Patent Application
20090202087
The present invention relates to a wireless microphone device, and more particularly, to improvement of a wireless microphone device that makes a circuit board provided with an oscillation circuit for generating a high frequency signal function as an antenna element of a dipole antenna.
As a wireless microphone device for converting a voice signal from a microphone into a high frequency signal to wirelessly transmit it, handheld type device and two-piece type device are known. The handheld type wireless microphone device is a handheld wireless device in which microphone and transmitter units are integrated. The two-piece type microphone device is a wireless device in which a microphone unit and a transmitter unit are configured to respectively have separate housings, and connected to each other with a flexible transmission cable. The two-piece type microphone device is attachable to a waist belt, and therefore sometimes called a belt pack type device. Such two-piece type wireless microphone device has conventionally used a ¼λ whip antenna, a helical antenna, or a loop antenna as a transmitting antenna for the high frequency signal.
The ¼λ whip antenna is an antenna using as an antenna element a linear conductor having a length corresponding to a ¼λ of a transmitting radio wave, and used with being drawn out of the housing of the transmitter unit. The helical antenna is an antenna using a coil-like conductor as an antenna element, and characterized by a high Q factor (Quality factor) as compared with the ¼λ whip antenna. The loop antenna is an antenna using a loop-like conductor as an antenna element, and characterized by having an extremely high Q factor.
The wireless microphone device using the ¼λ whip antenna is used with the antenna being protruded from the housing of the transmitter unit, and therefore there arise problems that the transmission cable or a human body, and the antenna are likely to interfere with each other, and an antenna part is likely to be broken. Also, the antenna is used with being exposed, and therefore there arises a problem that radiation characteristics may be largely varied and sensitivity may be reduced due to a change in surrounding environment caused by the human body. On the other hand, in the wireless microphone device using the helical or the loop antenna, a frequency band for good radiation efficiency is narrow, and therefore there arises problems that a reduction in sensitivity upon variation of radiation characteristics due to change in surrounding environment is large, and that the antenna cannot be shared between wireless microphone devices respectively having different operating frequency bands.
In general, as the transmitting antenna for a high frequency signal, a ½λ dipole antenna is known in addition to the above described antennas. The ½λ dipole antenna is an antenna in which two linear antenna elements are arranged in their common longer direction, and end parts facing to each other are fed with a transmission signal. The ½λ dipole antenna is characterized by increasing a diameter of the antenna elements or using planate conductors as the antenna elements to thereby moderate the variation in radiation characteristics (e.g., variation in antenna impedance) due to a human body and widen a frequency band having good radiation efficiency.
The wireless microphone device using such a dipole antenna as a transmitting antenna is described in, for example, Patent document 1 or 2. The wireless microphone device described in Patent document 1 is a handheld type microphone device using a transmission cable for transmitting an electrical signal from a microphone to a circuit element on a circuit board and an electrical conductor in a housing as respective antenna elements of the dipole antenna.
The wireless microphone device described in Patent document 2 is a handheld type microphone device using circuit boards as antenna elements of the dipole antenna. The microphone device using the circuit boards as the antenna elements of the dipole antenna is advantageous in miniaturizing a housing and reducing manufacturing cost as compared with the case where the antenna elements are separately provided, and configured to have the planate antenna elements, and therefore the variation in radiation characteristics due to a human body can be moderated.
However, if a transmission circuit is provided on the circuit board used for the antenna element of the dipole antenna, a length of the circuit board, which effectively acts as the antenna element, is shortened, and therefore there arises a problem that desired radiation characteristics cannot be obtained.
On the oscillator side 103 in the dipole antenna 100, a feeding direction of the high frequency signal is opposite between the feeding paths 104 and the circuit board 102, and therefore an overlap region A between the feeding paths 104 and the circuit board 102 does not effectively function as an antenna element due to electromagnetic coupling. For this reason, in a longer direction of the dipole antenna 100, a length of the circuit board 102, which effectively acts as the antenna element, is shortened, and therefore desired radiation characteristics cannot be obtained. In particular, if the circuit board 102 provided with the oscillator 103 is used as the antenna element of the dipole antenna, such phenomenon becomes significant, and therefore there arises a problem that in order to obtain the desired radiation characteristics, the circuit board 102 is increased in size, resulting in an increase in size of a housing of the microphone device.
Patent document 1: Japanese patent No. 3227142
Patent document 2: Japanese patent No. 3640744
As described above, in the conventional wireless microphone device, there exists a problem that in the case where the circuit board is used as the antenna element of the dipole antenna, the length of the circuit board, which effectively functions as the antenna element, is shortened, and therefore desired radiation characteristics cannot be obtained.
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above situations, and has an object to provide a wireless microphone device capable of suppressing a length of a circuit board, which effectively functions as an antenna element, from being shortened to thereby obtain desired radiation characteristics. In particular, the present invention has an object to provide a wireless microphone device that enables a circuit board, which is to be provided with an oscillation circuit, to be miniaturized without deteriorating the radiation characteristics.
A wireless microphone device according to a first aspect of the present invention is configured to include: a circuit board that is sectioned into a first circuit area and a second circuit area and makes the respective circuit areas function as antenna elements of a dipole antenna; an oscillation circuit that is arranged in the first circuit area and generates a high frequency signal on a basis of a voice signal from a sound collecting element; a feeding path for feeding the high frequency signal to an electrically conductive layer in the first circuit area through a feeding point positioned on the second circuit area side of the oscillation circuit; and a high frequency shield covering at least a part of the feeding path.
In the wireless microphone device, the circuit board is sectioned into the two circuit areas made to function as the antenna elements of the dipole antenna, and the high frequency signal is fed to the electrically conductive layer in the first circuit area through the feeding point positioned on the second circuit area side of the oscillation circuit. In this case, the high frequency shield covering at least the part of the feeding path for the high frequency signal is provided. Based on such a configuration, the part of the feeding path is shielded on the oscillation circuit side in the dipole antenna, and therefore a length of the circuit board, which effectively acts as the antenna element, can be suppressed from being shortened.
A wireless microphone device according to a second aspect of the present invention is, in addition to the above configuration, configured such that the high frequency shield is formed by covering the feeding path with a metal case having an opening at a bottom face and conducting the metal case to the electrically conducting layer in the first circuit area. Based on such a configuration, the high frequency shield is formed by covering with the metal case, and therefore even after the oscillation circuit and the feeding path have been provided on the circuit board, the high frequency shield can be formed.
A wireless microphone device according to a third aspect of the present invention is, in addition to the above configuration, configured such that the feeding path is provided with an amplifier circuit for amplifying the high frequency signal and a band-limiting filter for limiting a frequency band of the high frequency signal amplified by the amplifier circuit; and the metal case contains the oscillation circuit, the amplifier circuit, and the band-limiting filter. Based on such a configuration, the oscillation circuit, the amplifier circuit, and the band-limiting filter are contained in the metal case, and the part on the feeding path including these circuit elements is subjected to the high frequency shield, so that the part and the electrically conductive layer of the circuit board can be suppressed from being electromagnetically coupled.
A wireless microphone device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is, in addition to the above configuration, configured such that the first circuit area and the second circuit area are electrically connected to each other, and a high frequency isolation element for passing a signal having a frequency lower than a frequency of the high frequency signal is provided. Based on such a configuration, the first and second circuit areas are electrically connected to each other through the high frequency isolation element, and between the circuit areas, the signal having a frequency lower than the frequency of the high frequency signal is passed, so that a circuit element for processing the lower frequency signal can be provided on the circuit board regardless of any of the circuit areas.
A wireless microphone device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is configured to include: a first circuit board and a second circuit board that are arranged with end faces facing to each other and made to function as antenna elements of a dipole antenna; an oscillation circuit that is provided on a main face of the first circuit board and generates a high frequency signal on a basis of a voice signal from a sound collecting element; a feeding path for feeding the high frequency signal to an electrically conductive layer of the first circuit board through a feeding point positioned on the second circuit board side of the oscillation circuit; and a high frequency shield covering at least a part of the feeding path.
In the wireless microphone device, the two circuit boards arranged with end faces thereof facing to each other are made to function as the antenna elements of the dipole antenna, and the high frequency signal is fed to the electrically conductive layer of the first circuit board through the feeding point positioned on the second circuit board side of the oscillation circuit. In this case, the high frequency shield covering at least the part of the feeding path for the high frequency signal is provided. Based on such a configuration, the part of the feeding path is shielded on the oscillation circuit side in the dipole antenna, and therefore a length of the circuit board, which effectively acts as the antenna element, can be suppressed from being shortened.
According to the wireless microphone device of the present invention, the part of the feeding path is shielded, so that the length of the circuit board, which effectively acts as the antenna element, can be suppressed from being shortened, and therefore desired radiation characteristics can be obtained without increasing the circuit board in size. Accordingly, the circuit board to be provided with the oscillation circuit can be decreased in size without deteriorating the radiation characteristics.
The microphone unit 2 is a sound collecting part having a microphone 2a in the housing. The microphone 2a is a sound collecting element for converting voice inputted from outside into an electrical signal to generate a voice signal. We here assume that a finely metal-meshed wind screen is arranged on one end face of the cylindrical housing, and the voice is inputted to the microphone 2a through the wind screen. Also, we assume that the transmission cable 3 is connected to the other end face. The voice signal generated by the microphone 2a is transmitted to the transmitter unit 4 through the transmission cable 3.
The transmission cable 3 is a flexible conductive cable for feeding power from the transmitter unit 4 to the microphone unit 2 and transmitting the voice signal from the microphone unit 2 to the transmitter unit 4. As such a transmission cable 3, for example, there is used a coaxial cable in which an insulation layer and an electrically conductive layer are sequentially formed on an outer circumference of a core cable.
The transmitter unit 4 is a main body part having, in the small portable housing, a circuit board 5 that is made to function as an antenna element. The housing of the transmitter unit 4 is of a vertically long rectangular parallelepiped shape, and connected with one end of the transmission cable 3 at an upper face thereof. In the transmitter unit 4, an operation for converting the voice signal inputted from the microphone unit 2 through the transmission cable 3 into a high frequency signal to transmit it is performed.
The circuit board 5 is a board provided with an oscillation circuit for generating a high frequency signal for transmission, a power supply circuit, and the like, and as the circuit board 5, for example, a printed board formed with a wiring pattern is used. The circuit board 5 is sectioned into two circuit areas, which respectively function as antenna elements of a dipole antenna by being fed with the high frequency signal from the oscillation circuit. The circuit board 5 is arranged with a longer direction thereof corresponding to a longer direction of the housing of the transmitter unit 4.
In the housing of the transmitter unit 4, a battery 6 for feeding a DC power to the oscillation circuit and the microphone 2a is contained, in addition to the circuit board 5. The battery 6 is of a vertically long columnar shape, and arranged with electrode terminals on end faces thereof. We here assume that the circuit board 5 is formed in an L-shape to laterally arrange the battery 6. The battery 6 is arranged in a cutout part of the circuit board 5, which is cut out in a shorter direction, with a longer direction thereof corresponding to the longer direction of the circuit board 5.
The microphone unit 2 is typically provided with a wearing member such as a clip, and upon collection of user's voice, the microphone unit 2 is used with being attached to the vicinity of a chest of the user with the wearing member. On the other hand, the transmitter unit 4 is used with being put in a bag or a pocket, or attached to a waist belt of the user.
The electrically conductive layer is a layer formed of an electrical conductor, and used as a ground layer (GND layer) for grounding circuit elements provided on the circuit board 5, or a power supply layer for feeding power to the circuit elements. The wiring layer is a layer including a wiring pattern making electrical connections among the circuit elements, and formed on a surface of the board.
The two circuit areas 11a and 11b are areas on a board face (main face), which are isolated from each other in terms of high frequency while being electrically conducted to each other. That is, each of the circuit areas 11a and 11b includes the electrically conductive layer, the wiring layer, and the circuit elements that are not isolated from one another in terms of high frequency. Between these areas, processing for passing a signal having a frequency lower than a predetermined frequency and blocking a signal having a frequency higher than the predetermined frequency is performed. Specifically, the processing for passing a signal having a frequency lower than a frequency of the high frequency signal for transmission, for example, a signal transmitted between the circuit elements, or the DC power, and blocking a high frequency signal including the high frequency signal for transmission is performed.
We here assume that a plurality of high frequency choke circuits 16 are provided on the circuit board 5, and the circuit areas 11a and 11b are electrically connected to each other through the high frequency choke circuits 16. The high frequency choke circuit 16 makes the electrical connection between the two circuit areas 11a and 11b, and is a high frequency isolation element for passing the signal having a frequency lower than that of the high frequency signal for transmission, and blocking the high frequency signal including the high frequency signal for transmission. As such a high frequency isolation element, an RFC (Radio Frequency Choke coil), or a resistor having a large resistance value can be used.
In the present embodiment, the board face is vertically sectioned in the middle of the circuit board 5, and the upper area is the circuit area 11a whereas the lower area is the circuit area 11b. That is, the circuit area 11a is formed over the entire board face of an L-shaped bent part of the circuit board 5, and thus formed of an L-shape. Also, the circuit area 11b is of a rectangular shape. Each of the high frequency choke circuits 16 is arranged between these circuit areas 11a and 11b, and makes a connection between the electrically conductive layers or wiring layers in the respective areas. Note that the longer direction of the circuit board 5 is referred to as a y-axis direction, and a direction vertical to the y-axis direction (horizontal direction) is referred to as an x-axis direction.
On such the circuit board 5, a metal case 12, connection circuits 13, 14a, and 14b, an oscillation circuit 21, an amplifier circuit 22, and a band-limiting filter circuit 23 are provided, in addition to the high frequency choke circuits 16. The oscillation circuit 21 is a circuit for generating the high frequency signal on the basis of the voice signal from the microphone 2a, and arranged in the circuit area 11b. As the oscillation circuit 21, for example, a VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator) that oscillates according to a variation in a voltage level of the voice signal is used.
The amplifier circuit 22 is a circuit for power-amplifying the high frequency signal generated by the oscillation circuit 21, and provided on feeding paths for feeding the high frequency signal from the oscillation circuit 21 to the electrically conductive layers in the respective circuit areas 11a and 11b. The feeding paths are formed of feeding lines 24 for feeding the high frequency signal generated by the oscillation circuit 21 to the electrically conductive layers in the respective circuit areas 11a and 11b through feeding points positioned on the circuit area 11a side of the oscillation circuit 21.
The band-limiting filter circuit 23 is a circuit for limiting a frequency band of the power-amplified high frequency signal, and provided on the above-described feeding paths. We here assume that a low pass filter for removing a signal component having a frequency higher than the predetermined frequency is used as the band-limiting filter circuit 23. By the band-limiting filter circuit 23, a harmonic wave generated upon power amplification or the like, i.e., noise having a frequency higher than that of the high frequency signal generated in the oscillation circuit 21 can be removed.
The oscillation circuit 21, the amplifier circuit 22, and the band-limiting filter circuit 23 are provided on the same board face, and arranged along the feeding paths in the order of the amplifier circuit 22, and the band-limiting filter circuit 23. That is, the high frequency signal generated by the oscillation circuit 21 is amplified by the amplifier circuit 22, and then a passband thereof is limited by the band-limiting filter circuit 23.
We here assume that the feeding lines 24 are formed as a part of the wiring pattern on the circuit board 5. We also assume that the feeding lines 24 on the surface of the circuit board 5, and the electrically conductive layers 11 are electrically conducted to each other through through-holes 25. The through-hole 25 is a conduction hole provided on the circuit board 5 to make an electrical connection between the conduction layer and the wiring layer, and used as a feeding point.
We here assume that the feeding line 24 on a higher potential side is connected to the electrically conductive layer in the circuit area 11a, and that the feeding line 24 on a lower potential side is connected to the electrically conductive layer in the circuit area 11b. The feeding points for the high frequency signals having different potentials are formed in area end parts through which the circuit areas 11a and 11b face to each other. The high frequency signals having different potentials are respectively fed, and therefore the electrically conductive layer in the circuit area 11a functions as a hot side antenna element of the dipole antenna, and that in the circuit area 11b functions as a cold side antenna element. That is, regarding the two circuit areas 11a and 11b, the high frequency signal for transmission is fed from the one circuit area 11b to the other circuit area 11a through the feeding lines 24, and therefore the high frequency signals transmitted through the feeding lines 24 are not isolated from each other in terms of high frequency.
The connection circuit 13 makes an electrical connection between the transmission cable 3 and the circuit board 5, and is a circuit including a high frequency isolation element for passing the signal having a frequency lower than the predetermined frequency, and blocking the signal having a frequency higher than the predetermined frequency. Specifically, the processing for passing the signal having a frequency lower than that of the high frequency signal for transmission, for example, a signal transmitted between the circuit elements, or the DC power, and blocking the signal having a frequency higher than that of the high frequency signal is performed. The connection circuit 13 is provided in the circuit area 11a, and passes the DC power fed to the microphone 2a and the voice signal from the microphone 2a, as well as blocking the high frequency signal from flowing from the circuit board 5 into the transmission cable 3. We here assume that the connection circuit 13 is arranged with being adjacent to an upper end face of the circuit board 5.
The connection circuit 13 blocks the high frequency signal from flowing into the transmission cable 3, and can therefore prevent the transmission cable 3 from interfering with the dipole antenna in terms of high frequency. We here assume that the connection circuit 13 includes a connector for making a connection to the transmission cable 3.
The connection circuits 14a and 14b make an electrical connection between the battery 6 and the circuit board 5, and are high frequency isolation elements for passing the signal having a frequency lower than the predetermined frequency and blocking the signal having a frequency higher than the predetermined frequency. Specifically, processing for passing the signal having a frequency lower than that of the high frequency signal for transmission, i.e., the DC power from the battery 6, and blocking the signal having a frequency higher than that of the high frequency signal is performed.
The connection circuit 14a is provided in the circuit area 11a, and passes the DC power from the battery 6 as well as blocking the high frequency signal for transmission from flowing from the circuit board 5 into the battery 6. Also, the connection circuit 14b is provided in the circuit area 11b, and passes the DC power from the battery 6 as well as blocking the high frequency signal for transmission from flowing from the circuit board 5 into the battery 6. We here assume that the connection circuit 14a is connected to a terminal electrode 15a for coming into contact with a positive electrode of the battery 6, and the connection circuit 14b is connected to a terminal electrode 15b for coming into contact with a negative electrode of the battery 6.
We here assume that a battery containing part 17 for containing the battery 6 is provided on the right hand side of the circuit board 5, and in the battery containing part 17, the battery 6, and terminal electrodes 15a and 15b are arranged.
The battery 6 includes a cylindrical main body, and the two electrode terminals, i.e., positive and negative electrodes, respectively arranged on end faces of the main body. In this example, with respect to an arrangement direction (y-axis direction) of the circuit areas 11a and 11b, the battery 6 is arranged with being longer than each of the circuit areas 11a and 11b and the longer direction thereof corresponding to the y-axis direction. That is, the battery 6 is arranged with, in the y-axis direction, a part of the main body being adjacent to one of the circuit areas, and the other part being adjacent to the other circuit area. Accordingly, the main body of the battery 6 is arranged along the two circuit areas 11a and 11b. We here assume that the battery 6 is arranged with an end part on the positive electrode side facing to an end face of the circuit board 5 on the circuit area 11a side, and an end part on the negative electrode side facing to an end face of the circuit board 5a on the circuit area 11b side.
The terminal electrodes 15a and 15b are connecting terminals provided in the battery containing part 17, and adapted to form a battery holder for holding the battery 6. Regarding the terminal electrode 15a, one end thereof is attached to an end part of the circuit board 5 protruding in the x-axis direction, and the other end extends to a lower side from the one end part, i.e., outward from the circuit board 5. Regarding the terminal electrode 15b, one end thereof is attached to a lower end part of the circuit board 5, and the other end extends to a right hand side from the one end part, i.e., outward from the circuit board 5. The battery 6 is attached between such terminal electrodes 15a and 15b.
The DC power is fed to the circuit elements within the circuit areas from the battery 6 through the terminal electrodes 15a and 15b and the connection circuit 14a and 14b. On the other hand, the high frequency signal is prevented from flowing from the oscillation circuit 21 to the battery 6 by the respective connection circuits 14a and 14b.
The metal case 12 is a part of a high frequency shield covering at least a part of the feeding paths formed on such circuit board 5, and a box body that has an opening at a bottom face and is made of electrically conductive metal. The metal case 12 is arranged on the circuit board 5 with covering the feeding paths. By electrically conducting the metal case 12 to the electrically conductive layer in the circuit area 11b, the high frequency shield is formed.
Such the high frequency shield is not particularly limited in terms of shape or material thereof as long as it can suppress a radio wave radiated from the part of the feeding paths from leaking outside. We here assume that the oscillation circuit 21, the amplifier circuit 22, and the band-limiting filter circuit 23 are contained in the metal case 12.
We here assume that the high frequency signal generated by the oscillation circuit 21 has a frequency of approximately 500 to 1000 MHz, and a y-axial length of each of the circuit areas 11a and 11b as the antenna element is a ¼ wavelength, i.e., 15 to 7.5 cm or less. Also, a y-axial length of the feeding path is approximately ⅔ of that of the circuit area 11b.
By arranging the metal case 12 covering the part A3 of the feeding path, the metal case 12, and the electrically conductive layer 11, particularly a surface of the electrically conductive layer 11 on the oscillation circuit 21 side form the high frequency shield, and therefore the high frequency signal flowing through the feeding path and the high frequency signal flowing through the electrically conductive layer 11 can be suppressed from interfering with each other. Accordingly, the part A3 of the overlap area A2 can be made to effectively function as the antenna element, and therefore the circuit board 5 acting as the antenna elements, particularly the y-axial length of the electrically conductive layer 11 can be prevented from being shortened by a length of the part A3.
Each of the hot and cold side feeding lines 24 is wired between the band-limiting filter circuit 23 and the through-hole 25 through the opening 12a.
Regarding the soldered parts, it is considered that the metal case 12 itself can be made to more effectively function as the antenna element by the soldered parts are positioned closer to the high frequency signal feeding points for the electrically conductive layer 11, and therefore at least the end part on the opening 12a side, i.e., the end part on the feeding point side is preferably soldered.
The radiation characteristics B1 exhibit gradual variation in radiation efficiency, and therefore even if the radiation characteristics are varied by variation in surrounding environment due to a human body, a variation in radiation efficiency is generally small. Specifically, the variation in radiation efficiency upon variation of a resonant frequency from f0 to f1 is (a0-a1).
On the other hand, the conventional wireless microphone device using an antenna protruded from a housing of a transmitter unit, like a ¼λ whip antenna, or using an antenna like a helical antenna has the radiation characteristics B2 in which a frequency band for good radiation efficiency is narrow. For this reason, if the radiation characteristics are varied due to a human body, the radiation efficiency will be largely varied. Specifically, a variation in radiation efficiency upon variation of a resonant frequency from f0 to f1 is (a0−a2)(>(a0−a1)).
As described, in the microphone device 1 using the circuit board 5 as the antenna elements of the dipole antenna, the variation in radiation characteristics due to a human body is gradual as compared with the conventional microphone device, and therefore the reduction in radiation efficiency can be suppressed.
According to the present embodiment, the part of the feeding paths is shielded on the oscillation circuit 21 side in the dipole antenna, and therefore the length of the circuit board 5, which effectively acts as the antenna elements, can be suppressed from being shortened. In particular, the y-axial length of the part of the electrically conductive layer in the circuit area 11b, which effectively acts as the antenna element, can be prevented from being shortened. Accordingly, the desired radiation characteristics can be obtained without increasing in size the circuit board 5 provided with the oscillation circuit 21, and also the housing of the transmitter unit 4 can be decreased in size.
Also, the high frequency shield is formed by use of the metal case 12, and therefore even after the oscillation circuit 21 and the feeding paths have been provided on the circuit board 5, the high frequency shield can be formed. The oscillation circuit 21, the amplifier circuit 22, and the band-limiting filter circuit 23 are contained in the metal case 12, and the part on the feeding paths including these circuit elements is subjected to the high frequency shield, so that the part and the electrically conductive layer 11 of the circuit board 5 can be suppressed from being electromagnetically coupled. Further, the circuit areas 11a and 11b are electrically connected to each other through the high frequency choke circuits 16, and the signal having a frequency lower than that of the high frequency signal is passed between the circuit areas, so that a circuit element for processing the lower frequency signal can be provided on the circuit board 5 regardless of any of the circuit areas.
Also, the electrically conductive layer 11 made to function as the antenna element of the dipole antenna is used as a part of the high frequency shield, so that it is not necessary to newly provide such electrically conductive layer within the circuit board 5, and therefore manufacturing cost can be suppressed.
Note that, in the present embodiment, there is described as an example the case where the one circuit board 5 is sectioned into the two circuit areas 11a and 11b, and the respective circuit areas are made to function as the antenna elements of the dipole antenna; however, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention may be applied to a configuration in which two circuit boards are respectively used as the antenna elements of the dipole antenna.
The two circuit boards 111 and 112 are electrically connected to each other through the high frequency choke circuits 16. The high frequency signal is fed to the electrically conductive layers of the respective circuit boards 111 and 112 through the feeding points positioned on the circuit board 111 side of the oscillation circuit 21. Even in such a configuration, the part of the feeding paths is shielded on the oscillation circuit 21 side in the dipole antenna, and therefore a length of the circuit board 112 effectively acting as the antenna element can be suppressed from being shortened.
Also, in the present embodiment, there is described the case where the positive and negative electrodes of the battery 6 are respectively connected to the different circuit areas through the terminal electrodes 15a and 15b; however, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the case where a battery has positive and negative electrodes on one end face of a main body thereof, the present invention can be applied to a configuration in which the positive and negative electrodes of the battery are both connected to one of the circuit areas.
The terminal electrodes 121a and 121b are connecting terminals to be connected to the battery 130, and both are arranged on the circuit area 11a side in the battery containing part 123. The terminal electrode 121a is brought into contact with a positive electrode of the battery 130 to connect the positive electrode to a connection circuit 122a. The terminal electrode 121b is brought into contact with a negative electrode of the battery 130 to connect the negative electrode to a connection circuit 122b. The connection circuits 122a and 122b make an electrical connection between the battery 130 and the circuit area 11a, and are high frequency isolation elements for passing the signal having a frequency lower than the predetermined frequency and blocking the signal having a frequency higher than the predetermined frequency.
Even in such a case, the high frequency signal can be prevented from flowing from the circuit area 11a to the battery 130 through the terminal electrodes 121a and 121b of the battery containing part 123, and therefore the battery 130 and the circuit board 5 can be suppressed from being coupled in terms of high frequency.
The other end 31 of the terminal electrode 15a is formed almost vertically to the face of the circuit board 5, and an electrode face thereof faces to the end face of the circuit board 5.
Current flowing out of the positive electrode of the battery 6 flows from the other end 31 to the one end 32 of the terminal electrode 15a, and reaches the connection circuit 14a through the wiring pattern 33.
Current flowing out of the negative electrode of the battery 6 flows from the other end 34 to the one end 35 of the terminal electrode 15b, and reaches the connection circuit 14b through the wiring pattern 33.
According to the present embodiment, connections between the connecting terminals and the circuit areas are isolated in terms of high frequency by the connection circuits 14a and 14b, and therefore the high frequency signal can be prevented from flowing from the circuit areas to the battery 6 through the connecting terminals of the battery containing part 17. Accordingly, in the case where the battery main body is arranged along the respective circuit areas 11a and 11b in the arrangement direction, high frequency coupling between the battery 6 and the circuit board 5 can be suppressed, and therefore the respective circuit areas 11a and 11b of the circuit board 5 can be made to function as the antenna elements of the dipole antenna.
In the microphone device 1 illustrated in
In the first embodiment, there is described as an example the case where the connections between the terminal electrodes and the circuit areas are isolated in terms of high frequency by the high frequency isolation elements. In such a case, there exists the problem that the one ends or the parts of the wiring pattern 33 are coupled with the electrically conductive layers 11 in terms of high frequency in the arrangement areas A6 in which the one ends of the terminal electrodes 15a and 15b are arranged. In the present embodiment, by improving the configuration around the terminal electrodes 16a and 15b, the high frequency coupling between the one ends or parts of the wiring pattern 33 and the electrically conductive layers 11 in the above-described arrangement areas for the one ends is prevented.
A connection circuit 14a includes a columnar circuit element of which both ends are provided with connecting terminals, and the one end is connected to a wiring pattern in the circuit area 11a whereas the other end is connected with the one end 32 of the terminal electrode 15a through the wiring pattern 33.
The arrangement area A7 is an area on a face of a circuit board 5, in which the one end of the terminal electrode 16a is arranged, and, in this case, the one end 32, the wiring pattern 33 from the one end 32 to the connection circuit 14a, and the connection circuit 14a are included. That is, the arrangement area A7 is the area including: the one end 32 of the terminal electrode 15a; and the conduction path between the one end 32 and the connecting terminal at the other end of the connection circuit 14a. In this example, a configuration around the terminal electrode 15a on a positive electrode side of a battery 6 is illustrated; however, a configuration around a terminal electrode 15b on a negative electrode side is also the same as that on the positive electrode side.
According to the present embodiment, the electrically conductive layer 11 is not formed in the arrangement area A7 in which the one end 32 of the terminal electrode is arranged, so that the end part of each of the terminal electrodes 15a and 15b, and the conduction path between the one end 32 of the terminal electrode and the connecting terminal at the other end of each of the connection circuit 14a and 14b can be prevented from being coupled with the electrically conductive layer 11 in terms of high frequency, and therefore high frequency coupling between the battery 6 and the circuit board 5 can be effectively suppressed.
Note that, in the present embodiment, there is described as an example the case where the high frequency coupling between the one end 32 and the electrically conductive layer 11 is prevented by forming each of the circuit areas 11a and 11b with excluding the arrangement area A7 in which the one end 32 of each of the terminal electrodes 15a and 15b is arranged; however, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the connection circuits 14a and 14b may be arranged with facing in a direction intersecting the face of the circuit board 5, such that one ends thereof are attached to the board face whereas the other ends are attached with one ends of the terminal electrodes 15a and 15b.
Regarding the terminal electrode 51, the one end A8 is attached to the other end of the connection circuit 52 with being made parallel to the board face, and the other end part is brought into contact with the positive or negative electrode of the battery 6. By configuring as described above, the columnar circuit element 52 that is arranged with facing in the direction intersecting the board face can be attached with the one end of the terminal electrode 51 at the connecting terminal 52b thereof on the side opposite to the board face, and therefore the terminal electrode 51 can be arranged with the one end A8 of the terminal electrode 51 being away from the board face. Accordingly, the one end A8 of the terminal electrode 51 can be prevented from being coupled with the electrically conductive layer 11 of the circuit board 5, and therefore the high frequency coupling between the battery 6 and the circuit board 5 can be more effectively prevented.
In the present embodiment, there is described a case where in order to suppress currents from being electromagnetically cancelled each other between circuit boards, which may occur when the circuit boards have the multistep structure, the respective circuit boards are electrically connected to each other in a location where two circuit areas face to each other.
The transmitter main body 62 is formed of a vertically long tubular housing, and inside the housing, a circuit board 65 provided with an oscillation circuit, and a battery 66 for feeding the DC power to the oscillation circuit and the microphone 63 are contained. A voice signal from the microphone 63 is transmitted to the oscillation circuit on the circuit board 65 through a transmission cable 64. When the microphone device 60 is used, the transmitter body 62 is held by hand.
The circuit board 65 is a multilayered board in which an electrically conductive layer and a wiring layer are formed with sandwiching an insulation layer, and each of the electrically conductive and the wiring layers is sectioned into two circuit areas. In the respective circuit areas, electrically conductive layers 67a and 67b are formed. The respective circuit areas are arranged with an arrangement direction thereof corresponding to the x-axis direction. The respective electrically conductive layers 67a and 67b are isolated in terms of high frequency while being electrically conducted to each other.
We here assume that the electrically conductive layers 67a and 67b are ground layers for grounding circuit elements provided on the circuit board 65, or power supply layers for feeding power to the circuit elements on the circuit board 65.
In this example, on the left hand side, i.e., the circuit area on the microphone side 63 is longer in the x-axis direction than that on the right hand side, and in the circuit area on the left hand side, the battery 66, an oscillation circuit 71, terminal electrodes 72a and 72b, and a connector 73 are provided. Each of the terminal electrodes 72a and 72b is connected to a wiring pattern within the circuit area at one end thereof, and brought into contact with a positive or negative electrode of the battery 66 at the other end. The battery 66 is arranged on the board face facing to the circuit board 68 with a longer direction thereof corresponding to the x-axis direction. The connector 73 is a connecting means adapted to removably connect the transmission cable 64 from the microphone 63. The connector 73 is arranged in an end part of the circuit board 65 on the microphone 63 side, and the oscillation circuit 71 is arranged on a side opposite to the microphone 63. The battery 66, and the respective terminal electrodes 72a and 72b are arranged on the oscillation circuit 71 side of the connector 73.
The circuit board 68 is a second circuit board that is arranged with a board face thereof facing to the face of the circuit board 65, and sectioned into two circuit areas. In the respective circuit areas, electrically conductive layers 69a and 69b are formed. The respective electrically conductive layers 69a and 69b are isolated in terms of high frequency while being electrically conducted to each other. The circuit board 68 is short in an x-axial length as compared with the circuit board 65.
The circuit boards 65 and 68 are electrically connected to each other by connectors 74 and 75 in a facing area C1 including an area between the two circuit areas. The facing area C1 is an area that is on the face of the circuit board 65, and includes an area between end faces of the respective electrically conductive layers 67a and 67b, which face to each other.
The connector 74 is a first engaging element provided on the circuit board 65. The connector 75 is a second engaging element that is provided on the circuit board 68 and removably engages with the connector 74. The respective electrically conductive layers 67a and 67b of the circuit board 65 are fed with a high frequency signal from the oscillation circuit 71 in the facing area C1. Also, the respective electrically conductive layers 69a and 69b of the circuit board 68 are fed with the high frequency signal from the oscillation circuit 71 through the connectors 74 and 75. That is, the high frequency signal from the oscillation circuit 71 is fed to the respective circuit boards 65 and 68 in locations where the electrically conductive layers face to each other.
We here assume that the circuit area including the electrically conductive layer 69a on the circuit board 68 is formed in the circuit area including the electrically conductive layer 67a on the circuit board 65, and the circuit area including the electrically conductive layer 69b on the circuit board 68 is formed in the circuit area including the electrically conductive layer 67b on the circuit board 65. We also assume that the connectors 74 and 75 make connections between the electrically conductive layers 69a and 67a and between the electrically conductive layers 69b and 67b.
The connector 74 is a female part having an engagement hole 74b into which a convex part 75b of the connector 75 is to be inserted. On inner faces of the engagement hole 74b, two electrode arrays each including a plurality of terminal electrodes 74a arranged in a direction intersecting the x-axis direction, in this example, in the y-axis direction are arranged. The respective electrode arrays are arranged on the opposed faces spaced in the x-axis direction.
The connector 75 is a male part having the convex part 75b to be inserted into the engagement hole 74b of the connector 74. On side faces of the convex part 75b, two electrode arrays each including a plurality of terminal electrodes 75a arranged in a direction intersecting the x-axis direction, in this example, in the y-axis direction are arranged. The respective electrode arrays are arranged on the side faces spaced in the x-axis direction.
According to the present embodiment, the respective circuit boards 65 and 68 are electrically connected each other in the location where the electrically conductive layers in the two circuit areas face to each other, so that currents fed from the oscillation circuit 71 flow in the same direction between the circuit boards, and therefore can be suppressed from being electromagnetically cancelled each other. Also the high frequency signal is fed to the respective circuit areas of the circuit board 68 through the respective electrode arrays of the connectors 74 and 75, and therefore the circuit board 68 can be made to appropriately act as the antenna elements of the dipole antenna.
Note that, in the present embodiment, there is descried as an example the case where the electrically conductive layer 69a in the circuit board 68 and that 67a in the circuit board 65 are electrically connected to each other, and the electrically conductive layers 69b and 67b are electrically connected to each other; however, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a part of the circuit board 68 may be made to function as the antenna element by electrically connecting any one of the electrically conductive layers in the two circuit areas of the circuit board 68 to the electrically conductive layer in the circuit board 65.
The electrically conductive layers 69a and 69b of the circuit board 68 are isolated in terms of high frequency while being electrically conducted to each other, similarly to the respective electrically conductive layers 67a and 67b of the circuit board 65. That is, the respective electrically conductive layers 69a and 69b are common ground or power supply layers for circuit elements on the circuit board 68, and also independent as the antenna elements.
In the microphone device 60, the electrically conductive layers 69a and 67a are electrically connected to each other, as well as the electrically conductive layers 69b and 67a are electrically connected to each other, and the high frequency signal from the oscillation circuit 71 is fed to the respective electrically conductive layers 69a and 69b. The electrical connections between these electrically conductive layers are made without through any high frequency isolation element. That is, the electrically conductive layers 69a and 67a function as the common antenna element, as well as the electrically conductive layers 69b and 67b also function as the common antenna element, and therefore the two circuit areas of the circuit board 68 are used as the antenna elements of the dipole antenna.
On the other hand, in the microphone device 80, any one of the electrically conductive layers 69a and 69b of the circuit board 68 is only electrically connected to the electrically conductive layer in the circuit board 65, and the electrically conductive layer 69b is adapted not to be fed with the high frequency signal from the oscillation circuit 71. In this example, the electrically conductive layers 69a and 67a are electrically connected to each other. That is, the electrically conductive layers 69a and 67a function as the common antenna element, and the circuit area including the electrically conductive layer 69a of the two circuit areas of the circuit board 68 is used as the antenna element.
As described above, by using any one of the two circuit areas of the circuit board 68 that is arranged with facing to the circuit board 65 as the antenna element, the function of the circuit board 65 as the antenna can be assisted, and therefore the radiation characteristics of the dipole antenna can be improved. In the case where any one of the two circuit areas of the circuit board 68 is only used as the antenna element, the antenna element common to the electrically conductive layer 67a that is short in an x-axial length as compared with the electrically conductive layer 67b can be expanded, and therefore the circuit area including the electrically conductive layer 69a on the side opposite to the battery 66 and the oscillation circuit 71 is preferably used as the antenna element.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-248553 | Sep 2006 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2007/067604 | 9/10/2007 | WO | 00 | 3/13/2009 |
