Sheet-metal spring and antenna structure

Abstract

To provide a sheet-metal spring and an antenna structure capable of miniaturizing a terminal while realizing power feeding.SOLUTION: The sheet metal spring includes a flat plate portion, a contact portion located on a first surface side of the flat plate portion, and an urging portion that urges the contact portion toward the first surface side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a sheet metal spring and an antenna structure. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, techniques for improving electrical conduction between multiple components have been known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for improving electrical conduction between a contact portion and a conductive portion by urging a contact-conductive portion toward a printed circuit board through elastic deformation of an elasticity imparting portion. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-273375 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] For example, in a terminal device such as a smartphone, the metal on the side of the housing may be used as an antenna. In this case, several methods can be adopted to feed power from the substrate to the metal.

[0005] For example, a spring can be mounted on the board and brought into contact with the metal by its elastic force, thereby supplying power from the board to the metal. In this case, it is necessary to secure a structure, such as a screw fastener, for fixing the board inside the housing, and a mounting space for the spring.

[0006] Alternatively, for example, by fastening the substrate and metal together with a screw, electrical continuity between the substrate and metal can be established, allowing power to be supplied from the substrate to the metal. In this case, a metal plate may be sandwiched between the substrate and the metal to prevent foreign matter from entering the interface between the substrate and the metal. However, when a metal plate is sandwiched, the screw must be longer by the thickness of the metal plate compared to when no metal plate is sandwiched. When the screw is longer, a larger space must be secured in the direction in which the screw advances when fastened.

[0007] That is, in the conventional method, it is necessary to secure a certain amount of space inside the housing. However, the larger the space required inside the housing, the more difficult it becomes to reduce the size of the terminal device.

[0008] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a sheet metal spring and an antenna structure that enable miniaturization of a terminal device while still achieving power supply. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] A sheet metal spring according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a flat plate portion, a contact portion located on a first surface side of the flat plate portion, and a biasing portion that biases the contact portion toward the first surface side.

[0010] An antenna structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a substrate having a first surface and a second surface and a notch in at least a portion thereof, a metal antenna arranged on the first surface side of the substrate, a flat portion arranged on the second surface side of the substrate, a contact portion that contacts the metal antenna, and a biasing portion that biases the contact portion toward the first surface side, and a screw that fastens the substrate and the metal antenna together from the second surface side in the notch. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a sheet metal spring and an antenna structure that enable miniaturization of a terminal device while still achieving power supply. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an antenna structure according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the antenna structure according to the first embodiment is fastened with screws. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the antenna structure according to the second embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the antenna structure according to the second embodiment is fastened with screws. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the antenna structure according to the third embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which the antenna structure according to the third embodiment is fastened with screws. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of an antenna structure according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the antenna structure according to the fourth embodiment is fastened with screws. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, several embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, identical or equivalent components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions of identical or equivalent components will be omitted as appropriate.

[0014] [First embodiment] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the antenna structure 1 according to the first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the state when the antenna structure 1 according to the first embodiment is fastened with a screw. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the antenna structure 1 includes a substrate 11, a metal antenna 12, a metal plate spring 13, and a screw 14. In this specification, the state in which the antenna structure is fastened with a screw will also be referred to as the "screw-fastened state."

[0015] 1 and 2, the direction in which the screw 14 extends (the vertical direction in the figure) is defined as the z-axis direction. Specifically, the direction in which the screw 14 advances when it is tightened (downward in the figure) is defined as the negative z-axis direction, and the opposite direction (upward in the figure) is defined as the positive z-axis direction. The plane perpendicular to the z-axis is defined as the xy plane formed by the x-axis and y-axis, which are orthogonal to each other. The substrate 11 and the metal antenna 12 are formed in the shape of a flat plate extending on the xy plane. Here, the direction along one side of the substrate 11 and the metal antenna 12 is defined as the x-axis direction, and the direction along the side perpendicular to that side is defined as the y-axis direction.

[0016] The substrate 11 is a plate on which electronic components are arranged and fixed. The substrate 11 can be constructed using known materials. The substrate 11 is formed in a flat plate shape and has a first surface 11a and a second surface 11b. The first surface 11a is the surface located on the negative side of the substrate 11 in the z-axis direction, and the second surface 11b is the surface located on the positive side of the substrate 11 in the z-axis direction.

[0017] 1 and 2, substrate 11 has notch 11c facing the positive y-axis direction in a portion on the negative y-axis side. In the space formed by notch 11c, screw 14 and part of sheet metal spring 13 (biasing portion 13c and support portion 13d, which will be described later) are disposed when the screw is fastened.

[0018] The metal antenna 12 transmits, receives, or transmits and receives radio waves. The metal antenna 12 may be configured, for example, by a part of the housing of a terminal device on which the antenna structure 1 according to this embodiment is mounted. The metal antenna 12 is disposed on the first surface 11a side of the substrate 11. That is, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the metal antenna 12 is disposed on the negative side of the z-axis of the substrate 11.

[0019] The metal antenna 12 is formed with a threaded screw hole 12a for fastening a screw 14 therein.

[0020] The metal plate spring 13 is a component that is screwed together with the substrate 11 to the metal antenna 12. The metal plate spring 13 can be manufactured by processing a single metal plate. The metal plate spring 13 has a flat portion 13a, a contact portion 13b, a biasing portion 13c, and a support portion 13d.

[0021] The flat plate portion 13a is a portion formed in a flat plate shape. When fastened with screws, the flat plate portion 13a is disposed on the second surface 11b side of the substrate 11. That is, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the flat plate portion 13a is disposed on the positive z-axis side of the substrate 11. As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the flat plate portion 13a is formed in a generally U-shape with one portion (the negative y-axis side in FIG. 1) open when viewed from above in the positive z-axis direction. The flat plate portion 13a is disposed such that the open portion of the U-shape coincides with the notch 11c when viewed from above. In other words, the flat plate portion 13a has a shape generally similar to that of the surrounding members that form the notch 11c in the substrate 11, except for a portion where the biasing portion 13c, described later, is disposed.

[0022] In this specification, the surface of the flat plate portion 13a on the negative z-axis side (ie, the lower side in FIGS. 1 and 2) is referred to as the "first surface," and the surface on the positive z-axis side is referred to as the "second surface."

[0023] The flat plate portion 13a is connected to the substrate 11 by soldering. That is, the first surface of the flat plate portion 13a and the second surface 11b of the substrate 11 are fixed together by soldering.

[0024] The contact portion 13b is a portion that comes into contact with the metal antenna 12 when fastened with a screw. Therefore, the contact portion 13b is located on the first surface side of the flat plate portion 13a (the lower side in FIG. 1). The contact portion 13b is located closer to the first surface side of the flat plate portion 13a than the flat plate portion 13a by at least the thickness (length in the z-axis direction) of the substrate 11. This allows the contact portion 13b to be reliably in contact with the metal antenna 12 when fastened with a screw.

[0025] The biasing portion 13c biases the contact portion 13b toward the first surface of the flat plate portion 13a. That is, the biasing portion 13c has elasticity and biases the contact portion 13b toward the metal antenna 12 when the screws are fastened. The biasing portion 13c may have any known configuration capable of biasing the contact portion 13b. In this embodiment, the biasing portion 13c is formed at one end of the generally U-shaped flat plate portion 13a.

[0026] The support portion 13d connects the contact portion 13b and the biasing portion 13c. In this embodiment, the contact portion 13b receives the biasing force of the biasing portion 13c via the support portion 13d and is biased toward the first surface of the flat plate portion 13a.

[0027] The screw 14 fastens the substrate 11 and the sheet metal spring 13 to the metal antenna 12 from the second surface 11b side (the z-axis positive direction side) at the notch 13c. Specifically, the screw 14 is fastened to the metal antenna 12 by fastening the threaded portion of the screw 14 into the screw hole 12a and sandwiching the substrate 11 and the sheet metal spring 13 between the head of the screw 14 and the metal antenna 12. By fastening the substrate 11 and the sheet metal spring 13 together, the antenna structure 1 can be in a screw-fastened state as shown in FIG. 2.

[0028] As described above, the antenna structure 1 according to this embodiment includes a metal plate spring 13 having a flat portion 13a, a contact portion 13b, and a biasing portion 13c. The flat portion 13a is disposed on the second surface 11b side of the substrate 11, and the contact portion 13b is biased toward the first surface 11a by the biasing portion 13c, thereby contacting the metal antenna 12. As a result, a signal transmitted to the substrate 11 passes through the flat portion 13a, the biasing portion 13c, the support portion 13d, and the contact portion 13b of the metal plate spring 13 fastened together with the substrate 11, in that order, and is then transmitted from the contact portion 13b to the metal antenna 12. In this way, the substrate 11 and the metal antenna 12 can be electrically connected, and power can be supplied from the substrate 11 to the metal antenna 12.

[0029] Furthermore, in the antenna structure 1 according to this embodiment, the flat plate portion 13a is disposed on the second surface 11b side of the substrate 11, and therefore no other member, such as a metal plate, is disposed between the substrate 11 and the metal antenna 12 in the z-axis direction. Therefore, the thickness of the substrate 11 on the negative z-axis side does not increase. In other words, the antenna structure 1 can be made smaller on the negative z-axis side of the substrate 11. In this way, the antenna structure 1 can realize a miniaturized terminal device while still providing power supply.

[0030] Furthermore, in the screw-fastened state, contact portion 13b comes into contact with metal antenna 12, and as a result, a force from metal antenna 12 is applied to contact portion 13b in the positive direction of the z-axis from contact portion 13b. The force applied to contact portion 13b is transmitted to sheet metal spring 13 including flat portion 13a via support portion 13d, and therefore a force in the positive direction of the z-axis is applied to sheet metal spring 13. However, in the screw-fastened state, a force in the negative direction of the z-axis is applied by screw 14 from the second surface side (positive side of the z-axis) of sheet metal spring 13. This makes it possible to prevent board 11 and sheet metal spring 13, which are fixed by soldering, from coming apart.

[0031] [Second embodiment] Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the antenna structure 2 according to the second embodiment. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the state when the antenna structure 2 according to the second embodiment is fastened with a screw. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the antenna structure 2 according to the second embodiment includes a substrate 11, a metal antenna 12, a sheet metal spring 23, and a screw 14. Below, the second embodiment will be described, focusing on the differences from the first embodiment, while omitting a description of the same points as in the first embodiment.

[0032] In this embodiment, the functions and configurations of the substrate 11, the metal antenna 12, and the screws 14 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

[0033] In this embodiment, the sheet metal spring 23 can be manufactured by processing a single metal plate. The sheet metal spring 23 has a flat plate portion 13a, a contact portion 13b, a biasing portion 13c, a support portion 13d, and a folded portion 13e. The functions and configurations of the flat plate portion 13a, the contact portion 13b, the biasing portion 13c, and the support portion 13d are the same as those in the first embodiment.

[0034] The folded portion 13e is a member that extends from the contact portion 13b toward the second surface side (the z-axis positive direction side) of the sheet metal spring 23. The tip of the folded portion 13e is located on the plane on which the flat plate portion 13a extends. That is, in the sheet metal spring 23, the support portion 13d extends from the biasing portion 13c toward the first surface side, and the extending direction of the sheet metal spring 23 changes from the first surface side to the second surface side at the contact portion 13b, forming the folded portion 13e. Because the tip of the folded portion 13e is located on the plane on which the flat plate portion 13a extends, it comes into contact with the head of the screw 14 in the co-fastening state (i.e., the screw-fastened state) shown in FIG. 4. Specifically, the tip of the folded portion 13e comes into contact with the surface of the head of the screw 14 on the z-axis negative direction side. Therefore, the folded portion 13e is disposed at a position where at least a part of it overlaps with the head of the screw 14 when the antenna structure 2 is viewed from above.

[0035] According to the antenna structure 2 of the second embodiment, for the same reasons as the antenna structure 1 of the first embodiment, power can be fed from the substrate 11 to the metal antenna 12, and the antenna structure 2 can be made smaller.

[0036] Furthermore, in the antenna structure 2 according to the second embodiment, as described above, the tip of the folded portion 13e contacts the head of the screw 14 when the screw is fastened. This establishes electrical conduction between the folded portion 13e of the sheet metal spring 23 and the metal screw 14. Therefore, a signal transmitted to the substrate 11 passes through the flat portion 13a of the sheet metal spring 23 fastened together with the substrate 11, the screw 14, the folded portion 13e, and the contact portion 13b, in that order, and is then transmitted from the contact portion 13b to the metal antenna 12. This shortens the signal transmission path compared to when the signal passes through the flat portion 13a, the biasing portion 13c, the support portion 13d, and the contact portion 13b. In other words, the antenna structure 2 according to the second embodiment allows for a shortcut signal conduction.

[0037] [Third embodiment] Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the antenna structure 3 according to the third embodiment. Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the state when the antenna structure 3 according to the third embodiment is fastened with screws. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the antenna structure 3 according to the third embodiment includes a substrate 11, a metal antenna 12, a sheet metal spring 33, a screw 14, and a holder 15. Hereinafter, the third embodiment will be described, focusing on the differences from the first and second embodiments, while omitting a description of the same points as the first and second embodiments.

[0038] In this embodiment, the functions and configurations of the substrate 11, the metal antenna 12, and the screw 14 are the same as those in the first embodiment. However, in the third embodiment, the screw 14 fastens the holder 15 to the metal antenna 12 in addition to the substrate 11 and the sheet metal spring 33.

[0039] In this embodiment, the sheet metal spring 33 can be manufactured by processing a single metal plate. The sheet metal spring 33 has a flat plate portion 13a, a contact portion 13b, a biasing portion 13c, a support portion 13d, a folded portion 13e, and a first connecting portion 13f. The functions and configurations of the flat plate portion 13a, the contact portion 13b, the biasing portion 13c, the support portion 13d, and the folded portion 13e are the same as those in the second embodiment.

[0040] The first connecting portion 13f is a member that connects the tip of the folded portion 13e and the urging portion 13c. As described in the first embodiment, the urging portion 13c is formed at one end of the flat plate portion 13a, and as described in the second embodiment, the tip of the folded portion 13e is located on the plane in which the flat plate portion 13a extends, so the first connecting portion 13f is also located on the plane in which the flat plate portion 13a extends.

[0041] The holder 15 is a member disposed on the second surface side (the z-axis positive direction side) of the substrate 11 and the sheet metal spring 33. The holder 15 is made of a non-conductive member. The holder 15 can be used, for example, as a support member for fixing components built into a terminal device.

[0042] According to the antenna structure 3 of the third embodiment, for the same reasons as the antenna structure 1 of the first embodiment, power can be supplied from the substrate 11 to the metal antenna 12, and the antenna structure 3 can be made smaller.

[0043] Furthermore, in the antenna structure 3 according to the third embodiment, the sheet metal spring 33 has a first connecting portion 13f connecting the tip of the folded portion 13e to the biasing portion 13c. Therefore, even when a non-conductive holder 15 is disposed on the second surface side of the sheet metal spring 33 as shown in this embodiment, a signal transmitted to the substrate 11 passes through the flat portion 13a, biasing portion 13c, first connecting portion 13f, folded portion 13e, and contact portion 13b of the sheet metal spring 33 fastened together with the substrate 11, in that order, and then from the contact portion 13b to the metal antenna 12. This shortens the signal transmission path compared to when the signal passes through the flat portion 13a, biasing portion 13c, support portion 13d, and contact portion 13b. That is, the antenna structure 3 according to the third embodiment allows for a shortcut signal conduction.

[0044] [Fourth embodiment] Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the antenna structure 4 according to the fourth embodiment. Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the state when the antenna structure 4 according to the fourth embodiment is fastened with screws. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the antenna structure 4 according to the fourth embodiment includes a substrate 11, a metal antenna 12, a sheet metal spring 43, a screw 14, and a holder 15. Hereinafter, the fourth embodiment will be described, focusing on the differences from the first to third embodiments, while omitting a description of the same points as the first to third embodiments.

[0045] In this embodiment, the functions and configurations of the substrate 11, the metal antenna 12, and the screw 14 are the same as those of the first embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, as in the third embodiment, the screw 14 fastens the holder 15 to the metal antenna 12 in addition to the substrate 11 and the sheet metal spring 43.

[0046] In this embodiment, the sheet metal spring 43 can be manufactured by processing a single metal plate. The sheet metal spring 43 has a flat plate portion 13a, a contact portion 13b, a biasing portion 13c, a support portion 13d, a folded portion 13e, a first connecting portion 13f, and a second connecting portion 13g. The functions and configurations of the flat plate portion 13a, the contact portion 13b, the biasing portion 13c, the support portion 13d, the folded portion 13e, and the first connecting portion 13f are the same as those in the third embodiment.

[0047] The second connecting portion 13g connects the tip of the folded portion 13e to the flat plate portion 13a. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 7, the second connecting portion 13g connects the tip of the folded portion 13e to the end of the generally U-shaped flat plate portion 13a opposite to the end where the biasing portion 13c is formed. As described in the second embodiment, the tip of the folded portion 13e is located on the plane in which the flat plate portion 13a extends, and therefore the second connecting portion 13g is also located on the plane in which the flat plate portion 13a extends.

[0048] According to the antenna structure 4 of the fourth embodiment, for the same reasons as the antenna structure 1 of the first embodiment, power can be supplied from the substrate 11 to the metal antenna 12, and the antenna structure 4 can be made smaller.

[0049] Furthermore, in the antenna structure 4 according to the fourth embodiment, the sheet metal spring 43 has a second connecting portion 13g connecting the tip of the folded portion 13e to the flat portion 13a. Therefore, even when a non-conductive holder 15 is disposed on the second surface of the sheet metal spring 43, as shown in this embodiment, a signal transmitted to the substrate 11 passes through the flat portion 13a of the sheet metal spring 43 fastened together with the substrate 11, the second connecting portion 13g, the folded portion 13e, and the contact portion 13b, in that order, and then from the contact portion 13b to the metal antenna 12. This shortens the signal transmission path compared to when the signal passes through the flat portion 13a, the biasing portion 13c, the support portion 13d, and the contact portion 13b. That is, the antenna structure 4 according to the fourth embodiment allows for a shortcut signal conduction.

[0050] Furthermore, when the antenna structure 4 has both the first connecting portion 13f and the second connecting portion 13g as in the fourth embodiment, it is possible to achieve shortcut conduction through different paths depending on the direction in which the signal is transmitted on the substrate 11. For example, on the substrate 11, a signal transmitted in the positive direction of the x-axis can be shortcut-conducted via the first connecting portion 13f, and a signal transmitted in the negative direction of the x-axis can be shortcut-conducted via the second connecting portion 13g.

[0051] The configurations of the first to fourth embodiments can be combined as appropriate. For example, the holders described in the third and fourth embodiments can be used in the first and second embodiments. Furthermore, the sheet metal springs described in the first to fourth embodiments can be replaced as appropriate. That is, the sheet metal spring 13 described in the first embodiment can be used in the second to fourth embodiments. The same applies to the sheet metal springs described in the second to fourth embodiments.

[0052] Although the present disclosure has been described based on the drawings and embodiments, it should be noted that those skilled in the art can easily make various modifications and alterations based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications and alterations are included in the scope of the present disclosure. For example, functions included in each functional unit can be rearranged so as not to be logically inconsistent, and multiple functional units can be combined into one or divided. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1,2,3,4 Antenna structure 11 Circuit Board 11a 1st page 11b Side 2 11c notch 12 Metal Antenna 12a screw hole 13, 23, 33, 43 Sheet metal springs 13a Flat plate part 13b Contact part 13c Force section 13d Support part 13e Folded section 13f 1st connection part 13g 2nd connection part 14 bis 15 Holder

Claims

1. A flat plate portion; a contact portion located on a first surface side of the flat plate portion; a biasing portion that biases the contact portion toward the first surface; A sheet metal spring comprising:

2. The sheet metal spring according to claim 1 , further comprising a folded portion extending from the contact portion toward a second surface opposite the first surface, the folded portion having a tip located on a plane in which the flat portion extends.

3. The sheet metal spring according to claim 2 , further comprising a first connecting portion connecting a tip of the folded portion and the biasing portion.

4. The sheet metal spring according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a second connecting portion connecting a tip of the folded portion and the flat portion.

5. a substrate having a first surface and a second surface and a notch at least in a portion thereof; a metal antenna disposed on the first surface side of the substrate; a metal plate spring including: a flat portion disposed on the second surface side of the substrate; a contact portion that contacts the metal antenna; and a biasing portion that biases the contact portion toward the first surface side; a screw that fastens the substrate and the metal plate spring to the metal antenna from the second surface side in the notch; An antenna structure comprising:

6. The antenna structure according to claim 5 , wherein the metal plate spring further includes a folded portion extending toward the second surface and having a tip located on a plane in which the flat plate portion extends.

7. The antenna structure according to claim 6 , wherein the metal plate spring further includes a first connecting portion that connects a tip of the folded portion and the biasing portion.

8. The antenna structure according to claim 6 , wherein the metal plate spring further includes a second connecting portion that connects a tip of the folded portion and the flat portion.

9. The antenna structure according to claim 5 , further comprising a non-conductive member that is arranged on the second surface side of the metal plate spring and fastened together with the metal plate spring by the screw.

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