JP6283913B2 - Wireless unit - Google Patents

Description

  The present disclosure relates to a wireless unit that performs communication using microwaves or millimeter waves.

  Since microwaves and millimeter waves are wavelengths close to light and have high straightness, it is important to set the directivity of the antenna used for communication using this wavelength. For example, Patent Documents 1 to 3 disclose conventional techniques that can arbitrarily set the directivity of the antenna. These patent documents disclose a technique for setting directivity using a lens.

JP 2012-147135 A JP-A-11-004118 US Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0249388

  However, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, the distance between the antenna and the lens is made variable so that the gain is changed by changing the focal length, and the lens position is changed. The directivity variable by is only a half-value angle, and the main beam direction cannot be changed.

  Further, in the invention described in Patent Document 2, the directivity is changed by changing the shape of the lens. However, it is necessary to determine the directivity in advance and prepare a lens corresponding to the directivity. If there is a change in the directivity specification, the lens must be redesigned and a lens with a highly accurate curvature must be manufactured again.

  In the invention described in Patent Document 3, the directivity is changed by disposing the lens above the antenna, but no description of the lens fixing method is found. Although the lens mounting accuracy greatly affects the directivity characteristics, the description is not found.

  The present disclosure has been made in view of such circumstances, and can change the directivity variable range as much as possible, can reduce the design change of parts as much as possible, and is high in mounting when using a lens. A wireless unit that does not require accuracy is provided.

The wireless unit according to the present disclosure includes a first housing, an antenna element provided in the first housing, and a taper shape that is attached to the first housing and corresponds to the antenna element. A second casing having an opening formed thereon, and a dielectric sheet attached to the outside of the second casing so as to close the opening of the second casing, the dielectric sheet comprising: A dielectric portion having a dielectric constant different from that of the dielectric sheet is provided at a position corresponding to a part of the opening of the second casing.

  According to the present disclosure, the directivity can be varied only by changing the size of the opening of the second housing, and therefore the directivity variable range can be widened. In addition, even if there is a change in the directivity specification, it is only necessary to make the size of the opening of the second housing commensurate with that, so that the design changes of parts are minimized as compared with the case of redesigning the lens. it can. In addition, when using a lens, a lens having a shape that fits into the opening of the second housing is prepared, and the lens can be mounted with high precision simply by housing the lens in the opening of the second housing. Become.

Side sectional view showing a configuration of a wireless unit according to Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a plan view of the wireless unit of FIG. 1 viewed from above. Side sectional view which shows the structure of the radio | wireless unit which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. Side sectional view which shows the structure of the radio | wireless unit which concerns on Embodiment 3. FIG. Side sectional view which shows the structure of the radio | wireless unit which concerns on Embodiment 4. FIG. Side sectional view showing a configuration of a wireless unit according to Embodiment 5 Side sectional view showing a configuration of a wireless unit according to Embodiment 6 Side sectional view showing a configuration of a wireless unit according to Embodiment 7 Side sectional view showing a configuration of a wireless unit according to Embodiment 8 Side sectional view showing a configuration of a wireless unit according to Embodiment 9 Side sectional view showing a configuration of a wireless unit according to Embodiment 10 Side sectional view showing a configuration of a wireless unit according to Embodiment 11 Side sectional view showing a configuration of a wireless unit according to Embodiment 12

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Background to obtaining one form of the present disclosure)
Patent Document 1 discloses an antenna that radiates radio waves, a lens antenna that changes the directivity of radio waves radiated from the antenna, a cylindrical lens antenna holding portion that holds the lens antenna, and the lens antenna of the lens antenna. A screw capable of changing the mounting position with respect to the holding portion is described. Patent Document 2 describes an airtight sealing means that is an antenna element formed on a substrate and a replaceable lens disposed above the antenna element. Patent Document 3 describes a planar antenna and a reflector or lens antenna disposed above the planar antenna.

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1, the focal length is changed by changing the distance between the antenna and the lens antenna so that the gain of the lens antenna is changed. In the technique described in Patent Document 2, the directivity of radio waves can be arbitrarily set by changing the shape of the lens. In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 3, a radio wave radiation pattern can be changed by disposing a lens antenna or a reflector above a planar antenna.

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, the directivity can be changed by changing the position of the lens antenna with a screw, but the directivity variable range is small. In the technique described in Patent Document 2, the directivity is made variable by changing the shape of the lens. However, the shape of the lens needs to be determined in advance according to the directivity, and the directivity specification is The lens needs to be redesigned if it changes. Moreover, in the technique described in Patent Document 3, there is no description of a method for fixing the lens and the reflector. That is, although the accuracy of attaching the lens and the reflector greatly affects the characteristics, there is no description thereof.

  In the following, a wireless unit is described in which the directivity variable range can be widened, the design change of parts can be minimized, and when a lens is used, high accuracy is not required for the attachment.

(Embodiment 1)
1 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of a wireless unit according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the wireless unit of FIG. 1 as viewed from above. 1 and 2, the wireless unit 1 according to the present embodiment is housed in a first housing 2 having a rectangular shape and a U-shaped cross section, and the first housing 2. A wireless unit substrate 5 on which a wireless module 4 having an antenna element 3 operating in the millimeter wave band is mounted on a part of a surface of the first housing 2 facing the opening side; And a second housing 6 having an opening 6 a at a position corresponding to the antenna element 3 of the wireless module 4.

  The first housing 2 serves as an attachment surface on the side where the wireless unit 1 is attached to an object such as a wireless communication device, and the second housing 6 serves as a radiation surface on the side that emits radio waves. Both the first casing 2 and the second casing 6 are made of metal. The wireless module 4 mounted on the wireless unit substrate 5 is obtained by mounting the antenna element 3 and the wireless IC module (not shown) on a module substrate (not shown) using, for example, a multilayer substrate with IC wiring. It is. In the present embodiment, eight antenna elements 3 are mounted on the wireless module 4, but four of them are arranged in two rows as shown in FIG. 2.

  As shown in FIG. 2, board fixing screw holes 5 a for attaching the wireless unit board 5 to the first housing 2 are formed in the four corner portions of the wireless unit board 5. The wireless unit substrate 5 is attached to the first housing 2 through the substrate fixing screw 7 through these substrate fixing screw holes 5a. A spacer 8 is inserted between the first housing 2 and the wireless unit substrate 5 at the mounting position of the substrate fixing screw 7 to separate the wireless unit substrate 5 from the first housing 2. The spacer 8 is made of metal or resin. Similarly, the second housing 6 is also provided with housing fitting screw holes 6b for fixing the second housing 6 to the first housing 2 at the four corners. The second housing 6 is attached to the first housing 2 through the housing fitting screw 9 through the housing fitting screw hole 6b.

  The opening 6a of the second housing 6 has a substantially square shape, and when the second housing 6 is attached to the first housing 2, the center thereof coincides with the centers of the eight antenna elements 3. It is formed in the position to do. The opening 6a of the second housing 6 is formed in a tapered shape in which the opening area on the upper surface side of the second housing 6 is larger than the opening area on the lower surface side. The opening 6a of the second housing 6 may have any shape as long as it does not affect the antenna radiation pattern (the hatched portion in FIG. 1) Rp of the antenna element 3. Further, the end of the opening 6 a of the second housing 6 may be separated from each antenna element 3 by ½ wavelength or more. Radio waves from each of the eight antenna elements 3 are radiated from the opening 6 a of the second housing 6. The antenna radiation pattern Rp from the opening 6a of the second housing 6 has an elliptical shape as shown in FIG. This antenna radiation pattern Rp has a shape close to a circle in the direction in which the opening 6a of the second housing 6 expands, and becomes a vertically long ellipse in the direction in which the antenna 6 narrows. The directivity of the radio wave becomes weaker as the antenna radiation pattern Rp becomes nearly circular, and conversely becomes stronger as it becomes a vertically long shape.

  As described above, according to the wireless unit 1 according to the present embodiment, the directivity can be varied simply by changing the taper shape of the opening 6a of the second housing 6, and therefore the directivity variable range can be widened. Can do. Even if there is a change in the directivity specification, it is only necessary to make the opening 6a of the second housing 6 a shape corresponding to that, so the design of the parts can be changed compared to the case of redesigning the lens. You can do as little as possible.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of the wireless unit according to the second embodiment. 3 that are the same as those in FIG. 1 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. In the figure, a wireless unit 30 according to the present embodiment is configured such that a metal casing cover 11 for changing the directivity of the antenna element 3 is mounted on the upper surface of the second casing 6. The housing cover 11 is provided with an opening 11a. The opening 11 a is formed at a position where the center coincides with the center of the opening 6 a of the second housing 6 when the housing cover 11 is attached to the second housing 6. The opening 11a of the casing cover 11 is formed in a square shape, and the size thereof is smaller than the opening 6a of the second casing 6 formed in a tapered shape (the second casing of the opening 6a). The lower surface side of the body 6). By reducing the opening 11a for radiating radio waves, the directivity of the radio waves can be narrowed. In this way, by attaching the housing cover 11 for changing the directivity of the antenna element 3 to the upper surface of the second housing 6, the directivity can be easily changed.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of the wireless unit according to the third embodiment. 4 that are the same as those in FIG. 1 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. In the figure, a wireless unit 31 according to the present embodiment is configured such that a metal casing cover 12 for changing the directivity of the antenna element 3 is mounted on the upper surface of the second casing 6. 3 differs from the case cover 11 shown in FIG. 3 described above in that it is formed thin and the opening 12a provided in the case cover 12 is not equal to the four sides above the antenna element 3. is there. As shown in FIG. 4, in the case of the present embodiment, the housing cover 12 has its opening portion 12 a on the right side with respect to the opening portion 6 a of the second housing 6, and its left side portion (that is, A left portion (12b as viewed in FIG. 4) largely covers the antenna element 3. By adopting such a shape, the antenna radiation pattern Rp is inclined in the right direction. In this manner, the directivity can be easily changed by mounting the housing cover 12 for changing the directivity of the antenna element 3 on the upper surface of the second housing 6.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of the wireless unit according to the fourth embodiment. 5 that are the same as those in FIG. 1 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. In the figure, the wireless unit 32 according to the present embodiment is configured such that a metal casing spacer 13 for changing the directivity of the antenna element 3 is mounted on the lower surface of the second casing 6. The case spacer 13 is formed to be as thin as the case cover 12 shown in FIG. The housing spacer 13 is provided with an opening 13a, and the opening 13a is not made equal to the four sides above the antenna element 3 in the same manner as the housing cover 12 of the third embodiment described above. Thus, the directivity of the antenna element 3 is changed. In FIG. 5, the antenna radiation pattern Rp is inclined rightward because the left side portion (left side portion in FIG. 5) 13 b of the housing spacer 13 is covered above the antenna element 3.

(Embodiment 5)
FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of the wireless unit according to the fifth embodiment. 6 that are the same as those in FIG. 1 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In the figure, the radio unit 33 according to the present embodiment is mounted with a dielectric sheet 14 made of resin (for example, ABS resin) for changing the directivity of the antenna element 3 on the lower surface of the second housing 6. It is a thing. Air is present in the space above the antenna element 3 and in the space of the opening 6a of the second housing 6, and a dielectric sheet 14 having a relative dielectric constant other than “1” is provided between them. Thus, the directivity changes because the radio wave radiated from the antenna element 3 is refracted on the surface of the dielectric sheet 14. The change depends on the distance, thickness, and dielectric constant between the antenna element 3 and the dielectric sheet 14, and the half-value angle can be narrowed or widened. In addition, by providing the dielectric sheet 14, it is possible to prevent rain and dirt from entering the wireless unit 33.

(Embodiment 6)
FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of the wireless unit according to the sixth embodiment. 7 that are the same as those in FIGS. 1 and 6 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. In the figure, a radio unit 34 according to the present embodiment is obtained by attaching a dielectric sheet 14 for changing the directivity of the antenna element 3 to the upper surface of the second housing 6. In the fifth embodiment described above, the dielectric sheet 14 is mounted on the lower surface of the second housing 6, but the same effect can be obtained by mounting it on the upper surface of the second housing 6. In the present embodiment, the provision of the dielectric sheet 14 can prevent rain and dirt from entering the wireless unit 34.

(Embodiment 7)
FIG. 8 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of the wireless unit according to the seventh embodiment. 8 that are the same as those in FIG. 1 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. In the figure, the wireless unit 35 according to the present embodiment has a dielectric sheet 15 made of resin (for example, ABS resin) having dielectric parts 16 having different dielectric constants mounted on the upper surface of the second casing 6. Is. The dielectric sheet 15 is also for changing the directivity of the antenna element 3. The dielectric sheet 15 has a dielectric part 16 having a dielectric constant different from that of the dielectric sheet 15 in a part of a portion corresponding to the opening 6 a of the second housing 6. The dielectric portion 16 is also made of resin (for example, ABS resin), but has a dielectric constant higher than that of the dielectric sheet 15. In the present embodiment, the dielectric portion 16 is provided on the dielectric sheet 15 so that the dielectric portion 16 comes to the center of the opening 6 a of the second housing 6. By arranging in this way, the gain in the front direction can be reduced. Since the dielectric part 16 has a radio wave transmission characteristic different from that of the dielectric sheet 15 itself, the dielectric constant can be obtained by mixing a part of metal particles, using a dielectric having a different dielectric loss tangent, or making a small air hole. You may make it lower. In the present embodiment, the provision of the dielectric sheet 15 can prevent rain and dirt from entering the wireless unit 35.

(Embodiment 8)
FIG. 9 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of the wireless unit according to the eighth embodiment. 9 that are the same as those in FIG. 1 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. In the figure, the radio unit 36 according to the present embodiment has a metal housing cover 17 in which an opening 17a is bent from above the antenna element 3 in the module plane direction on the upper surface of the second housing 6. It is a thing. By using the housing cover 17 having such a shape, the radio wave from the antenna element 3 is radiated in the module plane direction. The directivity of the antenna element 3 is approximately the same as that of the opening 11a of the housing cover 11 of FIG. 3 in which the size of the opening 17a is the same. The directivity is narrowed by forming the opening 17a small, and the directivity is widened by forming it large. In this way, the directivity can be easily changed by mounting the housing cover 17 for changing the directivity of the antenna element 3 on the upper surface of the second housing 6.

  In the present embodiment, the direction of the opening 17a is changed in the module plane direction, but it may be changed in an oblique direction or a back surface direction.

(Embodiment 9)
FIG. 10 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of the wireless unit according to the ninth embodiment. 10 that are the same as those in FIG. 1 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. In the figure, the wireless unit 37 according to the present embodiment is provided with a metal housing cover 18 having an opening 18a as a twist waveguide or a circulator waveguide on the upper surface of the second housing 6. It is a thing. In this case, the polarized wave radiated from the antenna element 3 can be rotated by making the opening 18 a of the housing cover 18 a twisted waveguide. Further, by making the opening 18a of the housing cover 18 a circulator waveguide, the linearly polarized wave can be changed to a circularly polarized wave. It goes without saying that the influence of the reflected wave from the periphery can be changed by changing the polarization.

(Embodiment 10)
FIG. 11 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of the wireless unit according to the tenth embodiment. 11 that are the same as those in FIG. 1 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. In the figure, a wireless unit 38 according to the present embodiment has a convex lens 20 attached to an opening 19 a of a second housing 19. The opening 19 a of the second housing 19 is formed in a cylindrical shape having the same size on both the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the second housing 19. A lens 20 is attached to the opening 19a. Needless to say, the opening 19 a of the second housing 19 is provided at a position corresponding to the antenna element 3 of the wireless module 4. Since the lens 20 can change the path of the radio wave radiated from the antenna element 3, any directivity can be obtained by changing the thickness, curvature, and dielectric constant of the dielectric used.

(Embodiment 11)
FIG. 12 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of the wireless unit according to the eleventh embodiment. 12 that are the same as those in FIGS. 1 and 11 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. In the figure, a radio unit 39 according to the present embodiment is configured by mounting a metal casing cover 21 on the upper surface of the second casing 19 in addition to the same configuration as that of the tenth embodiment described above. is there. An opening 21 a is formed in the housing cover 21 at a position corresponding to the antenna element 3 of the wireless module 4, and the size thereof is smaller than the opening 19 a of the second housing 19. Although the case cover 21 uses the path (a) of the radio wave radiated from the antenna element 3 for communication, the path (b) of the radio wave radiated from the antenna element 3 is blocked by the case cover 21. Does not reach the other party. The directivity is narrowed down.

(Embodiment 12)
FIG. 13 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of the wireless unit according to the twelfth embodiment. 13 that are the same as those in FIGS. 1 and 11 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. In the figure, a wireless unit 40 according to the present embodiment is obtained by mounting a dielectric sheet 22 made of resin (for example, ABS resin) on the lower surface of a second casing 19. If the case of only the lens 20 as shown in FIG. 11 is an initial radiation pattern, by providing the dielectric sheet 22, the path of the radio wave radiated from the antenna element 3 can be changed as shown in the path (c). it can. In the present embodiment, assuming that the radiation pattern shown in FIG. 11 is an initial setting, the beam is changed to a form in which the beam is expanded.

  In the first to fourth, fourth, eighth, and ninth embodiments described above, the opening 6a of the second housing 6 is hollow. However, since the opening 6a only allows radio waves to pass through, for example, air It is good also as an airtight structure by filling with dielectrics other than (for example, ABS resin) or sealing one part. In the above-described fifth to seventh embodiments, the opening portions 6a of the second housing 6 are closed by the dielectrics 14 and 15 to form an airtight structure. In the tenth and eleventh embodiments described above, the opening 19a of the second casing 19 is closed by the lens 20, and in the twelfth embodiment described above, the second casing is formed by the lens 20 and the dielectric sheet 22. The opening 19a of the body 19 is blocked.

  As mentioned above, although Embodiment 1-12 was demonstrated referring drawings, it cannot be overemphasized that this indication is not limited to this example. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present disclosure. Understood.

(Overview of one aspect of the present disclosure)
A first wireless unit of the present disclosure includes a first housing, an antenna element provided in the first housing, and an opening that is attached to the first housing and corresponds to the antenna element. A second housing having a portion.

  Moreover, the 2nd radio | wireless unit of this indication is a 1st radio | wireless unit, Comprising: The opening part of the said 2nd housing | casing is formed in the taper shape.

  Further, the third wireless unit of the present disclosure is a first wireless unit or a second wireless unit, which is attached to the outside of the second housing, and is an opening of the second housing. A housing cover having openings of different sizes is provided.

  In addition, the fourth wireless unit of the present disclosure is a third wireless unit, and the opening of the housing cover has a center position different from the opening of the second housing.

  Further, the fifth wireless unit of the present disclosure is a first wireless unit or a second wireless unit, and is attached to the inside of the second casing, and is an opening of the second casing. A housing spacer having openings of different sizes is provided.

  In addition, the sixth wireless unit of the present disclosure is a fifth wireless unit, and the opening of the housing spacer has a center position different from the opening of the second housing.

  The seventh wireless unit of the present disclosure is the first wireless unit or the second wireless unit, and is attached to the inside of the second housing so as to close the opening of the second housing. Provided with a dielectric sheet.

  The eighth wireless unit of the present disclosure is the first wireless unit or the second wireless unit, and is attached to the outside of the second housing so as to close the opening of the second housing. Provided with a dielectric sheet.

  Further, a ninth wireless unit of the present disclosure is an eighth wireless unit, and the dielectric sheet is disposed at a position corresponding to a part of the opening of the second housing of the dielectric sheet. Were provided with dielectric parts having different dielectric constants.

  The tenth wireless unit of the present disclosure is a third wireless unit, and the opening of the housing cover is formed by bending so that the open end of the opening faces in the horizontal direction.

  An eleventh wireless unit of the present disclosure is a third wireless unit, and the opening of the housing cover is formed as a twist waveguide or a circulator waveguide.

  The twelfth wireless unit of the present disclosure is the first wireless unit, and a lens is provided in the opening of the second casing.

  A thirteenth wireless unit according to the present disclosure is a twelfth wireless unit, and includes a housing cover that is mounted on the outside of the second housing so as to cover a part of the lens.

  In addition, the fourteenth wireless unit according to the present disclosure is a twelfth wireless unit that is attached to the inside of the second casing so as to cover the lens provided in the opening of the second casing. Provided with a dielectric sheet.

  The fifteenth wireless unit of the present disclosure is any one of the first to fourteenth wireless units, and the antenna element operates in a millimeter wave band.

  The present disclosure is useful for a wireless communication device that performs communication using microwaves or millimeter waves.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,30-40 Wireless unit 2 1st housing | casing 3 Antenna element 4 Wireless module 5 Wireless unit board | substrate 5a Hole for board | substrate fixation screw 6,19 2nd housing | casing 6a Opening part 6b Hole for housing | casing fitting screw 7 Board | substrate Fixing screw 8 Spacer 9 Housing fitting screw 11, 12, 17, 18, 21 Housing cover 11a, 12a, 13a, 17a, 18a, 19a, 21a Opening 13 Housing spacer 14, 15, 22 Dielectric sheet 16 Dielectric part 20 Lens

Claims (2)

A first housing;
An antenna element provided in the first housing;
A second casing attached to the first casing and having an opening formed in a tapered shape at a position corresponding to the antenna element;
A dielectric sheet attached to the outside of the second casing so as to close the opening of the second casing;
The wireless unit, wherein the dielectric sheet has a dielectric part having a dielectric constant different from that of the dielectric sheet at a position corresponding to a part of the opening of the second casing. The antenna element, the radio unit according to claim 1 that operates in the millimeter wave band.

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