JP2017098936A - Antenna module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an antenna module which has a structure capable of achieving a satisfactory work efficiency while satisfying a request for size down.SOLUTION: An antenna module 1 includes: an antenna coil 10 which has a winding axis in a vertical direction; and a support member 30 for supporting the antenna coil 10. The support member 30 has a wall part 40 and a lower support part 50. The wall part 40 is enclosed by the antenna coil 10 in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the vertical direction. The lower support part 50 extends outward from the wall part 40 in a horizontal plane, and is positioned at the lower part of the antenna coil 10 in the vertical direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an antenna module including an antenna coil used for communication at a frequency of about 13.56 MHz.

  This type of antenna module is provided in a limited space within the casing of the electronic device. Therefore, there is always a demand for downsizing of this type of antenna module. As this type of antenna, for example, there are antenna modules of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2. Each antenna module includes an antenna coil and a support member that supports the antenna coil. The support member of Patent Literature 1 includes an outer peripheral portion located outside the antenna coil in a plane orthogonal to the winding axis of the antenna coil. On the other hand, the support member of the antenna module of Patent Document 2 does not have a portion corresponding to the outer peripheral portion of the support member of Patent Document 1. Therefore, in terms of miniaturization, the antenna module of Patent Document 2 is preferable to the antenna module of Patent Document 1.

JP 2006-339757 A JP 2007-267191 A

  However, in terms of work efficiency, the antenna module of Patent Document 1 is preferable to the antenna module of Patent Document 2. Specifically, in the antenna module of Patent Document 2, a coil must be directly wound around the support member because of its structure. On the other hand, in the antenna module of Patent Document 1, a coil formed in advance can be mounted on a support member.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an antenna module having a structure capable of realizing good working efficiency while satisfying the demand for miniaturization.

The present invention provides the first antenna module as
An antenna module comprising an antenna coil having a winding axis in the vertical direction, and a support member that supports the antenna coil,
The support member has a wall portion and a lower support portion,
The wall portion is surrounded by the antenna coil in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the vertical direction,
The lower support portion provides an antenna module that projects outward from the wall portion in the horizontal plane and is positioned below the antenna coil in the vertical direction.

Moreover, this invention is a 1st antenna module as a 2nd antenna module,
The antenna coil provides an antenna module having a fusion layer for connecting the outer shells of wires to each other.

Moreover, this invention is a 1st or 2nd antenna module as a 3rd antenna module,
A magnetic sheet in which soft magnetic powder is dispersed in a resin binder;
The magnetic sheet provides an antenna module disposed so as to overlap the antenna coil when viewed along the vertical direction.

Further, the present invention is any one of the first to third antenna modules as the fourth antenna module,
The support member further includes an upper support portion,
The wall portion has a predetermined shape having at least a first straight portion, a second straight portion, an auxiliary straight portion, a first connecting portion, and a second connecting portion in the horizontal plane,
The predetermined shape has a plurality of angular corners or rounded convex corners,
The first connecting portion is one of the convex corner portions,
The second connecting portion is another one of the convex corner portions,
The first straight portion and the second straight portion are disposed to face each other.
The first straight part and the auxiliary straight part are connected at the first connecting part,
The second straight part and the auxiliary straight part are connected at the second connecting part,
The lower support portion projects outward from at least all convex corner portions in the horizontal plane,
The upper support part has a first support part and a second support part located above the antenna coil in the vertical direction,
The first support portion projects outward from only the portion from the first straight portion to the first connection portion in the horizontal plane,
The second support part provides an antenna module that projects outward from only the second straight part in the horizontal plane.

Moreover, this invention is a 4th antenna module as a 5th antenna module,
The upper support part may provide an antenna module further including an auxiliary support part protruding outward from only a part from the auxiliary straight line part to the first connection part in the horizontal plane.

Moreover, this invention is a 4th or 5th antenna module as a 6th antenna module,
The second support part provides an antenna module having a large size in the horizontal plane as it goes downward in the vertical direction.

Further, the present invention is any one of the first to sixth antenna modules as the seventh antenna module,
The support member is provided with two electrodes,
The two ends of the antenna coil provide an antenna module connected to the electrodes, respectively.

Moreover, this invention is a 7th antenna module as an 8th antenna module,
The support member has a bottom part surrounded by the wall part,
A through hole is formed in the bottom or the wall,
The antenna module further includes a flexible printed circuit board,
The flexible printed circuit board includes an inner circuit portion that includes the electrode and is fixed to the bottom portion, and an external connection portion that extends from the inner circuit portion to the outside of the support member,
The external connection part provides an antenna module partially located in the through hole.

Further, the present invention is any one of the first to third antenna modules as the ninth antenna module,
The wall portion has a predetermined shape having at least a first straight portion, a second straight portion, an auxiliary straight portion, a first connecting portion, and a second connecting portion in the horizontal plane,
The predetermined shape has a plurality of recesses recessed inward in the horizontal plane,
The first connecting portion is provided with a first recess that is one of the recesses,
The second connecting portion is provided with a second recess which is another one of the recesses,
The first straight portion and the second straight portion are disposed to face each other.
The first straight part and the auxiliary straight part are connected at the first connecting part,
The second straight part and the auxiliary straight part are connected at the second connecting part,
The lower support portion protrudes outward from at least all the concave portions in the horizontal plane,
A cured adhesive is bonded to the recess,
The antenna coil provides an antenna module fixed by the adhesive.

Moreover, this invention is a 9th antenna module as a 10th antenna module,
An antenna module in which a slope is formed in the recess is provided.

Moreover, this invention is a 10th antenna module as an 11th antenna module,
The support member has a first tab and a second tab,
Each of the first tab and the second tab protrudes outward from the lower support portion in the horizontal plane,
The inclined surface of the first recess is inclined downward toward the first tab,
A portion of the antenna coil is located between the slope of the first recess and the first tab;
The inclined surface of the second recess is inclined downward toward the second tab,
A part of the antenna coil provides an antenna module positioned between the slope of the second recess and the second tab.

Further, the present invention is any one of the ninth to eleventh antenna modules as the twelfth antenna module,
The predetermined shape of the wall portion has an opposing straight portion,
The auxiliary straight line portion and the opposed straight line portion are arranged to face each other
Two of the concave portions provide antenna modules respectively provided at both ends of the opposed straight line portion.

Further, the present invention is any one of the ninth to twelfth antenna modules as the thirteenth antenna module,
One of the recesses provides an antenna module provided between both ends of the first straight portion or between both ends of the second straight portion.

Further, the present invention is any one of the ninth to thirteenth antenna modules as the fourteenth antenna module,
The support member has a recess and a gate,
The recessed portion is formed around the horizontal surface of the support member, and is recessed toward the inner side of the horizontal surface,
The gate provides an antenna module provided in the recessed portion in the horizontal plane.

Moreover, the present invention is any one of the ninth to fourteenth antenna modules as the fifteenth antenna module,
The adhesive provides an antenna module that is a UV curable adhesive.

Further, the present invention is any one of the ninth to fifteenth antenna modules as the sixteenth antenna module,
The antenna module further includes a flexible printed circuit board,
The flexible printed circuit board is provided with two electrodes, two connecting portions corresponding to the electrodes, and two inspection pads corresponding to the electrodes,
Two ends of the antenna coil extend along a predetermined direction, and are connected to the electrodes, respectively.
Each of the electrodes extends along the predetermined direction,
Each of the test pads is aligned with the corresponding electrode in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction, and is connected to the corresponding electrode by the corresponding connecting portion,
The size of the connecting part in the predetermined direction provides an antenna module that is smaller than both the size of the electrode in the predetermined direction and the size of the inspection pad in the predetermined direction.

Moreover, the present invention is any one of the ninth to fifteenth antenna modules as the seventeenth antenna module,
The support member has a bottom part surrounded by the wall part,
A through hole is formed in the bottom or the wall,
The antenna module further includes a flexible printed circuit board,
The flexible printed board has an inner circuit part and an external connection part,
The inner circuit part is fixed to the bottom part,
The external connection portion passes through the through hole and extends from the inner circuit portion to the outside of the support member,
The inner circuit portion is provided with two electrodes,
The two ends of the antenna coil provide an antenna module connected to the electrodes, respectively.

Moreover, the present invention is any one of the ninth to fifteenth antenna modules as the eighteenth antenna module,
The antenna module further includes a flexible printed circuit board,
The flexible printed circuit board is provided with two electrodes,
The support member is formed with a receiving portion and two receiving portions,
The accommodating portion partially accommodates the flexible printed circuit board,
Each of the receiving portions is connected to the accommodating portion in a predetermined direction,
The two end portions of the antenna coil provide an antenna module that extends inside the housing portion toward the receiving portion along the predetermined direction and is connected to the electrodes.

  The antenna module of the present invention does not have a portion corresponding to the outer peripheral portion of the support member of Patent Document 1. Therefore, the antenna module of the present invention is advantageous in terms of miniaturization as compared with the antenna module of Patent Document 1.

  Further, the lower support portion projects outward from the wall portion in the horizontal plane. Therefore, the lower support portion can support the lower side of the antenna coil, and the antenna coil does not fall below the lower support portion.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the antenna coil from being detached upward from the support member.

  For example, as for the 4th antenna module of this invention, an upper side support part has the 1st support part and the 2nd support part, and the 1st support part is from the 1st straight part to the 1st connection part. The second support portion projects outward from only the portion in the horizontal plane, and the second support portion projects outward from the second straight portion only in the horizontal plane. For this reason, the antenna coil is passed through the antenna coil while the antenna coil is deformed in a state where a part of the antenna coil is hooked on the lower side of the first support part, and the antenna coil is returned to the deformed state. Can be attached to the support member. In other words, a pre-formed antenna coil can be easily attached to the support member. Moreover, after the attachment, the first support portion and the second support portion prevent the antenna coil from being detached from the support member.

  Further, the wall portion of the ninth antenna module of the present invention is formed with a plurality of recesses recessed inward in the horizontal plane. The antenna coil can be easily fixed with the adhesive by applying the adhesive to the recess and curing the adhesive. Further, the cured adhesive prevents the antenna coil from being detached from the support member.

  As described above, the antenna module of the present invention is advantageous in terms of work efficiency as compared with the antenna module of Patent Document 2 because the antenna coil formed in advance can be easily attached to the support member.

It is a perspective view which shows the antenna module by embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the antenna module of FIG. It is a bottom view which shows the antenna module of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the antenna module of FIG. 2 along the IV-IV line. It is sectional drawing which shows the antenna module of FIG. 2 along the VV line. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the antenna module of FIG. 2 along the line VI-VI. It is a figure which shows the assembly process of the antenna module of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of the antenna module of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the other modification of the antenna module of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the other modification of the antenna module of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of the antenna module of FIG. It is a top view which shows the modification of the antenna module of FIG. It is a bottom view which shows the antenna module of FIG. A part of the magnetic sheet (a part surrounded by a broken line) is enlarged and schematically displayed. It is a perspective view which shows the 1st recessed part vicinity (part enclosed with the broken line A) of the antenna module of FIG. The outline of the adhesive is drawn with a one-dot chain line. The outline of a part of the antenna coil is drawn with a two-dot chain line. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of the 1st recessed part of FIG. The adhesive is not drawn. The outline of a part of the antenna coil is drawn with a one-dot chain line. It is a perspective view which shows the other modification of the 1st recessed part of FIG. The adhesive is not drawn. The outline of a part of the antenna coil is drawn with a one-dot chain line. It is a perspective view which shows the 2nd recessed part corresponding to the 1st recessed part of FIG. The adhesive is not drawn. The outline of a part of the antenna coil is drawn with a one-dot chain line. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a modification of the antenna module in FIG. 12 in the vicinity of the opposing concave portion (portion surrounded by a broken line A ′). The adhesive is not drawn. The outline of a part of the antenna coil is drawn with a one-dot chain line. It is a perspective view which shows another modification of the opposing recessed part vicinity of FIG. The adhesive is not drawn. The outline of a part of the antenna coil is drawn with a one-dot chain line. It is sectional drawing which shows the antenna module of FIG. 12 along the XVIII-XVIII line. The adhesive is not drawn. It is a perspective view which shows the dent part vicinity (part enclosed with the broken line B) of the antenna module of FIG. The outline of a part of the antenna coil is drawn with a one-dot chain line. It is a perspective view which shows the accommodating part vicinity (part enclosed with the broken line C) of the antenna module of FIG. The outline of the end of the antenna coil is drawn with a one-dot chain line.

  1 to 6, the antenna module 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an antenna coil 10 having a winding shaft in the vertical direction and a support member 30 that supports the antenna coil 10.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the antenna coil 10 of the present embodiment is an air-core coil formed by winding a so-called self-bonding wire and can be deformed to some extent. Specifically, the antenna coil 10 is formed by connecting the outer sheath 24 of the wire 20 having the core wire 22 and the outer sheath 24 with a fusion layer 26. In other words, the antenna coil 10 has the fusion layer 26 that connects the outer skins 24 of the wires 20 to each other. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the antenna coil 10 may be formed using a wire other than the self-bonding wire. As shown in FIG. 2, the end 12 of the antenna coil 10 is drawn out to the inside of the antenna coil 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the support member 30 includes a wall portion 40, a lower support portion 50, an upper support portion 60, a bottom portion 70, and a lower frame portion 80. The support member 30 of the present embodiment is a resin molded product. When molding the support member 30, soft magnetic powder may be mixed into the resin. As is apparent from FIGS. 4 to 6, in the support member 30, the lower support portion 50 and the upper support portion 60 are connected only by the wall portion 40, and the support member 30 is the support member of Patent Document 1. There is no portion corresponding to the outer periphery. Therefore, the antenna module 1 of the present embodiment is advantageous in terms of miniaturization as compared with the antenna module of Patent Document 1.

  As understood from FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the wall 40 is surrounded by the antenna coil 10 in a horizontal plane orthogonal to the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the wall portion 40 has a predetermined shape having a plurality of rounded convex corner portions 41 in a horizontal plane. The convex corner portion 41 may not be round but square.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the predetermined shape of the wall portion 40 includes a first straight portion 42, a second straight portion 43, an auxiliary straight portion 44, and a first connecting portion 45 in a horizontal plane. And at least a second connecting portion 46. The first connecting portion 45 is one of the convex corner portions 41, and the second connecting portion 46 is the other one of the convex corner portions 41. In the horizontal plane, the first straight portion 42 and the second straight portion 43 are disposed to face each other. The first straight line portion 42 and the auxiliary straight line portion 44 are connected at the first connecting portion 45, and the second straight line portion 43 and the auxiliary straight line portion 44 are connected at the second connecting portion 46.

  As can be understood from FIGS. 2 to 4, the lower support portion 50 has an angular C shape in a horizontal plane. However, the shape of the lower support portion 50 is not limited to this, and has any shape as long as it protrudes outward from at least all the convex corner portions 41 in the horizontal plane. Also good. Further, the lower support part 50 projects outward from the lower end of the wall part 40 in the horizontal plane. As shown in FIG. 4, the lower support portion 50 is positioned below the antenna coil 10 in the vertical direction and supports the antenna coil 10. Therefore, the antenna coil 10 does not fall below the lower support portion 50.

  As can be understood from FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the upper support portion 60 is located above the antenna coil 10 in the vertical direction. That is, the antenna coil 10 is located between the lower support part 50 and the upper support part 60 in the vertical direction. Accordingly, the upper support portion 60 prevents the antenna coil 10 from being detached from the support member 30. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper support portion 60 of the present embodiment has a first support portion 62, a second support portion 64, and an auxiliary support portion 66.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the first support portion 62 projects outward from the first straight portion 42 in the horizontal plane. The first support part 62 may project outward from the first connection part 45 in the horizontal plane, or may project outward from the first linear part 42 and the first connection part 45. That is, the first support portion 62 may protrude outward from only the portion from the first straight portion 42 to the first connecting portion 45 in the horizontal plane.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the second support portion 64 projects outward from only the second linear portion 43 in the horizontal plane. The second support portion 64 is a portion that passes through the deformed antenna coil 10 in a manufacturing process described later. If the second support portion 64 protrudes from the second connecting portion 46 or the other convex corner portion 41, it is difficult to pass the second support portion 64 into the antenna coil 10. As limited.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the auxiliary support portion 66 projects outward from the auxiliary straight portion 44 in the horizontal plane. The auxiliary support portion 66 may protrude outward from the first connecting portion 45 in the horizontal plane, or may protrude outward from the auxiliary straight portion 44 and the first connecting portion 45. That is, the auxiliary support part 66 may protrude outward from only the part from the auxiliary straight line part 44 to the first connection part 45 in the horizontal plane.

  As understood from FIGS. 5 and 6, the upper support portion 60 has a shape like a ridge having a slope extending obliquely downward. Specifically, each of the first support portion 62, the second support portion 64, and the auxiliary support portion 66 has a large size in the horizontal plane as it goes downward in the vertical direction. Since the upper support portion 60 has such a shape, the antenna coil 10 can be easily attached to the support member 30 in a manufacturing process described later. It should be noted that if the second support portion 64 has a shape like the above-described ridge, the same effect can be obtained even if the first support portion 62 and the auxiliary support portion 66 have other shapes such as a rectangular parallelepiped shape. Can be obtained.

  As shown in FIG. 2 and FIGS. 4 to 6, the bottom portion 70 is surrounded by the wall portion 40 in the horizontal plane. A through hole 72 and an opening 74 are formed in the bottom 70 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the through hole 72 is formed in the vicinity of the wall portion 40 (first straight portion 42) so as to penetrate the bottom portion 70 in the vertical direction. The opening 74 opens so as to penetrate the bottom 70 greatly in the vertical direction. When the antenna module 1 according to the present embodiment is incorporated in an electronic device, an electronic component or the like can be disposed in the opening 74.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the support member 30 is provided with a flexible printed circuit board 90. The flexible printed circuit board 90 has an inner circuit part 92 and an external connection part 96. The inner circuit portion 92 is fixed to the bottom portion 70. Two electrodes 94 are formed on the inner circuit portion 92. The two end portions 12 of the antenna coil 10 are connected to the electrodes 94 by solder 14 respectively. The external connection portion 96 extends from the inner circuit portion 92 to the outside of the support member 30 through the through hole 72. For this reason, the external connection part 96 is partially located in the through hole 72.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the lower frame portion 80 protrudes further downward from the lower support portion 50 in the vertical direction. A magnetic sheet 82 in which soft magnetic powder is dispersed in a resin binder is affixed within a frame formed by the lower frame portion 80.

  Such an antenna module 1 can be manufactured as shown in FIG. First, the antenna coil 10 formed separately from the support member 30 is prepared. A flexible printed circuit board 90 and the magnetic sheet 82 shown in FIG. 4 are attached to the support member 30. Next, the antenna coil 10 is hooked on the first support portion 62 and the auxiliary support portion 66 of the support member 30. That is, a part of the antenna coil 10 is placed between the first support part 62 and the lower support part 50, and another part of the antenna coil 10 is placed between the auxiliary support part 66 and the lower support part 50. . Next, the antenna coil 10 is deformed and the second support portion 64 is passed through the antenna coil 10. When the second support portion 64 passes through the antenna coil 10 (that is, when the antenna coil 10 exceeds the second support portion 64), the deformation of the antenna coil 10 is returned. Thus, according to the present embodiment, the antenna coil 10 formed in advance can be easily attached to the support member 30. Thereafter, the antenna module 1 can be obtained by connecting the end portions 12 of the antenna coil 10 to the electrodes 94, respectively.

  As understood from this manufacturing process, the antenna coil 10 is required to have a size that allows at least the second support portion 64 to pass through when the antenna coil 10 is deformed. Specifically, in the horizontal plane, the total length of the portion excluding the second straight portion 43 of the predetermined shape of the wall portion 40 and the convex corner portions 41 (one is the second connecting portion 46) at both ends is X And the inner circumference of the antenna coil 10 is X + Y, where Y is the length of the shortest of the points that connect the convex corner portions 41 at both ends of the second linear portion 43 and circumscribe the second support portion 64. It must be long.

  Various modifications can be made to the antenna module 1 of the above-described embodiment.

  In the embodiment described above, the predetermined shape of the wall portion 40 of the support member 30 is a rounded square, but the present invention is not limited to this. The predetermined shape may be a polygon other than a quadrangle, or a shape that partially includes a curve or an arc. The predetermined shape may be a concave polygon or a rounded concave polygon. That is, the predetermined shape may have a concave corner portion as well as a convex corner portion. The shape of the antenna coil 10 can be changed according to the predetermined shape of the wall 40. Furthermore, the antenna coil 10 may have two or more winding axes parallel to each other, or may have two or more types of inner diameters by changing the inner diameter during winding.

  Further, like the antenna module 1A shown in FIG. 8, the support member 30A may not have the lower frame portion. In that case, the magnetic sheet 82A may be affixed also to the lower side of the lower support part 50, or may extend outward beyond the lower support part 50 in the horizontal plane.

  Like the antenna module 1 </ b> B shown in FIG. 9, the resin support member 30 </ b> B may not have the lower support portion. In that case, the outer peripheral part of the magnetic sheet 82B can be used as the lower support part 50B. The illustrated antenna coil 10 is bonded and fixed to an adhesive layer formed on the upper surface of the magnetic sheet 82.

  As in the antenna module 1 </ b> C shown in FIG. 10, the antenna coil 10 may be fixed to the lower support portion 50 with the thermoplastic resin 100.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the embodiment described above, the through hole 72 is formed in the bottom 70 of the support member 30, but like the antenna module 1D shown in FIG. A through hole 72D that penetrates the wall 40D in the horizontal direction may be provided, and the external connection portion 96 of the flexible printed circuit board 90 may be drawn to the outside of the support member 30D through the through hole 72D.

  Hereinafter, an antenna module 1E (see FIG. 12) according to a modification different from the modification described above will be described.

  12 and 13, the antenna module 1E has basically the same structure as the antenna module 1 (see FIG. 2). More specifically, the antenna module 1E includes an antenna coil 10 having a winding axis in the vertical direction and a support member 30E that supports the antenna coil 10.

  4 and 20, the antenna coil 10 has the same structure as that in the above-described embodiment. For example, the antenna coil 10 has a fusion layer 26 that connects the outer skins 24 of the wires 20 to each other.

  Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the support member 30E has a wall portion 40E, a lower support portion 50E, a bottom portion 70E, and a lower frame portion 80E. The support member 30E of this modification is a resin molded product formed to have a structure similar to that of the support member 30 (see FIG. 1). For example, the support member 30E does not have a portion corresponding to the outer peripheral portion of the support member of Patent Document 1. Therefore, the antenna module 1E according to the present modification is advantageous in terms of miniaturization as compared with the antenna module of Patent Document 1.

  As understood from FIGS. 12, 13, and 20, the wall 40 </ b> E is surrounded by the antenna coil 10 in a horizontal plane orthogonal to the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 12, the wall portion 40E includes a first straight portion 42E, a second straight portion 43E, an auxiliary straight portion 44E, a first connecting portion 45E, and a second connecting portion 46E in a horizontal plane. It has the predetermined shape which has at least. In addition, in the present modification, the predetermined shape of the wall portion 40 </ b> E has an opposing straight portion 47. The opposing straight part 47 is connected to one end of the first straight part 42E and one end of the second straight part 43E while being cut out at an intermediate part thereof.

  Referring to FIG. 12, the wall 40E has a structure similar to that of the wall 40 (see FIG. 2). In other words, the predetermined shape of the wall portion 40E is similar to the predetermined shape of the wall portion 40. More specifically, in the horizontal plane, the first straight part 42E and the second straight part 43E are arranged to face each other. The first straight line portion 42E and the auxiliary straight line portion 44E are connected at the first connecting portion 45E, and the second straight line portion 43E and the auxiliary straight line portion 44E are connected at the second connecting portion 46E. Furthermore, the auxiliary straight line portion 44E and the opposed straight line portion 47 are disposed to face each other.

  The first linear portion 42E extends linearly along the first direction as a whole, and the second linear portion 43E extends linearly along the second direction as a whole. In the present modification, the second direction is the same direction as the first direction. In other words, the first straight portion 42E extends in parallel with the second straight portion 43E as a whole. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the first direction and the second direction may intersect each other.

  Referring to FIGS. 12, 14, and 20, the predetermined shape of the wall 40 </ b> E has a plurality of recesses 48 that are recessed inward in the horizontal plane. The first connecting portion 45E is provided with a first concave portion (recessed portion) 452 which is one of the concave portions 48, and the second connecting portion 46E is provided with a second concave portion (recessed portion) which is another one of the concave portions 48. ) 462 is provided. Further, in this modification, the recess 48 includes three recesses 48 in addition to the first recess 452 and the second recess 462.

  Specifically, referring to FIG. 12, the opposed linear portion 47 is provided with opposed concave portions (recessed portions) 472 and 474 which are the other two of the recessed portions 48. The concave portion 472 and the concave portion 474 (two of the concave portions 48) are respectively provided at both ends of the opposing linear portion 47 in the direction in which the opposing linear portion 47 extends linearly.

  In addition, referring to FIG. 12 and FIG. 20, the intermediate recess (recess) 422, which is another one of the recesses 48, is arranged in the direction (first direction) in which the first straight portion 42 </ b> E extends linearly. One straight line portion 42E is provided between both ends. In particular, the concave portion 422 of the present modification is located in the middle portion of the first straight portion 42E in the first direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the recess 422 may be located in the vicinity of the end of the first straight portion 42E in the first direction. Moreover, the recessed part 422 may be provided between the both ends of the 2nd linear part 43E in the direction (2nd direction) where the 2nd linear part 43E extends linearly.

  Referring to FIGS. 12, 13 and 20, the lower support portion 50E projects outward from the lower end of the wall portion 40E in the horizontal plane. In particular, the lower support portion 50E according to the present modification projects outward from at least all the recesses 48 in the horizontal plane. The lower support portion 50E has an angular O-shape in a horizontal plane. However, the shape of the lower support part 50E is not limited to this. The lower support 50E may have any shape as long as it protrudes outward from the wall 40E in the horizontal plane.

  As shown in FIG. 20, the lower support portion 50 </ b> E is positioned below the antenna coil 10 in the vertical direction and supports the antenna coil 10. Therefore, the antenna coil 10 does not fall below the lower support portion 50E.

  Referring to FIG. 14, a cured adhesive 49 is bonded to each of the recesses 48. The antenna coil 10 is fixed to the wall portion 40E and the lower support portion 50E of the support member 30E by an adhesive 49. When attaching and fixing the antenna coil 10 to the support member 30E, first, the antenna coil 10 is attached around the wall 40E. Next, an adhesive 49 made of an insulating resin or the like is injected into each of the recesses 48 so as to contact the antenna coil 10. Next, the adhesive 49 is cured. According to this modification, the antenna coil 10 is firmly wound around the wall portion 40E, and thereby the adhesive 49 is reliably brought into contact with the antenna coil 10. However, the antenna coil 10 may be attached around the wall 40E in a wound state in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment.

  Referring to FIG. 12, the antenna coil 10 is simply supported by the adhesive 49, as in the case of fixing using the thermoplastic resin 100 (see FIG. 10), by injecting the adhesive 49 into each of the recesses 48 and curing it. It can be fixed to the member 30E. Further, the cured adhesive 49 prevents the antenna coil 10 from being detached from the support member 30E. In particular, the adhesive 49 can be easily cured by using a UV curable adhesive as the adhesive 49. However, the adhesive 49 may be made of, for example, a thermosetting resin.

  According to this modification, the adhesive 49 is injected into the recess 48 that is recessed inward in the horizontal plane. For this reason, it is possible to inject a sufficient amount of the adhesive 49 while preventing the adhesive 49 from leaking outside the horizontal surface of the lower support portion 50E. Moreover, according to this modification, the five recessed parts 48 are provided so that the wall part 40E may be enclosed in a horizontal surface. With this arrangement, the antenna coil 10 is firmly fixed to the support member 30E. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the recess 48 may include only two recesses (the first recess 452 and the second recess 462). The shape of the recess 48 can be variously modified.

  For example, referring to FIG. 15, the recess 48 may include a first recess (recess) 452F instead of the first recess 452 (see FIG. 14). A slope 482 is formed in the recess 452F. The slope 482 is inclined downward from the upper end of the wall 40E toward the outside in the horizontal plane. By providing the inclined surface 482 in the recess 48, the adhesive 49 (see FIG. 14) can be guided from the wall portion 40E toward the lower support portion 50E (that is, the portion where the antenna coil 10 is supported). Thereby, the adhesive 49 contacts the antenna coil 10 more reliably.

  Referring to FIG. 16, the recess 48 may include a first recess (recess) 452G instead of the first recess 452 (see FIG. 14) and the first recess 452F (see FIG. 15). A slope 482 similar to the recess 452F is formed in the recess 452G. On the other hand, the wall 40E in which the recess 452G is formed is wide in the horizontal plane. For this reason, the recess 452G also appears to be recessed downward from the upper end of the wall 40E. Referring to FIG. 17, the recess 48 may include a second recess (recess) 462G having the same shape as the recess 452G instead of the second recess 462 (see FIG. 12).

  Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the support member 30 </ b> E according to this modification has a first tab 52 and a second tab 54. Each of the first tab 52 and the second tab 54 protrudes outward in the horizontal plane from the lower support portion 50E. Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, the inclined surface 482 of the first recess 452F (first recess 452G) is inclined downward toward the first tab 52, and a part of the antenna coil 10 is formed in the first recess 452F. It is located between the slope 482 of the (first recess 452G) and the first tab 52. Referring to FIG. 17, the slope 482 of the second recess 462 </ b> G is inclined downward toward the second tab 54, and a part of the antenna coil 10 is connected to the slope 482 of the second recess 462 </ b> G and the second tab 54. Located between.

  Referring to FIGS. 15 to 17, in the present modification, the first tab 52 and the second tab 54 are provided as described above. Therefore, even when the inclined surface 482 is provided, the adhesive 49 is applied to the lower support portion. The antenna coil 10 can be more reliably bonded by the adhesive 49 while more reliably preventing overflow from 50E. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, by adjusting the injection method and the injection amount of the adhesive 49, it is possible to prevent the adhesive 49 from overflowing only by the lower support portion 50E without providing the first tab 52 and the second tab 54. is there.

  Referring to FIG. 12, the inclined surface 482 may be provided in the concave portion 48 other than the first concave portion 452 and the second concave portion 462. Referring to FIG. 20, a slope 482 may be provided in the recess 422. Referring to FIG. 12, similarly, a slope 482 (see FIG. 15) may be provided in each of the recess 472 and the recess 474. Each inclined surface 482 of the recess 48 can be inclined along various directions. For example, when the inclined surface 482 is provided in the concave portion 472, the inclined surface 482 may be inclined along the direction (first direction) in which the first linear portion 42E extends, or may be inclined along the direction orthogonal to the first direction. It may be. Similarly, when providing the inclined surface 482 in the recessed part 474, the inclined surface 482 may incline along the direction (2nd direction) in which the 2nd linear part 43E extends, or it follows the direction orthogonal to a 2nd direction. It may be inclined. Further, referring to FIG. 18 and FIG. 19, the inclined surface 482 of each recess 48 may be inclined along a direction oblique to the first direction or the second direction at a predetermined angle (for example, 45 °). .

  As understood from FIGS. 12, 13, and 20, the bottom 70E is surrounded by the wall 40E in the horizontal plane. A through hole 72E and an opening 74 are formed in the bottom 70E of the present modification. Similar to the through hole 72 (see FIG. 6), the through hole 72E is formed in the vicinity of the wall 40E (first straight portion 42E) so as to penetrate the bottom 70E in the vertical direction. The opening 74 opens so as to penetrate the bottom 70E in the vertical direction. When the antenna module 1 </ b> E of this modification is incorporated in an electronic device, an electronic component or the like can be disposed in the opening 74.

  Referring to FIGS. 13 and 20, the lower frame portion 80E protrudes further downward from the lower support portion 50E in the vertical direction. A magnetic sheet 82E in which soft magnetic powder 822 is dispersed in a resin binder 824 is attached to the outside of the frame formed by the lower frame portion 80E in the horizontal plane. The magnetic sheet 82E is positioned in the horizontal plane by the lower frame portion 80E. Further, the lower surface of the magnetic sheet 82E is flush with the lower surface of the lower frame portion 80E. For this reason, it is easy to mount the antenna module 1E in the electronic device.

  The magnetic sheet 82E extends beyond the wall 40E to the outside in the horizontal plane, and is located below all the portions of the antenna coil 10. In other words, the magnetic sheet 82E is disposed so as to completely overlap the antenna coil 10 when viewed in the vertical direction. The magnetic sheet 82E arranged in this way reliably shields the antenna coil 10 from below. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the magnetic sheet 82E may be disposed so as to partially overlap the antenna coil 10 when viewed in the vertical direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 12 and 21, the support member 30 </ b> E has a recess 56 and a gate 562. The recessed portion 56 is formed around the horizontal surface of the support member 30E, and is recessed toward the inner side of the horizontal surface. In particular, the recessed portion 56 according to this modification is formed so as to partially cut out the lower support portion 50E, the opposing straight portion 47 and the bottom portion 70E of the wall portion 40E. The gate 562 is provided inside the recessed portion 56 in the horizontal plane, and is located inside the antenna coil 10 in the horizontal plane. Specifically, the antenna coil 10 is located above the recess 56 and above the magnetic sheet 82E. When viewed along the vertical direction, the antenna coil 10 does not overlap the gate 562 at all.

  The gate 562 of the present modification is a trace formed when the support member 30E is molded from resin. Specifically, the support member 30E of this modification is molded by pouring resin into a mold from a portion corresponding to the gate 562 in the mold. The gate 562 is formed by cutting off an extra portion from the cured support member 30E. If the recess 56 is not provided, the gate 562 is positioned around the lower support 50E in the horizontal plane. In this case, when the antenna coil 10 is wound around the wall portion 40 </ b> E, the antenna coil 10 may be rubbed against a burr or the like of the gate 562 and damaged. On the other hand, the gate 562 of this modification is formed inside the lower support portion 50E in the horizontal plane. For this reason, damage to the antenna coil 10 can be prevented.

  As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the antenna module 1 </ b> E according to the present modification further includes a flexible printed board 90 </ b> E. The flexible printed circuit board 90E has an inner circuit portion 92E and an external connection portion 96.

  As shown in FIGS. 12 and 22, the inner circuit portion 92E is fixed to the bottom portion 70E. Specifically, in the present modification, the support member 30E is formed with an accommodating portion 76. The accommodating part 76 is provided in the bottom part 70E, and is dented below from the upper surface of the bottom part 70E. The accommodating portion 76 has a shape corresponding to the inner circuit portion 92E in the horizontal plane, and is slightly larger than the inner circuit portion 92E. The inner circuit portion 92E is housed and fixed in the housing portion 76. In other words, the accommodating portion 76 partially accommodates the flexible printed board 90E.

  The external connection part 96 passes through the through hole 72E and extends from the inner circuit part 92E to the outside of the support member 30E. For this reason, the external connection part 96 is partially located in the through-hole 72E.

  As shown in FIG. 22, the inner circuit portion 92E has two electrode portions 94E made of a conductor. Each of the electrode portions 94E is formed of an electrode 942, a connecting portion 944, and a test pad 948. In other words, the inner circuit portion 92E of the flexible printed circuit board 90E is provided with two electrodes 942, two connection portions 944 corresponding to the electrodes 942, and two inspection pads 948 corresponding to the electrodes 942, respectively. ing.

  The two end portions 12 of the antenna coil 10 extend along a predetermined direction (see FIG. 22) and are connected to the electrodes 942 by solder 14 (see FIG. 6), respectively. Each of the electrodes 942 extends along a predetermined direction. Each of the test pads 948 is aligned with the corresponding electrode 942 in the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction, and is connected to the corresponding electrode 942 in the orthogonal direction by the corresponding connecting portion 944. The size L2 of the connecting portion 944 in the predetermined direction is smaller than both the size L1 of the electrode 942 in the predetermined direction and the size L3 of the test pad 948 in the predetermined direction. In addition, the illustrated size L3 is smaller than the size L1. However, the size L3 may be larger than the size L1 or may be equal to the size L1.

  According to this modification, by using the inspection pad 948, the operation of the antenna module 1E can be inspected before the external connection portion 96 is connected to an electronic circuit or the like. Further, as described above, the inspection pad 948 is indirectly fixed to the bottom portion 70E via the inner circuit portion 92E. For this reason, operation | movement of the antenna module 1E can be test | inspected stably. Moreover, since the size of the connecting portion 944 is small, it is possible to suppress the diffusion of heat when the end portion 12 is soldered.

  Two receiving portions 78 respectively corresponding to the two end portions 12 of the antenna coil 10 are formed in the support member 30E of the present modification. Each of the receiving portions 78 is provided on the bottom portion 70E, and is recessed downward from the upper surface of the bottom portion 70E. Each of the receiving portions 78 is recessed from the accommodating portion 76 so as to be separated from the through hole 72E in a predetermined direction. In other words, each of the receiving portions 78 is connected to the accommodating portion 76 in a predetermined direction. The two end portions 12 of the antenna coil 10 extend toward the receiving portion 78 along the predetermined direction inside the housing portion 76. According to this modification, since the receiving portions 78 are provided, each of the end portions 12 can be placed in the vicinity of or inside the corresponding receiving portion 78 without disturbing the storage of the inner circuit portion 92E in the receiving portion 76. Can be extended to long. Thereby, the contact area between the end portion 12 and the electrode 942 can be increased, and the end portion 12 can be stably connected to the electrode 942.

  The antenna module 1E of this modification can be modified in various ways in addition to the modifications already described. For example, the through hole 72E may penetrate the wall portion 40E in the horizontal direction, similarly to the through hole 72D shown in FIG. In addition, each of the receiving portions 78 is not limited to a semicircular shape on a horizontal plane, and may have various shapes.

  As described above, the antenna module of the present invention has a structure capable of realizing good working efficiency while satisfying the demand for miniaturization in any of the embodiments and modifications.

1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E Antenna module 10 Antenna coil 12 End portion 14 Solder 20 Wire 22 Core wire 24 Outer skin 26 Fusing layer 30, 30A, 30B, 30D, 30E Support member 40, 40D, 40E Wall portion 41 Convex-type corner portion 42, 42E First straight portion 422 Intermediate recess (recess)
43, 43E Second straight part 44, 44E Auxiliary straight part 45, 45E First connection part 452, 452F, 452G First recess (recess)
46,46E 2nd connection part 462,462G 2nd recessed part (recessed part)
47 Opposite straight line part 472, 474
48 Recessed portion 482 Slope 49 Adhesive 50, 50B, 50E Lower support portion 52 First tab 54 Second tab 56 Recessed portion 562 Gate 60 Upper support portion 62 First support portion 64 Second support portion 66 Auxiliary support portions 70, 70E Bottom portion 72, 72D, 72E Through hole 74 Opening portion 76 Housing portion 78 Receiving portion 80, 80E Lower frame portion 82, 82A, 82B, 82E Magnetic sheet 822 Soft magnetic powder 824 Resin binder 90, 90E Flexible printed circuit board 92, 92E Inner circuit portion 94 electrode 94E electrode portion 942 electrode 944 connection portion 948 inspection pad 96 external connection portion 100 thermoplastic resin

Claims (18)

An antenna module comprising an antenna coil having a winding axis in the vertical direction, and a support member that supports the antenna coil,
The support member has a wall portion and a lower support portion,
The wall portion is surrounded by the antenna coil in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the vertical direction,
The lower support portion is an antenna module that projects outward from the wall portion in the horizontal plane and is positioned below the antenna coil in the vertical direction. The antenna module according to claim 1, wherein
The antenna coil is an antenna module having a fusion layer for connecting the outer shells of wires to each other. The antenna module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
A magnetic sheet in which soft magnetic powder is dispersed in a resin binder;
The said magnetic sheet is an antenna module arrange | positioned so that it may overlap with the said antenna coil, when it sees along the said up-down direction. An antenna module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
The support member further includes an upper support portion,
The wall portion has a predetermined shape having at least a first straight portion, a second straight portion, an auxiliary straight portion, a first connecting portion, and a second connecting portion in the horizontal plane,
The predetermined shape has a plurality of angular corners or rounded convex corners,
The first connecting portion is one of the convex corner portions,
The second connecting portion is another one of the convex corner portions,
The first straight portion and the second straight portion are disposed to face each other.
The first straight part and the auxiliary straight part are connected at the first connecting part,
The second straight part and the auxiliary straight part are connected at the second connecting part,
The lower support portion projects outward from at least all convex corner portions in the horizontal plane,
The upper support part has a first support part and a second support part located above the antenna coil in the vertical direction,
The first support portion projects outward from only the portion from the first straight portion to the first connection portion in the horizontal plane,
The second support part is an antenna module that projects outward from only the second straight part in the horizontal plane. The antenna module according to claim 4, wherein
The upper support part further includes an auxiliary support part protruding outward from only a part from the auxiliary straight line part to the first connection part in the horizontal plane. The antenna module according to claim 4 or 5, wherein
The antenna module, wherein the second support portion has a large size in the horizontal plane as it goes downward in the vertical direction. An antenna module according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The support member is provided with two electrodes,
An antenna module in which two ends of the antenna coil are respectively connected to the electrodes. The antenna module according to claim 7, wherein
The support member has a bottom part surrounded by the wall part,
A through hole is formed in the bottom or the wall,
The antenna module further includes a flexible printed circuit board,
The flexible printed circuit board includes an inner circuit portion that includes the electrode and is fixed to the bottom portion, and an external connection portion that extends from the inner circuit portion to the outside of the support member,
The external connection part is an antenna module partially located in the through hole. An antenna module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
The wall portion has a predetermined shape having at least a first straight portion, a second straight portion, an auxiliary straight portion, a first connecting portion, and a second connecting portion in the horizontal plane,
The predetermined shape has a plurality of recesses recessed inward in the horizontal plane,
The first connecting portion is provided with a first recess that is one of the recesses,
The second connecting portion is provided with a second recess which is another one of the recesses,
The first straight portion and the second straight portion are disposed to face each other.
The first straight part and the auxiliary straight part are connected at the first connecting part,
The second straight part and the auxiliary straight part are connected at the second connecting part,
The lower support portion protrudes outward from at least all the concave portions in the horizontal plane,
A cured adhesive is bonded to the recess,
The antenna module is an antenna module fixed by the adhesive. The antenna module according to claim 9, wherein
An antenna module having a slope formed in the recess. The antenna module according to claim 10, wherein
The support member has a first tab and a second tab,
Each of the first tab and the second tab protrudes outward from the lower support portion in the horizontal plane,
The inclined surface of the first recess is inclined downward toward the first tab,
A portion of the antenna coil is located between the slope of the first recess and the first tab;
The inclined surface of the second recess is inclined downward toward the second tab,
A part of the antenna coil is an antenna module positioned between the slope of the second recess and the second tab. The antenna module according to any one of claims 9 to 11,
The predetermined shape of the wall portion has an opposing straight portion,
The auxiliary straight line portion and the opposed straight line portion are arranged to face each other
Two of the recesses are antenna modules respectively provided at both ends of the opposing straight line portion. An antenna module according to any one of claims 9 to 12,
One of the recesses is an antenna module provided between both ends of the first straight portion or between both ends of the second straight portion. An antenna module according to any one of claims 9 to 13,
The support member has a recess and a gate,
The recessed portion is formed around the horizontal surface of the support member, and is recessed toward the inner side of the horizontal surface,
The said gate is an antenna module provided in the said recessed part in the said horizontal surface. The antenna module according to any one of claims 9 to 14,
The antenna module is an UV curable adhesive. The antenna module according to any one of claims 9 to 15,
The antenna module further includes a flexible printed circuit board,
The flexible printed circuit board is provided with two electrodes, two connecting portions corresponding to the electrodes, and two inspection pads corresponding to the electrodes,
Two ends of the antenna coil extend along a predetermined direction, and are connected to the electrodes, respectively.
Each of the electrodes extends along the predetermined direction,
Each of the test pads is aligned with the corresponding electrode in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction, and is connected to the corresponding electrode by the corresponding connecting portion,
The size of the connecting portion in the predetermined direction is an antenna module smaller than both the size of the electrode in the predetermined direction and the size of the inspection pad in the predetermined direction. The antenna module according to any one of claims 9 to 15,
The support member has a bottom part surrounded by the wall part,
A through hole is formed in the bottom or the wall,
The antenna module further includes a flexible printed circuit board,
The flexible printed board has an inner circuit part and an external connection part,
The inner circuit part is fixed to the bottom part,
The external connection portion passes through the through hole and extends from the inner circuit portion to the outside of the support member,
The inner circuit portion is provided with two electrodes,
An antenna module in which two ends of the antenna coil are respectively connected to the electrodes. The antenna module according to any one of claims 9 to 15,
The antenna module further includes a flexible printed circuit board,
The flexible printed circuit board is provided with two electrodes,
The support member is formed with a receiving portion and two receiving portions,
The accommodating portion partially accommodates the flexible printed circuit board,
Each of the receiving portions is connected to the accommodating portion in a predetermined direction,
Two end portions of the antenna coil extend inside the housing portion toward the receiving portion along the predetermined direction, and are connected to the electrodes, respectively.

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