Electronic device

Abstract

To provide an electronic apparatus that achieves both downsizing and communication using various frequency bands.SOLUTION: The antenna includes a first housing, a second housing, a coupling tool for rotatably coupling the first housing and the second housing, a radiation element for radiating or receiving an electromagnetic wave, and a plate material, wherein the coupling tool and the plate material each have electric conductivity and are arranged adjacent to each other, and the radiation element is housed so as to face the plate material. An electronic device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a first housing, a second housing, a coupler, a radiating element, and a plate member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present application relates to electronic devices, for example, electronic devices that house wireless communication modules capable of performing wireless communication. [Background technology]

[0002] Some electronic devices, including personal computers (PCs), have wireless communication capabilities. Portable electronic devices, such as notebook PCs, sometimes have antennas built into their housings. For example, Patent Document 1 describes an electronic device that includes a housing, a main board on which a central processing unit is mounted, a communication module electrically connected to the main board, and an antenna provided on the side of the housing, the antenna being connected to the communication module via a signal line so as to be able to transmit and receive signals.

[0003] Other notebook PC models include those in which the antenna is embedded in the hinge that connects the two housings so that they can be opened and closed, those in which a metal ventilation hole located between the flexible printed circuit (FPC) and the hinge functions as a slot antenna, and those in which the metal cover on the bottom of one housing serves as a radiator and the antenna is embedded in the part facing the other housing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-135851 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Wireless communications often use multiple frequency bands. For example, the IEEE802.11 standard uses the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. However, small electronic devices often do not have enough space to accommodate separate antennas for each frequency band. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present application has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and one embodiment of the electronic device is an electronic device comprising a first housing, a second housing, a fastener that rotatably connects the first housing and the second housing, a radiating element that emits or receives electromagnetic waves, and a plate material, wherein the fastener and the plate material each have electrical conductivity and are arranged adjacent to each other, and the radiating element is housed so as to face the plate material.

[0007] In the electronic device described above, the plate may be covered with an insulating material having electrical insulation properties.

[0008] In the electronic device described above, the width or thickness of the plate may be smaller than the diameter of the fastener.

[0009] In the electronic device, the connector and the plate may be arranged in series. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the embodiment of the present application, it is possible to achieve both miniaturization of electronic devices and communication using a variety of frequency bands. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view illustrating an example of the external configuration of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating an example of the internal configuration of the electronic device according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] 10 is a perspective view illustrating the positional relationship between a hinge, a hinge cover, and a radiating element according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4]4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the positional relationship between a hinge and a radiating element according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 5] 10 is a perspective view illustrating the positional relationship between a hinge, a plate, and a radiating element according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views illustrating the positional relationship between the hinge and the plate according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present application will be described with reference to the drawings. First, an overview of an electronic device 1 according to this embodiment will be described. In the following description, the electronic device 1 will be mainly a notebook PC.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of the external configuration of an electronic device 1 according to this embodiment. The electronic device 1 includes a first housing 62 and a second housing 64. In the example of Fig. 1, the bottom surface of the second housing 64 is placed on a horizontal surface. The first housing 62 and the second housing 64 are connected using a connector 68. The connector has a pair of hinges 68a, 68b. The hinges 68a, 68b connect the first housing 62 and the second housing 64 so that they can rotate around a rotation axis ax that is parallel to one side of each housing when subjected to an external force.

[0014] Hinge 68a is disposed at a position closer to one end than the other end of one side surface of each of first housing 62 and second housing 64. Hinge 68b is disposed at a position closer to the other end than the one end of one side surface of each of first housing 62 and second housing 64. Hinge covers 66a and 66b are disposed adjacent to the hinges 68a and 68b and closer to the center of the rotation axis ax.

[0015] The hinges 68a and 68b are each made of a conductor having high mechanical strength and electrical conductivity, such as stainless steel. The hinge covers 66a and 66b are made of an insulating material that is highly wear-resistant and electrically insulating, such as polycarbonate.

[0016] The display 14 is disposed on the main surface of the first housing 62. Most of the surface of the first housing 62 is covered by the display surface of the display 14. A keyboard 32k and a touch sensor 32t are arranged on the main surface of the second housing 64. The keyboard 32k occupies most of the back area of ​​the main surface of the second housing 64. The touch sensor 32t occupies the center of the front area of ​​the main surface of the second housing 64. Here, "front" refers to the direction from the side adjacent to the rotation axis ax of the second housing 64 toward the side opposite that side. "Back" refers to the opposite direction from "front." The area of ​​the main surface of the second housing 64 where the keyboard 32k and the touch sensor 32t are not arranged is covered with a keyboard cover 64k. The keyboard cover 64k forms part of the second housing 64.

[0017] Next, an example of the internal configuration of the electronic device 1 according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of the internal configuration of the electronic device 1 according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 shows various components arranged in an area exposed when the keyboard cover 64k is removed from the electronic device 1 illustrated in FIG. 1. Antenna radiating elements 42a and 42b are provided in positions adjacent to the front of the hinges 68a and 68b, respectively. The hinge 68a and the radiating element 42a are arranged parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction with a fixed interval between them. The hinge 68b and the radiating element 42b are also arranged parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction with a fixed interval between them. However, the lengths of the hinges 68a and 68b are shorter than the lengths of the radiating elements 42a and 42b, respectively.

[0018] The second housing 64 accommodates the host device 10 and the wireless communication module 44 . The host device 10 is a computer system that forms the core of the electronic device 1. The host device 10 includes a processor, a main memory, and a chipset. The processor executes various processes instructed by instructions written in a program, and includes, for example, one or more central processing units (CPUs).

[0019] The main memory is a writable memory that is used as a read area for the processor's execution program or as a work area for writing processing data for the execution program. The chipset connects the host device 10 and other devices via wires and controls the input and output of various data. The devices to which the chipset can connect include a wireless communication module 44.

[0020] The wireless communication module 44 supplies (feeds) an electrical signal having a frequency component in a radio frequency band as a communication signal to the radiating elements 42 a, 42 b, thereby exciting electromagnetic waves generated in the radiating elements 42 a, 42 b. The radio frequency band is a frequency band having a predetermined bandwidth that includes a predetermined carrier frequency as a base.

[0021] Here, the wireless communication module 44 converts (up-converts) a transmission signal having frequency components in the base frequency band input from the host device 10 into a transmission signal having frequency components in the radio frequency band, and causes the radiating elements 42a, 42b to radiate electromagnetic waves carrying the converted transmission signal. That is, the radiating elements 42a, 42b function as power supply elements that are fed by the transmission signal input from the wireless communication module 44. Furthermore, this configuration makes it possible to increase the radiation intensity of the electromagnetic waves in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the radiating elements 42a, 42b are separated from each other (including the front direction of the electronic device 1) compared to other directions.

[0022] The wireless communication module 44 receives a received signal having frequency components in the radio frequency band carried by the electromagnetic waves received from the radiating elements 42a and 42b, and converts it into a received signal having frequency components in the base frequency band (down-converts it). The wireless communication module 44 adds the converted received signals received from the radiating elements 42a and 42b, and outputs the sum signal obtained by the addition as a received signal to the host device 10. This makes it possible to increase the reception sensitivity of the electromagnetic waves carrying the received signal in the normal direction to one side parallel to the radiating elements 42a and 42b compared to other directions.

[0023] Electrically conductive plate members 67a and 67b are disposed adjacent to hinges 68a and 68b, respectively. Plate members 67a and 67b are not shown in Figure 2 because they are covered by hinge covers 66a and 66b, respectively. Plate members 67a and 67b may be made of any material, such as stainless steel, copper, or aluminum.

[0024] Next, the positional relationship between hinge 68b, hinge cover 66b, plate 67b, and radiating element 42b will be described. The positional relationship between hinge 68a, hinge cover 66a, plate 67a, and radiating element 42a is similar to the positional relationship between hinge 68b, hinge cover 66b, plate 67b, and radiating element 42b, and therefore that description will be used here. Also, illustration of hinge 68a, hinge cover 66a, plate 67a, and radiating element 42a is omitted.

[0025] Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the positional relationship between the hinge 68b, the hinge cover 66b, and the radiating element 42b. Fig. 3 shows a state in which the keyboard cover 64k (Fig. 1) is removed from the second housing 64 (Fig. 1). The hinge cover 66b is arranged in series with the hinge 68b, and one end thereof faces one end of the hinge 68b with a gap therebetween. The set of hinge cover 66b and hinge 68b is adjacent to and parallel to radiating element 42b with a gap (for example, 2 to 5 mm) between them.

[0026] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the positional relationship between hinge 68b and radiating element 42b. Fig. 4 shows a cross section passing through line AA' in Fig. 3 in a state where keyboard cover 64k (Fig. 1) is covering second housing 64. The left-right direction in Fig. 4 corresponds to the depth direction in Figs. 1 and 2. The radiating element 42b is disposed on a substrate 64d of the second housing 64 and is sandwiched between a keyboard cover 64k. A side surface parallel to the longitudinal direction of the radiating element 42b faces the hinge 68b and has a recessed shape. The hinge 68b is fixed to a side surface of the first housing 62. The hinge 68b has a shape that protrudes relative to the radiating element 42b. Even when the first housing 62 and the second housing 64 rotate relatively around the rotation axis ax, the distance between the radiating element 42b and the hinge 68b is maintained, and the two do not come into contact with each other.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the positional relationship between hinge 68b, plate member 67b, and radiating element 42b with hinge cover 66b (FIG. 3) removed. One end of plate 67b faces one end of hinge 68b with a gap between them. Plate 67b bends in the depth direction at a position closer to the other end than to the one end. A section of plate 67b including one end and hinge 68b are arranged in series. The width of plate 67b is narrower than the diameter of hinge 68b.

[0028] The section including one end of the plate member 67b and the set of hinges 68b are adjacent to and spaced apart from the radiating element 42b in parallel. The section including the other end of the plate member 67b faces in the depth direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the hinge 68b.

[0029] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the positional relationship between the hinge 68b and the plate member 67b. FIG. 6 shows a cross section passing through the line BB' in FIG. 5 in a state where the second housing 64 is covered with the keyboard cover 64k (FIG. 1) and the plate member 67b is covered with the hinge cover 66b. The left-right direction in FIG. 6 corresponds to the depth direction in FIGS. 1 and 2. The radiating element 42b is disposed on a substrate 64d of the second housing 64 and is sandwiched between the keyboard cover 64k. A side surface of the radiating element 42b parallel to the longitudinal direction faces the plate member 67b. The plate member 67b is disposed on a substrate 66g of the hinge case and is covered with the hinge cover 66b. The thickness of the plate member 67b is thinner than the diameter of the hinge 68b. The substrate 66g may be made of an insulating material similar to the hinge cover 66b. The substrate 66g is supported on a side surface of the first housing 62. Even if the first housing 62 and the second housing 64 rotate relative to each other, the distance between the radiating element 42b and the plate material 67b is maintained, and the two do not come into contact with each other.

[0030] As described above, the electronic device 1 according to this embodiment includes the first housing 62, the second housing 64 (FIG. 2), the connector 68, the radiating element 42, and the plate member 67 (FIG. 7). The radiating element 42 emits or receives electromagnetic waves. The connector 68 rotatably connects the first housing 62 and the second housing 64. The connector 68 and the plate member 67 are each electrically conductive and are arranged adjacent to each other. The radiating element 42 is housed so as to face the plate member 67.

[0031] According to this configuration, the radiating element 42 functions as a feed element that excites electromagnetic waves by a communication signal, which is an electrical signal transmitted over the antenna cable 46 between the radiating element 42 and the wireless communication module 44 (FIG. 2). Electromagnetic coupling occurs between each of the electrically conductive couplers 68 and the adjacent radiating elements 42 and the plate member 67. The couplers 68 function as a radiator that generates an induced current due to the electromagnetic coupling with the radiating element 42, and generates electromagnetic waves in response to the generated induced current. The plate member 67 functions as a parasitic element that generates electromagnetic waves in response to the generated induced current due to the electromagnetic coupling with the coupler 68.

[0032] That is, an induced current is generated in the coupling 68 in response to electromagnetic induction caused by the electromagnetic waves radiated from the radiating element 42. In the coupling 68, an electromagnetic wave is excited by the generated induced current. In the plate 67, an induced current is generated in response to electromagnetic induction caused by the electromagnetic waves radiated from the adjacent coupling 68. The plate 67 generates an electromagnetic wave in response to the generated induced current. By arranging the plate 67, which functions as a parasitic element, facing the radiating element 42, the electronic device 1 can transmit and receive electromagnetic waves carrying communication signals to and from other devices with radiation characteristics or reception sensitivity above a certain level over a wide frequency band. Furthermore, by utilizing electromagnetic coupling by the fastener 68 used to open and close the first housing 62 and the second housing 64, an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed, which contributes to miniaturization of the electronic device 1.

[0033] The plate members 67a and 67b may be covered with an insulating material (for example, the hinge covers 66a and 66b) that has electrical insulation properties. According to this configuration, the plate materials 67a, 67b are prevented from coming into contact with other electrically conductive foreign objects, and therefore, electromagnetic coupling with the radiating element 42 (e.g., radiating elements 42a, 42b) using the coupling device 68 (e.g., hinges 68a, 68b) is maintained.

[0034] Furthermore, the width or thickness of the plate members 67a and 67b may be smaller than the diameter of the fasteners 68 (for example, the hinges 68a and 68b). According to this configuration, plates 67a and 67b have electromagnetic impedance different from that of coupling 68, and therefore, in the excited electromagnetic waves, components of a frequency band related to a wavelength corresponding to the dimensions of coupling 68 or the dimensions of plates 67a and 67b (for example, a length of 14 to 16 mm) are relatively emphasized. This allows for a wider range of application to communications using electromagnetic waves in that frequency band (for example, the 5 GHz band defined in IEEE802.11).

[0035] Alternatively, the connectors 68 (for example, hinges 68a and 68b) and the plates (for example, plates 67a and 67b) may be arranged in series. This configuration relatively emphasizes the frequency band components associated with the wavelength corresponding to the overall length (e.g., 25 to 35 mm) of the fastener 68 and the plate member (e.g., hinge 68a and plate member 67b, hinge 68b and plate member 67b). As a result, stable communication can be achieved using electromagnetic waves in this frequency band (e.g., the 2.4 GHz band defined by IEEE802.11).

[0036] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configurations are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the present invention also includes designs that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention. The configurations described in the above-described embodiments can be combined in any manner.

[0037] For example, in the above description, the electronic device 1 according to the present embodiment is mainly a notebook PC, but is not limited to this. The electronic device 1 may also be an information terminal device provided in other forms, such as a foldable mobile phone. The electronic device 1 according to the first embodiment is not limited to an information terminal device having a computer system (host system) having a host device 10, but may be any electronic device having a wireless communication function. The electronic device 1 may be, for example, an analog wireless communication device.

[0038] The number of hinges forming the coupling 68 provided in the electronic device 1 is not limited to two, but may be one, or may be three or more. The number of radiating elements 42 is not limited to two, and may be one, or three or more. Here, electronic device 1 may be provided with the same number of plate members 67 as radiating elements 42. For example, when the number of radiating elements 42 is one, one of radiating elements 42a, 42b and one of the corresponding plate members 67a, 67b may be omitted from electronic device 1 exemplified in FIGS. Alternatively, the plates 67a and 67b may be formed by etching a substrate 66g covered with a metal layer.

[0039] When there are multiple radiating elements 42, the wireless communication module 44 may adjust the amplitude or phase of the transmission signal using the gain or phase amount set for each radiating element 42, and output the adjusted transmission signal to each corresponding radiating element. The wireless communication module 44 may adjust the amplitude or phase of the received signal for each radiating element 42 using the gain or phase amount set for each radiating element 42, and acquire the received signal by adding the adjusted signals. This achieves the directionality of the radiation intensity or receiving sensitivity of the electromagnetic wave according to the gain or phase amount.

[0040] The wireless communication module 44 is not limited to the short-range wireless communication method defined in IEEE802.11, but may also be compliant with other wireless communication methods, such as wide-area wireless communication methods such as 5G (5th Generation Mobile Communication System) and LTE (Long Term Evolution)-Advanced. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1...electronic device, 10...host device, 14...display, 32k...keyboard, 32t...touch sensor, 42 (42a, 42b)...radiating element, 44...wireless communication module, 46...antenna cable, 62...first housing, 64...second housing, 64k...keyboard cover, 64d...board, 66a, 66b...hinge cover, 66g...board, 67 (67a, 67b)...plate material, 68...connector, 68a, 68b...hinge

Claims

1. A first housing and a second housing, a coupling that rotatably couples the first housing and the second housing; An electronic device comprising a radiating element that radiates or receives electromagnetic waves and a plate material, The connector and the plate member each have electrical conductivity and are arranged adjacent to each other, The radiating element is accommodated so as to face the plate material. electronic equipment.

2. The plate is covered with an insulating material having electrical insulation properties. The electronic device according to claim 1 .

3. The width or thickness of the plate material is smaller than the diameter of the fastener. The electronic device according to claim 1 .

4. The fastener and the plate are arranged in series. The electronic device according to claim 1 .

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