SE9903482A0

SE9903482A0 - Antenna device

Info

Publication number: SE9903482A0
Application number: SE9903482A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Nilsson Felix
Original assignee: Allgon Ab
Priority date: 1999-09-27
Filing date: 1999-09-27
Publication date: 2001-03-28
Also published as: AU7820600A; WO2001024311A1; SE9903482D0; SE9903482L

Abstract

ABSTRACT An antenna module comprises a frame (20) with connecting means for providing electrical contact with a piece of electric equipment of a printed circuit board, and an antenna body (10) having at least one antenna element (12) provided on said body, said antenna body being mounted to said frame. The antenna body comprises an electrically conducting layer (14a, 14b) provided on said body, electrically connected to the antenna element and adapted for co-operation with a connector (22a, 22b) of the connecting means of the frame, thereby electrically connecting the antenna element to the piece of electric equipment.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION . The present invention relates generally to an antenna device adapted for connection to a radio communication device such as a mobile phone.

BACKGROUND Many prior art antennas for radio communication devices such as mobile phones are attached to the phone housing by means of a screw or a snap-in connection which provides fastening as well as electrical connection. However, a problem of these prior art antennas is the inflexibility in the manufacturing of antennas. The connecting means is adapted for each application with corresponding inflexibility of manufacturing.

The European patent application no. 98660007.0 discloses a method of connecting an antenna wherein connecting means comprise a first and a second contact pin forming two opposed contacts pins. The connecting means are adapted for connecting an external antenna to e.g. a PCMCIA card.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION• An object of the present invention is to provide an antenna device, which is easy to change and assemble.

Another object is to provide an antenna device with at least two matching antenna elements.

Another object is to provide an antenna device with matching electric components.

Another object is to provide an antenna module comprising an antenna device. 2 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is based on the realisation that a combination of PCB connectors and resilient contacts provides a flexible solution to the connection of an antenna device to electric circuitry of a portable telecommunications device such as a mobile phone.

According to the invention there is provided an antenna device comprising a body, at least one antenna element provided on &aid body, and at least one connecting means adapted for electrical connection to a piece of electric equipment, characterised in that said connecting means comprises an electrically conducting layer provided on said body, electrically connected to the antenna element and adapted for co-operation with a connector electrically connected to the piece of electric equipment, thereby electrically connecting the antenna element to the piece of electric equipment.

There is also provided an antenna module comprising: a frame comprising connecting means for providing electrical contact with a piece of electric equipment of a printed circuit board, and an antenna body having at least one antenna element provided on said body, said antenna body being mounted to said frame, wherein the antenna body comprises an electrically conducting layer provided on said body, electrically connected to the antenna element and adapted for co-operation with a connector of the connecting means of the frame, thereby electrically connecting the antenna element to the piece of electric equipment.

A radio communication device comprising such an antenna device or antenna module is also provided. 3 Further preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: fig. 1 is an overview of a frame of an antenna module according to the invention; fig. 2 is a view of the antenna module of fig. 1 with an antenna PCB partly inserted into the frame; fig. 3 is a view of the antenna module with the antenna PCB fully inserted into the frame; fig. 4 is a view of the frame mounted to a telephone circuit card of a mobile phone; fig. 5 is a an overview of a second embodiment of an antenna module according to the invention; and fig. 6 is a view of the antenna module of fig. 5 in assembled condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the following a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described. In fig. 1 there is shown a frame, generally designated 20, for mounting of a flat rectangular printed circuit board (PCB) 10 comprising a laminate with an antenna pattern 12 thereon, see fig 2. The pattern 12 is provided on the laminate by means of conventional technology such as etching or printing.

At one end portion of the PCB 10 there is provided an edge connector in the form of two conducting parts 14a, 14b in 4 electrical contact with the antenna pattern 12, the function of which conducting parts will be explained below.

The PCB 10 is adapted to be mounted to a flat surface of the "pool table" shaped frame 20. The frame 20 supports two spring leaf contacts 22a, 22b adapted for co-operation with the edge connector 14a, 14b. The contacts 22a, 22b are riveted to a respective contact pin 24a, 24b, see fig. 1. The contact pins connect to an underlying PCB comprising electric circuitry, etc. of a mobile phone, which will be explained later with reference to fig. 4.

During mounting of the PCB 10 it is simply slid onto the frame 20, see fig. 2, and into contact with the spring leaf contacts 22a, 22b. The frame is provided with a border 26a, 26b along the long sides of its upper surface. The function of the borders is to guide the PCB 10 and to keep it in position after mounting. To that end two protrusions 28a, 28b are provided close to an end portion thereof, see fig. 1, preventing the accidental removal of the PCB 10. The PCB 10 is also held in place by means of the force exerted by the contacts 22a, 22b.

The upper surface of the frame 20 is also provided with a longitudinal groove 30, the function of which is twofold. Firstly, it facilitates mounting of the PCB 10 onto the frame 20. Secondly, in case electric components are mounted on the underside of the PCB 10, the groove provides a space for these components. Thus, the groove 30 can have any suitable width.

The assembled module comprising the PCB 10 and the frame 20 is shown in fig. 3. It is there shown how the spring leaf contacts 22a, 22b are wrapped around the edge of the PCB f eft in the area of the edge connectors 14a, 14b, thus establishing contact there between. It is also shown how the protrusions 28a, 28b prevent the PCB 10 from sliding out of contact with the spring leaf contacts. During intentional removal of the PCB 10, it is simply lifted above the protrusions and pulled out of the frame 20.

In fig. 4 the module is snap fitted to an underlying main board 40 of a mobile phone and mounted directly above a shielding box 42. The legs of the frame end in a respective hook 32a, 32b, gripping around the edges of the underlying board. The spring leaf contacts then contacts the underlying board by means of the contact pins 24a, 24b.

The antenna device according to the invention provides several advantages. Firstly, the antenna pattern is very easy to provide on the laminate 10, being a conventional, rectangular board. It also enables easy changes of the antenna pattern for a piece of electric equipment during development work or later. During e.g. service, the PCB 10 is simply exchanged for another with a different antenna pattern 12. It is also easy to manufacture and assemble.

A second embodiment of an antenna device and module will now be described with reference to figs. 5 and 6. The module comprises a PCB 110 with an antenna pattern 112 connected to contact surfaces 114a, 114b. These contact surfaces are connected to corresponding surfaces (not shown) on the under side of the PCB 110 by means of e.g. through holes (not shown). Antenna patterns can thus be provided on one or both sides of the PCB. The PCB is attached to a frame 120 by means of a double-sided adhesive film 130. 6 The frame comprises two contact pins 124a, 124b provided with resilient spring connectors 122a, 122b. After assembly of the PCB 110 and the frame 120, the connectors 122a, 122b rest on a respective contact area (not shown) on the under side of the PCB 110, thereby providing electrical contact between the antenna pattern(s) of the PCB 110 and the frame 120. The contact pins 124a, 124b can then be brought into electrical contact with e.g. an underlying PCB (not shown) or the like.

In the figures, an exemplary antenna pattern has been shown. It can of course have any suitable shape, depending on its characteristics.

In the described embodiments, the connector of the PCB 10, 110 comprises two parts. There could of course be any suitable number of contact points between the PCB 10, 110 and the frame 20, 120. Also, the width of the contact points could be adapted to specific applications.

It is also possible to provide an antenna pattern on both sides of the PCB 10 of the first embodiment. In that case, there could be provided separate spring leaf connectors for the lower antenna pattern.

The spring leaf connectors have been shown riveted to contact pins contacting a underlying PCB such as a telephone circuit card. It is realised that the spring leaf connectors could be connected to the electric circuitry in any suitable way such as by being soldered directly thereto.

Also, it is very easy to mount electric components on the PCB 10, 110 such as discrete electric components or components integrated into the antenna pattern.

The frame 20 has been shown provided with hooks for snap fitting. The mounting of the frame can also be by means of e.g. screw fastening, gluing etc.

Although the frame connectors have been shown as spring leaf connectors, any suitable connector can be used.

The PCBs 10, 110 have been shown with an essentially rectangular shape. They can have any suitable shape such as tapered etc.

Claims

1. An antenna device comprising a body (10;110), at least one antenna element (12;112) provided on said body, and at least one connecting means adapted for electrical connection to a piece of electric equipment, characterised in that said connecting means comprises an electrically conducting layer (14a, 14b;114a, 114b) provided on said body, electrically connected to the antenna element and adapted for co-operation with a connector (22a, 22b; 122a, 122b) electrically connected to the piece of electric equipment, thereby electrically connecting the antenna element to the piece of electric equipment.

2. An antenna device according to claim 1, char- acterised i n that said connector (22a, 22b; 122a, 122b) is essentially U-shaped, whereby it grips around an edge of the body (10) in connected position.

3. An antenna device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the body (10;110) comprises an essentially flat laminate.

4. An antenna device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised by at least two antenna elements, one on each side of the body.

5. An antenna device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the body (10;110) comprises discrete electric components, preferably components for matching the antenna element. 9

6. An antenna device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the body (10;110) comprises electric components integrated into the antenna element, preferably components for matching the antenna element.

7. An antenna device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the piece of electric equipment is an RE' part of the electric circuitry of a radio communication device.

8. An antenna device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connector (22a, 22b; 122a, 122b) is a resilient connector, preferably a spring leaf connector.

9. An antenna module comprising: a frame (20;120) comprising connecting means for providing electrical contact with a piece of electric equipment of a printed circuit board, and an antenna body (10;110) having at least one antenna element (12;112) provided on said body, said antenna body being mounted to said frame, wherein the antenna body comprises an electrically conducting layer (14a, 14b;114a, 114b) provided on said body, electrically connected to the antenna element and adapted for co-operation with a connector (22a, 22b; 122a, 122b) of the connecting means of the frame, thereby electrically connecting the antenna element to the piece of electric equipment. 10

10. A module according to claim 9, characterised in that said frame (20) comprises means (32a, 32b) adapted for mounting to a printed circuit board.

11. A module according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the upper surface of said frame (20) comprises borders along the sides thereof for releasable mounting of the antenna device (10) to said frame (20) .

12. A module according to any of claims 9-11, characterised in that said antenna element (12) is adapted to be mounted substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said printed circuit board.

13. A radio communication device, characterised by an antenna device or antenna module according to any of the preceding claims. 1/3