EP3182508B1 - Antenna device - Google Patents
Antenna device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3182508B1 EP3182508B1 EP16838078.0A EP16838078A EP3182508B1 EP 3182508 B1 EP3182508 B1 EP 3182508B1 EP 16838078 A EP16838078 A EP 16838078A EP 3182508 B1 EP3182508 B1 EP 3182508B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- supporting surface
- antenna
- antenna device
- support
- cable
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Not-in-force
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Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
- H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
- H01Q1/36—Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewith
- H01Q1/38—Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewith formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
- H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
- H01Q1/27—Adaptation for use in or on movable bodies
- H01Q1/32—Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles
- H01Q1/325—Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles characterised by the location of the antenna on the vehicle
- H01Q1/3291—Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles characterised by the location of the antenna on the vehicle mounted in or on other locations inside the vehicle or vehicle body
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
- H01Q9/00—Electrically-short antennas having dimensions not more than twice the operating wavelength and consisting of conductive active radiating elements
- H01Q9/04—Resonant antennas
- H01Q9/16—Resonant antennas with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole
- H01Q9/28—Conical, cylindrical, cage, strip, gauze, or like elements having an extended radiating surface; Elements comprising two conical surfaces having collinear axes and adjacent apices and fed by two-conductor transmission lines
- H01Q9/285—Planar dipole
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
- H01Q9/00—Electrically-short antennas having dimensions not more than twice the operating wavelength and consisting of conductive active radiating elements
- H01Q9/04—Resonant antennas
- H01Q9/30—Resonant antennas with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole
- H01Q9/40—Element having extended radiating surface
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an antenna device including a film antenna.
- the present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such an antenna device.
- a flexible film antenna As an antenna that is easy to mount, a flexible film antenna is widely used.
- a film antenna refers to an antenna including a flexible dielectric film and an antenna conductor provided on a surface of the dielectric film.
- a film antenna that is used by being attached to a window of an automobile is widely known.
- a high-frequency current is supplied to/from a film antenna via a cable (e.g. a coaxial cable) that is connected to a feed section including two connection points.
- the film antenna and the cable are ordinarily connected by soldering a hot side/cold side conductor of the cable (an inner/outer conductor of the coaxial cable) to two connection points provided in an antenna conductor of the film antenna.
- the cable which is pulled by a powerful force may come off of the feed section (two connection points) of the film antenna.
- it is important for an antenna device including a film antenna and a cable to have greater durability (connection reliability) with respect to pulling of the cable.
- Patent Literature 1 Examples of a literature disclosing a technique that may contribute to a solution to such a problem encompass Patent Literature 1.
- Patent Literature 1 by fitting a cable into a groove provided in a holding member and causing the holding member to hold the cable, even in a case where one end of the cable is pulled, it is difficult for a force by which the one end of the cable is pulled to be transmitted to the other end of the cable.
- the holding member by causing the holding member to hold the cable which is connected to a film antenna, it is possible to increase durability with respect to pulling of the cable.
- Patent Literature 2 Further examples of background art can be found in Patent Literature 2 and Patent Literature 3.
- the holding member disclosed in Patent Literature 1 has a function of increasing durability with respect to pulling of the cable but has no function of maintaining a three-dimensional structure of an antenna conductor.
- use of (i) a support to/around which to attach/wind a film antenna and (ii) the holding member disclosed in Patent Literature 1 in combination to maintain a three-dimensional structure of an antenna conductor causes a problem of causing a structure to be complicated or larger.
- the present invention has been made in view of the problems, and an object of the present invention is to (i) prevent an antenna device, which includes a film antenna and a cable connected to the film antenna, from causing a structure to be complicated or larger and (ii) allow the antenna device to have a more stable antenna characteristic and greater durability with respect to pulling of a cable.
- an antenna device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention includes: a film antenna; a cable which is connected to a feed section of the film antenna; and a support, around which at least part of the film antenna is wound, the support including a holding section for holding the cable.
- the present invention makes it possible to (i) prevent an antenna device, which includes a film antenna and a cable connected to the film antenna, from causing a structure to be complicated or larger and (ii) allow the antenna device to have a more stable antenna characteristic and greater durability with respect to pulling of a cable.
- Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the antenna device 1.
- Fig. 2 is a top surface-side perspective view illustrating a support 30 included in the antenna device 1.
- Fig. 2 is a bottom surface-side perspective view illustrating the support 30.
- Fig. 3 is a plan view illustrating a film antenna 10 included in the antenna device 1.
- the antenna device 1 includes the film antenna 10, a coaxial cable 20, and the support 30.
- the film antenna 10 is wound around the support 30 so that the film antenna 10 forms a certain three-dimensional structure.
- the coaxial cable 20 is connected to a feed section 14 which is made up of two connection points 14a and 14b of the film antenna 10.
- the coaxial cable 20 is held by the support 30 so that the coaxial cable 20 passes through a certain wiring path.
- the support 30 is a structure having (i) a first supporting surface 31, (ii) a second supporting surface 32 which intersects the first supporting surface 31 (the second supporting surface 32 is orthogonal to the first supporting surface 31 in Embodiment 1), and (iii) a third supporting surface 33 which faces the first supporting surface 31 and intersects the second supporting surface 32 (the third supporting surface 33 is orthogonal to the second supporting surface 32 in Embodiment 1).
- the film antenna 10 is wound around the support 30 so that a front surface or a back surface of the film antenna 10 is in contact with the first supporting surface 31, the second supporting surface 32, and the third supporting surface 33.
- the support 30 is a box-shaped resin molded product as illustrated in Fig. 2 .
- the first supporting surface 31 is a top surface of the support 30.
- the second supporting surface 32 is a rear-end surface (surface on the x-axis positive side in the coordinate system illustrated) of the support 30.
- the third supporting surface 33 is a bottom surface of the support 30.
- the resin molded product has lightening holes in the top surface-side.
- the first supporting surface 31 is constituted by top end surfaces (hatched with oblique lines in (a) of Fig. 2 ) of partition walls which are remaining portions other than the lightening holes.
- the third supporting surface 33 protrudes frontwards (i.e.
- the third supporting surface 33 is divided into two regions which are (i) a counter region 33a facing a region on which the first supporting surface 31 is formed and (ii) a non-counter region 33b not facing the region on which the first supporting surface 31 is formed.
- the support 30 includes a first holding part 34, a second holding part 35, and a third holding part 36 as a holding section for increasing durability with respect to pulling of the coaxial cable 20 by holding the coaxial cable 20 so that the coaxial cable 20 passes through a certain wiring path.
- a first recess 37 and a second recess 38 are provide.
- the second recess 38 is provided so as to (i) be continuous with the first recess 37 and (ii) extend toward an end part of the third supporting surface 33.
- the first and second recesses 37 and 38 correspond to a recessed containing part in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- a connection part via which an end part of the coaxial cable 20 and the feed section 14 are connected hereinafter referred to as "connection part of the end part of the coaxial cable 20 and the feed section 14" is contained.
- the coaxial cable 20, which extends from the connection part penetrates through the first and second recesses 37 and 38.
- the connection part of the end part of the coaxial cable 20 and the feed section 14 is covered with a resin mold part 21 described later (see Fig. 4 ).
- the first recess 37 is a recess which (i) is provided at a part of the third supporting surface 33, which part is located in the vicinity of a boundary between the third supporting surface 33 and the second supporting surface 32, (ii) has a long shape extending along the boundary between the third supporting surface and the second supporting surface (i.e. extending along the y-axis in the coordinate system illustrated), and (iii) is recessed from the third supporting surface 33 toward first supporting surface 31 (i.e. toward the z-axis positive side in the coordinate system illustrated).
- the first recess 37 has a size so as to contain the resin mold part 21 (which is resin molded product covering the connection part of the end part of the coaxial cable 20 and the feed section 14) described later.
- the second recess 38 is a recess which (i) is narrower in width than the first recess 37, (ii) has one end part which is continuous with the first recess 37, and (iii) has the other end part which extends until the end part of the third supporting surface 33.
- the second recess 38 is a recess which (i) extends along the boundary between the third supporting surface and the second supporting surface 32 (i.e. extending along the y-axis in the coordinate system illustrated) and (ii) is recessed from the third supporting surface 33 toward first supporting surface 31 (i.e. toward the z-axis positive side in the coordinate system illustrated).
- the second recess 38 has a size so as to allow the coaxial cable 20, which extends from the resin mold part 21 contained in the first recess 37, to penetrate through the second recess 38.
- the film antenna 10 is (i) attached to the support 30 so that the connection part of the end part of the coaxial cable 20 and the feed section 14 is contained in the first and second recesses 37 and 38 which are provided at a part of the third supporting surface 33 which part is located in the vicinity of a boundary between the third supporting surface 33 and the second supporting surface 32 and (ii) wound around the support 30 so that the film antenna 10 is in contact with the first supporting surface 31, the second supporting surface 32, and the third supporting surface 33.
- the film antenna 10 is wound around the support 30 so that (i) one end of the film antenna 10 is provided at an end part of the first supporting surface 31, which end part (edge on a first antenna conductor 12-side described later) is opposite an end part on a second supporting surface 32-side and (ii) the other end of the film antenna 10 extends out frontwards more than does an end part of the third supporting surface 33 opposite the end part of the third supporting surface 33 on the second supporting surface 32-side.
- the first holding part 34 is provided in a region protruding frontwards more than does the end part of the first supporting surface 31, which end part is opposite the end part on the second supporting surface 32-side. Specifically, the first holding part 34 is provided on a top surface-side (toward the z-axis positive side in the coordinate system illustrated) of the non-counter region 33b of the third supporting surface 33.
- the first holding part 34 holds part of the coaxial cable 20 so that the part extends in a direction along (parallel to, in Embodiment 1) both the first supporting surface 31 and the second supporting surface 32 (i.e. along the y-axis in the coordinate system illustrated).
- the first holding part 34 provided outside of a spatial region which is sandwiched between (i) a region of the film antenna 10 which region is in contact with the first supporting surface 31 and (ii) a region of the film antenna 10 which region is in contact with the third supporting surface 33. This allows the coaxial cable 20 to be placed in the first holding part 34 even after the film antenna 10 is wound around the support 30.
- the holding part 34 includes (i) a plurality of (4 in Embodiment 1) partition walls 34a which are provided so that respective wall surfaces of the partition walls 34a are perpendicular to both the third supporting surface 33 and the second supporting surface 32 and (ii) recesses 34b (slits) which are provided in the respective partition walls 34a and which have respective openings facing upwards.
- partition walls 34a which are provided so that respective wall surfaces of the partition walls 34a are perpendicular to both the third supporting surface 33 and the second supporting surface 32 and (ii) recesses 34b (slits) which are provided in the respective partition walls 34a and which have respective openings facing upwards.
- the partition wall 34c is provided so that a wall surface of the partition wall 34c extends parallel to the wall surfaces of the partition walls 34a.
- a front end surface of the partition wall 34c is inclined so that a lower part of the front end surface further juts out frontwards than does an upper part of the front end surface. Therefore, in a case where the coaxial cable 20 is deeply fitted into the recesses 34b of the partition walls 34a, a center part of the coaxial cable 20 is pushed out frontwards by the partition wall 34c, so that the coaxial cable 20 meanders and is pressed against the partition walls 34a more firmly. This causes force of friction occurring between the coaxial cable 20 and the partition walls 34a to be greater, and therefore causes the coaxial cable 20 to be unlikely to come off.
- the second holding part 35 is provided on a left-side surface (surface facing the y-axis negative direction in the coordinate system illustrated) of the support 30.
- the second holding part 35 holds part of the coaxial cable 20 so that the part extends perpendicularly to the second supporting surface 32 (i.e. extends along the x-axis in the coordinate system illustrated).
- the second holding part 35 serves to guide the coaxial cable 20 as follows:
- the coaxial cable 20 extends from the resin mold part 21 contained in the recessed containing part (the first and second recesses 37 and 38) provided at a part of the third supporting surface 33 which part is located in the vicinity of a boundary between the third supporting surface 33 and the second supporting surface 32.
- the coaxial cable 20 is then held by the second holding part 35 so that the coaxial cable 20 is (i) bent and guided frontwards (toward an end part opposite an end part on the second supporting surface 32-side) and (ii) guided to the first holding part 34.
- the second holding part 35 is provided outside of the spatial region which is sandwiched between (i) the region of the film antenna 10 which region is in contact with the first supporting surface 31 and (ii) the region of the film antenna 10 which region is in contact with the third supporting surface 33. This allows the coaxial cable 20 to be placed in the second holding part 35 even after the film antenna 10 is wound around the support 30.
- a protruding part 35a which serves as the second holding part 35, has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and protrudes leftwards from a lower end part of the left-side surface of the support 30.
- the protruding part 35a has a recess 35b having an opening which faces downwards and which extend from an end surface on the second supporting surface 32-side to an opposite end surface.
- the third holding part 36 is provided on a right-side surface (surface facing the y-axis positive direction in the coordinate system illustrated) of the support 30.
- the third holding part 36 holds part of the coaxial cable 20 so that the part extends perpendicularly to the second supporting surface 32 (i.e. extends along the x-axis in the coordinate system illustrated). Then, the third holding part 36 bends the coaxial cable 20, which extends out from the first holding part 34, and guides the coaxial cable 20 frontwards.
- the third holding part 36 is provided outside of the spatial region which is sandwiched between (i) the region of the film antenna 10 which region is in contact with the first supporting surface 31 and (ii) the region of the film antenna 10 which region is in contact with the third supporting surface 33. This allows the coaxial cable 20 to be placed in the third holding part 36 even after the film antenna 10 is wound around the support 30.
- the third holding part 36 is a protruding part 36a having a rectangular parallelepiped shape and protruding rightwards from a lower end part of the right-side surface of the support 30.
- the protruding part 36a has a recess 36b having an opening which faces downwards and which extend from an end surface on the second supporting surface 32-side to an opposite end surface.
- the third supporting surface 33 of the support 30 thus has the first and second recesses 37 and 38 for containing the connection part of the end part of the coaxial cable 20 and the feed section 14 (part covered with the resin mold part 21) when the film antenna 10 is wound around the support 30.
- the first holding part 34 for holding the coaxial cable 20 is provided on the surface (first supporting surface 31-side) opposite the third supporting surface 33.
- the support 30 also includes two holding parts (the second and third holding parts 35 and 36).
- the second and third holding parts 35 and 36 have the recess 35b and the recess 36b, respectively, each of which has an opening on the side opposite the surface on which the first holding part 34 is provided.
- the second holding part 35 and the third holding part 36 are provided on the left-side surface and the right-side surface, respectively, of the support 30.
- L-shaped protrusions 31a and I-shaped protrusions 31b are provided on the first supporting surface 31 (specifically the top end surface of the partition walls constituting the first supporting surface 31).
- the L-shaped protrusions 31a are each made up of (i) a first columnar part extending upwards from the first supporting surface 31 and (ii) a second columnar part extending frontwards from an upper end part of the first columnar part. Rectangular openings 12c, which are made in the film antenna 10 (see Fig.
- the I-shaped protrusions 31b are each a columnar part extending upwards from the first supporting surface 31.
- the I-shaped protrusions 31b are to be engaged with circular openings 12d (see Fig. 3 ) made in the film antenna 10 so that the film antenna 10 is positioned relative to the support 30.
- an L-shaped guide 32a is provided at a right end part of the second supporting surface 32.
- the L-shaped guide 32a is made up of (i) a first plate-like part extending backwards from the second supporting surface 32 and (ii) a second plate-like part extending rightwards from a back end part of the first plate-like part.
- an L-shaped guide 32b is provided at a left end part of the second supporting surface 32 (see (b) of Fig. 2 ).
- the L-shaped guide 32b is made up of (i) a first plate-like part extending backwards from the second supporting surface 32 and (ii) a second plate-like part extending leftwards from a back end part of the first plate-like part.
- the film antenna 10 can be made to come into close contact with the second supporting surface 31 by (i) sandwiching an right end part of the film antenna 10 between the second plate-like part of the L-shaped guide 32a and the second supporting surface 32 and (ii) sandwiching a left end part of the film antenna 10 between the second plate-like part of the L-shaped guide 32b and the second supporting surface 32.
- the third supporting surface 33 has I-shaped protrusions 33d.
- the I-shaped protrusions 33d are each a columnar part extending downwards from the third supporting surface 33.
- the I-shaped protrusions 33d are to be engaged with circular openings 13a provided on the film antenna 10 (see Fig. 3 ) so that the film antenna 10 is positioned relative to the support 30.
- a guide ring 33c is provided (see (a) of Fig. 2 ).
- the film antenna 10 is to pass through the guide ring 33c, so that the film antenna 10 can be supported so as to be guided along the third supporting surface 33. In other words, the film antenna 10 passes through the guide ring 33c as well as is supported by the guide ring 33c.
- examples of a material for the support 30 encompass a PC-ABS resin obtained by mixing a polycarbonate resin (PC resin) and an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymerized synthetic resin (ABS resin).
- PC resin polycarbonate resin
- ABS resin acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymerized synthetic resin
- the present invention is not limited to such a material.
- the film antenna 10 includes (i) a dielectric film 11 and (ii) a pair of antenna conductors 12 and 13 provided as a pattern on a surface of the dielectric film 11.
- the first antenna conductor 12 includes a first connection point 14a to which an inner conductor (hot side conductor) of the coaxial cable 20 is connected.
- the second antenna conductor 13 includes a second connection point 14b to which an outer conductor (cold side conductor) of the coaxial cable 20 is connected.
- the feed section 14 of the film antenna 10 is made up of the first connection point 14a and the second connection point 14b.
- the end part of the coaxial cable 20 is connected to the feed section 14 (the first and second connection points 14a and 14b) of the film antenna 10.
- the inner conductor of the coaxial cable 20 is connected to the first connection point 14a by soldering.
- the outer conductor of the coaxial cable 20 is connected to the second connection point 14b by soldering.
- the first antenna conductor 12 and the second antenna conductor 13 constitute (i) a dipole antenna in which the first antenna conductor 12 and the second antenna conductor 13 each serve as an antenna element or (ii) a monopole antenna in which the first antenna conductor 12 and the second antenna conductor 13 serve as an antenna element and a ground plane, respectively.
- the first antenna conductor 12 is a conductive foil (e.g. copper foil) having a bell-like shape obtained by replacing, with quartered ellipses 12a and 12b, two corners that are adjacent via a shorter side of a rectangle.
- a protrusion is provided at the side thus sandwiched between the quartered ellipses 12a and 12b of the first antenna conductor 12.
- the first connection point 14a is provided on the protrusion.
- the second antenna conductor 13 is a conductive foil (e.g. copper foil) having a rectangular shape. At a shorter side of the second antenna conductor 13, a recess is provided.
- the second connection point 14b is provided in the vicinity of the recess.
- the first antenna conductor 12 and the second antenna conductor 13 are combined so that (i) the protrusion is inserted into the recess and (ii) the first connection point 14a and the second connection point 14b face each other via a gap between the first antenna conductor 12 and the second antenna conductor 13.
- an opening 13b is provided for increasing bonding strength with which the resin mold part 21 (described later) and the film antenna 10 are bonded.
- the resin mold part 21 which covers the feed section 14 of the film antenna 10 and covers the end part of the coaxial cable connected to the feed section 14, is provided in a region including the opening 13b.
- a resin material, by which the resin mold part 21 is formed spreads over the front surface and the back surface of the film antenna 10 via the opening 13. This allows bonding strength, with which the resin mold part 21 and the film antenna 10 are bonded, to be increased.
- the film antenna 10 is wound around the support 30 by folding the film antenna 10 in a U shape whose ridgelines are (i) a line A-A' which extends across the first antenna conductor 12 and (ii) a line B-B' which extends between the first antenna conductor 12 and the second antenna conductor 13. That is, on the film antenna 10 wound around the support 30, the following bent parts are made: (i) a bent part which is bent at the line A-A' along a boundary between the first and second supporting surfaces 31 and 32 of the support 30 and (ii) a bent part which is bent at the line B-B' along a boundary between the second and third supporting surfaces 32 and 33.
- a region 10a (first region: main part of the first antenna conductor 12), which expands between the edge on the first antenna conductor 12-side and the line A-A', comes into contact with the first supporting surface 31 of the support 30, (ii) a region 10b (second region), which expands between the line A-A' and the line B-B', comes into contact with the second supporting surface 32 of the support 30, and (iii) a region 10c (third region: main part of the second antenna conductor 13), which expands between the line B-B' and a line C-C' that extends across the second antenna conductor 13), comes into contact with the third supporting surface 33 of the support 30.
- a region 10d which expands between the line C-C' and an edge on a second antenna conductor 13-side, does not come into contact with any surface of the support 30.
- examples of a material for the dielectric film 11 encompass polyimide.
- examples of a material for each of the pair of antenna conductors 12 and 13 encompass copper.
- the film antenna 10 is preferably highly flexible so as to (i) fit the film antenna 10, which is folded, to each of the first through third supporting surfaces 31 through 33 of the support 30 and (ii) prevent a gap between the film antenna 10 and the support 30 from occurring. Therefore, the dielectric film 11, the first antenna conductor 12, and the second antenna conductor 13 are each preferably thin in thickness.
- the antenna conductors 12 and 13 are each a copper foil having a thickness of 20 ⁇ m and (2) the dielectric film 11 is a polyimide film which has one surface coated with an adhesive and which has a total thickness of 35 ⁇ m including the thickness of the adhesive.
- the film antenna 10 can further include a dielectric film which covers the front surfaces of the antenna conductors 12 and 13. That is, the film antenna 10 can be configured so that the antenna conductors 12 and 13 are sandwiched between two dielectric films. In a case where both surfaces of each of the antenna conductors 12 and 13 are covered with the dielectric films, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of damage to and deterioration of the antenna conductors 12 and 13.
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the antenna device 1.
- the support 30 is omitted from (a) of Fig. 4 .
- (b) of Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the film antenna 10 included in the antenna device 1 illustrated in (a) of Fig. 4 .
- the inner conductor and the outer conductor of the coaxial cable 20 and the resin mold part 21 (which covers the feed section 14 without a gap) are provided (i) at the connection part of the end part of the coaxial cable 20 and the feed section 14 and (ii) in the vicinity of the connection part.
- the resin mold part 21 is formed by a resin molded product. This prevents the inner conductor and the outer conductor of the coaxial cable 20 and the feed section 14 from being exposed. Therefore, the resin mold part 21 allows the connection part of the coaxial cable 20 and the feed section 14 to be waterproof. This prevents soldering of the feed section 14 from deteriorating due to moisture in an atmosphere or the like, and consequently increases a water-resistant property of the film antenna 10.
- the second antenna conductor 13 has the opening 13b.
- FIG. 5 A resin mold part 21 ⁇ , which is a variation of the resin mold part 21, will be described below with reference to Fig. 5 .
- (a) of Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an antenna device 1 including the resin mold part 21 ⁇ .
- (b) of Fig. 5 is a right side view illustrating the resin mold part 21 ⁇ (side view obtained when resin mold part 21 ⁇ is viewed from y-axis negative side in the coordinate system illustrated). Note that a support 30 and part (cable part) of a coaxial cable 20 other than the resin mold part 21 ⁇ are omitted from (b) of Fig. 5 .
- the resin mold part 21 ⁇ includes a first covering part 22 ⁇ , a second covering part 23 ⁇ , and a third covering part 24.
- the first covering part 22 ⁇ is provided on a front surface (surface facing the z-axis positive side in the coordinate system illustrated) of the film antenna 10.
- the second covering part 23 ⁇ is provided on a back surface (surface facing the z-axis negative side in the coordinate system illustrated) of the film antenna 10.
- the third covering part 24 is provided at an end part toward which the cable part of the coaxial cable 20 is drawn.
- a region in which the first covering part 22 ⁇ is in contact with the front surface of the film antenna 10 is identical to a region in which the second covering part 23 ⁇ is in contact with the back surface of the film antenna 10.
- the first covering part 22 ⁇ is configured so as to gradually become thinner in thickness (height as measured from the front surface of the film antenna 10) from a part corresponding to a center part of the coaxial cable 20 to a part corresponding a line B-B'.
- the first covering part 22 ⁇ gradually becomes thinner toward a bent part at which the film antenna 10 is bent between the third region 10c and a second region 10b.
- This part of the first covering part 22 ⁇ , which part gradually becomes thinner in thickness will be referred to as "skirt part 22 ⁇ 1" of the first covering part 22 ⁇ .
- the skirt part 22 ⁇ 1 includes, of edges of the first covering part 22 ⁇ , an edge extending along the line B-B' (i.e. the edge that is closer to the line B-B').
- the second covering part 23 ⁇ is configured so as to gradually become thinner in thickness (height as measured from the front surface of the film antenna 10) from a part corresponding to the center part of the coaxial cable 20 to a part corresponding to the line B-B'.
- the second covering part 23 ⁇ gradually becomes thinner toward the bent part at which the film antenna 10 is bent between the third region 10c and the second region 10b.
- This part of the second covering part 23 ⁇ , which part gradually becomes thinner in thickness will be referred to as "skirt part 23 ⁇ 1" of the second covering part 23 ⁇ .
- the skirt part 23 ⁇ 1 includes, of edges of the second covering part 23 ⁇ , an edge extending along the line B-B' (i.e. the edge that is close to the line B-B').
- the resin mold part 21 ⁇ is configured so that the skirt part 22 ⁇ 1 of the first covering part 22 ⁇ and the skirt part 23 ⁇ 1 of the second covering part 23 ⁇ are located on a front side and a back side, respectively, of a shared region so as to face each other. Therefore, in a case where the film antenna 10 is folded at the line B-B' as a ridgeline, stress derived from the folding can be distributed to the skirt part 22 ⁇ 1 of the first covering part 22 ⁇ and to the skirt part 23 ⁇ 1 of the second covering part 23a.
- each of the skirt parts 22 ⁇ 1 and 23 ⁇ 1 thus gradually becomes thinner in thickness toward the line B-B'. Therefore, in a case where the film antenna 10 is folded, the first covering part 22 ⁇ and the second covering part 23 ⁇ are each more bendable toward the line B-B' in response to force applied along the z-axis. Therefore, stress derived from folding of the film antenna 10 does not become concentrated on the edges of the first covering part 22 ⁇ and the second covering part 23 ⁇ along the line B-B', but is gradually reduced on the skirt parts 22 ⁇ 1 and 23 ⁇ 1 as distancing from the line B-B'.
- a resin mold part forming step is carried out in which the resin mold part 21 ⁇ is subjected to injection molding while the film antenna 10 is spread out flat and then (ii) a winding step is carried out in which the film antenna 10 is wound around the support 30.
- the resin mold part 21 ⁇ is provided along the shape of the film antenna 10 that is spread out. Therefore, in the winding step, a large level of stress is applied to, of all the edges of the first covering part 22 ⁇ and second covering part 23 ⁇ , the edges extending along the line B-B'.
- the resin mold part 22 ⁇ including the skirt parts 22 ⁇ 1 and 23 ⁇ 1 is suitable as a resin mold part to be formed by injection molding with the use of such a die.
- the resin mold part 21 ⁇ is also suitable in a case where the resin mold part 21 ⁇ is made of a resin material having a high degree of hardness.
- first covering part 22 ⁇ and second covering part 23 ⁇ are configured so as to gradually become thinner in thickness from the parts corresponding to the center part of the coaxial cable 20 to parts corresponding to a line C-C'. These parts, which gradually become thinner in thickness, will be referred to as "skirt parts 22 ⁇ 2 and 23 ⁇ 2" of the first covering part 22 ⁇ and second covering part 23 ⁇ , respectively.
- the second antenna conductor 13 is configured not to be folded. Therefore, although the skirt parts 22 ⁇ 2 and 23 ⁇ 2 do not serve an active role in increasing the water-resistant property of the antenna device 10, the skirt parts 22 ⁇ 2 and 23 ⁇ 2 bring about the effect of improving an appearance of the resin mold part 21 ⁇ .
- the first covering part 22 ⁇ and second covering part 23 ⁇ can thus include the skirt parts 22 ⁇ 2 and 23 ⁇ 2, respectively.
- FIG. 6 The wiring path of the coaxial cable 20 included in the antenna device 1 will be described below with reference to Fig. 6 .
- (a), (b), and (d) of Fig. 6 are a plan view, a front view, and a bottom view, respectively, which illustrate the antenna device 1.
- (c) of Fig. 6 is a side view illustrating the left-side surface of the antenna device 1.
- the film antenna 10 is omitted so that the wiring path of the coaxial cable 20 can be easily recognized.
- the film antenna 10 connected to the coaxial cable 20 is wound around the support 30.
- the connection part of the end part of the coaxial cable 20 and the feed section 14 is contained in the first and second recesses 37 and 38 provided on the third supporting surface 33 of the support 30.
- the coaxial cable 20, which is drawn from the feed section 14 toward the left-side surface of the support 30 (toward the y-axis negative side of the coordinate system illustrated) is (i) bent frontwards with respect to the support 30 (toward the x-axis negative side in the coordinate system illustrated) and then (ii) fitted into the second holding part 35.
- the left-side surface of the support 30 intersects the first supporting surface 31, the second supporting surface 32, and the third supporting surface 33.
- the second holding part 35 holds the coaxial cable 20 so that part of the coaxial cable 20 extends (i) in a direction along the first supporting surface 31 and the third supporting surface 33 and (ii) in a direction that intersects the second supporting surface 32.
- the coaxial cable 20 after being fitted into the second holding part 35 is (i) bent upwards with respect to the support 30 (toward the z-axis positive side in the coordinate system illustrated) and (ii) bent rightwards (toward the y-axis positive side in the coordinate system illustrated). Then, the coaxial cable 20 is fitted into the first holding part 34.
- the first holding part 34 holds the coaxial cable 20 so that part of the coaxial cable 20 extends in a direction along the first supporting surface 31 and the second supporting surface 32.
- the coaxial cable 20 after being fitted into the first holding part 34 is bent frontwards with respect to the support 30 (toward the x-axis negative side in the coordinate system illustrated).
- the first holding part 34 is preferably provided outside of a spatial region sandwiched between the region 10a of the film antenna 10 and the region 10c of the film antenna 10. That is, in a plan view of the support 30, the first holding part 34 is preferably provided outside of the first supporting surface 31 (see (a) of Fig. 6 ).
- the second holding part 35 is also preferably provided outside of the first supporting surface 31.
- one of the characteristics of the wiring path of the coaxial cable 20 is that part of the coaxial cable 20, which part extends in the direction along the first supporting surface 31 and the second supporting surface 32, is held by the first holding part 34 so that a distance D1 between the part and the first supporting surface 31 is equal to a distance D2 between the part and the third supporting surface 33.
- This configuration allows an excellent radiation characteristic to be obtained even in a case where the wiring path is configured so that part of the coaxial cable 20 extends across the third supporting surface 33. The radiation characteristic in such a case will be described later in Example 1.
- This configuration also restricts deterioration of a radiation characteristic even in a case where the wiring path is configured so that part of the coaxial cable 20 extends across the third supporting surface 33. The radiation characteristic in such a case will be described later in Example 2.
- the recesses 34b of the first holding part 34 are preferably opened upwards with respect to the support 30 (toward the z-axis positive side in the coordinate system illustrated) and (ii) the recess 35b of the second holding part 35 is opened downwards with respect to the support 30 (toward the z-axis negative side in the coordinate system illustrated).
- the recess 36b of the third holding part 36 is preferably opened downwards with respect to the support 30 (toward the z-axis negative side in the coordinate system illustrated).
- the recess 35b and the recess 36b are made in the second and third holding parts 35 and 36, respectively, so as to be opened in a first direction in which the first and second recesses 37 and 38 made in the third supporting surface 33 are opened and (ii) the recesses 34b is made in the first holding part 34 so as to be opened in a second direction opposite the first direction.
- This configuration allows the support 30, which includes the first through third holding parts 34, 35, and 36, to be easily formed with the use of a pair of upper and lower dies, and therefore allows for a reduction in costs for producing the antenna device 1.
- the holding parts for holding the coaxial cable 20 are provided in an upper side and a lower side of the support 30, it is possible to increase durability with respect to pulling of the coaxial cable 20 (durability of the connection part via which the coaxial cable 20 and the feed section 14 are connected).
- the second holding part 35 is provided further downwards with respect to the support 30 (toward the z-axis negative side in the coordinate system illustrated) than the first holding part 34 and (ii) part of the coaxial cable 20 held by the first holding part 34 and the second holding part 35 extends in a direction (along the z-axis) that intersects the first and third supporting surfaces 31 and 33 between the first holding part 34 and the second holding part 35. It is also preferable that as illustrated in (b) of Fig.
- the third holding part 36 is provided further downwards with respect to the support 30 (toward the z-axis negative side in the coordinate system illustrated) than the first holding part 34 and (ii) part of the coaxial cable 20 held by the first holding part 34 and the third holding part 36 extends, between the first holding part 34 and the third holding part 36, in a direction (along the z-axis) that intersects the first and third supporting surfaces 31 and 33.
- part of the coaxial cable 20, which part extends toward the y-axis negative side from the resin mold part 21 contained in the first and second recesses 37 and 38, is bent and then held by the second holding part 35 so as to extend toward the x-axis negative side (see (d) of Fig. 6 ).
- part of the coaxial cable 20, which part is held by the second holding part 35 is (i) bent toward the z-axis positive side so as to extend toward the first holding part 34 and then (ii) bent and held by the first holding part 34 so as to extend toward the y-axis positive side (see (a) through (c) of Fig. 6 ).
- part of the coaxial cable 20, which part is held by the first holding part 34 is (i) bent toward the z-axis negative side so as to extend toward the third holding part 36 and then (ii) bent and held by the third holding part 36 so as to extend toward the x-axis negative side (see (b) and (d) of Fig. 6 ).
- bent parts of the coaxial cable 20 are subjected to force to straighten the bent parts.
- This (1) causes part of the coaxial cable 20, which part is held (sandwiched) by the first holding part 34, to be more firmly pressed against the recesses 34b of the first holding part 34 and (2) causes part of the coaxial cable 20, which part is held by the second holding part 35, to be more firmly pressed against the recess 35b of the second holding part 35. Therefore, even in a case where force to pull the coaxial cable 20 from the antenna device 1 is applied, it is still possible to prevent the coaxial cable 20 from being detached from the first holding part 34 and the second holding part 35.
- connection part of the feed section 14 and the coaxial cable 20 is prevented from being subjected to pulling force even in a case where the pulling force to pull the coaxial cable 20 from the antenna device 1 is applied.
- a surface of the second holding part 35, which surface is in contact with a bent part of the coaxial cable 20, is preferably a smooth curved surface.
- the surface of the second holding part 35 in contact with the bent part of the coaxial cable 20 is configured to be a curved surface by chamfering an end part of the second holding section 35, which end part faces frontwards with respect to the support 30 (i.e. toward the x-axis negative side in the coordinate system illustrated).
- a first production method of producing the antenna device 1 in accordance with Embodiment 1 includes: (i) a step of connecting the coaxial cable 20 to the feed section 14 of the film antenna 10 and (ii) a resin mold part forming step of forming the resin mold part 21 which covers the feed section 14 and covers the end part of the coaxial cable 20, which end part is connected to the feed section 14.
- the first production method can further include the step of preparing the support 30 which (i) has: the first supporting surface 31; the second supporting surface 32 intersecting the first supporting surface 31; and the third supporting surface 33 facing the first supporting surface 31 and intersecting the second supporting surface 32, (ii) includes the first and the second holding parts 34 and 35 (holding section) for holding the coaxial cable 20, and (iii) is configured so that the first and second recesses 37 and 38 (recessed containing part) for containing the resin mold part 21 are provided in the third supporting surface 33.
- the first production method can further include (i) a winding step of: attaching the film antenna 10 to the support 30 so that the resin mold part 21 is contained in the first and second recesses 37 and 38; and winding the film antenna 10 around the support 30 so that the film antenna 10 comes into contact with the first supporting surface 31, the second supporting surface 32, and the third supporting surface 33 and (ii) a wiring step of wiring the coaxial cable 20 so that: the coaxial cable 20 is held by the first and the second holding parts 34 and 35; and part of the coaxial cable 20 extends in a direction along the first supporting surface 31 and the second supporting surface 32.
- the resin mold part 21 is formed by injection molding in which a resin molding die is used.
- the film antenna 10 in which the end part of the coaxial cable 20 is connected to the feed section 14, is set in a die and then (ii) a region, which includes the feed section 14 and which is located in the vicinity of the feed section, is contained in a cavity of the die. Then, the cavity is filled with a high-temperature molten resin material, and then the molten resin material is hardened by being cooled in the cavity. Then, by taking the film antenna 10 out of the die, it is possible to obtain the film antenna 10 in which the resin mold part 21 covers the feed section 14 and covers the end part of the coaxial cable 20 which end part is connected to the feed section 14.
- Examples of a resin material of which the resin mold part 21 is made encompass, but are not limited to, (i) moisture curing urethane-based hot melt (such as "TECHNOMELT PUR 9515" manufactured by Henkel AG & Co. KGaA), (ii) a thermosetting resin, and (iii) an ultraviolet-curing resin.
- Embodiment 1 discussed producing of the antenna device 1 by (i) covering, with the resin mold part 21, the connection part of the feed section 14 of the film antenna 10 and the coaxial cable 20 and then (ii) winding the film antenna 10 around the support 30.
- the present invention is not limited to this production method. A second production method will be described in detail below.
- the second production method of producing the antenna device 1 in accordance with Embodiment 1 includes (i) a connecting step of connecting the coaxial cable 20 to the feed section 14 of the film antenna 10 and (ii) the step of preparing the support 30 which (a) has: the first supporting surface 31; the second supporting surface 32 intersecting the first supporting surface 31; and the third supporting surface 33 facing the first supporting surface 31 and intersecting the second supporting surface 32, (b) includes the first and the second holding parts 34 and 35 (holding section) for holding the coaxial cable 20, and (c) is configured so that the first and second recesses 37 and 38 (recessed containing part) for containing the feed section 14 are provided in the third supporting surface 33.
- the second production method can further include (i) a winding step of: attaching the film antenna 10 to the support 30 so that the connection part of the feed section 14 and the coaxial cable 20 is contained in the first and second recesses 37 and 38 (recessed containing part); and winding the film antenna 10 around the support 30 so that the film antenna 10 comes into contact with the first supporting surface 31, the second supporting surface 32, and the third supporting surface 33 and (ii) a wiring step of wiring the coaxial cable 20 so that: the coaxial cable 20 is held by the first and the second holding parts 34 and 35 (holding section); and part of the coaxial cable 20 extends in a direction along the first supporting surface 31 and the second supporting surface 32.
- the second production method can further include a resin mold part forming step of, after the above steps are carried out, (i) filling, with a liquid resin material, the first and second recesses 37 and 38 (recessed containing part) in which the connection part of the feed section 14 and the coaxial cable 20 is contained and (ii) hardening the liquid resin material so as to form the resin mold part 21 that covers the feed section 14 and covers the end part of the coaxial cable 20 which end part is connected to the feed section 14.
- the antenna device 1 can be provided various structures. Examples of the structures encompass a vehicle body of an automobile. An example in which the antenna device 1 is provided in a vehicle body will be described below with reference to Fig. 7 .
- (a) of Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a vehicle body 50 on which a spoiler 52 including an antenna device 1 is provided.
- (b) of Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the spoiler 52.
- the spoiler 52 is provided at a back end part of a roof 51 of the vehicle body 50.
- the spoiler 52 is an integrally-formed resin member.
- the spoiler 52 has a (i) structure (not shown) for setting the spoiler 52 to a certain position relative to the back end part of the roof 51 and (ii) a structure (not shown) for fixing the spoiler 52 to a certain position of the roof 51.
- the spoiler 52 is fixed to the certain position of the roof 51 by these structures.
- the spoiler 52 has functions such as restricting irregular airflows (rectifying the airflow) at a back part of the vehicle body 50 and improving an appearance of the vehicle body 50.
- the spoiler 52 is configured to gradually decrease in vertical size toward the back end part.
- a void is made in the back part of the spoiler 52 (i.e. the back part has a hollow structure) (see (b) of Fig. 7 ).
- the antenna device 1 including the spoiler 52 is achieved by providing the antenna device 1 in the void.
- the antenna device 1 is provided in the spoiler 52 in such a manner as to be upside down in comparison with the orientation of the antenna device 1 illustrated in Fig. 1 , so that the third supporting surface 33 of the support 30 faces toward a top surface of the spoiler 52 of the vehicle body 50.
- the antenna device 1 in accordance with Embodiment 1 can be provided on, for example, a vehicle body of an automobile. Note, however, that depending on how the antenna device 1 is provided on a vehicle body, there is a possibility that the end part of the film antenna 10 is blown by wind, so that the film antenna 10 vibrates and consequently makes a noise such as a whizzing sound. There is also a possibility that in a case where the end part of the film antenna 10 continues to be blown by wind, the end part becomes deformed.
- the antenna device 1 ⁇ in accordance with Embodiment 2 is an antenna device which is further intended to prevent the occurrences of such noises and deformations.
- Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the antenna device 1 ⁇ .
- (b) of Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the antenna device 1 ⁇ . Note that a part (cable part) of a coaxial cable 20 other than the resin mold part 21 ⁇ is omitted from each of (a) and (b) of Fig. 8 .
- Fig. 9 is a plan view illustrating a film antenna 10 ⁇ included in the antenna device 1 ⁇ .
- (a) of Fig. 10 is an enlarged plan view illustrating a support 30 ⁇ included in the antenna device 1 ⁇ .
- (b) of Fig. 10 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the support 30 ⁇ .
- the antenna device 1 ⁇ includes the film antenna 10 ⁇ , the coaxial cable 20, and the support 30 ⁇ .
- the film antenna 10 ⁇ corresponds to the film antenna 10 included in the antenna device 1 in accordance with Embodiment 1.
- the support 30 ⁇ corresponds to the support 30 included in the antenna device 1 in accordance with Embodiment 1.
- the resin mold part 21 ⁇ corresponds to the resin mold part 21 included in the antenna device 1 in accordance with Embodiment 1.
- the support 30 ⁇ differs from the support 30 of the antenna device 1 in accordance with Embodiment 1 in that the support 30 ⁇ has a slot 31c.
- the slot 31c is a hole made in a direction from the a first supporting surface 31 of the support 30 ⁇ toward a third supporting surface 33 (not shown in Fig. 8 ) (toward the z-axis negative side in the coordinate system illustrated).
- a shape of an opening 31ap of the slot 31c made in the first supporting surface 31 is a rectangle whose (i) longer sides extend along the y-axis in the coordinate system illustrated and (ii) shorter sides extend along the x-axis in the coordinate system illustrated.
- the slot 31c whose shape is obtained by advancing the rectangular opening 31ap toward the z-axis negative side, has an inner space which is a rectangular parallelepiped that consists of four side walls, specifically a pair of side walls including the longer sides of the opening 31ap (pair of side walls facing each other) and a pair of side walls including the shorter sides of the opening 31ap (pair of side walls facing each other).
- the film antenna 10 ⁇ is obtained by replacing, with a dielectric film 11 ⁇ , the dielectric film 11 included in the film antenna 10 of the antenna device 1 in accordance with Embodiment 1.
- the dielectric film 11 ⁇ is obtained by extending the dielectric film 11 in Embodiment 1 away from the feed section 14. That is, the film antenna 10 ⁇ , which includes the dielectric film 11 ⁇ , further includes, in addition to regions 10a through 10d, a region 10e (fourth region: end part on a first antenna conductor 12-side) which expands from an edge on the first antenna conductor 12-side to a line D-D'.
- the region 10e has rectangular openings 11a.
- the film antenna 10 ⁇ is wound around the support 30 ⁇ by folding the film antenna 10 ⁇ in a U shape whose ridgelines are a line A-A' and a line B-B'.
- the film antenna 10 ⁇ is made possible to insert the region 10e into the slot 31c of the support 30 ⁇ .
- a total of two fixing parts for preventing the region 10e from being detached from the slot 31c are provided such that one of the two fixing parts and the other one of the two fixing parts are provided toward the y-axis positive side and the y-axis negative side, respectively, in the coordinate system illustrated.
- Fig. 10 is an enlarged view illustrating the one of the two fixing parts which is provided toward the y-axis negative side.
- the one of the two fixing parts which is provided toward the y-axis negative side is made up of (i) a rib 31d and a rib 31e which are a pair of ribs and (ii) a wedge-shaped protrusion 13f.
- the other fixing part provided toward the y-axis positive side is configured as is the fixing part provided toward the y-axis negative side.
- the rib 31d and the rib 31e are each a protrusion protruding from one side wall (side wall on the x-axis positive side in the coordinate system illustrated) to the other side wall (side wall on the x-axis negative side in the coordinate system illustrated) of the pair of side walls including the longer sides of the opening 31ap.
- the rib 31d and the rib 31e each extend linearly in a direction from the first supporting surface 31 toward the third supporting surface 33 (toward the z-axis negative side in the coordinate system illustrated). That is, the rib 31d and the rib 31e extend parallel to each other.
- an amount by which each of the rib 31d and the rib 31e protrudes is 1/2 of a length of the shorter side of the opening 31ap.
- the wedge-shaped protrusion 13f is a protrusion protruding from one side wall (on the x-axis negative side) toward the other side wall (on the x-axis positive side) of the pair of side walls including the longer sides of the opening 31ap.
- the wedge-shaped protrusion 13f is located in the middle between the rib 31d and the rib 31e along the y-axis in the coordinate system illustrated.
- the wedge-shaped protrusion 13f is also located in the middle between the first supporting surface 31 and the third supporting surface 33 in regard to a depth of the slot 31c (along the z-axis in the coordinate system illustrated).
- the wedge-shaped protrusion 13f When the wedge-shaped protrusion 13f is viewed from the y-axis negative side in the coordinate system illustrated, the wedge-shaped protrusion 13f has a shape of a trapezoid (see (b) of Fig. 10 ).
- a slope 31f1 which corresponds to one of the two legs of the trapezoid, intersects, at an acute angle, the side wall on the x-axis negative side.
- a stopper 31f2 which corresponds to the other one of the two legs of the trapezoid, intersects, at a right angle, the side wall on the x-axis negative side.
- a maximum value of the amount by which the wedge-shaped protrusion 13f protrudes is preferably 1/2 of the length of the shorter sides of the opening 31ap or slightly greater than 1/2 of the length of the shorter sides of the opening 31ap.
- the region 10e can be smoothly inserted into the slot 31c.
- the region 10e is inserted into the slot 31c and then the openings 11a (see Fig. 9 ) reach a position corresponding to the wedge-shaped protrusion 13f, the region 10e is pushed by the rib 31d and the rib 31e from the side wall on the x-axis positive side toward the side wall on the x-axis negative side of the slot 31c. This causes the openings 11a to be caught by the wedge-shaped protrusion 13f.
- the stopper 31f2 which is steep, is provided on the third supporting surface 33-side of the wedge-shaped protrusion 13f, the openings 11a are prevented from being unintentionally detached from the wedge-shaped protrusion 13f even in a case where force to pull the region 10e from the slot 31c is applied. That is, the region 10e does not unintentionally come off from the slot 31c.
- the region 10e which is the end part of the film antenna 10 ⁇ , is contained in the slot 31c and is prevented from coming off.
- This allows the film antenna 10 ⁇ to be in close contact with the support 30 ⁇ even in a case where the antenna device 1 ⁇ is provided so as to be blown by wind.
- the film antenna 10 ⁇ does not vibrate. It is therefore possible to prevent the occurrence of a noise such as a whizzing sound. It is also possible to prevent the end part of the film antenna 10 ⁇ from being deformed.
- a production method of producing the antenna device 1 ⁇ is similar to the production method of producing the antenna device 1, except that the step of inserting the region 10e into the slot 31c is further included in the winding step.
- a radiation characteristic of the antenna device 1 changes, depending on the wiring path of the coaxial cable 20 extending from the feed section 14. Specifically, the radiation characteristic of the antenna device 1 changes, depending on a relationship in length between distances from a part of the coaxial cable 20, which part is held by the first holding part 34, to the first and the second antenna conductors 12 and 13 (between the distance D1 and the distance D2).
- an antenna device in which a coaxial cable drawn from a feed section does not extend across a film antenna, is used.
- the coaxial cable drawn from the feed section is then provided away from the antenna device without being fitted into a second holding part 35 or a first holding part 34. That is, the antenna device in accordance with Reference Example is configured so that there is no strength with respect to pulling of the coaxial cable.
- the film antenna included in the antenna device in accordance with Reference Example is identical to the film antenna 10 included in the antenna device 1 in accordance with Embodiment 1, and is wound around a support 30 in a manner identical to that in which the film antenna 10 is wound around the support 30. That is, the antenna device in accordance with Reference Example differs from the antenna device 1 only in that the coaxial cable 20 is not held by the first holding part 24 of the support 30.
- Fig. 11 is a graph showing (i) VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio) of the antenna device in accordance with Reference Example and (ii) a frequency dependency of an average gain of the antenna device in accordance with Reference Example.
- the average gain is calculated by averaging, over entire 360°, radiant gains obtained by the antenna device on an x-y plane.
- Plotting of the VSWR shown in Fig. 11 indicates that the VSWR of the antenna device in accordance with Reference Example is (i) below 2 in an 800 MHz band and (ii) drastically increased in a frequency band of 700 MHz or less.
- Plotting of the average gain of entire polarized waves in the horizontal plane shown in Fig. 11 indicates that the antenna device in accordance with Reference Example exhibits an excellent average gain greater than -1dBi in the 800 MHz band.
- Fig. 12 is a graph showing (i) VSWR of the antenna device 1 in accordance with Example 1 and (ii) a frequency dependency of an average gain of the antenna device 1 in accordance with Example 1.
- Plotting of the VSWR shown in Fig. 12 indicates that the VSWR of the antenna device 1 in accordance with Example 1 is (i) below 2 in an 800 MHz band and (ii) drastically increased in a frequency band of 700 MHz or less.
- Plotting of the average gain of entire polarized waves in the horizontal plane shown in Fig. 11 indicates that the antenna device 1 in accordance with Example 1 exhibits an excellent average gain greater than -1dBi in the 800 MHz band.
- the antenna device 1 in accordance with Example 1 is configured so that the coaxial cable 20 extends across the film antenna 10
- the antenna device 1 in accordance with Example 1 still exhibits a radiation characteristic comparable to that of the antenna device in accordance with Reference Example which is configured so that the coaxial cable is provided away from the antenna device while the coaxial cable does not extend across the film antenna.
- Fig. 13 is a graph showing (i) VSWR of the antenna device 1 in accordance with Example 2 and (ii) a frequency dependency of an average gain of the antenna device 1 in accordance with Example 2.
- the antenna device 1 in accordance with Example 2 is obtained by configuring the antenna device 1 so that a distance D1 and a distance D2 are 15.6 mm and 1.4 mm, respectively. That is, the antenna device 1 in accordance with Example 2 is configured so that the distance D1 is equal to or greater than the distance D2.
- the antenna device 1 in accordance with Example 2 and the antenna device 1 in accordance with Example 1 are identical except for the numerical values of the distance D1 and the distance D2.
- Plotting of the VSWR shown in Fig. 13 indicates that the VSWR of the antenna device 1 in accordance with Example 2 is (i) approximately 2 in an 800 MHz band and (ii) drastically increased in a frequency band of 700 MHz or less.
- Plotting of the average gain of entire polarized waves in the horizontal plane shown in Fig. 13 indicates that the antenna device 1 in accordance with Example 2 exhibits an excellent average gain greater than -1dBi in the 800 MHz band.
- the antenna device 1 in accordance with Example 2 is configured so that the coaxial cable 20 extends across the film antenna 10
- the antenna device 1 in accordance with Example 2 still exhibits a radiation characteristic comparable to that of the antenna device in accordance with Reference Example which is configured so that the coaxial cable does not extend across the film antenna.
- Fig. 14 is a graph showing (i) VSWR of the antenna device 1 in accordance with Example 3 and (ii) a frequency dependency of an average gain of the antenna device 1 in accordance with Example 3.
- the antenna device 1 in accordance with Example 3 is obtained by configuring the antenna device 1 in accordance with Embodiment 2 so that a distance D1 and a distance D2 are 1.4 mm and 15.6 mm, respectively. That is, the antenna device 1 in accordance with Example 3 is configured so that the distance D1 is less than the distance D2.
- the antenna device 1 in accordance with Example 3 and the antenna devices 1 in accordance with Examples 1 and 2 are identical except for the numerical values of the distance D1 and the distance D2.
- Plotting of the VSWR shown in Fig. 14 indicates that the VSWR of the antenna device 1 in accordance with Example 3 is (i) approximately 2 in an 800 MHz band but (ii) not increased in a frequency band of 700 MHz or less.
- the average gain of the entire polarized waves is considerably below -1dBi in the 800 MHz band.
- a distance D2 is preferably equal to or greater than a distance D1. Note that similar results can be obtained in a case where the coaxial cable 20 held by the first holding part 34 does not extend across the film antenna 10 but part of the coaxial cable 20 is drawn frontwards (see Embodiment 4 described later).
- FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a support 30A included in the antenna device 1 ⁇ .
- FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating the antenna device 1 ⁇ .
- Fig. 16 is a flow chart showing a production method of producing the antenna device 1 ⁇ .
- the antenna device 1 ⁇ in accordance with Embodiment 3 can be obtained by replacing the support 30 and the resin mold part 21 in the antenna device 1 in accordance with Embodiment 1 with a support 30A and a resin mold part 21A, respectively. Therefore, in Embodiment 3, the support 30A and the resin mold part 21A will be mainly described. Note that members similar to those of the antenna device 1 will be given the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will be omitted.
- the support 30A has a third supporting surface 33 on which a first recess 37A, a second recess 38A, and an L-shaped groove 37B are provided.
- the first and second recesses 37A and 38A correspond in configuration to the first and second recesses 37 and 38 of Embodiment 1, respectively.
- the L-shaped groove 37B is a groove which is continuous with the first recess 37A and which extends toward an end part of the third supporting surface 33.
- the L-shaped groove 37B serves as a vent through which air present in the first recess 37A is passed out.
- the support 30A is a structure having (i) a first supporting surface 31, (ii) a second supporting surface 32 intersecting the first supporting surface 31, and (iii) a third supporting surface 33 facing the first supporting surface 31 and intersecting the second supporting surface 32, and a film antenna 10 is to be wound around the support 30A so as to come into contact with the first through third supporting surfaces 31 through 33.
- the support 30A includes a first holding part 34, a second holding part 35, and a third holding part 36 for holding a coaxial cable 20 which is connected to the film antenna 10.
- the coaxial cable 20 connected to the film antenna 10 is wired as is the case of the support 30 of the antenna device 1 in accordance with Embodiment 1.
- the production method of producing the antenna device 1 ⁇ in accordance with Embodiment 3 includes (i) a connecting step of connecting the coaxial cable 20 to a feed section 14 of the film antenna 10 and (ii) the step of preparing the support 30A which (a) has: the first supporting surface 31; the second supporting surface 32 intersecting the first supporting surface 31; and the third supporting surface 33 facing the first supporting surface 31 and intersecting the second supporting surface 32, (b) includes the first and the second holding parts 34 and 35 (holding section) for holding the coaxial cable 20, and (c) is configured so that the first and second recesses 37A and 38A (recessed containing part) for containing the feed section 14 are provided in the third supporting surface 33.
- the production method can further include (i) a winding step of: attaching the film antenna 10 to the support 30A so that the feed section 14 is contained in the first and second recesses 37A and 38A (recessed containing part); and winding the film antenna 10 around the support 30 so that the film antenna 10 comes into contact with the first supporting surface 31, the second supporting surface 32, and the third supporting surface 33 and (ii) a wiring step of wiring the coaxial cable 20 so that: the coaxial cable 20 is held by the first and the second holding parts 34 and 35 (holding section); and part of the coaxial cable 20 extends in a direction along the first supporting surface 31 and the second supporting surface 32.
- the production method can further include a resin mold part forming step of (i) filling, with a liquid resin material, the first and second recesses 37A and 38A (recessed containing part) in which the feed section 14 is contained and (ii) hardening the liquid resin material so as to form the resin mold part 21A that covers the feed section 14 and covers the end part of the coaxial cable 20 which end part is connected to the feed section 14.
- a resin mold part forming step of (i) filling, with a liquid resin material, the first and second recesses 37A and 38A (recessed containing part) in which the feed section 14 is contained and (ii) hardening the liquid resin material so as to form the resin mold part 21A that covers the feed section 14 and covers the end part of the coaxial cable 20 which end part is connected to the feed section 14.
- the antenna device 1 ⁇ is produced by carrying out the resin mold part forming step (steps S102, S104, S106, S108) after carrying out the connecting step, the winding step, and the wiring step (step S100).
- the resin mold part forming step includes (i) a jig setting step (step S102) of setting the support 30A, around which the film antenna 10 is wound, between a pair of fixing plates by which a jig 100 is constituted, (ii) a pressure adding step (step S104) of sandwiching the support 30A, around which the film antenna 10 is wound, with the pair of fixing plates and then adding a pressure, (iii) a filling step (step S106) of injecting a liquid resin material from an end part of the second recess 38A of the support 30A so as to fill the first recess 37A with the liquid resin material, and (iv) an extracting step (step S108) of hardening the liquid resin material filling the first recess 37A so as to form a resin mold part 21A and then taking out an antenna device 1 ⁇ from the jig 100.
- a jig setting step step S102 of setting the support 30A, around which the film antenna 10 is wound, between a pair of
- the support 30A is set between the pair of fixing plates by which the jig 100 is constituted.
- the pair of fixing plates face corresponding ones of the first and third supporting surfaces 31 and 33 of the support 30A and
- the support 30A is oriented so that the second holding part 35 of the support 30A faces upwards.
- This causes the first and second recesses 37A and 38A provided in the third supporting surface 33 to be aligned vertically such that the end part of the second recess 38A, which is continuous with the first recess 37A, is located at an upper end of the support 30A.
- the pair of fixing plates apply pressure to corresponding ones of the first supporting surface 31 and the third supporting surface 33 of the support 30A, around which the film antenna 10 is wound. This allows the film antenna 10 to be pressed against the support 30A with a more uniform pressure, so that the film antenna 10 comes into close contact with the first and third supporting surfaces 31 and 33. Therefore, in a case where the first recess 37A provided in the third supporting surface 33 is filled with the liquid resin material in the next step (step S106), it is possible to prevent the resin material from leaking out of the first recess 37A.
- step S106 the liquid resin material is injected from the end part (upper end part) of the second recess 38A, so that the first recess 37A is filled with the liquid resin material.
- the liquid resin material is injected through a gap between the second recess 38A and the coaxial cable 20. Therefore, in order to make it easy to inject the resin material through the gap, it is possible to, for example, inject the liquid resin material with the use of a tapered needle. Alternatively, in order to reduce the amount of time required for the filling, it is possible to, for example, inject the liquid resin material while pressure is applied.
- step S108 the liquid resin material, with which the first recess 37A is filled, is hardened so as to form a resin mold part 21A which covers (i) the feed section 14 contained in the first recess 37A and (ii) the end part of the coaxial cable 20, which end part is connected to the feed section 14.
- the pair of fixing plates with which the support 30A is sandwiched is taken out, and an antenna device 1 ⁇ is taken out of the jig 100.
- a timing with which the antenna device 1 ⁇ is taken out of the jig 100 (i.e. a timing with which (i) the pressure applied in directions in which the support 30A was sandwiched is released and (ii) the pair of fixing plates is taken out) can be set as appropriate according to, for example, the amount of time required for hardening the resin, a viscosity of the resin, and air temperature.
- Examples of the resin material of which the resin mold part 21A is made encompass, but are not limited to, a two-liquid-mixture type urethane resin (e.g. WEVOPUR PD 4 manufactured by WEVO-CHEMIE).
- a two-liquid-mixture type urethane resin e.g. WEVOPUR PD 4 manufactured by WEVO-CHEMIE.
- a resin mold part 21A which is made with the use of WEVOPUR PD 4 manufactured by WEVO-CHEMIE, is formed by hardening, at normal temperature, a liquid resin material with which the first recess 37A is filled at normal temperature. Therefore, the resin mold part 21A has such an advantage as causing less stress to be applied to the film antenna 10, in comparison with the resin mold part 21 of the antenna device 1 in accordance with Embodiment 1, formed by injection molding with the use of TECHNOMELT PUR 9515, manufactured by Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, which is a moisture curing urethane-based hot melt.
- the resin mold part 21A made with the use of WEVOPUR PD 4 manufactured by WEVO-CHEMIE is small in degree of hardness, and therefore brings about such an advantage as being able to restrict peeling of the resin mold part 21A and the film antenna 10 from each other due to a difference in thermal expansion coefficient.
- the production method in accordance with Embodiment 3 was described such that the connecting step, the winding step, and the wiring step are carried out before the resin mold part forming step is carried out.
- the wiring step can be carried out after the resin mold part forming step has been carried out.
- an antenna device is subjected to various temperature changes, and that various heat histories are added to an antenna device.
- the support 30A, the film antenna 10, and the resin mold part 21A of the antenna device 1 ⁇ are made up of respective materials. Therefore, in a case where a heat history is added to the antenna device, an interface between the support 30A and the resin mold part 21A (first interface) and an interface between the resin mold part 21A and the film antenna 10 (second interface) are each subjected to stress due to differences in thermal expansion coefficient between the respective materials of which the support 30A, the film antenna 10, and the resin mold part 21A of the antenna device 1 ⁇ are made.
- peeling ultimately occurs at any one of the first interface and the second interface. Whether the peeling occurs at the first interface or the second interface depends on (i) a balance between stress applied to the first interface and an adhesive force of the support 30A and the resin mold part 21A at the first interface and (ii) a balance between stress applied to the second interface and an adhesive force of the resin mold part 21A and the film antenna 10A at the second interface. In a case where the stress applied to the first interface is greater than the adhesive force of the support 30A and the resin mold part 21A, peeling occurs at the first interface. In a case where the stress applied to the second interface is greater than the adhesive force of the resin mold part 21A and the film antenna 10A, peeling occurs at the second interface.
- the resin mold part 21A is intended to prevent the inner conductor and the outer conductor of the coaxial cable 20 and the feed section 14 from being exposed, so that a water-resistant property of the film antenna 10 is increased. Therefore, in a case where the resin mold part 21A and the film antenna 10 peel from each other at the second interface, the water-resistant property of the film antenna 10 unfortunately deteriorates. In contrast, in a case where the support 30A and the resin mold part 21A peel from each other at the first interface, the inner conductor and the outer conductor of the coaxial cable 20 and the feed section 14 remain covered with the resin mold part, so that the water-resistant property of the film antenna 10 is prevented from deteriorating.
- An antenna device 1 ⁇ ' which is a variation of the antenna device 1 ⁇ , is an antenna device which is further intended to prevent deterioration of the water-resistant property of the film antenna by restricting the peeling of the resin mold part 21A and the film antenna 10 from each other at the second interface.
- FIG. 17 is a plan view illustrating a third supporting surface 33 of a support 30B included in the antenna device 1 ⁇ '. More specifically, (a) of Fig. 17 is a plan view obtained when the third supporting surface 33 is viewed from the z-axis negative side in the coordinate system illustrated. (b) of Fig. 17 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the antenna device 1 ⁇ '. More specifically, (b) of Fig. 17 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the resin mold part 21B taken along the line A-A' in (a) of Fig. 17 .
- the antenna device 1 ⁇ ' is obtained by replacing the support 30A of the antenna device 1 ⁇ with the support 30B.
- a first recess 37C, a second recess 38B, and a J-shaped groove (groove) 37D of the support 30B correspond to the first recess 37A, the second recess 38A, and the L-shaped groove 37B of the support 30A, respectively.
- members similar to those of the support 30A will be given the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted.
- the support 30B is obtained by making the following changes to the support 30A.
- a recessed containing part is formed by (i) the J-shaped groove 37D that is continuous with the first recess 37C and that serves as a vent through which air present in the first recess 37C is passed out, (ii) the first recess 37C, and (iii) the second recess 38B.
- the shape of the cross section of the first recess 37C and the shape of the cross section of the J-shaped groove 37D will be described below with reference to (b) of Fig. 17 . Since the shape of the cross section of the first recess 37C and the shape of the cross section of the J-shaped groove 37D are similar, the shape of the cross section of the first recess 37C will be described. As illustrated in (b) of Fig. 17 , the shape of the cross section of the first recess 37C is configured so that the deeper the depth (i.e. distance along the z-axis in the coordinate system illustrated) from an opening made in the third supporting surface 33, the narrower the width (i.e. distance along the x-axis in the coordinate system illustrated). In other words, the width of the first recess 37C is (i) narrowest at a bottom part at which the depth from the opening is greatest, (ii) widest at the opening, and (iii) increasingly wider from the bottom part to the opening.
- width of the first recess 37C can (i) change in any manner, provided that the width does not become narrower from the bottom part toward the opening and (ii) be partially unchanging relative to the depth from the opening.
- the width of the first recess 37C is thus increasingly wider from the bottom part toward the opening. Therefore, a resin material, which is hardened after filling the first recess 37C and is to form the resin mold part 21B, can easily peel from the support 30B. Therefore, in a case where the antenna device 1 ⁇ ' is subjected to various temperature changes, the resin mold part 21B can easily peel from the support 30B at the first interface which is an interface between the support 30B and the resin mold part 21B. This prevents the resin mold part 21B from peeling from the film antenna 10 at the second interface which is an interface between the resin mold part 21B and the film antenna 10. Therefore, with the antenna device 1 ⁇ ', deterioration of the water-resistant property of the film antenna 10 can be more effectively prevented than is the case of the antenna device 1 ⁇ .
- a surface of the first recess 37C is preferably smooth.
- the resin material filling the first recess 37C may get into entire parts of the unevenness, so that an adhesive force occurring between the support 30B and the resin mold part 21B becomes strengthened (anchor effect).
- anchor effect By configuring the surface of the first recess 37C to be as smooth as possible, it is possible to restrict an anchor effect, and therefore to restrict the adhesive force that occurs between the support 30B and the resin mold part 21B.
- the resin mold part 21B In order to more reliably prevent the resin mold part 21B from peeling from the film antenna 10, it is possible to coat the surface of the first recess 37C with a release material before the first recess 37C is filled with the resin material. This allows the resin mold part 21B, which is made of a resin material, to easily peel from the surface of the first recess 37C.
- a double-sided tape 33c which is an adhesive layer, is provided in the region surrounding the first recess 37C, the second recess 38B, and the J-shaped groove 37D that form the recessed containing part.
- the adhesive layer can be an adhesive instead of a double-sided tape.
- the film antenna 10 is attached to the third supporting surface of the support 30B with the use of the double-sided tape 33c. Therefore, in a filling step (step S106, see Fig. 16 ), a liquid resin material with which the first recess 37C is filled can easily prevented from flowing into a gap between the support 30B and the film antenna 10.
- the first recess 37A is filled with a resin material while the support 30A is sandwich with the use of the jig 100 as in the step S106 shown in Fig. 16 .
- the antenna device 1 ⁇ ' including the support 30B it is possible to fill the first recess 37C with a resin material even when the support 30B is not sandwiched with the use of a jig 100. That is, it is possible to omit a pressure adding step S104.
- the J-shaped groove 37 instead of the L-shaped groove 37B is provided as a groove through which the inside of the first recess 37C and the outside of the support 30B are continuous.
- the shape of the groove through which the inside of the first recess 37C and the outside of the support 30B are continuous is not limited to an L-shape or a J-shape, but can be another shape.
- a production method of producing the antenna device 1 ⁇ ' differs from the production method of producing the antenna device 1 ⁇ in the points described below. Note that steps similar to those included in the production method of producing the antenna device 1 ⁇ will be given the same step number, and their descriptions will be omitted.
- the production method further includes an adhesive layer forming step of forming an adhesive layer (double-sided tape 33c) in the region surrounding the recessed containing part (the first recess 37C, the second recess 38B, and the J-shaped groove 37D) of the third supporting surface 33.
- the winding step further includes an attaching step of attaching, in a case where the film antenna 10 is to be wound around the support 30B, the film antenna 10 to the support 30B with the use of an adhesive layer (double-sided tape 33c).
- the pressure adding step S104 can be omitted. Specifically, the jig 100 is not necessary to fill the first recess 37C with a resin material. Therefore, the antenna device 1 ⁇ ' can be produced with a few steps than is the case of the antenna device 1 ⁇ .
- the antenna devices 1, 1 ⁇ , and 1 ⁇ in accordance with Embodiments 1 through 3 can be each suitably provided in a spoiler 52 of an automobile, particularly in a spoiler 52 having a housing divided into a containing part and a lid part.
- a storing method of providing the antenna device 1 in accordance with Embodiment 1 into the spoiler 52 will be described below with reference to Fig. 18.
- Fig. 18 is a view illustrating the storing method of providing the antenna device 1 in the spoiler 52. Note that in Fig. 18 , a shape of the antenna device 1 and a shape of the spoiler 52 are schematically illustrated so that the storing method can be easily recognized.
- the spoiler 52 has a housing divided into a containing part 52a and a lid part 52b.
- the containing part 52a includes a first compartment 52a1 and a second compartment 52a2 which are continuous with each other.
- the first compartment 52a1 is a space in which mainly the support 30 of the antenna device 1 is to be provided.
- the first compartment 52a1 is deeper in depth than the second compartment 52a2.
- the second compartment 52a2 is a space in which mainly the film antenna 10 of the antenna device 1 is to be provided.
- the second compartment 52a2 is shallower in depth than the first compartment 52a1.
- the first compartment 52a1 and the second compartment 52a2 are opened upwards.
- the antenna device 1 is to be provided in the first compartment 52a1 and the second compartment 52a2 from above.
- the support 30 of the antenna device 1 is to be sandwiched with the support plates 52a3 and 52a4 in the first compartment 52a1.
- elastic protrusions 39a1 and 39a2 which are provided on respective side walls that are right and left surfaces of the support 30, are engaged with corresponding openings provided in respective ones of the pair of support plates 52a3 and 52a4.
- This causes a position of the support 30 in the first compartment 52a1 to be fixed, and therefore makes it unlikely for the support 30 to be detached from the support plates 52a3 and 52a4.
- the film antenna 10 extending from the support 30 is provided in the second compartment 52a2 which is continuous with the first compartment 52a1.
- the coaxial cable 20 drawn from the support 30 passes through a through-hole (not shown) made in a front-side wall of the first compartment 52a1, and is then drawn out of the first compartment 52a1.
- the antenna device 1 is provided in the spoiler 52 as illustrated in (b) of Fig. 18
- the first compartment 52a1 and the second compartment 52a2 are sealed with the lid part 52b as illustrated in (c) of Fig. 18 .
- the antenna device 1 ⁇ in accordance with Embodiment 2 and the antenna device 1 ⁇ in accordance with Embodiment 3 can each be provided in the spoiler 52 by a method identical to the method by which the antenna device 1 in accordance with Embodiment 1 is provided in the spoiler 52.
- Fig. 19 a configuration of an antenna device 1 ⁇ in accordance with Embodiment 4 of the present invention.
- (a) of Fig. 19 is a perspective view illustrating the antenna device 1 ⁇ .
- (b) of Fig. 19 is a plan view illustrating the antenna device 1 ⁇ .
- the antenna device 1 ⁇ includes a film antenna 10, a coaxial cable 20, and a support 30.
- the antenna device 1 ⁇ is obtained by making changes below to the antenna 1 in accordance with Embodiment 1.
- the antenna device 1 in accordance with Embodiment 1 is configured so that the coaxial cable 20 extends widthwise across the film antenna 10 in the support 30 and the coaxial cable 20 is then drawn from the a side of the support 30, the antenna device 1 ⁇ in accordance with Embodiment 4 is configured so that the coaxial cable 20 is drawn from a front-side part of the support 30 without extending widthwise across the film antenna 10 in the support 30.
- a recess 30a1 as a passage through which the coaxial cable 20 is to be drawn from the front-side part of the support 30, is provided at a center part of an upper end part of a side wall 30a which is a front-side surface of the support 30 and (ii) a third holding part 36 for holding the coaxial cable 20 drawn from the side of the support 30 is omitted.
- the antenna device 1 in accordance with Embodiment 1 is configured so that the pair of elastic protrusions 39a1 and 39a2 for fixing the antenna device 1 to the spoiler 52 are provided on the right and left surfaces of the support
- the antenna device 1 ⁇ in accordance with Embodiment 4 is configured so that the protrusions 39b1 and 39b2 for fixing the antenna device 1 to the spoiler 52 are provided in the vicinity of corresponding tips of a pair of elastic plates 39.
- One of the pair of elastic plates 39, which corresponds to the protrusion 39b1 extends frontwards from a left-side surface of the second holding part 35.
- the other one of the pair of elastic plates 39, which corresponds to the protrusion 39b2 extends frontwards from the front end part of the right-side surface of the support 30.
- the antenna device 1 in accordance with Embodiment 1 is configured so that the bottom plate of the support 30, which is a bottom surface of the support 30, extends until it reaches the front-side surface of the support 30,
- the antenna device 1 ⁇ in accordance with Embodiment 4 is configured so that a bottom plate of the support 30, which is a third supporting surface 33, extends frontwards beyond the front-side surface of the support 30.
- the bottom plate serves as a support plate 33e for supporting the film antenna 10.
- steps 33e1 and 33e2 are provided, respectively, so that a width of the support plate 33e further frontwards than the steps 33e1 and 33e2 is wider than a width of the support plate 33e further backwards than the steps 33e1 and 33e2.
- the antenna device 1 in accordance with Embodiment 1 is designed so as to be provided in the spoiler 52 having a housing divided into the containing part and a lid part
- the antenna device 1 ⁇ in accordance with Embodiment 4 is designed so as to be provided in a spoiler 52 having a housing having an insertion slot.
- the changes above are based on the difference in the storing method of providing the antenna device in the spoiler 52. Note that a method of providing the antenna device 1 ⁇ in accordance with Embodiment 4 into the spoiler 52 having a housing having an insertion slot will be described later with reference to another drawing.
- the antenna device 1 ⁇ in accordance with Embodiment 4 can be suitably provided in a spoiler 52 of an automobile, particularly in a spoiler 52 having a housing having an insertion slot.
- a storing method of providing the antenna device 1 ⁇ in accordance with Embodiment 4 into such a spoiler 52 will be described below with reference to Fig. 20.
- Fig. 20 is a view illustrating the storing method of providing the antenna device 1 ⁇ into the spoiler 52. Note that in Fig. 20 , a shape of the antenna device 1 ⁇ and a shape of the spoiler 52 are schematically illustrated so that the storing method can be easily recognized.
- the spoiler 52 has such a shape that a top plate 52d, which is a top surface of the housing, is jutting frontwards beyond a side wall which is a front surface of the housing.
- the housing has a compartment in which the support 30 of the antenna device 1 ⁇ is to be provided.
- the side wall which is the front surface of the housing, has an insertion slot 52c through which the support 30 of the antenna device 1 ⁇ is to be inserted into the housing.
- L-shaped protrusions 52d1 and 52d2 for holding the support plate 33e of the antenna device 1 ⁇ are provided.
- the antenna device 1 ⁇ is to be provided in the spoiler 52 as follows.
- the support plate 33e of the antenna device 1 ⁇ is made to come into contact with the top plate 52d of the spoiler 52.
- a part of the support plate 33e which part is located further backwards than the steps 33e1 and 33e2 and whose width is narrow, is passed through a space between the L-shaped protrusions 52d1 and 52d2. This allows the support plate 33e to come into contact with the top plate 52d without causing the support plate 33e to collide with the L-shaped protrusions 52d1 and 52d2.
- the antenna device 1 ⁇ can be pulled out of the spoiler 52 after parts 39c1 and 39c2 of the elastic plates 39, which parts 39c1 and 39c2 are located further frontwards than the protruding parts 39b1 and 39b2, are pressed inwards so that the elastic plates 39 are bent inwards and therefore the protruding parts 39b1 and 39b2 do not become hooked to the side wall which is the front surface of the housing of the spoiler 52.
- an antenna device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: a film antenna; a cable which is connected to a feed section of the film antenna; and a support, around which at least part of the film antenna is wound, the support including a holding section for holding the cable.
- the film antenna is wound around the support. This restricts a change in three-dimensional structure of the antenna conductor included in the film antenna. That is, it is possible to allow the antenna device to have a more stable an antenna characteristic.
- the cable is held by the support. This allows the antenna device to have greater durability with respect to pulling of the cable.
- the support functions to allow the antenna device to have a more stable antenna characteristic and greater durability with respect to pulling of the cable. This allows the antenna device to have a more stable antenna characteristic and greater durability with respect to pulling of the cable without causing the structure to be complicated or larger.
- winding a film antenna around a support means that the film antenna is deformed so as be guided along surfaces of the support, so that the film antenna is prevented from being detached from the support.
- the expression above does not only contain the meaning of winding the film antenna around the support one turn or more.
- examples of the forms meant by the expression encompass: (i) a form in which the film antenna is deformed so as to be guided along 4 surfaces (e.g.
- top surface, right-side surface, bottom surface, left-side surface) of the support so that the film antenna is prevented from being detached from the support
- the antenna device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is preferably configured so that: the support has a first supporting surface, a second supporting surface intersecting the first supporting surface, and a third supporting surface facing the first supporting surface and intersecting the second supporting surface; the film antenna is wound around the support so as to be in contact with the first supporting surface, the second supporting surface, and the third supporting surface; and the holding section includes a first holding part for holding the cable so that part of the cable extends in a direction along the first supporting surface and the second supporting surface.
- the film antenna is wound around the support so as to be in contact with the three supporting surfaces above. This makes it possible to further restrict a change in three-dimensional structure of the antenna conductor included in the film antenna.
- the antenna characteristic can be made more stable.
- the antenna device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is preferably configured so that the first holding part is provided so as to protrude frontwards further than an end part of the first supporting surface, which end part is located opposite an end part located toward the second supporting surface.
- the antenna device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is preferably configured so that: the film antenna includes a first antenna conductor connected to a hot side conductor of the cable and a second antenna conductor connected to a cold side conductor of the cable; the film antenna is wound around the support so that (i) a main part of the first antenna conductor is guided along the first supporting surface and (ii) a main part of the second antenna conductor is guided along the third supporting surface; and the part of the cable, which part extends in the direction along the first supporting surface and the second supporting surface, is held by the first holding part so that a first distance between the part and the first supporting surface is equal to a second distance between the part and the third supporting surface.
- the antenna device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is preferably configured so that the film antenna includes a first antenna conductor connected to a hot side conductor of the cable and a second antenna conductor connected to a cold side conductor of the cable; the film antenna is wound around the support so that (i) a main part of the first antenna conductor is guided along the first supporting surface and (ii) a main part of the second antenna conductor is guided along the third supporting surface; and the part of the cable, which part extends in the direction along the first supporting surface and the second supporting surface, is held by the first holding part so that a first distance between the part and the first supporting surface is equal to or greater than a second distance between the part and the third supporting surface.
- the antenna device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is preferably configured so that the holding section further includes a second holding part for holding the cable so that part of the cable is guided along the first supporting surface and extends in a direction that intersects the second supporting surface.
- the antenna device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is preferably configured so that the second holding part is provided outside of a spatial region sandwiched between (i) a region of the film antenna, which region is in contact with the first supporting surface and (ii) a region of the film antenna, which region is in contact with the third supporting surface.
- the antenna device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is preferably configured so that: the second holding part has a recess whose opening faces a first direction which an opening of a recessed containing part provided in the third supporting surface faces; and the first holding part has a recess whose opening faces a second direction opposite the first direction.
- the antenna device With the configuration, it is possible to allow the antenna device to have greater durability with respect to pulling of the cable.
- the antenna device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is preferably configured so that part of the cable, which part is held by the first holding part and the second holding part, extends (i) between the first holding part and the second holding part and (ii) in a direction that intersects the first supporting surface and the third supporting surface.
- the antenna device With the configuration, it is possible to allow the antenna device to have greater durability with respect to pulling of the cable.
- the antenna device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is preferably configured so that a surface of the second holding part, which surface is in contact with a bent part of the cable, is a smooth curved surface.
- the antenna device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is preferably configured so that: the film antenna is folded in a U shape so as to be in contact with the first supporting surface, the second supporting surface, and the third supporting surface of the support; a guide ring is provided at an end part of the third supporting surface, which end part is located opposite an end part located toward the second supporting surface; and the film antenna passes through the guide ring and is supported by the guide ring.
- the antenna device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is preferably configured so that: the feed section and the cable are connected via a connection part which is covered with a resin mold part; and the support has a recessed containing part in which the resin mold part is contained.
- connection part via which the feed section and the cable are connected is covered with the resin mold part, and the cable is held by the support. This allows the antenna device to have greater durability with respect to pulling of the cable.
- the antenna device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is preferably configured so that: the resin mold part includes a first covering part and a second covering part which are provided on a front surface and a back surface of the film antenna, respectively; and the first covering part and the second covering part are continuous via an opening made in the film antenna.
- the antenna device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is preferably configured so that: the recessed containing part is provided in a part of the third supporting surface, which part is located in the vicinity of a boundary between the third supporting surface and the second supporting surface; the film antenna is wound around the support so that the first covering part of the resin mold part is contained in the recessed containing part; and the first covering part and the second covering part of the resin mold part each become thinner in thickness toward a bent part of the film antenna, which bent part is bent along the boundary between the third supporting surface and the second supporting surface.
- the first covering part and the second covering part are each prevented, over a long period of time, from peeling from the film antenna even in a case of a configuration in which the resin mold part is located in the vicinity of the bent part of the film antenna when, for example, the film antenna, in which the connection part of the cable and the feed section is covered with the resin mold part, is wound around the support. It is therefore possible to maintain a water-resistant property of the antenna device at a high level over a long period of time. This is because of the following reason.
- first covering part and the second covering part each become thinner in thickness toward the bent part of the film antenna. This causes the first covering part and the second covering part to be more bendable toward the bent part. Therefore, stress derived from the folding can be reduced, and it is therefore possible to prevent the stress from becoming concentrated on edges of the first covering part and of the second covering part, which edges are located in the vicinity of the bent part.
- An antenna device production method in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is a method of producing an antenna device, the method including the steps of: (a) connecting a cable to a feed section of a film antenna; (b) forming a resin mold part which covers the feed section and covers an end part of the cable, which end part is connected to the feed section; (c) preparing a support which (i) has: a first supporting surface; a second supporting surface intersecting the first supporting surface; and a third supporting surface facing the first supporting surface and intersecting the second supporting surface, (ii) includes a holding section for holding the cable, and (iii) has, in the third supporting surface, a recessed containing part for containing the resin mold part; (d) attaching the film antenna to the support so that the resin mold part is contained in the recessed containing part and winding the film antenna around the support so that the film antenna comes into contact with the first supporting surface, the second supporting surface, and the third supporting surface; and (e) wiring the cable so that: the cable is held by the
- An antenna device production method in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is a method of producing an antenna device, the method including the steps of: (a) connecting a cable to a feed section of a film antenna; (b) preparing a support which (i) has: a first supporting surface; a second supporting surface intersecting the first supporting surface; and a third supporting surface facing the first supporting surface and intersecting the second supporting surface, (ii) includes a holding section for holding the cable, and (iii) has, in the third supporting surface, a recessed containing part for containing the feed section; (c) attaching the film antenna to the support so that the feed section is contained in the recessed containing part and winding the film antenna around the support so that the film antenna comes into contact with the first supporting surface, the second supporting surface, and the third supporting surface; (d) wiring the cable so that: the cable is held by the holding section; and part of the cable extends in a direction along the first supporting surface and the second supporting surface; and (e) forming, by filling the
- the antenna device production method in accordance with an aspect of the present invention preferably further includes the step of: forming, before the step of attaching and winding the film antenna is carried out, an adhesive layer in a region surrounding the recessed containing part of the third supporting surface.
- the step of attaching and winding the film antenna preferably further includes the step of attaching, in a case where the film antenna is to be wound around the support, the film antenna to the support with use of the adhesive layer.
- the support and the film antenna are attached to each other by the adhesive layer in the region surrounding a contour of the recessed containing part.
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- Details Of Aerials (AREA)
Description
- The present invention relates to an antenna device including a film antenna. The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such an antenna device.
- As an antenna that is easy to mount, a flexible film antenna is widely used. Note here that a film antenna refers to an antenna including a flexible dielectric film and an antenna conductor provided on a surface of the dielectric film. For example, a film antenna that is used by being attached to a window of an automobile is widely known.
- In order to form a three-dimensional antenna by use of a flexible film antenna, it is preferable to maintain a three-dimensional structure of an antenna conductor by attaching/winding the film antenna to/around a highly rigid support. This is because a change in three-dimensional structure of the antenna conductor results in a change in antenna characteristic.
- Note that a high-frequency current is supplied to/from a film antenna via a cable (e.g. a coaxial cable) that is connected to a feed section including two connection points. The film antenna and the cable are ordinarily connected by soldering a hot side/cold side conductor of the cable (an inner/outer conductor of the coaxial cable) to two connection points provided in an antenna conductor of the film antenna. Thus, the cable which is pulled by a powerful force may come off of the feed section (two connection points) of the film antenna. In view of this, it is important for an antenna device including a film antenna and a cable to have greater durability (connection reliability) with respect to pulling of the cable.
- Examples of a literature disclosing a technique that may contribute to a solution to such a problem
encompass Patent Literature 1. According toPatent Literature 1, by fitting a cable into a groove provided in a holding member and causing the holding member to hold the cable, even in a case where one end of the cable is pulled, it is difficult for a force by which the one end of the cable is pulled to be transmitted to the other end of the cable. Thus, by causing the holding member to hold the cable which is connected to a film antenna, it is possible to increase durability with respect to pulling of the cable. - Further examples of background art can be found in
Patent Literature 2 andPatent Literature 3. -
- [Patent Literature 1] Specification of European Patent No.
2403327 (Publication Date: January 4, 2012 ) - [Patent Literature 2]
EP 1 760 825 A1 - [Patent Literature 3]
US 2006/267844 A1 - Note, however, that the holding member disclosed in
Patent Literature 1 has a function of increasing durability with respect to pulling of the cable but has no function of maintaining a three-dimensional structure of an antenna conductor. Thus, it is impossible to stabilize an antenna characteristic merely by causing the holding member disclosed inPatent Literature 1 to hold the cable which is connected to the film antenna. Further, use of (i) a support to/around which to attach/wind a film antenna and (ii) the holding member disclosed inPatent Literature 1 in combination to maintain a three-dimensional structure of an antenna conductor causes a problem of causing a structure to be complicated or larger. - The present invention has been made in view of the problems, and an object of the present invention is to (i) prevent an antenna device, which includes a film antenna and a cable connected to the film antenna, from causing a structure to be complicated or larger and (ii) allow the antenna device to have a more stable antenna characteristic and greater durability with respect to pulling of a cable.
- The embodiments that do not fall within the scope of the claims shall be treated as examples.
- In order to attain the object, an antenna device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention includes: a film antenna; a cable which is connected to a feed section of the film antenna; and a support, around which at least part of the film antenna is wound, the support including a holding section for holding the cable.
- The present invention makes it possible to (i) prevent an antenna device, which includes a film antenna and a cable connected to the film antenna, from causing a structure to be complicated or larger and (ii) allow the antenna device to have a more stable antenna characteristic and greater durability with respect to pulling of a cable.
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Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an antenna device in accordance withEmbodiment 1. -
Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a support included in the antenna device illustrated inFig. 1 . -
Fig. 3 is a plan view illustrating a film antenna included in the antenna device illustrated inFig. 1 .- (a) of
Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the film antenna and a cable which are included in the antenna device illustrated inFig. 1 . (b) ofFig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the film antenna included in the antenna device. - (a) of
Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a variation of a resin mold part included in the antenna device in accordance withEmbodiment 1. (b) ofFig. 5 is a side view illustrating a left-side surface of the resin mold part illustrated in (a) ofFig. 5 . - (a) through (d) of
Fig. 6 are a plan view, a front view, a right side view, and a bottom view, respectively, which illustrate the antenna device illustrated inFig. 1 . - (a) of
Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a vehicle body on which a spoiler including an antenna device in accordance withEmbodiment 2 is provided. (b) ofFig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the spoiler. - (a) of
Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the antenna device in accordance withEmbodiment 2. (b) ofFig. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the antenna device.
- (a) of
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Fig. 9 is a plan view illustrating a film antenna included in the antenna device in accordance withEmbodiment 2.
(a) ofFig. 10 is an enlarged plan view illustrating a support included in the antenna device in accordance withEmbodiment 2. (b) ofFig. 10 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the support. -
Fig. 11 is a graph showing (i) VSWR of an antenna device in accordance with Reference Example and (ii) a frequency dependency of an average gain of the antenna device in accordance with Reference Example. -
Fig. 12 is a graph showing (i) VSWR of an antenna device in accordance with Example 1 and (ii) a frequency dependency of an average gain of the antenna device in accordance with Example 1. -
Fig. 13 is a graph showing (i) VSWR of an antenna device in accordance with Example 2 and (ii) a frequency dependency of an average gain of the antenna device in accordance with Example 2. -
Fig. 14 is a graph showing (i) VSWR of an antenna device in accordance with Example 3 and (ii) a frequency dependency of an average gain of the antenna device in accordance with Example 3.
(a) ofFig. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a support included in an antenna device in accordance withEmbodiment 3. (b) ofFig. 15 is a perspective view illustrating the antenna device in accordance withEmbodiment 3. -
Fig. 16 is a view for describing a method of producing the antenna device in accordance withEmbodiment 3.
(a) ofFig. 17 is a plan view illustrating a third supporting surface of a support included in a variation of the antenna device in accordance withEmbodiment 3. (b) ofFig. 17 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a variation of the antenna device in accordance withEmbodiment 2. -
Fig. 18 is a view illustrating a method of providing, in a spoiler, the antenna device illustrated inFig. 1 . -
Fig. 19 is a set of a perspective view and a plan view illustrating an antenna device in accordance withEmbodiment 4. -
Fig. 20 is a view illustrating a method of providing, in a spoiler, the antenna device illustrated inFig. 19 . - The following description will discuss an
antenna device 1 in accordance withEmbodiment 1 of the present invention with reference toFigs. 1 through 3 .Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating theantenna device 1. (a) ofFig. 2 is a top surface-side perspective view illustrating asupport 30 included in theantenna device 1. (b) ofFig. 2 is a bottom surface-side perspective view illustrating thesupport 30.Fig. 3 is a plan view illustrating afilm antenna 10 included in theantenna device 1. - The terms "upwards", "downwards", "rightwards", "leftwards", "frontwards", and "backwards" with respect to the antenna device are herein based on the understanding that "a z-axis positive side faces upwards", "a z-axis negative side faces downwards", "a y-axis positive side faces rightwards", "a y-axis negative side faces leftwards", "an x-axis positive side faces backwards", and "an x-axis negative side faces frontwards" in x-y-z coordinate systems in the drawings. These terms therefore do not necessarily match upward, downward, rightward, leftward, frontward, and backward orientations of the antenna device in a case where the antenna device is provided in a vehicle body or the like.
- As illustrated in
Fig. 1 , theantenna device 1 includes thefilm antenna 10, acoaxial cable 20, and thesupport 30. Thefilm antenna 10 is wound around thesupport 30 so that thefilm antenna 10 forms a certain three-dimensional structure. Thecoaxial cable 20 is connected to afeed section 14 which is made up of twoconnection points film antenna 10. Thecoaxial cable 20 is held by thesupport 30 so that thecoaxial cable 20 passes through a certain wiring path. - The
support 30 is a structure having (i) a first supportingsurface 31, (ii) a second supportingsurface 32 which intersects the first supporting surface 31 (the second supportingsurface 32 is orthogonal to the first supportingsurface 31 in Embodiment 1), and (iii) a third supportingsurface 33 which faces the first supportingsurface 31 and intersects the second supporting surface 32 (the third supportingsurface 33 is orthogonal to the second supportingsurface 32 in Embodiment 1). Thefilm antenna 10 is wound around thesupport 30 so that a front surface or a back surface of thefilm antenna 10 is in contact with the first supportingsurface 31, the second supportingsurface 32, and the third supportingsurface 33. - In
Embodiment 1, thesupport 30 is a box-shaped resin molded product as illustrated inFig. 2 . The first supportingsurface 31 is a top surface of thesupport 30. The second supportingsurface 32 is a rear-end surface (surface on the x-axis positive side in the coordinate system illustrated) of thesupport 30. The third supportingsurface 33 is a bottom surface of thesupport 30. The resin molded product has lightening holes in the top surface-side. The first supportingsurface 31 is constituted by top end surfaces (hatched with oblique lines in (a) ofFig. 2 ) of partition walls which are remaining portions other than the lightening holes. The third supportingsurface 33 protrudes frontwards (i.e. toward the x-axis negative side in the coordinate system illustrated) more than does the first supportingsurface 31. The third supportingsurface 33 is divided into two regions which are (i) acounter region 33a facing a region on which the first supportingsurface 31 is formed and (ii) anon-counter region 33b not facing the region on which the first supportingsurface 31 is formed. - The
support 30 includes a first holdingpart 34, a second holdingpart 35, and a third holdingpart 36 as a holding section for increasing durability with respect to pulling of thecoaxial cable 20 by holding thecoaxial cable 20 so that thecoaxial cable 20 passes through a certain wiring path. - In the third supporting
surface 33 of thesupport 30, afirst recess 37 and asecond recess 38 are provide. Thesecond recess 38 is provided so as to (i) be continuous with thefirst recess 37 and (ii) extend toward an end part of the third supportingsurface 33. The first andsecond recesses second recesses coaxial cable 20 and thefeed section 14 are connected (hereinafter referred to as "connection part of the end part of thecoaxial cable 20 and thefeed section 14") is contained. Thecoaxial cable 20, which extends from the connection part penetrates through the first andsecond recesses Embodiment 1, the connection part of the end part of thecoaxial cable 20 and thefeed section 14 is covered with aresin mold part 21 described later (seeFig. 4 ). - The
first recess 37 is a recess which (i) is provided at a part of the third supportingsurface 33, which part is located in the vicinity of a boundary between the third supportingsurface 33 and the second supportingsurface 32, (ii) has a long shape extending along the boundary between the third supporting surface and the second supporting surface (i.e. extending along the y-axis in the coordinate system illustrated), and (iii) is recessed from the third supportingsurface 33 toward first supporting surface 31 (i.e. toward the z-axis positive side in the coordinate system illustrated). - The
first recess 37 has a size so as to contain the resin mold part 21 (which is resin molded product covering the connection part of the end part of thecoaxial cable 20 and the feed section 14) described later. - The
second recess 38 is a recess which (i) is narrower in width than thefirst recess 37, (ii) has one end part which is continuous with thefirst recess 37, and (iii) has the other end part which extends until the end part of the third supportingsurface 33. As with thefirst recess 37, thesecond recess 38 is a recess which (i) extends along the boundary between the third supporting surface and the second supporting surface 32 (i.e. extending along the y-axis in the coordinate system illustrated) and (ii) is recessed from the third supportingsurface 33 toward first supporting surface 31 (i.e. toward the z-axis positive side in the coordinate system illustrated). - The
second recess 38 has a size so as to allow thecoaxial cable 20, which extends from theresin mold part 21 contained in thefirst recess 37, to penetrate through thesecond recess 38. - In the
antenna device 1, thefilm antenna 10 is (i) attached to thesupport 30 so that the connection part of the end part of thecoaxial cable 20 and thefeed section 14 is contained in the first andsecond recesses surface 33 which part is located in the vicinity of a boundary between the third supportingsurface 33 and the second supportingsurface 32 and (ii) wound around thesupport 30 so that thefilm antenna 10 is in contact with the first supportingsurface 31, the second supportingsurface 32, and the third supportingsurface 33. In so doing, thefilm antenna 10 is wound around thesupport 30 so that (i) one end of thefilm antenna 10 is provided at an end part of the first supportingsurface 31, which end part (edge on a first antenna conductor 12-side described later) is opposite an end part on a second supporting surface 32-side and (ii) the other end of thefilm antenna 10 extends out frontwards more than does an end part of the third supportingsurface 33 opposite the end part of the third supportingsurface 33 on the second supporting surface 32-side. - The first holding
part 34 is provided in a region protruding frontwards more than does the end part of the first supportingsurface 31, which end part is opposite the end part on the second supporting surface 32-side. Specifically, the first holdingpart 34 is provided on a top surface-side (toward the z-axis positive side in the coordinate system illustrated) of thenon-counter region 33b of the third supportingsurface 33. The first holdingpart 34 holds part of thecoaxial cable 20 so that the part extends in a direction along (parallel to, in Embodiment 1) both the first supportingsurface 31 and the second supporting surface 32 (i.e. along the y-axis in the coordinate system illustrated). The first holdingpart 34 provided outside of a spatial region which is sandwiched between (i) a region of thefilm antenna 10 which region is in contact with the first supportingsurface 31 and (ii) a region of thefilm antenna 10 which region is in contact with the third supportingsurface 33. This allows thecoaxial cable 20 to be placed in the first holdingpart 34 even after thefilm antenna 10 is wound around thesupport 30. - In
Embodiment 1, the holdingpart 34 includes (i) a plurality of (4 in Embodiment 1)partition walls 34a which are provided so that respective wall surfaces of thepartition walls 34a are perpendicular to both the third supportingsurface 33 and the second supportingsurface 32 and (ii) recesses 34b (slits) which are provided in therespective partition walls 34a and which have respective openings facing upwards. By fitting thecoaxial cable 20 into therecesses 34b of thepartition walls 34a, thecoaxial cable 20 is held (sandwiched) successfully as described above. In order to cause thecoaxial cable 20, which is held by the first holdingpart 34, to meander and to be unlikely to come off from the first holdingpart 34, apartition wall 34c is used inEmbodiment 1. Thepartition wall 34c is provided so that a wall surface of thepartition wall 34c extends parallel to the wall surfaces of thepartition walls 34a. A front end surface of thepartition wall 34c is inclined so that a lower part of the front end surface further juts out frontwards than does an upper part of the front end surface. Therefore, in a case where thecoaxial cable 20 is deeply fitted into therecesses 34b of thepartition walls 34a, a center part of thecoaxial cable 20 is pushed out frontwards by thepartition wall 34c, so that thecoaxial cable 20 meanders and is pressed against thepartition walls 34a more firmly. This causes force of friction occurring between thecoaxial cable 20 and thepartition walls 34a to be greater, and therefore causes thecoaxial cable 20 to be unlikely to come off. - The
second holding part 35 is provided on a left-side surface (surface facing the y-axis negative direction in the coordinate system illustrated) of thesupport 30. Thesecond holding part 35 holds part of thecoaxial cable 20 so that the part extends perpendicularly to the second supporting surface 32 (i.e. extends along the x-axis in the coordinate system illustrated). Thesecond holding part 35 serves to guide thecoaxial cable 20 as follows: Thecoaxial cable 20 extends from theresin mold part 21 contained in the recessed containing part (the first andsecond recesses 37 and 38) provided at a part of the third supportingsurface 33 which part is located in the vicinity of a boundary between the third supportingsurface 33 and the second supportingsurface 32. Thecoaxial cable 20 is then held by the second holdingpart 35 so that thecoaxial cable 20 is (i) bent and guided frontwards (toward an end part opposite an end part on the second supporting surface 32-side) and (ii) guided to the first holdingpart 34. - The
second holding part 35 is provided outside of the spatial region which is sandwiched between (i) the region of thefilm antenna 10 which region is in contact with the first supportingsurface 31 and (ii) the region of thefilm antenna 10 which region is in contact with the third supportingsurface 33. This allows thecoaxial cable 20 to be placed in the second holdingpart 35 even after thefilm antenna 10 is wound around thesupport 30. - In
Embodiment 1, a protrudingpart 35a, which serves as the second holdingpart 35, has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and protrudes leftwards from a lower end part of the left-side surface of thesupport 30. Theprotruding part 35a has arecess 35b having an opening which faces downwards and which extend from an end surface on the second supporting surface 32-side to an opposite end surface. By fitting thecoaxial cable 20 into therecess 35b, thecoaxial cable 20 is successfully held as described above. - The third holding
part 36 is provided on a right-side surface (surface facing the y-axis positive direction in the coordinate system illustrated) of thesupport 30. The third holdingpart 36 holds part of thecoaxial cable 20 so that the part extends perpendicularly to the second supporting surface 32 (i.e. extends along the x-axis in the coordinate system illustrated). Then, the third holdingpart 36 bends thecoaxial cable 20, which extends out from the first holdingpart 34, and guides thecoaxial cable 20 frontwards. The third holdingpart 36 is provided outside of the spatial region which is sandwiched between (i) the region of thefilm antenna 10 which region is in contact with the first supportingsurface 31 and (ii) the region of thefilm antenna 10 which region is in contact with the third supportingsurface 33. This allows thecoaxial cable 20 to be placed in the third holdingpart 36 even after thefilm antenna 10 is wound around thesupport 30. - In
Embodiment 1, the third holdingpart 36 is aprotruding part 36a having a rectangular parallelepiped shape and protruding rightwards from a lower end part of the right-side surface of thesupport 30. Theprotruding part 36a has arecess 36b having an opening which faces downwards and which extend from an end surface on the second supporting surface 32-side to an opposite end surface. By fitting thecoaxial cable 20 into therecess 36b, thecoaxial cable 20 is successfully held as described above. - In
Embodiment 1, the third supportingsurface 33 of thesupport 30 thus has the first andsecond recesses coaxial cable 20 and the feed section 14 (part covered with the resin mold part 21) when thefilm antenna 10 is wound around thesupport 30. Then, the first holdingpart 34 for holding thecoaxial cable 20 is provided on the surface (first supporting surface 31-side) opposite the third supportingsurface 33. Thesupport 30 also includes two holding parts (the second and third holdingparts 35 and 36). The second and third holdingparts recess 35b and therecess 36b, respectively, each of which has an opening on the side opposite the surface on which the first holdingpart 34 is provided. Thesecond holding part 35 and the third holdingpart 36 are provided on the left-side surface and the right-side surface, respectively, of thesupport 30. - On the first supporting surface 31 (specifically the top end surface of the partition walls constituting the first supporting surface 31), L-shaped
protrusions 31a and I-shapedprotrusions 31b are provided. The L-shapedprotrusions 31a are each made up of (i) a first columnar part extending upwards from the first supportingsurface 31 and (ii) a second columnar part extending frontwards from an upper end part of the first columnar part.Rectangular openings 12c, which are made in the film antenna 10 (seeFig. 3 ), are to be hooked to the corresponding L-shapedprotrusions 31a so that (i) thefilm antenna 10 is positioned relative to thesupport 30 and (ii) thefilm antenna 10 is prevented from being detached from thesupport 30 even if part of thefilm antenna 10, which part is in contact with the first supportingsurface 31, is pulled backwards (even if part of thefilm antenna 10, which part is contact with the third supportingsurface 33, is pulled frontwards). Meanwhile, the I-shapedprotrusions 31b are each a columnar part extending upwards from the first supportingsurface 31. The I-shapedprotrusions 31b are to be engaged withcircular openings 12d (seeFig. 3 ) made in thefilm antenna 10 so that thefilm antenna 10 is positioned relative to thesupport 30. - As illustrated in (b) of
Fig. 2 , in a case where thesupport 30 is provided so that the z-axis positive side faces downwards in the drawing, an L-shapedguide 32a is provided at a right end part of the second supportingsurface 32. The L-shapedguide 32a is made up of (i) a first plate-like part extending backwards from the second supportingsurface 32 and (ii) a second plate-like part extending rightwards from a back end part of the first plate-like part. Likewise, an L-shapedguide 32b is provided at a left end part of the second supporting surface 32 (see (b) ofFig. 2 ). The L-shapedguide 32b is made up of (i) a first plate-like part extending backwards from the second supportingsurface 32 and (ii) a second plate-like part extending leftwards from a back end part of the first plate-like part. Thefilm antenna 10 can be made to come into close contact with the second supportingsurface 31 by (i) sandwiching an right end part of thefilm antenna 10 between the second plate-like part of the L-shapedguide 32a and the second supportingsurface 32 and (ii) sandwiching a left end part of thefilm antenna 10 between the second plate-like part of the L-shapedguide 32b and the second supportingsurface 32. - The third supporting
surface 33 has I-shapedprotrusions 33d. The I-shapedprotrusions 33d are each a columnar part extending downwards from the third supportingsurface 33. The I-shapedprotrusions 33d are to be engaged withcircular openings 13a provided on the film antenna 10 (seeFig. 3 ) so that thefilm antenna 10 is positioned relative to thesupport 30. At a front end part of the third supportingsurface 33, aguide ring 33c is provided (see (a) ofFig. 2 ). Thefilm antenna 10 is to pass through theguide ring 33c, so that thefilm antenna 10 can be supported so as to be guided along the third supportingsurface 33. In other words, thefilm antenna 10 passes through theguide ring 33c as well as is supported by theguide ring 33c. - Note that examples of a material for the
support 30 encompass a PC-ABS resin obtained by mixing a polycarbonate resin (PC resin) and an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymerized synthetic resin (ABS resin). However, the present invention is not limited to such a material. - As illustrated in
Fig. 3 , thefilm antenna 10 includes (i) adielectric film 11 and (ii) a pair ofantenna conductors dielectric film 11. - The
first antenna conductor 12 includes afirst connection point 14a to which an inner conductor (hot side conductor) of thecoaxial cable 20 is connected. Meanwhile, thesecond antenna conductor 13 includes asecond connection point 14b to which an outer conductor (cold side conductor) of thecoaxial cable 20 is connected. Thefeed section 14 of thefilm antenna 10 is made up of thefirst connection point 14a and thesecond connection point 14b. Although not illustrated, the end part of thecoaxial cable 20 is connected to the feed section 14 (the first and second connection points 14a and 14b) of thefilm antenna 10. Specifically, the inner conductor of thecoaxial cable 20 is connected to thefirst connection point 14a by soldering. The outer conductor of thecoaxial cable 20 is connected to thesecond connection point 14b by soldering. - The
first antenna conductor 12 and thesecond antenna conductor 13 constitute (i) a dipole antenna in which thefirst antenna conductor 12 and thesecond antenna conductor 13 each serve as an antenna element or (ii) a monopole antenna in which thefirst antenna conductor 12 and thesecond antenna conductor 13 serve as an antenna element and a ground plane, respectively. - In
Embodiment 1, thefirst antenna conductor 12 is a conductive foil (e.g. copper foil) having a bell-like shape obtained by replacing, with quarteredellipses ellipses first antenna conductor 12, a protrusion is provided. Thefirst connection point 14a is provided on the protrusion. InEmbodiment 1, thesecond antenna conductor 13 is a conductive foil (e.g. copper foil) having a rectangular shape. At a shorter side of thesecond antenna conductor 13, a recess is provided. Thesecond connection point 14b is provided in the vicinity of the recess. Thefirst antenna conductor 12 and thesecond antenna conductor 13 are combined so that (i) the protrusion is inserted into the recess and (ii) thefirst connection point 14a and thesecond connection point 14b face each other via a gap between thefirst antenna conductor 12 and thesecond antenna conductor 13. - Note that at an end part of the
second antenna conductor 13 which part is located in the proximity of thefirst antenna conductor 12, anopening 13b is provided for increasing bonding strength with which the resin mold part 21 (described later) and thefilm antenna 10 are bonded. Assume a case where theresin mold part 21, which covers thefeed section 14 of thefilm antenna 10 and covers the end part of the coaxial cable connected to thefeed section 14, is provided in a region including theopening 13b. In such a case, a resin material, by which theresin mold part 21 is formed, spreads over the front surface and the back surface of thefilm antenna 10 via theopening 13. This allows bonding strength, with which theresin mold part 21 and thefilm antenna 10 are bonded, to be increased. - The
film antenna 10 is wound around thesupport 30 by folding thefilm antenna 10 in a U shape whose ridgelines are (i) a line A-A' which extends across thefirst antenna conductor 12 and (ii) a line B-B' which extends between thefirst antenna conductor 12 and thesecond antenna conductor 13. That is, on thefilm antenna 10 wound around thesupport 30, the following bent parts are made: (i) a bent part which is bent at the line A-A' along a boundary between the first and second supportingsurfaces support 30 and (ii) a bent part which is bent at the line B-B' along a boundary between the second and third supportingsurfaces - In so doing, (i) a
region 10a (first region: main part of the first antenna conductor 12), which expands between the edge on the first antenna conductor 12-side and the line A-A', comes into contact with the first supportingsurface 31 of thesupport 30, (ii) aregion 10b (second region), which expands between the line A-A' and the line B-B', comes into contact with the second supportingsurface 32 of thesupport 30, and (iii) aregion 10c (third region: main part of the second antenna conductor 13), which expands between the line B-B' and a line C-C' that extends across the second antenna conductor 13), comes into contact with the third supportingsurface 33 of thesupport 30. Note that aregion 10d, which expands between the line C-C' and an edge on a second antenna conductor 13-side, does not come into contact with any surface of thesupport 30. - Note that examples of a material for the
dielectric film 11 encompass polyimide. Examples of a material for each of the pair ofantenna conductors film antenna 10 is preferably highly flexible so as to (i) fit thefilm antenna 10, which is folded, to each of the first through third supportingsurfaces 31 through 33 of thesupport 30 and (ii) prevent a gap between thefilm antenna 10 and thesupport 30 from occurring. Therefore, thedielectric film 11, thefirst antenna conductor 12, and thesecond antenna conductor 13 are each preferably thin in thickness. For example, it is possible that (1) theantenna conductors dielectric film 11 is a polyimide film which has one surface coated with an adhesive and which has a total thickness of 35 µm including the thickness of the adhesive. - The
film antenna 10 can further include a dielectric film which covers the front surfaces of theantenna conductors film antenna 10 can be configured so that theantenna conductors antenna conductors antenna conductors - The
resin mold part 21, which covers (i) thefeed section 14 of thefilm antenna 10 and (ii) the end part of the coaxial cable connected to thefeed section 14, will be described next with reference toFig. 4 . (a) ofFig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating theantenna device 1. Thesupport 30 is omitted from (a) ofFig. 4 . (b) ofFig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating thefilm antenna 10 included in theantenna device 1 illustrated in (a) ofFig. 4 . - As illustrated in (a) of
Fig. 4 , the inner conductor and the outer conductor of thecoaxial cable 20 and the resin mold part 21 (which covers thefeed section 14 without a gap) are provided (i) at the connection part of the end part of thecoaxial cable 20 and thefeed section 14 and (ii) in the vicinity of the connection part. Theresin mold part 21 is formed by a resin molded product. This prevents the inner conductor and the outer conductor of thecoaxial cable 20 and thefeed section 14 from being exposed. Therefore, theresin mold part 21 allows the connection part of thecoaxial cable 20 and thefeed section 14 to be waterproof. This prevents soldering of thefeed section 14 from deteriorating due to moisture in an atmosphere or the like, and consequently increases a water-resistant property of thefilm antenna 10. - As illustrated in (b) of
Fig. 4 , thesecond antenna conductor 13 has theopening 13b. This causes, during forming of theresin mold part 21, a resin material by which theresin mold part 21 is formed spreads over the front surface and the back surface of thefilm antenna 10 via theopening 13b. As a result, theresin mold part 21 sandwiches thefilm antenna 10 from the front surface-side and the back surface-side, so that a resin is continuously formed via theopening 13b. This allows bonding strength, with which theresin mold part 21 and thefilm antenna 10 are bonded, to be increased, so that theresin mold part 21 can be prevented from peeling from thefilm antenna 10. - A resin mold part 21α, which is a variation of the
resin mold part 21, will be described below with reference toFig. 5 . (a) ofFig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating anantenna device 1 including the resin mold part 21α. (b) ofFig. 5 is a right side view illustrating the resin mold part 21α (side view obtained when resin mold part 21α is viewed from y-axis negative side in the coordinate system illustrated). Note that asupport 30 and part (cable part) of acoaxial cable 20 other than the resin mold part 21α are omitted from (b) ofFig. 5 . - As illustrated in (a) and (b) of
Fig. 5 , the resin mold part 21α includes a first covering part 22α, a second covering part 23α, and athird covering part 24. The first covering part 22α is provided on a front surface (surface facing the z-axis positive side in the coordinate system illustrated) of thefilm antenna 10. The second covering part 23α is provided on a back surface (surface facing the z-axis negative side in the coordinate system illustrated) of thefilm antenna 10. Thethird covering part 24 is provided at an end part toward which the cable part of thecoaxial cable 20 is drawn. - When the
film antenna 10 is viewed from a direction perpendicular to athird region 10c (i.e. viewed along the z-axis in the coordinate system illustrated), a region in which the first covering part 22α is in contact with the front surface of thefilm antenna 10 is identical to a region in which the second covering part 23α is in contact with the back surface of thefilm antenna 10. - The first covering part 22α is configured so as to gradually become thinner in thickness (height as measured from the front surface of the film antenna 10) from a part corresponding to a center part of the
coaxial cable 20 to a part corresponding a line B-B'. In other words, the first covering part 22α gradually becomes thinner toward a bent part at which thefilm antenna 10 is bent between thethird region 10c and asecond region 10b. This part of the first covering part 22α, which part gradually becomes thinner in thickness will be referred to as "skirt part 22α1" of the first covering part 22α. The skirt part 22α1 includes, of edges of the first covering part 22α, an edge extending along the line B-B' (i.e. the edge that is closer to the line B-B'). - Likewise, the second covering part 23α is configured so as to gradually become thinner in thickness (height as measured from the front surface of the film antenna 10) from a part corresponding to the center part of the
coaxial cable 20 to a part corresponding to the line B-B'. In other words, the second covering part 23α gradually becomes thinner toward the bent part at which thefilm antenna 10 is bent between thethird region 10c and thesecond region 10b. This part of the second covering part 23α, which part gradually becomes thinner in thickness will be referred to as "skirt part 23α1" of the second covering part 23α. The skirt part 23α1 includes, of edges of the second covering part 23α, an edge extending along the line B-B' (i.e. the edge that is close to the line B-B'). - The resin mold part 21α is configured so that the skirt part 22α1 of the first covering part 22α and the skirt part 23α1 of the second covering part 23α are located on a front side and a back side, respectively, of a shared region so as to face each other. Therefore, in a case where the
film antenna 10 is folded at the line B-B' as a ridgeline, stress derived from the folding can be distributed to the skirt part 22α1 of the first covering part 22α and to the skirt part 23α1 of the second covering part 23a. - In addition, each of the skirt parts 22α1 and 23α1 thus gradually becomes thinner in thickness toward the line B-B'. Therefore, in a case where the
film antenna 10 is folded, the first covering part 22α and the second covering part 23α are each more bendable toward the line B-B' in response to force applied along the z-axis. Therefore, stress derived from folding of thefilm antenna 10 does not become concentrated on the edges of the first covering part 22α and the second covering part 23α along the line B-B', but is gradually reduced on the skirt parts 22α1 and 23α1 as distancing from the line B-B'. - With these configurations, the following is true: Even if the
film antenna 10 is folded in the vicinity of the resin mold part 21α, it is possible to (i) prevent the edge of the first covering part 22α in the vicinity of the line B-B' and thefilm antenna 10 from peeling from each other over a long period of time and (ii) prevent the edge of the second covering part 23α in the vicinity of the line B-B' and thefilm antenna 10 from peeling from each other over a long period of time. This allows a water-resistant property of theantenna device 10 to be maintained at a high level over a long period of time. - In particular, in a case where the resin mold part 21α is formed by injection molding in which a resin molding die is used as described later in the "production method" section, (i) a resin mold part forming step is carried out in which the resin mold part 21α is subjected to injection molding while the
film antenna 10 is spread out flat and then (ii) a winding step is carried out in which thefilm antenna 10 is wound around thesupport 30. The resin mold part 21α is provided along the shape of thefilm antenna 10 that is spread out. Therefore, in the winding step, a large level of stress is applied to, of all the edges of the first covering part 22α and second covering part 23α, the edges extending along the line B-B'. The resin mold part 22α including the skirt parts 22α1 and 23α1 is suitable as a resin mold part to be formed by injection molding with the use of such a die. The resin mold part 21α is also suitable in a case where the resin mold part 21α is made of a resin material having a high degree of hardness. - Note that the first covering part 22α and second covering part 23α are configured so as to gradually become thinner in thickness from the parts corresponding to the center part of the
coaxial cable 20 to parts corresponding to a line C-C'. These parts, which gradually become thinner in thickness, will be referred to as "skirt parts 22α2 and 23α2" of the first covering part 22α and second covering part 23α, respectively. Thesecond antenna conductor 13 is configured not to be folded. Therefore, although the skirt parts 22α2 and 23α2 do not serve an active role in increasing the water-resistant property of theantenna device 10, the skirt parts 22α2 and 23α2 bring about the effect of improving an appearance of the resin mold part 21α. The first covering part 22α and second covering part 23α can thus include the skirt parts 22α2 and 23α2, respectively. - The wiring path of the
coaxial cable 20 included in theantenna device 1 will be described below with reference toFig. 6 . (a), (b), and (d) ofFig. 6 are a plan view, a front view, and a bottom view, respectively, which illustrate theantenna device 1. (c) ofFig. 6 is a side view illustrating the left-side surface of theantenna device 1. In (a) through (d) ofFig. 6 , thefilm antenna 10 is omitted so that the wiring path of thecoaxial cable 20 can be easily recognized. - The
film antenna 10 connected to thecoaxial cable 20 is wound around thesupport 30. The connection part of the end part of thecoaxial cable 20 and thefeed section 14 is contained in the first andsecond recesses surface 33 of thesupport 30. Then, as illustrated in (c) ofFig. 6 , thecoaxial cable 20, which is drawn from thefeed section 14 toward the left-side surface of the support 30 (toward the y-axis negative side of the coordinate system illustrated), is (i) bent frontwards with respect to the support 30 (toward the x-axis negative side in the coordinate system illustrated) and then (ii) fitted into the second holdingpart 35. The left-side surface of thesupport 30 intersects the first supportingsurface 31, the second supportingsurface 32, and the third supportingsurface 33. Thesecond holding part 35 holds thecoaxial cable 20 so that part of thecoaxial cable 20 extends (i) in a direction along the first supportingsurface 31 and the third supportingsurface 33 and (ii) in a direction that intersects the second supportingsurface 32. - As illustrated in (b) of
Fig. 6 , thecoaxial cable 20 after being fitted into the second holdingpart 35 is (i) bent upwards with respect to the support 30 (toward the z-axis positive side in the coordinate system illustrated) and (ii) bent rightwards (toward the y-axis positive side in the coordinate system illustrated). Then, thecoaxial cable 20 is fitted into the first holdingpart 34. The first holdingpart 34 holds thecoaxial cable 20 so that part of thecoaxial cable 20 extends in a direction along the first supportingsurface 31 and the second supportingsurface 32. - As illustrated in (a) of
Fig. 6 , thecoaxial cable 20 after being fitted into the first holdingpart 34 is bent frontwards with respect to the support 30 (toward the x-axis negative side in the coordinate system illustrated). - In the wiring path of the
coaxial cable 20 thus arranged, the first holdingpart 34 is preferably provided outside of a spatial region sandwiched between theregion 10a of thefilm antenna 10 and theregion 10c of thefilm antenna 10. That is, in a plan view of thesupport 30, the first holdingpart 34 is preferably provided outside of the first supporting surface 31 (see (a) ofFig. 6 ). In the wiring path of thecoaxial cable 20, the second holdingpart 35 is also preferably provided outside of the first supportingsurface 31. These configurations allow thecoaxial cable 20 to be easily fitted into each of the first holdingpart 34 and the second holdingpart 35 even after thefilm antenna 10 is wound around thesupport 30. This allows for a reduction in time and effort needed to produce theantenna device 1, and therefore allows for a reduction in costs for producing theantenna device 1. - As illustrated in (b) of
Fig. 6 , one of the characteristics of the wiring path of thecoaxial cable 20 is that part of thecoaxial cable 20, which part extends in the direction along the first supportingsurface 31 and the second supportingsurface 32, is held by the first holdingpart 34 so that a distance D1 between the part and the first supportingsurface 31 is equal to a distance D2 between the part and the third supportingsurface 33. This configuration allows an excellent radiation characteristic to be obtained even in a case where the wiring path is configured so that part of thecoaxial cable 20 extends across the third supportingsurface 33. The radiation characteristic in such a case will be described later in Example 1. - Note that the part of the
coaxial cable 20, which part extends in the direction along the first supportingsurface 31 and the second supportingsurface 32, can be held by the first holdingpart 34 so that the distance D1 is equal to or greater than the distance D2. This configuration also restricts deterioration of a radiation characteristic even in a case where the wiring path is configured so that part of thecoaxial cable 20 extends across the third supportingsurface 33. The radiation characteristic in such a case will be described later in Example 2. - As illustrated in (a) of
Fig. 2 , (i) therecesses 34b of the first holdingpart 34 are preferably opened upwards with respect to the support 30 (toward the z-axis positive side in the coordinate system illustrated) and (ii) therecess 35b of the second holdingpart 35 is opened downwards with respect to the support 30 (toward the z-axis negative side in the coordinate system illustrated). Therecess 36b of the third holdingpart 36 is preferably opened downwards with respect to the support 30 (toward the z-axis negative side in the coordinate system illustrated). That is, it is preferable that (i) therecess 35b and therecess 36b are made in the second and third holdingparts second recesses surface 33 are opened and (ii) therecesses 34b is made in the first holdingpart 34 so as to be opened in a second direction opposite the first direction. - This configuration allows the
support 30, which includes the first through third holdingparts antenna device 1. In addition, since the holding parts for holding thecoaxial cable 20 are provided in an upper side and a lower side of thesupport 30, it is possible to increase durability with respect to pulling of the coaxial cable 20 (durability of the connection part via which thecoaxial cable 20 and thefeed section 14 are connected). - It is preferable that as illustrated in (b) and (c) of
Fig. 6 , (i) the second holdingpart 35 is provided further downwards with respect to the support 30 (toward the z-axis negative side in the coordinate system illustrated) than the first holdingpart 34 and (ii) part of thecoaxial cable 20 held by the first holdingpart 34 and the second holdingpart 35 extends in a direction (along the z-axis) that intersects the first and third supportingsurfaces part 34 and the second holdingpart 35. It is also preferable that as illustrated in (b) ofFig. 6 , (i) the third holdingpart 36 is provided further downwards with respect to the support 30 (toward the z-axis negative side in the coordinate system illustrated) than the first holdingpart 34 and (ii) part of thecoaxial cable 20 held by the first holdingpart 34 and the third holdingpart 36 extends, between the first holdingpart 34 and the third holdingpart 36, in a direction (along the z-axis) that intersects the first and third supportingsurfaces - That is, part of the
coaxial cable 20, which part extends toward the y-axis negative side from theresin mold part 21 contained in the first andsecond recesses part 35 so as to extend toward the x-axis negative side (see (d) ofFig. 6 ). Then, part of thecoaxial cable 20, which part is held by the second holdingpart 35, is (i) bent toward the z-axis positive side so as to extend toward the first holdingpart 34 and then (ii) bent and held by the first holdingpart 34 so as to extend toward the y-axis positive side (see (a) through (c) ofFig. 6 ). Then, part of thecoaxial cable 20, which part is held by the first holdingpart 34, is (i) bent toward the z-axis negative side so as to extend toward the third holdingpart 36 and then (ii) bent and held by the third holdingpart 36 so as to extend toward the x-axis negative side (see (b) and (d) ofFig. 6 ). - With this configuration, in a case where force to pull the
coaxial cable 20 from theantenna device 1 is applied, bent parts of thecoaxial cable 20 are subjected to force to straighten the bent parts. This (1) causes part of thecoaxial cable 20, which part is held (sandwiched) by the first holdingpart 34, to be more firmly pressed against therecesses 34b of the first holdingpart 34 and (2) causes part of thecoaxial cable 20, which part is held by the second holdingpart 35, to be more firmly pressed against therecess 35b of the second holdingpart 35. Therefore, even in a case where force to pull thecoaxial cable 20 from theantenna device 1 is applied, it is still possible to prevent thecoaxial cable 20 from being detached from the first holdingpart 34 and the second holdingpart 35. In addition, since thecoaxial cable 20 is held by these holding parts, the connection part of thefeed section 14 and thecoaxial cable 20 is prevented from being subjected to pulling force even in a case where the pulling force to pull thecoaxial cable 20 from theantenna device 1 is applied. - A surface of the second holding
part 35, which surface is in contact with a bent part of thecoaxial cable 20, is preferably a smooth curved surface. InEmbodiment 1, as illustrated in (b) ofFig. 6 , the surface of the second holdingpart 35 in contact with the bent part of thecoaxial cable 20 is configured to be a curved surface by chamfering an end part of thesecond holding section 35, which end part faces frontwards with respect to the support 30 (i.e. toward the x-axis negative side in the coordinate system illustrated). With this configuration, even in a case where force to pull thecoaxial cable 20 from theantenna device 1 is applied, the end part of the second holdingpart 35, which end part faces frontwards with respect to thesupport 30, is prevented from damaging and eventually breaking thecoaxial cable 20. - A first production method of producing the
antenna device 1 in accordance withEmbodiment 1 includes: (i) a step of connecting thecoaxial cable 20 to thefeed section 14 of thefilm antenna 10 and (ii) a resin mold part forming step of forming theresin mold part 21 which covers thefeed section 14 and covers the end part of thecoaxial cable 20, which end part is connected to thefeed section 14. - The first production method can further include the step of preparing the
support 30 which (i) has: the first supportingsurface 31; the second supportingsurface 32 intersecting the first supportingsurface 31; and the third supportingsurface 33 facing the first supportingsurface 31 and intersecting the second supportingsurface 32, (ii) includes the first and thesecond holding parts 34 and 35 (holding section) for holding thecoaxial cable 20, and (iii) is configured so that the first andsecond recesses 37 and 38 (recessed containing part) for containing theresin mold part 21 are provided in the third supportingsurface 33. - The first production method can further include (i) a winding step of: attaching the
film antenna 10 to thesupport 30 so that theresin mold part 21 is contained in the first andsecond recesses film antenna 10 around thesupport 30 so that thefilm antenna 10 comes into contact with the first supportingsurface 31, the second supportingsurface 32, and the third supportingsurface 33 and (ii) a wiring step of wiring thecoaxial cable 20 so that: thecoaxial cable 20 is held by the first and thesecond holding parts coaxial cable 20 extends in a direction along the first supportingsurface 31 and the second supportingsurface 32. - In the resin mold part forming step in accordance with
Embodiment 1, theresin mold part 21 is formed by injection molding in which a resin molding die is used. - Specifically, (i) the
film antenna 10, in which the end part of thecoaxial cable 20 is connected to thefeed section 14, is set in a die and then (ii) a region, which includes thefeed section 14 and which is located in the vicinity of the feed section, is contained in a cavity of the die. Then, the cavity is filled with a high-temperature molten resin material, and then the molten resin material is hardened by being cooled in the cavity. Then, by taking thefilm antenna 10 out of the die, it is possible to obtain thefilm antenna 10 in which theresin mold part 21 covers thefeed section 14 and covers the end part of thecoaxial cable 20 which end part is connected to thefeed section 14. - Examples of a resin material of which the
resin mold part 21 is made encompass, but are not limited to, (i) moisture curing urethane-based hot melt (such as "TECHNOMELT PUR 9515" manufactured by Henkel AG & Co. KGaA), (ii) a thermosetting resin, and (iii) an ultraviolet-curing resin. -
Embodiment 1 discussed producing of theantenna device 1 by (i) covering, with theresin mold part 21, the connection part of thefeed section 14 of thefilm antenna 10 and thecoaxial cable 20 and then (ii) winding thefilm antenna 10 around thesupport 30. However, the present invention is not limited to this production method. A second production method will be described in detail below. - The second production method of producing the
antenna device 1 in accordance withEmbodiment 1 includes (i) a connecting step of connecting thecoaxial cable 20 to thefeed section 14 of thefilm antenna 10 and (ii) the step of preparing thesupport 30 which (a) has: the first supportingsurface 31; the second supportingsurface 32 intersecting the first supportingsurface 31; and the third supportingsurface 33 facing the first supportingsurface 31 and intersecting the second supportingsurface 32, (b) includes the first and thesecond holding parts 34 and 35 (holding section) for holding thecoaxial cable 20, and (c) is configured so that the first andsecond recesses 37 and 38 (recessed containing part) for containing thefeed section 14 are provided in the third supportingsurface 33. - The second production method can further include (i) a winding step of: attaching the
film antenna 10 to thesupport 30 so that the connection part of thefeed section 14 and thecoaxial cable 20 is contained in the first andsecond recesses 37 and 38 (recessed containing part); and winding thefilm antenna 10 around thesupport 30 so that thefilm antenna 10 comes into contact with the first supportingsurface 31, the second supportingsurface 32, and the third supportingsurface 33 and (ii) a wiring step of wiring thecoaxial cable 20 so that: thecoaxial cable 20 is held by the first and thesecond holding parts 34 and 35 (holding section); and part of thecoaxial cable 20 extends in a direction along the first supportingsurface 31 and the second supportingsurface 32. - The second production method can further include a resin mold part forming step of, after the above steps are carried out, (i) filling, with a liquid resin material, the first and
second recesses 37 and 38 (recessed containing part) in which the connection part of thefeed section 14 and thecoaxial cable 20 is contained and (ii) hardening the liquid resin material so as to form theresin mold part 21 that covers thefeed section 14 and covers the end part of thecoaxial cable 20 which end part is connected to thefeed section 14. - The
antenna device 1 can be provided various structures. Examples of the structures encompass a vehicle body of an automobile. An example in which theantenna device 1 is provided in a vehicle body will be described below with reference toFig. 7 . (a) ofFig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating avehicle body 50 on which aspoiler 52 including anantenna device 1 is provided. (b) ofFig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating thespoiler 52. - As illustrated in (a) of
Fig. 7 , thespoiler 52 is provided at a back end part of aroof 51 of thevehicle body 50. Thespoiler 52 is an integrally-formed resin member. Thespoiler 52 has a (i) structure (not shown) for setting thespoiler 52 to a certain position relative to the back end part of theroof 51 and (ii) a structure (not shown) for fixing thespoiler 52 to a certain position of theroof 51. Thespoiler 52 is fixed to the certain position of theroof 51 by these structures. - The
spoiler 52 has functions such as restricting irregular airflows (rectifying the airflow) at a back part of thevehicle body 50 and improving an appearance of thevehicle body 50. For the purpose of rectifying airflows, thespoiler 52 is configured to gradually decrease in vertical size toward the back end part. A void is made in the back part of the spoiler 52 (i.e. the back part has a hollow structure) (see (b) ofFig. 7 ). - In the present example, the
antenna device 1 including thespoiler 52 is achieved by providing theantenna device 1 in the void. Theantenna device 1 is provided in thespoiler 52 in such a manner as to be upside down in comparison with the orientation of theantenna device 1 illustrated inFig. 1 , so that the third supportingsurface 33 of thesupport 30 faces toward a top surface of thespoiler 52 of thevehicle body 50. - The following description will next discuss an antenna device 1α in accordance with
Embodiment 2. - As described above, the
antenna device 1 in accordance withEmbodiment 1 can be provided on, for example, a vehicle body of an automobile. Note, however, that depending on how theantenna device 1 is provided on a vehicle body, there is a possibility that the end part of thefilm antenna 10 is blown by wind, so that thefilm antenna 10 vibrates and consequently makes a noise such as a whizzing sound. There is also a possibility that in a case where the end part of thefilm antenna 10 continues to be blown by wind, the end part becomes deformed. - Therefore, the antenna device 1α in accordance with
Embodiment 2 is an antenna device which is further intended to prevent the occurrences of such noises and deformations. - The antenna device 1α in accordance with
Embodiment 2 will be described below with reference toFigs. 8 through 10 . Note that members similar to those of theantenna device 1 in accordance withEmbodiment 1 will be given the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will be omitted. (a) ofFig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the antenna device 1α. (b) ofFig. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the antenna device 1α. Note that a part (cable part) of acoaxial cable 20 other than the resin mold part 21α is omitted from each of (a) and (b) ofFig. 8 .Fig. 9 is a plan view illustrating a film antenna 10α included in the antenna device 1α. (a) ofFig. 10 is an enlarged plan view illustrating a support 30α included in the antenna device 1α. (b) ofFig. 10 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the support 30α. - The antenna device 1α includes the film antenna 10α, the
coaxial cable 20, and the support 30α. The film antenna 10α corresponds to thefilm antenna 10 included in theantenna device 1 in accordance withEmbodiment 1. The support 30α corresponds to thesupport 30 included in theantenna device 1 in accordance withEmbodiment 1. The resin mold part 21α corresponds to theresin mold part 21 included in theantenna device 1 in accordance withEmbodiment 1. - As illustrated in (b) of
Fig. 8 , the support 30α differs from thesupport 30 of theantenna device 1 in accordance withEmbodiment 1 in that the support 30α has aslot 31c. Theslot 31c is a hole made in a direction from the a first supportingsurface 31 of the support 30α toward a third supporting surface 33 (not shown inFig. 8 ) (toward the z-axis negative side in the coordinate system illustrated). A shape of an opening 31ap of theslot 31c made in the first supportingsurface 31 is a rectangle whose (i) longer sides extend along the y-axis in the coordinate system illustrated and (ii) shorter sides extend along the x-axis in the coordinate system illustrated. Theslot 31c, whose shape is obtained by advancing the rectangular opening 31ap toward the z-axis negative side, has an inner space which is a rectangular parallelepiped that consists of four side walls, specifically a pair of side walls including the longer sides of the opening 31ap (pair of side walls facing each other) and a pair of side walls including the shorter sides of the opening 31ap (pair of side walls facing each other). - As illustrated in
Fig. 9 , the film antenna 10α is obtained by replacing, with a dielectric film 11α, thedielectric film 11 included in thefilm antenna 10 of theantenna device 1 in accordance withEmbodiment 1. The dielectric film 11α is obtained by extending thedielectric film 11 inEmbodiment 1 away from thefeed section 14. That is, the film antenna 10α, which includes the dielectric film 11α, further includes, in addition toregions 10a through 10d, aregion 10e (fourth region: end part on a first antenna conductor 12-side) which expands from an edge on the first antenna conductor 12-side to a line D-D'. Theregion 10e hasrectangular openings 11a. - As illustrated in (b) of
Fig. 8 , the film antenna 10α is wound around the support 30α by folding the film antenna 10α in a U shape whose ridgelines are a line A-A' and a line B-B'. By folding the film antenna 10α along the line D-D' as a ridgeline, it is made possible to insert theregion 10e into theslot 31c of the support 30α. - On the side walls (side walls including the longer sides of the opening 31ap) of the
slot 31c, a total of two fixing parts for preventing theregion 10e from being detached from theslot 31c are provided such that one of the two fixing parts and the other one of the two fixing parts are provided toward the y-axis positive side and the y-axis negative side, respectively, in the coordinate system illustrated.Fig. 10 is an enlarged view illustrating the one of the two fixing parts which is provided toward the y-axis negative side. The one of the two fixing parts which is provided toward the y-axis negative side is made up of (i) arib 31d and arib 31e which are a pair of ribs and (ii) a wedge-shaped protrusion 13f. The other fixing part provided toward the y-axis positive side is configured as is the fixing part provided toward the y-axis negative side. - As illustrated in (a) of
Fig. 10 , therib 31d and therib 31e are each a protrusion protruding from one side wall (side wall on the x-axis positive side in the coordinate system illustrated) to the other side wall (side wall on the x-axis negative side in the coordinate system illustrated) of the pair of side walls including the longer sides of the opening 31ap. Therib 31d and therib 31e each extend linearly in a direction from the first supportingsurface 31 toward the third supporting surface 33 (toward the z-axis negative side in the coordinate system illustrated). That is, therib 31d and therib 31e extend parallel to each other. InEmbodiment 2, an amount by which each of therib 31d and therib 31e protrudes (i.e. height measured from the side wall on the x-axis positive side) is 1/2 of a length of the shorter side of the opening 31ap. - The wedge-shaped protrusion 13f is a protrusion protruding from one side wall (on the x-axis negative side) toward the other side wall (on the x-axis positive side) of the pair of side walls including the longer sides of the opening 31ap. In a plan view of the opening 31ap, the wedge-shaped protrusion 13f is located in the middle between the
rib 31d and therib 31e along the y-axis in the coordinate system illustrated. The wedge-shaped protrusion 13f is also located in the middle between the first supportingsurface 31 and the third supportingsurface 33 in regard to a depth of theslot 31c (along the z-axis in the coordinate system illustrated). - When the wedge-shaped protrusion 13f is viewed from the y-axis negative side in the coordinate system illustrated, the wedge-shaped protrusion 13f has a shape of a trapezoid (see (b) of
Fig. 10 ). A slope 31f1, which corresponds to one of the two legs of the trapezoid, intersects, at an acute angle, the side wall on the x-axis negative side. A stopper 31f2, which corresponds to the other one of the two legs of the trapezoid, intersects, at a right angle, the side wall on the x-axis negative side. In other words, the amount by which the wedge-shaped protrusion 13f protrudes (i.e. height measured from the side wall on the x-axis negative side) (i) gradually increases from the first supportingsurface 31 toward the third supportingsurface 33, (ii) reaches a certain level (height of the trapezoid) and then remains at the certain level, and then (iii) drastically decreases to zero. InEmbodiment 2, a maximum value of the amount by which the wedge-shaped protrusion 13f protrudes, that is, a maximum value of the height of the trapezoid, is preferably 1/2 of the length of the shorter sides of the opening 31ap or slightly greater than 1/2 of the length of the shorter sides of the opening 31ap. - Since the slope 31f1 is provided on the first supporting surface 31-side of the wedge-shaped protrusion 13f, the
region 10e can be smoothly inserted into theslot 31c. In a case where theregion 10e is inserted into theslot 31c and then theopenings 11a (seeFig. 9 ) reach a position corresponding to the wedge-shaped protrusion 13f, theregion 10e is pushed by therib 31d and therib 31e from the side wall on the x-axis positive side toward the side wall on the x-axis negative side of theslot 31c. This causes theopenings 11a to be caught by the wedge-shaped protrusion 13f. Since the stopper 31f2, which is steep, is provided on the third supporting surface 33-side of the wedge-shaped protrusion 13f, theopenings 11a are prevented from being unintentionally detached from the wedge-shaped protrusion 13f even in a case where force to pull theregion 10e from theslot 31c is applied. That is, theregion 10e does not unintentionally come off from theslot 31c. - With the antenna device 1α thus configured, the
region 10e, which is the end part of the film antenna 10α, is contained in theslot 31c and is prevented from coming off. This allows the film antenna 10α to be in close contact with the support 30α even in a case where the antenna device 1α is provided so as to be blown by wind. Hence, even in a case where the film antenna 10α is blown by the wind, the film antenna 10α does not vibrate. It is therefore possible to prevent the occurrence of a noise such as a whizzing sound. It is also possible to prevent the end part of the film antenna 10α from being deformed. - A production method of producing the antenna device 1α is similar to the production method of producing the
antenna device 1, except that the step of inserting theregion 10e into theslot 31c is further included in the winding step. - It is known that radiation characteristics of an antenna device can be easily affected by an environment surrounding the antenna device. The inventors of the present invention found that with the
antenna device 1 in accordance withEmbodiment 1 in which thecoaxial cable 20 extends across the third supportingsurface 33 in a direction along the second supportingsurface 32, a radiation characteristic of theantenna device 1 changes, depending on the wiring path of thecoaxial cable 20 extending from thefeed section 14. Specifically, the radiation characteristic of theantenna device 1 changes, depending on a relationship in length between distances from a part of thecoaxial cable 20, which part is held by the first holdingpart 34, to the first and thesecond antenna conductors 12 and 13 (between the distance D1 and the distance D2). - The following description will discuss the results of measuring radiation characteristics in cases where distances from the
coaxial cable 20 to the first and thesecond antenna conductors 12 and 13 (between the distance D1 and the distance D2) by changing the depth of therecesses 34b of the first holdingpart 34 of theantenna device 1 in accordance withEmbodiment 1. - In measurements of the radiation characteristics, the following antennas were used: (i) an
antenna device 1 in which acoaxial cable 20 is held by a first holdingpart 34 so that D2=D1 (Example 1), (ii) anantenna device 1 in which acoaxial cable 20 is held by afirst holding section 34 so that D2≥D1 (Example 2), and (iii) an antenna device in which acoaxial cable 20 is held by afirst holding section 34 so that D2<D1 (Example 3). - As a Reference Example for studying the radiation characteristics of the antennas in Examples, an antenna device, in which a coaxial cable drawn from a feed section does not extend across a film antenna, is used. In the antenna device in accordance with Reference Example, the coaxial cable drawn from the feed section is then provided away from the antenna device without being fitted into a second holding
part 35 or a first holdingpart 34. That is, the antenna device in accordance with Reference Example is configured so that there is no strength with respect to pulling of the coaxial cable. - Note that the film antenna included in the antenna device in accordance with Reference Example is identical to the
film antenna 10 included in theantenna device 1 in accordance withEmbodiment 1, and is wound around asupport 30 in a manner identical to that in which thefilm antenna 10 is wound around thesupport 30. That is, the antenna device in accordance with Reference Example differs from theantenna device 1 only in that thecoaxial cable 20 is not held by the first holdingpart 24 of thesupport 30. - The antenna device in accordance with Reference Example will be first described with reference to
Fig. 11. Fig. 11 is a graph showing (i) VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio) of the antenna device in accordance with Reference Example and (ii) a frequency dependency of an average gain of the antenna device in accordance with Reference Example. The average gain is calculated by averaging, over entire 360°, radiant gains obtained by the antenna device on an x-y plane. - Plotting of the VSWR shown in
Fig. 11 indicates that the VSWR of the antenna device in accordance with Reference Example is (i) below 2 in an 800 MHz band and (ii) drastically increased in a frequency band of 700 MHz or less. Plotting of the average gain of entire polarized waves in the horizontal plane shown inFig. 11 indicates that the antenna device in accordance with Reference Example exhibits an excellent average gain greater than -1dBi in the 800 MHz band. - Example 1 of the
antenna device 1 will be described next with reference toFig. 12. Fig. 12 is a graph showing (i) VSWR of theantenna device 1 in accordance with Example 1 and (ii) a frequency dependency of an average gain of theantenna device 1 in accordance with Example 1. - The
antenna device 1 in accordance with Example 1 can be obtained by configuring theantenna device 1 in accordance withEmbodiment 2 so that (i) thesupport 30 has a height (length along the z-axis in the coordinate system illustrated inFig. 1 ) of 17.0 mm, (ii) thecoaxial cable 20 has a radius of 1.4 mm, and (iii) the distance D1 and the distance D2 are each 8.5 mm. That is, theantenna device 1 in accordance with Example 1 is configured so that D2=D1. Note that thefilm antenna 10 included in theantenna device 1 in accordance with Example 1 is designed to obtain a preferable radiation characteristic in the 800 MHz band. - Plotting of the VSWR shown in
Fig. 12 indicates that the VSWR of theantenna device 1 in accordance with Example 1 is (i) below 2 in an 800 MHz band and (ii) drastically increased in a frequency band of 700 MHz or less. Plotting of the average gain of entire polarized waves in the horizontal plane shown inFig. 11 indicates that theantenna device 1 in accordance with Example 1 exhibits an excellent average gain greater than -1dBi in the 800 MHz band. - It was thus found that although the
antenna device 1 in accordance with Example 1 is configured so that thecoaxial cable 20 extends across thefilm antenna 10, theantenna device 1 in accordance with Example 1 still exhibits a radiation characteristic comparable to that of the antenna device in accordance with Reference Example which is configured so that the coaxial cable is provided away from the antenna device while the coaxial cable does not extend across the film antenna. - Example 2 of the
antenna device 1 will be described next with reference toFig. 13. Fig. 13 is a graph showing (i) VSWR of theantenna device 1 in accordance with Example 2 and (ii) a frequency dependency of an average gain of theantenna device 1 in accordance with Example 2. - The
antenna device 1 in accordance with Example 2 is obtained by configuring theantenna device 1 so that a distance D1 and a distance D2 are 15.6 mm and 1.4 mm, respectively. That is, theantenna device 1 in accordance with Example 2 is configured so that the distance D1 is equal to or greater than the distance D2. Theantenna device 1 in accordance with Example 2 and theantenna device 1 in accordance with Example 1 are identical except for the numerical values of the distance D1 and the distance D2. - Plotting of the VSWR shown in
Fig. 13 indicates that the VSWR of theantenna device 1 in accordance with Example 2 is (i) approximately 2 in an 800 MHz band and (ii) drastically increased in a frequency band of 700 MHz or less. Plotting of the average gain of entire polarized waves in the horizontal plane shown inFig. 13 indicates that theantenna device 1 in accordance with Example 2 exhibits an excellent average gain greater than -1dBi in the 800 MHz band. - It was thus found that although the
antenna device 1 in accordance with Example 2 is configured so that thecoaxial cable 20 extends across thefilm antenna 10, theantenna device 1 in accordance with Example 2 still exhibits a radiation characteristic comparable to that of the antenna device in accordance with Reference Example which is configured so that the coaxial cable does not extend across the film antenna. - Example 3 of the
antenna device 1 will be described next with reference toFig. 14. Fig. 14 is a graph showing (i) VSWR of theantenna device 1 in accordance with Example 3 and (ii) a frequency dependency of an average gain of theantenna device 1 in accordance with Example 3. - The
antenna device 1 in accordance with Example 3 is obtained by configuring theantenna device 1 in accordance withEmbodiment 2 so that a distance D1 and a distance D2 are 1.4 mm and 15.6 mm, respectively. That is, theantenna device 1 in accordance with Example 3 is configured so that the distance D1 is less than the distance D2. Theantenna device 1 in accordance with Example 3 and theantenna devices 1 in accordance with Examples 1 and 2 are identical except for the numerical values of the distance D1 and the distance D2. - Plotting of the VSWR shown in
Fig. 14 indicates that the VSWR of theantenna device 1 in accordance with Example 3 is (i) approximately 2 in an 800 MHz band but (ii) not increased in a frequency band of 700 MHz or less. The average gain of the entire polarized waves is considerably below -1dBi in the 800 MHz band. - It was thus found that with the
antenna device 1 in accordance with Example 3 in which the coaxial cable extends across the film antenna as well as the distance D2 is less than the distance D1, (i) the VSWR exhibits a shape differing from that of the antenna device in accordance with Reference Example and (ii) the average gain becomes considerably reduced. - From the results of Examples 1 through 3, it was found that in a case where an antenna device is configured so that a
coaxial cable 20 is held by a first holding part 34 (i.e. thecoaxial cable 20 extends across a film antenna 10), a distance D2 is preferably equal to or greater than a distance D1. Note that similar results can be obtained in a case where thecoaxial cable 20 held by the first holdingpart 34 does not extend across thefilm antenna 10 but part of thecoaxial cable 20 is drawn frontwards (seeEmbodiment 4 described later). - The following description will discuss, with reference to
Figs. 15 and16 , a configuration of an antenna device 1β in accordance withEmbodiment 3 of the present invention. (a) ofFig. 15 is a perspective view illustrating asupport 30A included in the antenna device 1β. (b) ofFig. 15 is a perspective view illustrating the antenna device 1β.Fig. 16 is a flow chart showing a production method of producing the antenna device 1β. - The antenna device 1β in accordance with
Embodiment 3 can be obtained by replacing thesupport 30 and theresin mold part 21 in theantenna device 1 in accordance withEmbodiment 1 with asupport 30A and aresin mold part 21A, respectively. Therefore, inEmbodiment 3, thesupport 30A and theresin mold part 21A will be mainly described. Note that members similar to those of theantenna device 1 will be given the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will be omitted. - As illustrated in (a) of
Fig. 15 , thesupport 30A has a third supportingsurface 33 on which afirst recess 37A, asecond recess 38A, and an L-shapedgroove 37B are provided. The first andsecond recesses second recesses Embodiment 1, respectively. The L-shapedgroove 37B is a groove which is continuous with thefirst recess 37A and which extends toward an end part of the third supportingsurface 33. During forming of aresin mold part 21A described later, the L-shapedgroove 37B serves as a vent through which air present in thefirst recess 37A is passed out. - As is the case of the
support 30 of theantenna device 1 in accordance withEmbodiment 1, thesupport 30A is a structure having (i) a first supportingsurface 31, (ii) a second supportingsurface 32 intersecting the first supportingsurface 31, and (iii) a third supportingsurface 33 facing the first supportingsurface 31 and intersecting the second supportingsurface 32, and afilm antenna 10 is to be wound around thesupport 30A so as to come into contact with the first through third supportingsurfaces 31 through 33. In addition, thesupport 30A includes a first holdingpart 34, a second holdingpart 35, and a third holdingpart 36 for holding acoaxial cable 20 which is connected to thefilm antenna 10. Thecoaxial cable 20 connected to thefilm antenna 10 is wired as is the case of thesupport 30 of theantenna device 1 in accordance withEmbodiment 1. - The production method of producing the antenna device 1β in accordance with
Embodiment 3 includes (i) a connecting step of connecting thecoaxial cable 20 to afeed section 14 of thefilm antenna 10 and (ii) the step of preparing thesupport 30A which (a) has: the first supportingsurface 31; the second supportingsurface 32 intersecting the first supportingsurface 31; and the third supportingsurface 33 facing the first supportingsurface 31 and intersecting the second supportingsurface 32, (b) includes the first and thesecond holding parts 34 and 35 (holding section) for holding thecoaxial cable 20, and (c) is configured so that the first andsecond recesses feed section 14 are provided in the third supportingsurface 33. - The production method can further include (i) a winding step of: attaching the
film antenna 10 to thesupport 30A so that thefeed section 14 is contained in the first andsecond recesses film antenna 10 around thesupport 30 so that thefilm antenna 10 comes into contact with the first supportingsurface 31, the second supportingsurface 32, and the third supportingsurface 33 and (ii) a wiring step of wiring thecoaxial cable 20 so that: thecoaxial cable 20 is held by the first and thesecond holding parts 34 and 35 (holding section); and part of thecoaxial cable 20 extends in a direction along the first supportingsurface 31 and the second supportingsurface 32. - The production method can further include a resin mold part forming step of (i) filling, with a liquid resin material, the first and
second recesses feed section 14 is contained and (ii) hardening the liquid resin material so as to form theresin mold part 21A that covers thefeed section 14 and covers the end part of thecoaxial cable 20 which end part is connected to thefeed section 14. InEmbodiment 3, since the L-shapedgroove 37B which is continuous with thefirst recess 37A is provided, it is possible to pass out air which is present in the first andsecond recesses resin mold part 21A which covers a connection part of the end part of thecoaxial cable 20 and thefeed section 14. - The production method of producing the antenna device 1β will be described below in detail with reference to
Fig. 11 . - In
Embodiment 3, the antenna device 1β is produced by carrying out the resin mold part forming step (steps S102, S104, S106, S108) after carrying out the connecting step, the winding step, and the wiring step (step S100). - As illustrated in
Fig. 16 , the resin mold part forming step includes (i) a jig setting step (step S102) of setting thesupport 30A, around which thefilm antenna 10 is wound, between a pair of fixing plates by which ajig 100 is constituted, (ii) a pressure adding step (step S104) of sandwiching thesupport 30A, around which thefilm antenna 10 is wound, with the pair of fixing plates and then adding a pressure, (iii) a filling step (step S106) of injecting a liquid resin material from an end part of thesecond recess 38A of thesupport 30A so as to fill thefirst recess 37A with the liquid resin material, and (iv) an extracting step (step S108) of hardening the liquid resin material filling thefirst recess 37A so as to form aresin mold part 21A and then taking out an antenna device 1β from thejig 100. - In the jig setting step (step S102), the
support 30A, around which thefilm antenna 10 is wound, is set between the pair of fixing plates by which thejig 100 is constituted. In so doing, (i) the pair of fixing plates face corresponding ones of the first and third supportingsurfaces support 30A and (ii) thesupport 30A is oriented so that the second holdingpart 35 of thesupport 30A faces upwards. This causes the first andsecond recesses surface 33 to be aligned vertically such that the end part of thesecond recess 38A, which is continuous with thefirst recess 37A, is located at an upper end of thesupport 30A. - In the pressure adding step (step S104), the pair of fixing plates apply pressure to corresponding ones of the first supporting
surface 31 and the third supportingsurface 33 of thesupport 30A, around which thefilm antenna 10 is wound. This allows thefilm antenna 10 to be pressed against thesupport 30A with a more uniform pressure, so that thefilm antenna 10 comes into close contact with the first and third supportingsurfaces first recess 37A provided in the third supportingsurface 33 is filled with the liquid resin material in the next step (step S106), it is possible to prevent the resin material from leaking out of thefirst recess 37A. - In the filling step (step S106), the liquid resin material is injected from the end part (upper end part) of the
second recess 38A, so that thefirst recess 37A is filled with the liquid resin material. - In so doing, since the
coaxial cable 20 is penetrating through thesecond recess 38A, the liquid resin material is injected through a gap between thesecond recess 38A and thecoaxial cable 20. Therefore, in order to make it easy to inject the resin material through the gap, it is possible to, for example, inject the liquid resin material with the use of a tapered needle. Alternatively, in order to reduce the amount of time required for the filling, it is possible to, for example, inject the liquid resin material while pressure is applied. - Note that air, which is present in the
first recess 37A, can be passed out due to the L-shapedgroove 37B that is continuous with thefirst recess 37A. This allows the liquid resin material, which has been injected through the upper end part of thesecond recess 38A, to flow into thefirst recess 37A, so that thefirst recess 37A is filled with the liquid resin material. - In the extracting step (step S108), the liquid resin material, with which the
first recess 37A is filled, is hardened so as to form aresin mold part 21A which covers (i) thefeed section 14 contained in thefirst recess 37A and (ii) the end part of thecoaxial cable 20, which end part is connected to thefeed section 14. After theresin mold part 21 is formed, the pair of fixing plates with which thesupport 30A is sandwiched is taken out, and an antenna device 1β is taken out of thejig 100. - Note that a timing with which the antenna device 1β is taken out of the jig 100 (i.e. a timing with which (i) the pressure applied in directions in which the
support 30A was sandwiched is released and (ii) the pair of fixing plates is taken out) can be set as appropriate according to, for example, the amount of time required for hardening the resin, a viscosity of the resin, and air temperature. - Examples of the resin material of which the
resin mold part 21A is made encompass, but are not limited to, a two-liquid-mixture type urethane resin (e.g. WEVOPUR PD 4 manufactured by WEVO-CHEMIE). - Note that a
resin mold part 21A, which is made with the use ofWEVOPUR PD 4 manufactured by WEVO-CHEMIE, is formed by hardening, at normal temperature, a liquid resin material with which thefirst recess 37A is filled at normal temperature. Therefore, theresin mold part 21A has such an advantage as causing less stress to be applied to thefilm antenna 10, in comparison with theresin mold part 21 of theantenna device 1 in accordance withEmbodiment 1, formed by injection molding with the use of TECHNOMELT PUR 9515, manufactured by Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, which is a moisture curing urethane-based hot melt. In addition, theresin mold part 21A made with the use ofWEVOPUR PD 4 manufactured by WEVO-CHEMIE is small in degree of hardness, and therefore brings about such an advantage as being able to restrict peeling of theresin mold part 21A and thefilm antenna 10 from each other due to a difference in thermal expansion coefficient. - Note that the production method in accordance with
Embodiment 3 was described such that the connecting step, the winding step, and the wiring step are carried out before the resin mold part forming step is carried out. Alternatively, the wiring step can be carried out after the resin mold part forming step has been carried out. - It is assumed that an antenna device is subjected to various temperature changes, and that various heat histories are added to an antenna device. The
support 30A, thefilm antenna 10, and theresin mold part 21A of the antenna device 1β are made up of respective materials. Therefore, in a case where a heat history is added to the antenna device, an interface between thesupport 30A and theresin mold part 21A (first interface) and an interface between theresin mold part 21A and the film antenna 10 (second interface) are each subjected to stress due to differences in thermal expansion coefficient between the respective materials of which thesupport 30A, thefilm antenna 10, and theresin mold part 21A of the antenna device 1β are made. - In a case where a heat history is repeatedly added to the antenna device 1β, peeling ultimately occurs at any one of the first interface and the second interface. Whether the peeling occurs at the first interface or the second interface depends on (i) a balance between stress applied to the first interface and an adhesive force of the
support 30A and theresin mold part 21A at the first interface and (ii) a balance between stress applied to the second interface and an adhesive force of theresin mold part 21A and the film antenna 10A at the second interface. In a case where the stress applied to the first interface is greater than the adhesive force of thesupport 30A and theresin mold part 21A, peeling occurs at the first interface. In a case where the stress applied to the second interface is greater than the adhesive force of theresin mold part 21A and the film antenna 10A, peeling occurs at the second interface. - The
resin mold part 21A is intended to prevent the inner conductor and the outer conductor of thecoaxial cable 20 and thefeed section 14 from being exposed, so that a water-resistant property of thefilm antenna 10 is increased. Therefore, in a case where theresin mold part 21A and thefilm antenna 10 peel from each other at the second interface, the water-resistant property of thefilm antenna 10 unfortunately deteriorates. In contrast, in a case where thesupport 30A and theresin mold part 21A peel from each other at the first interface, the inner conductor and the outer conductor of thecoaxial cable 20 and thefeed section 14 remain covered with the resin mold part, so that the water-resistant property of thefilm antenna 10 is prevented from deteriorating. - An antenna device 1β', which is a variation of the antenna device 1β, is an antenna device which is further intended to prevent deterioration of the water-resistant property of the film antenna by restricting the peeling of the
resin mold part 21A and thefilm antenna 10 from each other at the second interface. - The antenna device 1β' in accordance with the present variation, will be described below with reference to
Fig. 17 . (a) ofFig. 17 is a plan view illustrating a third supportingsurface 33 of asupport 30B included in the antenna device 1β'. More specifically, (a) ofFig. 17 is a plan view obtained when the third supportingsurface 33 is viewed from the z-axis negative side in the coordinate system illustrated. (b) ofFig. 17 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the antenna device 1β'. More specifically, (b) ofFig. 17 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of theresin mold part 21B taken along the line A-A' in (a) ofFig. 17 . - The antenna device 1β' is obtained by replacing the
support 30A of the antenna device 1β with thesupport 30B. Note that afirst recess 37C, asecond recess 38B, and a J-shaped groove (groove) 37D of thesupport 30B correspond to thefirst recess 37A, thesecond recess 38A, and the L-shapedgroove 37B of thesupport 30A, respectively. Note that members similar to those of thesupport 30A will be given the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted. - The
support 30B is obtained by making the following changes to thesupport 30A. Note that a recessed containing part is formed by (i) the J-shapedgroove 37D that is continuous with thefirst recess 37C and that serves as a vent through which air present in thefirst recess 37C is passed out, (ii) thefirst recess 37C, and (iii) thesecond recess 38B. - Change 1: A shape of a cross section of the
first recess 37C and a shape of a cross section of the J-shapedgroove 37D are each changed from a rectangle to a shape shown in (b) ofFig. 17 . - Change 2: An adhesive layer is provided in a region surrounding the recessed containing part in the third supporting
surface 33. - Change 3: A shape of the J-shaped
groove 37D, which is a groove, is changed from an L-shape to a J-shape (see (a) ofFig. 17 ). - The shape of the cross section of the
first recess 37C and the shape of the cross section of the J-shapedgroove 37D will be described below with reference to (b) ofFig. 17 . Since the shape of the cross section of thefirst recess 37C and the shape of the cross section of the J-shapedgroove 37D are similar, the shape of the cross section of thefirst recess 37C will be described. As illustrated in (b) ofFig. 17 , the shape of the cross section of thefirst recess 37C is configured so that the deeper the depth (i.e. distance along the z-axis in the coordinate system illustrated) from an opening made in the third supportingsurface 33, the narrower the width (i.e. distance along the x-axis in the coordinate system illustrated). In other words, the width of thefirst recess 37C is (i) narrowest at a bottom part at which the depth from the opening is greatest, (ii) widest at the opening, and (iii) increasingly wider from the bottom part to the opening. - Note that the width of the
first recess 37C can (i) change in any manner, provided that the width does not become narrower from the bottom part toward the opening and (ii) be partially unchanging relative to the depth from the opening. - The width of the
first recess 37C is thus increasingly wider from the bottom part toward the opening. Therefore, a resin material, which is hardened after filling thefirst recess 37C and is to form theresin mold part 21B, can easily peel from thesupport 30B. Therefore, in a case where the antenna device 1β' is subjected to various temperature changes, theresin mold part 21B can easily peel from thesupport 30B at the first interface which is an interface between thesupport 30B and theresin mold part 21B. This prevents theresin mold part 21B from peeling from thefilm antenna 10 at the second interface which is an interface between theresin mold part 21B and thefilm antenna 10. Therefore, with the antenna device 1β', deterioration of the water-resistant property of thefilm antenna 10 can be more effectively prevented than is the case of the antenna device 1β. - Note that a surface of the
first recess 37C is preferably smooth. In a case where the surface of thefirst recess 37C is uneven, there is a possibility that the resin material filling thefirst recess 37C may get into entire parts of the unevenness, so that an adhesive force occurring between thesupport 30B and theresin mold part 21B becomes strengthened (anchor effect). By configuring the surface of thefirst recess 37C to be as smooth as possible, it is possible to restrict an anchor effect, and therefore to restrict the adhesive force that occurs between thesupport 30B and theresin mold part 21B. - In order to more reliably prevent the
resin mold part 21B from peeling from thefilm antenna 10, it is possible to coat the surface of thefirst recess 37C with a release material before thefirst recess 37C is filled with the resin material. This allows theresin mold part 21B, which is made of a resin material, to easily peel from the surface of thefirst recess 37C. - As illustrated in (a) of
Fig. 17 , a double-sided tape 33c, which is an adhesive layer, is provided in the region surrounding thefirst recess 37C, thesecond recess 38B, and the J-shapedgroove 37D that form the recessed containing part. Note that the adhesive layer can be an adhesive instead of a double-sided tape. As illustrated in (b) ofFig. 17 , thefilm antenna 10 is attached to the third supporting surface of thesupport 30B with the use of the double-sided tape 33c. Therefore, in a filling step (step S106, seeFig. 16 ), a liquid resin material with which thefirst recess 37C is filled can easily prevented from flowing into a gap between thesupport 30B and thefilm antenna 10. - In a case where the antenna device 1β including the
support 30A is to be produced, thefirst recess 37A is filled with a resin material while thesupport 30A is sandwich with the use of thejig 100 as in the step S106 shown inFig. 16 . However, in a case where the antenna device 1β' including thesupport 30B is to be produced, it is possible to fill thefirst recess 37C with a resin material even when thesupport 30B is not sandwiched with the use of ajig 100. That is, it is possible to omit a pressure adding step S104. - In the
support 30B included in the antenna device 1β', the J-shapedgroove 37 instead of the L-shapedgroove 37B is provided as a groove through which the inside of thefirst recess 37C and the outside of thesupport 30B are continuous. Note that the shape of the groove through which the inside of thefirst recess 37C and the outside of thesupport 30B are continuous is not limited to an L-shape or a J-shape, but can be another shape. - A production method of producing the antenna device 1β' differs from the production method of producing the antenna device 1β in the points described below. Note that steps similar to those included in the production method of producing the antenna device 1β will be given the same step number, and their descriptions will be omitted.
- Before a winding step is carried out, that is, between the step of preparing the
support 30B and the winding step, the production method further includes an adhesive layer forming step of forming an adhesive layer (double-sided tape 33c) in the region surrounding the recessed containing part (thefirst recess 37C, thesecond recess 38B, and the J-shapedgroove 37D) of the third supportingsurface 33. - The winding step further includes an attaching step of attaching, in a case where the
film antenna 10 is to be wound around thesupport 30B, thefilm antenna 10 to thesupport 30B with the use of an adhesive layer (double-sided tape 33c). - Note that in the production method of producing the antenna device 1β', the pressure adding step S104 can be omitted. Specifically, the
jig 100 is not necessary to fill thefirst recess 37C with a resin material. Therefore, the antenna device 1β' can be produced with a few steps than is the case of the antenna device 1β. - The
antenna devices 1, 1α, and 1β in accordance withEmbodiments 1 through 3 can be each suitably provided in aspoiler 52 of an automobile, particularly in aspoiler 52 having a housing divided into a containing part and a lid part. A storing method of providing theantenna device 1 in accordance withEmbodiment 1 into thespoiler 52 will be described below with reference toFig. 18. Fig. 18 is a view illustrating the storing method of providing theantenna device 1 in thespoiler 52. Note that inFig. 18 , a shape of theantenna device 1 and a shape of thespoiler 52 are schematically illustrated so that the storing method can be easily recognized. - As illustrated in (a) of
Fig. 18 , thespoiler 52 has a housing divided into a containingpart 52a and alid part 52b. The containingpart 52a includes a first compartment 52a1 and a second compartment 52a2 which are continuous with each other. The first compartment 52a1 is a space in which mainly thesupport 30 of theantenna device 1 is to be provided. The first compartment 52a1 is deeper in depth than the second compartment 52a2. In the first compartment 52a1, a pair of support plates 52a3 and 52a4 facing each other are provided. Meanwhile, the second compartment 52a2 is a space in which mainly thefilm antenna 10 of theantenna device 1 is to be provided. The second compartment 52a2 is shallower in depth than the first compartment 52a1. The first compartment 52a1 and the second compartment 52a2 are opened upwards. Theantenna device 1 is to be provided in the first compartment 52a1 and the second compartment 52a2 from above. - As illustrated in (b) of
Fig. 18 , thesupport 30 of theantenna device 1 is to be sandwiched with the support plates 52a3 and 52a4 in the first compartment 52a1. In so doing, elastic protrusions 39a1 and 39a2, which are provided on respective side walls that are right and left surfaces of thesupport 30, are engaged with corresponding openings provided in respective ones of the pair of support plates 52a3 and 52a4. This causes a position of thesupport 30 in the first compartment 52a1 to be fixed, and therefore makes it unlikely for thesupport 30 to be detached from the support plates 52a3 and 52a4. As illustrated in (b) ofFig. 18 , thefilm antenna 10 extending from thesupport 30 is provided in the second compartment 52a2 which is continuous with the first compartment 52a1. As illustrated in (b) ofFig. 18 , thecoaxial cable 20 drawn from thesupport 30 passes through a through-hole (not shown) made in a front-side wall of the first compartment 52a1, and is then drawn out of the first compartment 52a1. After theantenna device 1 is provided in thespoiler 52 as illustrated in (b) ofFig. 18 , the first compartment 52a1 and the second compartment 52a2 are sealed with thelid part 52b as illustrated in (c) ofFig. 18 . - Note that the antenna device 1α in accordance with
Embodiment 2 and the antenna device 1β in accordance withEmbodiment 3 can each be provided in thespoiler 52 by a method identical to the method by which theantenna device 1 in accordance withEmbodiment 1 is provided in thespoiler 52. - The following description will discuss, with reference to
Fig. 19 , a configuration of an antenna device 1γ in accordance withEmbodiment 4 of the present invention. (a) ofFig. 19 is a perspective view illustrating the antenna device 1γ. (b) ofFig. 19 is a plan view illustrating the antenna device 1γ. As is the case of theantenna device 1 in accordance withEmbodiment 1, the antenna device 1γ includes afilm antenna 10, acoaxial cable 20, and asupport 30. - The antenna device 1γ is obtained by making changes below to the
antenna 1 in accordance withEmbodiment 1. - First Change: While the
antenna device 1 in accordance withEmbodiment 1 is configured so that thecoaxial cable 20 extends widthwise across thefilm antenna 10 in thesupport 30 and thecoaxial cable 20 is then drawn from the a side of thesupport 30, the antenna device 1γ in accordance withEmbodiment 4 is configured so that thecoaxial cable 20 is drawn from a front-side part of thesupport 30 without extending widthwise across thefilm antenna 10 in thesupport 30. Therefore, in the antenna device 1γ in accordance withEmbodiment 4, (i) a recess 30a1, as a passage through which thecoaxial cable 20 is to be drawn from the front-side part of thesupport 30, is provided at a center part of an upper end part of aside wall 30a which is a front-side surface of thesupport 30 and (ii) a third holdingpart 36 for holding thecoaxial cable 20 drawn from the side of thesupport 30 is omitted. Note that instead of providing the recess 30a1 at the center part of the upper end part of theside wall 30a and using the recess 30a1 as a passage of thecoaxial cable 20, it is alternatively possible to (i) provide a through-hole at the center part of theside wall 30a and (ii) use the through-hole as a passage of thecoaxial cable 20. - Second Change: While the
antenna device 1 in accordance withEmbodiment 1 is configured so that the pair of elastic protrusions 39a1 and 39a2 for fixing theantenna device 1 to thespoiler 52 are provided on the right and left surfaces of thesupport 30, the antenna device 1γ in accordance withEmbodiment 4 is configured so that the protrusions 39b1 and 39b2 for fixing theantenna device 1 to thespoiler 52 are provided in the vicinity of corresponding tips of a pair ofelastic plates 39. One of the pair ofelastic plates 39, which corresponds to the protrusion 39b1, extends frontwards from a left-side surface of the second holdingpart 35. The other one of the pair ofelastic plates 39, which corresponds to the protrusion 39b2, extends frontwards from the front end part of the right-side surface of thesupport 30. - Third Change: While the
antenna device 1 in accordance withEmbodiment 1 is configured so that the bottom plate of thesupport 30, which is a bottom surface of thesupport 30, extends until it reaches the front-side surface of thesupport 30, the antenna device 1γ in accordance withEmbodiment 4 is configured so that a bottom plate of thesupport 30, which is a third supportingsurface 33, extends frontwards beyond the front-side surface of thesupport 30. The bottom plate serves as asupport plate 33e for supporting thefilm antenna 10. On left and right edges of thesupport plate 33e, steps 33e1 and 33e2 are provided, respectively, so that a width of thesupport plate 33e further frontwards than the steps 33e1 and 33e2 is wider than a width of thesupport plate 33e further backwards than the steps 33e1 and 33e2. - While the
antenna device 1 in accordance withEmbodiment 1 is designed so as to be provided in thespoiler 52 having a housing divided into the containing part and a lid part, the antenna device 1γ in accordance withEmbodiment 4 is designed so as to be provided in aspoiler 52 having a housing having an insertion slot. The changes above are based on the difference in the storing method of providing the antenna device in thespoiler 52. Note that a method of providing the antenna device 1γ in accordance withEmbodiment 4 into thespoiler 52 having a housing having an insertion slot will be described later with reference to another drawing. - The antenna device 1γ in accordance with
Embodiment 4 can be suitably provided in aspoiler 52 of an automobile, particularly in aspoiler 52 having a housing having an insertion slot. A storing method of providing the antenna device 1γ in accordance withEmbodiment 4 into such aspoiler 52 will be described below with reference toFig. 20. Fig. 20 is a view illustrating the storing method of providing the antenna device 1γ into thespoiler 52. Note that inFig. 20 , a shape of the antenna device 1γ and a shape of thespoiler 52 are schematically illustrated so that the storing method can be easily recognized. - As illustrated in (a) of
Fig. 20 , thespoiler 52 has such a shape that atop plate 52d, which is a top surface of the housing, is jutting frontwards beyond a side wall which is a front surface of the housing. The housing has a compartment in which thesupport 30 of the antenna device 1γ is to be provided. The side wall, which is the front surface of the housing, has aninsertion slot 52c through which thesupport 30 of the antenna device 1γ is to be inserted into the housing. On a bottom surface of thetop plate 52d, L-shaped protrusions 52d1 and 52d2 for holding thesupport plate 33e of the antenna device 1γ are provided. - The antenna device 1γ is to be provided in the
spoiler 52 as follows. - First, as illustrated in (b) of
Fig. 20 , thesupport plate 33e of the antenna device 1γ is made to come into contact with thetop plate 52d of thespoiler 52. In so doing, a part of thesupport plate 33e, which part is located further backwards than the steps 33e1 and 33e2 and whose width is narrow, is passed through a space between the L-shaped protrusions 52d1 and 52d2. This allows thesupport plate 33e to come into contact with thetop plate 52d without causing thesupport plate 33e to collide with the L-shaped protrusions 52d1 and 52d2. - Then, as illustrated in (c) of
Fig. 20 , while thesupport plate 33e is in contact with thetop plate 52d of thespoiler 52, the antenna device 1γ is moved backwards so that thesupport 30 is inserted into the housing through theinsertion slot 52c of thespoiler 52. This causes thesupport 30 of the antenna device 1γ to be provided in the housing of thespoiler 52, and therefore causes a part of thesupport plate 33e of the antenna device 1γ, which part is located further frontwards than the steps 33e1 and 33e2 and which is wide in width, to be held by the L-shaped protrusions 52d1 and 52d2. In a case where the pair ofelastic plates 39 are bent inwards so that part of thesupport 30 including the protruding parts 39b1 and 39b2 is provided in the housing of thespoiler 52, a shape of the pair ofelastic plates 39 returns to an original shape from an elastically deformed shape. This causes the protruding parts 39b1 and 39b2 to be hooked to the side wall which is the front surface of the housing of thespoiler 52, and therefore prevents the antenna device 1γ from accidentally coming off of thespoiler 52. Note that in a case where the antenna device 1γ is to be taken out of thespoiler 52, the antenna device 1γ can be pulled out of thespoiler 52 after parts 39c1 and 39c2 of theelastic plates 39, which parts 39c1 and 39c2 are located further frontwards than the protruding parts 39b1 and 39b2, are pressed inwards so that theelastic plates 39 are bent inwards and therefore the protruding parts 39b1 and 39b2 do not become hooked to the side wall which is the front surface of the housing of thespoiler 52. - In order to attain the object, an antenna device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: a film antenna; a cable which is connected to a feed section of the film antenna; and a support, around which at least part of the film antenna is wound, the support including a holding section for holding the cable.
- According to the configuration, the film antenna is wound around the support. This restricts a change in three-dimensional structure of the antenna conductor included in the film antenna. That is, it is possible to allow the antenna device to have a more stable an antenna characteristic. According to the configuration, the cable is held by the support. This allows the antenna device to have greater durability with respect to pulling of the cable.
- According to the configuration, the support functions to allow the antenna device to have a more stable antenna characteristic and greater durability with respect to pulling of the cable. This allows the antenna device to have a more stable antenna characteristic and greater durability with respect to pulling of the cable without causing the structure to be complicated or larger.
- The expression of "winding a film antenna around a support" used herein means that the film antenna is deformed so as be guided along surfaces of the support, so that the film antenna is prevented from being detached from the support. Note that the expression above does not only contain the meaning of winding the film antenna around the support one turn or more. For example, in a case where the support is a member having a rectangular parallelepiped shape, examples of the forms meant by the expression encompass: (i) a form in which the film antenna is deformed so as to be guided along 4 surfaces (e.g. top surface, right-side surface, bottom surface, left-side surface) of the support, so that the film antenna is prevented from being detached from the support, (ii) a form in which the film antenna is deformed so as to be guided along 3 surfaces (e.g. top surface, right-side surface, bottom surface) of the support, so that the film antenna is prevented from being detached from the support, and (iii) a form in which the film antenna is deformed so as to be guided along 2 surfaces (e.g. top surface, right-side surface) of the support, so that the film antenna is prevented from being detached from the support.
- The antenna device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is preferably configured so that: the support has a first supporting surface, a second supporting surface intersecting the first supporting surface, and a third supporting surface facing the first supporting surface and intersecting the second supporting surface; the film antenna is wound around the support so as to be in contact with the first supporting surface, the second supporting surface, and the third supporting surface; and the holding section includes a first holding part for holding the cable so that part of the cable extends in a direction along the first supporting surface and the second supporting surface.
- According to the configuration, the film antenna is wound around the support so as to be in contact with the three supporting surfaces above. This makes it possible to further restrict a change in three-dimensional structure of the antenna conductor included in the film antenna. A wiring path of the part of the cable, which part extends in the direction along the first supporting surface and the second supporting surface, greatly affects the antenna characteristic. In this regard, since the part is held by the first holding part according to the configuration, the antenna characteristic can be made more stable.
- The antenna device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is preferably configured so that the first holding part is provided so as to protrude frontwards further than an end part of the first supporting surface, which end part is located opposite an end part located toward the second supporting surface.
- With the configuration, it is possible to fix the cable to the first holding part even after the film antenna is wound around the support.
- The antenna device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is preferably configured so that: the film antenna includes a first antenna conductor connected to a hot side conductor of the cable and a second antenna conductor connected to a cold side conductor of the cable; the film antenna is wound around the support so that (i) a main part of the first antenna conductor is guided along the first supporting surface and (ii) a main part of the second antenna conductor is guided along the third supporting surface; and the part of the cable, which part extends in the direction along the first supporting surface and the second supporting surface, is held by the first holding part so that a first distance between the part and the first supporting surface is equal to a second distance between the part and the third supporting surface.
- With the configuration, it is possible to obtain an excellent antenna characteristic.
- The antenna device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is preferably configured so that the film antenna includes a first antenna conductor connected to a hot side conductor of the cable and a second antenna conductor connected to a cold side conductor of the cable; the film antenna is wound around the support so that (i) a main part of the first antenna conductor is guided along the first supporting surface and (ii) a main part of the second antenna conductor is guided along the third supporting surface; and the part of the cable, which part extends in the direction along the first supporting surface and the second supporting surface, is held by the first holding part so that a first distance between the part and the first supporting surface is equal to or greater than a second distance between the part and the third supporting surface.
- With the configuration, it is possible to obtain an excellent antenna characteristic.
- The antenna device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is preferably configured so that the holding section further includes a second holding part for holding the cable so that part of the cable is guided along the first supporting surface and extends in a direction that intersects the second supporting surface.
- With the configuration, it is possible to allow the antenna device to have even greater durability with respect to pulling of the cable.
- The antenna device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is preferably configured so that the second holding part is provided outside of a spatial region sandwiched between (i) a region of the film antenna, which region is in contact with the first supporting surface and (ii) a region of the film antenna, which region is in contact with the third supporting surface.
- With the configuration, it is possible to fix the cable to the first holding part even after the film antenna is wound around the support.
- The antenna device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is preferably configured so that: the second holding part has a recess whose opening faces a first direction which an opening of a recessed containing part provided in the third supporting surface faces; and the first holding part has a recess whose opening faces a second direction opposite the first direction.
- With the configuration, it is possible to allow the antenna device to have greater durability with respect to pulling of the cable.
- The antenna device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is preferably configured so that part of the cable, which part is held by the first holding part and the second holding part, extends (i) between the first holding part and the second holding part and (ii) in a direction that intersects the first supporting surface and the third supporting surface.
- With the configuration, it is possible to allow the antenna device to have greater durability with respect to pulling of the cable.
- The antenna device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is preferably configured so that a surface of the second holding part, which surface is in contact with a bent part of the cable, is a smooth curved surface.
- With the configuration, it is possible to make it less likely for the cable to break.
- The antenna device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is preferably configured so that: the film antenna is folded in a U shape so as to be in contact with the first supporting surface, the second supporting surface, and the third supporting surface of the support; a guide ring is provided at an end part of the third supporting surface, which end part is located opposite an end part located toward the second supporting surface; and the film antenna passes through the guide ring and is supported by the guide ring.
- With the configuration, it is possible to cause the film antenna to be in close contact with the support. This makes it possible to further restrict a change in three-dimensional structure of the antenna conductor.
- The antenna device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is preferably configured so that: the feed section and the cable are connected via a connection part which is covered with a resin mold part; and the support has a recessed containing part in which the resin mold part is contained.
- According to the configuration, the connection part via which the feed section and the cable are connected is covered with the resin mold part, and the cable is held by the support. This allows the antenna device to have greater durability with respect to pulling of the cable.
- The antenna device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is preferably configured so that: the resin mold part includes a first covering part and a second covering part which are provided on a front surface and a back surface of the film antenna, respectively; and the first covering part and the second covering part are continuous via an opening made in the film antenna.
- With the configuration, it is possible to increase a bonding strength by which the film antenna is bonded to the resin mold part. This prevents the resin mold part from peeling from the film antenna.
- The antenna device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is preferably configured so that: the recessed containing part is provided in a part of the third supporting surface, which part is located in the vicinity of a boundary between the third supporting surface and the second supporting surface; the film antenna is wound around the support so that the first covering part of the resin mold part is contained in the recessed containing part; and the first covering part and the second covering part of the resin mold part each become thinner in thickness toward a bent part of the film antenna, which bent part is bent along the boundary between the third supporting surface and the second supporting surface.
- According to the configuration, the first covering part and the second covering part are each prevented, over a long period of time, from peeling from the film antenna even in a case of a configuration in which the resin mold part is located in the vicinity of the bent part of the film antenna when, for example, the film antenna, in which the connection part of the cable and the feed section is covered with the resin mold part, is wound around the support. It is therefore possible to maintain a water-resistant property of the antenna device at a high level over a long period of time. This is because of the following reason.
- In addition, the first covering part and the second covering part each become thinner in thickness toward the bent part of the film antenna. This causes the first covering part and the second covering part to be more bendable toward the bent part. Therefore, stress derived from the folding can be reduced, and it is therefore possible to prevent the stress from becoming concentrated on edges of the first covering part and of the second covering part, which edges are located in the vicinity of the bent part.
- An antenna device production method in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is a method of producing an antenna device, the method including the steps of: (a) connecting a cable to a feed section of a film antenna; (b) forming a resin mold part which covers the feed section and covers an end part of the cable, which end part is connected to the feed section; (c) preparing a support which (i) has: a first supporting surface; a second supporting surface intersecting the first supporting surface; and a third supporting surface facing the first supporting surface and intersecting the second supporting surface, (ii) includes a holding section for holding the cable, and (iii) has, in the third supporting surface, a recessed containing part for containing the resin mold part; (d) attaching the film antenna to the support so that the resin mold part is contained in the recessed containing part and winding the film antenna around the support so that the film antenna comes into contact with the first supporting surface, the second supporting surface, and the third supporting surface; and (e) wiring the cable so that: the cable is held by the holding section; and part of the cable extends in a direction along the first supporting surface and the second supporting surface.
- With the production method, it is possible to easily produce the above described antenna device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.
- An antenna device production method in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is a method of producing an antenna device, the method including the steps of: (a) connecting a cable to a feed section of a film antenna; (b) preparing a support which (i) has: a first supporting surface; a second supporting surface intersecting the first supporting surface; and a third supporting surface facing the first supporting surface and intersecting the second supporting surface, (ii) includes a holding section for holding the cable, and (iii) has, in the third supporting surface, a recessed containing part for containing the feed section; (c) attaching the film antenna to the support so that the feed section is contained in the recessed containing part and winding the film antenna around the support so that the film antenna comes into contact with the first supporting surface, the second supporting surface, and the third supporting surface; (d) wiring the cable so that: the cable is held by the holding section; and part of the cable extends in a direction along the first supporting surface and the second supporting surface; and (e) forming, by filling the recessed containing part with a resin material and hardening the resin material, a resin mold part which covers the feed section and covers an end part of the cable which end part is connected to the feed section, the feed section and the end part being contained in the recessed containing part.
- With the production method, it is possible to easily produce the above described antenna device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.
- The antenna device production method in accordance with an aspect of the present invention preferably further includes the step of: forming, before the step of attaching and winding the film antenna is carried out, an adhesive layer in a region surrounding the recessed containing part of the third supporting surface. The step of attaching and winding the film antenna preferably further includes the step of attaching, in a case where the film antenna is to be wound around the support, the film antenna to the support with use of the adhesive layer.
- According to the production method, the support and the film antenna are attached to each other by the adhesive layer in the region surrounding a contour of the recessed containing part. This prevents a gap from being made between (i) the support (particularly the third supporting surface) surrounding the contour of the recessed containing part and (ii) the film antenna. Therefore, in the region surrounding the contour of the recessed containing part, the resin material filling the recessed containing part remains in the recessed containing part. It is therefore possible to easily prevent the resin material from flowing into a gap between the support and the film antenna.
- The present invention is not limited to the embodiments, but can be altered by a skilled person in the art within the scope of the claims. An embodiment derived from a proper combination of technical means each disclosed in a different embodiment is also encompassed in the technical scope of the present invention.
-
- 1, 1α, 1β, 1β', 1γ Antenna device
- 10, 10α Film antenna
- 20 Coaxial cable (cable)
- 30, 30α, 30A, 30B Support
- 31 First supporting surface
- 31a L-shaped protrusion
- 31b I-shaped protrusion
- 32 Second supporting surface
- 32a, 32b L-shaped guide
- 33 Third supporting surface
- 33a Counter region
- 33b Non-counter region
- 33c Guide ring
- 34 First holding part (holding section)
- 34a Partition wall
- 34b Recess
- 34c Partition wall
- 35 Second holding part (holding section)
- 35a Protruding part
- 35b Recess
- 37, 37A, 37C First recess
- 38, 38A, 38B Second recess
- 37B L-shaped groove (groove)
- 37D J-shaped groove (groove)
Claims (10)
- An antenna device (1, 1α ,1β, 1β', 1γ) comprising:a film antenna (10, 10α);a cable (20) which is connected to a feed section (14) of the film antenna (10, 10α); anda support (30, 30α, 30A), around which at least part of the film antenna (10, 10α) is wound,the support (30, 30α, 30A, 30B) including a holding section for holding the cable (20),characterized by:the support (30, 30α, 30A, 30B) havinga first supporting surface (31),a second supporting surface (32) intersecting the first supporting surface (31), anda third supporting surface (33) facing the first supporting surface (31) and intersecting the second supporting surface (32);the film antenna (10, 10α) being wound around the support (30, 30α, 30A, 30B) so as to be in contact with the first supporting surface (31), the second supporting surface (32), and the third supporting surface (33);the holding section including a first holding part (34) for holding the cable (20) so that part of the cable (20) extends in a direction along the first supporting surface (31) and the second supporting surface (32), andthe feed section (14) including a first connection point (14a) to which a hot side conductor of the cable is connected to the film antenna (10, 10a) and a second connection point (14b) to which a cold side conductor of the cable is connected to the film antenna (10, 10α).
- The antenna device (1, 1α, 1β, 1β', 1γ) as set forth in claim 1, wherein
the first holding part (34) is provided in the support (30, 30α, 30A, 30B) so as to protrude frontwards further than an edge of the first supporting surface (31), which edge is located opposite an edge located toward the second supporting surface (32). - The antenna device (1, 1α, 1β, 1β', 1γ) as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein:the film antenna (10, 10α) includesa first antenna conductor (12) connected to the hot side conductor of the cable (20) anda second antenna conductor (13) connected to the cold side conductor of the cable (20);the film antenna (10, 10α) is wound around the support (30, 30α, 30A, 30B) so that (i) a main part of the first antenna conductor (12) is guided along the first supporting surface (31) and the second supporting surface (32) and (ii) a main part of the second antenna conductor (13) is guided along the third supporting surface (33); andthe part of the cable (20), which part extends in the direction along the first supporting surface (31) and the second supporting surface (32), is held by the first holding part (34) so that a first distance between the part and the first supporting surface (31) is equal to a second distance between the part and the third supporting surface (33).
- The antenna device (1, 1α, 1β, 1β', 1γ) as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein:the film antenna (10, 10α) includes a first antenna conductor (12) connected to the hot side conductor of the cable (20) and a second antenna conductor (13) connected to the cold side conductor of the cable (20);the film antenna (10, 10α) is wound around the support (30, 30α, 30A, 30B) so that (i) a main part of the first antenna conductor (12) is guided along the first supporting surface (31) and the second supporting surface (32) and (ii) a main part of the second antenna conductor (13) is guided along the third supporting surface (33); andthe part of the cable (20), which part extends in the direction along the first supporting surface (31) and the second supporting surface (32), is held by the first holding part (34) so that a first distance between the part and the first supporting surface (31) is equal to or greater than a second distance between the part and the third supporting surface (33).
- The antenna device (1, 1α, 1β, 1β', 1γ) as set forth in any one of claims 1 through 4, wherein
the holding section further includes
a second holding part (35) for holding the cable (20) so that part of the cable (20) is guided along the first supporting surface (31) and extends in a direction that intersects the second supporting surface (32). - The antenna device (1, 1α, 1β, 1β', 1γ) as set forth in claim 5, wherein
the second holding part (35) is provided outside of a spatial region sandwiched between (i) a region of the film antenna (10, 10α), which region is in contact with the first supporting surface (31) and (ii) a region of the film antenna (10, 10α), which region is in contact with the third supporting surface (33). - The antenna device (1, 1α, 1β, 1β', 1γ) as set forth in claim 5 or 6, wherein:the second holding part (35) has a second recess (35b)the second recess (35b) has an opening opened in a first direction,an opening of a recessed containing part (37, 37A, 38, 38A) provided in the third supporting surface (33) is opened in a first direction,the first holding part (34) has a first recess (34b), andthe first recess (34b) has an opening opened in a second direction opposite the first direction.
- The antenna device (1, 1α, 1β, 1β', 1γ) as set forth in claim 7, wherein
part of the cable (20), which part is held by the first holding part (34) and the second holding part (35), extends (i) between the first holding part (34) and the second holding part (35) and (ii) in a direction that intersects the first supporting surface (31) and the third supporting surface (33). - The antenna device (1, 1α, 1β, 1β', 1γ) as set forth in claim 8, wherein
a surface of the second holding part (35), which surface is in contact with a bent part of the cable (20), is a smooth curved surface. - The antenna device (1, 1α, 1β, 1β', 1γ) as set forth in any one of claims 1 through 9, wherein:the film antenna (10, 10α) is folded in a U shape so as to be in contact with the first supporting surface (31), the second supporting surface (32), and the third supporting surface (33) of the support (30, 30α, 30A, 30B);a guide ring is provided at an end part of the third supporting surface (33), which end part is located opposite an end part located toward the second supporting surface (32); andthe film antenna (10, 10α) passes through the guide ring (33c) and is supported by the guide ring (33c).
Applications Claiming Priority (6)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2015179944 | 2015-09-11 | ||
JP2015228125 | 2015-11-20 | ||
JP2016117495 | 2016-06-13 | ||
JP2016117496A JP6595408B2 (en) | 2015-09-11 | 2016-06-13 | Antenna device and manufacturing method thereof |
JP2016117497A JP6595409B2 (en) | 2015-09-11 | 2016-06-13 | Method for manufacturing antenna device |
PCT/JP2016/076871 WO2017043663A1 (en) | 2015-09-11 | 2016-09-12 | Antenna device |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3182508A1 EP3182508A1 (en) | 2017-06-21 |
EP3182508A4 EP3182508A4 (en) | 2018-05-02 |
EP3182508B1 true EP3182508B1 (en) | 2019-05-22 |
Family
ID=58701334
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP16838078.0A Not-in-force EP3182508B1 (en) | 2015-09-11 | 2016-09-12 | Antenna device |
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EP (1) | EP3182508B1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP4664213B2 (en) * | 2005-05-31 | 2011-04-06 | 富士通コンポーネント株式会社 | Antenna device |
JP2007074226A (en) * | 2005-09-06 | 2007-03-22 | Alps Electric Co Ltd | Vehicle-mounted antenna system |
JP5458981B2 (en) * | 2009-03-24 | 2014-04-02 | カシオ計算機株式会社 | Multiband antenna and electronic equipment |
JP5579571B2 (en) * | 2010-10-26 | 2014-08-27 | 株式会社マキタ | Power cord arrangement structure |
-
2016
- 2016-09-12 EP EP16838078.0A patent/EP3182508B1/en not_active Not-in-force
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
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EP3182508A4 (en) | 2018-05-02 |
EP3182508A1 (en) | 2017-06-21 |
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