JP2016015593A - Communication module, and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a configuration for a communication module capable of electrically stabilizing contact between an antenna and a substrate.SOLUTION: Provided is a communication module that has a main substrate and an antenna unit whose surface area is smaller than that of the main substrate. A first terminal is formed on a first surface of the main substrate, and contacted and electrically connected with a second terminal formed on a second surface of the antenna unit. In addition, a holder for holding the main substrate and the antenna unit has: an accommodation space formed with an opening into which the antenna unit is inserted in a sliding manner in a state where the second surface is opposed to the first surface; and a pressing part provided inside the accommodation space and that presses the antenna unit against the main substrate.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device including a communication module.

  In order to perform wireless communication, a communication module including an antenna unit that receives radio waves is known. The communication module requires an antenna unit that receives radio waves and a substrate that converts the radio waves received by the antenna unit into signals. Patent Document 1 discloses an antenna body (antenna unit) fixed on a substrate (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  Some communication modules are also known in which an antenna unit and a substrate are held in contact with each other without being fixed. Cited Document 2 discloses a vehicle-mounted receiving device in which an antenna is brought into contact with a printed circuit board with the antenna positioned inside a cover member (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP-A-7-321528 JP 2007-81529 A

  In order to stabilize the electrical connection between the antenna unit and the substrate, when the antenna unit and the substrate are accommodated and positioned in the housing, the size of the communication module increases due to the housing becoming larger. In addition, an increase in the number of parts and a problem of heat trapped in the housing also occur.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a new communication module configuration that can electrically stabilize the contact between an antenna and a substrate.

  In order to solve the above problems, one embodiment of the present invention relates to a communication module including a first substrate and an antenna unit having a surface area smaller than that of the first substrate. A first terminal is formed on the first surface of the first substrate, and is in contact with and electrically connected to the second terminal formed on the second surface of the antenna unit. Further, the holder for holding the first substrate and the antenna unit has an accommodation space in which an opening for slidingly inserting the antenna unit with the second surface facing the first surface is formed. A pressing portion that presses the antenna unit toward the first substrate is provided inside the accommodation space.

“Sliding and inserting the antenna unit with the second surface facing the first surface” means that the second surface of the antenna unit and the first surface of the first substrate with the holder attached to the first substrate. In addition to the case where the first surface of the first substrate and the second surface of the antenna unit are opposed to each other, the both are slid and inserted into the housing space of the holder. Including cases.
The “pressing portion” is formed inside the holder accommodating space, and may be anything that presses the antenna unit toward the first substrate, and is a piece extending from the inner wall of the holder. Alternatively, the antenna unit may be pressed against the first substrate by tilting the inner wall of the holder.

  In the invention configured as described above, the antenna unit is inserted into the housing space of the holder so that the pressing portion in the holder presses the antenna unit against the first substrate, and the first terminal of the first substrate and the antenna unit The electrical connection with the second terminal can be stably maintained.

FIG. The perspective view which shows the communication module 10 as an example. The disassembled perspective view of the communication module 10 as an example. Sectional drawing explaining the inside of the holder 40. FIG. The top view which looked at the holder 40 from upper direction. The disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the communication module 10 in 2nd Embodiment. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the communication module 10. FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order.
1. First embodiment:
2. Second embodiment:
3. Third embodiment:
4). Other embodiments:

1. First embodiment:

FIG. 1 is an external view of an electronic device.
In FIG. 1, a recording apparatus is shown as an example of an electronic device. The recording apparatus 100 includes a system board (second board) 90, a communication module 10 fixed to the system board 90, and a housing 80 that houses the system board 90 and the communication module 10.

  The housing 80 includes a front case 81, a bottom chassis 82, and a top case 83. A system board 90 and an optical disk drive (not shown) are fixed to the bottom chassis 82. Further, the communication module 10 is attached to the system board 90. The communication module 10 performs wireless reception from an external device (not shown) and wireless transmission from the recording device 100 to an external device.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the communication module 10 as an example. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the communication module 10 as an example. The communication module 10 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 includes a main substrate (first substrate) 20, an antenna unit 30, and a holder 40. The communication module is a wireless LAN module compatible with IEEE 802, and performs HDMI standard communication with the system board 90 (HDMI is a registered trademark). Of course, the standard supported by the communication module 10 is not limited to HDMI, and may be a USB standard.

  Hereinafter, the longitudinal direction of the main board 20 is referred to as an X direction, the width direction of the main board 20 is referred to as a Y direction, and the height direction of the main board 20 is also referred to as a Z direction. In some cases, the X, Y, and Z directions are distinguished from each other by adding one or two suffixes.

  The antenna unit 30 receives a radio wave and outputs a signal corresponding to the received radio wave from a terminal (second terminal). The antenna unit 30 includes an antenna wiring 31 that receives a radio wave and a body 32 that holds the antenna wiring 31. The antenna unit 30 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is a thin plate-like substrate, and a second terminal 35 electrically connected to the antenna wiring 31 is located on the upper surface 33 of the body 32. 2 and 3, the second terminal 35 is located at the end of the antenna unit. For example, the second terminal 35 has a convex shape extending downward from the body 32.

  The main board 20 converts the radio wave received by the antenna unit 30 and outputs it. On the main board 20, a demodulation IC for demodulating a signal received by an antenna unit 30 (not shown) and an HDMI controller are mounted. The main board 20 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is formed in a long plate shape in which one side is longer than the other side. A connector 21 is electrically connected to one end (X2 side) in the longitudinal direction, and is connected to the connector of the system board 90. On the first surface 22 of the main substrate 20, the first terminal 23 that is electrically connected to the second terminal 35 of the antenna unit 30 is located. 2 and 3, the first terminal 23 is formed at the end (X1 side) opposite to the connector 21 in the longitudinal direction of the main board 20. The first terminal 23 has a concave shape that is recessed inward.

  The holder 40 holds electrical contact between the main board 20 and the antenna unit 30 via the first terminal 23 and the second terminal 35. The holder 40 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 has a bag shape having an accommodation space 41 in which a part of the main board 20 and the antenna unit 30 are accommodated. Of course, making the holder 40 into a bag shape is only an example.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the inside of the holder 40. In the accommodating space 41 of the holder 40, an opening 42 is formed through which the antenna unit 30 is slid and inserted with the second surface 34 facing the first surface 22 of the main substrate 20. Further, a pressing portion 43 that presses the antenna unit 30 toward the main board 20 is provided inside the accommodation space 41.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the inside of the holder 40. FIG. 5 is a top view of the holder 40 as viewed from above. In the holder 40 shown in FIG. 4, the accommodation space 41 extends from the opening 42 in the X direction. Further, a pressing portion 43 is formed inside the accommodation space 41 by a rib extending downward (Z2 side). The length of the pressing portion 43 extending from the inner wall becomes longer as it proceeds from the opening 42 to the inner portion (from the X2 side to the X1 side).

  The holder 40 has a claw portion 44 that is associated with the edge of the antenna unit 30 located on the opening 42 side. The claw portion 44 is engaged with the end of the antenna unit 30 inserted into the accommodation space 41, thereby pressing the antenna unit 30 against the back side (X2 side to X1 side) of the accommodation space 41. Furthermore, the holder 40 is formed with a bracket 45 into which a screw for fixing the communication module 10 to the system board 90 is inserted.

A method for assembling the communication module 10 having the above configuration will be described.
First, the first surface 22 of the main board 20 and the second surface 34 of the antenna unit 30 are faced to bring the first terminal 23 and the second terminal 35 into contact with each other. Here, the tip of the second terminal 35 is inserted into the recess of the first terminal 23, and the antenna unit 30 is positioned on the main board 20.

  Next, the main board 20 and the antenna unit 30 positioned on the main board 20 are inserted into the accommodation space 41 from the opening 42 of the holder 40. When the main board 20 and the antenna unit 30 are pushed into the back side (X1 side) from the opening 42 of the accommodation space 41 in this state, the tip of the pressing portion 43 comes into contact with the upper surface 33 of the antenna unit 30. Since the length of the pressing portion 43 becomes longer as it goes deeper into the accommodation space 42, the pressing portion 43 moves the antenna unit 30 to the main substrate 20 as the main board 20 and the antenna unit 30 are inserted into the accommodation space 41. Push towards the. Therefore, the main board 20 and the antenna unit 30 are sandwiched between the inner walls of the upper and lower sides (Z1, Z2) of the holder 40.

  Further, by pushing the main board 20 and the antenna unit 30 into the back of the accommodation space 41 of the holder 40, the claw part 44 is engaged with the end of the antenna unit 30, and the antenna unit 30 and the main board 20 are connected to the holder 40. Press against the back of the storage space 41. As described above, the communication module 10 is assembled.

  Thereafter, the connector 21 of the communication module 10 is connected to the connector of the system board 90, and the communication module 10 is fixed to the system board 90 via the bracket 45 of the holder 40. Next, the system board 90 is screwed to the bottom chassis 82. Next, an optical disk drive (not shown) is fixed to the bottom chassis 82. Next, the front case 81 and the bottom chassis 82 are screwed to the bottom chassis, and the housing 80 is assembled. Thus, the recording apparatus 100 is completed.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the antenna unit 30 is slid into the holder 40 from the opening 42 into the accommodation space 41 with the second surface facing the first surface of the main board 20. Yes. In addition, a pressing portion 43 that presses the antenna unit 30 toward the main board 20 is provided inside the accommodation space 41, and the electrical connection between the first terminal 23 of the main board 20 and the second terminal 35 of the antenna unit 30 is provided. Can maintain a stable connection.

  Since the pressing portion 43 formed on the holder 40 is a rib extending from the inner wall side of the holder 40, the configuration of the pressing portion 43 can be simplified and can be made easily.

  The holder 40 is formed in a bag shape, and the antenna unit 30 and the main board 20 are inserted into the accommodation space 41, so that the antenna unit 30 and the main board 20 are sandwiched inside the holder 40. The electrical contact with the two terminals 35 can be held more stably.

  The main board 20 has a connector located at one end in the longitudinal direction and a first terminal 23 located at the other end in the longitudinal direction. The first terminal 23 of the main board 20 is placed in the accommodation space 41 of the holder 40. Since the end where is located is inserted, only a part of the main board 20 is covered with the holder, so that the heat dissipation of the communication module 10 can be improved.

  The holder 40 has a claw portion 44 that is in contact with the edge of the antenna unit 30 located on the opening 42 side, and the claw portion 44 presses the antenna unit 30 to the back side of the accommodation space 41, so that the antenna unit 30 is further strengthened. Can be held in.

2. Second embodiment:
In the second embodiment, the configuration in which only the antenna unit is accommodated in the accommodation space of the holder 40 is different from that in the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of the communication module 10 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the communication module 10. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the communication module 10 in the X direction (X1-X2). The communication module 10 shown in the second embodiment includes a main board 120, an antenna unit 30, and a holder 140.

  Similar to the first embodiment, a demodulation IC (not shown) for demodulating a signal received by the antenna unit 30 and an HDMI controller are mounted on the main board 120. The main substrate 120 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 has a larger surface area than the antenna unit 30. A first terminal 123 that is electrically connected to the second terminal 35 of the antenna unit 30 is located on the first surface 121 of the main board 120. The main board 120 is formed with three slits 124, 125, and 126 into which the fixing piece (post-operation) of the holder 40 is inserted.

As in the first embodiment, the holder 140 holds electrical contact using the first terminal 123 and the second terminal 35 between the main board 120 and the antenna unit 30. The holder 140 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is semi-elliptical and has an open bottom surface (Z2 side). In addition, the holder 140 is formed with an accommodation space 141 in which the antenna unit 30 is accommodated, and an opening 142 for slidingly inserting the antenna unit 30 into the accommodation space 141. A pressing portion 143 that presses the antenna unit 30 toward the main board 20 is formed inside the accommodation space 141.
Since the antenna unit 30 has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  The holder 140 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is formed with fixing pieces 144, 145, and 146 extending downward (Z2 side). The fixing pieces 144, 145, and 146 of the holder 140 are respectively inserted into the slits 124, 125, and 126 of the main board 120 to fix the holder 140 to the main board 120. Here, the alignment accuracy with respect to the slit 124 of the fixed piece 144 is set higher than the accuracy with respect to the slits 125 and 126 of the fixed pieces 145 and 146. This is to make the height (Z direction) on the back side (X1 side) of the accommodation space 141 on the fixed piece 144 side lower than the height on the opening side (X2 side).

  In the second embodiment, first, the fixing pieces 144, 145, and 146 of the holder 140 are inserted into the slits 124, 125, and 126 of the main substrate 120 to fix the holder 140 to the main substrate 120. Next, the antenna unit 30 is slid and inserted into the accommodation space 141 from the opening 142 of the holder 140 with the second surface 34 facing the first surface 121 of the main substrate 120. In the accommodation space 141 of the holder 140, the antenna unit 30 is pressed toward the main board 120 by the pressing portion 143. Therefore, the electrical connection between the second terminal 35 of the antenna unit 30 and the first terminal 123 of the main board 120 can be stably maintained.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, even when the main board 120 is larger than the antenna unit 30, the first terminal 23 of the main board 20 and the first of the antenna unit 30 are provided by one holder 140. The electrical connection with the two terminals 35 can be stably maintained.

3. Third embodiment:
The method of accommodating the antenna unit 30 in the holder is not limited to the one shown in the first embodiment or the second embodiment described above. In the third embodiment, the holder 140 is semi-elliptical like the second embodiment, and the lower surface (Z2 side) is open. In addition, the holder 140 is formed with an accommodation space 141 in which the antenna unit 30 is accommodated. A pressing portion 143 that presses the antenna unit 30 toward the main board 20 is formed inside the accommodation space 141. The holder 140 is formed with fixing pieces 144, 145, and 146 extending downward (Z2 side).

In the third embodiment, first, the antenna unit 30 is accommodated in the accommodation space of the holder 140 so that the second surface 34 of the antenna unit 30 is opposite to the inner wall side of the holder 140.
Next, the fixing pieces 144, 145, and 146 of the holder 140 are inserted into the slits 124, 125, and 126 of the main substrate 120 to fix the holder 140 to the main substrate 120. At this time, in the accommodation space 141 of the holder 140, the antenna unit 30 is pressed toward the main board 120 by the pressing portion 143. Therefore, the electrical connection between the second terminal 35 of the antenna unit 30 and the first terminal 123 of the main board 120 can be stably maintained.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, even when the main board 120 is larger than the antenna unit 30, the first terminal 23 of the main board 20 and the first of the antenna unit 30 are provided by one holder 140. The electrical connection with the two terminals 35 can be stably maintained.

4). Other embodiments:
The use of a recording device as an electronic device including the communication module 10 is merely an example. The electronic device may be a display device such as a television receiver or a PC.
The shapes of the antenna unit and the main board are not limited to the thin plate shape described above.

Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. It goes without saying for those skilled in the art,
・ Applying mutually interchangeable members and configurations disclosed in the above embodiments by appropriately changing the combination thereof.− Although not disclosed in the above embodiments, it is a publicly known technique and the above embodiments. The members and configurations that can be mutually replaced with the members and configurations disclosed in the above are appropriately replaced, and the combination is changed and applied. It is an embodiment of the present invention that a person skilled in the art can appropriately replace the members and configurations that can be assumed as substitutes for the members and configurations disclosed in the above-described embodiments, and change the combinations and apply them. It is disclosed as.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Communication module, 20 ... Main board | substrate, 21 ... Connector, 22 ... 1st surface, 23 ... 1st terminal, 30 ... Antenna unit, 31 ... Antenna wiring, 32 ... Body, 33 ... Top surface, 34 ... 2nd surface, 35 ... second terminal, 40 ... holder, 41 accommodating space, 42 ... opening, 43 ... pressing part, 44 ... claw part, 45 ... bracket, 80 ... housing, 81 ... front case, 82 ... bottom chassis, 83 ... top Case: 90 ... System board, 100 ... Recording device

Claims (6)

A communication module,
A first substrate having a first surface on which a first terminal is formed;
An antenna unit in contact with the first terminal of the first substrate by a second terminal formed on the second surface;
A holder for holding an electrical connection between the first terminal of the first substrate and the second terminal of the antenna unit;
The holder is
An accommodation space in which an opening is formed to slide the antenna unit in a state where the second surface faces the first surface of the first substrate;
A communication module, comprising: a pressing portion that presses the antenna unit toward the first substrate inside the housing space.   The communication module according to claim 1, wherein the pressing portion is a rib extending from an inner wall side of the holder.   The communication according to claim 1, wherein the holder has a bag shape, and the antenna unit and the first substrate are inserted into the accommodation space. module. The first substrate has a connector located at one end in the longitudinal direction, and the first terminal located at the other end in the longitudinal direction,
4. The communication module according to claim 3, wherein the other end where the first terminal of the first substrate is located is inserted into the holding space of the holder. 5. The holder has a claw portion that is related to an edge of the antenna unit located on the opening side,
The communication module according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the claw portion presses the antenna unit against a back side of the accommodation space.   An electronic apparatus comprising: the communication module according to claim 1; a second substrate connected to the communication module; and a housing that accommodates the communication module and the second substrate.

Images