JP2021093566A - Antenna device and antenna fixing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To dispose of an antenna away from a main board without using a pin.
SOLUTION: A base 1, a main board 2 attached to the base 1, a flexible board 3 having an antenna 31 in the center and both ends connected to the main board 2, and a cover 4 attached to the base 1. The flexible substrate 3 was bent so that the center of the flexible substrate 3 protruded from the main substrate 2, and at least a part of the antenna 31 was brought into contact with the back surface of the cover 4.
[Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

The present invention relates to an antenna device having an antenna and an antenna fixing method for fixing the antenna.

Conventionally, an antenna device that performs wireless communication is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In such an antenna device, there is a case where the antenna is desired to be separated from the main board (when the position of the antenna is desired to be higher than the position of the main board). In this case, the wiring method between the main board and the antenna and the method of fixing the antenna become issues. From the viewpoint of improving sensitivity, it is desirable that the antenna is arranged at a position close to the surface of the cover.
At present, an antenna board and a plurality of pins are used, one end of each pin is connected to the main board, and the other end of each pin is connected to the antenna board to separate the antenna from the main board. The pin also serves as the signal line of the antenna.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-210213

However, in the fixing method using the antenna board and a plurality of pins, since the pins are connected to the antenna board by soldering, it is necessary to provide a space for that amount between the antenna board and the cover. Also, there are not always pins of appropriate length.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an antenna device capable of arranging an antenna away from a main substrate without using a pin.

The antenna device according to the present invention includes a base, a main board attached to the base, a flexible board having an antenna in the center and both ends connected to the main board, and a cover attached to the base, and is flexible. The substrate is characterized in that the center is bent so as to protrude from the main substrate, and at least a part of the antenna is in contact with the back surface of the cover.

According to the present invention, since the antenna is configured as described above, the antenna can be arranged away from the main board without using a pin.

It is sectional drawing which shows the structural example of the antenna device which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a top view which shows the structural example of the flexible substrate in Embodiment 1. FIG. 3A and 3B are views showing an assembly example (state before cover attachment) of the antenna device according to the first embodiment, FIG. 3A is a perspective view, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view. 4A and 4B are views showing an assembly example (state after cover attachment) of the antenna device according to the first embodiment, FIG. 4A is a partially transparent perspective view, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view. It is sectional drawing which shows the problem in the antenna device which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the structural example of the antenna device which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a top view which shows the structural example of the flexible substrate in Embodiment 2. FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the structural example of the antenna device which concerns on Embodiment 3. FIG. It is a top view which shows the structural example of the flexible substrate in Embodiment 3. FIG. 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views showing an assembly example of the antenna device according to the third embodiment, FIG. 10A is a view showing a state before the cover is attached, and FIG. 10B is a view showing a state after the cover is attached. Is. 11A and 11B are cross-sectional views showing another assembly example of the antenna device according to the third embodiment, FIG. 11A is a view showing a state before the cover is attached, and FIG. 11B is a state after the cover is attached. It is a figure which shows.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
Embodiment 1.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration example of the antenna device according to the first embodiment.
The antenna device communicates with a wireless communication medium by NFC (Near Field Communication) or the like. As shown in FIG. 1, this antenna device includes a base 1, a main substrate 2, a flexible substrate (FPC: Flexible Printed Circuits) 3, and a cover 4. The base 1 and the cover 4 form a case 5.

The base 1 is a plate-shaped member made of resin or the like.
The main board 2 is a rigid board on which various electronic components (not shown) included in the antenna device are mounted. The main board 2 is attached to the upper surface of the base 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the flexible substrate 3 is a substrate having a patterned antenna 31 and a signal line 32. The flexible substrate 3 is characterized by thinness and softness, and can exhibit its performance without changing the electrical characteristics of the antenna 31 even if the substrate is bent.
In FIG. 2, the antenna 31 has a rectangular pattern formed in the center of the flexible substrate 3. Further, in FIG. 2, the signal line 32 is patterned in the flexible substrate 3 so that one end is connected to the antenna 31 and the other end extends to one end of the flexible substrate 3.

Both ends of the flexible substrate 3 are connected to predetermined positions on the main substrate 2 at short connection intervals with respect to the total length of the flexible substrate 3. As a result, the flexible substrate 3 is in a state of being bent so that the center protrudes from the main substrate 2. In the state before the cover 4 is attached, the connection spacing between both ends is set so that the protruding height at the center of the flexible substrate 3 is higher than the height of the cover 4. Further, in the state after the cover 4 is attached, at least a part of the antenna 31 is in contact with the back surface of the cover 4. In FIG. 1, the entire surface of the antenna 31 is in contact with the back surface of the cover 4.

The cover 4 is a box-shaped member made of resin or the like and having an open side. The cover 4 is attached to the base 1.

Next, an assembly example of the antenna device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. It is assumed that the main board 2 is attached to the upper surface of the base 1. Further, in FIGS. 3 and 4, the signal line 32 is not shown.
In the assembly example of the antenna device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, as shown in FIG. 3, the operator first connects both ends of the flexible substrate 3 to predetermined positions of the main substrate 2 with connectors. At this time, the operator makes the connection interval between both ends of the flexible substrate 3 shorter than the total length of the flexible substrate 3 so that the protruding height at the center of the flexible substrate 3 is higher than the height of the cover 4. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the center of the flexible substrate 3 is bent so as to protrude from the main substrate 2.

After that, as shown in FIG. 3, the operator lowers the cover 4 from above the main board 2 toward the base 1 side and attaches the cover 4 to the base 1. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, stress is generated by pressing the center of the flexible substrate 3 by the cover 4, and at least a part of the antenna 31 is in contact with the back surface of the cover 4. At this time, from the viewpoint of improving the sensitivity, it is desirable that the entire surface of the antenna 31 is in contact with the back surface of the cover 4, as shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 401 indicates a flexible substrate 3 in a state before the cover 4 is attached.

As described above, in the antenna device according to the first embodiment, the flexible substrate 3 having the antenna 31 is used. In this antenna device, the flexible substrate 3 is connected to the main substrate 2 in a bent state, and at least a part of the antenna 31 is caused by the stress generated in the flexible substrate 3 when the cover 4 is attached to the base 1. It comes into contact with the back surface of the cover 4. As a result, the antenna 31 is arranged at the position closest to the surface of the case 5, which is a desirable arrangement for sensitivity. Further, the length of the flexible substrate 3 can be designed variously, and the height of the cover 4 is not limited.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the antenna device has the base 1, the main board 2 attached to the base 1, and the antenna 31 in the center, and both ends are connected to the main board 2. The flexible substrate 3 includes a flexible substrate 3 and a cover 4 attached to the base 1. The flexible substrate 3 bends so that the center protrudes from the main substrate 2, and at least a part of the antenna 31 abuts on the back surface of the cover 4. Was done. As a result, in the antenna device according to the first embodiment, the antenna 31 can be arranged away from the main board 2 without using a pin.

Embodiment 2.
The antenna device according to the first embodiment is connected to the main board 2 in a bent state of the flexible board 3 having the antenna 31, and the antenna 31 is generated by the stress generated in the flexible board 3 when the cover 4 is attached to the base 1. At least a part of the cover 4 is in contact with the back surface of the cover 4. As a result, the antenna 31 is arranged at the position closest to the surface of the case 5, which is a desirable arrangement for sensitivity. However, in this configuration, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, the position of the antenna 31 may shift in the horizontal direction when or after the cover 4 is attached (see reference numerals 501 and 502). Therefore, in the second embodiment, a configuration for solving the above-mentioned problems is shown.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration example of the antenna device according to the second embodiment. In the antenna device according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the flexible substrate 3 and the cover 4 in the antenna device according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are changed to the flexible substrate 6 and the cover 7. Other configurations are the same, and the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 7, the flexible substrate 6 is a substrate having a patterned antenna 61 and a signal line 62. The flexible substrate 6 is characterized by being thin and soft, and can exhibit its performance without changing the electrical characteristics of the antenna 61 even if the substrate is bent.
In FIG. 7, the antenna 61 has a rectangular pattern formed in the center of the flexible substrate 6. Further, in FIG. 7, the signal line 62 is patterned so that one end of the flexible substrate 6 is connected to the antenna 61 and the other end extends to one end of the flexible substrate 6.

Further, the flexible substrate 6 has a positioning hole 63 formed inside the antenna 61. In order to facilitate the positioning of the antenna 61, it is desirable that the hole 63 is formed as large as possible so as to fit inside the antenna 61. Although the hole 63 is circular in FIG. 7, the shape of the hole 63 is not limited to this.

Both ends of the flexible substrate 6 are connected to predetermined positions on the main substrate 2 at short connection intervals with respect to the total length of the flexible substrate 6. As a result, the flexible substrate 6 is in a state of being bent so that the center protrudes from the main substrate 2. In the state before the cover 7 is attached, the connection spacing between both ends is set so that the protruding height at the center of the flexible substrate 6 is higher than the height of the cover 7. Further, in the state after the cover 7 is attached, at least a part of the antenna 61 is in contact with the back surface of the cover 7. In FIG. 1, the entire surface of the antenna 61 is in contact with the back surface of the cover 4. Further, the antenna 61 is positioned by inserting a protrusion 71, which will be described later, into the hole 63.

The cover 7 is a box-shaped member made of resin or the like and having an open side. Further, on the back surface of the cover 7, a protrusion 71 for positioning is provided at a position where the antenna 61 is desired to be arranged. In order to facilitate the positioning of the antenna 61, it is desirable that the protrusion 71 has a shape that narrows toward the tip, and is, for example, hemispherical or conical. Further, the size of the base of the protrusion 71 is smaller than the size of the hole 63. When the hole 63 is circular and the protrusion 71 is hemispherical or conical, for example, the diameter at the base of the protrusion 71 is reduced by about 1 mm with respect to the diameter of the hole 63. The cover 7 is attached to the base 1.

Next, an assembly example of the antenna device shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 will be described. It is assumed that the main board 2 is attached to the upper surface of the base 1.
In the assembly example of the antenna device shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the operator first connects both ends of the flexible substrate 6 to predetermined locations on the main substrate 2 with connectors. At this time, the operator makes the connection interval between both ends of the flexible substrate 6 shorter than the total length of the flexible substrate 6 so that the protruding height at the center of the flexible substrate 6 is higher than the height of the cover 7. As a result, the center of the flexible substrate 6 is bent so as to protrude from the main substrate 2.

After that, the operator lowers the cover 7 from above the main board 2 toward the base 1 side and attaches the cover 7 to the base 1. At this time, the operator attaches the cover 7 to the base 1 by inserting the protrusion 71 of the cover 7 into the hole 63 of the flexible substrate 6. As a result, the antenna 61 is positioned by inserting the protrusion 71 into the hole 63. Therefore, the antenna 61 is prevented from being displaced in the horizontal direction from a predetermined position when the cover 7 is attached. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, stress is generated by pressing the center of the flexible substrate 6 by the cover 7, and at least a part of the antenna 61 is in contact with the back surface of the cover 7. At this time, from the viewpoint of improving the sensitivity, it is desirable that the entire surface of the antenna 61 is in contact with the back surface of the cover 7, as shown in FIG. Further, since the antenna 61 is positioned by inserting the protrusion 71 into the hole 63, it is possible to prevent the antenna 61 from being displaced in the horizontal direction from a predetermined position even after the cover 7 is attached.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, in the flexible substrate 6, the antenna device has a hole 63 formed inside the antenna 61 and a protrusion provided on the back surface of the cover 7 and inserted into the hole 63. It was equipped with 71. As a result, the antenna device according to the second embodiment can prevent the position of the antenna 61 from being displaced in the horizontal direction when or after the cover 7 is attached, in addition to the effect in the first embodiment.

Embodiment 3.
The antenna device according to the first embodiment is connected to the main board 2 in a bent state of the flexible board 3 having the antenna 31, and the antenna 31 is generated by the stress generated in the flexible board 3 when the cover 4 is attached to the base 1. At least a part of the cover 4 is in contact with the back surface of the cover 4. On the other hand, in the antenna device according to the third embodiment, the antenna 81 is directly attached to the back surface of the cover 4.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration example of the antenna device according to the third embodiment. In the antenna device according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the flexible substrate 3 in the antenna device according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is changed to the flexible substrate 8. Other configurations are the same, and the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 9, the flexible substrate 8 is a substrate having a patterned antenna 81 and a signal line 82. The flexible substrate 8 is characterized by being thin and soft, and can exhibit its performance without changing the electrical characteristics of the antenna 81 even if the substrate is bent.
In FIG. 9, the antenna 81 has a rectangular pattern formed on one end of the flexible substrate 8. Further, in FIG. 9, the signal line 82 is patterned in the flexible substrate 8 so that one end is connected to the antenna 81 and the other end extends to the other end of the flexible substrate 8.

The other end (signal line 82 side) of the flexible substrate 8 is connected to a predetermined position on the main substrate 2. Further, at least a part of the antenna 81 is attached to a predetermined position on the back surface of the cover 4. In FIG. 8, the entire surface of the antenna 81 is attached to the back surface of the cover 4.

Next, an assembly example of the antenna device shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 will be described with reference to FIG. It is assumed that the main board 2 is attached to the upper surface of the base 1.
In the assembly example of the antenna device shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, as shown in FIG. 10A, the operator first connects the other end (signal line 82 side) of the flexible substrate 8 to a predetermined position on the main substrate 2 with a connector. , At least a part of the antenna 81 is attached to a predetermined position on the back surface of the cover 4. At this time, from the viewpoint of improving the sensitivity, it is desirable that the entire surface of the antenna 81 is in contact with the back surface of the cover 4, as shown in FIG. 10A.

After that, as shown in FIG. 10A, the operator lowers the cover 4 while rotating it toward the base 1 side with one end side of the main substrate 2 as a fulcrum, and attaches the cover 4 to the base 1 (see FIG. 10B).

Note that FIG. 10 shows a case where the antenna 81 is attached to the center of the back surface of the cover 4. In this case, it is necessary to lengthen the signal line 82 portion (inter-board portion) of the flexible substrate 8, and there is a possibility that the storage of the inter-board portion in the case 5 remains a problem.
Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, the attachment point of the antenna 81 may be the end on the back surface of the cover 4. This makes it possible to shorten the inter-board portion of the flexible substrate 8. On the other hand, in this case, since the movable range of the cover 4 with the antenna 81 attached is narrowed, there are restrictions on the attachment of the cover 4.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, the antenna device has the base 1, the main board 2 attached to the base 1, the antenna 81 at one end, and the other end connected to the main board 2. The flexible substrate 8 and the cover 4 attached to the base 1 are provided, and at least a part of the antenna 81 is attached to the back surface of the cover 4. As a result, in the antenna device according to the third embodiment, the antenna 81 can be arranged away from the main board 2 without using a pin.

In the present invention, within the scope of the invention, it is possible to freely combine each embodiment, modify any component of each embodiment, or omit any component in each embodiment. is there.

1 Base 2 Main board 3 Flexible board 4 Cover 5 Case 6 Flexible board 7 Cover 8 Flexible board 31 Antenna 32 Signal line 61 Antenna 62 Signal line 63 Hole 71 Protrusion 81 Antenna 82 Signal line

Claims (5)

With the base
With the main board attached to the base
A flexible board that has an antenna in the center and both ends are connected to the main board.
With a cover attached to the base
The flexible substrate is an antenna device characterized in that the center is bent so as to protrude from the main substrate, and at least a part of the antenna is brought into contact with the back surface of the cover. In the flexible substrate, a hole formed inside the antenna and
The antenna device according to claim 1, further comprising a protrusion provided on the back surface of the cover and inserted into the hole. With the base
With the main board attached to the base
A flexible board having an antenna at one end and the other end connected to the main board.
With a cover attached to the base
The antenna is an antenna device, characterized in that at least a part thereof is attached to the back surface of the cover. In a method of fixing an antenna in an antenna device including a base, a main board attached to the base, a flexible board having an antenna in the center, and a cover.
The connection interval between both ends of the flexible substrate is made shorter than the total length of the flexible substrate so that the protruding height at the center of the flexible substrate is higher than the height of the cover, and both ends are connected to the main substrate. Steps and
It is characterized by having a step of lowering the cover from above the main board toward the base side and attaching the cover to the base so that at least a part of the antenna is brought into contact with the back surface of the cover. How to fix the antenna. In a method of fixing an antenna in an antenna device including a base, a main board attached to the base, a flexible board having an antenna at one end, and a cover.
A step of connecting the other end of the flexible substrate to the main substrate and attaching at least a part of the antenna to the back surface of the cover.
A method for fixing an antenna, which comprises a step of lowering the cover while rotating it toward the base side with one end side of the main board as a fulcrum and attaching the cover to the base.

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