Antenna module that can be mounted on electronic appliances

Abstract

A first antenna and a second antenna provided on a front surface of the resin plate. A first cable connects the first antenna and a communication board. The first cable is mounted on a first mounting bracket. A second cable connects the second antenna and a communication board. The second cable is mounted on a second mounting bracket. The first mounting bracket is provided on at least one of the front surface of the resin plate and the first ground plate of the first antenna. The second mounting bracket is provided on at least one of the front surface of the resin plate and the second ground plate of the second antenna.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present disclosure relates to antenna modules and, more particularly, to an antenna module that can be mounted on electronic appliances.

2. Description of the Related Art

When an electronic appliance such as a vehicle-mounted appliance is provided with a communication function, an antenna is mounted on the housing (see, for example, patent literature 1).

[Patent literature 1] JP2021-22855

When a cable is connected to the antenna mounted on the housing, a mounting bracket for securing the cable is provided in the housing. When the mounting bracket is formed by cutting work on the surface of the housing, a through hole is produced in the housing. In the presence of a through hole, the interfering wave produced in the vehicle cabin could affect the circuit inside the housing.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure addresses the situation described above, and a purpose thereof is to provide a technology for reducing the impact from the interfering wave on the housing interior.

An antenna module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a resin plate structured and arranged to be mounted on a front plate of a housing from a front side; a first antenna and a second antenna provided on a front surface of the resin plate; a first cable that connects the first antenna and a communication board; a first mounting bracket on which the first cable is mounted; a second cable that connects the second antenna and the communication board; and a second mounting bracket on which the second cable is mounted. The first antenna includes: a first ground plate connected to the front surface of the resin plate; a first upright wall provided to stand from the first ground plate toward the front side; and a first radiation plate connected to the first upright wall. The second antenna includes: a second ground plate connected to the front surface of the resin plate; a second upright wall provided to stand from the second ground plate toward the front side; and a second radiation plate connected to the second upright wall. The first mounting bracket is provided on at least one of the front surface of the resin plate and the first ground plate, and the second mounting bracket is provided on at least one of the front surface of the resin plate and the second ground plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings that are meant to be exemplary, not limiting, and wherein like elements are numbered alike in several figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of an electronic appliance according to the embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a font view revealed when the front side of the electronic appliance of FIG. 1 is seen;

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the structure of the antenna module of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4A-4B show the structure of the first antenna of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5A-5B show the connection of the resin plate of FIG. 3 to the first antenna;

FIGS. 6A-6B show the structure of the second antenna of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 7A-7F show the structure of a third antenna through an eighth antenna.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention will now be described by reference to the preferred embodiments. This does not intend to limit the scope of the present invention, but to exemplify the invention.

A brief summary will be given before describing the present disclosure in specific details. The embodiment relates to an electronic appliance covered by a metal housing and provided with an antenna for wireless communication. An example of the electronic appliance is a vehicle-mounted appliance that can be mounted on a vehicle, etc. For wireless communication, wireless local area network (LAN) or Bluetooth (registered trademark) is used by way of example. A dual band antenna compatible with 2.4 GHz/5 GHz is used for communication in the 2.4 GHz band for Bluetooth (registered trademark) and communication in the 2.4 GHz/5 GHz band for wireless LAN. In the related art, the antenna compatible with Bluetooth (registered trademark) and wireless LAN in the 5 GHz band and an antenna compatible with wireless LAN in the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band are provided separately such that they are spaced apart from each other. In such a configuration, the antennas alone are plate-like components that can be deformed easily and are transported in two packages. Also, a wiring work for wiring the cable is necessary after the antennas are mounted. Evaluation of the antenna performance is difficult unless the antennas are mounted. Further, it is necessary to provide the housing with a mounting bracket for securing the cable when the antennas are mounted on the front side of the housing. By providing the mounting bracket in the housing by cutting work, a through hole is produced in the housing. In the presence of a through hole, the interfering wave produced in the vehicle cabin could affect the circuit inside the housing.

The embodiment provides an antenna module in which two antennas are mounted on a resin plate, and the cable connected to each antenna is mounted on the antenna or the resin plate. Modularization increases the strength of the antenna makes it possible to transport the antennas in one package. It also makes unnecessary the wiring work for wiring the cable after the antenna module is mounted on the housing. The antenna performance can be evaluated in the antenna module alone. Mounted the cable on the resin plate leaves the housing free of through holes so that the circuit inside the housing is less likely to be affected by the interfering wave produced in the vehicle cabin.

The terms “parallel” and “orthogonal” in the following description not only encompass completely parallel or orthogonal but also encompass slightly off-parallel and slightly non-orthogonal within the margin of error. The term “substantially” means identical within certain limits.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of an electronic appliance 1000. FIG. 2 is a font view revealed when the front side of the electronic appliance 1000 of FIG. 1 is seen. As shown in FIG. 1, an orthogonal coordinate system formed by an x axis, y axis, and z axis is defined. The x axis and y axis are orthogonal to each other. The z axis is perpendicular to the x axis and y axis and extends in the direction of height of the electronic appliance 1000. The positive directions of the x axis, y axis, and z axis are defined in the directions of arrows in FIG. 1, and the negative directions are defined in the directions opposite to those of the arrows. The positive direction of the x axis may be referred to as “frontward”, “front side”, the negative direction of the x axis may be referred to as “rearward”, “rear side”, the positive direction of the y axis may be referred to as “right”, “rightward”, the negative direction of the y axis may be referred to as “left”, “leftward”, the positive direction of the z axis may be referred to as “above”, “upper side”, and the negative direction of the z axis may be referred to as “below”, “lower side”. It can therefore be said that the x axis extends in the longitudinal direction, the y axis extends in the horizontal direction, and the z axis extends in the vertical direction.

The housing 100 has a shape of a hollow box. Inside the housing 100 is provided a circuit (not shown) for executing the functions of the electronic appliance 1000. An opening 110 is provided on the front side of the housing 100, and the opening 110 is covered with a front plate 200 having a plate-like shape. A securing part 210, which is a recess in which an antenna module 300 can be secured from the front side, is provided in the center of the front surface of the front plate 200. The structure of the antenna module 300 will be described later. A communication board 400 is mounted on the front side of the antenna module 300. The circuit for executing communication in wireless LAN and Bluetooth (registered trademark) is mounted on the communication board 400. The communication board 400 is covered by a front cover 500 from the front side.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the structure of the antenna module 300. A resin plate 310 has a shape more elongated in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction. The resin plate 310 can be mounted on the securing part 210 (FIG. 1) of the front plate 200 from the front side. A first antenna 350a is provided at the right end of the front surface of the resin plate 310. The first antenna 350a and the communication board 400 (FIG. 1) are connected by a first cable 360a. More specifically, a first cable connection part 362a and a first cable terminal 364a are provided at the ends of the first cable 360a. The first cable connection part 362a is is connected to the first antenna 350a. The first cable terminal 364a is connected to the communication board 400. The first cable 360a is mounted on a first mounting bracket 370a between the first cable connection part 362a and the first cable terminal 364a. The detail of the first mounting bracket 370a will be described later.

A second antenna 350b is provided at the left end on the front surface of the resin plate 310. The second antenna 350b and the communication board 400 (FIG. 1) are connected by a second cable 360b. More specifically, a second cable connection part 362b and a second cable terminal 364b are provided at the ends of the second cable 360b. The second cable connection part 362b is connected to the second antenna 350b. The second cable terminal 364b is connected to the communication board 400. The second cable 360b is mounted on a second mounting bracket 370b between the second cable connection part 362b and the second cable terminal 364b. The detail of the second mounting bracket 370b will be described later.

FIGS. 4A-4B show the structure of the first antenna 350a. FIG. 4A is a front view of the first antenna 350a, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the first antenna 350a. A first ground plate 352a in the first antenna 350a is a plate connected to the front surface of the resin plate 310. A first upright wall 354a is provided to stand from the first ground plate 352a toward the front side. The first cable connection part 362a is provided on the first upright wall 354a. Further, a first radiation plate 356a is connected to the first upright wall 354a, and the first radiation plate 356a is provided substantially parallel to the first ground plate 352a. The first ground plate 352a, the first upright wall 354a, and the first radiation plate 356a are, for example, manufactured by punching one metal plate. The first mounting bracket 370a is provided on the first ground plate 352a. In this case, the number of the first mounting brackets 370a is one, but a plurality of first mounting brackets 370a may be provided. Further, the first mounting bracket 370a may be provided only on the first ground plate 352a, the first mounting bracket 370a may be provided only on the front surface of the resin plate 310, or the first mounting bracket 370a may be provided both on the first ground plate 352a and the front surface of the resin plate 310.

FIGS. 5A-5B show the connection of the resin plate 310 to the first antenna 350a. FIG. 5A is a perspective view before the connection, and FIG. 5B is a perspective view after the connection. A first connection part 320a is provided at the right end in the front surface of the resin plate 310. The first connection part 320a includes a first connection bottom 322a and a first connection support part 324a. The first connection bottom 322a is a flat surface in the front surface of the resin plate 310 having a shape that conforms to the first ground plate 352a. The first connection support part 324a projects in a form that conforms to the first upright wall 354a and the first radiation plate 356a. The first antenna 350a is connected to the resin plate 310 by setting the first ground plate 352a in the first connection bottom 322a and supporting the first upright wall 354a and the first radiation plate 356a by the first connection support part 324a.

FIGS. 6A-6B show the structure of the second antenna 350b. FIG. 6A is a front view of the second antenna 350b, and FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the second antenna 350b. A second ground plate 352b in the second antenna 350b is a plate connected to the front surface of the resin plate 310. A second upright wall 354b is provided to stand from the second ground plate 352b toward the front side. The second cable connection part 362b is provided on the second upright wall 354b. Further, a second radiation plate 356b is connected to the second upright wall 354b, and the second radiation plate 356b is provided substantially parallel to the second ground plate 352b. The second ground plate 352b, the second upright wall 354b, and the second radiation plate 356b are, for example, manufactured by punching one metal plate. The second mounting bracket 370b is provided on the second ground plate 352b. In this case, the number of the second mounting brackets 370b is one, but a plurality of second mounting brackets 370b may be provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of second mounting brackets 370b are also provided on the front surface of the resin plate 310. The second mounting bracket 370b may be provided only on one of the second ground plate 352b and on the front surface of the resin plate 310.

A second connection part 320b is provided at the left end in the front surface of the resin plate 310. The second connection part 320b includes a second connection bottom 322b and a second connection support part 324b. The second connection bottom 322b and the second connection support part 324b have shapes similar to those of the first connection bottom 322a and the first connection support part 324a, respectively. The second antenna 350b is connected to the resin plate 310 by setting the second ground plate 352b in the second connection bottom 322b and supporting the second upright wall 354b and the second radiation plate 356b by the second connection support part 324b.

The first mounting bracket 370a and the second mounting bracket 370b are provided on at least two of the front surface of the resin plate 310, the first ground plate 352a, and the second ground plate 352b. By providing the first mounting bracket 370a and the second mounting bracket 370b, a through hole may be produced in at least one of the front surface of the resin plate 310, the first ground plate 352a, and the second ground plate 352b. However, a through hole is not located in the front plate 200. Even if an interfering wave is produced in the antenna, therefore, the impact from the interfering wave in the circuit inside the housing is suppressed.

FIGS. 7A-7F show the structure of a third antenna 350c through an eighth antenna 350h. FIG. 7A shows the third antenna 350c, FIG. 7B shows the fifth antenna 350e, and FIG. 7C shows the sixth antenna 350f. The third antenna 350c includes a third ground plate 352c, a third upright wall 354c, and a third radiation plate 356c. The fifth antenna 350e includes a fifth ground plate 352e, a fifth upright wall 354e, and a fifth radiation plate 356e. The sixth antenna 350f includes a sixth ground plate 352f, a sixth upright wall 354f, and a sixth radiation plate 356f.

The third ground plate 352c, the fifth ground plate 352e, and the sixth ground plate 352f have the same shape as the first ground plate 352a. The third upright wall 354c, the fifth upright wall 354e, and the sixth upright wall 354f have the same shape as the first upright wall 354a. Therefore, the third antenna 350c, the fifth antenna 350e, and the sixth antenna 350f can be connected to the first connection part 320a in place of the first antenna 350a.

Meanwhile, the third radiation plate 356c, the fifth radiation plate 356e, the sixth radiation plate 356f, and the first radiation plate 356a have mutually different shapes. This causes the third antenna 350c, the fifth antenna 350e, the sixth antenna 350f, and the first antenna 350a to have mutually different directivity.

FIG. 7D shows the fourth antenna 350d, FIG. 7E shows the seventh antenna 350g, and FIG. 7F shows the eighth antenna 350h. The fourth antenna 350d includes a fourth ground plate 352d, a fourth upright wall 354d, and a fourth radiation plate 356d. The seventh antenna 350g includes a seventh ground plate 352g, a seventh upright wall 354g, and a seventh radiation plate 356g. The eighth antenna 350h includes an eighth ground plate 352h, an eighth upright wall 354h, and an eighth radiation plate 356h.

The fourth ground plate 352d, the seventh ground plate 352g, and the eighth ground plate 352h have the same shape as the second ground plate 352b. The fourth upright wall 354d, the seventh upright wall 354g, and the eighth upright wall 354h have the same shape as the second upright wall 354b. Therefore, the fourth antenna 350d, the seventh antenna 350g, and the eighth antenna 350h can be connected to the second connection part 320b in place of the second antenna 350b.

Meanwhile, the fourth radiation plate 356d, the seventh radiation plate 356g, the eighth radiation plate 356h, and the second radiation plate 356b have mutually different shapes. This causes the fourth antenna 350d, the seventh antenna 350g, the eighth antenna 350h, and the second antenna 350b to have mutually different directivity.

According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the first mounting bracket and the second mounting bracket are provided in a module in which the first antenna, the second antenna, the first cable, and the second cable are mounted and integrated on the resin plate. Therefore, the front plate is left free of through holes. Further, since the front plate is left free of through holes, the impact from the interfering wave on the housing interior can be reduced. Further, since the first antenna, the second antenna, the first cable, and the second cable are mounted on the resin module and turned into a module, strength of the antenna can be increased. Further, the first antenna, the second antenna, the first cable, and the second cable are mounted on the resin module and turned into a module, the module can be transported in one package.

Further, since the first antenna, the second antenna, the first cable, and the second cable are mounted on the resin module and turned into a module, a wiring work for wiring the cable after the antenna module is mounted on the housing is made unnecessary. Further, since the first antenna, the second antenna, the first cable, and the second cable are mounted on the resin module and turned into a module, the antenna performance can be evaluated in the antenna module alone. Further, since the communication board is mounted on the front side of the antenna module, the length of the cable for connecting the antenna and the communication board can be reduced.

Further, since the third ground plate has the same shape as the first ground plate, and the third radiation plate has a shape different from that of the first radiation plate, the third antenna having a directivity different from that of the first antenna can be used in place of the first antenna. Further, since the fourth ground plate has the same shape as the second ground plate, and the fourth radiation plate has a shape different from that of the second radiation plate, the fourth antenna having a directivity different from that of the second antenna can be used in place of the second antenna.

One embodiment of the present disclosure is summarized below. An antenna module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a resin plate structured and arranged to be mounted on a front plate of a housing from a front side; a first antenna and a second antenna provided on a front surface of the resin plate; a first cable that connects the first antenna and a communication board; a first mounting bracket on which the first cable is mounted; a second cable that connects the second antenna and the communication board; and a second mounting bracket on which the second cable is mounted. The first antenna includes: a first ground plate connected to the front surface of the resin plate; a first upright wall provided to stand from the first ground plate toward the front side; and a first radiation plate connected to the first upright wall. The second antenna includes: a second ground plate connected to the front surface of the resin plate; a second upright wall provided to stand from the second ground plate toward the front side; and a second radiation plate connected to the second upright wall. The first mounting bracket is provided on at least one of the front surface of the resin plate and the first ground plate, and the second mounting bracket is provided on at least one of the front surface of the resin plate and the second ground plate.

According to this embodiment, the first mounting bracket and the second mounting bracket are provided in a module in which the first antenna, the second antenna, the first cable, and the second cable are mounted and integrated on the resin plate. Therefore, the front plate is left free of through holes, and the impact from the interfering wave on the housing interior can be reduced.

The antenna module may further include, on the front surface of the resin plate, a first connection part to which the first ground plate is structured and arranged to be connected. A third antenna may be structured and arranged to be connected to the first connection part in place of the first antenna, and the third antenna may include: a third ground plate connected to the first connection part; a third upright wall provided to stand from the third ground plate toward the front side; and a third radiation plate connected to the third upright wall. The third ground plate may have the same shape as the first ground plate, and the third radiation plate may have a shape different from that of the first radiation plate. In this case, since the third ground plate has the same shape as the first ground plate, and the third radiation plate has a shape different from that of the first radiation plate, the third antenna having a directivity different from that of the first antenna can be used in place of the first antenna.

The antenna module may further include, on the front surface of the resin plate, a second connection part to which the second ground plate is structured and arranged to be connected. A fourth antenna may be structured and arranged to be connected to the second connection part in place of the second antenna, and the fourth antenna may include: a fourth ground plate connected to the second connection part; a fourth upright wall provided to stand from the fourth ground plate toward the front side; and a fourth radiation plate connected to the fourth upright wall. The fourth ground plate may have the same shape as the second ground plate, and the fourth radiation plate may have a shape different from that of the second radiation plate. In this case, since the fourth ground plate has the same shape as the second ground plate, and the fourth radiation plate has a shape different from that of the second radiation plate, the fourth antenna having a directivity different from that of the second antenna can be used in place of the second antenna.

The communication board is mounted on a front side of the antenna module. Further, since the communication board is mounted on the front side of the antenna module, the length of the cable for connecting the antenna and the communication board can be reduced.

Described above is an explanation of the present disclosure based on the embodiment. The embodiment is intended to be illustrative only and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications to constituting elements and processes could be developed and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

In the antenna module 300 of the embodiment, two antennas 350 are mounted on the resin plate 310. Alternatively, three or more antennas 350 may be mounted on the resin plate 310. According to this variation, the flexibility in configuration can be improved.

While various embodiments have been described herein above, it is to be appreciated that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention(s) presently or hereafter claimed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-024207, filed on Feb. 18, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. An antenna module comprising: a resin plate structured and arranged to be mounted on a front plate of a housing from a front side;a first antenna and a second antenna provided on a front surface of the resin plate;a first cable that connects the first antenna and a communication board;a first mounting bracket on which the first cable is mounted;a second cable that connects the second antenna and the communication board; anda second mounting bracket on which the second cable is mounted, whereinthe first antenna includes:a first ground plate connected to the front surface of the resin plate;a first upright wall provided to stand from the first ground plate toward the front side; anda first radiation plate connected to the first upright wall,the second antenna includes:a second ground plate connected to the front surface of the resin plate;a second upright wall provided to stand from the second ground plate toward the front side; anda second radiation plate connected to the second upright wall,the first mounting bracket is provided on at least one of the front surface of the resin plate and the first ground plate, andthe second mounting bracket is provided on at least one of the front surface of the resin plate and the second ground plate.

2. The antenna module according to claim 1, further comprising: on the front surface of the resin plate, a first connection part to which the first ground plate is structured and arranged to be connected, whereina third antenna is structured and arranged to be connected to the first connection part in place of the first antenna,the third antenna includes:a third ground plate connected to the first connection part;a third upright wall provided to stand from the third ground plate toward the front side; anda third radiation plate connected to the third upright wall,the third ground plate has the same shape as the first ground plate, andthe third radiation plate has a shape different from that of the first radiation plate.

3. The antenna module according to claim 2, further comprising: on the front surface of the resin plate, a second connection part to which the second ground plate is structured and arranged to be connected, whereina fourth antenna is structured and arranged to be connected to the second connection part in place of the second antenna,the fourth antenna includes:a fourth ground plate connected to the second connection part;a fourth upright wall provided to stand from the fourth ground plate toward the front side; anda fourth radiation plate connected to the fourth upright wall,the fourth ground plate has the same shape as the second ground plate, andthe fourth radiation plate has a shape different from that of the second radiation plate.

4. The antenna module according to claim 1, wherein the communication board is mounted on a front side of the antenna module.

5. The antenna module according to claim 2, wherein the communication board is mounted on a front side of the antenna module.

6. The antenna module according to claim 3, wherein the communication board is mounted on a front side of the antenna module.