment, the engaging part 70 is pressed with the finger from both

side surfaces

10a, 10b of the case 10. When pressed, the first and second

movable grounds

42 and 43 are pushed into the case 10, and the engagement between the first locking portion 71 and the second locking portion 72 is released (see FIG. 8B). . And the elastic member 65 will be in the expansion | extension state, the top cover 20 will space apart above the case 10, and it will become possible to pull out the 1st and 2nd

movable grounds

42 and 43 to the exterior of the case 10 (FIG. 7 ( b), see FIG. 8C).

In the present embodiment, the claw shape has been described as an example of the first locking portion 71 and the second locking portion 72 that constitute the engaging portion 70, but a lance and a protrusion, concave and convex engagement, fitting, and the like are adopted. Alternatively, mechanical locking or electrical locking can be selected, and the structure is not limited to the structure of the engaging portion 70 shown in the present embodiment. Moreover, although the example which provided the 2nd latching | locking part 72 in the 1st and 2nd

movable grounds

42 and 43 was described, you may form the 2nd latching | locking part 72 in the case 10. FIG.

When the first locking portion 71 and the second locking portion 72 are fixed in a locked state, the elastic member 65 is in a compressed state and the approaching state in which the relative distance of the top cover 20 to the case 10 is reduced. Thus, the antenna device 1 can be downsized. Further, when the first locking portion 71 is released from the second locking portion 72 and the elastic member 65 is extended and the top cover 20 is separated from the case 10, the relative distance of the top cover 20 to the case 10 is increased. The separated state is realized. Then, the relative position of the top cover 20 with respect to the case 10 varies, and the distance between the ground 40 and the second antenna element 55 with respect to the first antenna element 50 varies.

The top cover 20 moves above the case 10 by the action of the elastic member 65, and the distance between the ground 40 and the second antenna element 55 that is a contactless antenna element with respect to the first antenna element 50 becomes relatively large. The frequency band of satellite wireless communication is expanded. Next, by pulling out the two

movable grounds

42 and 43 from both

side surfaces

10a and 10b, the area of the ground 40 is increased, the directivity as an antenna for satellite communication is increased, and satellite communication is possible. Thereby, the antenna device 1 of this embodiment is a small and portable device, can be used for wireless communication with a simple operation, is easy to carry, and the convenience of the antenna device 1 is increased. The ground communication antenna element 30 is used as a support leg for supporting the case 10, and the angles of the antenna device 1, more specifically, the first antenna element 50, the second antenna element 55, and the ground 40 with respect to the satellite are determined. Since it can be set freely, these members can be set at a position having a high gain with respect to the satellite.

FIG. 9A is a block diagram showing an example of the antenna circuit of the antenna device 1, and FIG. 9B is a table showing the relationship between the input and output phases of the satellite signals. In the table, Rx represents reception correspondence, and Tx represents transmission correspondence.

The antenna circuit 80 includes a first antenna element 50 that is a patch antenna element for a satellite and two antenna elements 30 for ground communication. The antenna element 30 for ground communication includes a main antenna element 31 and a sub antenna element 32. Including. In the satellite radio wave received by the first antenna element 50, the right-polarized wave (main) and the left-hand polarized wave (sub) whose phases are shifted by 90 ° enter the respective power feeds P1 and P2. A right-handed polarized wave is output from the first RF 81 and a left-handed polarized wave is output from the second RF 82 via the hybrid coupler HC.

The antenna circuit 80 has a first switch unit S1 and a second switch unit S2. The two switch units S1 and S2 can be linked by, for example, user operation, and can switch between satellite communication and ground communication. The received signal transmitted via the first RF 81 and the first switch unit S1 is processed by the first low noise amplifier (LNA) 85 via the first duplexer 83, and the first The signal is output to the first terminal T1 through the second duplexer 86.

The signal transmitted via the second RF 82 and the second switch unit S2 is processed by the second low noise amplifier (LNA) 87 and output to the second terminal T2. At the time of transmission, signals are transmitted from the first terminal T1 in the order of the second duplexer 86 → the power amplifier 84 → the first duplexer 83 → the first switch unit S1 → the first RF 81. Basically, the path of the second RF 82 from the second terminal T2 is not used during transmission.

Two ground communication antenna elements 30 are used for ground communication, but the main antenna element 31 is used for transmission and reception, and the sub antenna element 32 is used only for reception. The radio wave received by the main antenna element 31 is converted into a signal, and the main antenna element 31 → the first switch unit S1 → the first duplexer 83 → the low noise amplifier 85 → the second duplexer 86 → the first. Is transmitted through the path of the terminal T1. The radio wave received by the sub-antenna element 32 is converted into a signal and transmitted through the path of the sub-antenna element 32 → second switch section S2 → second low noise amplifier 87 → second terminal T2. On the other hand, transmission is transmitted through a path of the first terminal T 1 → the power amplifier 84 → the first duplexer 83 → the first switch unit S 1 → the main antenna element 31. During transmission, the path from the second terminal T2 to the sub antenna element 32 is not used.
The terrestrial communication antenna element 30 may function not only in a standing state as shown in FIG. 2 but also in a state accommodated in the case 10 as shown in FIG.

The second embodiment will be described based on FIGS. 10 to 12 with respect to the first embodiment of the use state of the ground communication antenna element 30 described in FIG.

In the second embodiment, the ground communication antenna element 30 has one end rotatably attached to the support portion 30a and the other end exposed to be freely drawn out into an insertion hole 11a provided on the back side of the case 10. It is stored (see FIG. 10). The method of pulling out the ground communication antenna element 30 from the insertion hole 11a is performed by pulling out the exposed portion by hand or by mechanical operation (see FIG. 11A). At the same time as the ground communication antenna element 30 is pulled out from the insertion hole 11a, the support portion 30a is also pulled out, and one end of the support portion 30a is locked near the opening of the insertion hole 11a by a locking portion (not shown) (FIG. 11B). )reference).

The ground communication antenna element 30 drawn out of the case 10 can be raised at a predetermined angle from the back side of the case with the support portion 30a as a fixed rotation shaft (see FIG. 12), and can be used as a wireless router. it can. And it can utilize as a support leg for satellite communications by adjusting the standing angle of the antenna element 30 for ground communications similarly to FIG.
The terrestrial communication antenna element 30 functions not only in a standing state as shown in FIG. 12, but also in a state of being housed in the case 10 as shown in FIG. 10 and a case as shown in FIG. It may function in the state pulled out from 10.

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application, Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-136019 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-136020 filed on July 7, 2015, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and modifications, improvements, and the like can be made as appropriate. In addition, the material, shape, dimension, numerical value, form, number, arrangement location, and the like of each component in the above-described embodiment are arbitrary and are not limited as long as the present invention can be achieved.

The antenna device according to the present disclosure can be applied to communication applications that can easily perform satellite communication in an emergency or emergency in a mobile terminal device such as a wireless router.

1: Antenna device 10:

Case

10a, 10b: Side surface 11: Recessed portion 12: Bottom member 13: Cover member 13a: First surface 13b: Second surface 13c: Recessed portion 20: Top cover 30: Antenna element for ground communication (Third antenna element)
40: Ground 41: Patch ground 42: First movable ground 43: Second movable ground 50: First antenna element (patch antenna element)
55: Second antenna element (contactless antenna element)
65: elastic member 70: engaging portion 71: first locking portion 72: second locking portion 80: antenna circuit

Claims

Case and
A ground housed inside the case;
A first antenna element housed in the case and having a feeding portion;
A top cover attached to the case;
A second antenna element attached to the top cover and receiving no power supply;
A third antenna element provided on the surface opposite to the surface facing the top cover of the case so as to be able to be pulled out from the case;
An antenna device comprising:
The third antenna element functions as a ground communication antenna,
When the third antenna element is pulled out from the case, the case can be supported while adjusting the angles of the first antenna element and the second antenna element functioning as satellite communication antennas with respect to the satellite. Function as support legs,
Antenna device.
The antenna device according to claim 1,
The third antenna element is a rod-shaped antenna element;
An antenna device in which one end of the rod-shaped antenna element is rotatably attached to the case.
The antenna device according to claim 2, wherein
An antenna device in which two rod-shaped antenna elements as the third antenna element are provided along the longitudinal direction of the case at positions close to each of two side surfaces of the case.
Case and
A ground that can be deformed so as to take at least two states of a storage state stored inside the case and a protruding state in which at least a part protrudes from the case;
A first antenna element housed in the case and having a feeding portion;
A top cover attached to the case;
A second antenna element attached to the top cover and receiving no power supply;
An antenna device comprising:
The relative position of the top cover with respect to the case can vary, and the relative position varies, whereby the distance of the second antenna element to the ground and the first antenna element varies.
Antenna device.
The antenna device according to claim 4, wherein
The ground includes a patch ground fixed inside the case, and a movable ground that is electrically connected to the patch ground and can protrude from the inside of the case to the outside.
Antenna device.
The antenna device according to claim 5, wherein
The movable ground includes a first movable ground and a second movable ground that respectively protrude from two opposite side surfaces of the case.
Antenna device.
The antenna device according to claim 4, wherein
An elastic member is disposed between the top cover and the case,
When the first locking portion of the top cover is fixed to the second locking portion of the ground, the elastic member is in a compressed state, and the relative distance of the top cover to the case is reduced. A close approach,
When the first locking portion is released from the second locking portion, the elastic member is in an extended state, and a separated state in which the relative distance of the top cover to the case is increased.
Antenna device.
The antenna device according to claim 7, wherein
The case includes a bottom member and a cover member covering the bottom member;
The ground is housed in a space between the bottom member and the cover member;
The first antenna element is attached to the cover member so as to directly face the ground,
The elastic member is attached to a second surface opposite to the first surface attached to the cover member of the first antenna element.
Antenna device.
The antenna device according to claim 8, wherein
The ground includes a patch ground fixed inside the case, and a movable ground that is electrically connected to the patch ground and can protrude from the inside of the case to the outside.
The movable ground has the second locking portion,
Antenna device.
The antenna device according to any one of claims 4 to 9,
The second antenna element is a patch antenna element attached to a surface of the top cover facing the case;
Antenna device.