JP4696887B2 - Mobile device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a foldable portable terminal, and more particularly to a structure of an antenna built in a housing thereof.

  To date, a wide variety of mobile phones have been provided as portable wireless devices that are portable terminals. As one of these mobile phones, there is a foldable mobile phone whose display can be enlarged.

  On the other hand, in recent years, mobile phones have become more and more sophisticated as miniaturization proceeds, and mounting a camera, GPS (Global Positioning System), Bluetooth (registered trademark), and the like require a large volume. There is a problem that the space for disposing the built-in antenna is lost, the radiating element must be reduced in size, and the characteristics deteriorate.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the ground layer of the upper multilayer substrate 101 built in the upper housing 100 and the ground layer of the lower multilayer substrate 103 built in the lower housing 102 are radiated from the dipole antenna. It is operated as an element. Here, one end of the feeder line 104 is connected to the ground layer of the upper multilayer substrate 101, and the other end is connected to the ground layer of the lower multilayer substrate 103, and these are connected in high frequency. In the state where the cellular phone is deployed, the current distribution as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 10 is obtained, so that the ground layer of the upper multilayer substrate 101 and the ground layer of the lower multilayer substrate 103 operate as a dipole antenna (for example, Patent Documents). 1).
JP 2004-056426 A

  However, as shown in FIG. 11, when the cellular phone is folded, a current distribution as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 12 is obtained, so that the phase of the current flowing in the ground layer of the upper multilayer substrate 101 is lower. As a result of being out of phase with respect to the phase of the current flowing through the ground layer 103 and canceling each other, radiation as an antenna is hardly expected.

According to the present invention, an upper housing and a lower housing that can be opened and closed via a hinge portion, an upper antenna element built in the upper housing and a lower antenna element built in the lower housing, and one end thereof A feeder that is electrically connected to the upper antenna element and the other end is electrically connected to the lower antenna element, and an upper bracket that is provided in the upper casing and is electrically connected to the upper antenna element And a lower fitting provided in the lower housing and electrically connected to the lower antenna element , wherein the upper antenna element and the lower antenna element are each formed in a rectangular flat plate, The body and the lower housing are disposed at positions facing each other with a predetermined distance in a closed state, and the upper metal fitting and the lower metal fitting are in a state in which the upper housing and the lower housing are closed. Are connected to two adjacent corners of the upper antenna element and the lower antenna element that are opposite to each other, and the feeding part has the one end and the other end at the upper antenna element and the lower antenna element, respectively. Are connected to a corner opposite to the two adjacent corners, and the upper metal fitting and the lower metal fitting are on a side between the two adjacent corners, and the upper antenna element and In the state where the upper housing and the lower housing are opened on the respective side surface sides of the lower antenna element, provided at positions where they are in contact with each other when the upper housing and the lower housing are folded , When the upper antenna element and the lower antenna element operate as a dipole antenna and the upper casing and the lower casing are closed, Mobile terminal, characterized in that fitting and the lower fitting in electrical contact the upper antenna element and the lower antenna elements are configured to operate as a patch antenna is provided.

  According to this configuration, in the state where the upper housing and the lower housing are opened, the upper antenna element and the lower antenna element incorporated in each operate as a dipole antenna, and the upper housing and the lower housing are In the closed state, the upper antenna element and the lower antenna element are patch antennas by the electrical contact between the upper metal part electrically connected to the upper antenna element and the lower metal part electrically connected to the lower antenna element. Therefore, good antenna characteristics can be obtained in any state.

  According to this configuration, when power is supplied to the upper antenna element and the lower antenna element by the power feeding unit in a state where the upper housing and the lower housing are closed, between the side portions of the upper antenna element and the lower antenna element, A magnetic current does not occur between the two corners where the upper and lower brackets are connected, and the generated magnetic current is not canceled between the two corners facing the two corners. As a result, good antenna characteristics can be obtained.

  Further, in the mobile terminal according to the present invention, the power feeding unit includes the upper antenna element and the other end, wherein the one end and the other end are located at positions facing each other in a state where the upper housing and the lower housing are closed. The upper metal fitting and the lower metal fitting are respectively connected to two corners located on the distal end side of the upper antenna element and the lower antenna element. Each can be configured to be connected.

  According to this configuration, in the state where the upper housing and the lower housing are closed, the magnetic currents generated between the both side surfaces of the upper antenna element and the both side surfaces of the lower antenna element cancel each other. Magnetic current does not occur between the tip of the upper antenna element and the tip of the lower antenna element, to which the metal fitting and the lower metal fitting are electrically connected, and the base end and the lower part of the upper antenna element that are opposite to each other Since the magnetic current generated between the base end portions of the antenna element is not canceled out, good antenna characteristics as a patch antenna can be obtained.

  Further, in the mobile terminal according to the present invention, the power feeding unit includes the upper antenna element and the other end, wherein the one end and the other end are located at positions facing each other in a state where the upper housing and the lower housing are closed. The upper metal fitting and the lower metal fitting are respectively connected to one end of the feeding portion of the upper antenna element and the lower antenna element. It can be set as the structure each connected to two corner | angular parts located on the opposite side to the side part side.

  According to this configuration, when the upper housing and the lower housing are closed, the magnetic current generated between the distal end portion of the upper antenna element and the distal end portion of the lower antenna element is The magnetic current generated between the base end portions of the antenna elements cancels each other, but there is a magnetic field between the side portion of the upper antenna element and the side portion of the lower antenna element where the upper and lower brackets are electrically connected. No current is generated, and the magnetic current generated between the side surface of the upper antenna element and the side surface of the lower antenna element that is opposite to the current is not canceled out. Can do.

  In the mobile terminal according to the present invention, the upper antenna element and the lower antenna element can each be configured as a ground layer formed as one layer of a multilayer substrate.

  According to this configuration, an antenna having a large radiation element can be installed in a small space in which the multilayer substrate is built.

  According to the present invention, in the state where the upper housing and the lower housing are opened, the upper antenna element and the lower antenna element incorporated in each operate as a dipole antenna, and the upper housing and the lower housing are In the closed state, the upper antenna element and the lower antenna element operate as a patch antenna by contacting the upper metal part electrically connected to the upper antenna element and the lower metal part electrically connected to the lower antenna element. Therefore, good antenna characteristics can be obtained in any state.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same components, and the description will be omitted as appropriate.
[First Embodiment]

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the mobile phone according to the present embodiment. The mobile phone according to the present embodiment is configured as a foldable mobile phone, and FIG. 1 is a perspective view in an unfolded state (a state in which an upper housing and a lower housing are opened). FIG. 5 is a perspective view in a folded state (a state where an upper housing and a lower housing are closed).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the folding cellular phone is equipped with an upper casing 11 as a first casing on which a display 20 is mounted, and a key operation unit 19 including a plurality of data input buttons or keys. A lower housing 2 as a second housing, and a hinge portion 3 that rotatably couples the upper housing 11 and the lower housing 2 to each other.

  The upper housing 11 is configured by mutually connecting an upper housing front surface portion 16 located on the side where the display 20 is mounted and an upper housing back surface portion 8 located on the opposite side of the display 20. ing.

  Inside the container formed by the upper casing front face portion 16 and the upper casing rear face portion 8, a receiver 21 and an upper casing circuit board 17 as a first substrate, a display 20, and the upper casing circuit section 10 are provided. Each is loaded.

  Similar to the upper casing 11, the lower casing 2 includes a lower casing front face 4 located on the side where the key operation unit 19 is mounted, and a lower casing rear face located on the side opposite to the key operating section 19. It is comprised by mutually connecting the part 6. FIG. The lower housing front surface portion 4 is configured by molding plastic.

  Inside the container formed by the lower housing front surface portion 4 and the lower housing back surface portion 6, a microphone 22, an external interface 23, a lower housing circuit board 18 as a second substrate, a lower housing circuit portion 9, Each battery 7 is loaded.

  Furthermore, the upper casing circuit section 10 and the lower casing circuit section 9 are connected by the upper and lower circuit section connecting section 14, and the upper and lower circuit section connecting section 14 is connected to the upper casing circuit section 10 and the lower casing circuit section. 9 is used as a communication path for electrical signals. The upper casing circuit unit 10 and the lower casing circuit unit 9 are each supplied with electric power from the battery 7.

  The upper casing circuit board 17 and the lower casing circuit board 18 are configured by a multilayer board in which a plurality of layers are stacked, and one or more of them include a ground layer that is all a metal surface. Yes. This ground layer is used as the ground of the upper casing circuit unit 10 and the lower casing circuit unit 9. With such a structure, an antenna having a large radiating element can be incorporated in a small space.

  The upper housing metal fitting 12 is a ground layer of the upper housing circuit board 17 at two corners on the tip side (the end side opposite to the hinge part 3) of the upper housing circuit board 17. And is a part of the upper housing front portion 16 made of a general resin material.

  The lower casing metal fitting 13 is connected to the ground layer of the lower casing circuit board 18 at two corners on the distal end side of the lower casing circuit board 18, and is made of a general resin material. It becomes a part of the front part 4 of the lower housing.

  Further, when the upper casing 11 and the lower casing 2 are closed, the upper casing metal fitting 12 and the lower casing metal fitting 13 are provided at positions facing each other. Connected. As a result, the ground layer of the upper casing circuit board 17 and the ground layer of the lower casing circuit board 18 are connected in a direct current manner via the upper casing metal fitting 12 and the lower casing metal fitting 13 at the tip portion thereof. Will be.

  The antenna feed line 15 has an upper casing circuit at one of its corners on one end of the upper casing circuit board 17 on the base end side (the end portion side opposite to the hinge portion 3). When the other end is one corner on the base end side of the lower casing circuit board 18 and the upper casing 11 and the lower casing 2 are closed, connected to the ground layer of the substrate 17 The one end is connected to the ground layer of the lower casing circuit board 18 at a corner portion facing the corner section of the upper casing circuit board 17 to which the one end is connected, and a high frequency current is supplied thereto.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the lengths of the upper casing circuit board 17, the lower casing circuit board 18, and the upper and lower circuit section connecting section 14, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the upper and lower circuit section connecting section 14. . The upper and lower circuit connecting portion 14 is made of a flexible wire. As shown in FIG. 4, the flexible wire forming the upper and lower circuit portion connecting portion 14 is arranged in a state of being wound once around the hinge portion 3, and the length when the flexible wire is extended in a planar shape is as follows. Ls. Further, the upper casing circuit board 17 having a length L1 and the lower casing circuit board 18 having a length L2 are separated by a distance G.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the length Ls of the flexible wire is set to be longer than the distance G between the upper housing circuit board 17 and the lower housing circuit board 18 (Ls> G). Here, the length Ls of the flexible wire is set to such a length that the current flowing in the lower housing 2 toward the hinge portion 3 has an inductance component that does not flow in the upper housing 11. Shall.

  Next, the operation of this mobile phone will be described. The built-in antenna of the mobile phone has an antenna feed line with respect to the ground layer of the upper housing circuit board 17 and the ground layer of the lower housing circuit board 18 in a state where the upper housing 11 and the lower housing 2 are opened. By supplying a high-frequency current via 15, the ground layer of the upper casing circuit board 17 and the ground layer of the lower casing circuit board 18 are configured as radiating elements. Since these operate as a pair of radiating elements of a half-wave dipole antenna, the same characteristics as the dipole antenna can be obtained.

  Note that the length Ls of the upper and lower circuit portion connection portion 14 is set to be longer than the distance G between the upper housing circuit board 17 and the lower housing circuit board 18 (Ls> G). Here, the length Ls of the upper and lower circuit portion connection portion 14 does not allow a high-frequency current flowing from the ground layer of the lower housing circuit board 18 to the ground layer of the upper housing circuit substrate 17 through the upper and lower circuit portion connection portion 14. The length is set to have such an inductance component. Therefore, the high-frequency current flowing from the lower casing circuit board 18 to the upper casing circuit board 17 via the upper and lower circuit section connecting section 14 is reduced.

  On the other hand, when the upper housing 11 and the lower housing 2 are closed, the upper housing metal fitting 12 and the lower metal fitting 13 are connected in a direct current manner. Similarly to the state in which the upper casing 11 and the lower casing 2 are opened, the length Ls of the upper and lower circuit section connecting portion 14 is set to the ground of the lower casing circuit board 18 via the upper and lower circuit section connecting section 14. Since the length is set so as to have an inductance component so that a high-frequency current flowing from the layer to the ground layer of the upper casing circuit board 17 does not flow, the lower casing circuit board 18 is connected via the upper and lower circuit section connecting section 14. The high-frequency current flowing from the upper casing circuit board 17 to the upper casing circuit board 17 becomes small.

  FIG. 5 shows the operating principle of the antenna with the upper housing 11 and the lower housing 2 closed. When a high frequency current is supplied to the ground layer of the upper casing circuit board 17 and the ground layer of the lower casing circuit board 18 via the antenna feed line 15, they circulate between the side surfaces and mutually Magnetic currents are generated between the opposing sides in a direction that cancels each other. At this time, the upper casing metal fitting 12 and the lower casing metal fitting 13 are connected in a DC manner, so that in practice, FIG. Magnetic current is generated in the direction indicated by the solid arrow. This magnetic current is related to the radiation characteristics of the antenna. By connecting the ground layer of the upper housing circuit board 17 and the ground layer of the lower housing circuit board 18 at the end of the board, the magnetic current B and the magnetic current C are connected. Are generated in the direction of canceling each other, but no magnetic current that cancels the magnetic current A is generated, so that good radiation characteristics can be obtained. Therefore, this antenna operates with a general patch antenna when folded.

  As described above, according to the mobile phone according to the present embodiment, the ground layer of the upper casing circuit board 17 built in the upper casing 11 and the ground layer of the lower casing circuit board 18 built in the lower casing 2. When the upper casing 11 and the lower casing 2 are opened with the layers radiating elements, they are operated as dipole antennas, and when the upper casing 11 and the lower casing 2 are folded, these are operated. Since it can be operated as a patch antenna, good antenna characteristics can be obtained in any state.

In addition, the shape of the ground layer of the upper casing circuit board 17 and the ground layer of the lower casing circuit board 18 may be substantially rectangular, and may be, for example, a square or a rectangle with rounded corners. Furthermore, the shape of the ground layer of the upper housing circuit board 17 and the shape of the ground layer of the lower housing circuit board 18 may be polygonal shapes that are point-symmetric with respect to the center thereof. With such a shape, the upper housing metal fitting 12 and the lower housing metal fitting 13 are at least between the side surface portion of the ground layer of the upper housing circuit board 17 and the side surface portion of the ground layer of the lower housing circuit board 18. The magnetic current is not generated between the two vertices connected to each other, and the generated magnetic current is not canceled between the two vertices facing the two vertices.
[Second Embodiment]

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the mobile phone according to the present embodiment. The mobile phone according to the present embodiment is configured as a foldable mobile phone, FIG. 6 is a perspective view in the expanded state, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view in the folded state. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the basic configuration of the mobile phone is the same as that of the mobile phone shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, except that the upper metal fitting and the lower metal fitting are the upper housing and the lower housing, respectively. It is the structure provided in the side part.

  The upper casing metal fitting 42 is connected to the ground layer of the upper casing circuit board 47 at two corners on the side surface side of the upper casing circuit board 47, and is made of a general resin material. This is a part of the side surface of the upper casing 41.

  On the other hand, the lower casing metal fitting 43 is connected to the ground layer of the lower casing circuit board 48 at two corners on the side surface side of the lower casing circuit board 48, and is made of a general resin material. This is a part of the side surface of the lower casing 32.

  The upper housing metal fitting 42 and the lower housing metal fitting 43 are provided at positions where they come into contact with each other when the upper housing 41 and the lower housing 32 are folded, and are connected in a direct current manner. As a result, the ground layer of the upper casing circuit board 47 and the ground layer of the lower casing circuit board 48 are connected in a direct current manner via the upper casing metal fitting 42 and the lower casing metal fitting 43 at the side surfaces thereof. Will be.

  The antenna feed line 45 has an upper casing circuit board 47 at two corners on one side of the upper casing circuit board 47 opposite to the side face where the upper casing metal fitting 42 is provided. The other end of the lower casing circuit board 48 is two corners on the opposite side of the side face portion where the lower casing metal fitting 43 is provided, and the upper casing 41 When the lower casing 32 is closed, it is connected to the ground layer of the lower casing circuit board 48 at the corner portion at a position facing the corner section of the upper casing circuit board 47 to which the one end is connected. These are supplied with a high frequency current.

  Next, the operation of this mobile phone will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, the built-in antenna of the mobile phone includes a ground layer of the upper housing circuit board 47 and a ground layer of the lower housing circuit board 48 in a state where the upper housing 41 and the lower housing 32 are opened. By supplying a high frequency current to the upper casing circuit board 47, the ground layer of the upper casing circuit board 47 and the ground layer of the lower casing circuit board 48 are configured as radiating elements. Since these operate as a pair of radiating elements of a half-wave dipole antenna, the same characteristics as the dipole antenna can be obtained. This is the same as the cellular phone according to the first embodiment.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, when the upper casing 41 and the lower casing 32 are closed, the ground layer of the upper casing circuit board 47 and the ground of the lower casing circuit board 48 are interposed via the antenna feed line 45. When a high-frequency current is supplied to the layers, a magnetic current is generated in such a manner as to circulate between the side portions and between the sides facing each other in a direction that cancels each other. In fact, a magnetic current is generated in the direction indicated by the solid arrow in FIG. 8 by connecting the 42 and the lower housing metal fitting 43 in a direct current manner. Although this magnetic current is related to the radiation characteristics of the antenna, the magnetic current A and the magnetic current C are generated in a direction to cancel each other by connecting the upper casing circuit board 47 and the lower casing circuit board 48 at the end of the board. However, since a magnetic current that cancels the magnetic current B is not generated, good radiation characteristics can be obtained. Therefore, the antenna operates as a general patch antenna when folded.

  Thus, even with the mobile phone according to the present embodiment, the ground layer of the upper casing circuit board 47 built in the upper casing 41 and the ground layer of the lower casing circuit board 48 built in the lower casing 32 are also provided. When the upper casing 41 and the lower casing 32 are opened, they are operated as dipole antennas, and when the upper casing 41 and the lower casing 32 are folded, they are patched. Since it can be operated as an antenna, good antenna characteristics can be obtained in any state.

  Also in the present embodiment, the shapes of the ground layer of the upper casing circuit board 47 and the ground layer of the lower casing circuit board 48 may be polygonal shapes that are point-symmetric with respect to the center thereof. Is clear.

  In the above two embodiments, the ground layer of the upper casing circuit board built in the upper casing and the ground layer of the lower casing circuit board built in the lower casing are used as a pair of radiating elements of the dipole antenna. Although described so as to function, the upper casing circuit unit is formed on the upper casing circuit board, and the lower casing circuit unit is formed on the lower casing circuit board. If the upper casing circuit section and lower casing circuit section are not packaged with resin material and the surface is a metal surface, connect the upper casing metal fitting to the upper casing circuit section, and Even in a configuration connected to the lower casing circuit section, equivalently, it can be said that the upper casing circuit board and the lower casing circuit board function as the radiating elements of the above-described dipole antenna and patch antenna.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, but these are exemplifications of the present invention, and various configurations other than those described above can be adopted. For example, in the above embodiment, the mobile phone has been described. However, it is obvious that the present invention can be applied to a portable terminal device having a structure in which the entire casing is composed of two casings and each casing includes a circuit portion. .

It is a see-through | perspective perspective view in the state which the cellular phone concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention developed. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cellular phone shown in FIG. 1 in a folded state. It is the schematic which shows the relationship of the length of the upper housing | casing circuit board in the mobile telephone shown in FIG. 1, a lower housing | casing circuit board, and an upper-lower circuit part connection part. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the upper and lower circuit connecting portion shown in FIG. 3. It is the perspective view which showed typically the flow of the magnetic current in the state by which the mobile telephone shown in FIG. 1 was folded. It is a see-through | perspective perspective view in the state which the mobile telephone based on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention developed. FIG. 7 is a transparent perspective view of the cellular phone shown in FIG. 6 in a folded state. It is the perspective view which showed typically the flow of the magnetic current in the state by which the mobile telephone shown in FIG. 6 was folded. It is a see-through | perspective perspective view in the state by which the conventional mobile telephone was expand | deployed. FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically showing a magnetic current flow in a state where the mobile phone shown in FIG. 9 is developed. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the cellular phone shown in FIG. 9 in a folded state. FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically showing a magnetic current flow in a folded state of the mobile phone shown in FIG. 9.

Explanation of symbols

12 Upper housing metal fitting 13 Lower housing metal fitting 15 Antenna feed line 17 Upper housing circuit board 18 Lower housing circuit board

Claims (4)

An upper housing and a lower housing that can be opened and closed via a hinge portion;
An upper antenna element built into the upper housing and a lower antenna element built into the lower housing;
One end is electrically connected to the upper antenna element and the other end is electrically connected to the lower antenna element;
An upper fitting provided in the upper casing and electrically connected to the upper antenna element;
A lower fitting provided in the lower housing and electrically connected to the lower antenna element;
The upper antenna element and the lower antenna element are each formed in a rectangular flat plate, and are disposed at positions facing each other with a predetermined interval in a state where the upper casing and the lower casing are closed,
The upper metal fitting and the lower metal fitting are respectively connected to two adjacent corners of the upper antenna element and the lower antenna element that are in a position facing each other when the upper housing and the lower housing are closed. ,
The feeding portion has the one end and the other end connected to a corner opposite to the two adjacent corners of the upper antenna element and the lower antenna element, and
The upper metal fitting and the lower metal fitting are arranged on the side sandwiched between the two adjacent corners, and on the side surface side of the upper antenna element and the lower antenna element, respectively. It is provided in a position where it contacts each other when folded,
In a state where the upper housing and the lower housing are open, the upper antenna element and the lower antenna element operate as a dipole antenna, and in a state where the upper housing and the lower housing are closed, A portable terminal characterized in that an upper metal fitting and a lower metal fitting are in electrical contact with each other so that the upper antenna element and the lower antenna element operate as a patch antenna. The power feeding unit includes either the upper antenna element or the lower antenna element on the base end side where the one end and the other end face each other when the upper housing and the lower housing are closed. Connected to each corner,
2. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the upper metal fitting and the lower metal fitting are respectively connected to two corners located on a tip side of the upper antenna element and the lower antenna element. The feeding portion is either one of the side surfaces of the upper antenna element and the lower antenna element in which the one end and the other end face each other when the upper casing and the lower casing are closed. Each connected to one corner,
The upper metal fitting and the lower metal fitting are respectively connected to two corners positioned opposite to the side surface side to which one end and the other end of the feeding portion of the upper antenna element and the lower antenna element are connected. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 . The portable terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein each of the upper antenna element and the lower antenna element is a ground layer formed as one layer of a multilayer substrate.

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