JP2006340394A - Mobile communication terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mobile communication terminal in which communication performance can be improved between a non-contact coil antenna for IC card interface and a non-contact coil antenna for reader/writer, and entire small-sizing of the whole and thinning are compatibly attained. <P>SOLUTION: A mobile communication terminal 1 such as a portable telephone set comprises: an upper case 3 internally including an electronic device 10. A sheet-like flexible substrate 17 including a non-contact coil antenna for IC card interface and a non-contact coil antenna for reader/writer is stuck on an inner surface of the upper case 3 (on an inner surface 8a of a cover 8), and a sheet-like soft magnetic substance radio wave absorber 2 covering the non-contact coil antenna for IC card interface and the non-contact coil antenna for reader/writer, is stuck on the flexible substrate 17. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable communication terminal provided with a non-contact type coil antenna.

  In a conventional non-contact type IC card reading / writing device, an electromagnetic wave absorber is disposed between an antenna having a loop antenna provided on a substrate and a control substrate on which a control member for controlling the antenna is mounted. The radio wave is reflected by metal (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-63552 A

  Incidentally, in recent years, non-contact type IC cards have been used in various places. For example, it is also used in commuter passes and cashless cards that can be used in stores such as some convenience stores, and the convenience of non-contact is being widely recognized. On the other hand, mobile communication terminals such as mobile phones are required to diversify their functions. One of them is a non-contact IC card function and a reader / writer (R / W) function for an IC card. In addition, mobile communication terminals are required to be smaller and thinner, and it is necessary to minimize the increase in parts due to function expansion.

  In order to mount the IC card function and the R / W function, it is necessary to install a dedicated antenna, and it is necessary to secure a space for arranging the antenna in a limited space in the mobile communication terminal. However, when the antenna is disposed close to a substrate, a metal part, a shield case, or the like, there is a possibility that the communication performance of the antenna is deteriorated. For example, at the time of the R / W function, a magnetic field generated from the antenna is generated as an eddy current in a metal body in the mobile communication terminal, so that the radiation efficiency is deteriorated, and as a result, it is difficult to supply power to an external IC card. . In the IC card function, a magnetic field generated from an external R / W device is converted into eddy current by a dielectric shield case or the like, resulting in loss.

  In this regard, Patent Document 1 is a reading / writing device that is larger than a portable communication terminal, in which an antenna, an electromagnetic wave absorber, and a control board are spaced apart via a spacer. . That is, the antenna and the electromagnetic wave absorber are required to have a plate shape having rigidity sufficient to withstand the spaced apart arrangement. Therefore, when the technique described in Patent Document 1 is applied to a mobile communication terminal, the overall size and thickness are increased.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a mobile communication terminal capable of achieving both improvement in communication performance of a non-contact type coil antenna and reduction in size and thickness of the whole. With the goal.

  The portable communication terminal according to the present invention includes a case, a flexible base material fixed on the inner surface of the case, and an external device in an IC card mode fixed on the flexible base material and the terminal functions as a non-contact IC card. Non-contact type coil antenna for IC interface that communicates with a reader / writer of an external device and an external non-contact type in an R / W mode in which the terminal functions as a reader / writer for an external non-contact IC card fixed on a flexible substrate. A non-contact type coil antenna for reader / writer that communicates with a contact IC card, and a position on the outer surface of the flexible substrate that covers the non-contact type coil antenna for IC interface and the non-contact type coil antenna for reader / writer Soft magnetic wave absorber.

  In the above configuration, the electromagnetic coupling between the shield case, the metal part, the metal body, and the substrate constituting the electronic component and the non-contact coil antenna for the IC interface and the non-contact coil antenna for the reader / writer is performed by the soft magnetic wave absorber. It can be surely prevented. Therefore, the magnetic field emitted from the external or internal coil antenna is prevented from being converted into eddy current by the metal body or the shield case, and the communication performance is improved. Further, due to the characteristics in the medium wave band of the soft magnetic wave absorber (high magnetic moduli and low loss), the magnetic flux increases and the communication distance increases.

  Also, a sheet-like flexible base material having a non-contact type coil antenna for IC interface and a non-contact type coil antenna for reader / writer is disposed on the inner surface of the housing, and a sheet-like soft magnetic wave is placed on the flexible base material. Since it is a structure which fixes an absorber, the protrusion amount from the inner surface of a housing | casing can be suppressed very small. Therefore, the communication performance of the non-contact type coil antenna for IC interface and the non-contact type coil antenna for reader / writer can be improved without impairing the miniaturization and thinning of the portable communication terminal.

  The housing may include a main body that defines an internal space in which an electronic device is mounted with an opening, and a cover that is mounted on the main body and closes the opening, and the flexible base material is fixed on the inner surface of the cover. May be.

  In the above configuration, since the electronic device and the flexible base material are exposed with the cover open, workability during manufacturing and maintenance is improved.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the communication performance of the non-contact type coil antenna for IC interfaces and the non-contact type coil antenna for reader / writers can be aimed at, without impairing size reduction and thickness reduction of a portable communication terminal.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a side sectional view schematically showing a mobile phone (hereinafter referred to as a terminal) 1 as a foldable mobile terminal device to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 shows a state in which the terminal 1 of FIG. 1 is opened. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state in which the soft magnetic wave absorber 2 is removed from the terminal 1 of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG.

  As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the terminal 1 includes an upper housing 3, a lower housing 4, and a hinge 5. The hinge 5 can be changed from a closed state in which the inner surfaces 3a, 4a of the upper housing 3 and the lower housing 4 face each other to an open state in which both the inner surfaces 3a, 4a are open. And one end of the lower housing 4 are connected. The terminal 1 is used in an open state in which both housings 3 and 4 are opened, a liquid crystal display 6 is provided on the inner surface 3a of the upper housing 3, and a predetermined input key (not shown) is provided on the inner surface 4a of the lower housing 4. Are arranged respectively.

  The upper housing 3 has a main body 7 and a cover 8. The main body 7 has an opening 9 disposed on the outer surface 3 b of the upper housing 3. The cover 8 is attached to the main body 7 and closes the opening 9, and the outer surface 8 b of the cover 8 constitutes a part of the outer surface 3 b of the upper housing 3. Various electronic devices 10 are mounted in the internal space of the upper housing 3 partitioned by the main body 7. The upper housing 3 is provided with a whip antenna 13 that performs communication as a telephone.

  The electronic device 10 includes a shield case 14, a main board 15, and a supplementary board 16. On the main board 15 and the auxiliary board 16, a predetermined circuit is formed and a predetermined electronic component is fixed. The circuits and electronic components of the main board 15 and the auxiliary board 16 function for an IC interface non-contact type coil antenna 11 and a reader / writer non-contact type coil antennaer 12 which will be described later. Function for (telephone function). The main board 15 is covered with the shield case 14, and the auxiliary board 16 is disposed on the outer surface of the shield case 14 so as to face the opening 9. The main board 15 and the auxiliary board 16 are electrically connected.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet-like flexible base material 17 made of an insulating resin has an annular portion 17a and a connecting portion 17b extending from the annular portion 17a to the vicinity of the auxiliary substrate 16, and the annular portion 17a is a cover. 8 is fixed to the inner surface 8a of the plate 8 by sticking.

  On the flexible substrate 17, an IC interface non-contact coil antenna 11 (hereinafter referred to as an IC card antenna) that communicates with an external reader / writer 18 when the terminal 1 functions in the same manner as a so-called IC card. ) And a non-contact coil antenna for reader / writer that communicates with the external IC card 19 when the terminal 1 functions as a reader / writer for the external IC card 19 (hereinafter referred to as an R / W antenna). 12 is fixed. The intermediate portion of the IC card antenna 11 and the R / W antenna 12 both form a loop pattern along the annular portion 17a of the flexible substrate 17 (shown in FIG. 4), and both ends thereof pass through the connecting portion 17b. The auxiliary substrate 16 is connected. In the annular portion 17a, the R / W antenna 12 is disposed inside the IC card antenna 11.

  On the outer surface of the flexible base material 17, a sheet-like soft magnetic wave absorber 2 covering the IC card antenna 11 and the R / W antenna 12 is fixed by sticking. As the soft magnetic wave absorber 2, for example, Bastaleido (trade name) manufactured by Tokin Corporation is used.

  The terminal 1 can be set to an IC card mode that functions in the same way as a so-called IC card and an R / W mode that functions as a reader / writer for the external IC card 19. The IC card mode and the R / W mode may be configured to be appropriately set by the operation of the input key from the user. When the external R / W 18 is brought close to the terminal 1, the IC card mode is automatically set. You may comprise so that.

  In the IC card mode, communication is performed between the IC card antenna 11 and the external R / W 18 to supply power to the IC chip of the auxiliary substrate 16 and read / write information. Note that only the reading / writing of information with respect to the IC chip may be performed by communication, and power may be supplied from the terminal 1 to the IC chip.

  In the R / W mode, communication is performed between the R / W antenna 12 and the external IC card 19, and power is supplied to the IC chip in the IC card 19 and information is read / written.

  According to the present embodiment, since the IC card antenna 11 and the R / W antenna 12 are completely covered by the soft magnetic wave absorber 2, the shield case 14, the main substrate 15, and the like constituting the electronic device 10 It is possible to reliably prevent electromagnetic coupling between the auxiliary substrate 16, the metal component, the metal body, and the like, and the IC card antenna 11 and the R / W antenna 12. Therefore, the magnetic field emitted from the external R / W 18 or the R / W antenna 12 is prevented from being converted into eddy currents by the metal body or the shield case 14, and communication performance is improved. In addition, in the communication frequency band, an increase in magnetic flux is expected due to the properties of the soft magnetic wave absorber 2 such as high magnetic modulus and low loss, and communication performance is improved.

  FIG. 5 is a table showing the results of a communication performance test under the same conditions other than the presence or absence of the soft magnetic wave absorber 2. The communication performance is improved by the soft magnetic wave absorber 2. I understand.

  Specifically, in the IC card mode, when a communication test (with power supply to the IC) is performed between the terminal 1 and a reader / writer (R / W) that forms a strong electric field, a soft magnetic wave absorber 2 has a maximum communication distance of 101 mm, whereas the maximum communication distance without the soft magnetic wave absorber 2 was 97 mm. Similarly, when a communication test (without power supply to the IC) is performed between the terminal 1 and a reader / writer (R / W) that forms a strong electric field in the IC card mode, the soft magnetic wave absorber 2 is The maximum communication distance when it is provided is 44 mm, whereas the maximum communication distance when the soft magnetic wave absorber 2 is not provided is 36 mm. In the IC card mode, when a communication test is performed between the terminal 1 and a reader / writer (R / W) that forms a weak electric field, the maximum communication distance when the soft magnetic wave absorber 2 is provided is 20 mm. On the other hand, the maximum communication distance when the soft magnetic wave absorber 2 was not provided was 14 mm. In the R / W mode, when a communication test is performed between the terminal 1 and the card A having a low resonance frequency, the maximum communication distance when the soft magnetic wave absorber 2 is provided is 20 mm. Communication was impossible when the radio wave absorber 2 was not provided. In the R / W mode, when a communication test is performed between the terminal 1 and the card B having a large resonance frequency, the maximum communication distance when the soft magnetic wave absorber 2 is provided is 2 mm. Communication was impossible when the radio wave absorber 2 was not provided. Thus, it can be seen that the maximum communication distance is increased, that is, the communication performance is improved as compared with the case where the soft magnetic wave absorber 2 is not provided.

  Further, since the coupling between the loop patterns of the IC card antenna 11 is surely blocked by the soft magnetic wave absorber 2, the function as a coil antenna works efficiently. Therefore, in the IC card mode, the transformer effect with the coil antenna of the external R / W 18 can be obtained to the maximum, and the communication performance is also improved in this respect.

  Then, a sheet-like flexible base material 17 having the IC card antenna 11 and the R / W antenna 12 is pasted on the inner surface 8a of the cover 8, and the sheet-like soft magnetic material is absorbed on the flexible base material 17. Since the body 2 is adhered, the amount of protrusion from the inner surface 8a of the flexible base material 17 and the soft magnetic wave absorber 2 can be kept extremely small. Further, it is not necessary to separately provide means for holding the soft magnetic electromagnetic wave absorber 2. Therefore, the communication performance of the IC card antenna 11 and the R / W antenna 12 can be improved without impairing the size reduction and thickness reduction of the terminal 1.

  Furthermore, since the electronic device 10 and the flexible base material 17 are exposed with the cover 8 open, workability during manufacturing and maintenance is improved.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment described as an example. For example, in the above embodiment, a foldable mobile phone has been described as an example, but the present invention is applied to a mobile communication terminal such as a so-called stick-type mobile phone or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) having a voice communication function. The same effect can be obtained. That is, various modifications other than the above-described embodiment can be made according to the design and the like as long as they do not depart from the technical idea according to the present invention.

1 is a side sectional view schematically showing a mobile phone (hereinafter abbreviated as a terminal) 1 as a foldable mobile terminal device to which the present invention is applied. It is a top view which shows the state which opened the terminal 1 of FIG. It is a top view which shows the state which removed the soft-magnetic wave absorber 2 from the terminal 1 of FIG. It is a principal part enlarged view of FIG. It is a table | surface which shows the result of a communication performance test.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Mobile phone (mobile communication terminal), 2 ... Soft magnetic wave absorber, 3 ... Upper housing, 4 ... Lower housing, 7 ... Main body, 8 ... Cover, 9 ... Opening, 10 ... Electronic device, 11 ... IC card antenna (IC interface non-contact type coil antenna), 12 ... R / W antenna (reader / writer non-contact type coil antenna), 17 ... flexible substrate

Claims (6)

A housing,
A flexible base material fixed on the inner surface of the housing;
A non-contact type coil antenna for an IC interface that is fixed on the flexible substrate and communicates with an external reader / writer in an IC card mode in which the terminal functions as a non-contact IC card;
Non-contact type coil antenna for reader / writer that is fixed on the flexible substrate and that communicates with the external non-contact IC card in the R / W mode in which the terminal functions as a reader / writer for the external non-contact IC card When,
A soft magnetic wave absorber fixed on the outer surface of the flexible base material and in a position covering the non-contact coil antenna for IC interface and the non-contact coil antenna for reader / writer;
A mobile communication terminal comprising: The non-contact type coil antenna for IC interface and non-contact type coil antenna for reader / writer, or a circuit provided with a circuit and electronic components for the communication function of the terminal, and a shield case covering the board, It is equipped with an electronic device mounted inside the housing,
The flexible substrate has an annular portion fixed on the inner surface of the housing, and a connecting portion extending from the annular portion to the vicinity of the substrate of the electronic device,
An intermediate portion between the non-contact type coil antenna for IC interface and the non-contact type coil antenna for reader / writer forms a loop pattern along the annular portion of the flexible substrate, and the non-contact type coil antenna for IC interface and the reader / writer 2. The portable communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein both ends of the non-contact type coil antenna for use are connected to the substrate of the electronic device through the connecting portion. The board of the electronic device includes a main board covered by the shield case, and a supplementary board that is electrically connected to the main board and disposed at a position facing the opening on the outer surface of the shield case. And
The connecting portion of the flexible base extends from the annular portion to the vicinity of the auxiliary substrate,
3. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 2, wherein both ends of the non-contact type coil antenna for IC interface and the non-contact type coil antenna for reader / writer are connected to the auxiliary substrate through the connecting portion.   3. The loop portion of the non-contact type coil antenna for reader / writer is formed inside the loop pattern of the non-contact type coil antenna for IC interface in the annular portion of the flexible substrate. The portable communication terminal as described. The housing has an opening and a main body that defines an internal space in which the electronic device is mounted, and the housing is mounted on the main body to block the opening, and an outer surface thereof constitutes a part of the outer surface of the housing, and is opened. A cover that exposes the electronic device and the flexible base in
The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the flexible base material is fixed on an inner surface of the cover. The housing is changed from an upper housing, a lower housing, and a closed state in which inner surfaces of the upper housing and the lower housing correspond to each other to an open state in which both the upper housing and the lower housing are opened. A foldable housing having a hinge that freely connects one end of the upper housing and one end of the lower housing;
The outer surface of the cover on which the flexible substrate is fixed on the inner surface constitutes a part of the outer surface of the upper housing that does not correspond to the inner surface of the lower housing when in the closed state. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1.

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