JP2002077338A - Portable information terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a portable information terminal thin and small-sized in a small structure at low cost and to secure superior reception sensitivity and reception performance with superior stability. SOLUTION: The portable information terminal 1 is equipped with an equipment body 2 which has a liquid crystal display part 5 on the top surface and a lid 4, which is coupled turnably with the front end side of the equipment body 2 and covers a data display part 5 of the equipment body 2 by a turning in the closing direction; and the lid 4 contains a circuit board 58 mounted with a planar antenna 60, an amplifier 61, and a receiver 62 for satellite communication, so that the mount surface faces the liquid crystal display part 5 when the lid 4 is fully closed; and the receiver 62, planar antenna 60, and amplifier 61 are arranged in order from the end of the lid 4 on the side of a rotary shaft 3 to the tip side, and a ground layer G, which functions as a ground plate is provided nearly over the entire area of the opposite surface of the circuit board 58 from the mount surface.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus main body having a data display section on its surface, and a data display section of the apparatus main body which is rotatably connected to a front end side of the apparatus main body and is rotated in a closing direction. More particularly, the present invention relates to a portable information terminal including a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiving device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional portable information terminal of this type, for example, those shown in FIGS. 23 and 24 are known.

In this portable information terminal a, a liquid crystal display section c is disposed substantially at the center of the upper surface of a main body case b, and key buttons d for operation are disposed behind the liquid crystal display section c. c, a main circuit board e, which is long in the front-rear direction, is disposed below the main circuit board e.
The battery g is disposed on the rear side of the (S substrate) f.

Further, the front of the liquid crystal display section c of the main body case b is inclined downward, and a ground plane (ground layer) h,
An amplifier i and a planar antenna j for satellite communication are arranged in a stacked state, and the amplifier i and the receiver f are electrically connected by a coaxial cable k.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-197662 discloses a GPS receiver in which a planar antenna for satellite communication, an amplifier, a receiver, and a ground plane are integrated in a stacked state.

[0006]

In the portable information terminal shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, since the amplifier i and the receiver f are connected by the coaxial cable k, not only the structure becomes complicated but also the coaxial cable k and the connector required for the connection part are very expensive and hinder cost reduction. Further, since the forming performance of the coaxial cable k tends to affect the receiving performance, individual differences easily occur when the layout is changed. There is an inconvenience that it is difficult to secure stable reception performance.

Further, in order to prevent the planar antenna j from picking up noise radiated from the main circuit board e and deteriorating the receiving sensitivity, it is necessary to increase the distance between the main circuit board e and the planar antenna j. However, there is a limit in increasing the distance between the main circuit board e and the planar antenna j from the viewpoint of miniaturization, and there is an inconvenience that the distance cannot be larger than the projected area of the product.

On the other hand, in the GPS receiver disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-197662, since a planar antenna, an amplifier, a receiver, and a ground plane are integrated in a laminated state, a coaxial cable is unnecessary, and various types of the above-described coaxial cable are used. However, it is not suitable for thinning because the elements are laminated, and the area of the ground plane, which plays an important role in the directivity of the planar antenna, cannot be increased. However, there is a disadvantage that it is difficult to ensure a proper receiving performance, and noise from the main circuit board is easily picked up.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such inconveniences, and can achieve thinning and miniaturization at a low cost with a simple structure, as well as good and stable receiving sensitivity. It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable information terminal capable of ensuring reception performance.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable information terminal, comprising: a main body having a data display portion on a surface thereof; and a rotatable front end of the main body. And a lid for covering a data display unit of the device main body by turning in the closing direction, wherein a flat antenna, an amplifier, and a receiver for satellite communication are mounted on the lid. When the cover is fully closed, the mounting surface is built in such that the mounting surface faces the data display unit of the device main body, and the receiver is directed from a connection-side end of the cover to a front end thereof. And a ground layer that functions as a ground plane over substantially the entire surface opposite to the mounting surface of the circuit board, while being arranged in the order of the planar antenna and the amplifier.

According to this means, a circuit board on which a flat antenna for satellite communication, an amplifier and a receiver are mounted is built in the cover, and the receiver is connected from the connection-side end of the cover to the front end, Since the flat antenna and amplifier are arranged in this order, the flat antenna must be larger than the projected area of the product (with the lid fully closed) with respect to the main circuit board on the equipment body when the lid is fully open. As a result, the flat antenna becomes less susceptible to the noise radiated from the circuit board on the device body side, and stable receiving performance can be secured. An amplifier which is greatly affected by noise radiated from the circuit board can be arranged at a position as far as possible from the circuit board.

In addition, since the ground layer is provided in a wide range over substantially the entire surface opposite to the mounting surface of the circuit board built in the lid, stable reception directivity is obtained and the reception sensitivity is improved. Can be planned.

Further, since the receiver, the planar antenna, and the amplifier are integrally mounted on the circuit board, an expensive coaxial cable for connecting the amplifier and the receiver and a connector for connection are not required as in the related art. The structure can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced.

Further, a circuit board on which a planar antenna, an amplifier and a receiver for satellite communication are mounted is built in the lid, and the receiver, the planar antenna and the amplifier are arranged in a plane and dispersed. In addition, the size and thickness can be reduced as compared with the conventional stacked type.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the portable information terminal according to the first aspect, the planar antenna is disposed closer to the amplifier than a center of the ground layer.

According to this means, for the reasons described below,
It can capture radio waves from many satellites.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the portable information terminal according to the first or second aspect, the amplifier and the receiver are individually covered with a shield plate.

According to this means, it is possible to prevent the amplifier and the receiver from interfering with each other due to the influence of noise or the like.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the portable information terminal according to the third aspect, a top plate of the shield plate is lower than a top surface of the flat antenna.

According to this means, it is possible to prevent the shield plate individually covering the amplifier and the receiver from deteriorating the reception characteristics of the planar antenna.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the portable information terminal according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the ground layer is separated into the amplifier side and the receiver side at a substantially central portion. Only a part is connected to the ground layer on the amplifier side and the ground layer on the receiver side.

According to this means, the receiving sensitivity of the planar antenna can be made more stable.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a portable information terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention in which a cover is fully opened, and FIG. 2 is a cover of the portable information terminal shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view of the portable information terminal shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the rear side, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the portable information terminal with its lid fully opened and hinges. FIG. 5 is an overall perspective view of a grease damper, with a cover removed, FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the grease damper, and FIG.
8 is an explanatory sectional view for explaining the internal structure of the grease damper, FIG. 9A is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 8, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 8, FIG. 10 is an overall perspective view of the lid, FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the lid, FIG. 12 is an overall perspective view of the antenna-integrated GPS board unit, and FIG. FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which a shield plate of an amplifier and a shield plate of a receiver of a GPS board unit are removed, FIG. 14 is a plan view for explaining a pattern of a ground layer, and FIG. FIG. 15B is a schematic diagram in which the cover is fully opened, FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a difference in directivity due to a positional relationship between the main plate and the planar antenna, and FIG. In the positional relationship between the ground layer and the planar patch antenna of the present embodiment, Explanatory view for explaining a tropism, Figure 1
8 to 20 are explanatory diagrams for explaining a portable information terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 21 and 22 show a portable information terminal according to a third embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure for explaining. In this embodiment, the GPS
Take a portable information terminal equipped with a receiving device as an example.

First, the first embodiment will be described.
1 to 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a portable information terminal provided with a GPS receiver. The portable information terminal 1 has a flat rectangular parallelepiped device body 2 and a front end portion of the device body 2. A lid 4 rotatably connected via a grease damper 3 as a moving shaft.

The case portion of the device main body 2 has a structure in which an upper half 2U and a lower half 2L formed of a synthetic resin material are screwed up and down, respectively.
A main circuit board 1a (see FIG. 15) whose upper and lower and both side surfaces are electromagnetically shielded by a shield plate is accommodated inside, and a reflection type liquid crystal display on a support frame is provided on the upper surface side of the main circuit board 1a. Vessel, spacer, front light,
A liquid crystal display unit (data display unit) 5 as an operation surface formed by stacking an icon sheet and a touch panel (both not shown) in order from the bottom is provided, and further, in front of the main circuit board 1a. Is provided with a digital camera unit (not shown).

The liquid crystal display unit 5 includes an upper surface 2a of the upper half 2U.
The cover 4 is exposed in the opening 6 and is visible when the cover 4 is open, and the entire surface is covered when the cover 4 is closed. In addition, a locking claw 8 for detachably locking the power button 7 and the cover 4 is disposed behind the liquid crystal display unit 5 of the device body 2, and a battery 9 a is provided behind the power button 7.
A battery accommodating portion for accommodating (see FIG. 15) is formed and covered with a battery cover 9. Reference numeral 19 denotes a locking member for the battery cover 9.

On the left side surface 2b of the main body 2, in order from the front side to the rear side, an operation button 10 which can be operated in four directions around the axial direction and the surrounding direction, a cancel button 11, and an engagement of the lid 4 with a locking claw 8 are provided. A lock release button 12 for releasing the lock and a strap mounting portion 13 are provided.
A slot (not shown) such as a memory card is provided in c and is covered with a cover 14.

A touch pen 15 is stored in front of the lower surface 2d of the device main body 2, and a lens 16 of the digital camera unit is disposed at a position closer to the left side 2b in front of the touch pen 15. The shutter button 17 of the digital camera is disposed at a position closer to the right side 2c side of the front side 2e of the device 2, and further, the rear side 2f of the device body 2.
Is provided with a communication connector 18 for connecting communication equipment such as a mobile phone and a PHS unit, and is covered with a cover 18a.

A grease damper 3 having a double cylindrical structure as a rotation shaft for rotatably connecting the lid 4 to the device main body 2 is provided at a position in front of the liquid crystal display unit 5 on the upper side surface 2a of the device main body 2.
Is provided.

The grease damper 3 has its axis aligned with the main body 2.
Are arranged in the width direction (left-right direction) of the
On the left side 2b side of the grease damper 3, a finder 20 of the digital camera unit is arranged.
Behind the flexible printed cable 66 described later
Insertion hole 67 is formed.

The grease damper 3, the insertion hole 67 and the finder 20 are covered by a hinge cover 21 attached to the main body 2 with screws or the like from the back side, and an opening is provided in a portion of the hinge cover 21 corresponding to the finder 20. 22 are formed.

Referring to FIGS. 5 to 9, grease damper 3
Is a rotatable cylindrical movable shaft 31 and a cylindrical fixed shaft 3 inserted through the movable shaft 31.
2 and grease 33 interposed between the movable shaft 31 and the fixed shaft 32, and the viscosity of the grease 33 applies a braking force to the rotation of the movable shaft 31.

A bracket 40 for fixing to the cover 4 is attached to the right end of the movable shaft 31. A key 41 for preventing rotation is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the right end of the movable shaft 31 along the axial direction. It is formed.

On the other hand, the fixed shaft 32 is
1 and protrudes from the left end of the movable shaft 31, a torsion coil spring 34 is externally inserted into the protruding portion, and the protruding end (left end) of the fixed shaft 32 is attached to the device body 2. A bracket 35 for fixing the bracket 35 is attached.

At the winding ends at both ends of the torsion coil spring 34, locking hooks 36a and 36b for fixing are provided.
The locking hook 36a on the left end side is fitted and fixed in a locking hole 37 formed through the peripheral wall on the left end side of the fixed shaft 32,
The right-hand locking hook 36b is fitted and fixed in a locking hole 38 formed through the left peripheral wall of the movable shaft 31.

At the right end of the fixed shaft 32, a notch 39 formed by cutting the peripheral wall by 180 ° in the circumferential direction and locking the rotation preventing key 41 of the movable shaft 31 is provided.
Is provided. Further, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9,
The hole inside the fixed shaft 32 has a normal circular cross section on the right end side, and has a left end side (flexible printed cable 66).
(Outlet side) of the filter is gradually changed to have a flattened cross section.

When assembling the grease damper 3, first, the torsion coil spring 34 is attached to the fixed shaft 3.
2 and the engaging hook 36a on the left end side of the torsion coil spring 34 is engaged with the engaging hole 37 of the fixed shaft 32.
And the locking hook 36b on the right end side is fitted and fixed in the locking hole 38 of the movable shaft 31.

Next, the movable shaft 31 is pulled to the right in the axial direction (the direction C in FIG. 6) to shift the circumferential phases of the detent key 41 of the movable shaft 31 and the cutout 39 of the fixed shaft 32 in the circumferential direction. In this state, the movable shaft 31
Is rotated once in the closing rotation direction of the lid portion 4 (the direction of arrow A in FIG. 6: the tightening direction of the torsion coil spring), and the movable shaft 31 is rotated.
Is returned to the left in the axial direction (the direction of arrow D in FIG. 6), and when returning, the detent key 41 of the movable shaft 31 is
In the notch 39.

Thus, the rotation of the movable shaft 31 in the opening direction of the cover 4 (the direction of arrow B in FIG. 6) is restricted, and the opening direction of the cover 4 (arrow B in FIG. 6) is controlled by the torsion coil spring 34. Direction) is applied. The position where the rotation of the movable shaft 31 in the opening direction of the lid 4 is restricted is the fully opened position of the lid 4.

The grease damper 3 configured as described above
The bracket 35 of the fixed shaft 32 is fixed to the device main body 2 by screws or the like, and the movable shaft 31
The bracket 40 is fixed to the lid 4 by screws or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the lid 4 includes a lower case 50, an antenna-integrated GPS board unit 51, an upper case 52, and a decorative cover 53.

The lower case 50 is formed with a storage recess 54 for storing the antenna-integrated GPS board unit 51, and has a width at the base end (the end on the connection side of the lid 4) of the lower case 50. Arms 55a, 55b on both sides in the direction
Are formed to protrude. The shape of the opening 56 formed by the wall 50a on the base end side of the lower case 50 and the arms 55a and 55b corresponds to the hinge cover 21.

At the left and right side edges of the storage recess 54 of the lower case 50, screw fixing bosses 57a are formed at a total of four locations separated from each other in the front-rear direction. Also, the right arm 5
5b is formed with a boss portion 57b for fixing a screw 40 for fixing the bracket 40 provided on the movable shaft 31 of the grease damper 3.

Antenna-integrated GPS board unit 51
Has a circuit board 58 having a shape corresponding to the storage recess 54 of the lower case 50 with reference to FIGS. The notch 59 formed is a boss 57a for screwing.
Are formed corresponding to the number of

A planar patch antenna 60 is mounted substantially at the center of the circuit board 58, and an amplifier 61 is mounted at the tip of the lower case 50 of the planar patch antenna 60. A receiver 62 is mounted on the base end side of the lower case 50. Thus, the grease damper 3, the receiver 62, the planar patch antenna 60, and the amplifier 61 are arranged in this order from the grease damper 3 toward the tip end of the lid 4.

Separate shield plates 63 and 64 are attached to the amplifier 61 and the receiver 62 by soldering or the like, thereby preventing the amplifier 61 and the receiver 62 from interfering with each other due to noise or the like. ing. Each of the shield plates 63 and 64 is formed in a box shape having four side surfaces by sheet metal processing.

The top plate portions of the shield plates 63 and 64 are lower than the top surface of the planar patch antenna 60.
This prevents the shield plates 63 and 64 from deteriorating the reception characteristics of the planar patch antenna 60.

A connector 65 is provided substantially at the center in the width direction on the base end side of the circuit board 58, and a flat flexible printed cable 66 is connected to the connector 65. As shown in FIG. 14, a ground layer G functioning as a ground plane is provided on the back surface (the surface opposite to the mounting surface) of the circuit board 58.

The ground layer G is composed of a planar patch antenna 60
Plays an important role in the directivity of the circuit board 58.
Is provided integrally with the circuit board 58 over substantially the entire area of the back surface thereof.

The central portion of the ground layer G is separated into the amplifier 61 and the receiver 62 along the width direction of the cover 4, and the separation portion 80 is partially formed on one side in the width direction of the cover 4. It is connected to the. Thereby, the planar patch antenna 60
Can be stabilized. Also,
The planar patch antenna 60 is disposed closer to the amplifier 61 than the center of the ground layer G.

The radio wave received by the planar patch antenna 60 is amplified by an amplifier 61, supplied to a receiver 62, converted into a digital signal, and transmitted via a flexible printed cable 66 connected to a connector 65. 1a.

A reception processing circuit is mounted on the main circuit board 1a. The reception processing circuit processes a digital signal output from the receiver 62 via the flexible printed cable 66 as position information and displays a current position. The map is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 5.

The upper case 52 is provided with the storage recess 5 of the lower case 50.
Antenna-integrated GPS board unit 51 housed in 4
The screw insertion holes 68a are formed at the left and right side edges in a total of four places corresponding to the screw fixing boss portions 57a of the lower case 50.

On both sides in the width direction on the base end side of the upper case 52, arms 69a and 69b are formed so as to correspond to the arms 55a and 55b of the lower case, respectively. A screw insertion hole 68b is formed corresponding to the screw fixing boss 57b of the arm 55b of the lower case 50.

Then, the left arm portion 55a of the lower case 50
And a left arm 69a of the upper case 52, a protrusion 20a formed on the left side wall of the finder 20 of the device body 2.
(See FIG. 4)), a fitting hole 70 is formed to be rotatably fitted to the arm 55 b on the right side of the lower case 50 and the upper case 5.
A cylindrical portion 71 that holds the right end portion of the movable shaft 31 of the grease damper 3 is formed by the right arm portion 69b of the grease damper 3.

When assembling the cover 4, the lower case 5
0, the antenna integrated GPS board unit 51 is housed in the housing recess 54, and a screw fixing boss 57 on the lower case 50 side.
a and the notch 59 on the antenna-integrated GPS board unit 51 side, and then the grease damper 3 is screwed into the screw fixing boss 57b of the right arm 55b of the lower case 50.
The screw insertion hole 40a of the bracket 40 provided on the movable shaft 31 is aligned.

Next, the antenna integrated GPS board unit 51 is covered with the upper case 52 so that the screw insertion hole 68a of the upper case 52 is aligned with the screw fixing boss 57a of the lower case 50, and the right side of the upper case 52 is screwed. Arm 6
9b is inserted into the right arm 5 of the lower case 50 with the screw insertion hole 68b.
5b (the screw insertion hole 40a of the bracket 40).

Next, the screw insertion hole 68a of the upper case 52
And screwed into the screw fixing boss 57a of the lower case 50, and the screw 72 is inserted from the screw insertion hole 68b of the right arm 69b of the upper case 52 to insert the right arm of the lower case 50. 55b screwing boss 57
b, and then the decorative cover 53 is attached to the upper case 52.
Is attached by bonding or the like.

Next, the left arm portion 55a of the lower case 50
A fitting hole 70 formed by the upper case 52 and the left arm 69 a of the upper case 52 is rotatably fitted to a projection 20 a formed on the left side wall of the finder 20 of the device body 2, and the grease damper 3 is fixed. The bracket 35 of the shaft 32 is fixed to the device main body 2 via a screw, so that the cover 4
Are rotatably connected to the device main body 2 via the grease damper 3.

At this time, the antenna-integrated GPS
The flexible printed cable 66 connected to the connector 65 of the board unit 51 passes through the inside from the right end of the fixed shaft 32 of the grease damper 3 and is led out to the left end of the fixed shaft 32 along the rotation axis. The main body 2 is electrically connected to the main circuit board 1a in the device main body 2 through an insertion hole 67 provided in the upper side surface 2a.

In this state, the lid 4 is closed and rotated against the urging force of the torsion coil spring 34 of the grease damper 3 and the lid 4 is locked by the locking claw 8, so that the apparatus body is The entire area of the liquid crystal display unit 2 is covered with the decorative cover 53 of the lid unit 4.
(The mounting surface side of the planar patch antenna 60, the amplifier 61, and the receiver 62), and are protected. Further, the locking release button 12 provided on the left side surface 2b of the device main body 2 is pulled forward to lock the locking claw. By releasing the lock of the lid 4 by the torsion coil 8, the torsion coil spring 3 of the grease damper 3 is released.
The grease damper 3 causes the grease damper 3 to rotate slowly in the opening direction due to the urging force of 4.

In this embodiment, the rotatable angle range θ from the fully closed position to the fully opened position of the lid 4 is 200 °.
And

The reason why the rotatable angle range θ of the cover 4 is set to be as large as 200 ° is that the portable information terminal 1 is opened by opening the cover 4.
Of the liquid crystal display unit 5 when using the touch pen 15
In order to ensure the operability of the touch panel by means of, for example, and to make the screen of the liquid crystal display unit 5 easy to see, the flat type built into the lid unit 4 is used when the device body 2 is used by being tilted from the horizontal state by, for example, about 20 °. This is because the patch antenna 60 is arranged at a substantially horizontal position where radio waves from communication satellites can be easily received.

Next, the operation and effect of the portable information terminal 1 having such a configuration will be described together with an example of the method of use.

When the portable information terminal 1 is carried or stored, the cover 4 is connected to the torsion coil spring 3 of the grease damper 3.
The lid 4 is closed and rotated against the urging force of the lock 4 to lock the lid 4 with the locking claw 8. At this time, the entire area of the liquid crystal display section 5 of the device main body 2 is covered with the decorative cover 53 (the flat patch antenna 6) of the lid section 4.
0, the mounting surface of the amplifier 61 and the receiver 62) (see FIG. 15A).

In this state, when the portable information terminal 1 is used, when the device main body 2 is gripped by, for example, the left hand, the lock release button 12 provided on the left side surface 2b of the device main body 2 is pulled toward the user. Then, the locking of the lid 4 by the locking claw 8 is released, and the urging force of the torsion coil spring 34 of the grease damper 3 and the braking force of the grease damper 3 cooperate with each other.
The lid 4 is slowly rotated by 200 ° in the opening direction to be in a fully opened state (see FIG. 15B).

The mobile phone or the P is connected to the communication connector 18.
When the power button 7 is pressed while a communication device such as an HS unit is connected, power from a battery housed in the device main body 2 causes the antenna-integrated GPS board unit 51 to operate.
, The main circuit board 1a, and the circuit board of the digital camera unit.

Next, in this state, for example, the touch pen 1
5 is used to display the top menu on the touch panel and select any one of the current location display, map navigation, e-mail, Internet, and other processing displayed on the top menu with the touch pen 15, and the corresponding application software is started. Then, the selected process is executed, and necessary information is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 5. When operating the digital camera, the shutter button 17 may be operated while looking through the finder 20.

In order to visually recognize the information displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 5, the liquid crystal screen becomes easy to see by tilting the device body 2 from the horizontal state by about 20 ° to the front. The patch antenna 60 is horizontally arranged at a position where radio waves from a communication satellite can be easily received.

Here, in this embodiment, the antenna-integrated GPS board unit 51 is built in the cover 4, and the receiver 62, the planar patch antenna 60, and the Since the amplifiers 61 are arranged in this order, the main circuit board 1 a
In contrast, the planar patch antenna 60 can be separated from the projected area of the product (the fully closed state of the lid 4) by more than the projection area. As a result, the planar patch antenna 60 is less affected by the noise radiated from the main circuit board 1a. And stable receiving performance can be secured.
The amplifier 61 greatly affected by the noise radiated from the main circuit board 1a can be arranged at a position as far as possible from the main circuit board 1a.

Further, since the ground layer G is provided on the back surface of the circuit board 58 of the antenna-integrated GPS board unit 51 over substantially the entire area, a stable reception directivity is obtained and the reception sensitivity is improved. be able to.

Further, the amplifier 6 is positioned from the center of the ground layer G.
Since the planar patch antenna 60 is disposed at a position closer to the first side and the planar patch antenna 60 is disposed at a position closer to the amplifier 61 side from the center of the ground layer G, radio waves from many satellites are captured. can do.

That is, the antenna and the ground plane have a relationship in which the ground plane adjusts the directivity originally possessed by the antenna. If the antenna is a single antenna, the directivity shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 16B, by arranging the ground plane on the bottom surface of the antenna, the sensitivity at a low elevation angle decreases and the sensitivity at a high elevation angle increases.

As shown in FIGS. 16C and 16D, when the ground plane is unevenly arranged in the left-right direction with respect to the antenna, the length of the ground plane protruding in the left-right direction from the antenna is shorter. The lower elevation characteristics are cut on the longer side than on the side.

In this embodiment, the planar patch antenna 60 is disposed substantially at the center in the width direction of the cover 4, but the planar patch antenna 60 is disposed in the direction from the base end of the cover 4 to the distal end. Since the antenna 60 is disposed closer to the amplifier 61 than the center of the lid 4 (ground layer G), as shown in FIG. 17, the device main body 2 is tilted by about 20 ° forward from the horizontal state. When the planar patch antenna 60 built in the cover 4 is horizontally arranged to easily receive radio waves from a communication satellite, the length of the ground layer G protruding from the planar patch antenna 60 to the operator side is reduced. Is longer than the length protruding to the amplifier 61 side.

Therefore, the directivity for the low elevation angle is cut off on the operator side from the flat patch antenna 60, and the directivity for the low elevation angle is secured on the amplifier 61 side from the flat patch antenna 60. become.

This is because, considering that the operator's own body becomes a wall against the radio wave received from the satellite,
Even if the directivity for the low elevation angle on the operator side than the flat patch antenna 60 is wasted, it is better to secure the directivity for the low elevation angle on the amplifier 61 side than the flat patch antenna 60 from more satellites. As a result, the possibility of capturing the radio wave of the user increases.

Further, since the receiver 62 is arranged between the planar patch antenna 60 and the grease damper 3,
Connector 65 of antenna integrated GPS board unit 51
The path for passing the flexible printed cable 66 connected to the inside of the fixed shaft 32 of the grease damper 3 can be minimized.

Further, since the receiver 62, the planar patch antenna 60, and the amplifier 61 are integrally mounted on the circuit board 58, an expensive coaxial cable k for connecting the amplifier i and the receiver f and the connection are required. This eliminates the need for a connector, thereby simplifying the structure and reducing costs.

Further, since the antenna-integrated GPS board unit 51 is built in the lid portion 4 and the receiver 62, the planar patch antenna 60 and the amplifier 61 are arranged in a plane and distributed, a conventional arrangement is provided. The size and thickness can be reduced as compared with the stacked type.

In the above embodiment, the grease damper 3 in which the torsion coil spring 34 is integrated is adopted as the rotating shaft. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this. Structure that stops at any angle position with constant torque within the movable angle range, lid 4
The structure which is hung at two points of full closing angle and full opening angle,
Alternatively, it is possible to adopt a structure in which a ratchet mechanism is used to perform a small intermittent rotation.

Next, a portable information terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The portable information terminal 100 includes the device body 1
A GPS receiver 101 having a lid 104 and a card-shaped fixing portion 105 at the front end of the main body 02 is detachably mounted. The front end face of the device main body 102 is a standard compact flash (registered trademark). A card slot 103 having an appropriate interface is provided.

The lid 104 is attached to the fixed part 105 by the rotating shaft 106.
Is rotatably connected via a. GPS receiver 1
01 is inserted into the card slot 103 of the device main body 102, so that the circuit on the cover 104 and the circuit on the device main body 102 are electrically connected. Note that the card slot 103 may be PCMCIA or another interface.

The internal structure of the lid 104 is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment. The receiver 62, the planar patch antenna 60, and the amplifier 61 are arranged in this order from the base end of the lid 104 to the distal end. Are located. In the fixing part 105,
An interface circuit for communicating with the device body 102 is built in.

When the fixed portion 105 is inserted into the card slot 103 of the device main body 102, the fixed portion 105 is stably held by the fitting force of the distal connector 105a of the fixed portion 105. Note that, separately, a locking structure for locking the fixing portion 105 in the card slot 103 of the device main body 102 may be provided.

As the rotating shaft 106, for example, the lid 104
A structure that stops at any angle position with a constant torque within the rotatable angle range, a structure in which the lid 104 is locked at two points, a fully closed angle and a fully opened angle, or a ratchet It is possible to adopt a structure or the like that performs intermittent rotation by a mechanism.

When the portable information terminal 100 is carried or stored, the cover 104 is closed and rotated to cover and cover the entire area of the liquid crystal display 150 of the device main body 102 (FIG. 1).
9), when the portable information terminal 100 is used in this state, the lid 104 is rotated in the opening direction while the device main body 102 is held with, for example, the left hand.

The rotatable angle range of the cover 104 is the first range.
In the same manner as in the embodiment, the angle is about 200 °. Therefore, in order to visually recognize the information displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 150, the liquid crystal screen becomes easier to see by tilting the device main body 102 from the horizontal state by about 20 ° toward the front, In this state, the planar patch antenna built in the lid 104 is horizontally arranged and located at a position where radio waves from a communication satellite can be easily received (see FIG. 20).

In this embodiment, the GPS receiving apparatus 101 is provided with only the GPS receiving function and the interface function of the device main body 102. However, instead of this, the GPS receiving apparatus 101 is provided with a power supply and a power supply. The main control function may be built in, and the GPS receiver 101 may be used alone. For example, a battery is housed inside the rotation shaft 106, and the main control circuit, the simple input device, and the display A device may be provided.

Next, a portable information terminal according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 21 and 22.

This portable information terminal 200 is
G having a lid 204 and a fixing part 205 on the lower surface
The PS receiver 201 is detachably mounted,
A unique interface connector (not shown) and a locked portion (not shown) locked by a locking portion (locking claw) 208 on the fixed portion 205 side are provided on the lower side surface of the device main body 202. Have been.

The cover 204 is attached to the fixed portion 205 by the rotation shaft 20.
6 are connected rotatably. The internal structure of the cover 204 is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment,
A receiver 62, a planar patch antenna 60, and an amplifier 61 are arranged in this order from the base end of 04 to the tip end side.

The fixed section 205 has a built-in interface circuit for communicating with the device main body 202 side. The upper surface of the fixed section 205 has an interface connector 2 connected to the interface connector of the device main body 202 side.
09 and a locking claw 208 which is locked to the locked portion on the device body 202 side.

The interface connector on the fixed part 205 side is connected to the interface connector on the device body 202 side.
9 is connected, and the locking claw 208 on the fixing portion 205 side is locked to the locked portion on the device main body 202 side, so that the GPS receiving device 201 is mounted on the device main body 202.

As in the second embodiment, for example, the rotating shaft 206 has a structure such that it stops at any angular position with a constant torque within the rotatable angle range of the lid 204. It is possible to adopt a structure in which the actuator 204 is locked at two points of a fully closed opening degree and a fully opened angle, or a structure in which a ratchet mechanism performs intermittently small rotation.

When the portable information terminal 200 is carried or stored, the cover 204 is closed and rotated to cover and cover the entire area of the liquid crystal display 250 of the device main body 202 (FIG. 2).
2), in this state, when the portable information terminal 200 is used, the lid 204 is rotated in the opening direction while the connection body between the device main body 202 and the fixing unit 205 is held with, for example, the left hand.

The rotatable angle range of the cover 204 is the first range.
In the same manner as in the embodiment, the angle is approximately 200 °. Therefore, in order to visually recognize the information displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 250, the liquid crystal screen becomes easy to see when the device main body 202 is tilted approximately 20 ° toward the front from the horizontal state, In this state, the planar patch antenna built in the cover 204 is horizontally arranged and is located at a position where radio waves from communication satellites can be easily received.

In this embodiment, similarly to the second embodiment, the GPS receiver 201 has only the GPS reception function and the interface function of the device body 202 as an example. And the GPS receiver 201
Power supply and main control functions are built in the GPS receiver 20
1 may be used alone, for example, a rotating shaft 2
06, a battery may be housed, and the fixing unit 205 may include a main control circuit, a simple input device, and a display device.

[0101]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the present invention, thinning and miniaturization can be achieved with a simple structure at low cost, and good and excellent stability can be obtained. The effect that the receiving sensitivity and the receiving performance can be ensured can be obtained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect of the invention, there is obtained an effect that radio waves from many satellites can be captured.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first or second aspect of the invention, an effect is obtained that the amplifier side and the receiver side can be prevented from interfering with each other due to the influence of noise or the like.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the shield plate individually covering the amplifier and the receiver from deteriorating the receiving characteristics of the planar antenna. .

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, an effect is obtained that the receiving sensitivity of the planar antenna can be made more excellent in stability. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a portable information terminal as an example of an embodiment of the present invention, in which a cover is fully opened.

FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of the portable information terminal shown in FIG. 1 with a cover part in a fully closed state.

FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view of the portable information terminal shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the back side.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the cover of the portable information terminal is fully opened, and
It is the whole perspective view in the state where the hinge cover was removed.

FIG. 5 is an overall perspective view of a grease damper.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a grease damper.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view seen from the direction of arrow E in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory sectional view for explaining an internal structure of a grease damper.

9A is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 8, and FIG. 9B is a sectional view of FIG.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.

FIG. 10 is an overall perspective view of a lid.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a lid.

FIG. 12 is an overall perspective view of an antenna-integrated GPS board unit.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which the shield plate of the amplifier and the shield plate of the receiver of the antenna-integrated GPS board unit are removed.

FIG. 14 is a plan view for explaining a pattern of a ground layer.

FIG. 15 (a) is a schematic diagram showing a state where a lid is in a fully closed state,
(B) is the schematic which made the cover part into a full open state.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a difference in directivity due to a positional relationship between a ground plane and a planar antenna.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram for describing directivity in a positional relationship between a ground layer and a planar patch antenna according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory perspective view illustrating a portable information terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory side view for explaining a state in which the lid is attached to the device main body and the lid is fully closed.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory side view for explaining a state in which the lid is fully opened.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory perspective view illustrating a portable information terminal according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory side view for explaining a state in which the liquid crystal display unit is mounted on the device main body and the lid is fully closed.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory perspective view for explaining a conventional portable information terminal.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory perspective view for explaining an arrangement of main parts of the portable information terminal of FIG. 23 with a case removed;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Portable information terminal 1a ... Main circuit board 2 ... Equipment main body 3 ... Grease damper (rotation axis) 4 ... Lid 5 ... Liquid crystal display (data display) 50 ... Lower case 51 ... Antenna integrated GPS board unit 52 ... upper case 53 ... decorative cover 58 ... circuit board 60 ... planar patch antenna 61 ... amplifier 62 ... receiver 63 ... shield plate 64 ... shield plate 80 ... ground layer separation part G ... ground layer

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification FI FI Theme Court II (Reference) H05K 5/02 H05K 5/02 A (72) Inventor Kazumi Matsumoto 3-5-5 Yamato, Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture Seiko Epson In-house F term (reference) 4E360 AA02 AB02 BA02 BB12 EC11 EC14 GA34 GB26 5J021 AA01 CA06 DA02 DA04 DA05 DA06 FA20 FA26 FA29 GA02 HA05 HA10 5J046 AA04 AB13 DA02 DA08 5J047 AA04 AB13 BF01 BF10 EF04 EF03 FD03 DD02 DD02 EE07 HH07 LL01 LL04 LL05 LL06

Claims (5)

[Claims] An apparatus main body having a data display portion on a surface thereof, and a lid portion rotatably connected to a front end side of the device main body and covering the data display portion of the device main body by turning in a closing direction. A portable information terminal comprising: a circuit board on which a flat antenna for satellite communication, an amplifier and a receiver are mounted on the lid, wherein the mounting surface is a data display section of the device body when the lid is fully closed. And the receiver, the planar antenna and the amplifier are arranged in this order from the end on the connection side of the lid toward the distal end, and the mounting surface of the circuit board is opposite to the mounting surface. A portable information terminal provided with a ground layer functioning as a ground plane over substantially the entire area of the side surface. 2. The portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein the planar antenna is arranged on the amplifier side from a center of the ground layer. 3. The portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein the amplifier and the receiver are individually covered with a shield plate. 4. The portable information terminal according to claim 3, wherein a top plate of the shield plate is lower than a top surface of the planar antenna. 5. The method according to claim 5, wherein the ground layer is separated into the amplifier side and the receiver side at a substantially central portion, and only a part of the separated part is connected to the amplifier side ground layer and the receiver side ground layer. The portable information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: