EP1639793A1

EP1639793A1 - Modular terminal device

Info

Publication number: EP1639793A1
Application number: EP04736954A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Vasilios Spiropoulos
Original assignee: Perlos AB
Current assignee: Perlos AB
Priority date: 2003-06-17
Filing date: 2004-06-16
Publication date: 2006-03-29
Also published as: WO2004112358A1; SE0301760D0; CN1830196A; SE0301760L

Abstract

A mobile telephone has a circuit card with RF circuits for the telephone, a casing (1) in which the circuit card is fixable and which has a number of electric components such as battery, loudspeaker (4), microphone, vibrator (3), antenna (6), etc. The electric components are connectable to the circuit card by the intermediary of a number of conductor paths (21-26) disposed on or in the material of the casing (1). The conductor paths (21-26) are converged to a central connection unit (21) by the intermediary of which they are centrally connectable to corresponding conductor paths on the circuit card.

Description

MODULAR TERMINAL DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD

5 The present invention relates to a modular terminal device, such as a cell or mobile telephone, comprising a circuit card with, int. al. RF circuits for the device, a casing in relation to which the circuit card is positionally fixable and which has mounted, on or in itself, a number of electric components, such as battery, loudspeaker, microphone, vibrator, antenna, etc., the electric components being connected or connectable to the circuit card via a number of .0 conductor paths disposed on or in the material of the casing.

BACKGROUND ART

It is previously known in the art to dispose a number of electric components on a casing, L 5 which may be both an inner casing and an outer casing for a terminal device such as a cell or mobile telephone. Those electric circuits to which these components are connected are as a rule mounted on one or more circuit cards in the device. In general, the electric connections between the electric components and corresponding circuits on the circuit card have previously been realised by means of separate contact means for each electric component. O

The prior art connection techniques function satisfactorily, but are expensive both in manufacture and in assembly and may, in certain cases, be sensitive to corrosion. In addition, they often require considerable space.

5 Modern mobile telephones are built with a core which comprises circuit card, electronics, memory circuits, i.e. the greater part of the hardware of the mobile telephone. The core is enclosed wholly or partly in a casing which may be an outer casing fulfilling substantially only a decorative function.

0 In the manufacture of different models of mobile telephones, it has hitherto been the practice to make both the core and its casing model-specific.

It is an advantage to be able to use one and the same core for several different models of mobile telephones and concentrate the modifications that distinguish various models to the casing itself. This would afford considerable freedom for the industrial design of the casing and could also entail major cost savings in that a modular construction is achieved where one and the same basic module is the same in a plurality of different models of mobile telephones. The core in the hardware in the mobile telephone could then be manufactured in long series and consequently at low cost.

Prior art methods of realising electric connections between a core and components mounted in a casing do not work or work only with major problems in the above-outlined situation.

PROBLEM STRUCTURE

The present invention has for its object to design the device intimate by way of introduction so that the drawbacks inherent in prior art methods and technology are obviated, hi particular, the present invention has for its object to realise an economical and reliable solution that above all reduces manufacturing and assembly costs and that makes for a modular construction of the mobile telephone where its core may remain unchanged in a plurality of different models.

SOLUTION

The objects forming the basis of the present invention will be attained if the terminal device intimated by way of introduction is characterised in that the conductor paths of the casing are converged to a central connection unit by the intermediary of which they are centrally connectable to corresponding conductor paths on the circuit card.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow, with reference to the accompanying Drawings. Li the accompanying Drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a part of a casing for a mobile telephone, the casing being provided with various electric components, as well as an antenna arrangement; Fig. 2 is a view corresponding to that of Fig. 1, where loose electric components have, however, been removed;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a part of a casing for a mobile telephone, the casing being provided with different electric components, as well as an antenna arrangement; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view where loose components have, however, been removed.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 relates to a casing, which may be an inner casing or an outer casing, for a modular terminal device, for example a cell or mobile telephone. The casing is intended to accommodate a circuit card which constitutes a part of the core of the mobile telephone, and which, in the assembled mobile telephone, is positionally fixed in relation to the casing. The circuit card is not shown on the Drawings.

The casing 1 shown on the Drawings is only a part of a complete casing for the device and has, therefore, anchorage means 2 for interconnecting with an additional part of a casing and possibly also with the circuit card so that this is always accurately positioned in relation to the casing 1.

In the casing 1, there are disposed a number of electric components, for example a vibrator 3, a loudspeaker 4, an antenna device 5, an FM antenna 6 and a bluetooth® antenna 7.

In general, additional components, so called SMD components (surface mounted devices) may be provided on the casing so that this may be given a plurality of different functions which distinguish different models of the mobile telephone from one another. Also other components occurring in a mobile telephone may be disposed on or in the casing.

The antenna device 5 is an antenna device which serves the receiving and transmitting circuits of the mobile telephone and comprises an antenna pattern which is disposed on or in the material from which the casing 1 is constructed. The antenna pattern has, in the illustrated embodiment, three arms 8, 9 and 10, for which reason the antenna device may be expected to be resonant in at least three mutually discrete frequencies. Preferably, the antenna pattern consists of a metalisation which is disposed on the inside of the casing 1.

In the illustrated embodiment, the antenna pattern has two conductor sections 11 and 12 that extend from the major part of the antenna pattern to a projection 13 disposed on the casing 1 and directed towards the circuit card and of one piece manufacture with the casing 1, preferably by injection moulding.

At the free end of the projection 13, there are disposed contact devices 14 and 15 for contact with corresponding contact devices on the circuit card. The contact devices 14 and 15 are electrically connected to the antenna pattern in that the conductor sections 11 and 12 extend up along the projection 13 and up on its end surface facing towards the circuit card where they have contact surfaces 27 for electric contact with the contact devices. The antenna pattern therefore consists of a continuous metalisation on the casing, this metalisation including, on the one hand, the antenna pattern proper and also both of the conductor sections

11 and 12 and their parts extending up along the projection 13, as well as those portions on which the contact devices 14 and 15 are disposed.

In one preferred embodiment, the contact devices consist of an electrically conductive, elastic material which may, for example, be an electrically conductive silicon material. In this embodiment, the conductor sections have flared regions 27 on which the silicon material is disposed in projecting or hemispherical configuration.

At the contact of the contact devices 14 and 15 with corresponding contact devices, for example so-called pads, on the circuit card, the surface abutment between the contact devices

14 and 15 and the circuit card will be so good that air is forced out and, as a result, problems involving corrosion are reduced. Further, the production of the projection 13 by injection moulding in one piece with the casing 1 affords possibilities for extremely narrow tolerances, of the order of magnitude of one or a few hundredths of a millimetre. Consequently, the contact pressure may be accurately controlled.

As was mentioned above, the casing 1 also displays a bluetooth® antenna 7 that is produced in a manner which is totally analogous with the above-described manner for the antenna device 5. Thus, (see Fig. 3) the bluetooth® antenna displays a strip-shaped electrically conductive metalisation 16 on the upper end surface of the casing 1. Analogous with that described above, the metalisation 16 displays electric connection with the circuit card by the intermediary of a conductor section 17 on the casing, this conductor section extending up along a projection 18 and up to a contact device 19 on the outer, free end of the projection. The metalisation 16, the conductor section 17 and that part thereof which extends up along the projection and up to the contact device 19 are produced as a single continuous metalisation, produced, for example, using MID-technology (Moulded Interconnected Device). The conductive surfaces on the casing may also consist of flexfilm, sheet metal or foil applied on the casing.

The design of the antenna pattern shown in the Figures is merely given for purposes of exemplification. This naturally implies that the antenna pattern may, depending on the frequency range or ranges that are desired, have a whole series of different appearances, hi addition, the projection 13 may also consist of a plurality of smaller projections each of which having contact devices in their free end. However, taken as a whole it applies to these conceivable variations that the antenna pattern and the conductor sections right up to the contact devices are produced as a single, continuous metalisation.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the connection of the antenna device 5 and the bluetooth® antenna 7 to the circuit card are assembled at a central connection unit which is separate and discrete from the other electric connections between the casing and the circuit card.

In such situations where it is possible to keep counterparts to the conductor sections 11, 12 and 17 sufficiently short (depending on the design and positioning of the antenna device), the connection unit of the antenna device may be included in a larger central connection unit which also includes remaining electric connections, in both RP and DC terms, between the circuit card and the casing.

As was mentioned above, there is disposed in the casing 1, and also shown in the Figures, an additional number of electric components such as a vibrator 3, a loudspeaker 4 and an FM antenna 6. In general, electric SMD components may also be disposed in or on the casing. These electric components are connected, via a number of conductor paths disposed on the casing, to a central connection unit 20 that realises electric interconnection between the electric components disposed in the casing and corresponding circuits on the circuit card, possibly also mutual connection between the components if this were to come into consideration.

According to the Figures, the vibrator 3 is connected via the two conductor paths 21 and 22 to the central connection unit 20. Correspondingly, the loudspeaker 4 is connected to the connection unit 20 via the two conductor paths 23 and 24. Finally, the FM antenna 6 is connected to the connection unit 20 via the two conductor paths 25 and 26.

Those ends of the conductor paths 21-26 which are turned to face towards each respective electric component possess suitable connection surfaces 27 for connection to contact elements or corresponding means on the electric components. At their opposing ends, the conductor paths have contact surfaces 27 which are manufactured in the form of metalisations that are continuous with and manufactured together with each respective conductor path. Corresponding contact surfaces are also disposed on the circuit card in register with the contact surfaces 27 on the casing 1. The contact surfaces on the casing and the circuit card are suitably approximately parallel with one another and are substantially planar. Further, the contact surfaces 27 and preferably also their counterparts on the circuit card suitably possess transverse dimensions that are greater than the width of each respective conductor path.

The connection unit 20 includes at least one but preferably several connecting members 28 separate and discrete from both the casing and the circuit card and having electric conductors that connect mutually registering contact surfaces on the casing and the circuit card to one another. Of these connecting members, certain are employed for RF transfer, while others are only employed for DC transfer.

For positioning the connecting members 28 in relation to the casing 1, the casing has retainer means in the form of walls 29-32 that are of one piece manufacture with the casing and extend therefrom towards the circuit card. The walls are designed in such a manner that they at least partly surround the connecting members. Further, there are provided apertures 33 between adjacent walls 29-32 through which the conductor paths are passed to the interior of the space defined by the walls. The contact surfaces 27 are also located in this space. Each contact member has a large number of electrically discrete and separate, through-going electric conductors, for example in the form of thin wires which, in the illustrated embodiment, are disposed as a linear formation 34. The individual conductors within the linear formation are substantially parallel with each other and extend from a first surface on the connecting member to an opposing surface thereof. The linear formation 34 of individual conductors is disposed in an elastically yieldable material, which in turn is enclosed by a carrier produced from electrically insulating material which in turn is placed in and secured between the walls 29-32.

The electric conductors in each connecting member 28 need not be placed in linear formation, but may be placed in any other suitable configuration, such as a diamond pattern, in groups, in annular form etc.

The length of the separate conductors included in the connecting members is slightly greater than the distance between opposing contact surfaces 27 on the casing 1 and on the circuit card. Hereby, a large number of the individual conductors will be tensioned in against each contact surface and make contact with their end surfaces with the contact surfaces 27 and corresponding contact surfaces on the circuit card. Probably, the individual conductors will be bent slightly so that they individually abut against the contact surfaces 27 and the corresponding contact surfaces on the circuit card. The elastic material around the conductors permits their outward flexing in the lateral direction but also realises a return resilient force on them so that the contact pressure will constantly be maintained.

The foregoing description of the connecting members 28 and their positionally fixing walls 29-32 is given only for purposes of exemplification. Thus, the connecting members can have other through-going conductors than the above-described metal wires, such as electrically mutually discrete through-going strands of electrically conductive silicon material.

Alternatively, the connection unit 20 may be designed in analogy with that described for the antenna device 5 and the bluetooth® antenna 7. In such an embodiment, the walls 29-32 become superfluous and must be dispensed with.

The height of the counterparts to the projections 13 and 18 is adapted to the distance between the inside of the casing and the circuit card. In the extreme case, where the distance is slight, the counterparts to the contact devices 14, 15 and 19 are disposed directly on the contact surfaces 27 which are disposed on the inside of the casing.

Finally, it is also possible to design the connection unit of the antenna device 5 and the bluetooth® antenna 7 in analogy with that described above for the connection unit 20.

In the central connection unit 20, contact devices for, on the one hand, DC- and, on the other hand RF-connection are disposed groupwise separately and the groups are mutually discrete.

It is further possible to cause the parts included in the connection unit 20 and in a corresponding connection unit for the antenna pattern 5 and the bluetooth® antenna 7 to change places, so that details described above as being on the casing are instead disposed on the circuit card.

hi particular, it is possible in such a later embodiment to employ, as components in a central connection unit, contact devices of the pogo-pins type (telescopically resilient contact pins), resilient sheeting tongues or contact springs. For securing such contact devices, use may be made of soldering or electrically conductive glue.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A modular terminal device, such as a cell or mobile telephone, comprising a circuit card with, int. al. RF circuits for the device, a casing in relation to which the circuit card is positionally fϊxable and which has mounted, on or in itself, a number of electric components, such as battery, loudspeaker (4), microphone, vibrator (3), antenna (6), SMD components and other components occurring in a mobile telephone, the electric components being connected or connectable to the circuit card via a number of conductor paths (21-26) disposed on or in the material of the casing (1), characterised in that the conductor paths (21-26) of the casing (1) are converged to a central connection unit (20) by the intermediary of which they are centrally connectable to corresponding conductor paths on the circuit card.

2. The modular device as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the conductor paths (21-26) of both the casing (1) and the circuit card terminate in contact surfaces (27) which display greater transverse dimensions than the width of the conductor paths.

3. The modular device as claimed in Claim 2, characterised in that corresponding contact surfaces (27) on the circuit card and the casing (1) are substantially parallel with one another and planar.

4. The modular device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the connection unit (20) includes at least one connector member (28) separate and discrete from both the casing (1) and the circuit card.

5. The modular device as claimed in Claim 4, characterised in that the casing (1) has retainer means (29-31) for positioning the connector member (28).

6. The modular device as claimed in Claim 5, characterised in that the retainer means include walls (29-31) directed towards the circuit card and at least partly surrounding the connector member (28).

7. The modular device as claimed in Claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the retainer means (29-31) are of one piece manufacture with the casing (1).

8. The modular device as claimed in any of Claims 6 and 7, characterised in that the walls (29-31) have spaces (33) through which the conductor paths (21-26) extend.

9. The modular device as claimed in any of Claims 4 to 8, characterised in that the connector member (28) has a large number of conductors that are electrically discrete from one another and extend from one side of the connector member to the opposing side thereof.

10. The modular device as claimed in Claim 9, characterised in that the conductors display insignificantly greater length than the distance between the contact surfaces (27) of the circuit card and the casing (1).

11. The modular device as claimed in Claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the conductors, apart from their outermost end regions, are surrounded by an elastically deformable material.