WO2024034421A1

WO2024034421A1 - Wireless communication device

Info

Publication number: WO2024034421A1
Application number: PCT/JP2023/027573
Authority: WO
Inventors: 崚太奥田; 康太郎榎本; 康夫森本; 健一岩上; 翔熊谷
Original assignee: Ａｇｃ株式会社
Priority date: 2022-08-10
Filing date: 2023-07-27
Publication date: 2024-02-15

Abstract

Provided is a wireless communication device that is capable of relaying radio waves and is attachable to window glass which can be opened and closed.　The wireless communication device comprises: an antenna that has an antenna element and a phase shifter connected to the antenna element, and is disposed overlapping a dielectric plate of window glass having the dielectric plate; a relay part that is arranged on the window glass and relays radio waves received by the antenna; a control unit that is arranged on the window glass and controls an amount of phase change of the radio waves in the phase shifter; a power-receiving unit that is arranged on the window glass and supplies received power to the phase shifter, the relay part, and the control unit; and a wireless power-feeding unit that is arranged to a structure surrounding the window glass and wirelessly supplies power to the power-receiving unit.

Description

wireless communication device

The present disclosure relates to a wireless communication device.

Conventionally, there are relay systems that enable the introduction of signals into buildings, and that include a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit is located outside the building and receives the millimeter wave signal and converts it to a first format. A second circuit is located inside the building and communicatively linked to the first circuit to receive the first type of millimeter wave signal and convert the second type of signal into a second type for transmission to a wireless device within the building. Convert. Further, the first circuit is provided on the outer surface of the building of the glass plate of the window glass, the second circuit is provided on the inner surface of the building of the glass plate of the window glass, and the first circuit is provided between the first circuit and the second circuit. describes that power is supplied using an optical dielectric or an optical power coupler (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP2019-518355A

By the way, conventional relay systems supply power via a glass plate between a first circuit and a second circuit that are fixed on both sides of a single glass plate. It is difficult to accommodate a configuration in which the window glass opens and closes like this, and there is no specific disclosure.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless communication device that can be attached to a window glass that can be opened and closed and can relay radio waves.

A wireless communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes an antenna element, a phase shifter connected to the antenna element, and an antenna disposed overlapping the dielectric plate of a window glass having a dielectric plate. , a relay unit disposed on the window glass that relays radio waves received by the antenna; a control unit disposed on the window glass that controls the amount of phase change of the radio waves in the phase shifter; a power receiving unit that is placed in a structure surrounding the window glass and supplies received power to the phase shifter, the relay unit, and the control unit; and a power receiving unit that is placed in a structure around the window glass and wirelessly supplies power to the power receiving unit. and a wireless power supply unit.

It is possible to provide a wireless communication device that can be attached to window glass that can be opened and closed and can relay radio waves.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a building in which a window in which a wireless communication device according to an embodiment is installed is installed. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a wireless communication device and an example of how it is attached to a building; FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a wireless communication device and an example of how it is attached to a building; FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a wireless communication device. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a circuit configuration of a wireless communication device. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a circuit configuration of a wireless communication device according to a first modification of the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a circuit configuration of a wireless communication device according to a second modification of the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a circuit configuration of a wireless communication device according to a third modification of the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the window of the 4th modification of embodiment. It is a figure which shows the window of the 5th modification of embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments to which the wireless communication device of the present disclosure is applied will be described. Hereinafter, the same elements may be denoted by the same numbers, and redundant explanations may be omitted.

Below, the XYZ coordinate system will be defined and explained. The direction parallel to the X axis (X direction), the direction parallel to the Y axis (Y direction), and the direction parallel to the Z axis (Z direction) are orthogonal to each other. The XYZ coordinate system is an example of a Cartesian coordinate system. Further, in the following, the length, thickness, thickness, etc. of each part may be exaggerated to make the configuration easier to understand. In addition, words such as "parallel," "perpendicular," "horizontal," "perpendicular," and "up and down" may be deviated to the extent that the effects of the embodiments are not impaired.

Furthermore, in the following explanation, "radio wave" is a type of electromagnetic wave, and generally, electromagnetic waves of 3 THz or less are called radio waves. Hereinafter, electromagnetic waves of 3 THz or less emitted from outdoor base stations or relay stations will be referred to as "radio waves," and when referring to electromagnetic waves in general, they will be referred to as "electromagnetic waves."

The radio waves relayed by the wireless communication device of the embodiment are preferably radio waves in a millimeter wave band such as a fifth generation mobile communication system (5G) or a frequency band of 1 GHz to 30 GHz including Sub-6. Furthermore, the radio waves relayed by the wireless communication device of the embodiment may be LTE (Long Term Evolution), LTE-A (LTE-Advanced), UMB (Ultra Mobile Broadband), or CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service). . Furthermore, the radio waves relayed by the wireless communication device of the embodiment include IEEE802.11 (Wi-Fi (registered trademark)), IEEE802.16 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE802.20, UWB (Ultra-Wideband), Bluetooth (registered trademark) or LPWA (Low Power Wide Area). As the frequency of radio waves increases, propagation loss due to reflection and diffraction increases, and dead zones are more likely to occur. Therefore, the wireless communication device of the embodiment is more suitable for communication using relatively high frequencies.

<Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a building 1 in which a window 10 in which a wireless communication device 100 according to an embodiment is installed is installed. The building 1 may be a detached house, a building, a condominium, etc., or a commercial facility such as a shopping mall or a department store, an airport, a factory, an electric power facility, a government building, a station (station building), or a bus stop building. . Windows 10 are used in these buildings 1. The window 10 includes a window glass and a window frame (window frame on the building 1 side). Wireless communication device 100 has a function as a relay device.

The radio waves emitted from the outdoor base station enter the building through the window glass of the window 10 of the building 1. The wall 1A of the building 1 acts as a shield for radio waves in the millimeter wave band, and either does not transmit the radio waves or significantly attenuates them. Radio waves in the millimeter wave band are already attenuated when they reach Building 1, and are further attenuated by the window glass. The window glass of the window 10 is an entry point for electromagnetic waves in the building 1.

Here, if the wireless communication device 100 is not installed, the radio waves will pass through the glass of the window 10 and go straight, so the area other than the line of sight (LOS) will become a dead zone and will not receive the radio waves. Can not.

Unlike conventional mobile communication systems such as 3G (Third Generation) and 4G (Fourth Generation), radio waves in the millimeter wave band are emitted from outdoor base stations to create a good communication environment indoors. Since this is difficult, the wireless communication device 100 is installed in the window 10 to improve the reception environment and expand the communication area. When relaying radio waves, the wireless communication device 100 receives the radio waves through the window glass of the window 10, amplifies and radiates the radio waves. In FIG. 1, the wireless communication device 100 is placed indoors, but it may be placed outdoors.

When relaying radio waves arriving from outside the window 10, the wireless communication device 100 amplifies the received radio waves and radiates the amplified radio waves at a predetermined radiation angle using an array antenna or the like. The amplified radio waves are radiated over a wide range indoors, making it easier for indoor terminals to receive the radio waves.

As an example, when relaying radio waves, the wireless communication device 100 may receive radio waves of multiple frequencies, amplify the radio waves, and radiate the radio waves. By relaying radio waves of multiple frequencies, the amplified radio waves can be radiated to a wider indoor area.

<Overview of wireless communication device 100 and manner of installation in building 1>
2A and 2B are diagrams showing an overview of the wireless communication device 100 and an example of how it is attached to the building 1. 2A and 2B show the window 10 as seen from the indoor side of the building 1. The wireless communication device 100 is installed indoors, for example.

In the following, the X direction and the Z direction are directions included in the horizontal plane. That is, the XZ plane is parallel to the horizontal plane. The Z direction is a direction that perpendicularly passes through the wall 1A and the window 10, the Y direction is a vertical direction, and the X direction is a direction to the left and right of the window 10. Therefore, the +X direction is the right direction toward the window 10, the -X direction is the left direction toward the window 10, the +Y direction is the vertically upward direction, and the -Y direction is the vertically downward direction. Furthermore, the following description will be made using the left and right directions when looking at the window 10 indoors. In addition, the +Y direction side is assumed to be the upper side, and the -Y direction side is assumed to be the lower side.

FIG. 2A shows a window 10 provided in the wall 1A of the building 1. The window 10 is a double-sliding window that includes a window frame 11 attached to a wall 1A perpendicular to a horizontal plane and a window glass 12. A window 10 as a double-sliding window has two panes 12. In FIG. 2A, the two panes 12 are completely closed. The positions of the two window glasses 12 in this state are an example of the first position.

Furthermore, for example, when the left window glass 12 is moved to the right end as shown in FIG. 2B, the left half of the window 10 becomes open. The position of the window glass 12 in the completely opened state is an example of the second position. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2A, when the two window glasses 12 are completely closed, the window glass 12 located on the left side is offset in the -Z direction side (outdoor side) with respect to the window glass 12 located on the right side. are doing.

In the following, unless otherwise specified, a case will be described in which the window 10 is a sliding window including a window frame 11 and a window glass 12. good. Therefore, the window 10 may be a sliding window (for example, a horizontal sliding window or a vertical sliding window), a casement window, or the like.

The window frame 11 is a rectangular annular (frame-shaped) member, and is attached to an opening for the window 10 provided in the wall 1A. The window frame 11 has a rail 11A that guides the window glass 12 in the X direction. The window frame 11 is made of, for example, metal such as aluminum, resin, wood, or the like. Below, as an example, a configuration in which the window frame 11 is made of metal will be described.

The window glass 12 is attached to the window frame 11 so as to be movable in the ±X direction (horizontal direction). The window glass 12 has a glass plate 12A and a window frame 12B. The glass plate 12A is an example of a dielectric plate, and is a transparent glass plate that is rectangular in XY plane view (planar view). "Transparent" means that the visible light transmittance is at least 40% or more, preferably 60% or more, more preferably 70% or more, and still more preferably 80% or more. The window frame 12B is, for example, a rectangular annular (frame-shaped) member surrounding the outer edge of the glass plate 12A, and is movable in the ±X direction (horizontal direction) along the rail 11A of the window frame 11 on the building 1 side. be. Note that the window glass 12 does not need to have the window frame 12B. In this case, the window glass 12 will have only the glass plate 12A. Further, the glass plate 12A is not limited to a rectangular shape when viewed from the XY plane, and may have a shape with a curved outer edge, such as a circle or an ellipse. In this case, the window frame 12B may be a frame-shaped member that surrounds the glass plate 12A having such a curved outer edge.

The glass plate 12A may be made of a transparent dielectric material, and more specifically, it may be made of commonly available glass, such as soda lime glass, alkali-free glass, Pyrex (registered trademark) glass, quartz glass, etc. be able to. Further, the glass plate 12A is not limited to a glass plate, and may be a face material made of resin such as polycarbonate. Both surfaces of the glass plate 12A are main surfaces of the glass plate 12A, and the surface of the glass plate 12A on the indoor side (+Z direction side) is an example of the first main surface on the indoor side.

The window frame 12B is a frame-shaped member surrounding the edge of the glass plate 12A, and is made of metal such as aluminum, resin, wood, or the like. Below, as an example, a configuration in which the window frame 12B is made of metal will be described.

The wireless communication device 100 includes a movable part 100A attached to the window glass 12 and a fixed part 100B attached to the wall 1A. The movable part 100A is attached, for example, to the upper right end of the indoor side (+Z direction side) surface of the glass plate 12A of the right window glass 12. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2A, when the right window glass 12 is completely closed, the fixed part 100B is located on the indoor side surface of the wall 1A (+Z direction side) so as to be located to the right of the movable part 100A. ).

When the right window glass 12 is moved to the left from the completely closed state of the two window glasses 12 as shown in FIG. 2A, the movable portion 100A moves to the left as shown in FIG. 2B. By moving the right window glass 12 to the left as shown in FIG. 2A, the distance between the movable part 100A and the fixed part 100B changes.

The movable part 100A charges its internal battery with power supplied from the fixed part 100B by wireless power supply. Generally, the charging efficiency by wireless power supply changes depending on the distance, so the movable part 100A has the highest charging efficiency when it is closest to the fixed part 100B in the X direction, and the charging efficiency decreases as it moves away from the fixed part 100B. descend. Furthermore, the charging efficiency by wireless power supply also changes depending on the angle of the movable part 100A with respect to the fixed part 100B.

The ease of charging depending on the distance and angle between the movable part 100A and the fixed part 100B varies depending on the wireless power supply method, but even if the distance changes, the movable part 100A receives power from the wireless power supply part of the fixed part 100B. By keeping the orientation of the parts constant, charging efficiency can be improved. For this reason, the movable part 100A and the fixed part 100B are arranged so that the direction of the power receiving part of the movable part 100A with respect to the wireless power feeding part of the fixed part 100B remains constant even if the distance changes. Note that details of the movable portion 100A and the fixed portion 100B will be described later.

Moreover, the movable part 100A may be attached to the indoor side (+Z direction side) surface of the glass plate 12A of the left window glass 12, for example. In this case, the fixed part 100B should be attached to the indoor surface (+Z direction side) of the wall 1A so as to be located to the left of the movable part 100A with the left window glass 12 completely closed. good. When attaching the movable part 100A to the indoor side (+Z direction side) surface of the glass plate 12A of the left window glass 12, when the right or left window glass 12 is opened, the movable part 100A and the right In order to prevent interference with the window glass 12, the thickness of the movable portion 100A in the Z direction may be reduced.

<Configuration of wireless communication device 100>
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the wireless communication device 100. FIG. 3 shows the movable part 100A and the fixed part 100B in a state where the two window glasses 12 are completely closed (see FIG. 2A).

The wireless communication device 100 includes an antenna element 110, a phase shifter 120, a wireless device 130, a power receiving section 140, a solar cell 150, a power supply circuit 160, a bracket 170, and a wireless power feeding section 180. Antenna element 110 and phase shifter 120 construct antenna 105.

The antenna element 110, phase shifter 120, wireless device 130, power receiving unit 140, solar cell 150, and power supply circuit 160 are arranged inside a transparent resin case 101A of the movable unit 100A, and are arranged inside a transparent resin case 101A of the movable unit 100A. It is glued to the inside (+Z direction side) surface. That is, the antenna element 110, the phase shifter 120, the wireless device 130, the power receiving unit 140, the solar cell 150, and the power circuit 160 are arranged on the window glass 12.

A transparent resin case 101A of the movable part 100A is adhered to the indoor surface of the glass plate 12A with transparent double-sided tape or the like. That is, the antenna element 110 is placed on the indoor side with respect to the glass plate 12A. The case 101A is, for example, a thin plate-like case with a thin thickness in the Z direction, and includes an antenna element 110, a phase shifter 120, a wireless device 130, a power receiving unit 140, a solar cell 150, and a power supply circuit 160 inside. It is located. Among these, power receiving section 140 is arranged on the left side in case 101A so as to be close to wireless power feeding section 180 of fixed section 100B.

Regarding the case 101A, "transparent" means that the visible light transmittance is at least 40% or more, preferably 60% or more, more preferably 70% or more, and still more preferably 80% or more. As the resin material satisfying this condition, acrylic resins such as polymethyl methacrylate, cycloolefin resins, polycarbonate resins, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), etc. can be used. Moreover, the case 101A may be a glass plate. Note that the meaning of "transparent" also applies to the double-sided tape or the like that adheres the case 101A to the indoor surface of the glass plate 12A.

Furthermore, when attaching the wireless communication device 100 to the window 10, it is preferable to provide the antenna element 110 in a portion overlapping with the glass plate 12A in order for the antenna element 110 to efficiently receive the radio waves that pass through the glass plate 12A. The phase shifter 120, the wireless device 130, the power receiving unit 140, and the power supply circuit 160 are not transparent and do not need to be provided in a portion that overlaps with the glass plate 12A. good.

The wireless power supply section 180 is arranged inside a resin case 101B of the fixed section 100B, and the case 101B is fixed to the wall 1A with a bracket 170. That is, the wireless power supply unit 180 is placed indoors in the building 1 on the wall 1A (structure) around the window glass 12. The wall 1A around the window glass 12 is an example of a structure around the window glass 12. As an example, the bracket 170 may be attached to both ends of the resin case 101B in the X direction with screws, and may be attached to the wall 1A with double-sided tape, screws, or the like.

Regarding the movable part 100A and the fixed part 100B arranged in this way, when the left window glass 12 shown in FIG. 2A moves to the right and the distance between the movable part 100A and the fixed part 100B changes, the power receiving part The distance between 140 and wireless power supply unit 180 changes.

Note that when attaching the wireless communication device 100 to the window 10, it is easier to protect it from wind, rain, dust, etc. by placing it on the indoor side of the building 1 (see FIG. 1), and it can operate stably over a long period of time. Therefore, the wireless communication device 100 is placed indoors.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a circuit configuration of the wireless communication device 100. Here, the configuration of each part of the wireless communication device 100 will be explained using FIG. 4 in addition to FIG. 3.

The antenna element 110 is connected to a wireless device 130 via a phase shifter 120. Details of the antenna element 110, phase shifter 120, and wireless device 130 will be described later, and the power receiving unit 140, solar cell 150, power supply circuit 160, and wireless power supply unit 180 will be described first.

The wireless power supply unit 180 includes a power transmission coil 181, a capacitor 182, and an AC power source 183. One end of the power transmission coil 181 is connected to one of two terminals of the AC power supply 183 via a capacitor 182, and the other end of the power transmission coil 181 is connected to the other of the two terminals of the AC power supply 183. The wireless power supply unit 180 realizes wireless power supply by wirelessly transmitting AC power of a predetermined frequency output from the AC power supply 183 from the power transmission coil 181.

The power supply circuit 160 has a battery 161. Battery 161 is an example of a power storage unit. The battery 161 is a secondary battery that can be charged repeatedly, and is, for example, a lithium ion battery. The power supply circuit 160 charges the battery 161 with the power received by the power receiving unit 140 or the power generated by the solar cell 150, and manages the charging state of the battery 161. Power supply circuit 160 supplies power to phase shifter 120 and wireless device 130 through a power supply line indicated by a broken line. More specifically, when the power receiving unit 140 and the wireless power feeding unit 180 are separated by a predetermined distance or more due to the window glass 12 being opened and the power receiving unit 140 is no longer able to receive power from the wireless power feeding unit 180, the wireless communication device 100 Power is supplied from battery 161 to phase shifter 120 and wireless device 130 . Note that the wireless communication device 100 may have a configuration that does not include the power supply circuit 160. For example, the power received by the power receiving unit 140 from the wireless power supply unit 180 may be directly supplied to the phase shifter 120 and the wireless device 130.

The solar cell 150 is connected to a power supply circuit 160. The solar cell 150 is arranged in the case 101A of the movable part 100A (see FIG. 3), facing the outdoor side (-Z direction side). By providing the solar cell 150, the power supply circuit 160 can be charged even in a state where the power receiving section 140 and the wireless power feeding section 180 are separated and the charging efficiency is low. Note that the wireless communication device 100 may have a configuration that does not include the solar cell 150. In this case, the power received by the power receiving unit 140 and stored in the power supply circuit 160 may be supplied to the phase shifter 120 and the wireless device 130.

The power receiving unit 140 includes a power receiving coil 141 and a resistor 142 that are connected in parallel to each other, and a power supply circuit 160 is connected between both ends of the power receiving coil 141 and the resistor 142. The power receiving coil 141 of the power receiving unit 140 receives power wirelessly transmitted from the power transmitting coil 181 of the wireless power feeding unit 180.

Note that power transmission from the power transmission coil 181 of the wireless power supply unit 180 to the power reception coil 141 of the power reception unit 140 may be performed using an electromagnetic induction method or a magnetic resonance method, for example. In the case of the electromagnetic induction method, electromagnetic induction coils may be used as the power transmitting coil 181 and the power receiving coil 141. Furthermore, in the case of the magnetic field resonance method, resonance coils for magnetic field resonance may be used as the power transmitting coil 181 and the power receiving coil 141. The electromagnetic induction method has the advantage of having a simple circuit configuration, being compact and low-cost, and having high power reception efficiency. Short and susceptible to misalignment. In addition, the magnetic field resonance method transmits power by generating magnetic field resonance between the power transmitting coil 181 and the power receiving coil 141, and therefore has the advantage that power can be transmitted over a long distance.

Additionally, an electric field coupling method or a radio wave reception method can also be used, which will be described later using FIGS. 5A and 5B.

The wireless device 130 includes a wireless module 131, a switch 132, an LNA (Low Noise Amplifier) 133, a mixer 134, an ADC (Analog to Digital Converter) 135, a DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) 136, a mixer 137, and a PA (Power Amplifier). It has 138.

The wireless module 131 is configured by, for example, an MCU (Micro Controller Unit), and includes a control section 131A and a relay section 131B that performs relay processing. The control unit 131A and the relay unit 131B are functional blocks representing functions executed by the MCU.

When receiving radio waves with the antenna element 110, the control unit 131A switches the three-terminal switch 132 to connect the antenna element 110 and the LNA 133. Furthermore, when transmitting radio waves using the antenna element 110, the control unit 131A switches the three-terminal switch 132 to connect the antenna element 110 and the PA 138.

Further, the control unit 131A controls the amount of phase change given to the radio waves by the phase shifter 120 when receiving radio waves with the antenna element 110 and when transmitting radio waves with the antenna element 110, and controls the direction of the beam. do.

The relay unit 131B includes, for example, a Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication unit, and transmits the digital signal input from the ADC 135. When the relay unit 131B transmits a signal, the radio waves received by the antenna element 110 from the base station are relayed, and the radio waves are radiated into the inside of the building 1 where the wireless communication device 100 is placed. As a result, the radio waves are radiated over a wide range indoors in the building 1, making it easier for terminals such as smartphones to receive the radio waves indoors. Note that the communication unit that emits the radio waves that the relay unit 131B relays to the indoor side is not limited to Bluetooth, and may be WiFi or the like.

The LNA 133 is provided between the switch 132 and the mixer 134, amplifies the radio wave received by the antenna element 110, and outputs it while preventing the signal-to-noise ratio from deteriorating.

The mixer 134 mixes the radio wave output from the LNA 133 with a local signal (Lo), demodulates it, and outputs an IF (Intermediate Frequency) signal. By converting to an IF signal, the ADC 135 can easily perform digital conversion.

The ADC 135 digitally converts the IF signal output from the mixer 134 and outputs it to the wireless module 131.

When the wireless communication device 100 transmits a signal from the antenna element 110, the DAC 136 converts the signal output from the wireless module 131 into analog and outputs an IF signal to the mixer 137.

The mixer 137 mixes the IF signal with the local signal (Lo), modulates it, and outputs it to the PA 138.

The PA 138 amplifies the signal output from the mixer 137 and outputs it to the antenna element 110 via the switch 132.

The phase shifter 120 is a set of multiple phase shifters connected to each antenna element of the antenna element 110, which is a set of multiple antenna elements. The amount of phase change that the phase shifter 120 gives to the radio waves is controlled by the control unit 131A. The phase shifter 120 can be made of LC (Liquid Crystal), for example.

The antenna element 110 is a collection of multiple antenna elements and constitutes an array antenna. The antenna element faces outdoors (-Z direction side) and receives radio waves radiated from an outdoor base station. For example, the antenna element 110 is formed on the surface of the substrate on the -Z direction side. The substrate is preferably transparent like the case 101A.

Antenna element 110 is formed of a conductor. Since the antenna element 110 is placed overlapping the window 10, it is made of transparent conductive films such as zinc oxide (ZnO), tin oxide (SnO ₂ ), tin-doped indium oxide (ITO), indium oxide/tin oxide (IZO), titanium nitride, etc. It is preferable to use a metal nitride such as (TiN) or chromium nitride (CrN), or a low-e film for low-e (low emissivity) glass. However, the antenna element 110 may also be formed of a metal thin film such as copper, nickel, or gold. In the case of a metal thin film, it is preferable to form it into a mesh shape from the viewpoint of visibility.

The antenna element 110 has a plurality of antenna elements arranged two-dimensionally in an XY plane view in order to perform beam forming. A phase shifter 120 that adjusts the phase of radio waves is connected to each antenna element. Note that a matching layer may be provided on the -Z direction side of the antenna element 110. The matching layer is provided to adjust the electrical length of radio waves incident on the antenna element 110 and match the impedance. The matching layer can be made of polycarbonate, acrylic, COP (cycloolefin polymer), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), polystyrene, glass, or the like.

<Effect>
As described above, the wireless communication device 100 includes the antenna 105, the relay section 131B, the control section 131A, the power receiving section 140, and the wireless power feeding section 180. The antenna 105 has an antenna element 110 and a phase shifter 120 connected to the antenna element 110, and is arranged to overlap the glass plate 12A of the window glass 12 having the glass plate 12A. receive radio waves. The relay unit 131B is arranged on the window glass 12 and relays the radio waves received by the antenna 105. The control unit 131A is disposed on the window glass 12 and controls the amount of phase change of the radio waves arriving from the outside of the window glass 12 in the phase shifter 120. The power receiving unit 140 is disposed on the window glass 12 and supplies the received power to the phase shifter 120, the relay unit 131B, and the control unit 131A. The wireless power supply unit 180 is disposed in a structure around the window glass 12, and wirelessly supplies power to the power reception unit 140. Therefore, even if the window glass 12 moves relative to the structures around the window glass 12, power can be wirelessly transmitted from the wireless power supply unit 180 to the power reception unit 140.

Therefore, it is possible to provide a wireless communication device 100 that can be attached to the openable/closable window glass 12 and can relay radio waves.

Further, the window glass 12 is movable in a direction included in the main surface of the glass plate 12A, and even if the distance between the wireless power supply section 180 and the power reception section 140 changes due to the movement of the window glass 12, The orientation of power receiving unit 140 with respect to wireless power feeding unit 180 is constant. Therefore, even if the distance between the wireless power supply unit 180 and the power receiving unit 140 becomes long, the decrease in charging efficiency can be minimized, and the wireless communication device 100 can efficiently receive power from the wireless power supply unit 180. can be provided.

Further, the window glass 12 is movable between the first position and the second position, and the power receiving unit 140 is closest to the wireless power supply unit 180 when the window glass 12 is in the first position. Therefore, it can be attached to the window glass 12 that can be opened and closed, and when the window glass 12 is in the first position, the wireless power supply unit 180 can most efficiently receive the power that is supplied wirelessly, and can relay radio waves. A wireless communication device 100 can be provided.

The wireless communication device 100 also includes a battery 161 that is disposed on the window glass 12, stores power received by the power receiving section 140, and supplies the stored power to the phase shifter 120, the relay section 131B, and the control section 131A. . Therefore, it is possible to provide the wireless communication device 100 that can relay radio waves even when the window glass 12 moves and power is not wirelessly supplied from the wireless power supply unit 180. In this case, for example, when the power receiving unit 140 and the wireless power feeding unit 180 are separated by a predetermined distance or more, the setting may be such that power is supplied from the battery 161.

Furthermore, when the power reception unit 140 and the wireless power supply unit 180 are separated by a predetermined distance or more, power is supplied from the battery 161 to the phase shifter 120, the relay unit 131B, and the control unit 131A. Therefore, even if the power receiving unit 140 cannot receive power from the wireless power supply unit 180, the phase shifter 120, the relay unit 131B, and the control unit 131A can be driven by the power of the battery 161, and radio waves can be relayed. It is.

The wireless communication device 100 also includes a solar cell 150 that generates power to be supplied to the phase shifter 120, the relay section 131B, and the control section 131A, and is disposed on the window glass 12. Therefore, electric power can be generated using the light incident through the window glass 12, and even in a state where electric power is not wirelessly supplied from the wireless power supply unit 180, radio waves can be relayed using the electric power generated by the solar cell 150. It is possible to provide a wireless communication device 100 that is possible.

In addition, since the phase shifter 120 is made of liquid crystal, it can reliably change the phase of the radio waves received or transmitted by the antenna element 110 with relatively little power consumption, and the phase shifter 120 can reliably change the phase of the radio waves received or transmitted by the antenna element 110. Efficiency can be improved.

Furthermore, since the antenna 105 is attached to the indoor surface of the glass plate 12A, the antenna element 110 can be protected from outdoor wind, rain, dust, etc., and can be stably operated over a long period of time. Note that the antenna element 110 may be fixed to the glass plate 12A or the window frame 12B with a space provided between the antenna element 110 and the indoor surface of the glass plate 12A. Also in this case, the antenna element 110 will be placed on the indoor side with respect to the glass plate 12A.

<First modification example>
FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating an example of a circuit configuration of a wireless communication device 100 according to a first modification of the embodiment. The wireless communication device 100 of the first modification differs from the power receiving unit 140 and the wireless power feeding unit 180 shown in FIG. 4 in that the power receiving unit 140 and the wireless power feeding unit 180 are of an electric field coupling type. Other components are the same.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the power receiving unit 140 of the first modification has two capacitor electrodes 141A, and a resistor 142 is connected between the two electrodes 141A. Power supply circuit 160 is connected between two electrodes (between both ends of resistor 142).

The wireless power supply unit 180 of the first modification has two capacitor electrodes 181A, one electrode 181A is connected to an AC power source 183 via a coil 182A, and the other electrode 181A is connected to an AC power source 183. 183 directly connected.

The two electrodes 141A of the power receiving section 140 and the two electrodes 181A of the wireless power feeding section 180 are arranged facing each other as shown in FIG. 5A, and constitute two capacitors. Since the power receiving section 140 and the wireless power feeding section 180 are electrically coupled by the two capacitors constituted by the two electrodes 141A and the two electrodes 181A, a high frequency current is caused to flow through the wireless power feeding section 180. Since current flows to the power receiving unit 140 side, power can be transmitted wirelessly. The electric field coupling method has the advantage that it is less susceptible to the misalignment between the electrode 141A and the electrode 181A, and that the wireless power supply unit 180 generates less heat.

Therefore, it is possible to provide the wireless communication device 100 of the first modification that can be attached to the openable/closable window glass 12 and can relay radio waves.

<Second modification example>
FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating an example of a circuit configuration of a wireless communication device 100 according to a second modification of the embodiment. The wireless communication device 100 of the second modification differs from the power receiving unit 140 and the wireless power feeding unit 180 shown in FIG. 4 in that the power receiving unit 140 and the wireless power feeding unit 180 are of a radio wave reception type. Other components are the same.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the power receiving unit 140 of the second modification has an antenna 141B, and the antenna 141B is connected to the power supply circuit 160 via a rectifier circuit (not shown) that converts AC power to DC power. ing.

The wireless power supply unit 180 of the second modification includes an antenna 181B, an amplifier 182B1, and an AC power supply 183. Antenna 181B, amplifier 182B1, and AC power supply 183 are connected in series, and 24 GHz AC power output from AC power supply 183 is amplified by amplifier 182B1 and output from antenna 181B. Power receiving unit 140 receives a signal through antenna 141B, and the power of the received signal is stored in battery 161 of power supply circuit 160. The radio wave reception method has the advantage of long transmission distance.

Therefore, it is possible to provide the wireless communication device 100 of the second modification, which can be attached to the openable/closable window glass 12 and can relay radio waves.

<Third modification example>
FIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating an example of a circuit configuration of a wireless communication device 100M according to a third modification of the embodiment. The wireless communication device 100M of the third modification has a configuration in which the wireless device 130 of the wireless communication device 100 shown in FIG. 4 is moved to the fixed part 100B side.

The wireless communication device 100M of the third modification includes a movable section 100MA and a fixed section 100MB.

The movable part 100MA is attached to the glass plate 12A of the window glass 12, similar to the movable part 100A shown in FIG. Movable unit 100MA includes antenna element 110A, antenna 110B, phase shifter 120, switch 132A, switch 132B, LNA 133A, PA 138A, wireless power receiving unit 140M, solar cell 150, and power supply circuit 160A. The power supply circuit 160A of the movable unit 100MA includes a control unit 162 and a communication unit 163 in addition to a battery 161. Antenna 105 including antenna element 110A and phase shifter 120 is an example of a first antenna. Antenna element 110A is an array antenna corresponding to antenna element 110 shown in FIG. 4. Antenna 110B is an example of a second antenna. In movable unit 100MA, antenna 110B is connected to the output side of LNA 133A and the input side of PA 138A via switch 132B. The communication unit 163 is connected to the control unit 162 and can perform wireless communication with the communication unit 131C of the wireless module 131 of the fixed unit 100MB. In FIG. 5C, the communication unit 163 is simply shown as an antenna symbol, but the communication unit 163 only needs to be able to perform wireless communication, and may be infrared communication, wireless communication using light such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode), or , a communication unit that performs communication using Bluetooth (registered trademark), WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network), or the like.

The wireless power receiving unit 140M is connected to the power supply circuit 160A. Power supply circuit 160A supplies power to phase shifter 120, LNA 133A, and PA 138A through a power supply line indicated by a broken line. Further, the solar cell 150 supplies power to the power supply circuit 160A through a power supply line indicated by a broken line. The control unit 162 controls the phase shifter 120 and the

switches

132A and 132B based on a control command that the communication unit 163 receives from the communication unit 131C.

The fixed unit 100MB includes an antenna 110C, a wireless device 130M, a power supply circuit 160B, a wireless power supply unit 180M, and an AC power supply 183. Antenna 110C is an example of a third antenna.

The wireless device 130M, like the wireless device 130 shown in FIG. 4, includes a wireless module 131, a switch 132C, a communication section 131C, an LNA 133, a mixer 134, an ADC 135, a DAC 136, a mixer 137, and a PA 138. The connection relationship between the antenna 110C, the wireless device 130M, and the power supply circuit 160B in the fixed part 100MB is the same as the connection relationship between the antenna element 110, the wireless device 130, and the power supply circuit 160 shown in FIG. The communication unit 131C only needs to be capable of wireless communication with the communication unit 163, and similarly to the communication unit 163, it may be capable of infrared communication, wireless communication using light such as an LED, or Bluetooth (registered trademark) or WLAN. It may also be a communication unit that performs communication using, etc. In FIG. 5C, the communication unit 131C is simplified and shown as an antenna symbol. The control unit 131A of the wireless module 131 transmits a control command to the control unit 162 of the power supply circuit 160A via the communication unit 131C. The control command is received by the communication unit 163, and the control unit 162 controls the phase shifter 120 and the

switches

132A and 132B based on the control command.

A wireless power supply unit 180M and an AC power supply 183 are connected to the power supply circuit 160B. The power supply circuit 160B supplies power to the wireless module 131, LNA 133, ADC 135, DAC 136, and PA 138 of the wireless device 130M.

The wireless power reception unit 140M and the wireless power supply unit 180M may use any of the electromagnetic induction method or magnetic resonance method shown in FIG. 4, the electric field coupling method shown in FIG. 5A, or the radio wave reception method shown in FIG. 5B. The wireless power reception unit 140M receives power wirelessly transmitted by the wireless power supply unit 180M.

In such a wireless communication device 100M of the third modification, when the antenna element 110A receives a radio wave, the received radio wave is transmitted from the antenna 110B via the switch 132A, the LNA 133A, and the switch 132B. Antenna 110C receives the radio waves transmitted from antenna 110B, and inputs the radio waves to radio module 131 via LNA 133, mixer 134, and ADC 135 of radio device 130M. The radio waves input to the wireless module 131 are relayed by the relay section 131B and radiated indoors of the building 1.

Furthermore, when the relay unit 131B of the wireless module 131 receives radio waves from a terminal located indoors in the building 1, the radio waves are transmitted from the antenna 110C via the DAC 136, mixer 137, PA 138, and switch 132C. Antenna 110B receives the radio waves transmitted from antenna 110C, and the received radio waves are transmitted from antenna element 110A to the base station via switch 132B, PA 138A, and switch 132A.

As described above, the wireless communication device 100M of the third modification includes the antenna 105, the antenna 110B, the wireless power receiving section 140M, the antenna 110C, the control section 131A, the relay section 131B, and the wireless power feeding section 180M. The antenna 105 has an antenna element 110A and a phase shifter 120 connected to the antenna element 110A, and is arranged to overlap the glass plate 12A of the window glass 12 having the glass plate 12A. receive radio waves. Antenna 110B is placed on window glass 12 and transmits radio waves received by antenna element 110A. The wireless power receiving unit 140M is disposed on the window glass 12 and supplies the received power to the phase shifter 120. Antenna 110C is placed on a structure around window glass 12, and receives radio waves transmitted by antenna 110B. The relay unit 131B is arranged in a structure around the window glass 12, and relays the radio waves received by the antenna 110C. The control unit 131A is arranged on the window glass 12 or a structure around the window glass 12, and controls the amount of phase change of the radio waves arriving from the outside of the window glass 12 in the phase shifter 120. The wireless power supply unit 180M is arranged in a structure around the window glass 12, and wirelessly supplies power to the wireless power reception unit 140M.

Therefore, even if the window glass 12 moves relative to surrounding structures, power can be wirelessly transmitted from the wireless power supply unit 180M to the wireless power reception unit 140M.

Therefore, it is possible to provide a wireless communication device 100M that can be attached to the openable window glass 12 and can relay radio waves.

Note that when the wireless power receiving unit 140M and the wireless power feeding unit 180M are separated by a predetermined distance or more due to the window glass 12 being opened, and the wireless power receiving unit 140M is no longer able to receive power from the wireless power feeding unit 180M, the wireless communication device 100M Power is supplied from the phase shifter 120, LNA 133A, and PA 138A. Therefore, even if wireless power reception unit 140M cannot receive power from wireless power supply unit 180M, phase shifter 120, LNA 133A, and PA 138A can be driven with the power of battery 161, and radio waves can be relayed.

Further, when the window glass 12 is further opened and the

antennas

110B and 110C are unable to communicate in a state where the wireless power receiving unit 140M cannot receive power from the wireless power feeding unit 180M, the fixed unit 100MB including the antenna 110C and the relay unit 131B 110C may receive radio waves from the base station, relay them, and radiate the radio waves inside the building 1. Even if the

antennas

110B and 110C are unable to communicate, the antenna 110C receives and relays radio waves arriving from the base station (an example of radio waves arriving from the outside of the window glass 12), and the radio waves can be radiated into the inside of the building 1.

<Fourth variation>
FIG. 6A is a diagram showing a window 10M1 of a fourth modification of the embodiment. The window 10M1 is a double-hung window, and the two window glasses 12 are pivotally supported at the left and right ends, and are configured to open outward.

When attaching the wireless communication device 100 to such a window 10M1, as an example, as shown in FIG. 6A, the movable part 100A is attached to the left end of the indoor surface of the glass plate 12A of the left window glass 12, The fixed part 100B may be attached to the indoor surface of the wall 1A so as to be located to the left of the movable part 100A when the window glass 12 is closed. Note that in FIG. 6A, only the power receiving section 140 is shown for the movable section 100A, and only the wireless power feeding section 180 is shown for the fixed section 100B.

In the case of a casement window, when the window glass 12 is completely closed and when it is opened as shown in FIG. 6A, the wireless power supply section 180 (see FIG. 3) of the fixed section 100B and the power receiving section of the movable section 100A are connected. Although the distance between the power receiving unit 140 (see FIG. 3) and the power receiving unit 140 (see FIG. 3) does not change significantly, the orientation of the power receiving unit 140 with respect to the wireless power feeding unit 180 changes. Also, the range of charging angles differs depending on the wireless power supply method. For this reason, power may be transmitted using an electric field coupling method, a radio wave reception method, or a magnetic field resonance method, which are relatively resistant to angular changes.

In addition, the movable part 100A is attached to the right end of the indoor surface of the glass plate 12A of the right window glass 12, and the fixed part 100B is attached so that it is located to the right of the movable part 100A when the window glass 12 is closed. may be attached to the indoor surface of the wall 1A. Further, the window 10M1 may be a single-hinged window with one windowpane 12. Further, the window 10M1 may have two window glasses 12, and only one of them may be a casement window that can be opened and closed.

<Fifth modification example>
FIG. 6B is a diagram showing a window 10M2 of a fifth modification of the embodiment. The window 10M2 is a casement window, and one window glass 12 is pivotally supported on the upper end side, and the lower part is configured to open outward. Note that FIG. 6B is a diagram showing the window 10M2 from the outdoor side of the building 1.

When attaching the wireless communication device 100 to such a window 10M2, as an example, as shown in FIG. 6B, the movable part 100A is attached to the upper end of the indoor surface of the glass plate 12A of the window glass 12, The fixed part 100B may be attached to the indoor surface of the wall 1A so as to be located above the movable part 100A when the fixed part 100B is closed. Note that in FIG. 6B, only the power receiving section 140 is shown for the movable section 100A, and only the wireless power feeding section 180 is shown for the fixed section 100B.

When the window glass 12 is completely closed and when it is opened as shown in FIG. 6B, the wireless power supply section 180 (see FIG. 3) of the fixed section 100B and the power receiving section 140 (see FIG. 3) of the movable section 100A are connected. Although the distance between the wireless power supply unit 180 and the wireless power supply unit 180 does not change significantly, the orientation of the power reception unit 140 with respect to the wireless power supply unit 180 changes. Also, the range of charging angles differs depending on the wireless power supply method. For this reason, power may be transmitted using an electric field coupling method, a radio wave reception method, or a magnetic field resonance method, which are relatively resistant to angular changes. In this case, the main surface of the window glass 12 when the window glass 12 is completely closed is set so that the amount of change in the orientation of the power receiving unit 140 with respect to the wireless power supply unit 180 when the window glass 12 is opened is reduced. The positions of the wireless power feeding unit 180 and the power receiving unit 140 in the normal direction may be shifted from each other.

Although the exemplary wireless communication device of the present disclosure has been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiments, and various modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of the claims. Changes are possible.

This international application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-127700 filed on August 10, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated into this international application by reference herein. shall be taken as a thing.

1 Building 1A Wall (an example of a structure around window glass)
10, 10M1, 10M2 Window 11 Window frame 11A Rail 12 Window glass 12A Glass plate (an example of dielectric plate)
12B Window frame 100 Wireless communication device 100A Movable part 100B Fixed part 105 Antenna (an example of the first antenna)
110, 110A antenna element 110B antenna (an example of second antenna)
110C antenna (an example of the third antenna)
120 phase shifter 130 wireless device 131 wireless module

131A control unit

131B relay unit 140 power receiving unit 140M wireless power receiving unit 141 power receiving coil 150 solar cell 160 power supply circuit 161 battery (an example of power storage unit)
180 Wireless power supply unit 180M Wireless power supply unit 181 Power transmission coil

Claims

An antenna that includes an antenna element and a phase shifter connected to the antenna element, is placed over the dielectric plate of a window glass having a dielectric plate, and receives radio waves arriving from outside the window glass. and,
a relay unit disposed on the window glass and relaying the radio waves received by the antenna;
a control unit that is disposed on the window glass and controls a phase change amount of radio waves arriving from outside the window glass in the phase shifter;
a power receiving unit disposed on the window glass and supplying the received power to the phase shifter, the relay unit, and the control unit;
A wireless communication device, comprising: a wireless power supply unit that is disposed in a structure around the window glass and wirelessly supplies power to the power reception unit.
The window glass is movable in a direction included in the main surface of the dielectric plate,
The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the orientation of the power receiving unit with respect to the wireless power feeding unit remains constant even if the distance between the wireless power feeding unit and the power receiving unit changes due to movement of the window glass. .
the window glass is movable between a first position and a second position;
The wireless communication device according to claim 2, wherein the power receiving unit is closest to the wireless power feeding unit when the window glass is in the first position.
Claims 1 to 3 further comprising a power storage unit disposed on the window glass, storing power received by the power receiving unit, and supplying the stored power to the phase shifter, the relay unit, and the control unit. The wireless communication device according to any one of the above.
The wireless communication device according to claim 4, wherein when the power reception unit and the wireless power supply unit are separated by a predetermined distance or more, power is supplied from the power storage unit to the phase shifter, the relay unit, and the control unit.
The wireless communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a solar cell that generates power to be supplied to the phase shifter, the relay unit, and the control unit and is disposed on the window glass. .
The wireless communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the phase shifter is made of liquid crystal.
The wireless communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the antenna is attached to a first main surface of the dielectric plate on the indoor side.
A phase shifter comprising an antenna element and a phase shifter connected to the antenna element, which is disposed overlapping the dielectric plate of a window glass having a dielectric plate, and receives radio waves arriving from outside the window glass. 1 antenna and
a second antenna disposed on the window glass and transmitting the radio waves received by the first antenna;
a power receiving unit disposed on the window glass and supplying the received power to the phase shifter;
a third antenna that is placed on a structure around the window glass and receives the radio waves transmitted by the second antenna;
a relay unit that is placed in a structure around the window glass and that relays radio waves received by the third antenna;
a control unit that is disposed on the window glass or a structure around the window glass and controls a phase change amount of radio waves arriving from outside the window glass in the phase shifter;
A wireless communication device, comprising: a wireless power supply unit that is disposed in a structure around the window glass and wirelessly supplies power to the power reception unit.
further including a power storage unit disposed on the window glass and storing power received by the power receiving unit,
The wireless communication device according to claim 9, wherein when the power reception unit and the wireless power supply unit are separated by a predetermined distance or more, power is supplied from the power storage unit to the phase shifter.
When the power receiving unit and the wireless power feeding unit are separated by a predetermined distance or more and the third antenna is unable to receive radio waves transmitted by the second antenna, the third antenna arrives from outside the window glass. The wireless communication device according to claim 9 or 10, which receives radio waves.