JP2023139382A - Antenna device and electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To achieve short-range wireless communication at a plurality of locations by simplifying device configuration and control.SOLUTION: An antenna unit 17 includes one continuous loop antenna 17a having a loop antenna element 17a1 formed on a plane F1, a loop antenna element 17a2 formed on a plane F2 different from the plane F1, and a connecting element 17a3 that is formed on a plane F3 different from the planes F1 and F2 and includes two antenna elements that connect the loop antenna elements 17a1 and 17a2. Area A3 of a region surrounded by the connecting element 17a3, a boundary between the planes F1 and F3, and a boundary between the planes F2 and F3 is smaller than loop area A1 of the loop antenna element 17a1 and loop area A2 of the loop antenna element 17a2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to an antenna device and electronic equipment.

Conventionally, NFC (Near Field Communication) has been spreading throughout the world as a standard for short-range wireless communication. Among them, many security-related solutions using NFC reader/writers in the 13.56 [MHz] HF (High Frequency) band have been proposed.

For example, there is a known PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) that is equipped with a Felica (registered trademark) reader device, which is one of the NFC standards, on the back side and reads information from an IC (Integrated Circuit) card using short-range wireless communication (patented). (See Reference 1). Further, Patent Document 1 describes a technique for normally communicating with an IC card by covering the metal casing or the vicinity of the antenna of a device on the reader side with a magnetic material.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-240715

However, the PDA of Patent Document 1 has only one IC card reading surface. For example, when equipping a PDA with an NFC communication function, a worker may bring the NFC card (IC card) close to the terminal and read it on the front of the terminal, or a person other than the worker may bring the NFC card close to the back of the terminal and read it. In some cases, it is convenient to have two reading surfaces, such as in some cases.

Normally, in order to achieve two reading surfaces, there are two configurations: one is to mount multiple "NFC chips + NFC antennas" on a PDA, and the other is to mount "NFC chips + multiple NFC antennas" on a PDA and use a switch to connect the NFC chip and each A configuration that performs switching with an NFC antenna is conceivable. However, both configurations have complicated device configurations, resulting in high costs, and the configuration in which each NFC antenna is switched requires complicated control.

An object of the present invention is to facilitate device configuration and control and realize short-range wireless communication between two locations.

In order to solve the above problems, the antenna device of the present invention includes a first loop antenna element formed on a first surface, and a second loop antenna element formed on a second surface different from the first surface. and a connecting element formed on a third surface different from the first surface and the second surface and including two antenna elements connecting the first loop antenna element and the second loop antenna element; one continuous loop antenna having an area surrounded by the connecting element, a boundary between the first surface and the third surface, and a boundary between the second surface and the third surface. The area is smaller than the loop area of the first loop antenna element and the loop area of the second loop antenna element.

According to the present invention, short-range wireless communication between two locations can be realized with easy device configuration and control.

(a) is a front view of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. (b) is a partially transparent top view of the electronic device. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an electronic device. (a) is a developed view of the surface of the antenna unit. (b) is a developed view of the back surface of the antenna unit. FIG. 2 is a partially transparent side view of an electronic device that outputs a magnetic field. It is a side view of the loop antenna of a modification.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below have various limitations that are technically preferable for carrying out the present invention, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and illustrated examples below. do not have.

First, the device configuration of this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is a front view of an electronic device 10 according to this embodiment. (b) is a partially transparent top view of the electronic device 10. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the electronic device 10. FIG. 3A is a developed view of the surface of the antenna unit 17. FIG. 3(b) is a developed view of the back surface of the antenna unit 17.

As shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b), an electronic device 10 according to the present embodiment is an electronic device that functions as a so-called PDA, a handy terminal used by a clerk at a store such as a supermarket. . The electronic device 10 has an NFC communication function, and reads information stored in the NFC card C1 and the NFC tag T1 in a contactless manner using NFC communication. For example, reading the identification information of a store employee from the NFC card C1 of the employee's employee card, reading the customer's identification information, point balance information, etc. from the NFC card C1 as a point card owned by the customer, or In order to manage products sold at , the identification information of the product is read from the NFC tag T1 attached to the product.

The electronic device 10 has various parts stored in a housing (case) 10a. The housing 10a has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and is made of a material such as resin. The surface on the front (front) side of the housing 10a is referred to as a front surface portion 10a1, the surface on the rear (rear surface) side is referred to as a rear surface portion 10a2, and the surface on the upper surface (plane) side is referred to as a top surface portion 10a3.

As shown in FIG. 1(a), the electronic device 10 includes an operation section 12 and a display section 14 on a front surface portion 10a1. The operation unit 12 has various keys, and accepts key operation input from a user such as a store clerk. The display unit 14 has a display panel such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an EL (Electro-Luminescence) display, and displays various display information on the display panel.

As shown in FIG. 1(b), the electronic device 10 includes an antenna unit 17 for NFC communication as an antenna device and a substrate 10b provided inside the housing 10a (below the upper surface portion 10a3). The antenna unit 17 includes a loop antenna 17a and a magnetic sheet 17b.

The loop antenna 17a is provided inside the housing 10a, and is a coil antenna for NFC communication in which metal foil such as copper foil (or metal wire such as copper wire) is wound in a loop shape.

The magnetic sheet 17b is a sheet-like member made of, for example, soft magnetic metal and acrylic resin, and has a magnetic shielding effect. The magnetic field generated from the loop antenna 17a is used to read the NFC card C1 and the NFC tag T1, but when it hits the metal of the board 10b, it is consumed as an eddy current, which reduces the communication distance (reading) between the NFC card C1 and the NFC tag T1. Communication failures may occur, such as shortening of distance (distance) or inability to communicate. Therefore, the magnetic sheet 17b prevents the magnetic field generated from the loop antenna 17a from being transmitted to the substrate 10b, reduces consumption by the metal of the substrate 10b, and prevents communication failure.

Loop antenna 17a is provided on magnetic sheet 17b. The loop antenna 17a and the magnetic sheet 17b are provided over the front surface portion 10a1, the top surface portion 10a3, and the rear surface portion 10a2.

The substrate 10b is a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) on which circuit elements of the electronic device 10, which will be described later, are mounted. Magnetic sheet 17b is provided between loop antenna 17a and substrate 10b. Therefore, the magnetic sheet 17b prevents the magnetic field generated from the loop antenna 17a from transmitting to the substrate 10b.

Next, the internal circuit configuration of the electronic device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. In addition to the antenna unit 17, the electronic device 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, an operation section 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, and a display section 14 as circuit elements mounted on the substrate 10b. It includes a storage section 15, a wireless communication section 16, an NFC communication control section 18 as a communication control section, and a photographing section 19. Each part of the electronic device 10 except the antenna unit 17 is connected via a bus 20.

The CPU 11 controls each part of the electronic device 10. The CPU 11 reads out a designated program from among the various programs stored in the storage unit 15, expands it onto the RAM 13, and executes various processes in cooperation with the expanded program.

The operation unit 12 receives operation inputs such as key inputs from the user, and outputs the operation information to the CPU 11.

The RAM 13 is a volatile semiconductor memory from which information can be read and written, provides a work area for the CPU 11, and temporarily stores data and programs.

The display unit 14 displays various display information input from the CPU 11 and the like on a display panel.

The storage unit 15 is composed of a flash memory or the like, and is a storage unit from which information can be read and written, and stores various data and programs.

The wireless communication unit 16 is a wireless communication unit for mobile communication, and includes an antenna for mobile communication, an oscillation unit, a modulation/demodulation unit, an amplification unit, a signal processing unit, etc. Performs wireless communication with a base station or access point. The CPU 11 communicates with external devices on the communication network via wireless communication of the wireless communication unit 16.

The NFC communication control unit 18 is an IC chip (NFC chip) that has an oscillation unit, a modulation/demodulation unit, an amplification unit, a signal processing unit, etc. for NFC communication, and according to instructions from the CPU 11, it connects to the loop antenna 17a of the antenna unit 17 in a short distance. It communicates with the communication destination NFC card C1 or NFC tag T1 placed at the position via a magnetic field, reads the information stored in the NFC card C1 or NFC tag T1, and outputs it to the CPU 11. At this time, the NFC communication control unit 18 generates a transmission signal using an oscillation unit, modulates it using a modulation/demodulation unit, amplifies it using an amplifier unit, and outputs the transmission signal to the loop antenna 17a to generate a magnetic field, according to instructions from the CPU 11. In addition, the received signal generated in the loop antenna 17a according to the magnetic field from the NFC card C1 or the NFC tag T1 is amplified by the amplifier section, demodulated by the modulation/demodulation section, and subjected to signal processing by the signal processing section. The received signal of the information stored in T1 is output to the CPU 11. The communication frequency of the antenna unit 17 and the NFC communication control section 18 is, for example, 13.56 [MHz], but is not limited to this.

The photographing section 19 is a digital camera section that includes an imaging device such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor, an optical system, etc., and photographs a subject and generates image data according to instructions from the CPU 11. It is generated and output to the CPU 11 or the like. For example, the photographing unit 19 photographs a symbol (barcode, two-dimensional code) attached to a product in a store to generate image data of the symbol, and the CPU 11 decodes the image data of the symbol. to read the information of the symbol.

Next, the configuration of the antenna unit 17 will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b). As shown in FIG. 3(a), among the planes of the magnetic sheet 17b, the surface on the side where the loop antenna 17a is provided is defined as the front surface. As shown in FIG. 3(b), the surface behind the front surface of the magnetic sheet 17b is defined as the back surface.

As shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), the loop antenna 17a is connected to a loop antenna element 17a1 as a first loop antenna element and a loop antenna element 17a2 as a second loop antenna element. It has an element 17a3. The loop antenna 17a functions as one continuous loop antenna by the loop antenna elements 17a1, 17a2 and the connecting element 17a3. The magnetic sheet 17b includes a magnetic sheet portion 17b1 as a first magnetic sheet portion, a magnetic sheet portion 17b2 as a second magnetic sheet portion, and a magnetic sheet portion 17b3.

The loop antenna element 17a1 is a substantially rectangular loop antenna element disposed on the surface of the magnetic sheet portion 17b1. The plane on which the loop antenna element 17a1 is arranged (the surface of the magnetic sheet portion 17b1) is defined as a first plane F1.

The loop antenna element 17a2 is a substantially rectangular loop antenna element disposed on the surface of the magnetic sheet portion 17b2. The plane on which the loop antenna element 17a2 is arranged (the surface of the magnetic sheet portion 17b2) is defined as a second plane F2.

The connecting element 17a3 is arranged on the surface of the magnetic sheet part 17b3, and electrically connects the loop antenna element 17a1 and the loop antenna element 17a2, so that the two antennas are arranged in parallel so that the antenna current directions are opposite to each other. Contains elements. The plane on which the connecting element 17a3 is arranged (the surface of the magnetic sheet portion 17b3) is defined as a third plane F3.

Although detailed illustration is omitted in FIG. 3(a), each of the loop antenna elements 17a1 and 17a2 has an antenna current direction (for example, the direction of the arrow on the loop antenna 17a in FIG. 3(a)) of 1. The wire is wound in a loop path having a number of turns N (N: any natural number, for example 3 or 5) so that the wire is oriented in the same direction.

The loop area of the loop antenna element 17a1 on the plane F1 (the area of the inner region surrounded by the loop antenna element 17a1, the cross-sectional area of the coil) is defined as the loop area A1. The loop area of the loop antenna element 17a2 on the plane F2 (the area of the inner region surrounded by the loop antenna element 17a2, the cross-sectional area of the coil) is defined as the loop area A2. The loop area of the coil of the connecting element 17a3 on the plane F3 (the area of the region surrounded by the connecting element 17a3, the boundary between the planes F1 and F3, and the boundary between the planes F2 and F3) is defined as an area A3.

In FIGS. 3A and 3B, it is assumed that the loop antenna elements 17a1 and 17a2 are substantially symmetrical with respect to the connection element 17a3, and the loop area A1=A2. Further, it is assumed that area A3<loop area A1, A2.

The magnetic sheet portion 17b1 is a generally rectangular magnetic sheet portion having a shape and size that covers at least the loop antenna element 17a1, and has a hole H1. The magnetic sheet portion 17b2 is a magnetic sheet portion having a substantially rectangular shape and size that covers at least the loop antenna element 17a2. The magnetic sheet portion 17b3 is a magnetic sheet portion having a substantially rectangular shape and size that covers at least the connection element 17a3. The size of the magnetic sheet portion 17b3 is smaller than the magnetic sheet portions 17b1 and 17b2. In this way, the magnetic sheet 17b is arranged corresponding to the loop antenna 17a and the area surrounded by the loop antenna 17a (the area with the loop areas A1 and A2 and the area A3).

Moreover, the loop antenna element 17a1 has end portions E1 and E2 as end portions of the loop antenna. The end E1 is electrically connected to the + terminal of the wiring on the substrate 10b connected to the + terminal of the NFC communication control unit 18 through the hole H1 by the POGO pin P1 (FIG. 4). The end E2 is electrically connected to the - terminal of the wiring on the substrate 10b connected to the - terminal of the NFC communication control section 18 through the hole H1 by the POGO pin P1. Note that the ends E1 and E2 and the + terminal and - terminal of the wiring on the substrate 10b may be electrically connected by a connector terminal, a coaxial terminal, or the like.

The antenna current path is as follows: end E1 → loop antenna element 17a1 → connection element 17a3 → loop antenna element 17a2 → connection element 17a3 → (loop antenna element 17a1 → connection element 17a3 → loop antenna element 17a2 → connection element 17a3...) → end It becomes part E2.

Next, the magnetic field of the antenna unit 17 will be explained with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a side view of the electronic device 10 that outputs magnetic fields B11 to B33.

As shown in FIG. 4, the antenna unit 17 is bent at two places and attached to the electronic device 10 so as to sandwich the board 10b, and the loop antenna element 17a1 is connected to the terminal of the board 10b via the POGO pin P1. connected.

In the electronic device 10 to which the antenna unit 17 is attached, the surface F1 of the loop antenna element 17a1 (the surface of the magnetic sheet portion 17b1) is a surface parallel to the front surface portion 10a1. Therefore, the front portion 10a1 corresponding to the loop antenna element 17a1 becomes a reading surface for the NFC card C1 and the NFC tag T1 on the front side.

Similarly, the surface F2 of the loop antenna element 17a2 (the surface of the magnetic sheet portion 17b2) is parallel to the rear surface portion 10a2. Therefore, the rear surface portion 10a2 corresponding to the loop antenna element 17a2 becomes a reading surface for the rear NFC card C1 and NFC tag T1. In this way, the surface F1 of the loop antenna element 17a1 and the surface F2 of the loop antenna element 17a2 are arranged at opposing positions. The surface F3 of the connecting element 17a3 (the surface of the magnetic sheet portion 17b3) is a surface parallel to the upper surface portion 10a3.

The loop antenna element 17a1 outputs a magnetic field B11 in the front direction, a magnetic field B12 in the upper front direction, and a magnetic field B13 in the lower front direction. The loop antenna element 17a2 outputs a magnetic field B21 in the rear direction, a magnetic field B22 in the rear upward direction, and a magnetic field B23 in the rear downward direction. The connecting element 17a3 outputs an upward magnetic field B31, an upward-front magnetic field B32, and an upward-rear magnetic field B33. In the magnetic fields B11 to B33, the strength of the magnetic field is indicated by the width of the arrow.

Normally, if the magnetic fields B11, B12, B13 output in the front direction from the loop antenna element 17a1 and the magnetic fields B21, B22, B23 output in the rear direction from the loop antenna element 17a2 intersect, Although magnetic fields that weaken each other are output, the magnetic sheet portion 17b1 reduces the magnetic field output from the loop antenna element 17a1 to the rear side (substrate 10b side), and the magnetic sheet portion 17b2 reduces the magnetic field output from the loop antenna element 17a2 to the front side. The magnetic field output to the substrate 10b side is reduced. Therefore, the magnetic sheet portions 17b1 and 17b2 can suppress the output of the magnetic fields that weaken each other.

Further, magnetic fields B31, B32, and B33 are also output in the upward direction by the connecting element 17a3, but the magnetic field B32 cancels the magnetic field B12, and the magnetic field B33 cancels the magnetic field B22. To deal with this, the output of the magnetic fields B31, B32, and B33 in the upper direction can be suppressed by bringing the two connecting elements 17a3 shown in FIG. 3(a) closer together and reducing the area A3 of the connecting elements 17a3. , the magnetic field strength that weakens the magnetic fields B11, B12, B13 and the magnetic fields B21, B22, B23 can also be suppressed.

Note that the magnetic sheet portion 17b3 reduces magnetic fields B31, B32, and B33 output from the connecting element 17a3 to the substrate 10b. In this way, the magnetic sheet portions 17b1 and 17b2 and the magnetic sheet portion 17b3 reduce the magnetic field output to the substrate 10b, thereby reducing the magnetic field consumed by the metal of the substrate 10b.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the antenna unit 17 includes the loop antenna element 17a1 formed on the surface F1, the loop antenna element 17a2 formed on the surface F2 different from the surface F1, and the surfaces F1 and F2. One continuous loop antenna 17a is provided which has a connecting element 17a3 formed on different planes F3 and including two antenna elements connecting the loop antenna elements 17a1 and 17a2. The area A3 of the region surrounded by the connecting element 17a3, the boundary between surfaces F1 and F3, and the boundary between surfaces F2 and F3 is larger than the loop area A1 of the loop antenna element 17a1 and the loop area A2 of the loop antenna element 17a2. small.

Therefore, it is only necessary to provide one NFC communication control section 18 using one continuous loop antenna 17a, which facilitates the device configuration and control of the electronic device 10 having the antenna unit 17. It is possible to simplify the configuration, reduce weight, and reduce costs. In addition, the loop antenna elements 17a1 and 17a2 provide short-range wireless communication at two locations: the front reading surface (surface F1, front section 10a1) and the rear reading surface (surface F2, rear section 10a2) of the electronic device 10. Communication can be realized and user convenience can be improved. For example, a store clerk using the electronic device 10 reads an NFC card C1 such as an employee ID card from the front part 10a1, and reads an NFC card C1 owned by a customer or an NFC tag T1 attached to a product from the rear part 10a2. be able to.

The antenna unit 17 also includes a loop antenna 17a and a magnetic sheet 17b arranged corresponding to a region surrounded by the loop antenna 17a (a region having loop areas A1, A2, and area A3). Therefore, the magnetic sheet 17b can reduce the magnetic field output to the board 10b of the electronic device 10 to which the antenna unit 17 is attached, and can reduce the magnetic field consumed by the metal of the board 10b.

Further, the magnetic sheet 17b includes a magnetic sheet portion 17b1 arranged corresponding to the loop antenna element 17a1 and a magnetic sheet portion 17b2 arranged corresponding to the loop antenna element 17a2. Loop antenna elements 17a1 and 17a2 are arranged at positions where surfaces F1 and F2 face each other. The magnetic sheet portion 17b1 is arranged at a position on the loop antenna element 17a2 side of the loop antenna element 17a1. The magnetic sheet portion 17b2 is arranged at a position on the loop antenna element 17a1 side of the loop antenna element 17a2. Therefore, the magnetic sheet parts 17b1 and 17b2 suppress the magnetic field output that weakens the magnetic fields B11, B12, B13 output from the loop antenna element 17a1 and the magnetic fields B21, B22, B23 output from the loop antenna element 17a2. This makes it possible to increase the communication distance of each reading surface of the loop antenna elements 17a1 and 17a2, prevent communication failure, and improve communication performance.

Further, the magnetic sheet portion 17b1 is arranged between the loop antenna element 17a1 and the substrate 10b of the electronic device 10 to which the antenna unit 17 is attached. Magnetic sheet portion 17b2 is arranged between loop antenna element 17a2 and substrate 10b. Therefore, the magnetic sheet parts 17b1 and 17b2 prevent the magnetic fields output by the loop antenna elements 17a1 and 17a2 from being consumed by the metal of the substrate 10b, and increase the communication distance of the respective reading surfaces of the loop antenna elements 17a1 and 17a2. This can prevent communication failures and improve communication performance.

Furthermore, the connecting element 17a3 is arranged on a plane F3 perpendicular to the planes F1 and F2. Therefore, the magnetic field in the upper direction output by the connecting element 17a3 having a small area A3 can be reduced, and the magnetic field in the upper direction can be prevented from canceling out the magnetic fields output by the loop antenna elements 17a1 and 17a2. It is possible to increase the communication distance of each reading surface of the loop antenna elements 17a1 and 17a2, prevent communication failure, and improve communication performance.

Further, the electronic device 10 includes an antenna unit 17 and an NFC communication control section 18 that controls communication of the antenna unit 17 (loop antenna 17a). Therefore, one continuous loop antenna 17a and one NFC communication control unit 18 can facilitate the device configuration and control of the electronic device 10, realizing a simplified configuration, weight reduction, and cost reduction of the electronic device 10. can. In addition, short-range wireless communication can be achieved in two locations: the front reading surface (surface F1, front part 10a1) and the rear reading surface (surface F2, rear part 10a2) of the electronic device 10, which is convenient for the user. You can improve your sexuality.

Note that the description in the above embodiment is an example of the antenna device and electronic device according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

For example, in the above embodiment, the configuration of the loop antenna 17a in which the loop areas A1 and A2 of the loop antenna elements 17a1 and 17a2 are the same has been described, but this is just an example, and other shapes of loop antennas and magnetic sheets may be used. It may also be a loop antenna that realizes reading of multiple surfaces by the method of incorporating the antenna. For example, the loop antenna 17a may have different loop areas A1 and A2 of the loop antenna elements 17a1 and 17a2.

Further, in the above embodiment, the loop antenna 17a has been described in which the loop antenna element 17a1 and the loop antenna element 17a2 are arranged at positions facing each other in the front-rear direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. Here, with reference to FIG. 5, a loop antenna 17Ca as a modification of the above embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a side view of a modified loop antenna 17Ca.

As shown in FIG. 5, the antenna unit of this modification includes a loop antenna 17Ca and a magnetic sheet (not shown), and is attached to an electronic device (not shown). The loop antenna 17Ca includes a loop antenna element 17Ca1 arranged in a forward position, a loop antenna element 17Ca2 arranged in a rearward position than the loop antenna element 17Ca1, and two antenna elements connecting the loop antenna elements 17Ca1 and 17Ca2. A connecting element 17Ca3 having an antenna element. The magnetic sheet (not shown) has the same configuration as the magnetic sheet 17b of the above embodiment. The loop antenna 17Ca is arranged on a magnetic sheet (not shown). Also, the boundaries between the loop antenna element 17Ca3, the first surface where the loop antenna element 17Ca1 is arranged, the third surface where the loop antenna element 17Ca3 is arranged, and the second and third surfaces where the loop antenna element 17Ca2 is arranged. The area of the region surrounded by the boundary and is smaller than the loop area of loop antenna element 17Ca1 and the loop area of loop antenna element 17Ca2.

Further, the first extension surface in the extending direction of the loop antenna element 17Ca1 when viewed from the side is defined as an extension surface G1. A second extension surface in the extending direction of the loop antenna element 17Ca2 when viewed from the side is referred to as an extension surface G2. The loop antenna elements 17Ca1 and 17Ca2 are arranged at positions where the angle θ formed by the extension surface G1 and the extension surface G2 is less than 90 degrees. Note that the loop antenna elements 17a1 and 17a2 of the above embodiment are arranged at positions corresponding to the angle θ=0 degrees (parallel).

By configuring the loop antenna elements 17Ca1 and 17Ca2 to be arranged at positions where the angle θ<90 degrees, the communication direction of the reading surface of the loop antenna element 17Ca1 and the communication direction of the reading surface of the loop antenna element 17Ca2 can be separated. , can be freely taken in two directions preferred for the user's NFC communication application. Furthermore, the magnetic sheet placed at the position corresponding to the loop antenna 17Ca can suppress the magnetic field output that weakens the magnetic field output from the loop antenna element 17Ca1 and the magnetic field output from the loop antenna element 17Ca2, and It is possible to increase the communication distance of each reading surface of the antenna elements 17Ca1 and 17Ca2, prevent communication failure, and improve communication performance. Furthermore, the magnetic field in the upper direction output by the connecting element 17Ca3 can be reduced, the communication distance of each reading surface of the loop antenna elements 17Ca1 and 17Ca2 can be increased, communication failure can be prevented, and communication performance can be improved.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the electronic device 10 is a PDA having a function as a handy terminal, but the electronic device 10 is not limited to this. For example, the electronic device 10 may be another electronic device having a short-range communication function, such as a dedicated handy terminal, a tablet PC (Personal Computer), a notebook PC, or a smartphone. Further, the use of the electronic device 10 is not limited to store information management, but may be used for other purposes such as baggage management in a warehouse and management of people entering and exiting a predetermined place.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes the scope of the invention described in the claims and equivalent ranges thereof.
Below, the invention described in the claims first attached to the application of this application will be added. The claim numbers listed in the supplementary notes are as in the claims originally attached to the request for this application.
[Additional notes]
<Claim 1>
a first loop antenna element formed on the first surface;
a second loop antenna element formed on a second surface different from the first surface;
a connecting element formed on a third surface different from the first surface and the second surface, and including two antenna elements connecting the first loop antenna element and the second loop antenna element. comprising one continuous loop antenna,
The area of the region surrounded by the connection element, the boundary between the first surface and the third surface, and the boundary between the second surface and the third surface is the loop area of the first loop antenna element. , an antenna device characterized in that the loop area is smaller than the loop area of the second loop antenna element.
<Claim 2>
The antenna device according to claim 1, further comprising a magnetic sheet disposed corresponding to the loop antenna and a region surrounded by the loop antenna.
<Claim 3>
The magnetic sheet is
a first magnetic sheet portion disposed corresponding to the first loop antenna element;
a second magnetic sheet portion disposed corresponding to the second loop antenna element,
The first loop antenna element and the second loop antenna element are arranged at a position where an angle formed by an extension surface of the first surface and an extension surface of the second surface is less than 90 degrees,
The first magnetic sheet portion is arranged at a position on the second loop antenna element side of the first loop antenna element,
The antenna device according to claim 2, wherein the second magnetic sheet portion is arranged at a position on the first loop antenna element side of the second loop antenna element.
<Claim 4>
The first magnetic sheet portion is disposed between the first loop antenna element and a substrate of an electronic device to which the antenna device is attached,
4. The antenna device according to claim 3, wherein the second magnetic sheet part is disposed between the second loop antenna element and the substrate.
<Claim 5>
The antenna device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the connection element is arranged on the third surface perpendicular to the first surface and the second surface.
<Claim 6>
The antenna device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
An electronic device comprising: a communication control section that controls communication of the loop antenna.

10 Electronic device 10a Housing 10a1 Front part 10a2 Rear part 10a3 Top part 11 CPU
12 Operation unit 13 RAM
14 Display section 15 Storage section 16 Wireless communication section 17 Antenna unit 17a, 17Ca Loop antenna 17a1, 17a2, 17Ca1, 17Ca2 Loop antenna element 17a3, 17Ca3 Connection element 17b Magnetic sheet 17b1, 17b2, 17b3 Magnetic sheet section H1 Hole section P1 POGO pin 18 NFC communication control unit 19 Photographing unit 20 Bus C1 NFC card T1 NFC tag

Claims (6)

a first loop antenna element formed on the first surface;
a second loop antenna element formed on a second surface different from the first surface;
a connecting element formed on a third surface different from the first surface and the second surface, and including two antenna elements connecting the first loop antenna element and the second loop antenna element. comprising one continuous loop antenna,
The area of the region surrounded by the connection element, the boundary between the first surface and the third surface, and the boundary between the second surface and the third surface is the loop area of the first loop antenna element. , an antenna device characterized in that the loop area is smaller than the loop area of the second loop antenna element. The antenna device according to claim 1, further comprising a magnetic sheet disposed corresponding to the loop antenna and a region surrounded by the loop antenna. The magnetic sheet is
a first magnetic sheet portion disposed corresponding to the first loop antenna element;
a second magnetic sheet portion disposed corresponding to the second loop antenna element,
The first loop antenna element and the second loop antenna element are arranged at a position where an angle formed by an extension surface of the first surface and an extension surface of the second surface is less than 90 degrees,
The first magnetic sheet portion is arranged at a position on the second loop antenna element side of the first loop antenna element,
The antenna device according to claim 2, wherein the second magnetic sheet portion is arranged at a position on the first loop antenna element side of the second loop antenna element. The first magnetic sheet portion is disposed between the first loop antenna element and a substrate of an electronic device to which the antenna device is attached,
4. The antenna device according to claim 3, wherein the second magnetic sheet part is disposed between the second loop antenna element and the substrate. The antenna device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the connection element is arranged on the third surface perpendicular to the first surface and the second surface. The antenna device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
An electronic device comprising: a communication control section that controls communication of the loop antenna.

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