JP2010087637A - Wireless tag circuit element - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve a surely wide directivity range even when an installation object is composed of metal, and to perform excellent information transmission/reception. <P>SOLUTION: The wireless tag circuit element T2 has an IC circuit section 150 for storing information and a tag and antenna ANT2 for transmitting and receiving information, and is attached to the installation object 10. The tag antenna ANT2 is a microstrip antenna having: a dielectric substrate 101, which is composed of three or more dielectric substrate surfaces 101a, 101b, 101c wherein the adjacent surfaces substantially orthogonally intersect with each other to be connected and is arranged to cover the apexes of the installation object 110; and a microstrip antenna pattern 105, which is formed on the dielectric substrate 101 on the side opposite to the side where the installation object 110 is covered, and is provided with a power feed point Ps connected to the IC circuit section 150. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless tag circuit element capable of wireless communication of information with the outside.

  There is known an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) system that reads / writes information in a non-contact manner between a small wireless tag and a reader (reading device) / writer (writing device). The wireless tag includes a wireless tag circuit element including an IC circuit unit that stores information and a tag antenna that transmits and receives information. Even when the wireless tag is dirty or placed at a position where it cannot be seen, the reader / writer side can access (read / write information) information on the IC circuit unit. It has already been put into practical use in various fields.

  Among the RFID tag circuit elements as described above, for example, a tag antenna using a microstrip antenna, which is a kind of planar antenna, has already been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In this prior art, a microstrip antenna pattern (microstrip line) having a large line characteristic impedance and a microstrip antenna pattern (microstrip line discontinuity) having a small line characteristic impedance are alternately arranged on a dielectric. As a result, a low-pass filter composed of L and C is formed. The electromagnetic wave excited from the feeding point reaches the end of the final microstrip antenna pattern via the microstrip line having the above-described configuration, and exhibits characteristics as an antenna.
JP 2000-278027 A

  In recent years, the use of wireless tags has become widespread due to the expansion of the use of wireless tags, and wireless tags having various modes according to those uses are desired. For example, there is a growing need to provide wireless tags for metal objects such as office automation equipment, steel desks, steel shelves, and back covers of binders. In the above prior art, the substrate surface is made of a dielectric, so that the dielectric always exists between the microstrip antenna pattern and the installation target. As a result, even when the installation object is a metal object, communication failure is not caused unlike in the case of using another type of tag antenna. However, since the entire antenna has a substantially flat (planar) structure, when installed on a metal object, the directivity range from the microstrip antenna pattern is mainly relatively narrow on the side opposite to the installation object. There was a problem of being limited to the range.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless tag circuit element capable of reliably realizing a wide directivity range and performing good information transmission / reception even when the object to be installed is a metal object.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first invention is an RFID circuit element that has an IC circuit section that stores information and a tag antenna that transmits and receives information, and is attached to an installation object, wherein the tag The antenna is composed of three or more dielectric substrate surfaces provided so that adjacent surfaces are connected to each other substantially orthogonally, and a plurality of surfaces of the installation object are arranged at an end or apex of the installation object. A substrate body provided so as to be covered or sandwiched at the same time, and a feeding point that is formed on the substrate body on the side covering the installation target or on the opposite side to the sandwiching side and connected to the IC circuit unit The microstrip antenna has a first conductor surface and a grounding point provided on a side of the substrate body that covers or sandwiches the installation target.

  The RFID circuit element according to the first aspect of the present invention uses a microstrip antenna including a microstrip antenna and a substrate body as a tag antenna. The substrate body is constituted by three or more substrate surfaces, and the first conductor surface (so-called microstrip antenna pattern) is provided on the opposite side of the substrate object (of the RFID circuit element) from the installation target. By configuring the substrate surface with a dielectric, the first conductor surface is necessarily interposed with the object to be installed. As a result, even when the installation object is a metal object, highly reliable information transmission / reception can be performed without causing a communication failure as in the case of using another type of tag antenna.

  On the other hand, in general, in the microstrip antenna, the directivity range is widened so as to intersect the surface direction of the substrate. In the first invention of the present application, since the first conductor surface is provided on the side opposite to the installation target in the board body as described above, the directivity range mainly extends on the side opposite to the installation target. At this time, the three or more substrate surfaces are configured such that adjacent substrate surfaces are connected to each other substantially orthogonally (in other words, three-dimensionally connected). , It is provided so as to cover (or sandwich) the end portion (or apex) of the installation object. Therefore, the board body is a three-dimensional structure provided near the end or apex of the installation target, and when viewed on each board surface, the directivity range is widened on the opposite side of the installation target. As a result, the entire substrate body composed of these three or more substrates is 3 toward the opposite side of the installation object from the vicinity of the end or apex of the installation object corresponding to the combination of the above characteristics. It is possible to realize a wide directivity range of a composite solid shape that expands in dimension.

  As described above, in the first invention of the present application, even if the object to be installed is a metal object, a wide directivity range can be reliably realized and good information transmission / reception can be performed.

  According to a second invention, in the first invention, the three or more substrate surfaces provided in the substrate body include a substantially square-shaped intermediate substrate surface and four sides of the substantially rectangular shape of the intermediate substrate surface. The first substrate surface is connected at one side and the surface direction is substantially orthogonal to the intermediate substrate surface, and the other one of the four sides of the substantially rectangular shape of the intermediate substrate surface is connected, and the surface direction is the intermediate A second substrate surface substantially orthogonal to the substrate surface, wherein the three or more first conductor surfaces extend from the first substrate surface through the intermediate substrate surface to the second substrate surface. It is provided over the substrate surface.

  Accordingly, it is possible to reliably realize a wide directivity range of the composite solid shape along the first substrate surface, the intermediate substrate surface, and the second substrate surface that are connected while being orthogonal to each other.

  According to a third invention, in the second invention, the substrate body is configured so that the first substrate surface, the intermediate substrate surface, and the second substrate surface are substantially I-shaped in a developed state. The feeding point is provided on the first conductor surface of the first substrate surface, the intermediate substrate surface, or the second substrate surface.

  By being substantially I-shaped in the unfolded state, in a normal three-dimensional shape (not unfolded), the first substrate surface, the intermediate substrate surface, and the second substrate surface are substantially U-shaped. Is possible. Thereby, it can arrange | position so that the edge part of an installation target object may be inserted | pinched (or covered) with these three board | substrate surfaces.

  In this case, when the first substrate surface is disposed as an upper surface (horizontal plane), the intermediate substrate surface can be disposed as a vertical side surface, and the second substrate surface can be disposed as a lower surface (horizontal plane). That is, in this case, the microstrip antenna is an installation target corresponding to a combination of a directivity range extending upward from the upper surface, a directivity range extending laterally from the side, and a directivity range extending downward from the lower surface. A wide directivity range of a composite three-dimensional shape that goes outward from the vicinity of the end of the object can be realized.

  In a fourth aspect based on the second aspect, the substrate body is configured so that the first substrate surface, the intermediate substrate surface, and the second substrate surface are substantially L-shaped in a developed state. The feeding point is provided on the first conductor surface of the intermediate substrate surface.

  Due to the substantially L shape in the unfolded state, in the normal three-dimensional shape (not unfolded), the portion adjacent to the portion connected to the intermediate substrate surface of the first substrate surface, and the second substrate surface The shape adjacent to the portion connected to the intermediate substrate surface is associated with each other (for example, the intermediate substrate surface, the first substrate surface, and the second substrate surface constitute three surfaces including one vertex of the rectangular parallelepiped. Such a shape). Then, the substrate body can be arranged so as to cover (or sandwich) the apex of the installation target so that the one apex corresponds to a corner (vertex) of the installation target.

  In this case, when the intermediate substrate surface is arranged as an upper surface (horizontal plane), the first substrate surface and the second substrate surface are arranged as two side surfaces (vertical surfaces) orthogonal to each other. That is, in this case, the microstrip antenna corresponds to a combination of the directivity range extending upward from the upper surface and the directivity range extending from the two side surfaces to the outside from the vicinity of the corner of the installation object. A wide directivity range of a composite solid shape that goes to the front can be realized.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention based on the fourth aspect, the first conductor surface extends from the intermediate substrate surface to at least the first substrate surface while sharing a part with each other on the intermediate substrate surface. And a second pattern portion extending from the intermediate substrate surface to at least the second substrate surface, the extension direction dimension of the first pattern portion, and the second pattern portion The dimension in the extending direction is substantially equal.

  Thereby, the resonant frequency of the antenna by the 1st pattern part and the resonant frequency of the antenna by the 2nd pattern part can be made to correspond substantially. Thus, the sensitivity of the entire antenna can be improved by making the frequencies of the two pattern portions substantially coincide with each other (they are narrowed down to a narrow range without greatly different frequencies).

  In a sixth aspect based on the fifth aspect, the first pattern portion includes a dimension in the extending direction of a portion existing on the intermediate substrate surface and a dimension in the extending direction of a portion existing on the first substrate surface. In the second pattern portion, the extension direction dimension of the portion existing on the intermediate substrate surface is substantially equal to the extension direction dimension of the portion existing on the second substrate surface. It is characterized by.

  Thereby, the antenna sensitivity in the direction along the intermediate substrate surface and the antenna sensitivity in the direction along the first substrate surface in the first pattern portion can be made substantially equal. Similarly, in the second pattern portion, the antenna sensitivity in the direction along the intermediate substrate surface and the antenna sensitivity in the direction along the second substrate surface can be made substantially equal. As a result, the antenna sensitivity for each direction can be equalized for the entire antenna.

  According to a seventh invention, in the fifth or sixth invention, the feeding point is a substantially central position in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction in the first pattern portion, and the second pattern portion in the second pattern portion. It is provided at a position that is substantially the center position in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction.

  Thereby, in the first and second pattern portions, the currents flowing on one side and the other side in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction (in other words, the width direction) can be substantially canceled with respect to the feeding point. As a result, the resonance frequency and antenna sensitivity of the antenna can be set mainly depending on the extension direction dimension of each pattern portion.

  In an eighth aspect based on the seventh aspect, the first conductor surface is located between the first pattern portion and the second pattern portion at a portion where the first substrate surface and the second substrate surface are close to each other. It is provided on the first substrate surface and the second substrate surface so that a gap portion is interposed between the first substrate surface and the second substrate surface.

  Thereby, it is possible to prevent the first pattern portion extending in the extending direction on the first substrate surface and the second pattern extending in the extending direction on the second substrate surface from being electrically connected to each other. As a result, the resonance frequency and antenna sensitivity of the antenna can be reliably set mainly depending on the extension direction dimension of each pattern portion.

  In a ninth aspect based on the eighth aspect, the substrate body includes a portion of the second substrate surface opposite to the intermediate substrate surface in addition to the intermediate substrate surface, the first substrate surface, and the second substrate surface. And the second pattern portion of the first conductor surface passes through the second substrate surface from the intermediate substrate surface. The third pattern surface of the first conductor surface is connected to the second substrate surface. It is provided so that it may cover the said 3rd board | substrate surface.

  In the ninth invention of the present application, a third substrate surface is provided which is further connected perpendicularly to the second substrate surface, and the second pattern portion of the first conductor surface is extended to the third substrate surface. Thereby, a wider directivity range of a composite solid shape can be realized.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth or sixth aspect of the invention, the feeding point is a substantially central position in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the first pattern portion, or the extension of the second pattern portion. It is provided at a substantially central position in a direction orthogonal to the installation direction.

  Thereby, in the 1st or 2nd pattern part, the electric current which flows respectively on the one side and the other side in the direction (in other words, width direction) orthogonal to the extending direction can be substantially canceled with respect to the feeding point. As a result, the resonance frequency and antenna sensitivity of the antenna can be set mainly depending on the extension direction dimension of each pattern portion.

  In order to achieve the above object, an eleventh aspect of the invention is a RFID circuit element that has an IC circuit section for storing information and a tag antenna for transmitting and receiving information, and is attached to an installation object, wherein the tag antenna Is composed of a dielectric fourth substrate surface and a fifth substrate surface provided so as to be connected substantially orthogonal to each other, and a substrate body provided so as to sandwich an end portion of the installation object, and the substrate body The first conductor surface is a microstrip antenna having a first conductor surface provided with a feeding point connected to the IC circuit unit, the first conductor surface being formed on the opposite side to the side sandwiching the installation object. The extending direction dimension of the portion extending from the fourth substrate surface to the fifth substrate surface and existing on the fourth substrate surface and the extending direction dimension of the portion existing on the fifth substrate surface are: Substantially equal third pattern And wherein the feeding point, of the third pattern portion, and being provided at a substantially central position in the direction perpendicular to the extending direction.

  The RFID circuit element according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention uses a microstrip antenna including a microstrip antenna and a substrate body as a tag antenna. The substrate body is composed of two substrate surfaces, a fourth substrate surface and a fifth substrate surface, and the first conductor surface is provided on the opposite side of the substrate object (of the RFID circuit element) from the installation target. By configuring the substrate surface with a dielectric, the first conductor surface is necessarily interposed with the object to be installed. As a result, even when the installation object is a metal object, highly reliable information transmission / reception can be performed without causing a communication failure as in the case of using another type of tag antenna.

  On the other hand, in general, in the microstrip antenna, the directivity range is widened so as to intersect the surface direction of the substrate. In the eleventh invention of the present application, since the first conductor surface is provided on the side opposite to the installation target in the substrate body as described above, the directivity range is expanded mainly on the side opposite to the installation target. At this time, the fourth substrate surface and the fifth substrate surface are configured such that adjacent substrate surfaces are connected to each other substantially orthogonally (in other words, three-dimensionally connected), and are composed of these substrate surfaces. The substrate body is provided so as to sandwich the end portion of the installation object. Therefore, the substrate body is a three-dimensional structure provided in the vicinity of the end of the installation target, and when viewed on each substrate surface, the directivity range is widened on the opposite side of the installation target.

  As a result, the entire substrate body composed of these two substrates is three-dimensionally spread from the end of the installation object to the opposite side of the installation object, corresponding to the combination of the above characteristics. A wide directivity range of the composite solid shape can be realized. Specifically, for example, when the fourth substrate surface is arranged as an upper surface (horizontal plane), the fifth substrate surface can be arranged as a side surface (vertical surface). In this case, the microstrip antenna is directed from the vicinity of the end of the installation object to the outside corresponding to a combination of the directivity range extending upward from the upper surface and the directivity range extending laterally from the side surface. A wide directivity range of a complex three-dimensional shape can be realized.

  At this time, the feeding point is provided at a substantially central position in the width direction (direction orthogonal to the extending direction) in the third pattern portion. As a result, in the third pattern portion, the currents flowing on one side and the other side in the width direction can be substantially offset from each other on the basis of the feeding point, so the resonance frequency and antenna sensitivity of the antenna are set mainly by the extension direction dimension. it can. Then, in the third pattern portion, the extending direction dimension of the portion where the fourth substrate surface exists and the portion where the fifth substrate surface exists are made substantially equal to each other along the fourth substrate surface in the third pattern portion. The antenna sensitivity in the vertical direction and the antenna sensitivity in the direction along the fifth substrate surface can be made substantially equal to each other. As a result, the antenna sensitivity for each direction can be equalized for the entire antenna.

  As described above, in the eleventh aspect of the present invention, even if the installation object is a metal object, a wide directivity range can be reliably realized and good information transmission / reception can be performed.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to eleventh aspects, the IC circuit unit is connected to the feeding point and disposed so as to be embedded in a middle portion in the thickness direction of the substrate body. Features.

  Thereby, it is possible to obtain a RFID circuit element in which the IC circuit portion is integrally incorporated inside the antenna without protruding outside the antenna.

  A thirteenth invention is characterized in that, in the twelfth invention, a matching circuit is arranged between the IC circuit portion and the feeding point.

  As a result, the feeding impedance can be adjusted while selecting the optimum feeding position, and the efficiency of the antenna can be increased.

  In a fourteenth aspect based on any one of the first to thirteenth aspects, the microstrip antenna includes a second conductor surface formed on a side of the substrate body covering or sandwiching the installation target. It is characterized by that.

  When the second conductor surface (so-called ground plane) is not provided on the installation target side, it is necessary to use the installation target object that is a metal object instead of the ground plane to function as an antenna. By providing the second conductor surface on the object side, this is not necessarily required. That is, even when the RFID circuit element is installed not only on a metal object but also on a non-metal object to be installed, a wide directivity range can be reliably realized and good information transmission / reception can be performed. .

  A fourteenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to fifteenth aspects, a fixing means for fixing a side of the substrate body covering or sandwiching the installation target to the installation target. And

  Thereby, the whole RFID circuit element can be reliably fixed to the installation object. As the fixing means, a fastener such as a screw or a bolt, or an adhesive layer can be used.

  According to the present invention, even if the installation object is a metal object, a wide directivity range can be reliably realized, and good information transmission / reception can be performed.

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

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of the RFID tag circuit element according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, this RFID circuit element T1 transmits and receives signals in a non-contact manner with an antenna of a RFID tag communication device (not shown), and is generally formed in a shape in which two planes are orthogonal to transmit and receive information. A tag antenna (microstrip antenna) ANT1 and an IC circuit unit 150 (see FIG. 2 described later) embedded in the tag antenna ANT1. In the following description, for convenience of description, terms representing directions such as “left”, “right”, “up”, “down”, “horizontal plane”, “vertical plane”, “side surface”, etc. are used as appropriate. The configuration of this embodiment and the arrangement of each part are not limited to such postures and directions. That is, it can be used in a posture rotated or turned over from the posture shown in the figure (all other modified examples are the same).

  The tag antenna ANT1 has a dielectric substrate body (substrate body) 1 having a shape in which two flat plates are connected in an orthogonal arrangement. The dielectric substrate body 1 is composed of a horizontal substrate surface (fourth substrate surface) 1a disposed horizontally above in the illustrated posture and a vertical substrate surface (fifth substrate surface) 1b disposed vertically on the side. Has been. Each of the horizontal substrate surface 1a and the vertical substrate surface 1b has a substantially square plate shape made of a dielectric material such as ceramic, for example, and the entire dielectric substrate body 1 is disposed so that the substrate surfaces 1a and 1b are orthogonal to each other. It is formed as a single piece with one side connected. Hereinafter, of these orthogonal substrate surfaces 1a and 1b, a side forming an angle of 90 ° (see FIG. 1) is referred to as an “inner angle side”, and the inner angle side and the opposite side across the substrate surfaces 1a and 1b (ie, 270). The side forming the angle of ° is referred to as the “outside angle side”.

  In the present embodiment, two surfaces on the inner angle side (both surfaces on the back side in the drawing) of the dielectric substrate body 1 that form an angle of 90 ° between the horizontal substrate surface 1a and the vertical substrate surface 1b of the RFID substrate element T1. The end portion of the installation target is sandwiched, whereby the RFID circuit element T1 is installed on the installation target (see FIG. 5 described later).

  In this dielectric substrate 1, a microstrip antenna in which a conductor metal is formed into a thin film by vapor deposition or the like on the outer-angle-side surfaces of the horizontal substrate surface 1 a and the vertical substrate surface 1 b, that is, on the two surfaces opposite to the installation surface. A pattern 5 (first conductor surface) is provided, and one continuous microstrip antenna pattern 5 is formed to extend over the horizontal substrate surface 1a and the vertical substrate surface 1b. A feeding point Ps described later is set at the center position of the microstrip antenna pattern 5 on the horizontal substrate surface 1a. The dielectric substrate body 1 and the microstrip antenna pattern 5 constitute a tag antenna ANT1.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the RFID circuit element T1 taken along the line II-II in FIG. In FIG. 2, the IC circuit unit 150 is embedded in the horizontal substrate surface 1a of the dielectric substrate body 1, and the IC circuit unit 150 includes the signal line 6, the matching circuit unit Ma, the signal line 6 ', and the power feed. The microstrip antenna pattern 5 is electrically connected through the point Ps. A surface terminal 7 of a thin metal plate is provided on the surface on the inner corner side of the horizontal substrate surface 1a (that is, the surface opposite to the microstrip antenna pattern 5 and the lower surface in the figure). Is electrically connected to the surface terminal 7 via a grounding wire 8 and a grounding point Pe. The matching circuit portion Ma matches the impedance at the feeding point Ps of the microstrip antenna pattern 5 with the impedance of the IC circuit portion, and normally uses elements such as a coil (L) and a capacitor (C), but the signal line This can also be realized by providing stubs and meander patterns at 6 and 6 '.

  An area other than the surface terminal 7 on the inner surface of the horizontal substrate surface 1a is covered with an adhesive layer (fixing means) 9 made of an appropriate adhesive material. Although not particularly shown, this adhesive layer 9 is also coated on the entire inner surface of the other substrate surface (that is, the vertical substrate surface 1b in the present embodiment) of the dielectric substrate body 1 (hereinafter, each The same applies to the modified example). And when installing the said RFID circuit element T1 in an installation target object, the RFID tag is stuck on the end part surface of an installation target object by sticking the adhesive bond layer 9 on the inner corner side surface of each board | substrate surface 1a, 1b. The circuit element T1 can be stably fixed. In this state before the RFID circuit element T1 is adhered and fixed, the entire surface of the adhesive layer 9 on each of the substrate surfaces 1a and 1b is covered with a release material layer (release paper or the like, not shown). And protect it. Further, except for FIG. 2, the adhesive layer 9 is omitted in order to avoid the complexity of the illustration.

  Here, as for the installation target object which installs RFID tag circuit element T1 of this embodiment, the surface of an installation part is comprised with the metal material at least, for example. In the example shown in the figure, the RFID circuit element T1 of the present embodiment is installed on the surface of the metal plate M as an installation object, so that the metal plate M contacts the surface terminal 7, and the ground point Pe and the ground wire 8 It is electrically connected to the IC circuit unit 150 via This connection may be in a capacitive coupling state as long as it can be connected at a frequency used for communication and does not need to be connected in a DC manner. In this state, the metal plate M functions as a so-called ground plane. As described above, the substrate surfaces 1a and 1b of the dielectric substrate body 1 made of a dielectric material are connected to the microstrip antenna pattern 5 on the outer angle side surface and the inner angle. It becomes the structure pinched | interposed into the metal plate M (ground plate) of a side surface. Thereby, the metal plate M, the dielectric substrate body 1, and the entire microstrip antenna pattern 5 can function as a so-called microstrip antenna (patch antenna).

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the RFID circuit element T1.

  In FIG. 3, the RFID circuit element T1 includes the tag antenna ANT1 and the IC circuit unit 150 connected to the tag antenna ANT1, as described above. The ground wire 8 is not shown.

  The IC circuit unit 150 rectifies the interrogation wave (a signal including a response request command) received by the tag antenna ANT1, and accumulates the energy of the interrogation wave rectified by the rectification unit 152 to serve as a driving power source. Power supply unit 153, a clock extraction unit 154 that extracts a clock signal from the interrogation wave received by the tag antenna ANT1, and supplies the clock signal to the control unit 157; a memory unit 155 that can store a predetermined information signal; The modulation / demodulation unit 156 connected to the tag antenna ANT1, and the control unit 157 for controlling the operation of the RFID circuit element T1 through the memory unit 155, the clock extraction unit 154, the modulation / demodulation unit 156, and the like. Yes.

  The modulation / demodulation unit 156 demodulates the interrogation wave received from the antenna of the RFID tag communication apparatus received by the tag antenna ANT1, modulates the return signal from the control unit 157, and receives a response wave (tag) from the tag antenna ANT1. As a signal including an ID).

  The clock extraction unit 154 extracts a clock component from the received signal and supplies a clock corresponding to the frequency of the clock component of the received signal to the control unit 157.

  The control unit 157 interprets the received signal demodulated by the modulation / demodulation unit 156, generates a return signal based on the information signal stored in the memory unit 155, and transmits the return signal to the tag antenna by the modulation / demodulation unit 156. Basic control such as control returned from ANT1 is executed.

  FIG. 4 is a development view for explaining the dimension setting of the microstrip antenna pattern 5 in the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram in which the tag antenna ANT1 is developed in units of the respective substrate surfaces 1a and 1b with the microstrip antenna pattern 5 being continuous (in the corresponding FIGS. 8, 11, and 14 described later). The same).

  In FIG. 4, the microstrip antenna pattern (third pattern portion) 5 in the RFID circuit element T1 of the present embodiment has a long side that is roughly parallel to the extending direction across the horizontal substrate surface 1a and the vertical substrate surface 1b. It has a rectangular shape (substantially I shape).

The feeding point Ps on the horizontal substrate surface 1a is provided in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the microstrip antenna pattern 5, that is, in the center position in the width direction (short side direction) of the microstrip antenna pattern 5 formed in a rectangular shape. (See dimension W1 in the figure). If it does in this way, among the high-frequency currents passing through the feed point Ps, the current component I _W flowing in the width direction of the microstrip antenna pattern 5 will be canceled because it flows at the same magnitude in the opposite phase around the feed point Ps. It will be. That is, in the microstrip antenna pattern 5 rectangular, high frequency current will flow only current component I _L in the longitudinal direction of the microstrip antenna pattern 5, this because of the long sides of the microstrip antenna pattern 5 Length L1 Only determines the resonant frequency of the antenna. In this example, it is formed on the long side length L1 is a length of approximately half the first dielectric substrate 1 of the wavelength lambda ₁ of the communication radio wave of the dielectric constant in consideration of the microstrip antenna pattern 5.

  Of the length L1 of the long side of the microstrip antenna pattern 5, the length in the long side direction of the portion existing on the horizontal substrate surface 1a and the portion existing on the vertical substrate surface 1b is the same length L2 (= L1 / 2).

  According to the tag antenna ANT1 of the present embodiment configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained.

  That is, by configuring the horizontal substrate surface 1a and the vertical substrate surface 1b with dielectrics, the dielectrics are always interposed between the microstrip antenna pattern 5 and the installation object 10. As a result, even when the installation object 10 is a metal object, highly reliable information transmission / reception can be performed without causing a communication failure as in the case of using another type of tag antenna.

  In addition, since the microstrip antenna pattern 5 is provided on the side opposite to the installation target 10 in the dielectric substrate body 1 as described above, the directivity range broadens mainly on the side opposite to the installation target 10. At this time, the horizontal substrate surface 1a and the vertical substrate surface 1b are configured to be connected substantially orthogonally to each other (in other words, three-dimensionally connected), and a dielectric substrate body composed of the substrate surfaces 1a and 1b. 1 is provided so that the edge part of the installation target object 10 may be inserted | pinched. Therefore, the dielectric substrate body 1 becomes a three-dimensional structure provided in the vicinity of the end portion of the installation target object 10 and has a characteristic in which the directivity range is widened on the opposite side of the installation target object 10 when viewed from the respective substrate surfaces 1a and 1b. It becomes.

  5A to 5C are three views showing the directivity range 20 of the above-described RFID tag circuit element T1. 5A is a plan view seen from the arrow Va in FIG. 1, FIG. 5B is a front view seen from the arrow Vb in FIG. 1, and FIG. It is the side view seen from the inside arrow Vc. In the illustrated example, two orthogonal metal plates are integrally connected to form the installation object 10, and the RFID circuit element T1 is installed at the end.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (c), when a radio wave signal is transmitted / received by the tag antenna ANT1, the planes of the microstrip antenna patterns 5 on the horizontal substrate surface 1a and the vertical substrate surface 1b are set. The directivity range 20 (communicable region) as a whole is formed by combining the directivity ranges generated in the orthogonal directions. That is, as shown in FIG. 5 (c), one large directivity range 20 is formed so as to evenly cover the microstrip antenna patterns 5 on the horizontal substrate surface 1a and the vertical substrate surface 1b arranged orthogonally. . The directivity range 20 is formed in a wide angle range including a direction orthogonal to the plane of the horizontal substrate surface 1a, a direction orthogonal to the plane of the vertical substrate surface 1b, and a direction therebetween. It can be formed in an angle range of about 180 ° to 210 ° (depending on the material and dimension setting of each member).

  That is, the tag antenna ANT1 as a whole including the two substrate surfaces 1a and 1b is synthesized with the above-described characteristics (characteristics in which the directivity range is widened on the opposite side of the installation object 10 when viewed on each of the substrate surfaces 1a and 1b). A wide directivity range 20 having a complex three-dimensional shape that extends three-dimensionally from the end of the installation object 10 toward the side opposite to the installation object 10 can be realized.

  Specifically, for example, when the horizontal substrate surface 1a is arranged as an upper surface (horizontal plane) as shown in FIG. 1, the vertical substrate surface 1b can be arranged as a side surface (vertical surface). In this case, the microstrip antenna is directed outward from the vicinity of the end of the installation target 10 corresponding to a combination of the directivity range extending upward from the upper surface and the directivity range extending laterally from the side surface. A wide directivity range 20 having such a composite three-dimensional shape can be realized.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, even if the installation target 10 is a metal object, a wide directivity range can be reliably realized and good information transmission / reception can be performed.

  In this embodiment, in particular, the feeding point Ps is provided at a substantially central position in the width direction (direction orthogonal to the extending direction) in the microstrip antenna pattern 5 formed in a rectangular shape. Thus, as described above, in the microstrip antenna pattern 5, the currents flowing on one side and the other side in the width direction can be substantially canceled with respect to the feeding point Ps, so that the entire microstrip antenna pattern 5 is mainly used. The resonance frequency and antenna sensitivity of the antenna can be set by the extending direction dimension L1. In the microstrip antenna pattern 5, the extension direction dimension L2 of the portion where the horizontal substrate surface 1a exists and the extension direction dimension L2 of the portion where the vertical substrate surface 1b exist are substantially equal (that is, each L2 = L1 / 2). Thus, in the microstrip antenna pattern 5, the antenna sensitivity in the direction along the horizontal substrate surface 1a and the antenna sensitivity in the direction along the vertical substrate surface 1b can be made substantially equal to each other. As a result, the antenna sensitivity in each direction can be equalized for the entire tag antenna ANT1.

  Further, in this embodiment, in particular, the IC circuit unit 150 and the matching circuit unit Ma are connected to the feeding point Ps and arranged so as to be embedded in the middle part in the thickness direction of the dielectric substrate body 1, thereby providing the IC circuit unit. The RFID circuit element T1 can be integrated into the tag antenna ANT1 without projecting 150 to the outside of the tag antenna ANT1.

  In this embodiment, in particular, the adhesive layer 9 for fixing to the installation target object 10 is provided on the surface of the dielectric substrate body 1 on the side where the end of the installation target object 10 is sandwiched. The entire RFID circuit element T1 can be reliably fixed to the object 10. In addition to the adhesive layer 9, as a fixing means for the RFID circuit element T 1, for example, the substrate surface 1 a, 1 b on either or both of the dielectric substrate body 1 and the installation object 10 are penetrated. Fasteners such as screws and bolts to be fastened may be used (not shown).

  In the above embodiment, on the premise that the tag antenna ANT1 is installed on the installation object 10 of the metal object, the ground plane is placed on the surface (inner corner side surface) of the dielectric substrate body 1 that sandwiches the end of the installation object 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a metal surface (= second conductor surface, not particularly shown) as a ground plane may be provided on the entire inner corner surface. Thereby, even when the RFID circuit element T1 is installed not only on a metal object but also on a non-metal object, the wide directivity range 20 is reliably realized and good information transmission / reception is performed. be able to.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the right-angled corner | angular part was formed in the edge part which two board | substrate surfaces 1a and 1b are connected, it is not restricted to this, For example, as shown in FIG. 6, round (or chamfering) May be formed.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and technical idea of the present invention. Hereinafter, such modifications will be described in order.

(1) When the microstrip antenna pattern formed in a substantially L shape is used on three surfaces In the above embodiment, the tag antenna ANT1 provided with the microstrip antenna pattern 5 having a rectangular shape (substantially I shape) in the unfolded state is used. Although explained, it is not restricted to this, For example, you may use the microstrip antenna pattern formed in the substantially L shape in the expansion | deployment state.

  FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are perspective views showing the overall structure of the RFID circuit element T2 according to such a modification. FIG. 7A is a perspective view seen from the top side of the tag antenna, and FIG. 7B is a perspective view seen from the concave side of the tag antenna. (For ease of understanding of the structure, the vertical relationship is reversed with respect to FIG. 7A and the top and bottom of FIG. 7A is turned upside down). In the drawing, three vertices P2a, P2b, and P2c with reference numerals are shown for reference for confirming the arrangement relationship of each member. The same parts as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description will be omitted or simplified as appropriate.

  7 (a) and 7 (b), the RFID tag circuit element T2 of the present modification is formed with a tag antenna (microstrip antenna) ANT2 that is formed in a shape that is substantially orthogonal to three planes and transmits / receives information. And an IC circuit unit 150 (see FIG. 2) embedded in the tag antenna ANT2.

  The tag antenna ANT2 has a dielectric substrate body (substrate body) 101 having a shape in which three flat plates are connected in an orthogonal arrangement. The dielectric substrate body 101 includes a horizontal substrate surface (intermediate substrate surface) 101a horizontally disposed in the upper position in the posture of FIG. 7A and a left side substrate surface (first substrate surface) 101b disposed vertically on the left side. And a right side substrate surface (second substrate surface) 101c arranged vertically on the right side. Each of the horizontal substrate surface 101a, the left side substrate surface 101b, and the right side substrate surface 101c has a substantially square flat plate shape made of a dielectric material such as ceramic, for example. 101a, 101b, and 101c are formed as an integrated body in which one side is connected in an orthogonal arrangement. In the same manner as in the above-described embodiment, of the two orthogonal substrate surfaces 101a and 101b, the side that forms an angle of 90 ° (see FIG. 7B) is referred to as the “inner side” and the opposite side is referred to as the “outer side”. The same applies to the substrate surfaces 101b and 101c and the substrate surfaces 101c and 101a.

  In this modification, the inner substrate surfaces of the horizontal substrate surface 101a, the left substrate surface 101b, and the right substrate surface 101c of the dielectric substrate body 101, that is, adjacent substrate surfaces form an angle of 90 ° with each other. The top surface (the three surfaces shown in FIG. 7B) covers the apex of the object to be installed of the RFID circuit element T2, and thereby the RFID circuit element T2 is installed on the object to be installed (described later). 9).

  In this dielectric substrate body 101, the microstrip antenna pattern 105 similar to the microstrip antenna pattern 5 is formed on the surfaces of the substrate surfaces 101a, 101b, and 101c on the outer corner side, that is, on the three surfaces opposite to the installation surface. (First conductor surface) is provided, and is formed so as to extend from the left side substrate surface 101b through the horizontal substrate surface 101a to the right side substrate surface 101c. The microstrip antenna patterns 105 on the left side substrate surface 101b and the right side substrate surface 101c are arranged so as to be separated from each other with a gap 111 (= pattern nonexistent portion, see FIG. 7A). They are not directly connected to each other. A feeding point Ps is set at the center position of the microstrip antenna pattern 105 on the horizontal substrate surface 101a. The dielectric substrate body 101 and the microstrip antenna pattern 105 constitute a tag antenna ANT2. Other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 8 is a developed view for explaining the dimension setting of the microstrip antenna pattern 105 in this modification, and corresponds to FIG. 4 of the above embodiment.

  In FIG. 8, the microstrip antenna pattern 105 in the RFID circuit element T2 according to the present modification is roughly a rectangular shape having long sides parallel to the extending direction across the horizontal substrate surface 101a and the left substrate surface 101b. In the horizontal substrate surface 101a, the formed first pattern portion 102a and the second pattern portion 102b formed in a rectangular shape having a long side parallel to the extending direction across the horizontal substrate surface 101a and the right side substrate surface 101c are formed. It is formed in a substantially L shape that is overlapped so as to share a part.

The feeding point Ps on the horizontal substrate surface 101a is provided in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the pattern portions 102a and 102b, that is, at the center position in the width direction (short side direction) of the pattern portions 102a and 102b ( (See dimension W1 in the figure). In this way, the pattern portion 102a of each rectangular in 102b, a high-frequency current in each pattern unit 102a, the two current components _{I L} along the longitudinal direction of 102b flows, each pattern unit 102a, 102b long sides of Length L1 determines the resonant frequency of the antenna. In this example, the long sides of the pattern portions 102a and 102b are equal to each other, and are formed to have a length L1 that is approximately a half of the wavelength λ ₁ of the communication radio wave considering the dielectric constant of the dielectric substrate 101. .

  Of the lengths L1 of the long sides of the pattern portions 102a and 102b, the lengths L2 (= L1 / 2) having the same length in the long side direction of the portions existing on the substrate surfaces 101a, 101b, and 101c. Are equal.

  Even with the tag antenna ANT2 of the present modification configured as described above, the same effect as in the above embodiment is obtained.

  That is, by configuring each of the substrate surfaces 101a, 101b, and 101c with a dielectric, a dielectric always exists between the microstrip antenna pattern 105 and the installation target 110, so that the installation target 110 is a metal object. Even in such a case, highly reliable information transmission / reception can be performed without causing a communication failure as in the case of using another type of tag antenna.

  In addition, since the microstrip antenna pattern 105 is provided on the side opposite to the installation target 110 in the dielectric substrate body 101 as described above, the directivity range broadens mainly on the side opposite to the installation target 110. At this time, the substrate surfaces 101a, 101b, and 101c are configured such that adjacent substrate surfaces are connected to each other substantially orthogonally (in other words, three-dimensionally connected), and the substrate surfaces 101a, 101b, 101c, The dielectric substrate body 101 made of 101c is provided so as to cover an end (or apex) of the installation object 110. Therefore, the dielectric substrate 101 becomes a three-dimensional structure provided in the vicinity of the apex of the installation target 110, and the directivity range is widened on the opposite side of the installation target 110 when viewed from each of the substrate surfaces 101a, 101b, and 101c. It becomes a characteristic.

  FIGS. 9A to 9C are three views showing the directivity of the RFID circuit element T2 of the present modification, and correspond to FIGS. 5A to 5C of the above embodiment. 9A is a plan view seen from an arrow IXa in FIG. 7A, and FIG. 9B is a front view seen from an arrow IXb in FIG. 7A. (C) is the side view seen from arrow IXc in Fig.7 (a). In the example shown in the figure, three orthogonal metal plates are integrally connected to constitute the installation object 110, and the RFID tag circuit element T2 is installed so as to cover the apex.

  As shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C, when a radio wave signal is transmitted / received by the tag antenna ANT2, the direction orthogonal to the plane of the microstrip antenna pattern 105 of each substrate surface 101a, 101b, 101c. As a result, the entire directivity ranges (communicable ranges) 120A and 120B are formed. That is, in the first pattern portion 102a, one large directivity range 120A is formed so as to cover the microstrip antenna patterns 105 of the horizontal substrate surface 101a and the left substrate surface 101b arranged orthogonally. The directivity range 120A is formed in a wide angle range including a direction orthogonal to the plane of the horizontal substrate surface 101a, a direction orthogonal to the plane of the left side substrate surface 101b, and a direction therebetween. It can be formed in an angle range of about 180 ° to 210 ° (depending on the material and dimension setting of each member). Also in the second pattern portion 102b, a directivity range 120B having a wide angular range is formed so as to cover the microstrip antenna patterns 105 on the horizontal substrate surface 101a and the right side substrate surface 101c.

  As a result of the above, the dielectric substrate body 101 as a whole composed of these three substrate surfaces 101a, 101b, and 101c is in the vicinity of the top of the installation object 110 corresponding to the synthesized characteristics of the two directivity ranges 120A and 120B. A wide directivity range 120 having a three-dimensional composite shape that spreads three-dimensionally toward the outside of the corner opposite to the installation object 110 can be realized.

  As described above, in this modification, even if the installation object 110 is a metal object, the wide directivity range 120 can be reliably realized, and good information transmission / reception can be performed.

  In this modification, in particular, the microstrip antenna pattern 105 has the same length dimension L1 of the entire long sides of the first pattern portion 102a and the second pattern portion 102b that share a part with each other on the horizontal substrate surface 101a. It has become. Thereby, the resonant frequency of the antenna by the 1st pattern part 102a and the resonant frequency of the antenna by the 2nd pattern part 102b can be made to correspond. And the sensitivity of the whole tag antenna ANT2 can be improved by matching the frequencies of the two pattern portions 102a and 102b in this way (squeezing to a narrow range without greatly different frequencies).

  In this modification, in particular, in the first pattern portion 102a, the extending direction dimension L2 of the portion existing on the horizontal substrate surface 101a is equal to the extending direction dimension L2 of the portion existing on the left side substrate surface 101b. In the second pattern portion 102b, the extending direction dimension L2 of the portion existing on the horizontal substrate surface 101a is equal to the extending direction dimension L2 of the portion existing on the right side substrate surface 101c. Thereby, in the first pattern portion 102a, the antenna sensitivity in the direction along the horizontal substrate surface 101a and the antenna sensitivity in the direction along the left side substrate surface 101b can be made substantially equal. Similarly, in the second pattern portion 102b, the antenna sensitivity in the direction along the horizontal substrate surface 101a and the antenna sensitivity in the direction along the right side substrate surface 101c can be made substantially equal. As a result, the antenna sensitivity in each direction can be equalized for the entire tag antenna ANT2.

  In this modified example, in particular, as in the above embodiment, the feeding point Ps is a substantially central position in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the first pattern portion 102a and extends of the second pattern portion 102b. It is provided at a position that is substantially the center position in a direction orthogonal to the direction. Thereby, the resonance frequency and antenna sensitivity of the antenna can be set mainly by the extending direction dimension L1 of the pattern portions 102a and 102b.

  In this modification, in particular, the microstrip antenna pattern 105 has a gap between the first pattern portion 102a and the second pattern portion 102b in a portion where the left side substrate surface 101b and the right side substrate surface 101c are close to each other. It is provided on the left side substrate surface 101b and the right side substrate surface 101c so that 111 is interposed. Thereby, the first pattern portion 102a extending in the extending direction on the left side substrate surface 101b and the second pattern portion 102b extending in the extending direction on the right side substrate surface 101c can be prevented from being electrically connected to each other. As a result, the resonance frequency and antenna sensitivity of the antenna can be surely set mainly by the extending direction dimension L1 of the pattern portions 102a and 102b.

(2) When the microstrip antenna pattern formed in a substantially I shape is used on three surfaces In addition to the configuration of the above embodiment and the modified example of the above (1), for example, the microstrip antenna pattern has a substantially I shape in a developed state. The formed microstrip antenna pattern may be provided on three substrate surfaces.

  FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of the RFID circuit element T3 according to such a modification. FIG. 10A is a perspective view looking down at the tag antenna, and FIG. 10B is a perspective view looking up at the tag antenna from the back side (the back side in FIG. 10A). is there. In the drawing, three vertices P3a, P3b, and P3c with reference numerals are shown for reference for confirming the arrangement relationship of each member. Parts equivalent to those of the above embodiment and the modified example of (1) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted or simplified as appropriate.

  10A and 10B, in the RFID tag circuit element T3 of this modification, the dielectric substrate body 201 of the tag antenna ANT3 has three substrate surfaces, and one substrate surface is on the opposite side. The other two substrate surfaces are orthogonally connected to the two sides located at the right side. That is, the dielectric substrate body 201 includes an upper substrate surface (first substrate surface) 201a that is horizontally disposed upward in the posture of FIG. 10A and a middle substrate surface (intermediate substrate surface) 201b that is vertically disposed laterally. And a lower substrate surface (second substrate surface) 201c horizontally disposed below. Each of the upper substrate surface 201a, the middle substrate surface 201b, and the lower substrate surface 201c has a substantially square plate shape made of a dielectric material such as ceramic, for example, and the entire dielectric substrate body 201 is formed of the substrate surface 201a, Two adjacent substrate surfaces of 201b and 201c are formed as an integrated body in which one side is connected in an arrangement that is orthogonal to each other. As in the above-described embodiment and the modification of (1), of the two orthogonal substrate surfaces 201a and 201b, the side that forms an angle of 90 ° (see FIG. 10B) is the opposite side to the “inner angle side”. This is referred to as the “outside corner side”. The same applies to the substrate surfaces 201b and 201c.

  In this modification, the inner substrate surfaces of the upper substrate surface 201a, middle substrate surface 201b, and lower substrate surface 201c of the dielectric substrate body 201, that is, three surfaces that form an angle of 90 ° with each other adjacent substrate surfaces ( The end of the installation target object of the RFID circuit element T3 is sandwiched between F3a, F3b, and F3c in FIG. 10, and the RFID circuit element T3 is installed on the installation object (described later). 12).

  In the dielectric substrate 201, the microstrip antenna pattern 205 (first conductor surface) is provided on each of the outer surfaces of the substrate surfaces 201a, 201b, and 201c, that is, on the three surfaces opposite to the installation surface. It is formed so as to extend from the upper substrate surface 201a through the middle substrate surface 201b to the lower substrate surface 201c. The dielectric substrate body 201 and the microstrip antenna pattern 205 constitute a tag antenna ANT3. A feeding point Ps is set at the center position of the microstrip antenna pattern 205 on the upper substrate surface 201a. Other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 11 is a development view for explaining the dimension setting of the microstrip antenna pattern 205 in this modification, and corresponds to FIG. 4 and FIG.

  In FIG. 11, the microstrip antenna pattern 205 in the RFID circuit element T3 according to the present modification is roughly a length parallel to the extending direction from the upper substrate surface 201a to the lower substrate surface 201c via the middle substrate surface 201b. It is formed in a rectangular shape (substantially I shape) having sides.

The feeding point Ps on the upper substrate surface 201a is provided at a central position in the direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the microstrip antenna pattern 205, that is, in the width direction (short side direction) of the microstrip antenna pattern 205 formed in a rectangular shape. (See dimension W1 in the figure). As a result, as described above, only the length L3 of the long side of the microstrip antenna pattern 205 determines the wavelength of the communication radio wave. In this example, it is formed on the long side length L3 is the length of approximately half the first communication radio wave of a wavelength lambda ₂ when considering the dielectric constant of the dielectric substrate 201 of the microstrip antenna pattern 205.

  Of the length L3 of the long side of the microstrip antenna pattern 205, the length in the long side direction of the portion existing on the upper substrate surface 201a and the portion existing on the lower substrate surface 201c are equal to the same length L2. The portion existing on the middle substrate surface 201b located between them has a length L4 in the long side direction (that is, L3 = L2 + L4 + L2).

  With the above configuration, even in the case of the tag antenna ANT3 of the present modified example, similarly to the above-described embodiment and the modified example of (1), even when the installation target is a metal object, highly reliable information without causing a communication failure. Transmission and reception can be performed, and a wide directivity range can be obtained.

  FIGS. 12A to 12D are four views showing the directivity of the RFID tag circuit element T3 of this modification, and FIGS. 5A to 5C and FIGS. 9A to 9C. It is a figure corresponding to. 12A is a plan view seen from the arrow XIIa in FIG. 10A, and FIG. 12B is a front view seen from the arrow XIIb in FIG. (C) is the side view seen from arrow XIIc in FIG. 10 (a), FIG.12 (d) is the bottom view seen from arrow XIId in FIG.10 (b). In the example shown in the figure, a so-called grooved steel in which three metal plates are integrally connected to form a substantially U-shaped cross section constitutes an installation object 210, and this end portion is connected to the RFID circuit element T3. Shows a state in which it is installed so as to be sandwiched.

  As shown in FIGS. 12 (a) to 12 (d), when transmitting and receiving a radio signal with the tag antenna ANT3, the two upper substrates arranged so as to face each other while covering the entire middle substrate surface 201b located in the middle. One large directivity range 220 is formed so as to evenly cover the microstrip antenna patterns 205 on the surface 201a and the lower substrate surface 201c. The directivity range 220 is formed in a wide angle range including a direction orthogonal to the plane of the upper substrate surface 201a, a direction orthogonal to the plane of the lower substrate surface 201c, and a direction between them. (Depending on the material and size of the material), it can be formed in an angle range of approximately 240 ° to 300 °.

  As a result, a directivity range extending upward from the upper substrate surface 201, a directivity range extending laterally from the middle substrate surface 201b, and a directivity range extending downward from the lower substrate surface 201c are supported. A wide directivity range 220 having a composite solid shape that extends outward from the vicinity of the end of the installation object 210 can be realized. Therefore, in this modification as well, as in the modification of the above embodiment and (1), even if the installation object 210 is a metal object, a wide directivity range 220 is surely realized and good information transmission / reception is performed. Can do.

  In this modification, in particular, as in the above embodiment, the feeding point Ps is provided at a substantially central position in the direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the microstrip antenna pattern 205. Thereby, in the microstrip antenna pattern 205, the currents flowing on one side and the other side in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction (in other words, the width direction) can be substantially canceled with respect to the feeding point Ps. As a result, the resonance frequency and antenna sensitivity of the antenna can be set mainly by the extending direction dimension of the substantially I-shaped microstrip pattern.

(3) In the case where the microstrip antenna pattern formed in a substantially L shape is used on four surfaces In the first modified example, the microstrip antenna pattern 105 formed in a substantially L shape in the developed state is formed on three substrate surfaces. Although provided on 101a, 101b, and 101c, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, microstrip antenna patterns formed in an approximately L shape may be provided on four substrate surfaces.

  FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of the RFID circuit element T4 according to such a modification. 13A is a perspective view looking down at the tag antenna, and FIG. 13B is a perspective view looking up at the tag antenna from the back side (the back side in FIG. 13A). is there. In the figure, three vertices P4a, P4b, and P4c with reference numerals are shown for reference for confirming the arrangement relationship of each member. Parts equivalent to those in the above embodiment and the modified examples of (1) and (2) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted or simplified as appropriate.

  13A and 13B, in the RFID tag circuit element T4 of this modification, the dielectric substrate body 301 of the tag antenna ANT4 has four substrate surfaces. That is, with respect to the three U-shaped substrate surfaces in the modification (2), another substrate surface is connected to the other three substrate surfaces on the side surface. The dielectric substrate body 301 includes a top substrate surface (intermediate substrate surface) 301a that is horizontally disposed upward in the posture of FIG. 13A, and a front substrate surface (first substrate surface) 301b that is vertically disposed on the right front side. A side substrate surface (second substrate surface) 301c vertically arranged on the left side and a bottom substrate surface (third substrate surface) 301d horizontally arranged below. Each of the top substrate surface 301 a, the front substrate surface 301 b, the side substrate surface 301 c, and the bottom substrate surface 301 d has a substantially square plate shape made of a dielectric material such as ceramic, for example. The whole is formed as an integrated body in which two adjacent substrate surfaces of the substrate surfaces 301a, 301b, 301c, and 301d are connected to each other in an orthogonal arrangement. In this modification, the three substrate surfaces 301a, 301c, and 301d forming the U-shape are in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction because of the dimension setting of the microstrip antenna pattern 305 described later. The dimension is about twice as long as that of the first modification. In addition, as in the above-described embodiment and the modified examples (1) and (2), the side forming the 90 ° angle (see FIG. 13B) of the two orthogonal substrate surfaces 301a and 301b is referred to as “inner angle side”. The opposite side is referred to as the “outside corner side”. The same applies to the substrate surfaces 301a and 301c and the substrate surfaces 301c and 301d.

  In this modification, the top substrate surface 301a, the front substrate surface 301b, the side substrate surface 301c, and the bottom substrate surface 301d of the dielectric substrate body 301 are each 90 ° at the inner surfaces, that is, adjacent substrate surfaces. The four surfaces (the surfaces of F4a, F4b, F4c, and F4d shown in FIG. 13B) that form the angle of 2 are covered with two vertices of the object to be installed of the RFID circuit element T4, thereby the RFID circuit element T4 is installed on the installation target (see FIG. 15 described later).

  In this dielectric substrate body 301, the microstrip antenna pattern 305 (first conductor surface) is provided on the outer surface of each substrate surface 301a, 301b, 301c, 301d, that is, on the four surfaces opposite to the installation surface. It is formed so as to extend from the bottom substrate surface 301d through the side substrate surface 301c and the top substrate surface 301a to the front substrate surface 301b. The dielectric substrate 301 and the microstrip antenna pattern 305 constitute a tag antenna ANT4. In addition, the microstrip antenna pattern 305 passing through the bottom substrate surface 301d and the side substrate surface 301c and the microstrip antenna pattern 305 on the front substrate surface 301b are arranged apart from each other with a gap 311 therebetween. Is not connected. A feeding point Ps is set at the center position of the microstrip antenna pattern 305 on the top substrate surface 301a. Other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 14 is a development view for explaining the dimension setting of the microstrip antenna pattern 305 in this modification, and is a view corresponding to FIGS. 4, 8, and 11 described above.

  In FIG. 14, the microstrip antenna pattern 305 in the RFID tag circuit element T4 of the present modification is roughly a rectangular shape having long sides parallel to the extending direction over the top substrate surface 301a and the front substrate surface 301b. The formed first pattern portion 302a and the second pattern portion 302b formed in a rectangular shape having a long side parallel to the extending direction from the top substrate surface 301a through the side substrate surface 301c to the bottom substrate surface 301d. The top substrate surface 301a is formed in a substantially L shape so as to be partially shared.

The feeding point Ps on the top substrate surface 301a is provided in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the pattern portions 302a and 302b, that is, in the center position in the width direction (short side direction) of the pattern portions 302a and 302b ( (See dimension W1 in the figure). As a result, as described above, only the length L3 of the long side of each pattern portion 302a, 302b determines the wavelength of the communication radio wave. In this example, the long sides of the pattern portions 302a and 302b are formed to have a length L3 that is a half of the wavelength λ ₂ of the communication radio wave when the same dielectric substrate 301 is considered.

  Of the length L3 of the long side of the second pattern portion 302b, the length in the long side direction of each of the portion present on the top substrate surface 301a and the portion present on the bottom substrate surface 301d is equal to the same length L2. The portion present on the side substrate surface 301c located between them has a length L4 in the long side direction (that is, L3 = L2 + L4 + L2). Further, of the long side length L3 of the first pattern portion 302a, the length in the long side direction of the portion existing on the front substrate surface 301b is equal to the length L2 and exists on the top substrate surface 301a. The portion to be processed has a length L5 in the long side direction (that is, L3 = L5 + L2 = L2 + L4 + L2).

  With the above configuration, even with the tag antenna ANT4 of the present modification, a communication failure is caused even when the installation target is a metal object, as in the above embodiments and the modifications (1), (2), and (3). Therefore, information transmission / reception with high reliability can be performed, and a wide directivity range can be obtained.

  FIGS. 15A to 15D are four views showing the directivity of the RFID tag circuit element T4 of this modification. FIGS. 5A to 5C and FIGS. It is a figure corresponding to c) and said FIG. 12 (a)-(d). FIG. 15A is a plan view seen from the arrow XVa in FIG. 13A, and FIG. 15B is a front view seen from the arrow XVb in FIG. (C) is a side view seen from the arrow XVc in FIG. 13 (a), and FIG. 15 (d) is a bottom view seen from the arrow XVd in FIG. 13 (b). In the example shown in the figure, a metal body formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape constitutes the installation object 310, and the RFID tag circuit element T4 is installed so as to sandwich a corner including two adjacent vertices. Is shown.

  As shown in FIGS. 15A to 15D, when transmitting / receiving a radio wave signal with the tag antenna ANT4, the directivity ranges 320A and 320B generated in the pattern portions 302a and 302b are combined so as to be combined. The directivity range is formed. That is, in the second pattern portion 302b, the entire side substrate surface 301c positioned in the middle is covered, and the microstrip antenna patterns 305 of the two top substrate surfaces 301a and the bottom substrate surface 301d arranged opposite to each other are equally provided. One large directivity range 320B is formed. The directivity range 320B is formed in a wide angle range including a direction orthogonal to the plane of the top substrate surface 301a, a direction orthogonal to the plane of the bottom substrate surface 301d, and a direction therebetween. (Depending on the material and size of the material), it can be formed in an angle range of approximately 240 ° to 270 °. Also in the first pattern portion 302a, one large directivity range 320A is formed so as to cover the microstrip antenna patterns 305 on the top substrate surface 301a and the front substrate surface 301b arranged orthogonally. However, the length L5 in the extending direction of the microstrip antenna pattern 305 existing on the top substrate surface 301a is longer than the length L2 in the extending direction of the microstrip antenna pattern 305 existing on the front substrate surface 301b. Thus, the directivity range 320A is formed so as to be largely biased toward the top substrate surface 301a.

  As a result of the above, the entire substrate body 301 composed of the four substrate surfaces 301a, 301b, 301c, and 301d is based on the above-described first modification corresponding to the combination of the characteristics of the two directivity ranges 320A and 320B. Further, a wide directivity range 320 having a composite solid shape can be realized. Therefore, in this modification, even if the installation object 310 is a metal object, a wide directivity range 320 can be reliably realized and good information transmission / reception can be performed.

  In the above, the case where the RFID tag circuit elements T1 and T4 are installed is exemplified by a metal plate, a thin steel, or a metal body. However, OA equipment, a steel desk, a steel shelf, a back cover of a binder, etc. It can also be installed on other metal objects, and in this case, the same effect is obtained.

  In addition, in the above, the arrows shown in each figure such as FIG. 3 show an example of the signal flow, and do not limit the signal flow direction.

  In addition to those already described above, the methods according to the above-described embodiments and modifications may be used in appropriate combination.

  In addition, although not illustrated one by one, the present invention is implemented with various modifications within a range not departing from the gist thereof.

It is a perspective view showing the whole structure of the RFID circuit element of the embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the RFID circuit element by the II-II cross section in FIG. It is a block diagram showing an example of a functional structure of a wireless tag circuit element. It is an expanded view for demonstrating the dimension setting of a microstrip antenna pattern. It is a 3rd page figure showing the directivity of a RFID circuit element. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the modification which formed the round between two board | substrate surfaces by a perspective view. It is a perspective view showing the whole structure of the RFID circuit element by the modification which uses the microstrip antenna pattern formed in the substantially L shape on three surfaces. It is an expanded view for demonstrating the dimension setting of a microstrip antenna pattern. It is a 3rd page figure showing the directivity of a RFID circuit element. It is a perspective view showing the whole structure of the RFID tag circuit element by the modification which uses the microstrip antenna pattern formed in the substantially I shape on three surfaces. It is an expanded view for demonstrating the dimension setting of a microstrip antenna pattern. It is a 4th page figure which shows the directivity of a radio | wireless tag circuit element. It is a perspective view showing the whole structure of the RFID circuit element by the modification which uses the microstrip antenna pattern formed in the substantially L shape on four surfaces. It is an expanded view for demonstrating the dimension setting of a microstrip antenna pattern. It is a 4th page figure which shows the directivity of a radio | wireless tag circuit element.

Explanation of symbols

1 Dielectric substrate (substrate body)
1a Horizontal substrate surface (4th substrate surface)
1b Vertical substrate surface (5th substrate surface)
5 Microstrip antenna pattern (first conductor surface)
9 Adhesive layer (fixing means)
10 Installation Object 20 Directional Range 101 Dielectric Substrate (Substrate Body)
101a Horizontal substrate surface (intermediate substrate surface)
101b Left side substrate surface (first substrate surface)
101c Right side substrate surface (second substrate surface)
102a 1st pattern part 102b 2nd pattern part 105 Microstrip antenna pattern (1st conductor surface)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 110 Installation object 111 Cavity part 120 Directional range 120A, B Directional range 150 IC circuit part 201 Dielectric board body (board body)
201a Upper substrate surface (first substrate surface)
201b Middle substrate surface (intermediate substrate surface)
201c Lower substrate surface (second substrate surface)
205 Microstrip antenna pattern (first conductor surface)
210 Installation Object 220 Directional Range 301 Dielectric Substrate Body (Substrate Body)
301a Top substrate surface (intermediate substrate surface)
301b Front substrate surface (first substrate surface)
301c Side substrate surface (second substrate surface)
301d Bottom substrate surface (third substrate surface)
302a First pattern portion 302b Second pattern portion 305 Microstrip antenna pattern (first conductor surface)
310 Installation object 311 Gap part 320A, B Directional range T1-4 RFID circuit element ANT1 Tag antenna (microstrip antenna)
ANT2 tag antenna (microstrip antenna)
ANT3 tag antenna (microstrip antenna)
ANT4 tag antenna (microstrip antenna)
Ps Feeding point Pe Grounding point

Claims (15)

A wireless tag circuit element that has an IC circuit unit that stores information and a tag antenna that transmits and receives information and is attached to an installation target,
The tag antenna is
It is composed of three or more dielectric substrate surfaces provided so that adjacent surfaces are connected substantially orthogonally to each other, and simultaneously covers a plurality of surfaces of the installation object at the end or apex of the installation object. A substrate body provided to be sandwiched between or
Of the substrate body, a first conductor surface that is formed on the side that covers the object to be installed or on the side opposite to the sandwiching side and that includes a feeding point connected to the IC circuit unit,
A wireless tag circuit element, comprising: a microstrip antenna having a grounding point provided on a side of the substrate body that covers or sandwiches the object to be installed. The three or more substrate surfaces provided in the substrate body are:
A substantially rectangular intermediate substrate surface;
A first substrate surface connected in one of the four sides of the substantially square shape of the intermediate substrate surface, the surface direction being substantially orthogonal to the intermediate substrate surface;
A second substrate surface connected to the other one of the four sides of the substantially square shape of the intermediate substrate surface and having a surface direction substantially orthogonal to the intermediate substrate surface;
The first conductor surface is
2. The RFID tag circuit element according to claim 1, wherein the RFID circuit element is provided over the three or more substrate surfaces while extending from the first substrate surface to the second substrate surface through the intermediate substrate surface. 3. . The substrate body is
The first substrate surface, the intermediate substrate surface, and the second substrate surface are configured to be substantially I-shaped in a developed state,
The RFID circuit element according to claim 2, wherein the feeding point is provided on the first conductor surface of the first substrate surface, the intermediate substrate surface, or the second substrate surface. The substrate body is
The first substrate surface, the intermediate substrate surface, and the second substrate surface are configured to be substantially L-shaped in a developed state,
The RFID circuit element according to claim 2, wherein the feeding point is provided on the first conductor surface of the intermediate substrate surface. The first conductor surface is
A first pattern portion extending from the intermediate substrate surface to at least the first substrate surface while sharing a part with each other on the intermediate substrate surface, and extending from the intermediate substrate surface to at least the second substrate surface A second pattern portion,
5. The RFID circuit element according to claim 4, wherein the extension direction dimension of the first pattern portion and the extension direction dimension of the second pattern portion are substantially equal. The first pattern portion is
The extending direction dimension of the portion existing on the intermediate substrate surface is substantially equal to the extending direction dimension of the portion existing on the first substrate surface,
The second pattern portion is
6. The wireless tag according to claim 5, wherein the extension direction dimension of a portion existing on the intermediate substrate surface is substantially equal to the extension direction dimension of a portion existing on the second substrate surface. Circuit element. The feeding point is
The first pattern portion is provided at a substantially central position in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction, and is provided at a position that is a substantially central position in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction in the second pattern portion. The RFID tag circuit element according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the RFID tag circuit element is provided. The first conductor surface is
In the portion where the first substrate surface and the second substrate surface are close to each other, the first substrate surface and the second substrate surface are arranged such that a gap is interposed between the first pattern portion and the second pattern portion. 8. The RFID circuit element according to claim 7, wherein the RFID circuit element is provided on a substrate surface. The substrate body is
In addition to the intermediate substrate surface, the first substrate surface, and the second substrate surface,
A third substrate surface connected to a portion of the second substrate surface opposite to the intermediate substrate surface and having a surface direction substantially orthogonal to the second substrate surface;
The second pattern portion of the first conductor surface is
9. The RFID circuit element according to claim 8, wherein the RFID circuit element is provided so as to extend from the intermediate substrate surface through the second substrate surface to the third substrate surface. The feeding point is
The first pattern portion is provided at a substantially central position in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction, or at a substantially central position in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the second pattern portion. The RFID tag circuit element according to claim 5 or 6. A wireless tag circuit element that has an IC circuit unit that stores information and a tag antenna that transmits and receives information and is attached to an installation target,
The tag antenna is
It is composed of a dielectric fourth substrate surface and a fifth substrate surface provided so as to be connected substantially orthogonal to each other, and is provided so as to sandwich a plurality of surfaces of the installation object at the end of the installation object at the same time. A substrate body;
Of the substrate body, formed on the opposite side to the side sandwiching the installation object, a first conductor surface provided with a feeding point connected to the IC circuit unit,
A microstrip antenna having a grounding point provided on a side of the board body that sandwiches the installation object,
The first conductor surface is
The extending direction dimension of the portion extending from the fourth substrate surface to the fifth substrate surface and existing on the fourth substrate surface and the extending direction dimension of the portion existing on the fifth substrate surface are approximately. An equal third pattern portion;
The feeding point is
The RFID circuit element, wherein the RFID circuit element is provided at a substantially central position in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction in the third pattern portion. The IC circuit unit is
The RFID circuit element according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the RFID tag circuit element is connected to the feeding point and disposed so as to be embedded in an intermediate portion in a thickness direction of the substrate body. Between the IC circuit unit and the feeding point,
13. The RFID circuit element according to claim 12, further comprising a matching circuit. The microstrip antenna is
The RFID circuit element according to any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising a second conductor surface formed on a side of the substrate body that covers or sandwiches the installation target object. . 15. The wireless device according to claim 1, further comprising: a fixing unit configured to fix a side of the substrate body that covers or sandwiches the installation target object to the installation target object. Tag circuit element.

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