Loop antenna and design method for loop antenna

Abstract

Even when at least one of a capacitor (C1) connected to a main loop and a capacitor (C2) connected to an amplification loop cannot be set to an optimal value, a current value of a current (I2) flowing on the amplification loop can be made sufficiently large by setting the capacitors (C1, C2) based on any of an optimal C2 curved line, an optimal C1 curved line, and an optimal C1 straight line that pass through an optimal point (C1opt, C2opt) of the capacitors (C1, C2) and extend along a ridge of contour lines each joining the points where the magnitude of the current (I2) is equal on a diagram showing a relation of values of the capacitors (C1, C2) with the magnitude of the current (I2).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a loop antenna that can contribute to expansion of a coverage for a wireless system using a magnetic field.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, a service linked to an intention and an action of a user while purposely restricting an authentication area has been provided by using an authentication system adopting wireless communication techniques such as the near field communication (NFC) (Patent Documents 1 to 3). A loop antenna (a coil) is employed when forming the authentication area by using a magnetic field. A current applied to the antenna develops spherical magnetic field distribution on a surface of the antenna. A distance decay property of the magnetic field is shaper than that of an electric wave, and therefore has an advantage that it is possible to clearly mark off a boundary of a wireless coverage.

The sharp distance decay property of the magnetic field is a drawback from the viewpoint of expanding the wireless coverage. When expanding the wireless coverage in the wireless system using the magnetic field, a large current needs to be applied to the antenna, which may lead to a significant increase in power consumption.

A method of amplifying the magnetic field by using a magnetic field resonance effect without increasing a consumption current has been proposed as a mode of solving the aforementioned problem (Patent Documents 4 and 5).

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

Patent Documents

Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Publication No. 5684695

Patent document 2: Japanese Patent Publication No. 5914368

Patent document 3: Japanese Patent Publication No. 5813672

Patent document 4: Japanese Patent Publication No. 6077036

Patent document 5: Japanese Patent Publication No. 6077148

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

In order to amplify the magnetic field by using the resonance, capacitances of capacitors that are fitted to two tightly coupled loop antennas, respectively, need to be set to appropriate values. A variable capacitor is convenient in order to set the capacitance of such a capacitor to an optimal value. On a practical point of view, the use of a fixed capacitor is required to meet the needs for reliability and cost reduction.

However, it is difficult to set the capacitance of the fixed capacitor to the optimal value. For this reason, there has been a demand for a method of obtaining a relatively large magnetic field even if the capacitances of the capacitors do not completely match the optimal values.

The present invention has been made in view of the aforementioned circumstances and an objective thereof is to obtain a relatively large magnetic field even if a capacitance value of a capacitor attached to an antenna does not completely match an optimal value.

Means for Solving the Problem

A loop antenna according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a main loop being an open loop connected to any of a signal source and a reception circuit; an amplification loop being a closed loop having the same shape as the main loop; a first resistor connected in series to the main loop; a first capacitor connected in series to the main loop; a second resistor connected in series to the amplification loop; and a second capacitor connected in series to the amplification loop. Here, the main loop and the amplification loop have equal self-inductance. A resistance value of the first resistor is a larger value than a resistance value of the second resistor. At least one of the first capacitor and the second capacitor is a fixed capacitor. A magnitude of a current flowing on the amplification loop is expressed by using the resistance value of the first resistor, the resistance value of the second resistor, a capacitance value of the first capacitor, a capacitance value of the second capacitor, and the self-inductance. A combination of the capacitance value of the first capacitor and the capacitance value of the second capacitor to maximize the magnitude of the current is expressed by any of an optimal curved line and an optimal straight line each of which passes through an optimal point indicated with the capacitance value of the first capacitor and the capacitance value of the second capacitor when the magnitude of the current is maximized in orthogonal coordinates adopting the capacitance value of the first capacitor and the capacitance value of the second capacitor as respective axes. The combination of the capacitance value of the first capacitor and the capacitance value of the second capacitor is determined based on any of the optimal curved line and the optimal straight line.

Effect of the Invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a relatively large magnetic field even if a capacitance value of a capacitor attached to an antenna does not completely match an optimal value.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a loop antenna of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an equivalent circuit of the loop antenna of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relation of capacitance values of capacitors connected to a main loop and to an amplification loop with a current flowing on the amplification loop.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a curved line indicating an optimal capacitance value of the capacitor in the amplification loop when a fixed capacitor is connected to the main loop.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a curved line indicating an optimal capacitance value of the capacitor in the main loop when a fixed capacitor is connected to the amplification loop.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a straight line obtained by approximating the curved line in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of another loop antenna according to the embodiment.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a loop antenna of this embodiment.

The loop antenna shown in FIG. 1 is a resonant-type loop antenna which includes a main loop 1 and an amplification loop 2.

The main loop 1 is a coil wound around a bar-shaped rod 3 made of either a magnetic body or an insulating body. The number of turns in the main loop 1 is at least 1 and the number of turns is 5 in the example of FIG. 1. A resistor R₁ and a capacitor C₁ are connected in series to the main loop 1. The main loop 1 is an open loop that includes terminals T and T for establishing connection to a signal source 5 or a reception circuit (not shown).

The amplification loop 2 is a coil wound around the rod 3 at a position away from the main loop 1. The number of turns in the amplification loop 2 is at least 1 and the number of turns is 5 in the example of FIG. 1. A resistor R₂ and a capacitor C₂ are connected in series to the amplification loop 2. The amplification loop 2 is a closed loop that does not include any terminals.

The main loop 1 and the amplification loop 2 have the same geometric shape. Accordingly, both loops have equal self-inductance L. Here, the main loop 1 and the amplification loop 2 may be wound at the same position on the rod 3.

When an alternating current I₁ is supplied from the signal source 5 to the main loop 1, an alternating current I₂ flows on the amplification loop 2 due to mutual inductance between the main loop 1 and the amplification loop 2. If a resistance value of the resistor R₂ is set smaller than a resistance value of the resistor R₁, the magnitude of the current I₂ becomes larger than the magnitude of the current I₁. Thus, it is possible to expand an area of a magnetic field generated by the loop antenna.

While FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration to use the loop antenna as a transmission antenna by connecting the signal source 5 to the terminals T and T of the main loop 1, the loop antenna may be used as a reception antenna by connecting the reception circuit to the terminals T and T instead of the signal source 5. In this case, a large current I₂ is accumulated in the amplification loop 2 by way of the magnetic field received from outside. Due to the presence of the mutual inductance, the current I₁ flowing on the main loop 1 becomes larger as compared to the case where the amplification loop 2 is not present. Thus, the area of the magnetic field appears to be expanded when viewed from the transmission side.

Next, optimal values of the capacitors C₁ and C₂ for maximizing the current I₂ will be described.

The magnitude of the current I₂ relies on multiple factors including a frequency f of a signal generated by the signal source 5, the resistor R₁, the resistor R₂, the capacitor C₁, the capacitor C₂, the shape of the loop, and so forth. For this reason, it is preferable to maximize the current I₂ by adjusting respective values of the resistor R₁, the resistor R₂, the capacitor C₁, the capacitor C₂.

If the value of the resistor R₂ is smaller than the value of the resistor R₁, the current I₂ can be maximized by setting the values of the capacitors C₁ and C₂ to optimal values C₁^opt and C₂^opt defined by the following formulae (1) and (2):

$\begin{array}{cc}{C}_1^{\mathrm{opt}}\left(\omega ,L,R_1,R_2\right):=\frac{1}{{\omega }^{2}L}{\left\{1+\sqrt{\frac{R_1}{R_2}-{\left(\frac{R_1}{\omega L}\right)}^2}\right\}}^{-1}& \left(1\right)\\ C_2^{\mathrm{opt}}\left(\omega ,L,R_1,R_2\right):=\frac{1}{{\omega }^{2}L}{\left\{1+\sqrt{\frac{R_2}{R_1}-{\left(\frac{R_2}{\omega L}\right)}^2}\right\}}^{-1}& \left(2\right)\end{array}$ where co is an angular frequency of the signal generated by the signal source 5.

The magnitude of the current I₂ can be easily obtained by analyzing or simulating an equivalent circuit of the loop antenna of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows the equivalent circuit of the loop antenna of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a relation of the values of the capacitors C₁ and C₂ and the magnitude of the current I₂ obtained by analyzing the equivalent circuit of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 plots a result of analysis of the equivalent circuit while setting the frequency f of the signal generated by the signal source 5 to 10 MHz, a voltage Vin to 1 V, the self-inductance L of the main loop 1 and the amplification loop 2 to 1 μH, the resistor R₁ to 100Ω, and the resistor R₂ to 1Ω. In FIG. 3, the horizontal axis and the vertical axis indicate the values of the capacitors C₁ and C₂, respectively, and the relation of the values of the capacitors C₁ and C₂ with the magnitude of the current I₂ is indicated by using contour lines each joining points of equal values of the magnitude of the current I₂ (contour lines of the current I₂).

The optimal values C₁^opt and C₂^opt of the capacitors C₁ and C₂ defined by the following formula (3) are obtained by applying the above-mentioned conditions to the formulae (1) and (2).C₁^opt=23.3[pF],C₂^opt=230.5[pF]  (3)

As shown in FIG. 3, it is apparent the current I₂ reaches the maximum (50 mA) indeed when the values of the capacitors C₁ and C₂ satisfy the formula (3). In other words, in order to maximize the current I₂, it is necessary to apply variable capacitors to both of the capacitors C₁ and C₂ and to bring the capacitance values of the capacitors C₁ and C₂ completely in line with the values of the formula (3) by conducting fine adjustment.

However, it may not be possible to set the capacitors C₁ and C₂ to the optimal values C₁o^pt and C₂Op^t if a fixed capacitor is used for at least one of the capacitors C₁ and C₂. This embodiment seeks an optimal value with which it is possible to maximize the current I₂ when using the fixed capacitor for at least one of the capacitors C₁ and C₂, and determines the capacitance values of the capacitors C₁ and C₂ based on the optimal value.

A case of using the fixed capacitor for the capacitor C₁ and using the variable capacitor for the capacitor C₂ will be considered to begin with. In other words, the value of the capacitor C₁ cannot be fine-adjusted but the value of the capacitor C₂ can be fine-adjusted.

By analyzing the equivalent circuit of FIG. 2, it is possible to express the current I₂ as a function of the capacitors C₁ and C₂. Hence, an equation defined by the following formula (4) will be considered.

$\begin{array}{cc}\frac{\partial I_2}{\partial C_2}=0& \left(4\right)\end{array}$

The following formula (5) is obtained by specifically calculating and solving the formula (4) for the capacitor C₂.C₂=f(C₁;ω,L,R₁)  (5)

where a function f(C; ω, L, R) is defined by the following formula (6):

$\begin{array}{cc}f\left(C;\omega ,L,R\right):=\frac{1+{\omega }^{2}C\left\{C{R}^2+L\left({\omega }^{2}LC-2\right)\right\}}{{\omega }^{2}L\left\{1-{\omega }^{2}C\left(L-C{R}^2\right)\right\}}& \left(6\right)\end{array}$

A curved line expressed by the formula (5) will be hereinafter referred to as an optimal C2 curved line. FIG. 4 is a diagram plotting the optimal C2 curved line over the contour lines shown in FIG. 3. The optimal C2 curved line represents an optimal value of the capacitor C₂ corresponding to the value of the capacitor C₁ of which the capacitance value is not adjustable. In other words, even when the value of the capacitor C₁ cannot be adjusted to the optimal value defined by the formula (3) since the capacitor C₁ is the fixed capacitor, it is possible to maximize the magnitude of the current I₂ by adjusting the value of the capacitor C₂ to the value obtained by the formula (5).

Next, a case of using the variable capacitor for the capacitor C₁ and using the fixed capacitor for the capacitor C₂ will be considered. In other words, in contrast to the aforementioned case, the value of the capacitor C₁ can be fine-adjusted but the value of the capacitor C₂ cannot be fine-adjusted.

In this case, an equation defined by the following formula (7) will be considered.

$\begin{array}{cc}\frac{\partial I_2}{\partial C_1}=0& \left(7\right)\end{array}$

The following formula (8) is obtained by specifically calculating and solving the formula (7) for the capacitor C₁.C₁=f(C₂;ω,L,R₂)  (8)

where the function f(C; ω, L, R) is defined by the formula (6).

A curved line expressed by the formula (8) will be hereinafter referred to as an optimal C1 curved line. FIG. 5 is a diagram plotting the optimal C1 curved line over the contour lines shown in FIG. 3. The optimal C1 curved line represents an optimal value of the capacitor C₁ corresponding to the value of the capacitor C₂ of which the capacitance value is not adjustable. Even when the capacitor C₂ is the fixed capacitor, it is possible to maximize the magnitude of the current I₂ by fine-adjusting the value of the capacitor C₁ to the value obtained by the formula (8).

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, each of the optimal C2 curved line and the optimal C1 curved line is a curved line that passes through an optimal point (C₁^opt, C₂^opt) of the capacitors C₁ and C₂ to maximize the magnitude of the current I₂ and extends along a ridge of the contour lines of the current I₂.

In the meantime, with reference to FIG. 5, it turns out that the optimal C₁ curved line can be approximated to a straight line that passes through the optimal point (C₁^opt, C₂^opt) and has a slope equal to −1. This straight light is expressed by the following formula (9):C₂=−C₁+C₁^opt(ω,L,R₁,R₂)+C₂^opt(ω,L,R₁R₂)  (9)

A straight line expressed by the formula (9) will be hereinafter referred to as an optimal C1 straight line. FIG. 6 is a diagram plotting the optimal C1 straight line over the contour lines shown in FIG. 3. With reference to FIG. 6, it is apparent that the optimal C1 straight line is well approximated to the optimal C1 curved line shown in FIG. 5. It is therefore possible to use the optimal C1 straight line in place of the optimal C1 curved line. Even when the capacitor C₂ is the fixed capacitor, it is possible to maximize the magnitude of the current I₂ by fine-adjusting the value of the capacitor C₁ to the value obtained by the formula (9). The value of the capacitor C₁ to be set can be obtained easily by using the optimal C1 straight line. The optimal C1 straight line is useful when automatically controlling the value of the capacitor C₁.

Next, a case of using the fixed capacitors for both of the capacitors C₁ and C₂ will be considered.

It is conceivable that no variable capacitors are used at all in order to achieve cost reduction. The fixed capacitors can be selected from a lineup standardized among manufacturers which ranges from E3 series to E192 series. However, the capacitors C₁ and C₂ have to be selected from the fixed capacitors having discrete values, and it is almost impossible to select the fixed capacitors that completely match the optimal values of the capacitors C₁ and C₂. In addition, it is also extremely difficult to obtain the fixed capacitors to be used for the capacitors C₁ and C₂ such that the values of the capacitors C₁ and C₂ are located on the optimal curved line or the optimal straight line described above.

Given the situation, when using the fixed capacitors for both of the capacitors C₁ and C₂, this embodiment adopts a combination (C₁⁰, C₂⁰) of the capacitors out of combinations of capacitor candidates, with which a distance d (C₁⁰, C₂⁰) from either the optimal curved line or the optimal straight line becomes shortest. The functions to represent the optimal curved lines and the optimal straight line have been given by the formulae (5), (6), (8), and (9) and it is therefore possible to obtain the distance d (C₁⁰, C₂⁰) therefrom. In particular, the distance from the optimal C1 straight line indicated by the formula (9) can be easily obtained by using the following formula (10):

$\begin{array}{cc}d\left(C_1^0,C_2^0\right)=\frac{C_1^0+C_2^0-C_1^{\mathrm{opt}}-C_2^{\mathrm{opt}}}{\sqrt{2}}& \left(10\right)\end{array}$

Next, another loop antenna of this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of another loop antenna of this embodiment.

The loop antenna shown in FIG. 7 is a resonant-type loop antenna which includes the main loop 1 and the amplification loop 2.

The loop antenna shown in FIG. 7 is different from the loop antenna shown in FIG. 1 in that the main loop 1 and the amplification loop are formed on a planar substrate (not shown).

The main loop 1 is disposed on the planar substrate made of an insulating body. The resistor R₁ and the capacitor C₁ are connected in series to the main loop 1. The main loop 1 is the open loop that includes the terminals T and T for establishing connection to the signal source 5 or the reception circuit (not shown).

The amplification loop 2 is disposed on the same planar substrate very closely to the main loop 1. The resistor R₂ and the capacitor C₂ are connected in series to the amplification loop 2. The amplification loop 2 is the closed loop that does not include any terminals.

The main loop 1 and the amplification loop 2 have the same geometric shape. Accordingly, both loops have equal self-inductance L.

When the alternating current I₁ is supplied from the signal source 5 to the main loop 1, the alternating current I₂ flows on the amplification loop 2 due to the mutual inductance between the main loop 1 and the amplification loop 2. If the resistance value of the resistor R₂ is set smaller than the resistance value of the resistor R₁, the magnitude of the current I₂ becomes larger than the magnitude of the current I₁.

Even when the fixed capacitor is used for at least one of the capacitors C₁ and C₂ in the loop antenna of FIG. 7, it is possible to maximize the magnitude of the current I₂ by setting the optimal value as with the case of the loop antenna of FIG. 1.

Though the amplification loop 2 is located inside the main loop 1 in FIG. 7, the amplification loop 2 may be located outside the main loop 1, or the main loop 1 and the amplification loop 2 may be located on two sides while interposing the planar substrate in between. The number of turns in each of the main loop 1 and the amplification loop 2 may be set to 2 or above. When the number of turns is set to 2 or above, the numbers of turns in the main loop 1 and the amplification loop 2 are set equal.

The loop antenna of FIG. 7 may also be used as the reception antenna by connecting the reception circuit to the terminals T and T.

As described above, according to this embodiment, even when at least one of the capacitor C₁ connected to the main loop 1 and the capacitor C₂ connected to the amplification loop 2 cannot be set to the optimal value, a current value of the current I₂ flowing on the amplification loop can be made sufficiently large by setting the capacitors C₁ and C₂ based on any of the optimal C2 curved line, the optimal C1 curved line, and the optimal C1 straight line that pass through the optimal point of the capacitors C₁ and C₂ and extend along the ridge of the contour lines each joining the points where the magnitude of the current I₂ is equal on the diagram showing the relation of the values of the capacitors C₁ and C₂ with the magnitude of the current I₂. For this reason, it is possible to obtain a large magnetic field amplification effect even when an inexpensive fixed capacitor is used for at least one of the capacitors C₁ and C₂.

EXPLANATION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

• • 1 main loop
  • 2 amplification loop
  • 3 rod
  • 5 signal source

Claims

1. A loop antenna comprising: a main loop being an open loop connected to any of a signal source and a reception circuit;an amplification loop being a closed loop having the same shape as the main loop;a first resistor connected in series to the main loop;a first capacitor connected in series to the main loop;a second resistor connected in series to the amplification loop; anda second capacitor connected in series to the amplification loop, whereinthe main loop and the amplification loop have equal self-inductance,a resistance value of the first resistor is a larger value than a resistance value of the second resistor,at least one of the first capacitor and the second capacitor is a fixed capacitor,a magnitude of a current flowing on the amplification loop is expressed by using the resistance value of the first resistor, the resistance value of the second resistor, a capacitance value of the first capacitor, a capacitance value of the second capacitor, and the self-inductance,a combination of the capacitance value of the first capacitor and the capacitance value of the second capacitor to maximize the magnitude of the current is expressed by any of an optimal curved line and an optimal straight line each of which passes through an optimal point indicated with the capacitance value of the first capacitor and the capacitance value of the second capacitor when the magnitude of the current is maximized in orthogonal coordinates adopting the capacitance value of the first capacitor and the capacitance value of the second capacitor as respective axes, andthe combination of the capacitance value of the first capacitor and the capacitance value of the second capacitor is determined based on any of the optimal curved line and the optimal straight line.

2. The loop antenna according to claim 1, wherein the first capacitor is the fixed capacitor, andthe optimal curved line is expressed by a formula defined as:

3. The loop antenna according to claim 1, wherein the second capacitor is the fixed capacitor, andthe optimal curved line is expressed by a formula defined as:

4. The loop antenna according to claim 1, wherein the second capacitor is the fixed capacitor, andthe optimal straight line is a straight line passing through the optimal point and having a slope equal to −1.

5. The loop antenna according to claim 2, wherein the second capacitor is a variable capacitor, andthe capacitance value of the variable capacitor is adjusted to a value obtained by using the capacitance value of the fixed capacitor and the optimal curved line.

6. The loop antenna according to claim 1, wherein both of the first capacitor and the second capacitor are the fixed capacitors, andthe combination of the capacitance value of the first capacitor and the capacitance value of the second capacitor is a combination in which a distance from a point indicated with the capacitance value of the first capacitor and the capacitance value of the second capacitor to any of the optimal curved line and the optimal straight line is shortest.

7. The loop antenna according to claim 1, wherein the capacitance value of the first capacitor and the capacitance value of the second capacitor are values on any of the optimal curved line and the optimal straight lines.

8. A design method for a loop antenna provided with a main loop being an open loop connected to any of a signal source and a reception circuit,an amplification loop being a closed loop having the same shape as the main loop,a first resistor connected in series to the main loop,a first capacitor connected in series to the main loop,a second resistor connected in series to the amplification loop, anda second capacitor connected in series to the amplification loop, whereinthe main loop and the amplification loop have equal self-inductance,a resistance value of the first resistor is a larger value than a resistance value of the second resistor,at least one of the first capacitor and the second capacitor is a fixed capacitor,a magnitude of a current flowing on the amplification loop is expressed by using the resistance value of the first resistor, the resistance value of the second resistor, a capacitance value of the first capacitor, a capacitance value of the second capacitor, and the self-inductance,a combination of the capacitance value of the first capacitor and the capacitance value of the second capacitor to maximize the magnitude of the current is expressed by any of an optimal curved line and an optimal straight line each of which passes through an optimal point indicated with the capacitance value of the first capacitor and the capacitance value of the second capacitor when the magnitude of the current is maximized in orthogonal coordinates adopting the capacitance value of the first capacitor and the capacitance value of the second capacitor as respective axes, andthe method includes determining the combination of the capacitance value of the first capacitor and the capacitance value of the second capacitor based on any of the optimal curved line and the optimal straight line.

9. The loop antenna according to claim 3, wherein the first capacitor is a variable capacitor, andthe capacitance value of the variable capacitor is adjusted to a value obtained by using the capacitance value of the fixed capacitor and the optimal curved line.

10. The loop antenna according to claim 4, wherein the first capacitor is a variable capacitor, andthe capacitance value of the variable capacitor is adjusted to a value obtained by using the capacitance value of the fixed capacitor and the optimal straight line.