A portable mobile hotspot device for underground enclosed scenarios

Abstract

The utility model relates to portable mobile hotspot equipment technical field, especially a kind of portable mobile hotspot equipment for underground closed scene is provided.In underground closed scene, network signal attenuation is serious, the utility model discloses a kind of portable mobile hotspot equipment with external antenna, through hole is opened on shell and is built-in and the RF radio antenna connector of controller electric connection, RF radio antenna connector is used to connect detachable and the flexible external antenna that can change orientation.This design solves the problem that the high-frequency signal attenuation of traditional FPC built-in antenna is serious, gain is low in underground closed scene such as underground parking lot, subway tunnel, signal receiving capacity can be improved by adjusting the orientation and length of antenna, signal attenuation is reduced by 40-60dB, while equipped with display screen, soft plug dustproof waterproof structure and detachable battery, realize network stable transmission in underground closed scene.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of portable mobile hotspot devices, and in particular to a portable mobile hotspot device for use in underground enclosed environments. Background Technology

[0002] In today's fast-paced society, people always want to be connected to the internet for work, entertainment, or information. In daily life, smartphones can meet most of the needs for internet access. However, in some scenarios, such as outdoors or when a large amount of data needs to be transmitted, smartphones sometimes cannot meet the requirements for data transmission stability and security, while also incurring high data charges. Under these circumstances, the emergence of portable mobile hotspot devices, such as MIFI (Mobile Wi-Fi), fills the gap in these scenarios.

[0003] Currently, the portable mobile hotspot device MIFI is suitable for various scenarios: during business trips, it allows laptops and other devices to maintain a stable internet connection for work while traveling, avoiding the security risks of public Wi-Fi; for outdoor work such as construction site surveys and live streaming; when traveling abroad, the eSIM-enabled MIFI portable mobile hotspot device can switch between multiple countries' networks with one click, and sharing with multiple users can avoid the battery drain caused by using a mobile hotspot; it can serve as a backup network in home broadband failures or small office scenarios; in special scenarios such as emergency communications and news interviews, some professional devices also support satellite communication backup; for personal use, it can manage data usage and share data with non-cellular devices such as tablets. A typical portable mobile hotspot device like MIFI uses an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) with an internal antenna, composed of an insulating film substrate and copper foil conductors, which contact the device's internal PCBA (Printed Circuit Board Assembly) through the conductor. The FPC antenna is installed inside the device. Its high-frequency signal attenuates when passing through obstacles. In densely built-up and metal structure scenarios (urban high-rise buildings, underground parking lots, subway cars), natural environments with obstacles (forests, densely vegetated areas), crowded and mobile scenarios (concerts, exhibitions, and other crowded places), and industrial scenarios with electromagnetic interference (large electromechanical equipment, transformers, and radio frequency interference sources in factory workshops), high-frequency signals are easily absorbed and reflected. The FPC antenna has low gain and fast signal attenuation, making it impossible for users to use the network smoothly. Especially in underground and enclosed scenarios, such as subway tunnels, underground parking lots, elevator shafts, mines, and civil defense projects, the network signal attenuation is most severe. The shielding layer formed by reinforced concrete walls and metal tracks causes network signal attenuation of 40-60dB. Multipath reflections in enclosed spaces increase data transmission error rates, with Wi-Fi latency fluctuations exceeding 200ms in underground parking lots. The enclosed structure and metal protective layers of civil defense projects also exacerbate signal shielding. Dust, humidity, and complex tunnel layouts in mines also significantly increase the penetration loss of high-frequency signals. Therefore, given these challenges and the cost considerations that most locations will not be equipped with signal enhancement devices, the focus should be on the devices that workers carry when entering enclosed underground environments. For example, developing a portable mobile hotspot device (MIFI) design that can provide a stronger signal in these scenarios is recommended. Utility Model Content

[0004] Based on this, it is necessary to address the above-mentioned shortcomings by providing a portable mobile hotspot device for underground enclosed scenarios, comprising: a housing, a controller disposed within the housing, a battery disposed within the housing and electrically connected to the controller, the housing having a through hole, an RF antenna connector electrically connected to the controller being disposed at the through hole, and a flexible external antenna that can change orientation, the flexible external antenna being detachably inserted into the through hole and electrically connected to the RF antenna connector.

[0005] Preferably, the flexible external antenna is a TS9 interface external antenna.

[0006] Preferably, the length of the flexible external antenna is 3~20cm.

[0007] Preferably, the housing also has a display screen electrically connected to the controller, the display screen being used to display network connection status.

[0008] Preferably, the through hole of the housing is further provided with a soft plug that is movably connected to the edge of the through hole, the soft plug being used to block the through hole when the device is not in use.

[0009] Preferably, the back of the housing has an opening and a detachable battery cover, the battery cover and the housing forming a battery compartment, and the battery is detachably disposed in the battery compartment.

[0010] The aforementioned portable mobile hotspot device for underground enclosed scenarios effectively solves the problems of severe attenuation and low gain of traditional FPC built-in antennas when high-frequency signals pass through obstacles by opening through holes in the device shell and setting up an RF antenna connector electrically connected to the controller, along with a detachable and oriented flexible external antenna. Especially in underground enclosed scenarios such as underground parking lots, subway tunnels, and elevator shafts, users can adjust the antenna angle according to the direction of the signal source to enhance the signal reception capability in a specific direction. It significantly improves network connection stability in scenarios such as dense buildings, metal structures, or electromagnetic interference, enabling the device to provide stronger and more stable network signals in various scenarios such as outdoor operations and business travel, especially in non-fixed underground enclosed scenarios. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1 This is a front view of a portable mobile hotspot device for use in an underground enclosed environment, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the external antenna connection location (area A) of a portable mobile hotspot device used in an underground enclosed scenario according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3This is a cross-sectional enlarged view of the external antenna connection location (area A) of a portable mobile hotspot device used in an underground enclosed scenario according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a perspective view of a portable mobile hotspot device (without an external antenna) used in an underground enclosed scenario according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached diagram: 100-Housing, 100a-Through hole, 110-RF antenna connector, 120-Display screen, 130-Soft plug, 140-Battery cover, 200-Flexible external antenna. Detailed Implementation

[0013] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of this utility model more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a full understanding of this utility model. However, this utility model can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this utility model. Therefore, this utility model is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0014] This utility model discloses a portable mobile hotspot device for use in underground enclosed environments, such as... Figures 1-4 As shown, the device includes a housing 100, a controller (not shown) disposed within the housing 100, and a battery (not shown) electrically connected to the controller. The housing 100 has a through-hole 100a. The position of the through-hole 100a is determined according to user habits and the specific shape of the housing 100. In one embodiment, the housing 100 is a cuboid with rounded side edges. According to user habits, the through-hole 100a is located on the upper part of the side of the housing 100. An RF (Radio Frequency) antenna connector 110 is fixedly installed in the vicinity of the through-hole 100a within the housing 100. This RF antenna connector 110 is electrically connected to the controller. A flexible external antenna 200 is detachably inserted into the through-hole 100a and electrically connected to the RF antenna connector 110 through the insertion end interface of the flexible external antenna 200.

[0015] The flexible external antenna 200 is made of a bendable material. In one embodiment, the flexible external antenna 200 uses PVC to wrap a metal wire, allowing its orientation to be changed arbitrarily (e.g., bent 360°) to adjust the signal reception direction. When it is necessary to enhance the signal in a specific direction, the user can point the flexible external antenna 200 toward the signal source to improve network connection stability. The user can also adjust the orientation of the flexible external antenna 200 as needed, allowing for adjustments at different work locations to obtain the best signal. When not in use, the flexible external antenna 200 can be detached or stored on the side of the casing, maintaining device portability.

[0016] This invention effectively solves the problems of severe attenuation and low gain of traditional FPC built-in antennas when high-frequency signals pass through obstacles by opening a through hole 100a in the outer shell 100 and setting an RF antenna connector 110 electrically connected to the controller, and using a detachable and oriented flexible external antenna 200. Especially in enclosed scenarios such as underground parking lots, subway tunnels, and elevator shafts, users can adjust the antenna angle according to the direction of the signal source to enhance the signal reception capability in a specific direction. It significantly improves network connection stability in scenarios such as dense buildings, metal structures, or electromagnetic interference, enabling the device to provide stronger and more stable network signals in various scenarios such as outdoor operations and business travel, especially in non-fixed underground enclosed scenarios.

[0017] In one embodiment, such as Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, the flexible external antenna 200 is a TS9 (Threaded SMA-9) interface external antenna. The TS9 interface is a miniaturized radio frequency interface with a plug diameter of approximately 5mm, which is compatible with the size of the through hole 100a. In this embodiment, the through hole 100a has a diameter of 5.5mm and is tightly connected to the RF antenna connector 110 by screwing or snapping.

[0018] The advantages of using the TS9 interface for the external antenna in this embodiment are: ① Adaptation to high-frequency signal transmission (supports 2.4G / 5G bands), with signal loss less than 0.5dB; ② Compact structure, suitable for portable devices; ③ Insertion and removal lifespan exceeding 10,000 cycles, ensuring long-term reliability. Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, the pins of the TS9 interface are precisely aligned with the contacts of the RF antenna connector 110 to ensure stable signal transmission.

[0019] In one embodiment, the flexible external antenna 200 has a length of 3-20cm. In this embodiment, a 20cm long flexible external antenna 200 is used in underground enclosed environments such as underground parking lots and subway tunnels. This antenna has a TS9 interface and can be electrically connected to the RF antenna connector 110 through the through-hole 100a of the housing 100. Users can extend it perpendicular to the reinforced concrete wall or metal rail, utilizing a 3dBi signal gain to penetrate the shielding layer, reducing penetration loss by 25% compared to a short antenna. At the same time, the flexible external antenna 200 can be bent into an L-shape to receive direct and reflected waves, reducing the bit error rate caused by multipath reflection. Furthermore, the flexible external antenna 200 can be folded and stored in the slot of the housing 100, achieving IP54 protection with the help of a soft plug, preventing dust and condensation from entering, and ensuring that in underground environments where signal attenuation reaches 40-60dB, network latency fluctuations are reduced from over 200ms to less than 80ms, and signal strength is increased to over 65dBm.

[0020] In one embodiment, such as Figures 1-4 As shown, a display screen 120 is located on the front of the casing 100, and is electrically connected to the controller via an FPC cable. The display screen 120 displays the following information in real time: ① Network signal strength (1-5 bars); ② Number of connected devices (e.g., "3 connected"); ③ Remaining battery power (percentage); ④ Current network frequency band (2.4G or 5G), etc. When the device is in a weak signal environment such as an underground parking lot, the display screen 120 will flash to indicate poor signal. Users can improve the connection by adjusting the orientation of the external antenna 200. The display screen 120 is embedded in the upper surface of the casing 100, with a viewing angle of up to 170° for easy viewing.

[0021] In one embodiment, such as Figure 4 As shown, the housing 100 also has a soft plug 130 movably connected to the edge of the through hole 100a. The soft plug 130 is used to block the through hole 100a when the device is not in use, achieving dust and water protection. In this embodiment, the through hole 100a is rounded rectangular, and the outer contour of the soft plug 130 matches the shape of the through hole 100a, and its cross-section is also rounded rectangular; in other embodiments, it can also be circular or other shapes. In this embodiment, the soft plug 130 is made of silicone. When the flexible external antenna 200 is removed, the soft plug 130 can be inserted into the through hole 100a to prevent dust and water droplets from entering the device; when the flexible external antenna 200 needs to be installed, the soft plug 130 can be flipped to the side of the housing 100 and hinged to the edge of the through hole by a silicone strip to prevent loss.

[0022] In one embodiment, such as Figure 4As shown, a rectangular opening is formed on the back of the outer casing 100, which is closed by a snap-on battery cover 140 to form a battery compartment. The battery cover 140 has four elastic snaps on its edge, which engage with the slots in the outer casing 100; pressing them allows for easy removal. A rechargeable battery is placed inside the battery compartment and electrically connected to the controller via metal contacts. The advantages of the removable battery design are: ① When the device is used outdoors for extended periods, the user can carry a spare battery for quick replacement, avoiding power outages; ② If the battery is damaged, there is no need to return it to the factory for repair, reducing maintenance costs.

[0023] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0024] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementations of this utility model, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the utility model patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this utility model, and these all fall within the protection scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A portable mobile hotspot device for use in enclosed underground environments, comprising: The housing (100), the controller disposed within the housing (100), and the battery disposed within the housing (100) and electrically connected to the controller are characterized in that the housing (100) has a through hole (100a), and an RF antenna connector (110) electrically connected to the controller is provided at the through hole (100a). The housing (100a) also includes a flexible external antenna (200) that can change orientation, and the flexible external antenna (200) is detachably inserted into the through hole (100a) and electrically connected to the RF antenna connector (110).

2. The portable mobile hotspot device for underground enclosed scenarios according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flexible external antenna (200) is a TS9 interface external antenna.

3. The portable mobile hotspot device for underground enclosed scenarios according to claim 2, characterized in that, The length of the flexible external antenna (200) is 3~20cm.

4. The portable mobile hotspot device for underground enclosed scenarios according to claim 1, characterized in that, The housing (100) also has a display screen (120) electrically connected to the controller, the display screen (120) being used to display network connection status.

5. The portable mobile hotspot device for underground enclosed scenarios according to claim 1, characterized in that, The housing (100) is also provided with a soft plug (130) that is movably connected to the edge of the through hole (100a). The soft plug (130) is used to block the through hole (100a) when the device is not in use.

6. The portable mobile hotspot device for underground enclosed scenarios according to claim 1, characterized in that, The housing (100) has an opening on the back and is detachably provided with a battery cover (140). The battery cover (140) and the housing (100) form a battery compartment, and the battery is detachably disposed in the battery compartment.

Images