Wireless apparatus

Abstract

To provide a wireless apparatus with which an antenna can be easily mounted on a substrate.SOLUTION: A wireless apparatus (100) comprises a substrate (20), covers (10 and 30) in which the substrate (20) is stored, and an antenna (50) which is formed on faces of the covers (10 and 30). In the covers (10 and 30), a boss (14) is provided for supporting the substrate (20) by the abutment of the substrate (20) thereon. An antenna-side terminal (12) that is a terminal of the antenna 50 is formed on a boss-side abutment surface which is abutted on the substrate on the side of the boss (14). In the substrate 20, a substrate-side terminal (22) is formed on a substrate-side abutment surface which is abutted on the boss-side abutment surface. The substrate-side abutment surface and the boss-side abutment surface are abutted and the substrate (20) is stored in the covers (10 and 30) in a state where the substrate is supported by the boss (14), thereby electrically connecting the antenna-side terminal (12) and the substrate-side terminal (22).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a wireless device having an antenna built into a cover. [Background technology]

[0002] Some wireless disaster prevention devices wirelessly notify other devices when they detect a fire, or operate in conjunction with other wireless disaster prevention devices.

[0003] Also, from the viewpoint of miniaturization and design of the device, wireless devices are known in which the antenna is formed on the surface of the cover by insert molding, vapor deposition, or the like.

[0004] The following technology relating to wireless devices has been disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the wireless device of Patent Document 1, an antenna is formed via an adhesive layer on the inner surface of a cover that houses a circuit board. Furthermore, this antenna is connected to the circuit board by a connecting member such as a spring connector. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-140217 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Here, conventional wireless devices for disaster prevention will be described.

[0007] Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a conventional wireless device, and Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the upper cover 90 shown in Fig. 11. In Fig. 11, the upper cover 90 is shown by a dashed line and is seen through.

[0008] The wireless device shown in Fig. 11 is a wireless device with a built-in antenna, in which antenna 80 is stored inside the cover. The wireless device shown in Fig. 11 is configured such that board 70 is placed and fixed in lower cover 60, and interior cover 65 is attached to the top thereof, and then upper cover 90 is rotated in the direction of arrow A and attached to lower cover 60 with screws.

[0009] The antenna 80 is made by deforming a metal wire so that it can be housed inside a wireless device. One end of the antenna 80 is fixed to the board 70 by soldering, and the other end 81 is a free end.

[0010] Furthermore, in order to improve the output of radio waves, it is preferable to place the antenna 80 at a position away from the substrate 70. For this reason, the main body of the antenna 80 is provided so as to circle around the top surface of the upper cover 90 and be spaced apart from the substrate 70.

[0011] 12, the upper cover 90 is provided with a hole 91 for passing the antenna 80. The hole 91 is provided around the inner surface of the top surface of the upper cover 90.

[0012] When attaching the upper cover 90 to the lower cover 60 by screws, the end 81 of the antenna 80 is inserted into an insertion opening (not shown) of the hole 91, and then the upper cover 90 is rotated in the direction of arrow A. This rotation causes the antenna 80 to move deeper into the hole 91.

[0013] Once the upper cover 90 is attached, the antenna 80 fits into the hole 91 and is fixed in position. Therefore, the antenna 80 can remain in its fixed position without shaking even if subjected to external vibrations, shocks, etc.

[0014] On the other hand, when removing the upper cover 90 from the lower cover 60, the upper cover 90 is rotated in the direction opposite to that of the arrow A. This rotation gradually removes the antenna 80 from the hole 91, and when the removal of the upper cover 90 is complete, the antenna 80 is completely removed from the hole 91.

[0015] 11, antenna 80 may be distorted when upper cover 90 is attached or detached, or antenna 80 may tilt at the soldered joint between antenna 80 and board 70. In addition, soldering antenna 80 to board 70 requires additional work.

[0016] In Patent Document 1, the antenna and the spring connector, and the spring connector and the board are also joined by soldering, which has the same inherent problems and makes it desirable to improve the workability when attaching the antenna to the board.

[0017] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a wireless device in which an antenna can be easily attached to a board. [Means for solving the problem]

[0018] The wireless device according to the present disclosure comprises a board, a cover for housing the board, and an antenna formed on the surface of the cover; the cover is provided with a boss against which the board abuts to support the board, and an antenna-side terminal, which is the terminal of the antenna, is formed on the boss-side abutment surface that abuts against the board on the boss side; the board has a board-side terminal formed on the board-side abutment surface that abuts against the boss-side abutment surface; the board is housed in the cover with the board-side abutment surface and boss-side abutment surface abutting and supported by the boss, thereby electrically connecting the antenna-side terminal and the board-side terminal. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to the present disclosure, a wireless device can be obtained in which an antenna can be easily attached to a substrate. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the appearance of a wireless device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a lower cover shown in FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a perspective view showing a part of a circuit board housed in the wireless device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a diagram showing an assembly mode of the wireless device shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 5] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a joint portion of the wireless device shown in FIG. [Figure 6] 3A to 3C are diagrams illustrating examples of antenna shapes that can be used in the wireless device of the first embodiment. [Figure 7] 10 is a plan view showing the inside of an upper cover of a wireless device according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 8] 8A and 8B are diagrams illustrating an example of the configuration of the mounting boss shown in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a substrate in a wireless device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration in which the antenna in the configuration shown in FIG. 7 is changed to a dipole antenna. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a conventional wireless device. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the upper cover shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Preferred embodiments of the wireless device of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. The wireless device of the present disclosure is a wireless device with a built-in antenna, in which a thin-film antenna is provided on the inner surface of a cover that constitutes the frame of the wireless device.

[0022] In the wireless device of the present disclosure, a boss is provided on the inner surface of the cover to support the board on the cover. A thin film plated film connected to the antenna is formed on the top surface of this boss, and this thin film portion functions as a terminal on the antenna side. In addition, a connection terminal for the board side is provided on the board side at a position abutting the boss.

[0023] The wireless device of the present disclosure is characterized in that the board is fixed to the boss using a screw, causing the two terminals to abut against each other and electrically connecting the antenna and board via the terminals.

[0024] Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a wireless device according to the first embodiment.

[0025] The wireless device 100 is a wireless device with a built-in antenna, and as shown in Fig. 1, is configured such that an upper cover 30 covers a lower cover 10. The upper cover 30 and the lower cover 10 are both made of insulating resin, and the upper cover 30 is formed with two screw mounting holes 31 for mounting screws 40, which will be described later.

[0026] Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the lower cover 10 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a part of a circuit board housed in the wireless device 100 shown in Fig. 1.

[0027] 2, the lower cover 10 includes an antenna 50 and a mounting boss 14. The antenna 50 is formed by depositing a metal material on the inner surface 10a of the lower cover 10 by insert molding, vapor deposition, or the like. The antenna 50 is provided on the inner surface 10a of the lower cover 10 so as to extend in the circumferential direction.

[0028] 3 contacts the mounting boss 14, thereby supporting the substrate 20. The mounting boss 14 is provided at a position corresponding to the screw mounting hole 31 shown in FIG.

[0029] The top surface of mounting boss 14 is the surface that abuts against substrate 20 shown in Fig. 3, and this top surface is referred to here as boss-side abutment surface 15. A thin film is formed on boss-side abutment surface 15. Similar to antenna 50, this thin film is formed by depositing a metal material on boss-side abutment surface 15 by insert molding, vapor deposition, or the like.

[0030] The thin film formed on the boss-side contact surface 15 functions as a terminal on the antenna 50 side for joining the antenna 50 to the substrate 20. For this reason, this thin film is referred to as an antenna-side terminal 12.

[0031] The mounting boss 14 is provided with a screw hole 11 that engages with a screw 40, which will be described later. The antenna side terminal 12 is formed on the boss side abutment surface 15 so as to surround the screw hole 11.

[0032] 3, the through-holes 21 are holes for inserting screws 40 (described later) and are provided at positions corresponding to the screw mounting holes 31 and the mounting bosses 14. In addition, a circuit pattern surrounding the through-holes 21 is formed on the surface of the substrate 20 facing the antenna-side terminal 12.

[0033] This circuit pattern functions as a terminal on the substrate 20 side for electrically connecting the substrate 20 and the antenna 50. For this reason, this circuit pattern is referred to as a substrate-side terminal 22.

[0034] In the first embodiment, the board-side terminals 22 are formed on both surfaces 20a of the board 20, but they may be provided at least on the surface 20a that abuts against the boss-side contact surface 15. The surface of the board-side terminals 22 provided on the surface 20a that abuts against the boss-side contact surface 15 is referred to as the board-side contact surface 23 here.

[0035] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an assembly state of the wireless device 100 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a joint portion of the wireless device 100 shown in Fig. 1.

[0036] When assembling the wireless device 100, metal screws 40 are inserted into the screw mounting holes 31 and passed through the through holes 21. Then, the tips of the screws 40 are inserted into the screw holes 11 of the mounting bosses 14 and tightened. As a result, the upper cover 30 and the board 20 are fastened together to the lower cover 10 by the screws 40. As a result, the board 20 is stored sandwiched between the lower cover 10 and the upper cover 30 while being supported by the mounting bosses 14.

[0037] Furthermore, the board-side terminals 22 formed on the board 20 are provided in positions surrounding the through-holes 21 as described above, i.e., in positions in contact with the antenna-side terminals 12. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 5, when the board 20 and the mounting bosses 14 are fastened together with the screws 40, the antenna-side terminals 12 and the board-side terminals 22 come into contact with each other.

[0038] In this way, by fastening the upper cover 30, the board 20, and the lower cover 10 together with the screws 40, the board-side contact surface 23 and the boss-side contact surface 15 are simultaneously brought into contact with each other, thereby electrically connecting the antenna-side terminal 12 and the board-side terminal 22. Therefore, the board 20 and the antenna 50 can be electrically connected easily and reliably without a separate process for attaching the antenna 50 to the board 20.

[0039] Therefore, the soldering work that is performed when attaching the antenna 50 to the board 20 is no longer necessary, and the work of attaching the antenna 50 to the board 20 becomes easier.

[0040] 5, the upper cover 30 is provided with an insulating portion 32 that surrounds the shank 41 of the screw 40. The insulating portion 32 electrically insulates the screw 40 from each of the antenna-side terminal 12 and the board-side terminal 22.

[0041] The insulating portion 32 prevents direct contact between the antenna 50 and the screw 40, and prevents the current for radio wave output flowing from the substrate 20 to the antenna 50 from escaping to the screw 40 side.

[0042] Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating some examples of antenna shapes that can be used in wireless device 100 according to embodiment 1. In Fig. 6, the position of substrate 20 supported by mounting boss 14 is indicated by a dashed line.

[0043] In addition, in the description of each antenna shape shown in FIG. 6, the direction parallel to the surface of the substrate 20 is referred to as the horizontal direction, and the direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate 20 is referred to as the vertical direction.

[0044] Fig. 6(A) shows the antenna 50 previously described with reference to Fig. 2. The antenna 50 can be structurally divided into a connecting portion 51 and an antenna main body 52.

[0045] The antenna main body 52 occupies the majority of the antenna 50, and is provided at a position vertically spaced apart from the surface 20a of the substrate 20 when the substrate 20 is supported by the mounting bosses 14. The antenna main body 52 is also provided so as to extend in a straight line in the horizontal direction on the inner surface 10a of the lower cover 10.

[0046] The connecting portion 51 is a portion that electrically connects the antenna side terminal 12 and the antenna main body 52. In Fig. 6(A), the connecting portion 51 has a configuration in which the end of the connecting portion 51 is connected to the start point of the antenna main body 52 via a pattern that starts from the antenna side terminal 12 and extends in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate 20.

[0047] The antenna 50 shown in Fig. 6(B) employs an antenna body 52 formed by alternating horizontal and vertical sections into a rectangular shape. The antenna 50 shown in Fig. 6(C) employs an antenna body 52 having a horizontal section as the base axis and vertical sections of different lengths at various locations. The antenna 50 shown in Fig. 6(D) employs a zigzag-shaped antenna body 52. The antenna 50 shown in Fig. 6(E) employs a curved, wavy antenna body 52. In addition to these shapes, various other shapes can be employed for the antenna 50.

[0048] That is, the antenna main body 52 may have a shape that extends horizontally on the inner surface 10a of the lower cover 10 as shown in Figure 6(A), or may have a portion that extends in a direction other than the horizontal direction as shown in Figures 6(B) to (E), and an appropriate shape can be selected depending on the communication conditions in the installation environment of the wireless device.

[0049] The thickness of the antenna 50 is not particularly limited as long as it allows a pattern to be formed thereon, but may be 15 μm or more. The width (vertical length) of the antenna main body 52 is not particularly limited as long as it allows a pattern to be formed on the inner surface 10a of the lower cover 10. To accommodate a wide range of bands, it is preferable to make the width of the antenna main body 52 wider.

[0050] The features of such wireless device 100 can be summarized as follows, and the wireless device 100 can achieve the following effects.

[0051] The wireless device 100 includes a substrate 20, a cover that houses the substrate 20, and an antenna 50 formed on the surface of the cover.

[0052] The cover is provided with an attachment boss 14 that supports the board 20 by abutting against the board 20, and an antenna side terminal 12, which is the terminal of the antenna 50, is formed on the boss side abutment surface 15 that abuts against the board 20 on the attachment boss 14 side.

[0053] Furthermore, board 20 has board-side terminals 22 formed on board-side abutment surfaces 23 that abut against boss-side abutment surfaces 15. When board 20 is housed in the cover with board-side abutment surfaces 23 and boss-side abutment surfaces 15 abutting against each other and supported by mounting bosses 14, antenna-side terminals 12 and board-side terminals 22 are electrically connected. Here, lower cover 10 corresponds to the cover. Furthermore, inner surface 10a of lower cover 10 corresponds to the surface of the cover.

[0054] This eliminates the need for work such as soldering, and allows the antenna 50 to be easily attached to the board 20. Furthermore, in the conventional wireless device shown in Fig. 11, when attaching or detaching the upper cover 90, care must be taken to avoid damaging the antenna, but in the wireless device 100 of the present disclosure, the lower cover 10 and the upper cover 30 can be easily attached or detached.

[0055] The cover includes a lower cover 10 and an upper cover 30. The lower cover 10, the substrate 20, and the upper cover 30 are fastened together by screws 40.

[0056] The mounting boss 14 is provided with a screw hole 11 that engages with a screw 40 that fixes the substrate 20 , and the antenna side terminal 12 is formed so as to surround the screw hole 11 .

[0057] By forming the antenna-side terminal 12 at such a position, it becomes easier to receive the action of fastening by the screw 40, and the connection with the board-side terminal 22 can be made more stable.

[0058] Furthermore, the board 20 is provided with a through hole 21 through which a screw 40 that engages with the mounting boss 14 passes, and the board side terminal 22 is formed so as to surround the through hole 21.

[0059] By forming the board-side terminal 22 at such a position, it becomes easier to receive the action of fastening by the screw 40, and the connection with the antenna-side terminal 12 can be made more stable.

[0060] The upper cover 30 further includes insulating portions 32 that electrically insulate the antenna terminal 12 and the board terminal 22 from the screws 40 .

[0061] This prevents direct contact between the antenna 50 and the screw 40, and prevents the current for outputting radio waves that flows from the substrate 20 to the antenna 50 from escaping to the side of the screw 40. This makes it possible to output radio waves of the desired strength.

[0062] The antenna 50 also has an antenna main body 52 and a connecting portion 51. The connecting portion 51 electrically connects the antenna main body 52 and the antenna side terminal 12. The antenna main body 52 is provided at a position spaced apart in the vertical direction from the surface 20a of the substrate 20 with the substrate 20 supported by the mounting boss 14.

[0063] In this way, by separating the antenna body 52 from the substrate 20, the output of radio waves can be improved.

[0064] Furthermore, if the direction parallel to the surface 20a of the substrate 20 is defined as the horizontal direction, the antenna main body 52 can be configured to have at least a portion extending in a direction different from the horizontal direction.

[0065] 11 and 12, the antenna 80 is configured to be inserted into or removed from the hole 91 by rotating the upper cover 90. For this reason, it has been difficult to adopt an antenna of a shape other than one that extends horizontally in the conventional wireless device.

[0066] In contrast, the wireless device 100 of the present disclosure can employ antennas of various shapes as shown in Figures 6(B) to 6(E). By forming the antenna body 52 into a curved, wavy shape as shown in Figure 6(E), it is possible to reduce the reflection of radio waves more than with the angular shapes shown in Figures 6(B) to 6(D).

[0067] Embodiment 2 Continuing on, a description will be given of an aspect of embodiment 2. In embodiment 2, components having the same functions as those described in embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in embodiment 1.

[0068] Fig. 7 is a plan view showing the inside of the upper cover 30 of the wireless device 100 according to the second embodiment, and Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the attachment boss 14 shown in Fig. 7.

[0069] In the above-described first embodiment, the mounting boss 14 and the antenna 50 are provided on the lower cover 10. In contrast, in the second embodiment, the mounting boss 14 and the antenna 50 are provided on the bottom surface 53 of the upper cover 30. In other words, the upper cover 30 corresponds to a cover that houses the board 20.

[0070] In the second embodiment, a loop antenna is used as the antenna body 52 of the antenna 50.

[0071] In the second embodiment, two antenna side terminals 12A and 12B are provided on the top surface of the mounting boss 14, i.e., on the boss side abutment surface 15. The two antenna side terminals 12A and 12B are each electrically connected to an antenna main body 52 via a connecting portion 51. The antenna main body 52 is provided in an annular shape on the bottom surface 53 of the upper cover 30 along the inner circumferential surface of the upper cover 30.

[0072] FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the substrate 20 in the wireless device 100 of the second embodiment.

[0073] 9, in the substrate 20 of the second embodiment, two substrate-side terminals 22A and 22B are provided on the substrate-side abutment surface 23. These substrate-side terminals 22A and 22B are provided at positions where they abut against the antenna-side terminals 12A and 12B shown in FIG.

[0074] Specifically, the board-side terminal 22A abuts against the antenna-side terminal 12A shown in Fig. 7 when the board 20 is supported by the mounting boss 14. The board-side terminal 22B abuts against the antenna-side terminal 12B shown in Fig. 7 when the board 20 is supported by the mounting boss 14.

[0075] In the first embodiment, one antenna-side terminal 12 is provided to surround the screw hole 11 that engages with the screw 40, and one board-side terminal 22 is provided to surround the through-hole 21 through which the screw 40 passes. In contrast to this, as in the second embodiment, a plurality of terminals may be provided as the antenna-side terminal 12, and similarly, a plurality of terminals may be provided for the board-side terminal 22.

[0076] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration in which the antenna 50 in the configuration shown in FIG. 7 is changed to a dipole antenna.

[0077] 10, the antenna body 52 of the antenna 50 is configured as a dipole antenna having two bodies, a first antenna body 52A and a second antenna body 52B. The first antenna body 52A and the second antenna body 52B are configured to extend from the antenna side terminals 12A and 12B so as to circle in opposite directions.

[0078] The wireless device 100 according to the second embodiment is characterized in that the antenna body 52 can be configured as a loop antenna or a dipole antenna.

[0079] 11, as described above, antenna 80 is inserted into or removed from hole 91 by rotating upper cover 90. For this reason, conventional wireless devices could only employ antennas that extend horizontally and in one direction.

[0080] In contrast to this, a loop antenna or a dipole antenna can be adopted by configuring the circuit board 20 to be supported by the mounting boss 14 and the terminals provided on the circuit board 20 and the mounting boss 14 to be electrically connected.

[0081] 2, the antenna 50 is provided on the inner surface 10a of the lower cover 10, and in FIG. 7, the antenna 50 is provided on the bottom surface 53 of the upper cover 30, but the embodiment is not limited to this. For example, the antenna 50 can be provided in various places, such as the bottom surface of the lower cover 10, the outer surface of the lower cover 10, or the inner surface of the upper cover 30. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 10 lower cover (cover), 10a inner surface, 11 screw hole, 12, 12A, 12B antenna side terminal, 14 mounting boss (boss), 20 board, 21 through hole, 22, 22A, 22B board side terminal, 30 upper cover (cover), 31 screw mounting hole, 32 insulating part, 40 screw, 41 shaft part, 50 antenna, 51 connecting part, 52 antenna main body part, 52A first antenna main body part, 52B second antenna main body part, 53 bottom surface, 100 wireless device.

Claims

1. A substrate; a cover for housing the substrate; an antenna formed on a surface of the cover, a boss is provided on the cover to support the board by contacting the board, and an antenna-side terminal, which is a terminal of the antenna, is formed on a boss-side contact surface that contacts the board on the boss side; The board has a board-side contact surface that contacts the boss-side contact surface and has board-side terminals formed on the board. The board-side contact surface and the boss-side contact surface are brought into contact with each other, and the board is accommodated in the cover in a state where the board is supported by the boss, whereby the antenna-side terminal and the board-side terminal are electrically connected. Wireless equipment.

2. The cover includes a lower cover and an upper cover, the lower cover, the substrate, and the upper cover are configured to be fastened together with screws, The boss is provided with a screw hole that engages with the screw that supports the substrate, The antenna terminal is formed to surround the screw hole. The wireless device of claim 1 .

3. The cover includes a lower cover and an upper cover, the lower cover, the substrate, and the upper cover are configured to be fastened together with screws, the substrate is provided with a through-hole through which the screw engaging with the boss passes; The substrate-side terminal is formed so as to surround the through hole. The wireless device of claim 1 .

4. The cover includes a lower cover and an upper cover, the lower cover, the substrate, and the upper cover are configured to be fastened together with screws, The boss is provided with a screw hole that engages with the screw that supports the substrate, The antenna terminal is formed to surround the screw hole, the substrate is provided with a through hole through which the screw passes, the substrate-side terminal is formed so as to surround the through hole, The cover further includes an insulating portion that electrically insulates each of the antenna-side terminal and the board-side terminal from the screw. The wireless device of claim 1 .

5. the antenna has an antenna main body and a connecting portion that electrically connects the antenna main body and the antenna side terminal, the antenna main body is provided at a position spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the substrate with the substrate supported by the boss; 3. The wireless device according to claim 1 or 2.

6. the antenna body has at least a portion extending in a direction different from the horizontal direction, where the direction parallel to the surface of the substrate is defined as the horizontal direction; 6. The wireless device according to claim 5.

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