JP2010074384A - Antenna for mobile electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To support an element part and an antenna base part with a fixed holding power. <P>SOLUTION: A plane-shaped holding piece 22b is formed at the lower end of a joint 12a which forms the bottom of a second element 12, and the holding piece 22b is supported so as to be tiltable by a holding part 13a provided at the antenna base part 13. The element part fixing a top part 10 at the end and having a second element 12, and an antenna base part 13 are supported so as to be slidable by a spring part folded so that the section of a spring holder 18 is almost circular. The spring holder 18 has attachment pieces that are extended from both edges of the spring part so as to face each other, and they are fixed by screws using a spacer between the attachment pieces. The elastic holding force can be adjusted by adjusting the thickness of the spacer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an antenna for a mobile electronic device provided in an electronic device having at least a receiving function, particularly a mobile phone capable of receiving terrestrial digital television broadcasting.

Although mobile phones are widespread, this mobile phone is equipped with an antenna for transmitting and receiving calls and information. In general, the antenna is built in the casing of the mobile phone or is a retractable antenna that can be expanded and contracted with respect to the casing of the mobile phone and can be stored in the casing when not in use.
Incidentally, in recent years, terrestrial digital television broadcasting has been started, and mobile phones that can receive a one-segment partial reception service of terrestrial digital television broadcasting are also known. In order to efficiently receive this one-segment partial reception service, it is necessary to make the antenna directivity match the direction of arrival of radio waves. For this reason, an antenna that can adjust the directivity characteristics of the antenna to be tiltable and rotatable with respect to the housing is suitable for the antenna that receives the one-segment partial reception service. In addition, it is preferable that the antenna can be stored in the casing of the mobile phone so that it can be easily carried during standby.

A configuration of a conventional antenna 200 for a mobile phone is shown in FIGS. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a configuration when the antenna 200 that can be expanded and contracted in two stages is expanded, and FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a part of the configuration of the antenna 200 illustrated in FIG. .
The conventional antenna 200 includes an element portion including a first element 211 having a top portion 210 provided at the tip and a second element 212 that can slidably accommodate the first element 211 therein. Is tiltably held by the antenna base 213. The first element 211 is composed of a flexible element conductor, and the second element 212 is composed of a coil spring. A holding part 212b is fitted on the upper part of the second element 212, and a joint 212a is fitted on the lower part. A flat plate-like clamping piece is provided at the lower end of the joint 212a. The antenna base 213 includes a clamping part 213a that clamps the clamping piece, and the clamping piece is pivotally supported by the shaft part 215 so as to be tiltable with respect to the clamping part 213a (that is, the antenna base 213). The antenna base 213 and the second element 212 are slidably held in the holder 214. The holder 214 has a flange portion 214b formed on the upper portion thereof, and a screw portion formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof. By screwing the holder 214 into the casing of the mobile phone, the antenna 200 can be attached to the mobile phone.

  A configuration in which the antenna base 213 is slidably held by the holder 214 is shown in FIG. A stopper 216 having a slightly larger diameter is provided at the lower end of the antenna base 213, and when the antenna 200 is pulled upward with respect to the holder 214, the stopper 216 is formed in a convex shape inside the lower portion of the holder 214. When the engaging portion 214c is engaged, the antenna 200 is not pulled out any more. A through hole is formed throughout the holder 214, and the drum spring 217 is fitted into the through hole so as not to come out. The drum spring 217 has a plurality of bulging pieces bulging inward, and the antenna base 213 is elastically and slidably held by the action of the bulging pieces in the drum spring 217. In addition, since the outer diameters of the lower portions of the second element 212 and the top portion 210 are substantially the same as the outer diameter of the antenna base portion 213, the lower portions of the second element 212 and the top portion 210 are also elastically and slid onto the holder 214. It will be held movably.

  In order to assemble the holder 214 in the conventional antenna 200, as shown in FIG. 19, when the diameter of the drum spring 217 is slightly reduced and inserted into the through hole from the lower end of the holder 214, the drum spring inserted into the through hole is inserted. The diameter of 217 increases due to its own elastic force, and is inserted into a recess formed in the insertion hole so that it does not come off. The drum spring 217 has notches 217a formed at predetermined intervals, and a bulging piece 217b formed between the notches 217a is bent inward to form a spring. The conventional antenna 200 has a problem in that the element portion and the antenna base cannot be held with a certain holding force due to variations in dimensions of parts such as the drum spring 217 during manufacturing. Further, the parts of the holder 214 and the drum spring 217 are required as parts for attaching the antenna to the device, and there is a problem that the number of parts of the antenna 200 increases.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an antenna for a portable electronic device that can hold the element portion and the antenna base with a constant holding force and can reduce the number of components.

  In order to achieve the above object, an antenna for a portable electronic device according to the present invention includes a spring portion in which a section for elastically holding an element portion and an antenna base portion is bent in a substantially circular shape, and both ends of the spring portion. A spring holder having a mounting piece extended to face and a spacer interposed between the mounting pieces in the spring holder, and when the spring holder is attached to the portable electronic device, the inner diameter of the spring portion in the spring holder is The most important feature is that the size depends on the thickness of the spacer.

  According to the present invention, when the spring holder is attached to the portable electronic device, the inner diameter of the spring portion of the spring holder is sized according to the thickness of the spacer. The holding power can be adjusted. Accordingly, the holding force can be adjusted so as to hold the element portion and the antenna base portion with a certain elastic force. Moreover, since only the spring holder is required as a component to be attached to the portable electronic device, the number of components can be reduced.

An example of the configuration of an antenna 1 for a portable electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a configuration when the antenna 1 according to the present invention is shortened, FIG. 2 is a front view showing a configuration when the antenna 1 according to the present invention is extended, and FIG. It is a front view which expands and shows a part of this antenna 1 by sectional drawing.
The antenna 1 according to the embodiments of the present invention shown in these drawings includes a first element 11 having a top portion 10 provided at the tip, and a second element 12 that can slidably accommodate the first element 11 therein. The element part is comprised by the antenna base 13 so that tilting is possible. The top portion 10 has a disc-like shape made of a synthetic resin that serves as a knob that is gripped when the element portion including the first element 11 and the second element 12 is expanded and contracted. Further, a portion extending in a rod shape from the lower portion of the top portion 10 has substantially the same outer diameter as that of the second element 12 and the antenna base portion 13. The first element 11 is configured by covering a flexible element conductor made of a superelastic alloy with a flexible insulating tube. Further, the second element 12 is configured by covering a coil spring, which can be bent, with a flexible insulating tube. A metal hold portion 12b is fitted to the upper portion of the second element 12, and a metal joint 12a is fitted to the lower portion. A holding spring is fixed to the lower part of the element conductor in the first element 11, and when the first element 11 is slid in the second element 12, the first element 11 is moved into the second element 12 by the action of the holding spring. It comes to be held in elastic contact with the peripheral surface. As a result, the first element 11 can be pulled out from the second element 12 at an arbitrary length and held. A clamping piece 22b is provided at the lower end of the joint 12a. The clamping piece 22b is formed in a substantially rectangular flat plate shape with rounded corners and a flat bottom surface.

  The antenna base portion 13 is provided with a sandwiching portion 13a for sandwiching the sandwiching piece 22b formed in the joint 12a at the upper portion, and the sandwiching piece 22b is sandwiched by the shaft portion including the first pin 17 and the second pin 19 (that is, the sandwiching portion 13a (that is, It is pivotally supported with respect to the antenna base 13). The outer diameter of the antenna base 13 is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the second element 12. The antenna base 13 and the second element 12 are slidably held in the spring holder 18 in the vertical direction. The spring holder 18 includes a spring portion 18a formed as a drum spring and a pair of plate-like mounting pieces 18b extending from the spring portion 18a to the side. Two mounting holes 18c are formed on the upper and lower portions of the mounting piece 18b, and the antenna 1 can be mounted on the mobile phone by inserting a screw into the mounting hole 18c and fixing it to a substrate in the mobile phone, for example. become able to. FIGS. 1 and 2 show the configuration of the antenna 1 in which the element portion composed of the first element 11 and the second element 12 is slid and extended in the spring holder 18, and FIG. The configuration of the antenna 1 is shown in which the first element 11 is extended from the second element 12.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the clamping piece 22 b pivotally supported by the shaft portion including the first pin 17 and the second pin 19 so as to be tiltable with respect to the clamping portion 13 a is an upper portion accommodated in the antenna base portion 13. Is pressed by a coil spring 15 accommodated in the antenna base 13 through a round bar shaped push bar 14 having an enlarged diameter. In this case, the stopper 16 is fitted from the lower end of the antenna base 13, and the coil spring 15 is compressed between the stopper 16 and the push rod 14 in the antenna base 13. And the upper surface of the push rod 14 is made into a flat surface, and is in contact with the peripheral side surface of the flat sandwiching piece 22b. The lower portion of the push rod 14 with a reduced diameter is fitted into the coil spring 15, and the upper end of the coil spring 15 is in contact with a step formed at the boundary between the upper portion and the lower portion of the push rod 14. The lower end of the coil spring 15 is in contact with the upper surface of the stopper 16. Thereby, when the biasing force of the coil spring 15 being compressed is applied to the peripheral side surface of the sandwiching piece 22b via the push rod 14, the element portion composed of the first element 11 and the second element 12 is tilted. Thus, it can be stably held at the tilt angle.

  Further, the sandwiching piece 22b is formed in a substantially rectangular shape with rounded corners, and a flat surface is formed on the lower surface of the peripheral side surface, and when the element portion is changed from the tilted state to the upright state with respect to the antenna base portion 13 The flat surface on the peripheral side surface of the sandwiching piece 22b comes into contact with the flat upper surface of the push rod 14, so that a click feeling can be obtained. The spring portion 18a of the spring holder 18 is a drum spring having a bulging piece that bulges inward, and the antenna base 13 is elastically held by the spring holder 18 by the action of the drum spring. Further, when the spring holder 18 is attached, a spacer is interposed between the attachment pieces 18b, and the holding force of the spring holder 18 can be adjusted by adjusting the thickness of the spacer. As a result, the spring holder 18 can hold the second element 12 and the antenna base 13 with a constant holding force by adjusting the thickness of the spacer even if there is a dimensional variation during manufacturing or the like. Can be stably held in an inclined state with respect to the antenna base 13 at an arbitrary angle. In this way, the antenna 1 having the extendable element portion composed of the first element 11 and the second element 12 is tiltable and rotatable with respect to the housing, and the directivity characteristic of the antenna 1 is adjusted in a desired direction. This state can be maintained stably.

Next, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a mode in which the antenna 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is attached to the mobile phone 100.
As shown in FIG. 4, the cellular phone 100 is configured by fitting an upper housing 101 and a lower housing 102, and a substrate 103 into which various electronic circuits for the cellular phone are incorporated is incorporated. . The upper casing 101 is provided with an operation element 101a including a numeric keypad and operation buttons and a display 101b including a liquid crystal. When the antenna 1 is attached to the mobile phone 100, two screws 20 are inserted into the attachment holes 18 c formed in the attachment 18 b of the spring holder 18 on the side portion on the upper side of the substrate 103, respectively. 20 is screwed to the substrate 103. Accordingly, the antenna 1 can be attached to the substrate 103, and the substrate 103 to which the antenna 1 is attached can be incorporated in the mobile phone 100 by fitting the upper housing 101 and the lower housing 102 together. In this case, the antenna 1 is accommodated in the mobile phone 100 so as to be extendable. When the antenna 1 is stored in the mobile phone 100, a portion extending in a rod shape from the lower portion of the top portion 10 is held in the spring holder 18. Further, when the antenna 1 is extended from the mobile phone 100, the antenna 1 can be rotated within a range of about 360 ° and can be tilted within a tilt range of 0 ° to about 90 °. As a result, the directivity characteristics of the antenna 1 attached to the mobile phone 100 can be directed in a desired direction, and the length of the antenna 1 can be changed. An antenna suitable for the mobile phone 100 capable of receiving can be obtained.

Next, the structure of each part which comprises the antenna 1 of the Example of this invention is shown in FIG.
The structure of the spring holder 18 is shown in FIGS. 5 is a front view showing a configuration of the spring holder 18, FIG. 6 is a top view showing a configuration of the spring holder 18, and FIG. 7 is a front view showing a configuration in which the spring holder 18 is developed.
When the spring holder 18 is prepared, first, a metal plate having elasticity such as phosphor bronze is processed as shown in FIG. 7, and an elongated rectangular shape having a semicircular end on a rectangular metal plate. Are formed at predetermined intervals. In addition, two circular mounting holes 18c are formed at both ends. A portion between the cutout hole 18d and the cutout hole 18d is a bulging piece 18e described later. Except for the both ends where the mounting holes 18c of the rectangular metal plate shown in FIG. 7 processed in this way are formed, it is bent so as to have a cylindrical shape. Next, the portion processed into a cylindrical shape is slightly bent inward. As a result, a bulging piece 18e bulging inward is formed between the cutout holes 18d to form a drum spring-like spring portion 18a. Further, both end portions are formed so as to face each other to form the attachment piece 18b. A space is formed between the mounting pieces 18b facing each other, and a spacer 21 having a thickness t in which an insertion hole 21a is formed is inserted into the space, and the mounting hole 18c of the mounting piece 18b and the insertion hole of the spacer 21 are inserted. The screw 20 inserted through 21a is attached to the substrate 103 or the like. In this case, since the size of the inner diameter φD of the spring portion 18 a is changed according to the thickness t of the spacer 21, the holding force of the spring holder 18 can be adjusted by changing the thickness t of the spacer 21. Can do.

Next, the configuration of the antenna base 13 is shown in FIGS. 8 is a front view showing the configuration of the antenna base 13, and FIG. 9 is a side view showing the configuration of the antenna base 13 in a sectional view.
The antenna base portion 13 is made of a metal such as brass, and includes a sandwiching portion 13a provided at the tip portion and a cylindrical main body portion 13b provided at the lower portion of the sandwiching portion 13a. A clamping groove 13c into which a clamping piece 22b formed on the joint 12a of the second element 12 is fitted is formed in the clamping part 13a at substantially the center. An insertion hole 13d is formed in the clamping part 13a for clamping the clamping piece 22b, and the first pin 17 and the second pin 19 that become shaft parts from both sides of the insertion hole 13d by inserting the clamping piece 22b into the clamping groove 13c. The second element 12 is pivotally supported with respect to the antenna base 13 so as to be tiltable. Further, a through hole 13f is formed in the main body 13b, and the through hole 13f is closed at the top of the main body 13b except for the portion of the holding groove 13c. A flange 13e having a slightly larger outer diameter is formed at the lower portion of the main body 13b. The flange 13e abuts on the lower end of the spring holder 18 when the element portion composed of the first element 11 and the second element 12 is extended, so that the element portion cannot be pulled out any further. Note that the inner diameter of the insertion hole 13d on the side of the holding groove 13c is reduced and the outer diameter is increased, and a step is provided in the insertion hole 13d.

Next, FIG. 10 is a front view showing the configuration of the joint 12a, and FIG. 11 is a side view showing the configuration of the joint 12a.
As shown in these drawings, the joint 12a is made of a metal such as brass and has a cylindrical main body 22a whose upper end is opened, and a flat sandwiching piece 22b extending from the lower end of the main body 22a. ing. An insertion hole into which the lower portion of the second element 12 is inserted is formed in the main body portion 22a, and an insertion hole 22c is formed in the plate-shaped sandwiching piece 22b. The holding piece 22b is inserted into the holding groove 13c of the holding portion 13a in the antenna base 13, and the first pin 17 inserted through one insertion hole 13d of the holding portion 13a is inserted through the insertion hole 22c formed in the holding piece 22b. The other insertion hole 13d is inserted, and the second pin 19 is inserted into the first pin 17 from the other insertion hole 13d to form the shaft portion. The peripheral side surface of the sandwiching piece 22b is substantially rectangular with rounded corners and flat bottom surface, and the flat top surface of the push rod 14 is elastically pressed against the peripheral side surface. As a result, when the second element 12 is made almost upright from the tilted state, the flat upper surface of the push rod 14 is moved to the flat peripheral side surface of the lower surface over the rounded corners of the substantially rectangular holding piece 22b. Come into contact with each other elastically, and a click feeling can be obtained. In addition, the lower part of the 2nd element 12 is inserted by insertion hole of the main-body part 22a, and the joint 12a is inserted by the lower part of the 2nd element 12 by crimping.

Next, FIG. 12A is a front view showing the configuration of the first pin 17 constituting the shaft portion, and FIG. 12B is a side view showing the configuration of the first pin 17. (C) is a side view showing the configuration of the first pin 17 in a cross-sectional view.
The first pin 17 shown in these figures is made of a metal such as stainless steel or brass, and has a circular cross-sectional head 17b whose diameter has been expanded, and a rod-shaped member whose diameter of the circular cross-section extending from the head 17b has been reduced. It is comprised from the main-body part 17a. An insertion hole 17c having a predetermined depth is formed in the main body portion 17a. The shaft portion is configured by inserting the second pin 19 into the insertion hole 17c. The outer diameter of the head portion 17b is formed to be larger than the inner diameter of the antenna base 13 which is larger than the smaller inner diameter of the insertion hole 13d.

Next, FIG. 13A is a front view showing the configuration of the second pin 19 constituting the shaft portion, and FIG. 13B is a side view showing the configuration of the second pin 19.
The second pin 19 shown in these figures is made of a metal such as stainless steel or brass, and has a head 19a having a circular cross section that is expanded in diameter, and a rod-shaped member having a circular cross section that is extended from the head 19a. It is comprised from the insertion part 19b. The shaft portion is configured by inserting the insertion portion 19 b into the insertion insertion hole 17 c in the first pin 17. The outer diameter of the head portion 19a is formed to be smaller than the larger inner diameter of the antenna base 13 that is larger than the smaller inner diameter of the insertion hole 13d.

  Next, FIG. 14A is a side view showing the configuration of the push rod 14, and FIG. 14B is a front view showing the configuration of the push rod 14. As shown in this figure, the push rod 14 is made of metal or synthetic resin, and is formed in a round bar shape. A main body portion 14a having an enlarged diameter is formed on the upper portion of the push rod 14, and an insertion portion 14b having a reduced diameter is formed by extending from the lower surface of the main body portion 14a. The outer diameter of the main body 14a is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the through hole 13f in the antenna base 13, and a flat contact surface 14c is formed on the upper surface of the main body 14a. The push rod 14 is slidably accommodated in the through hole 13 f in the antenna base 13.

  Next, FIG. 15 is a side view showing the configuration of the coil spring 15. As shown in this figure, the coil spring 15 is configured by winding an elastic wire such as phosphor bronze in a coil shape. When the coil spring 15 is housed in the through hole 13f in the antenna base portion 13, the insertion portion 14b of the push rod 14 is inserted into the coil spring 15, and the upper end of the coil spring 15 is inserted into the main body portion 14a of the push rod 14. It contacts the stepped portion at the boundary with the portion 14b.

Next, FIG. 16A is a front view showing the configuration of the stopper 16, and FIG. 16B is a side view showing the configuration of the stopper 16.
As shown in these figures, the stopper 16 is made of a metal such as brass, and has a round bar-like main body portion 16a and a lower end portion 16b. The outer diameter is slightly between the main body portion 16a and the lower end portion 16b. A reduced groove 16c is formed. The stopper 16 is inserted from below into the through hole 13f in the antenna base 13 in which the push rod 14 and the coil spring 15 are housed, and the lower part corresponding to the groove 16c of the antenna base 13 is crimped, so that the antenna base 13 is fitted. At this time, the upper surface of the stopper 16 comes into contact with the lower end of the coil spring 15 so that the coil spring 15 is compressed. As a result, the push rod 14 is urged by the coil spring 15 so that the contact surface 14c on the upper surface of the main body portion 14a elastically contacts the peripheral side surface of the holding piece 22b pivotally supported by the holding groove 13c. Become.

The antenna of the present invention described above is mounted with a spacer interposed between the mounting pieces in the spring holder, and the inner diameter of the spring holder is adjusted according to the thickness of the spacer interposed between the mounting pieces. Like that. Therefore, even if there are variations in the dimensions of components constituting the antenna, the spring holder can hold the element portion and the antenna base portion with a certain elastic force by adjusting the thickness of the spacer. In addition, since the antenna can be attached only with the spring holder, the number of parts can be reduced.
In the above description, the antenna for a portable electronic device such as a cellular phone capable of receiving a one-segment partial reception service of digital terrestrial television broadcasting has been described. It can be applied generally to antennas that need to do.
Moreover, although the antenna part which consists of a 1st element and a 2nd element can be expanded-contracted in 2 steps | paragraphs, it is not restricted to this, It is good also as an antenna part of 1 step | paragraph structure which consists only of a 1st element.

It is a front view which shows the structure at the time of shortening the antenna which is an Example of this invention. It is a front view which shows the structure at the time of extending | stretching the antenna which is an Example of this invention. It is a front view which expands and shows a part of antenna which is an Example of this invention by sectional drawing. It is a perspective view which shows the aspect which attaches the antenna of the Example of this invention to a mobile telephone. It is a front view which shows the structure of the spring holder in the antenna of this invention. It is a top view which shows the structure of the spring holder in the antenna of this invention. It is a front view which shows the structure which expand | deployed the spring holder in the antenna of this invention. It is a front view which shows the structure of the antenna base in the antenna of this invention. It is a side view which shows the structure of the antenna base part in the antenna of this invention with sectional drawing. It is a front view which shows the structure of the joint in the antenna of this invention. It is a side view which shows the structure of the joint of the antenna concerning this invention. It is the front view which shows the structure of the 1st pin of the antenna concerning this invention, a side view, and a side view shown with sectional drawing. It is the front view and side view which show the structure of the 2nd pin of the antenna concerning this invention. It is the front view and side view which show the structure of the push rod of the antenna concerning this invention. It is a front view which shows the structure of the coil spring of the antenna concerning this invention. It is the front view and side view which show the structure of the stopper of the antenna concerning this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the antenna for portable telephones proposed conventionally. It is a figure which expands and shows a part of structure of the conventionally proposed antenna by sectional drawing. It is a figure for demonstrating the assembly of the holder in the antenna proposed conventionally.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Antenna, 10 top part, 11 1st element, 12 2nd element, 12a joint, 12b hold part, 13 antenna base part, 13a clamping part, 13b main body part, 13c clamping groove, 13d insertion hole, 13e collar part, 13f penetration Hole, 14 push rod, 14a body part, 14b insertion part, 14c contact surface, 15 coil spring, 16 stopper, 16a body part, 16b lower end part, 16c groove part, 17 first pin, 17a body part, 17b head part, 17c fitting hole, 18 spring holder, 18a spring part, 18b mounting piece, 18c mounting hole, 18d notch hole, 18e bulging piece, 19 second pin, 19a head, 19b fitting part, 20 screw, 21 spacer, 21a Insertion hole, 22a body part, 22b clamping piece, 22c insertion hole, 10 0 mobile phone, 101 upper case, 101a operation element, 101b display, 102 lower case, 103 substrate, 200 antenna, 210 top part, 211 element, 212 element, 212a joint, 212b hold part, 213 antenna base part, 213a Part, 214 holder, 214b collar part, 214c locking part, 215 shaft part, 216 stopper, 217 drum spring, 217a notch hole, 217b bulging piece

Claims (1)

An element portion having a flexible element, a top portion fixed to the tip of the element, and a sandwiching piece formed at the lower end;
An antenna base for sandwiching the sandwiching piece formed at the lower end of the element part and having a sandwiching part pivotally supported by a shaft part, and holding the element part in a tiltable manner;
A spring holder having a spring part in which a section capable of elastically holding the element part and the antenna base part is bent in a substantially circular shape, and attachment pieces extended so as to face both ends of the spring part;
A spacer interposed between the mounting pieces in the spring holder,
The element portion and the antenna base are slidably held in the spring holder, and when the spring holder is attached to a portable electronic device, the inner diameter of the spring portion in the spring holder is the thickness of the spacer. An antenna for portable electronic equipment, characterized in that it is sized according to the size.

Images