Patent Application
20220359988
The present disclosure relates to an antenna, a wireless communication module, and a wireless communication device.
Electromagnetic waves emitted from an antenna are reflected by a metal conductor. A 180-degree phase shift occurs in the electromagnetic waves reflected by the metal conductor. The reflected electromagnetic waves combine with the electromagnetic waves emitted from the antenna. The amplitude may decrease as a result of the electromagnetic waves emitted from the antenna combining with the phase-shifted electromagnetic waves. As a result, the amplitude of the electromagnetic waves emitted from the antenna decreases.
The effect of the reflected waves is reduced by the distance between the antenna and the metal conductor being set to ¼ of the wavelength λ of the emitted electromagnetic waves.
To address this, a technique for reducing the effect of reflected waves using an artificial magnetic wall has been proposed. This technology is described, for example, in Non-Patent Literature (NPL) 1 and 2.
However, the techniques described in NPL 1 and 2 require a large number of resonator structures to be aligned.
The present disclosure is directed at providing a novel antenna, wireless communication module, and wireless communication device.
An antenna according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a housing made of a resin; a first conductor group; and a power supply line, wherein the housing includes a first surface including at least three first corner portions, a second surface including at least three second corner portions, the second surface facing the first surface, a side surface connecting the first surface and the second surface, and a housing portion surrounded by the first surface, the second surface, and the side surface, the first conductor group includes a first conductor extending along the first surface, at least three second conductors separated from one another extending along the side surface from the first corner portions toward the second corner portions, the at least three second conductors being electrically connected to the first conductor, and a second conductor group extending along the second surface, the second conductor group capacitively coupling the at least three second conductors, and the power supply line is connected to any one portion of the second conductor group.
A wireless communication module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: the antenna described above; and a radio frequency (RF) module located within the housing portion.
A wireless communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: the wireless communication module described above; and a sensor located within the housing portion.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a novel antenna, wireless communication module, and wireless communication device can be provided.
In the present disclosure, each requirement is configured to perform an executable operation. Thus, in the present disclosure, the operation executed by a requirement may mean that the requirement is configured to be able to execute the operation. In the present disclosure, a case where a requirement executes an operation may be paraphrased as the requirement is configured to be able to execute the operation. In the present disclosure, the operation able to be executed by the requirement may be paraphrased as the operation is able to be executed by a requirement provided or included in the requirement. In the present disclosure, in a case where one requirement causes another requirement to execute an operation, it may mean that the one requirement is configured to be able to cause the other requirement to execute the operation. In the present disclosure, a case where one requirement causes another requirement to execute an operation may be paraphrased as the one requirement is configured to control the other requirement so that the other requirement is caused to execute the operation. In the present disclosure, an operation executed by a requirement that is not described in the claims may be understood as being a non-essential operation.
In the present disclosure, each requirement has a functional enabled state. Thus, the functional state of a requirement may mean that the requirement is configured to be functional. In the present disclosure, a case where each requirement has a functional enabled state may be paraphrased as the requirement is configured to be in a functional state.
In the present disclosure, “dielectric material” may include a composition of either a ceramic material or a resin material. Examples of the ceramic material include an aluminum oxide sintered body, an aluminum nitride sintered body, a mullite sintered body, a glass ceramic sintered body, crystallized glass yielded by precipitation of a crystal component in a glass base material, and a microcrystalline sintered body such as mica or aluminum titanate. Examples of the resin material include an epoxy resin, a polyester resin, a polyimide resin, a polyamide-imide resin, a polyetherimide resin, and resin materials yielded by curing an uncured liquid crystal polymer or the like.
The “electrically conductive material” in the present disclosure may include a composition of any of a metal material, an alloy of metal materials, a cured metal paste, and a conductive polymer. Examples of the metal material include copper, silver, palladium, gold, platinum, aluminum, chrome, nickel, cadmium lead, selenium, manganese, tin, vanadium, lithium, cobalt, and titanium. The alloy includes a plurality of metallic materials. The metal paste includes the result of kneading a powder of a metal material with an organic solvent and a binder. Examples of the binder include an epoxy resin, a polyester resin, a polyimide resin, a polyamide-imide resin, and a polyetherimide resin. Examples of the conductive polymer include a polythiophene polymer, a polyacetylene polymer, a polyaniline polymer, and a polypyrrole polymer.
Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, a Cartesian coordinate system of an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis is used. Hereinafter, in cases where the positive direction of the X-axis and the negative direction of the X-axis are not particularly distinguished, the positive direction of the X-axis and the negative direction of the X-axis are collectively referred to as the “X direction”. In cases where the positive direction of the Y-axis and the negative direction of the Y-axis are not particularly distinguished, the positive direction of the Y-axis and the negative direction of the Y-axis are collectively referred to as the “Y direction”. In cases where the positive direction of the Z-axis and the negative direction of the Z-axis are not particularly distinguished, the positive direction of the Z-axis and the negative direction of the Z-axis are collectively referred to as the “Z direction”.
Hereinafter, a first direction represents the X direction. A second direction represents the Y direction. A third direction represents the Z direction. However, the first direction and the second direction need not be orthogonal. The first direction and the second direction only need to intersect. Furthermore, the third direction does not need to be orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction. The third direction only needs to intersect the first direction and the second direction.
As illustrated in
An antenna 2 is capable of emitting circularly polarized waves. As described below, the antenna 2 exhibits an artificial magnetic conductor character with respect to a predetermined frequency of electromagnetic waves incident on the XY plane included in the wireless communication device 1 from the positive Z-axis side. In the present disclosure, “artificial magnetic conductor character” means a characteristic of a surface where the phase difference between incident waves and reflected waves becomes 0 degrees. On the surface having the artificial magnetic conductor character, the phase difference between the incident waves and reflected waves in the frequency band ranges from −90 degrees to +90 degrees. By the antenna 2 exhibiting such an artificial magnetic conductor character, the emission efficiency of the antenna 2 can be maintained even when a metal plate 4 is positioned on the negative Z-axis side of the wireless communication device 1, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
Various components of the wireless communication device 1 are housed in the housing 10. The housing 10 is made of a resin. That is, the housing 10 includes a dielectric material. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The side surfaces 13 to 16 connect the first surface 11 and the second surface 12. For example, the side surface 13 connects a portion of the first surface 11 between the first corner portion 11A and the first corner portion 11B and a portion of the second surface 12 between the second corner portion 12A and the second corner portion 12B. The side surface 14 connects a portion of the first surface 11 between the first corner portion 11B and the first corner portion 11C and a portion of the second surface 12 between the second corner portion 12B and the second corner portion 12C. The side surface 15 connects a portion of the first surface 11 between the first corner portion 11C and the first corner portion 11D and a portion of the second surface 12 between the second corner portion 12C and the second corner portion 12D. The side surface 16 connects a portion of the first surface 11 between the first corner portion 11D and the first corner portion 11A and a portion of the second surface 12 between the second corner portion 12D and the second corner portion 12A.
The side surface 13 and the side surface 15 may face one another in the X direction. The side surface 14 and the side surface 16 may face one another in the Y direction. Each of the side surfaces 13 to 16 may be roughly rectangular and, for example, have the same shape.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The first conductor 30 extends along the first surface 11 of the housing 10. The first conductor 30 may be configured to surround the periphery of the first surface 11. In other words, the first surface 11 may be included within the first conductor 30. By including the first surface 11 within the first conductor 30, the overall weight of the wireless communication device 1 can be reduced compared with a case where the interior of the first conductor 30 is composed of a conductor. The electric potential of the first conductor 30 may be used as a reference potential of the wireless communication device 1.
The first conductor 30 may include an upper surface 31, a lower surface 32, and side surfaces 33, 34, 35, 36. The upper surface 31 and the lower surface 32 face one another in the Z direction. The side surfaces 33 to 36 electrically connect the upper surface 31 and the lower surface 32. The side surfaces 33 to 36 are located separated from one another. For example, in the Y direction, the end portions of the opposing side surface 33 and side surface 34 are located separated by the gap S2. In the Y direction, the end portions of the opposing side surface 35 and side surface 36 are located separated by the gap S2. In the X direction, the end portions of the opposing side surface 33 and side surface 36 are located separated by the gap S1. In the X direction, the end portions of the opposing side surface 34 and side surface 35 are located separated by the gap S1.
The second conductors 40 to 43 are located separated from one another. For example, in the Y direction, the end portions of the opposing second conductor 40 and second conductor 41 are located separated by the gap S2. In the Y direction, the end portions of the opposing second conductor 42 and second conductor 43 are located separated by the gap S2. In the X direction, the end portions of the opposing second conductor 40 and second conductor 43 are located separated by the gap S1. In the X direction, the end portions of the opposing second conductor 41 and second conductor 42 are located separated by the gap S1.
The second conductors 40 to 43 are electrically connected to the first conductor 30. For example, the second conductor 40 is electrically connected to the side surface 33 of the first conductor 30. The second conductor 41 is electrically connected to the side surface 34 of the first conductor 30. The second conductor 42 is electrically connected to the side surface 35 of the first conductor 30. The second conductor 43 is electrically connected to the side surface 36 of the first conductor 30.
The second conductor 40 extends along a portion of the side surface 13 and a portion of the side surface 16 of the housing 10 from the first corner 11A toward the second corner 12A of the housing 10 illustrated in
The second conductor group 50 extends along the second surface 12 of the housing 10. The second conductor group 50 capacitively couples the second conductors 40 to 43. In the XY plane, the periphery of the second conductor group 50 is surrounded by the second conductors 40 to 43. As the second conductor group 50 is surrounded in the XY plane by the second conductors 40 to 43, as viewed from the second conductor group 50, the second conductors 40 to 43 can be seen as electrical walls surrounding the second conductor group 50. In other words, as viewed from the second conductor group 50, the YZ plane on the positive X-axis side, the YZ plane on the negative X-axis side, the XZ plane on the positive Y-axis side, and the XZ plane on the negative Y-axis side can be seen as electrical walls. Because the second conductor group 50 is surrounded by these four electrical walls, the antenna 2 can emit two electromagnetic waves with the electric field components orthogonal to each other toward the positive Z-axis side. Two electromagnetic waves with the orthogonal electric field components are also referred to as “orthogonal modes”. For example, the antenna 2 may emit electromagnetic waves with the electric field component along X=Y and electromagnetic waves with the electric field component along X=−Y toward the positive Z-axis direction. When the phase difference between the two electromagnetic waves with orthogonal electric field components is 90 degrees, the two electromagnetic waves combine and, consequently, the antenna 2 emits circularly polarized waves. Also, the second conductor group 50 is surrounded by these four electrical walls, thus the antenna 2 exhibits an artificial magnetic conductor character with respect to a predetermined frequency of electromagnetic waves incident on the XY plane of the wireless communication device 1 from the positive Z-axis side.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The connection conductors 51 to 54 are located separated from one another. For example, the connection conductor 51 and the connection conductor 52 are located separated in the Y direction by the gap S2. The connection conductor 53 and the connection conductor 54 are located separated in the Y direction by the gap S2. The connection conductor 51 and the connection conductor 54 are located separated in the X direction by the gap S1. The connection conductor 52 and the connection conductor 53 are located separated in the X direction by the gap S1.
Each of the connection conductors 51 to 54 are electrically connected to the second conductors 40 to 41. For example, the side on the negative Y-axis side of the two sides substantially parallel to the X direction of the connection conductor 51 and the side on the negative X-axis of the two sides substantially parallel to the Y direction of the connection conductor 51 are connected at a portion on the positive Z-axis side of the second conductor 40. The side on the positive Y-axis side of the two sides substantially parallel to the X direction of the connection conductor 52 and the side on the negative X-axis of the two sides substantially parallel to the Y direction of the connection conductor 52 are connected at a portion on the positive Z-axis side of the second conductor 41. The side on the positive Y-axis side of the two sides substantially parallel to the X direction of the connection conductor 53 and the side on the positive X-axis of the two sides substantially parallel to the Y direction of the connection conductor 53 are connected at a portion on the positive Z-axis side of the second conductor 42. The side on the negative Y-axis side of the two sides substantially parallel to the X direction of the connection conductor 54 and the side on the positive X-axis of the two sides substantially parallel to the Y direction of the connection conductor 54 are connected at a portion on the positive Z-axis side of the second conductor 43.
The inner conductors 55 to 58 are located closer to the housing portion 17 of the housing 10 than the connection conductors 51 to 54. Each of the inner conductors 55 to 58 faces the connection conductors 51 to 54 in the Z direction. As illustrated in
The inner conductors 55 to 58 are located separated from one another. For example, as illustrated in
A capacitor may be connected between adjacent ones of the inner conductors 55 to 58. For example, the capacitor may be connected at least between the inner conductor 55 and the inner conductor 56 adjacent in the Y direction and/or between the inner conductor 57 and the inner conductor 58 adjacent in the Y direction. For example, the capacitor may be connected at least between the inner conductor 56 and the inner conductor 57 adjacent in the X direction and/or between the inner conductor 55 and the inner conductor 58 adjacent in the X direction. The capacitor may be used to bring the magnitude of the capacitive coupling between the inner conductors 55 to 58 to a desired value. Connecting the capacitor allows the capacitive coupling between the inner conductors 55 to 58 to be increased.
The conductor set 59 electrically connects the connection conductor 51 and the inner conductor 55. The conductor set 59 includes at least one coupling conductor 60. In the present embodiment, the conductor set 59 includes a plurality of coupling conductors 60. The plurality of coupling conductors 60 are located separated from one another in the X direction and the Y direction. One end of the coupling conductor 60 is electrically connected to the connection conductor 51. The other end of the coupling conductor 60 is electrically connected to the inner conductor 55. The coupling conductor 60 may extend along the Z direction. At least a portion of the coupling conductor 60 may be located within the second surface 12 of the housing 10. The coupling conductor 60 may be a through hole conductor, a via conductor, or the like.
The conductor set 61 electrically connects the connection conductor 52 and the inner conductor 56. The conductor set 61 includes at least one coupling conductor 62. In the present embodiment, the conductor set 61 includes a plurality of coupling conductors 62. The plurality of coupling conductors 62 are located separated from one another in the X direction and the Y direction. One end of the coupling conductor 62 is electrically connected to the connection conductor 52. The other end of the coupling conductor 62 is electrically connected to the inner conductor 56. The coupling conductor 62 may extend along the Z direction. At least a portion of the coupling conductor 62 may be located within the second surface 12 of the housing 10. The coupling conductor 62 may be a through hole conductor, a via conductor, or the like.
The conductor set 63 electrically connects the connection conductor 53 and the inner conductor 57. The conductor set 63 includes at least one coupling conductor 64. In the present embodiment, the conductor set 63 includes a plurality of coupling conductors 64. The plurality of coupling conductors 64 are located separated from one another in the X direction and the Y direction. One end of the coupling conductor 64 is electrically connected to the connection conductor 53. The other end of the coupling conductor 64 is electrically connected to the inner conductor 57. The coupling conductor 64 may extend along the Z direction. At least a portion of the coupling conductor 64 may be located within the second surface 12 of the housing 10. The coupling conductor 64 may be a through hole conductor, a via conductor, or the like.
The conductor set 65 electrically connects the connection conductor 54 and the inner conductor 58. The conductor set 65 includes at least one coupling conductor 66. In the present embodiment, the conductor set 65 includes a plurality of coupling conductors 66. The plurality of coupling conductors 66 are located separated from one another in the X direction and the Y direction. One end of the coupling conductor 66 is electrically connected to the connection conductor 54. The other end of the coupling conductor 66 is electrically connected to the inner conductor 58. The coupling conductor 66 may extend along the Z direction. At least a portion of the coupling conductor 66 may be located within the second surface 12 of the housing 10. The coupling conductor 66 may be a through hole conductor, a via conductor, or the like.
As illustrated in
The power supply line 72 is electrically connected to any one portion of the second conductor group 50. In the present disclosure, an “electromagnetic connection” may be an electrical connection or a magnetic connection. In the present embodiment, one end of the power supply line 72 is connected to the third conductor 70 of the second conductor group 50. The other end of the power supply line 72 is electrically connected to the RF module 90 described below. The power supply line 72 is located within the housing portion 17 of the housing 10. The power supply line 72 may extend along the Z direction. The power supply line 72 may be a through hole conductor, a via conductor, or the like.
When the antenna 2 emits electromagnetic waves, the power supply line 72 supplies power from the RF module 90 described below to the second conductor group 50. By appropriately selecting the phase of the alternating current power supplied from the power supply line 72 to the second conductor group 50, it is possible to appropriately select the right-turning or left-turning circularly polarized waves and emit them from the antenna 2. However, the third conductor 70 may include, at a portion, a cutout or projection that perturbs two orthogonal modes that make up the circularly polarized waves. If this perturbation is not provided, the waves become linearly polarized.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The RF module 90 may control the electrical power supplied to the antenna 2. The RF module 90 modulates the baseband signal and generates an RF signal. RF signals generated by the RF module 90 may be emitted from the antenna 2. The RF module 90 may modulate an electrical signal received by the antenna 2 into a baseband signal. The RF module 90 outputs a baseband signal to the controller 94.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The controller 94 may include a processor, for example. The controller 94 may include one or more processors. The processor may include a general-purpose processor that reads a specific program in order to execute a specific function, and a dedicated processor dedicated to specific processing. A dedicated processor may include an application-specific IC. The application-specific IC is also referred to as an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). The processor may include a programmable logic device. The programmable logic device is also called a Programmable Logic Device (PLD).
The PLD may include a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). The controller 94 may be either a System-on-a-Chip (SoC) or a System In a Package (SiP) that cooperates with one or more processors. The controller 94 may store various information and programs for causing the memory 93 to operate the components of the wireless communication device 1.
The controller 94 generates a baseband signal. For example, the controller 94 obtains the detection result of the sensor 91. The controller 94 generates a baseband signal according to the obtained detection result. The controller 94 outputs the generated baseband signal to the RF module 90.
The controller 94 may obtain a baseband signal from RF module 90. The controller 94 executes processing according to the obtained baseband signal.
As described above, in the wireless communication device 1 according to the first embodiment, even if there are no rows of resonator structures, the antenna 2 can emit electromagnetic waves without reducing emission efficiency. Furthermore, the antenna 2 includes the housing 10 made of a resin and the first conductor group 20 surrounding the front surface of the housing 10. In other words, in the present embodiment, the antenna 2 can be configured with the housing 10 of the wireless communication device 1. Configuring the antenna 2 with the housing 10 can reduce the number of components composing the antenna 2 in the wireless communication device 1. Thus, according to the present embodiment, the antenna 2, wireless communication module 3, and wireless communication device 1, which are novel, can be provided.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Similar to the first embodiment, the second conductors 140 to 143 are located separated from one another. Similar to the first embodiment, the second conductors 140 to 143 are electrically connected to the first conductor 130. Similar to the first embodiment, each of the second conductors 140 to 143 extends from one of the first corners 11A to 11D of the housing 10 illustrated in
The width of the second conductors 140 to 143 is less than the width of the second conductors 40 to 43 according to the first embodiment. The shape of the second conductors 140 to 143 is a pillar shape extending along the Z direction. Similar to the first embodiment, the periphery of the second conductor group 50 in the XY plane is surrounded by the second conductors 140 to 143. As viewed from the second conductor group 50, the set of the second conductors 140, 141 is seen as an electrical wall extending in the YZ plane on the negative X-axis side, and the set of the second conductors 142, 143 is seen as an electrical wall extending in the YZ plane on the positive X-axis side. Also, as viewed from the second conductor group 50, the set of the second conductors 140, 143 is seen as an electrical wall extending in the XZ plane on the negative Y-axis side, and the set of the second conductors 141, 142 is seen as an electrical wall extending in the XZ plane on the positive Y-axis side. In other words, as in the first embodiment, as viewed from the second conductor group 50, the YZ plane on the positive X-axis side, the YZ plane on the negative X-axis side, the XZ plane on the positive Y-axis side, and the XZ plane on the negative Y-axis side are seen as electrical walls. As the second conductor group 50 is surrounded by these four electrical walls, the antenna 102 can emit circularly polarized waves, in a similar manner to the first embodiment. The third conductor 70 may include, at a portion, a cutout, projection, or the like that perturbs two orthogonal modes that make up the circularly polarized waves. If this perturbation is not provided, the waves become linearly polarized. Also, the second conductor group 50 is surrounded by these four electrical walls. Thus, as in the first embodiment, the antenna 102 exhibits an artificial magnetic conductor character with respect to a predetermined frequency of electromagnetic waves incident on the XY plane of the wireless communication device 1 from the positive Z-axis side.
The other configuration and effect of the antenna 102 according to the second embodiment is the same as the antenna 2 according to the first embodiment.
In the first and second embodiments, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
The antenna 202 is capable of emitting circularly polarized waves as in the first embodiment. As in the first embodiment, the antenna 202 exhibits an artificial magnetic conductor character with respect to a predetermined frequency of electromagnetic waves incident on the XY plane of the wireless communication device 201 from the positive Z-axis side. Because the antenna 202 exhibits such an artificial magnetic conductor character, as in the first embodiment, the emission efficiency of the antenna 202 can be maintained even when a metal plate 4 is positioned on the negative Z-axis side of the wireless communication device 201.
As illustrated in
Various components of the wireless communication device 201 are housed in the housing 210. The housing 210 is made of a resin. That is, the housing 210 includes a dielectric material. As illustrated in
The first surface 211 and the second surface 212 face each other in the Z direction. The first surface 211 includes first corner portions 211A, 211B, 211C. The second surface 212 includes second corner portions 212A, 212B, 212C. Each of the first corner portions 211A to 211C and each of the second corner portions 212A to 212C may face one another in the Z direction. Each of the first surface 211 and the second surface 212 may extend along the XY plane. Each of the first surface 211 and the second surface 212 may be roughly an equilateral triangle.
The side surfaces 213 to 215 connect the first surface 211 and the second surface 212. For example, the side surface 213 connects a portion of the first surface 211 between the first corner portion 211A and the first corner portion 211B and a portion of the second surface 212 between the second corner portion 212A and the second corner portion 212B. The side surface 214 connects a portion of the first surface 211 between the first corner portion 211B and the first corner portion 211C and a portion of the second surface 212 between the second corner portion 212B and the second corner portion 212C. The side surface 215 connects a portion of the first surface 211 between the first corner portion 211C and the first corner portion 211A and a portion of the second surface 212 between the second corner portion 212C and the second corner portion 212A. The side surfaces 213 to 215 may be roughly rectangular.
As with the housing portion 17 illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The first conductor 230 extends along the first surface 211 of the housing 210 illustrated in
The first conductor 230 may include an upper surface 231, a lower surface 232, and side surfaces 233, 234, 235. The upper surface 231 and the lower surface 232 face each other in the Z direction. The battery 92 illustrated in
The side surfaces 233 to 235 electrically connect the upper surface 231 and the lower surface 232. The side surfaces 233 to 235 are located separated from one another. For example, the end portions of the side surface 233 and the side surface 234, which oppose each other, are located separated by the gap S5. The end portions of the side surface 234 and the side surface 235, which oppose each other, are located separated by the gap S6. The end portions of the side surface 235 and the side surface 233, which oppose each other, are located separated by the gap S7.
The second conductors 240 to 242 are electrically connected to the first conductor 230. For example, the second conductor 240 is electrically connected to the side surface 233 of the first conductor 230. The second conductor 241 is electrically connected to the side surface 234 of the first conductor 230. The second conductor 242 is electrically connected to the side surface 235 of the first conductor 230.
The second conductor 240 extends along a portion of the side surface 213 and a portion of the side surface 215 of the housing 10 from the first corner portion 211A toward the second corner portion 212A of the housing 10 illustrated in
The second conductor group 250 extends along the second surface 212 of the housing 210. The second conductor group 250 capacitively couples the second conductors 240 to 242. In the XY plane, the periphery of the second conductor group 50 is surrounded by the second conductors 240 to 242. As viewed from the second conductor group 250, the second conductors 240 to 242 are seen as three electrical walls surrounding the second conductor group 250. Because the second conductor group 250 is surrounded by these three electrical walls, the antenna 202 can emit two electromagnetic waves with the electric field components orthogonal to one another toward the positive Z-axis side. When the phase difference between the two electromagnetic waves with orthogonal electric field components is 90 degrees, the two electromagnetic waves combine and, consequently, the antenna 202 emits circularly polarized waves. Also, the second conductor group 250 is surrounded by these three electrical walls, thus the antenna 202 exhibits an artificial magnetic conductor character with respect to a predetermined frequency of electromagnetic waves incident on the XY plane of the wireless communication device 201 from the positive Z-axis side.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The connection conductors 251 to 253 are located separated from one another. For example, the connection conductor 251 and the connection conductor 252 are located separated by the gap S5. The connection conductor 252 and the connection conductor 253 are located separated by the gap S6. The connection conductor 253 and the connection conductor 251 are located separated by the gap S7.
The connection conductor 251 is electrically connected to the second conductor 240. The connection conductor 252 is electrically connected to the second conductor 241. The connection conductor 253 is electrically connected to the second conductor 242.
The inner conductors 254 to 256 are located closer to the housing portion 217 of the housing 210 than the connection conductors 251 to 253. Each of the inner conductors 254 to 256 face the connection conductors 251 to 253 in the Z direction. As with the inner conductors 55 to 58 illustrated in FIG. 2, at least a portion of each of the inner conductors 254 to 256 may be exposed to the housing portion 217 of the housing 210. Each of the inner conductors 254 to 256 may be located on the front surface of the second surface 212 of the housing 210 corresponding to the inward-facing surface of the housing 210. The inner conductors 254 to 256 may be roughly quadrangular and, for example, have the same shape.
The inner conductors 254 to 256 are located separated from one another. For example, as illustrated in
A capacitor may be connected between adjacent inner conductors 254 to 256. For example, the capacitor may be connected at at least one of the gap S8 between the adjacent inner conductor 254 and inner conductor 255, the gap S9 between the adjacent inner conductor 255 and inner conductor 256, or the gap S10 between the adjacent inner conductor 256 and inner conductor 254. The capacitor may be used to bring the magnitude of the capacitive coupling between the inner conductors 254 to 256 to a desired value. Connecting the capacitor allows the capacitive coupling between the inner conductors 254 to 256 to be increased.
The conductor set 257 electrically connects the connection conductor 251 and the inner conductor 254. The conductor set 257 includes at least one coupling conductor 258. In the present embodiment, the conductor set 257 includes one coupling conductor 258. However, the conductor set 257 may include a plurality of the coupling conductors 258. One end of the coupling conductor 258 is electrically connected to the connection conductor 251. The other end of the coupling conductor 258 is electrically connected to the inner conductor 254. The coupling conductor 258 may extend along the Z direction. At least a portion of the coupling conductor 258 may be located within the second surface 212 of the housing 10. The coupling conductor 258 may be a through hole conductor, a via conductor, or the like.
The conductor set 259 electrically connects the connection conductor 252 and the inner conductor 255. The conductor set 259 includes at least one coupling conductor 260. In the present embodiment, the conductor set 259 includes one coupling conductor 260. However, the conductor set 259 may include a plurality of coupling conductors 260. One end of the coupling conductor 260 is electrically connected to the connection conductor 252. The other end of the coupling conductor 260 is electrically connected to the inner conductor 255. The coupling conductor 260 may extend along the Z direction. At least a portion of the coupling conductor 260 may be located within the second surface 212 of the housing 210. The coupling conductor 260 may be a through hole conductor, a via conductor, or the like.
The conductor set 261 electrically connects the connection conductor 253 and the inner conductor 256. The conductor set 261 includes at least one coupling conductor 262. In the present embodiment, the conductor set 261 includes one coupling conductor 262. However, the conductor set 261 may include a plurality of coupling conductors 262. One end of the coupling conductor 262 is electrically connected to the connection conductor 253. The other end of the coupling conductor 262 is electrically connected to the inner conductor 256. The coupling conductor 262 may extend along the Z direction. At least a portion of the coupling conductor 262 may be located within the second surface 212 of the housing 210. The coupling conductor 262 may be a through hole conductor, a via conductor, or the like.
As illustrated in
The power supply line 72 is electrically connected to any one portion of the second conductor group 250. In the present embodiment, the power supply line 72 is electrically connected to the third conductor 263 of the second conductor group 250.
As described above, in the wireless communication device 201 according to the third embodiment, even if there are no rows of resonator structures, the antenna 202 can emit electromagnetic waves without reduced emission efficiency. Also, as in the first embodiment, the antenna 202 according to the third embodiment is configured with the housing 210 of the wireless communication device 201. Configuring the antenna 202 with the housing 210 can reduce the number of components composing the antenna 202 in the wireless communication device 201. Thus, according to the present embodiment, the antenna 202, the wireless communication module 3, and the wireless communication device 201, which are novel, can be provided.
Other effects and configurations according to the third embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Similar to the third embodiment, the second conductors 340 to 342 are located separated from one another. Similar to the third embodiment, the second conductors 340 to 342 are electrically connected to the first conductor 330. Similar to the third embodiment, each of the second conductors 340 to 342 extends from one of the first corners 211A to 211C of the housing 210 illustrated in
The width of the second conductors 340 to 342 is less than the width of the second conductors 240 to 242 according to the third embodiment. The shape of the second conductors 340 to 342 is a pillar shape extending along the Z direction. Similar to the third embodiment, the periphery of the second conductor group 250 in the XY plane is surrounded by the second conductors 340 to 342. As viewed from the second conductor group 250, the set including the second conductors 340, 341 is seen as one electrical wall, the set including the second conductors 341, 342 is seen as one electrical wall, and the set including the second conductors 342, 340 is seen as one electrical wall. As the second conductor group 250 is surrounded by three electrical walls, the antenna 302 can emit circularly polarized waves, in a similar manner to the third embodiment. Also, the second conductor group 250 is surrounded by these three electrical walls. Thus, as in the third embodiment, the antenna 302 exhibits an artificial magnetic conductor character with respect to a predetermined frequency of electromagnetic waves incident on the XY plane of the wireless communication device 301 from the positive Z-axis side.
Other configurations and effects of the antenna 302 according to the fourth embodiment are the same as those of the antenna 202 according to the third embodiment.
The antenna 402 includes the first conductor group 20, a power supply line 72a, and a power supply line 72b. Similar to the antenna 2 illustrated in
The power supply line 72a and the power supply line 72b are electrically connected to any one portion of the second conductor group 50 of the first conductor group 20. The signal propagating in the power supply line 72a and the signal propagating in the power supply line 72b correspond to differential signals. In the present embodiment, one end of the power supply line 72a and one end of the power supply line 72b are connected to the third conductor 70 of the second conductor group 50. The power supply line 72a and the power supply line 72b may be connected to positions at different portions of the third conductor 70. The other end of the power supply line 72a and the other end of the power supply line 72b are electrically connected to the RF module 90 of the wireless communication device 401. The power supply line 72a and the power supply line 72b are located within the housing portion 17 of the housing 10 as illustrated in
Other configurations and effects of the antenna 402 according to the fifth embodiment are the same as those of the antenna 2 according to the first embodiment.
The configurations according to the present disclosure are not limited only to the embodiments described above, and some variations or changes can be made. For example, the functions and the like included in each of the components and the like can be rearranged as long as logically inconsistencies are avoided, and multiple components can be combined into one or divided.
For example, the above-described shape of the wireless communication device 1, 101 is roughly a square prism. However, the shape of the wireless communication device 1, 101 is not limited to being roughly a square prism. For example, the shape of the wireless communication device 1, 101 can be roughly circular. For example, the shape of the wireless communication device 1, 101 can be roughly rectangular. For example, with a configuration in which the shape of the wireless communication device 1 is roughly rectangular, the antenna 2 can emit at least one of electromagnetic waves at a frequency corresponding to the length of the long sides of the rectangular parallelepiped or electromagnetic waves at a frequency corresponding to the length of the short sides of the rectangular parallelepiped.
For example, the wireless communication device 1, 101, 201, 301 described above includes the battery 92. However, the wireless communication device 1, 101, 201, 301 need not include the battery 92. In this case, the wireless communication device 1, 101, 201, 301 may include an energy harvesting device. Examples of an energy harvesting device include a type that converts sunlight into electrical power, a type that converts vibration into electrical power, a type that converts heat into electrical power, and the like.
The drawings for describing the configuration according to the present disclosure are schematic. The dimensional proportions and the like in the drawings do not necessarily coincide with the actual values.
In the present disclosure, “first”, “second”, “third”, and the like are examples of identifiers for distinguishing the configurations. Configurations distinguished in the description by “first”, “second”, and the like in the present disclosure are interchangeable in terms of the number of the configuration. For example, the first conductor can exchange the identifiers, “first” and “second” with the second conductor. The identifiers are interchanged simultaneously. The configurations are distinguished after the identifiers are interchanged. The identifiers may be deleted. Configurations with deleted identifiers are distinguished by reference signs. No interpretation of the order of the configurations, no grounds for the presence of an identifier of a lower value, and no grounds for the presence of an identifier of a higher value shall be given based solely on the description of identifiers such as “first” and “second” in the present disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-117743 | Jun 2019 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2020/024626 | 6/23/2020 | WO |
