Patent Grant
9865924
The present invention relates to an antenna device and a communication terminal apparatus and, in particular, to an antenna device and a communication terminal apparatus used in a communication system in the high-frequency (HF) range.
A radio frequency identification (RFID) system for exchanging information between a reader/writer and an RFID tag by non-contact communications is known. Each of the reader/writer and the RFID tag includes an antenna device for transmitting and receiving a radio signal. For example, for an HF-range RFID system that uses 13.56 MHz as the communication frequency, the antenna device of an RFID tag and the antenna device of a reader/writer are coupled to each other mainly through an induction field and transmit and receive predetermined information.
In recent years, some communication terminal apparatuses, such as cellular phones, have introduced an RFID system, and the communication terminal apparatuses have been used as a reader/writer and an RFID tag. As a technique for providing a communication terminal apparatus with the RFID function, as described in, for example, Patent Literature 1, a technique for incorporating an antenna module in the communication terminal apparatus is known. The antenna module is one in which a planar coil antenna is disposed on a planar substrate.
PTL 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-364199
In a system that uses the HF range as the communication frequency, the communication distance between the antenna devices depends on a magnetic flux flowing through the coil antennas. That is, to have a certain degree of communication distance between the antenna devices, it is necessary for the coil antennas to have an increased size. The increased size of the coil antenna impedes miniaturization of the communication terminal apparatus.
In light of the above-described circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide an antenna device that occupies a small area while achieving a predetermined communication distance and, additionally, to provide a small communication terminal apparatus.
An antenna device according to the present invention includes a coil antenna that includes a coil conductor wound around a winding axis and a planar conductor (booster antenna) that includes a surface and an edge end portion, the surface extending along the winding axis, the edge end portion being adjacent (close) to a coil opening of the coil conductor.
A communication terminal apparatus according to the present invention includes an antenna device and a communication circuit connected to the antenna device, the antenna device including a coil antenna that includes a coil conductor wound around a winding axis and a planar conductor (booster antenna) that includes a surface and an edge end portion, the surface extending along the winding axis, the edge end portion being adjacent (close) to a coil opening of the coil conductor.
Because an antenna device of the present invention includes a coil antenna and a planar conductor, the antenna device occupying a small area while ensuring a predetermined communication distance can be achieved and therefore a small communication terminal apparatus can be achieved.
An antenna device and a communication terminal apparatus according to embodiments described below are used in an RFID system in the HF range, such as near field communication (NFC).
As illustrated in
The antenna device 201 further includes a planar conductor 11 including a surface parallel to the winding axis direction of each of the coil conductors. The planar conductor 11 is disposed on a base 10. The coil antennas 100A, 100B, 100C, and 100D are mounted on the base 10. Each of the coil antennas 100A, 100B, 100C, and 100D is arranged such that a coil opening of the coil conductor is adjacent (close) to the edge end portion of the planar conductor 11.
The planar conductor is made of metallic foil of copper, silver, aluminum, or other metal and is disposed on the base made of flexible resin.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The coil antennas are disposed on the respective sides of the planar conductor 11 having the shape of a rectangle. The coil antennas 100A, 100B, 100C, and 100D are arranged so as to surround the planar conductor 11. The surface of the planar conductor is overlaid with an insulating film (not illustrated), and the planar conductor 11 and each of the coil antennas 100A, 100B, 100C, and 100D are not directly connected to each other.
The antenna device 201 can be arranged in a communication terminal apparatus 301, such as a cellular phone, as illustrated in
When the planar conductor 11 in the antenna device 201 according to the present embodiment receives a magnetic field from an antenna device at the other end in communication, as illustrated in
Of a magnetic field from the antenna device at the other end in communication, a magnetic flux (indicated by the solid lines in
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the use of a plurality of coil antennas, in particular, a plurality of surface-mount coil antennas, in addition, the use of a magnetic field coupling between the planar conductor and the coil antennas enables an antenna device having electric characteristics substantially equivalent to or better than those of a large coil antenna and can reduce the area occupied by the coil antennas without the use of a large coil antenna. As a result, the communication terminal apparatus can be miniaturized.
In the foregoing, an example in which the winding axis direction of the coil conductor of each coil antenna is parallel to the surface of the planar conductor is illustrated. Being parallel does not necessarily require being strictly parallel and only requires that the surface of the planar conductor extend along the winding axis of the coil conductor. In other words, it is only required that the coil antenna be arranged such that the winding axis of the coil conductor extends along the planar conductor. For example, when the winding axis direction of the coil conductor is in the range from −45° to +45° with respect to a direction normal to the planar conductor 11, this is considered to be the state of extending “along” in the present invention. The same applies to other embodiments described below.
It is only required that the coil conductor 21 of each coil antenna be close to the end portion of the planar conductor 11. It is preferable that, when seen from a direction normal to the planar conductor 11, the end portion of the planar conductor 11 and at least a part of the coil conductor 21 overlap each other, as described above because a current flowing through the end portion of the planar conductor 11 can be more easily induced to the coil conductor 21. From the same reason, it is preferable that a portion in the coil conductor 21, the portion being closest to the end portion of the planar conductor 11, extend in a direction parallel to the end portion of the planar conductor 11. It is preferable that the end portion of the planar conductor 11 and at least a part of the magnetic core 20 overlap each other because a conductive portion of the coil conductor 21 in the vicinity of the bottom side of the magnetic core 20 and the planar conductor 11 are coupled, whereas a conductive portion in the vicinity of the top side of the magnetic core 20 is not easily coupled to the planar conductor 11, and the occurrence of currents cancelling out each other can be prevented.
It is preferable that each coil antenna be arranged such that the winding axes of the coil conductors 21 are parallel (coaxial) to each other because the component of a magnetic flux in the winding axis direction is cancelled and directivity of the antenna device in a direction normal to the planar conductor 11 is obtained.
It is preferable that each coil antenna be arranged such that the winding axes of the coil conductors 21 of the coil antennas cross above the region where the planar conductor 11 is formed because a magnetic flux heading for that intersection can sufficiently flow through each coil antenna.
It is preferable that the magnetic core 20 in each of the coil antennas have the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped and that the coil conductor 21 be wound so as to have the winding axis being parallel to the short sides of the magnetic core 20, that is, the coil conductor 21 be wound such that the coil openings are disposed on the long side of the magnetic core 20. This is because a current flowing through the planar conductor 11 can be more easily guided to the coil conductor 21 and a magnetic flux flowing in a direction parallel to the planar conductor 11 can more easily flow through the coil antenna without an increase in the area for disposing the coil antenna.
Additionally, it is preferable that, when seen from a direction normal to the planar conductor 11, the coil conductor 21 be arranged so as to include a first portion where it overlaps the end portion of the planar conductor 11 and a second portion where it does not overlap the planar conductor 11. This is because the frequency characteristic does not tend to vary if the coil antenna is misaligned at the time of placement and also because an eddy current flowing through the planar conductor 11 is large in the vicinity of the edge end portion of the planar conductor 11 and thus the degree of coupling (magnetic coupling) between the planar conductor 11 and the coil conductor 21 can be large, and as a result, an antenna device with a reduced loss can be achieved.
As illustrated in
Also in the present embodiment, each of the wiring W1 to W8 connecting the coil antennas and the feed circuit FC is routed outside the area formed by an imaginary straight line that connects the center positions of the coil antennas (coil L1, coil L2, coil L3, and coil L4) together. Moreover, each of the wiring W1 to W8 is routed outside the planar conductor 11. Routing the wiring W1 to W8 in this manner widens the area usable as the antenna device in the planar conductor 11.
As in the present embodiment, when seen from a direction normal to the planar conductor 11, the coil antennas (coils L1 to L4) may be arranged such that all of them are located within the area of the planar conductor 11. Because the core of each of the coil antennas is magnetic, currents that cancel out each other do not tend to occur for any arrangement.
The other configurations, operations, and advantageous effects are substantially the same as those of the antenna device according to the first embodiment.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The coil antennas may be connected in series, or alternatively, may also be connected in parallel.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The coil antennas may be connected in series, or alternatively, may also be connected in parallel.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The coil antennas may be connected in series, or alternatively, may also be connected in parallel. To prevent an increase in the loss of a current flowing through the first planar conductor region 11A and the second planar conductor region 11B, it is preferable that the angle θ formed between the first planar conductor region 11A and the second planar conductor region 11B be larger than 90° and smaller than 135°.
The coil antenna 106 includes, as a body, a stacked magnetic core in which magnetic layers 20a, 20c, and 20b are stacked. A conductive pattern 21a on the surface of the magnetic layer 20a, a conductive pattern 21c on the side surface of each of the magnetic layers 20a, 20c, and 20b, and a conductive pattern 21b on the surface of the magnetic layer 20b form a coil conductor. Input/output-terminal connection electrodes 22a and 22b for use in connecting to input/output terminals 12a and 12b and a coupling electrode 24 for use in connecting to the planar conductor 11 are disposed on the back surface of the magnetic layer 20b, that is, on the mounting surface of the coil antenna 106.
The coil conductor is connected at one end to the input/output-terminal connection electrode 22a and is connected at the other end to the input/output-terminal connection electrode 22b.
The input/output-terminal connection electrodes 22a and 22b are connected and fixed to the input/output terminals 12a and 12b with a conductive binder, such as solder, disposed therebetween. The coupling electrode 24 is connected and fixed to a connection area CA indicated by the broken lines in
The input/output terminals 12a and 12b are connected to an input/output port of a feed circuit and another coil antenna.
In the antenna device 206, an eddy current (induced current) flowing through the planar conductor 11 is also guided to the coupling electrode 24 through the conductive binder because the planar conductor 11 and the coupling electrode 24 have the same potential. A current flowing in a direction opposite to the direction of the current flowing in the coupling electrode 24 flows through the conductive pattern 21b on the surface of the magnetic layer 20b, and as a result, the current flows through the coil conductor. In particular, according to the present embodiment, because the coupling electrode 24 and the coil conductor face each other such that the magnetic layer is disposed therebetween, a magnetic field produced by the current flowing in the coupling electrode 24 is trapped in the magnetic layer and is efficiently guided to the coil conductor. Accordingly, the degree of the magnetic field coupling between the coupling electrode 24 and the coil conductor can be increased, and the antenna device with a reduced loss can be achieved.
In the present invention, the number of coil antennas is not limited to three or more. As illustrated in
An increase in the number of coil antennas facilitates the coil conductors to catch an eddy current occurring in the planar conductor 11, but increases the size of the antenna device accordingly. The number of coil antennas can be determined in consideration of balance between the electric characteristics required for the antenna device and the size.
The base 10 of the antenna device 210 is a printed wiring board. The planar conductor 11 is disposed on the base 10. The coil antenna 100 includes the magnetic core 20 and the coil conductor 21 wound around the magnetic core 20. The coil antenna 100 is arranged such that a coil opening of the coil conductor is adjacent (close) to the edge end portion of the planar conductor 11.
Here, it is preferable that 0<d1<d2, where d2 is the distance from the inner end face of the magnetic core 20 to the edge end of the planar conductor 11 and d1 is the distance from the inner end portion of the winding region of the coil conductor to the edge end of the planar conductor 11. When d1 is small or d2 is large, the degree of coupling between the coil conductor 21 and the planar conductor 11 is high, that is, the induced current is increased; as a result, an advantageous effect of increasing a magnetic flux from the planar conductor 11 is obtainable.
A current “a” flowing through the coil conductor 21 induces a current “b” in the planar conductor 11. As a result, a magnetic field occurs in the coil antenna 100 in the direction indicated by the arrow A, and a magnetic field occurs in the planar conductor 11 in the direction indicated by the arrow B. When a magnetic flux is introduced from a coil antenna at the other end in communication, a phenomenon opposite to the above occurs. That is, the planar conductor 11 functions as a booster antenna, and a magnetic field larger than a magnetic field produced by the coil antenna 100 alone can be produced. In this example, as illustrated in
The reason why the above phenomenon, in which such a large magnetic field can be produced, occurs can be that, when seen from a direction normal to the planar conductor 11, the direction of a current flowing through the coil conductor 21 and the direction of a current circulating in the edge end of the planar conductor 11 are the same.
The coil antenna 100 and the planar conductors 11A and 11B are arranged such that the two coil openings of the coil conductor 21 of the coil antenna 100 are adjacent (close) to the edge end portions of the planar conductors 11A and 11B, respectively.
In the structure illustrated in
The planar conductor 11 is disposed on the base layer 10a. The planar conductor 11 is disposed such that the edge end portion is adjacent (close) to a coil opening of the coil conductor. In this manner, the antenna device in which the coil antenna and the planar conductor are integrated in the stacked substrate is configured.
The coil antenna 113 includes, as a body, a stacked magnetic core in which the magnetic layers 20a, 20c, and 20b are stacked. The conductive pattern 21a on the surface of the magnetic layer 20a, the conductive pattern 21c on the side surface of each of the magnetic layers 20a, 20c, and 20b, and the conductive pattern 21b on the surface of the magnetic layer 20b form a coil conductor.
The input/output-terminal connection electrodes 22a and 22b for use in connecting to the input/output terminals 12a and 12b and a strip coupling electrode 23 are disposed on the back surface of the magnetic layer 20b, that is, on the mounting surface of the coil antenna 113. The coil conductor is connected at one end to the input/output-terminal connection electrode 22a through a via conductor and is connected at the other end to the input/output-terminal connection electrode 22b through a via conductor.
The input/output-terminal connection electrodes 22a and 22b are connected and fixed to the input/output terminals 12a and 12b with a conductive binder, such as solder, disposed therebetween. The coupling electrode 23 is connected and fixed to the connection area CA indicated by the broken lines in
The input/output terminals 12a and 12b are connected to an input/output port of a feed circuit and another coil antenna.
In the antenna device 213, an eddy current (induced current) flowing through the planar conductor 11 is also guided to the coupling electrode 23 through the conductive binder because the planar conductor 11 and the coupling electrode 23 have the same potential. A current flowing in a direction opposite to the direction of the current flowing in the coupling electrode 23 flows through the conductive pattern 21b on the surface of the magnetic layer 20b, and as a result, the current flows through the coil conductor. In particular, according to the present embodiment, because the coupling electrode 23 and the coil conductor face each other such that the magnetic layer is disposed therebetween, a magnetic field produced by the current flowing in the coupling electrode 23 is trapped in the magnetic layer and is efficiently guided to the coil conductor. Accordingly, the degree of the magnetic field coupling between the coupling electrode 23 and the coil conductor can be increased, and the antenna device with a reduced loss can be achieved.
The coil antenna 114 includes, as a body, a stacked magnetic core in which the magnetic layers 20a, 20c, 20b, and 20d are stacked. The conductive pattern 21a on the surface of the magnetic layer 20a, the conductive pattern 21c on the side surface of each of the magnetic layers 20a, 20c, and 20b, and the conductive pattern 21b on the surface of the magnetic layer 20b form a coil conductor.
The coupling electrode 23 is disposed on the upper surface of the magnetic layer 20d. The input/output-terminal connection electrodes 22a and 22b electrically connected to both ends of the coil conductor through via conductors and coupling-electrode connection electrodes 23a and 23b electrically connected to both ends of the coupling electrode 23 through via conductors are disposed on the back surface of the magnetic layer 20d, that is, on the mounting surface of the coil antenna 114.
The input/output-terminal connection electrodes 22a and 22b are connected and fixed to the input/output terminals on the base 10 with a conductive binder, such as solder, disposed therebetween. The coupling-electrode connection electrodes 23a and 23b are connected and fixed to the connection area being a part of the planar conductor 11 with a conductive binder, such as solder, disposed therebetween. An underfill 25 is disposed on the lower surface of the coil antenna 114.
In the antenna device 214, an eddy current (induced current) flowing through the planar conductor 11 is also guided to the coupling electrode 23 through the conductive binder. A current flowing in a direction opposite to the direction of the current flowing in the coupling electrode 23 flows through the conductive pattern 21b on the surface of the magnetic layer 20b, and as a result, the current flows through the coil conductor. In particular, according to the present embodiment, because the coupling electrode 23 and the coil conductor face each other such that the magnetic layer is disposed therebetween, a magnetic field produced by the current flowing in the coupling electrode 23 is trapped in the magnetic layer and is efficiently guided to the coil conductor. Accordingly, the degree of the magnetic field coupling between the coupling electrode 23 and the coil conductor can be increased, and the antenna device with a reduced loss can be achieved.
Because the two coil antennas 113A and 113B of the antenna device 215 are opposed to each other, components in the plane direction (horizontal direction) of the planar conductor 11 of the magnetic fluxes produced by the coil antennas 113A and 113B are cancelled. Thus directivity of the antenna device 215 has a characteristic in which it is directed to a direction normal to the planar conductor 11.
When the communication terminal apparatus 315 is held over the coil antenna 400 at the other end in communication, as illustrated in
In the communication terminal apparatus 316, the main substrate 111 and the base 10 as a sub substrate are incorporated in the terminal housing 320. The antenna device 216 is configured at the base 10.
The antenna device 216 includes the planar conductor 11 and the single coil antenna 114. The coil antenna 114 is the one illustrated in
The antenna coil 114 is arranged on the edge end portion of the planar conductor 11 inside the leading end portion FE of the terminal housing 320, a magnetic flux produced by the coil antenna 114 and a magnetic flux produced by the planar conductor 11 are combined, and thus the antenna device 216 has directivity in the direction indicated by the arrow illustrated in
The antenna device 217 of the 17th embodiment includes a booster antenna (booster coil) 130 coupled to the coil antenna 100. The planar conductor 11 is disposed inside the main substrate (printed wiring board) 111. The coil opening on a first end face side in the coil antenna 100 faces the planar conductor 11, and the coil antenna 100 is arranged on the upper surface of the main substrate 111. The coil antenna 100 has the same configuration as that illustrated in
The booster antenna 130 is coupled to the coil antenna 100 and a coil antenna at the other end in communication and acts as a booster antenna, as described below. The coil antenna 100 is connected to a feed circuit, and that feed circuit carries out communication through the coil antenna 100, the booster antenna 130, and the coil antenna at the other end in communication.
As described above, the two coil conductors 31 and 32 of the booster antenna 130 are wound and arranged such that an induced current flowing through the coil conductor 31 and that through the coil conductor 32 propagate in the same direction, and the coil conductors 31 and 32 are coupled through the capacitances. This booster antenna has the inductances of the coil conductors themselves and the capacitances resulting from capacitive coupling of the coil conductors, and the inductances and capacitances form a resonant circuit. It is preferable that the resonant frequency of that resonant circuit substantially correspond to the carrier frequency used in communication. This enables an increase in the communication distance.
In
The coil antenna 100 is mounted on the main substrate (printed wiring board) 111 in the terminal housing 320 as a surface-mount component. The booster antenna 130 is attached to the inner wall of the terminal housing 320 with an adhesive layer 40 disposed therebetween.
The coil antenna 100 functions as a feed coil. The coil antenna 100 and the booster antenna 130 are coupled through a magnetic field. More strictly, because a magnetic flux occurring in the planar conductor 11 (magnetic flux occurring in the direction of the arrow B illustrated in
It is preferable that the direction in which the conductive pattern of each of the coil conductors 31 and 32 of the booster antenna 130 extends and the direction in which the coil conductor 21 of the coil antenna 100 extends be parallel to each other and that the coil conductor 21 of the coil antenna 100 overlap the coil conductors 31 and 32 of the booster antenna 130 in plan view. That is, it is preferable that the winding axis of each of the coil conductors 31 and 32 of the booster antenna 130 be substantially orthogonal to the winding axis of the coil antenna 100. In this case, as indicated by the broken line illustrated in
As described above, it is preferable that the antenna device (communication terminal apparatus) further include the booster antenna 130. When the booster antenna 130 is arranged on a side near to the antenna at the other end in communication, the maximum distance at which communication can be carried out for the antenna device can be further extended. When a communication signal is in the HF range, because the coil antenna 100 and the booster antenna 130 are coupled mainly through a magnetic field, it is not necessary to use mechanical connection means, such as a contact pin or a flexible cable.
The shape of the coil conductor of the booster antenna is not limited to a spiral; it may be a loop shape.
Also when such a positional relationship is used, a magnetic flux occurring in the planar conductor 11 (magnetic flux occurring in the direction of the arrow B illustrated in
The planar conductor 11 constitutes a large proportion of the terminal housing 320 in terms of the plane. The coil antenna 100 is arranged such that the coil openings are positioned along the long sides of the planar conductor. As described above, when the planar conductor 11 has the shape of a rectangle having the long sides and short sides, it is preferable that the coil antenna 100 be arranged such that a coil opening faces a part of the long side. That is, when communication is carried out in the state where a magnetic flux is input and output in a central portion of the planar conductor 11, the magnetic field (magnetic flux) tends to flow toward the long sides, which have a shorter distance from the center of the planar conductor 11. Accordingly, the arrangement in which a coil opening of the coil antenna 100 faces the long side of the planar conductor 11 enables more stable communication.
The coil antennas 100A, 100B, 100C, and 100D are disposed on the respective sides of the rectangular planar conductor 11 and arranged so as to surround the planar conductor 11. The coil conductors of the coil antennas 100A, 100B, 100C, and 100D are connected in series in a direction in which electromotive force is accumulated and connected to a single feed circuit. The path of a magnetic flux flowing through the coil antennas 100A, 100B, 100C, and 100D and the planar conductor 11 is the same as that illustrated in
As described above, the use of the plurality of coil antennas easily enables a necessary inductance. The arrangement in which the plurality of coil antennas 100A, 100B, 100C, and 100D are disposed around the planar conductor 11 strengthens the coupling between the plurality of coil antennas and the booster antenna 130, enhances the efficiency of the booster antenna 130, and reduces a loss. The advantageous effects produced by the use of the single planar conductor and the plurality of coil antennas, as illustrated in the first embodiment, are also obtainable.
The specific embodiments of the present invention are described above. The present invention is not limited to these above-described embodiments. For example, an element other than a coil antenna, such as a semiconductor element or a chip capacitor, may be mounted. The planar conductor may be a ground electrode on a wiring substrate, or alternatively, may be a metal that sheathes a battery pack. That is, the planar conductor is not limited to a dedicated planar conductor. Other metal body in part (or in whole) may be used as the planar conductor in an antenna device.
The magnetic core of the coil antenna may be a ceramic body, such as a ferrite ceramic body, or alternatively, may be a resin layer that contains ferrite powder distributed in a resin. The coil antenna, in which the coil conductor is wound around the surface of the magnetic core, may be overlaid with an insulating layer with the aim of, for example, protecting the coil conductor and protecting the magnetic core. The coil conductor may be one in which metal wire is wound around the magnetic core. When the magnetic core is a ferrite ceramic, the coil conductor may be a metal sintered body, such as one made of silver, simultaneously sintered with the ferrite ceramic. In the coil antenna, in which the coil conductor is wound around the magnetic core, the coil conductor may not be formed on the top surface of the magnetic core; the coil conductor in part or in whole may be disposed inside the magnetic core.
The antenna device in the terminal housing may be arranged in the vicinity of the front side (on the side on which a display unit and an input operation unit are disposed) of the terminal housing, or alternatively, may be disposed above the battery pack. The coil antenna may preferably be arranged on a side adjacent to an object at the other end in communication with respect to the planar conductor. Alternatively, the surface on which the coil antenna is arranged may be on a side opposite to an object at the other end in communication with respect to the planar conductor. In particular, when the coil conductor includes a portion that overlaps the planar conductor and another portion that does not overlap the planar conductor and also when the planar conductor is sufficiently thin, even if the coil antenna is arranged on a side opposite to an object at the other end in communication with respect to the planar conductor, it is sufficiently possible for this antenna device to carry out communication with the antenna device at the other end in communication.
The antenna device may be arranged as the sub substrate in the housing in the communication terminal apparatus, or alternatively, may be arranged on the main substrate. Alternatively, the antenna device may be embedded in a card module that can be inserted into the communication terminal apparatus. The antenna device is not limited to uses in a communication system in the HF range. The antenna device may be used as an antenna device used in other frequency ranges, including the ultrahigh frequency (UHF) range and the superhigh frequency (SHF) range, and may also be used in communication systems other than an RFID system. When the antenna device is used in an RFID system, it may be used as an antenna device in a reader/writer or may also be used as an antenna device in an RFID tag.
The antenna device of the present invention can be used in an RFID system in the HF range, for example. The communication terminal apparatus of the present invention is useful as a communication terminal apparatus that includes an RFID system in the HF range, for example.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-200237 | Sep 2010 | JP | national |
| 2010-200966 | Sep 2010 | JP | national |
| 2011-010459 | Jan 2011 | JP | national |
The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/729,377, filed Dec. 28, 2012, which is a continuation of International application No. PCT/JP2011/070099, filed Sep. 5, 2011, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-200237, filed Sep. 7, 2010, Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-200966, filed Sep. 8, 2010, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-010459, filed Jan. 21, 2011, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| Parent | 13729377 | Dec 2012 | US |
| Child | 15176456 | US | |
| Parent | PCT/JP2011/070099 | Sep 2011 | US |
| Child | 13729377 | US |
