JP4772658B2 - Wireless device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a radio apparatus, and more particularly to a radio apparatus provided with a built-in antenna.

  There is known an antenna component that is three-dimensionally configured by mounting an antenna element on the surface of a dielectric substrate. Such an antenna component is directly mounted on a housing or a circuit board of a small wireless device such as a mobile phone and used as a built-in antenna. Such an antenna component may be referred to as an MID type antenna by abbreviating Molded Interconnect Device because of the characteristics of its form.

  The MID antenna can be miniaturized by taking advantage of the wavelength shortening effect due to the relative dielectric constant of the dielectric material of the base material. However, in order to reduce the number of parts and simplify the process, it is desirable to form antenna elements on the surface (inner surface or outer surface) of the casing of the wireless device instead of using the MID type antenna. When the configuration of the MID antenna is expanded on the surface of the housing in a planar manner, the required area increases, and there is a problem that interference with circuits other than the antenna tends to occur. On the other hand, attempts have been made to configure the antenna in a three-dimensional manner using a conductive material constituting the casing, a conductor pattern provided on the inner surface or outer surface of the casing, and the like (for example, Patent Document 1). , See Patent Document 2 or Patent Document 3.)

  The above Patent Document 1 connects a conductor pattern formed on at least a part of the upper casing or the lower casing of the foldable portable wireless communication device to a feeding point via a conductor part that forms a part of the hinge, It describes the technology of the built-in antenna that operates as a part of the antenna.

  Patent Document 2 described above describes a built-in antenna technique in which a linear loop antenna formed of a conductor portion of a flexible printed circuit board is disposed around a liquid crystal display or display window of a portable wireless device.

In the above-mentioned Patent Document 3, a space surrounded by four support bodies fixed on a circuit board of a portable terminal is vertically divided, and a loop antenna for a non-contact identification function is formed inside the upper space. Describes a technique of a built-in antenna in which circuit components for a mobile phone are accommodated in a lower space to avoid the influence of a loop antenna.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-295578 (pages 2, 6, 7 and FIG. 1) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-187096 (second page, FIG. 1) JP 2006-253170 A (2nd, 5th, 6th pages, FIG. 1)

  Since the conventional technique described in Patent Document 1 described above uses a relatively wide range of a housing or a hinge as an antenna, the degree to which the antenna design depends on the structure and design of the housing is as follows: It is considered higher than the conventional MID type antenna. Therefore, it is difficult to position the technology as a built-in antenna that replaces the conventional MID antenna.

  The conventional technique described in Patent Document 2 described above has a problem that the mounting position of the antenna is limited to the periphery of the display unit, and the type of antenna is limited to the loop antenna, so that the application range is naturally limited.

  The conventional technique described in Patent Document 3 described above has a complicated structure and is not necessarily suitable for reduction in size and weight because a four-sided support is fixed on a substrate and an antenna and a peripheral circuit are formed inside the support. There is a problem.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and contributes to the reduction of the number of parts and the simplification of the process while maintaining the flexibility of designing the built-in antenna while taking advantage of the shape inherent to the casing of the wireless device. With the goal.

In order to achieve the above object, a wireless device according to the present invention comprises a member formed at least partially in a planar shape, and a partition portion made of at least a part of a magnetic material is provided in a protruding shape on the inner surface. An antenna element including a housing, a substrate housed in the housing and provided with a power feeding circuit and a ground pattern, and a conductor provided in a range partitioned by the partition portion on the inner surface of the housing And a connecting member for connecting the power feeding circuit and the antenna element .

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the freedom degree of antenna design can be maintained, making use of the shape which the housing | casing of a radio | wireless apparatus originally has, and it can contribute to a reduction in a number of parts and process simplification.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a structure of one end portion of a housing of a wireless device 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention. Note that the wireless device 1 may be configured such that a plurality of housings are connected with their mutual positions being variable.

  The housing 10 of the wireless device 1 includes a first member 11 located on the upper side in the drawing and a second member 12 located on the lower side facing each other in the vertical direction represented by the block arrows in the drawing. Assembled by engaging. The first member 11 has a portion corresponding to a side surface formed around a portion formed in a planar shape on the upper side in the drawing. The second member 12 has a portion corresponding to a side surface coupled around a portion formed in a planar shape on the lower side in the drawing. Each of these surfaces may include a curved portion.

  The substrate 13 is accommodated in the housing 10 so as to be sandwiched between the first member 11 and the second member 12. A radio circuit, a processing circuit, and other parts (not shown) are mounted on the substrate 13. A connecting member 14 connected to a wireless circuit (not shown) is mounted on the substrate 13. The connection member 14 connects a power supply circuit including a wireless circuit and a power supply line (not shown) and an antenna element (not shown) formed of a conductor provided on the inner surface of the first member 11.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the shape of the antenna element provided on the inner surface of the first member 11 by turning the first member 11 in the direction of a round broken line with an arrow in FIG. In FIG. 2, the inner surface of the first member 11 located on the lower side is the upper surface 11a, the inner surface located on the right side is the slope 11b, the inner surface located on the front end is also the slope 11c, and the inner surface is located on the left side. The slope is 11d.

  On the upper surface 11a of the first member 11, a partition portion 15 is provided in a protruding shape. In FIG. 2, the partition 15 is continuous with the upper surface 11a, the slope 11b, and the slope 11d. However, the partition 15 may not necessarily be continuous with the slope 11b or the slope 11d. The partition portion 15 may be a protruding portion on the inner surface of the housing member called a rib.

  An antenna element 16 made of a conductor is provided by being plated or affixed in a range partitioned by the partition 15 inside the first member 11. One end of the antenna element 16 is on the upper surface 11a, and is a feeding end 16a that contacts the tip of the connection member 14 when the housing 10 is assembled as shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, the antenna element 16 is directed from the feeding end 16a toward the front end along the upper surface 11a, and then toward the left side along the slope 11c. Thereafter, the antenna element 16 returns to the upper surface 11 a again, travels toward the partition 15, and reaches the end 16 b on the surface of the partition 15.

  The shape of the antenna element 16 is only an example. The antenna element 16 may have any shape in the range partitioned by the partitioning portion 15 and may or may not be on any surface of the upper surface 11a, the slopes 11b to 11d, and the partitioning portion 15. . Further, the antenna element 16 may have a shape in which a part of the antenna element 16 protrudes beyond the partition portion 15. The end 16b may be either electrically open or grounded depending on the selected antenna scheme. Further, the antenna element 16 may be grounded or branched between the power feeding end 16a and the end end 16b.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the shape of the inner surface of the first member 11 and the antenna element 16 in a cross section that passes through the alternate long and short dash line shown on the upper surface 11a in FIG. 2 and is substantially perpendicular to the upper surface 11a. The reference numerals in the figure are the same as those in FIG. If the boundary between adjacent surfaces is continuously formed in a curved surface shape, such as between the partition portion 15 and the upper surface 11a or between the upper surface 11a and the slope 11c, the antenna element 16 can be easily formed. is there.

  4 to 9 (excluding FIG. 8) are diagrams showing the position of the connecting member 14, the connecting method with the antenna element 16, and the modified examples including the first member 11, the second member 12, and the substrate 13. 3 is a diagram showing the same cross-sectional view as FIG. Reference numerals in these drawings are the same as those in FIGS. 1 to 3. It should be noted that the form of whether or not the antenna element 16 shown in these drawings is provided on any surface of the first member 11 is merely an example, and forms other than those illustrated may be possible.

  FIG. 4 shows the position of the connection member 14 and the connection method with the antenna element 16 when the power supply end 16a is on the upper surface 11a as shown in FIG. The connection member 14 is, for example, a spring connector or a spring, and the upper end of the connection member 14 in the drawing is pressed against the power supply end 16a by an elastic force acting in the vertical direction of the drawing. The lower end of the connecting member 14 in the figure is attached to the substrate 13 by soldering, for example. As a result, a radio circuit (not shown) mounted on the substrate 13 and the power supply end 16a are electrically connected, and the antenna element 16 is supplied with power.

  The end 16b of the antenna element 16 or other part can be grounded by connecting to the ground pattern of the substrate 13 via a spring connector.

  FIG. 5 shows the position of the connection member 14 and the connection method with the antenna element 16 (first modification) when the power supply end 16 a is on the surface of the partition portion 15. In this case, since the connecting member 14 exerts an elastic force in the left-right direction in the drawing, the left end of the connecting member 14 in the drawing is pressed against the power feeding end 16a. The lower end of the connecting member 14 in the drawing is attached to the substrate 13 by soldering, for example, as in FIG. As a result, a radio circuit (not shown) mounted on the substrate 13 and the power supply end 16a are electrically connected, and the antenna element 16 is supplied with power.

  FIG. 6 shows the position of the connection member 14 and the connection method with the antenna element 16 (second modification) when the feeding end 16a is on the surface of the partition 15 opposite to the case of FIG. ing. In this case, since the connecting member 14 exerts an elastic force in the left-right direction in the drawing, the right end of the connecting member 14 in the drawing is pressed against the power supply end 16a. The lower end of the connecting member 14 in the drawing is attached to the substrate 13 by soldering, for example, as in FIG. As a result, a radio circuit (not shown) mounted on the substrate 13 and the power supply end 16a are electrically connected, and the antenna element 16 is supplied with power.

  FIG. 7 shows the position of the connection member 14 and the connection method with the antenna element 16 (third modified example) when the power supply end 16a is on the end face of the partitioning portion 15 facing the substrate 13. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the shape and positional relationship of the substrate 13, the connection member 14, and the partition portion 15 in this case. As shown in FIG. 8, the feeding end 16 a of the antenna element 16 is provided at the notched portion of the partition portion 15, and the connection member 14 is provided at a corresponding position on the substrate 13. In FIG. 8, only a part of the antenna element 16 near the feeding end 16a is shown by a solid line (other parts are broken lines or omitted), and the feeding end 16a is in contact with the upper end of the connection member 14. It is in a position that cannot be seen.

  Since the connecting member 14 applies an elastic force in the vertical direction in FIG. 7, the upper end of the connecting member 14 in the drawing is pressed against the power supply end 16 a. The lower end of the connecting member 14 in the drawing is attached to the substrate 13 by soldering, for example, as in FIG. As a result, a radio circuit (not shown) mounted on the substrate 13 and the power supply end 16a are electrically connected, and the antenna element 16 is supplied with power.

  FIG. 9 shows the position of the connecting member 14 and the antenna when the power feeding end 16a is on the end face of the partition 15 facing the substrate 13 and the connecting member 14 is buried upward from the end face by, for example, press fitting. The connection method (4th modification) with the element 16 is represented. In this case, the upper end of the connection member 14 in the figure is connected to the power supply end 16a, and the lower end is also pressed into contact with a conductor pattern connected to a radio circuit (not shown) on the substrate 13 by an elastic force acting in the vertical direction in the figure. . As a result, a radio circuit (not shown) mounted on the substrate 13 and the power supply end 16a are electrically connected, and the antenna element 16 is supplied with power.

  5 to 9, the feeding end 16 a of the antenna element 16 is provided on the surface of the partition portion 15 or on the end surface. In this manner, the antenna element 16 having a high electric field distribution when the antenna element 16 is excited is kept away from the ground pattern of the substrate 13 by suppressing the deterioration of the antenna characteristics of the built-in antenna.

  The partition portion 15 may be formed of a material different from that of the first member 11 and may be assembled, for example, so as to be fitted into the inner surface of the first member 11. By forming the partition portion 15 with a material having a relative permittivity or a relative permeability higher than that of the material of the first member 11, the size of the antenna element 16 can be reduced (or shortened), or the electromagnetic waves on both sides of the partition portion 15 can be reduced. It can have a shielding effect.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of a modified example of the wireless device 1 having an additional antenna element, in which an additional antenna element 17 is added to the same diagram as FIG. The additional antenna element 17 is made of a conductor provided on the upper surface 11a of the first member 11 in a range adjacent to the range where the antenna element 16 is provided and the partition portion 15 in between. The additional antenna element 17 may be provided using a surface other than the upper surface 11a including the surface of the partition portion 15 that faces the rear surface side in the drawing.

  As shown in the figure, one end of the additional antenna element 17 can be used as a power supply end 17a, and power can be supplied in the same manner as the power supply end 16a of the antenna element 16. The additional antenna element 17 may be used for a purpose other than the antenna element 16. In such a case, as described above, the partition portion 15 has a relative magnetic permeability higher than that of the material of the first member 11. The antenna element 16 and the additional antenna element 17 can be electromagnetically shielded by being formed of a high material.

  Unlike the illustrated example, the additional antenna element 17 may not be provided with the feeding end 17a and may be arranged to be voltage-coupled or current-coupled to the antenna element 16 as a parasitic element. As a result, for example, the resonance frequency of the antenna element 16 and the additional antenna element 17 can be made to be multiple resonances with different values.

  According to the first embodiment of the present invention, an antenna can be incorporated with fewer parts and processes than in the past by disposing an antenna element on the inner surface including the partition portion of the casing member of the wireless device.

  A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIGS. 4 to 9 (excluding FIG. 8) showing the structure of one end of the housing of the wireless device 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. .

  The housing of the wireless device 2 is the same as the housing 10 of the wireless device 1 according to the first embodiment, and the second member 22 located on the lower side faces the first member 21 located on the upper side in the drawing. Assembled by engaging each other. The substrate 23 is accommodated in the casing of the wireless device 2 so as to be sandwiched between the first member 21 and the second member 22. A radio circuit (not shown) and a connection member 24 connected to the radio circuit are mounted on the substrate 23. The substrate 23 and the connecting member 24 correspond to the substrate 13 and the connecting member 14 according to the first embodiment, respectively.

  The partition portion 25 protrudes on the inner surface of the portion of the second member 22 formed in the lower planar shape in the drawing (referred to as a bottom surface for the sake of convenience. The portion formed in a curved surface may be included). It is provided in the shape. The partition portion 25 may be a protruding portion on the inner surface of the housing member called a rib. Although the partition portion 25 corresponds to the partition portion 15 according to the first embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the partition portion 25 is provided on the bottom surface of the second member 22 instead of the first member 21.

  An antenna element 26 made of a conductor is provided on the inner surface (referred to as the upper surface for the sake of convenience. The portion formed in a curved surface may be included for the sake of convenience) of the portion formed in the upper planar shape of the first member 21 in the drawing. It is provided by plating or pasting. One end of the antenna element 26 is on the upper surface, and is a feeding end 26 a that contacts the tip of the connection member 24 when the casing of the wireless device 2 is assembled as shown in FIG. 11.

  The antenna element 26 may be provided across the inner surface other than the upper surface of the first member 21. Since the partition portion and other protruding portions are very small or not provided on the upper surface of the first member 21, the antenna element 26 can be easily arranged as compared with the first embodiment, and the design of the antenna element 26 is possible. The degree of freedom increases.

  In the state where the housing is assembled as shown in FIG. 11, the partition portion 25 is located in the vicinity of the antenna element 26. By forming the partition portion 25 with a dielectric material, an effect of shortening the wavelength by concentrating the electric field generated around the antenna element 26 on the partition portion 25 is expected. As a result, the antenna element 26 can be reduced in size.

  12 shows a first modification of the structure of the wireless device 2 as a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. Among the reference numerals in the figure, those common to FIG. 11 correspond to the same configuration, and the description thereof is omitted.

  A magnetic body 28 is provided in a portion of the partition portion 25 adjacent to the antenna element 26. Thereby, the effect of shortening the wavelength by concentrating the magnetic field generated around the antenna element 26 on the magnetic body 28 is expected. As a result, the antenna element 26 can be reduced in size. Instead of providing the magnetic body 28, the partition portion 25 may be formed of a material having a relatively high relative permeability.

  FIG. 13 shows a second modification of the structure of the wireless device 2 as a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. Among the reference numerals in the figure, those common to FIG. 11 correspond to the same configuration, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In FIG. 13, the upper end of the partition portion 25 engages with an engagement portion 21 a provided on the upper surface of the first member 21. The antenna element 26 is extended from a power supply end 26 a located on the left side of the partition portion 25 to a delimited range corresponding to the right side of the partition portion 25 by a method such as bypassing one slope of the first member 21. Yes. As a result, the housing of the wireless device 2 can be assembled by engaging the first member 21 and the second member 22 without obstructing the arrangement of the antenna element 26.

  Similarly to FIG. 12, by providing a magnetic body in the partition portion 25 or forming the partition portion 25 with a material having a relatively high relative permeability, the antenna element 26 can be downsized and electromagnetic waves on both sides of the partition portion 25 can be reduced. Shielding is also possible.

  According to the second embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to obtain an additional effect that the degree of freedom in antenna design is improved and the effect of miniaturization of the antenna and electromagnetic shielding can be expected.

  In the description of each of the embodiments described above, the shape, configuration, arrangement, and the like of the members and antenna elements that constitute the housing are examples, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The figure showing the structure of the edge part of the radio | wireless apparatus which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the shape of an antenna element according to the first embodiment. Sectional drawing showing the shape of the member for housing | casing based on Example 1, and an antenna element. The figure showing the position of the connection member which concerns on Example 1, and the connection method with an antenna element. The figure showing the 1st modification of the position of the connection member which concerns on Example 1, and the connection method with an antenna element. The figure showing the 2nd modification of the position of the connection member which concerns on Example 1, and the connection method with an antenna element. The figure showing the 3rd modification of the position of the connection member which concerns on Example 1, and the connection method with an antenna element. The figure explaining an example of the shape and positional relationship of the board | substrate in the case of FIG. 7, a connection member, and a partition part. The figure showing the 4th modification of the position of the connection member which concerns on Example 1, and the connection method with an antenna element. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a modified example having an additional antenna element of the wireless device according to the first embodiment. The figure showing the structure of the edge part of the radio | wireless apparatus which concerns on Example 2 of this invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a first modification of the structure of the wireless device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a second modification example of the structure of the wireless device according to the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1, 2 Radio device 10 Housing 11, 21 First member 11a First member upper surface 11b, 11c, 11d First member slope 12, 22 Second member 13, 23 Substrate 14, 24 Connection member 15, 25 Partition Portions 16, 26 Antenna elements 16a, 26a Feed end 16b End end 17 Additional antenna element 28 Magnetic body

Claims (7)

A housing formed of a member formed at least partially in a planar shape, and having a partition portion formed of a magnetic material at least partially formed on the inner surface,
A substrate housed in the housing and provided with a power supply circuit and a ground pattern;
An antenna element including a conductor provided in a range partitioned by the partition portion of the inner surface of the housing;
A wireless device comprising: a connection member that connects the power feeding circuit and the antenna element. A housing formed of a member formed at least partially in a planar shape, and having a partition portion formed of a magnetic material at least partially formed on the inner surface,
A substrate housed in the housing and provided with a power supply circuit and a ground pattern;
An antenna element including a conductor provided in a range partitioned by the partition portion of the inner surface of the housing , at least a part of which is provided in the partition portion ;
A wireless device comprising: a connection member that connects the power feeding circuit and the antenna element. A housing formed of a member formed at least partially in a planar shape, and having a partition portion provided in a protruding shape on the inner surface;
A substrate housed in the housing and provided with a power supply circuit and a ground pattern;
The housing Ri Na comprise conductor provided in a range partitioned by the partition portion of the inner surface of an antenna element at least partially provided in the partition portion,
A radio apparatus comprising: a connecting member that connects the power feeding circuit or the ground pattern and the antenna element in the partition portion . A housing formed of a member formed at least partially in a planar shape, and having a partition portion provided in a protruding shape on the inner surface;
A substrate housed in the housing and provided with a power supply circuit and a ground pattern;
An antenna element including a conductor provided in a range partitioned by the partition portion of the inner surface of the housing;
A connection member for connecting the power feeding circuit and the antenna element ;
An additional antenna element that is made of a conductor provided in a range adjacent to the range where the antenna element is provided across the partition portion on the inner surface of the housing, and that is fed separately from the antenna element . A wireless device characterized by the above. A first member and a second member, each of which is at least partially formed in a planar shape, facing each other, and the second member has a casing in which a partition portion is provided in a protruding shape on the inner surface;
A substrate housed in the housing and provided with a power supply circuit;
An antenna element made of a conductor provided in the vicinity of the partition portion on the inner surface of the first member;
A wireless device comprising: a connection member that connects the power feeding circuit and the antenna element. It said connecting member is a resilient member, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that connection by the action of elastic force between the feeder circuit and the antenna elements Wireless devices. The wireless device according to claim 3 , wherein at least a part of the partition portion is made of a magnetic material.

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