JP2004282524A - Reflector device for radio communication card - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a reflector device for a radio communication card, which is attached to a radio communication card with a built-in antenna and can change directions of an antenna radiation pattern (directional characteristic). <P>SOLUTION: This radio communication card 3 includes an antenna 4 at a part projecting outward while inserted into a PC card slot 2 of electronic equipment 1 such as a personal computer. In the reflector device 10 for a radio communication card, a reflector 14 for reflecting radio waves is mounted turnably on a base part 12 which is provided with amounting parts 11A and 11B onto the radio communication card 3 through a movable supporting part 13. The reflector 14 is located over the antenna 4 while the reflector device 10 for a radio communication card is mounted on the radio communication card 3. The directions of a radiation pattern (directional characteristic, that is, radio wave transmission and reception) of the antenna 4 are changed by adjusting the up-down angle and rotation angle of the reflector 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a wireless communication card reflector device for changing the transmission / reception direction of a wireless communication card.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art There is known a wireless communication card which is mounted on a PC card slot provided in an electronic device such as a personal computer and can be used for data communication with another electronic device. Such a wireless communication card includes an interface circuit with a computer, a transmission / reception circuit, an antenna device, and the like. An antenna device used for a wireless communication card needs to be thin. Therefore, as an antenna device, a planar antenna such as an inverted F antenna, a monopole antenna or a microstrip antenna of a capacity loading type is often used (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).
[0003]
Since these antennas have a ground plane, no radio waves are emitted to the ground plane side. For this reason, the radiation pattern of the antenna device used for the wireless communication card is often vertically upward or obliquely upward of the upper surface of the PC card. For this reason, when a downward radiation pattern is weak, and, for example, wireless communication is performed between two points having a height difference between the second floor and the first floor, the radio wave intensity is weakened and the communication quality may be degraded.
[0004]
In addition, there has been proposed a wireless communication card body in which an antenna portion is rotatably mounted so that the direction of the antenna can be adjusted to an optimum receiving state (for example, see Patent Documents 3 and 4).
[0005]
Further, there has been proposed an antenna device in which a guide is formed on a semicircular plate on which a planar antenna is disposed so as to surround the planar antenna, and the reflector can be moved along the guide. This antenna device can reduce the influence of multipath by adjusting the position of the reflector (see Patent Document 5).
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-243435 A (FIGS. 17 and 18)
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-8-204621 (FIGS. 5 and 6)
[Patent Document 3]
JP-A-9-259238 (FIGS. 1 and 2)
[Patent Document 4]
Registered Utility Model No. 3050211 [Patent Document 5]
JP-A-11-53498 (FIGS. 1 and 2)
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Most of the wireless communication cards having a built-in planar antenna have an upward or obliquely upward radiation pattern, and a user cannot change the direction of the radiation pattern. For this reason, when a downward radiation pattern is weak, and, for example, wireless communication is performed between two points having a height difference between the second floor and the first floor, the radio wave intensity is weakened and the communication quality may be degraded. As described above, since most wireless communication cards having a built-in planar antenna cannot change the direction of the radiation pattern, a device or the like on the other side of wireless communication is installed in a direction different from the direction of the radiation pattern. Communication quality may be degraded.
[0008]
If the arrangement of the electronic device is changed so that the radiation pattern of the antenna is in a desired direction with the wireless communication card attached to the electronic device such as a personal computer, the communication quality may be ensured. Will become inconvenient.
[0009]
To change the direction of the radiation pattern or reduce the effects of multipath by purchasing and replacing a wireless communication card with a rotatable antenna or a wireless communication card with a rotating reflector However, the existing wireless communication card is wasted.
[0010]
An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication card reflector device that can improve the communication quality of wireless communication over a wide range while using an existing wireless communication card.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The object of the present invention is for a wireless communication card, comprising: a base provided with a mounting portion for a wireless communication card; and a reflector rotatably mounted on the base via a movable supporting portion and reflecting radio waves. This is achieved by a reflector device.
By mounting the reflector device for a wireless communication card according to the present invention on the wireless communication card, a reflector can be provided for an antenna built in the wireless communication card. By changing the direction of the reflector, the direction (directional characteristic) of the radiation pattern can be changed. By adjusting the direction of the reflector and setting the direction of the radiation pattern to the direction of the device on the other side of wireless communication, communication quality can be improved and good communication can be performed.
[0012]
It is preferable that the mounting portion has a structure that can be mounted on and removed from the wireless communication card. Accordingly, when it is necessary to change the direction of the radiation pattern, it is not necessary to change the direction of the radiation pattern by installing the reflector device for a wireless communication card and changing the installation location of the personal computer or the communication partner. In this case, the wireless communication card reflector device can be removed from the wireless communication card.
[0013]
It is preferable that the movable supporting portion has a structure that supports the reflector so that the reflector can be raised and lowered. By raising and lowering the reflector, the direction of the radiation pattern can be changed in the vertical direction.
[0014]
It is preferable that the movable support portion has a structure that rotatably supports the reflector. By rotating the reflector, the direction of the radiation pattern can be changed in the horizontal direction.
[0015]
It is preferable that the movable supporting portion has a structure that supports the reflector so as to be able to move up and down and rotatably. Thereby, the direction of the radiation pattern can be changed to an arbitrary direction.
[0016]
By making the reflecting surface of the reflector flat, the radiation pattern can be made relatively broad (broad). By making the reflecting surface of the reflector a curved surface (for example, a parabolic surface), the radiation pattern can be made relatively narrow (sharp) or wider (broader).
[0017]
By forming a large number of projections (for example, spherical projections or pyramid-shaped projections) on the surface of the reflection surface of the reflector, the reflection efficiency can be increased.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
A reflector device for a wireless communication card according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wireless communication card reflector device according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a side view of the wireless communication card reflector device according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a wireless communication card reflector device according to the present embodiment. FIG.
[0019]
FIG. 1 shows, for example, a state in which a wireless communication card 3 is mounted in a PC card slot 2 of a notebook personal computer 1 and a wireless communication card reflector device 10 is mounted in the wireless communication card 3.
[0020]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the wireless communication card reflector device 10 is rotatably mounted on a base 12 having a pair of mounting portions 11A and 11B via a movable support portion 13. Reflector 14. The movable support portion 13 is formed of, for example, a cylindrical member, and is rotatably inserted into a hole 12 a provided in the base portion 12. Further, the spherical rotation center portion 14b of the reflector 14 is rotatably fitted into the spherical hollow portion 13b on the back side of the nozzle-shaped opening 13a of the movable support portion 13. A plurality of holes 12a are provided on the base 12 at different heights so that the movable support 13 can be inserted into an arbitrary hole 12a, and the reflecting surfaces of the antenna 4 and the reflector 14 (surfaces facing the antenna 4). Of course, it is also possible to make the height of the table adjustable. Thereby, the height of the antenna 4 and the reflector 14 can be adjusted, and for example, it is possible to adapt to various cards having different shapes of the extended portion. At least the reflecting surface 14a of the reflector 14 is made of a material that reflects radio waves, such as aluminum, gold, and silver.
[0021]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the reflector 14 is disposed above the antenna 4 built in the wireless communication card 3. The reflector 14 is mounted so as to be able to move up and down as shown by an arrow A in FIG. 2 and to be rotatable as shown by an arrow B in FIG.
[0022]
1 to 3 show an example in which the reflecting surface 14a of the reflector 14 is a flat surface, the reflecting surface 14a of the reflector 14 may be a curved surface such as a paraboloid. By making the reflecting surface 14a of the reflector 14 flat, the radiation pattern (directivity: transmission / reception direction of a radio wave) can be made relatively wide (broad). By making the reflecting surface 14a of the reflector 14 a curved surface (for example, a parabolic surface), the radiation pattern can be made relatively narrow (sharp) or wider (broader).
[0023]
Although the surface of the reflecting surface 14a of the reflector 14 may be flat, at least one projection (for example, a spherical projection or a pyramid-shaped projection) is formed on the surface of the reflecting surface 14a of the reflector 14 so as to increase the reflection efficiency. You may.
[0024]
FIG. 4 shows an example in which the radiation pattern of the antenna is changed downward using the wireless communication card reflector device 10 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, by raising the reflector 14 obliquely upward, radio waves radiated upward from the antenna 4 incorporated in the wireless communication card 3 are reflected by the reflection surface 14a of the reflector 14 and directed downward. I can make it. In this way, by cooperating the antenna 4 and the reflector 14, a downward radiation pattern can be obtained.
[0025]
FIG. 5 shows an example in which the radiation pattern of the antenna is changed to the horizontal direction using the reflector device for a wireless communication card according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, by turning the reflector 14 obliquely, the radio wave radiated upward from the antenna 4 built in the wireless communication card 3 is reflected by the reflecting surface 14a of the reflector 14, and Can be turned. As described above, by cooperating the antenna 4 and the reflector 14, a lateral radiation pattern can be obtained.
[0026]
Furthermore, the radiation pattern can be set in an arbitrary direction by appropriately adjusting both the undulation angle and the rotation angle of the reflector 14.
[0027]
As described above, the radiation pattern of the existing wireless communication card 3 can be changed by using the wireless communication card reflector device 10 according to the present embodiment. Therefore, by adjusting the direction of the reflector 14 and setting the direction of the radiation pattern to the direction of the device on the other side of wireless communication, communication quality can be ensured and good communication can be performed.
[0028]
Since the reflector device 10 for a wireless communication card according to the present embodiment includes the mounting portions 11A and 11B that can be attached to and detached from the existing wireless communication card 3, it is necessary to change the direction of the radiation pattern. The communication quality is ensured by attaching the reflector device 10 to the wireless communication card 3, and when the installation location of the personal computer or the installation location of the communication partner is changed and it is not necessary to change the direction of the radiation pattern, the wireless communication is performed. The card reflector device 10 can be removed from the wireless communication card 3.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the reflector device for a wireless communication card according to the present invention is provided with a reflector for reflecting radio waves via a movable supporting portion at a base provided with a mounting portion for the wireless communication card. By mounting the wireless communication card reflector device according to the present invention on a wireless communication card, a reflector can be provided for an antenna built in the wireless communication card. The direction of the radiation pattern can be changed by changing the direction of the reflector. By adjusting the direction of the reflector and setting the direction of the radiation pattern to the direction of the device on the other side of wireless communication, communication quality can be improved without changing the existing wireless communication card, and good communication can be achieved. Can be performed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a reflector device for a wireless communication card according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of a reflector device for a wireless communication card according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a front view of a reflector device for a wireless communication card according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example in which the radiation pattern of the antenna is changed downward using the reflector device for a wireless communication card according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example in which the radiation pattern of the antenna is changed to a horizontal direction using the reflector device for a wireless communication card according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Personal computer (electronic equipment)
2 PC card slot 3 Wireless communication card 4 Antenna 10 Reflector device for wireless communication card 11A, 11B Mounting part 12 Base 13 Movable support part 14 Reflector 14a Surface of reflector

Claims (5)

A base having a mounting portion for the wireless communication card,
A reflector device for a wireless communication card, comprising: a reflector that is rotatably attached to the base via a movable support portion and reflects radio waves. The reflector device for a wireless communication card according to claim 1,
A reflector device for a wireless communication card, wherein the movable supporter supports the reflector so that the reflector can be raised and lowered. The reflector device for a wireless communication card according to claim 1 or 2,
A reflector device for a wireless communication card, wherein a reflection surface of the reflector is formed in a flat shape. The reflector device for a wireless communication card according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A reflector device for a wireless communication card, wherein a reflection surface of the reflector is formed in a curved shape. The reflector device for a wireless communication card according to claim 3 or 4,
A reflector device for a wireless communication card, wherein at least one protrusion is formed on a surface of a reflection surface of the reflector.

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