JP2008259030A - Electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic apparatus with a superior radio communication function by forming a dipole antenna in an L shape and adding the dipole antenna which is adaptive to both a horizontal polarized wave and a vertical polarized wave by itself. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic apparatus comprises: the dipole antenna 6 which have a linear first conduction portion 61 and a second conduction portion 62 connected in the L shape through a feed portion 63; and a radio communication circuit connected to the dipole antenna 6. The dipole antenna 6 is disposed at least one corner consisting of two orthogonal sides and the first conduction portion 61 or second conduction portion 62 of the dipole antenna 6 is disposed nearly perpendicularly to a floor surface during use. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device, and more particularly to an electronic device provided with an antenna.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, wireless LAN and the like in which electronic devices such as personal computers, copiers, and printers have a wireless communication function and a wireless LAN (local area network) is widely used in offices and homes.
For example, Patent Document 1 has at least three surfaces as a whole so that a radiating element portion is formed by providing a slit portion having a predetermined shape at a predetermined position of a conductor flat plate, and a ground portion is formed by other portions. A technique for providing a bent type antenna in a notebook personal computer is described. Patent Document 2 describes a technique in which an antenna for realizing omnidirectionality is provided on an end surface of a lid portion of a notebook personal computer.
JP 2004-104333 A JP 2003-318622 A

The radio wave transmitted / received from the antenna varies depending on whether the antenna is installed, whether it is vertically polarized or horizontally polarized. Therefore, in order to transmit and receive radio waves regardless of polarization, it is preferable that the antenna installed in the electronic device is compatible with both vertical polarization and horizontal polarization.
However, the inventions described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are antennas that support only one of vertical polarization and horizontal polarization because of the structure of the antenna. There is a problem that it is necessary to provide a plurality of antennas in order to cope with both vertically polarized waves and horizontally polarized waves.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic apparatus having an improved wireless communication function by adding one antenna that can handle both horizontal polarization and vertical polarization.

In order to achieve the object, the invention described in claim 1
A dipole antenna in which a linear first conductive portion and a second conductive portion are connected in an L shape via a feeding portion;
A wireless communication circuit connected to the dipole antenna,
The dipole antenna is disposed at at least one of the corners composed of two orthogonal sides, and
The first conductive portion or the second conductive portion of the dipole antenna is disposed so as to be substantially perpendicular to the floor surface in use.

The invention according to claim 2 is the electronic device according to claim 1,
The electronic device is a notebook personal computer, and the dipole antenna is arranged at a corner of a free end of the lid of the notebook personal computer.

The invention according to claim 3 is the electronic device according to claim 1,
The electronic device is a copying machine, and the dipole antenna is disposed in a document feeding portion of the copying machine.

The invention according to claim 4 is the electronic device according to claim 1,
The electronic apparatus is a copying machine, and the dipole antenna is arranged on a cover member on the front surface of the main body of the copying machine.

According to the present invention, since the dipole antenna is bent in an L shape and provided in the electronic device, both vertical polarization and horizontal polarization can be received, and a wireless communication function having excellent communication characteristics can be obtained. The electronic device can be provided.
In addition, when a plurality of dipole antennas bent in an L-shape are provided in an electronic device, it is possible to receive both vertically polarized waves and horizontally polarized waves with higher sensitivity, and wireless with excellent communication characteristics. An electronic device having a communication function can be obtained.

  Embodiments of an antenna device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the illustrated examples.

[First embodiment]
Hereinafter, specific embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a notebook personal computer will be described as an example of an electronic device.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a notebook computer 10 as an electronic apparatus according to the present embodiment as seen from the back side.
The notebook computer 10 is configured such that the apparatus main body 1 and the lid 2 are connected by a hinge 3 and can be folded into two via the hinge 3.
A keyboard 4 for inputting characters, symbols, and the like is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 1. In addition, the apparatus main body 1 includes a wireless communication circuit, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that performs various arithmetic processes of the notebook personal computer 10, and the like.
A surface such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is provided on the surface of the lid 2 that faces the keyboard 4 when folded, and data processed by the CPU is output and displayed on the display.
An L-shaped dipole antenna 6 is formed on one of the corners at the free end of the lid 2.

FIG. 2A is an enlarged view of the dipole antenna 6. As shown in FIG. 2A, in the dipole antenna 6, a first conductive part 61 and a second conductive part 62 formed of a conductive member are formed in an L shape via a power feeding part 63. In the present embodiment, the first conductive portion 61 and the second conductive portion 62 are formed so that rectangular parallelepipeds each having a length of 25 mm are orthogonal to each other, and the first conductive portion 61 and the second conductive portion 62 are both lid portions. It arrange | positions so that it may be located in the plane (XZ surface) parallel to 2 main surfaces.
In this case, when the notebook computer 10 is opened (in use), the first conductive portion 61 is substantially perpendicular to the floor surface (that is, along the Z direction). Further, the second conductive portion 62 is substantially parallel to the apparatus main body portion 1 (that is, along the X direction). At this time, the first conductive portion 61 and the second conductive portion 62 function as highly sensitive antennas for vertical polarization and horizontal polarization, respectively.
The dipole antenna 6 may be arranged so that the first conductive portion 61 and the second conductive portion 62 are orthogonal to each other. For example, as shown in FIG. It may be connected so as to be located above one conductive part 61. Alternatively, the first conductive portion 61 may be connected so that one end of the first conductive portion 61 is located on the side of the second conductive portion 62.

The dipole antenna 6 is connected to a wireless communication circuit built in the apparatus main body 1. The wireless communication circuit includes an RF (Radio Frequency) circuit, a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory). ), And a CPU for controlling them.
When radio waves are transmitted from the dipole antenna 6 to an external device such as a printer, data supplied from the control unit of the apparatus main body 1 is converted by the wireless communication circuit and supplied to the dipole antenna 6. On the other hand, when the dipole antenna 6 receives radio waves from an external device, the radio waves received by the dipole antenna 6 are converted by the wireless communication circuit and supplied to the control unit of the apparatus body 1.

Next, the communication operation of the notebook computer 10 of this embodiment will be described.
When a radio wave of a predetermined frequency is transmitted from an external device, the dipole antenna 6 receives the radio wave by the first conductive part 61 or the second conductive part 62. When the radio wave is received, a voltage current having an amplitude and a phase corresponding to the radio wave received toward the power supply unit 63 is generated. And the electric current which injected into the electric power feeding part 63 is transmitted to a radio | wireless communication circuit, and is processed as an electrical signal. Next, the electrical signal processed by the wireless communication circuit is transmitted to the control unit of the apparatus body 1, and the notebook personal computer 10 starts predetermined processing. At this time, the first conductive portion 61 is an antenna that is highly sensitive to vertical polarization because the first conductive portion 61 is substantially perpendicular to the horizontally installed device main body portion 1 with the notebook personal computer 10 opened. The second conductive portion 62 is an antenna that is highly sensitive to horizontal polarization because it is substantially parallel to the device main body 1.

  On the other hand, when the dipole antenna 6 transmits radio waves, a current is supplied to the power feeding unit 63 with a predetermined amplitude and phase based on an electrical signal from the wireless communication circuit. The current supplied to the power supply unit 63 enters the first conductive unit 61 and the second conductive unit 62, and the current flows along the first conductive unit 61 and the second conductive unit 62. When a current flows through the first conductive part 61 and the second conductive part 62, radio waves are transmitted from the dipole antenna 6 to the external device.

  FIG. 3 shows a radiation pattern of 3 GHz in the XZ plane of the dipole antenna 6 formed in the notebook computer 10 according to the present embodiment. 3A is a radiation pattern of the X component of the dipole antenna 6, and FIG. 3B is a radiation pattern of the Z component of the dipole antenna 6. Further, (c) shows a radiation pattern obtained by combining the respective radiation patterns. As shown in FIG. 3C, the first conductive portion 61 and the second conductive portion 62 of the dipole antenna 6 are arranged along the vertical plane and the horizontal plane to compensate for the directivity null. As a result, uniform directivity is exhibited in almost all directions.

  As described above, according to the notebook personal computer 10 of the present embodiment, the L-shaped dipole antenna 6 is provided so as to have portions that are substantially horizontal and substantially perpendicular to the floor surface. The notebook personal computer 10 can transmit and receive both vertically polarized waves and has good communication characteristics.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the notebook computer 20 as the electronic apparatus according to the present embodiment as seen from the back side.
In the notebook personal computer 20 of the present embodiment, dipole antennas 7 a and 7 b are provided at two corners at the free end of the lid 2, respectively. The configuration of each of the two dipole antennas 7a and 7b is the same as that of the dipole antenna 6 of the first embodiment. The description of the configuration other than the provision of the two dipole antennas 7a and 7b is the same as in the first embodiment, and will be omitted.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of two dipole antennas 7a and 7b. The two dipole antennas 7a and 7b are both arranged in a plane parallel to the main surface of the lid portion 2 (that is, the XZ plane), and each first conductive portion 71 is in a state where the notebook personal computer 20 is opened. 71 are substantially perpendicular to the apparatus main body 1 and the second conductive parts 72 and 72 are substantially horizontal to the apparatus main body 1.

Here, a combined radiation pattern of the two dipole antennas 7a and 7b in the XZ plane is shown in FIG.
6A shows a combined radiation pattern (X component) of the two dipole antennas 7a and 7b, and FIG. 6B shows a combined radiation pattern (Z component) of the two dipole antennas 7a and 7b. FIG. 6C shows a radiation pattern obtained by synthesizing the radiation patterns of the X component, the Z component, and the Y component not shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. As shown in FIG. 6 (c), the first conductive portions 71 and 71 and the second conductive portions 72 and 72 of the two dipole antennas 7a and 7b are provided along the vertical plane and the horizontal plane, so that mutual directivity is obtained. In order to compensate for the null, there is no extremely large null, and uniform directivity is exhibited in almost all directions. In addition, since the two dipole antennas 7a and 7b are arranged at the two corners, it is possible to reduce the influence of an obstacle or the like generated according to the installation state and obtain a highly sensitive characteristic.

  As described above, according to the notebook personal computer 20 of the present embodiment, the L-shaped dipole antennas 7a and 7b are provided so as to have portions that are substantially horizontal and vertical to the floor surface. Thus, it is possible to receive both polarizations of vertical polarization, and it is possible to make the notebook personal computer 20 having better communication characteristics. Furthermore, since the two dipole antennas 7a and 7b are provided, the directivity of the radio wave can be set to highly sensitive communication characteristics without being shifted depending on the direction of transmission / reception.

[Third embodiment]
In the present embodiment, a copying machine will be described as an example of electronic equipment. FIG. 7 is an overall view showing a copying machine 30 as an electronic apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 8 is an enlarged view showing the upper surface of the copying machine 30.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the copying machine 30 has an apparatus main body 11 having an image forming unit therein. An image reading unit 12 and an operation unit 13 are provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 11, and a document feeding unit (ADF: Auto Document Feeder) 14 is installed above the apparatus main body 11. A paper feeding unit 15 is installed below the apparatus main body 11.

The image reading unit 12 includes a scanner including a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor, an exposure lamp, and the like. The image reading unit 12 optically scans the document conveyed from the document feeding unit 14 and performs photoelectric conversion by the CCD sensor. Read the original image.
The document image data read by the image reading unit 12 is subjected to various types of image processing, and is output as image data for printing to an image forming unit inside the apparatus main body unit 11. The image forming unit performs electrophotographic image formation, and forms an image on a recording sheet that is a recording medium fed from a paper feeding unit.
The operation unit 13 includes a display unit 16 that displays various operation screens and setting contents, various keys, a start button for instructing start of printing, and the like.

  The document feeding unit 14 automatically conveys the document placed on the document placing table 17 to the image reading unit 12 and conveys the document read by the image reading unit 12 to the discharge unit 18. Further, the document feeding unit 14 is configured to be tiltable with respect to the upper surface (the image reading unit 12) of the apparatus main body 11 with the back side of the apparatus main body 11 as a fulcrum. Three dipole antennas 8a, 8b, and 8c are provided at three corners of the document feeder 14.

  The apparatus main body 11 has a built-in wireless communication circuit, and three dipole antennas 8a, 8b, and 8c are connected to the wireless communication circuit.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of three dipole antennas 8a, 8b, and 8c. Here, the direction from the front surface to the back surface of the apparatus body 11 is defined as the X direction, the height direction of the apparatus body 11 is defined as the Z direction, and the direction perpendicular to the XZ plane is defined as the Y direction.
Specifically, in a state where the document feeder 14 is closed, the first conductive portions 81 and 81 of the dipole antennas 8a and 8b are oriented in a direction (Z direction) perpendicular to the floor surface, and the second The conductive parts 82 are arranged along the X direction.
A dipole antenna 8 c is provided at the corner of the document table 17. The first conductive portion 81 of the dipole antenna 8c is perpendicular to the XZ plane, and the second conductive portion 82 is disposed along the X direction.
At this time, the first conductive portions 81 and 81 of the dipole antennas 8a and 8b are highly sensitive antennas for vertically polarized waves. Each of the second conductive portions 82, 82, 82 is an antenna that is highly sensitive to horizontal polarization.
On the other hand, in the state where the document feeding unit 14 is opened, the first conductive parts 81 and 81 of the dipole antennas 8a and 8b are antennas having high sensitivity to horizontal polarization, and the second conductive parts 82, 82 and 82 are provided. Becomes a highly sensitive antenna for vertically polarized waves.

  Here, a combined radiation pattern of the three dipole antennas 8a, 8b, and 8c in the XZ plane is shown in FIG. FIG. 10A shows a combined radiation pattern (X component) of the three dipole antennas 8a, 8b, and 8c. FIG. 10B shows a similar radiation pattern (Y component). Is a similar radiation pattern (Z component). FIG. 10D shows a radiation pattern obtained by combining the radiation patterns of the X component, the Y component, and the Z component shown in FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C. As shown in FIG. 10 (d), the first conductive portions 81, 81, 81 and the second conductive portions 82, 82, 82 of the three dipole antennas 8a, 8b, 8c are provided along the vertical plane and the horizontal plane. Therefore, the directivity nulls are compensated for, and an extremely large deviation of radiation is eliminated, so that uniform directivity is exhibited in almost all directions. In addition, since the three dipole antennas 8a, 8b, and 8c are arranged at the three corners, it is possible to reduce the influence of obstacles and the like that occur according to the installation situation and to obtain highly sensitive characteristics.

  As described above, according to the copying machine 30 of the present embodiment, the dipole antennas 8a, 8b, and 8c that are bent in an L shape so as to have portions that are substantially horizontal and vertical to the floor surface are provided. Accordingly, both the horizontal polarization and the vertical polarization can be received, and the copying machine 30 having good communication characteristics can be obtained. Furthermore, since the three dipole antennas 8a, 8b, and 8c are provided, it is possible to achieve highly sensitive communication characteristics without shifting the directivity of radio waves depending on the transmission / reception direction.

It should be noted that the number of dipole antennas to be formed and their installation locations are set as necessary.
For example, as shown in FIG. 11, a set of two dipole antennas 8a and 8b arranged in the same plane may be installed at the corner of the copier.

It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of the electronic device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. (A) is an enlarged view which shows the dipole antenna in 1st Embodiment, (b) is a figure which shows the modification of a dipole antenna. It is a figure which shows the radiation pattern of the dipole antenna shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of the electronic device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the positional relationship of the dipole antenna in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the radiation pattern of the dipole antenna shown in FIG. It is a general view which shows schematic structure of the electronic device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is the enlarged view which looked at the electronic device shown in FIG. 7 from upper direction. It is a figure for demonstrating the positional relationship of the dipole antenna in 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the radiation pattern of the dipole antenna shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the modification of the electronic device of 3rd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10,20 Notebook-type personal computer 1 Apparatus main body part 2 Cover part 3 Hinge part 4 Keyboard 6 Dipole antenna 61 1st electroconductive part 62 2nd electroconductive part 63 Feed part 7a, 7b Dipole antenna
71 1st conductive part 72 2nd conductive part
8a, 8b, 8c Dipole antenna
81 1st conductive part 82 2nd conductive part
11 Device Main Body 12 Image Reading Unit 13 Operation Unit
14 Document Feed Unit 15 Paper Feed Unit 16 Display Unit 17 Document Placement Table 30 Copying Machine

Claims (4)

A dipole antenna in which a linear first conductive portion and a second conductive portion are connected in an L shape via a feeding portion;
A wireless communication circuit connected to the dipole antenna,
The dipole antenna is disposed at at least one of the corners composed of two orthogonal sides, and
The electronic device, wherein the first conductive portion or the second conductive portion of the dipole antenna is disposed so as to be substantially perpendicular to the floor surface in use.   2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus is a notebook personal computer, and the dipole antenna is disposed at a corner of a free end of a lid portion of the notebook personal computer.   The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus is a copying machine, and the dipole antenna is disposed in a document feeding unit of the copying machine.   The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus is a copying machine, and the dipole antenna is disposed on a cover member on a front surface of an apparatus main body of the copying machine.

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