Information processing device, wireless module, image forming apparatus

Abstract

It suppresses interference with radio wave propagation. [Solution] The information processing device comprises a housing 101a comprising at least a conductive member, and a wireless module 102 provided on a predetermined surface of the housing 101a for wireless communication. The wireless module 102 has an antenna section 201 positioned away from the conductive member. Radio waves from the antenna section 201 propagate to the opposite surface of the housing 101a from the predetermined surface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a module having a wireless communication function (hereinafter referred to as "wireless module"), an information processing apparatus provided with the wireless module, and an image forming apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] In order to establish a wireless communication path, an information processing apparatus needs to propagate radio waves transmitted from a wireless module provided therein to a communication partner's apparatus. The wireless module radiates radio waves from a built-in antenna. In order to ensure radio wave propagation, it is desirable that 1) there is no conductor that attenuates antenna performance near the antenna, and 2) there is nothing that obstructs radio waves between its own antenna and the communication partner's antenna.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a wireless module provided with a planar antenna. This wireless module realizes stable electrical fixation between the wireless module and the conductor while maintaining the transmission and reception performance of the antenna by extending the conductor for module fixation in the direction opposite to the planar antenna.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] A conductor obstructs radio wave propagation. For example, when a conductor is arranged in a direction with a radio wave lobe with respect to an antenna (the direction in which radio waves are radiated), direct wave radio wave propagation in that direction cannot be expected. Depending on the arrangement and orientation of the antenna, the radio wave propagation of the wireless module provided in the information processing apparatus may be disturbed by the conductor provided in the information processing apparatus.

[0006] In view of the above-mentioned problems, the primary objective of this invention is to suppress interference with radio wave propagation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The information processing apparatus of the present invention comprises a housing configured to include at least a conductive member, and a wireless module provided on a predetermined surface of the housing for wireless communication, wherein the wireless module has an antenna portion positioned away from the conductive member, and radio waves from the antenna portion propagate to the surface of the housing opposite to the predetermined surface. The wireless module of the present invention is a wireless module that is attached to a predetermined surface of the housing of an information processing device which is configured to include at least a conductive member, and performs wireless communication, and is characterized in that it has an antenna portion that is positioned away from the conductive member, and radio waves from the antenna portion propagate to the surface of the housing opposite to the predetermined surface. The present invention provides an image forming apparatus comprising a housing configured to include at least a conductive member, an image forming unit held in the housing, and a wireless module attached to a predetermined surface of the housing for wireless communication, wherein the wireless module has an antenna portion positioned away from the conductive member, and radio waves from the antenna portion propagate to the surface of the housing opposite to the predetermined surface. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, interference with radio wave propagation can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Configuration diagram of the wireless module. [Figure 2] Diagram illustrating an inverted F-shaped antenna. [Figure 3] (a) and (b) are diagrams illustrating radio wave lobes. [Figure 4] Diagram illustrating the radio wave lobe. [Figure 5]A diagram illustrating a configuration that improves propagation characteristics. [Figure 6] (a) and (b) are diagrams illustrating the mounting positions of the wireless module on the information processing device. [Figure 7] A diagram illustrating the mounting position of the wireless module on the information processing device. [Figure 8] An explanatory diagram of the configuration for correcting radio wave lobes. [Figure 9] An example diagram of the configuration when the information processing device 101 is an image forming apparatus. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0011] (First Embodiment) Figure 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the wireless module. The wireless module 102 of this embodiment has a configuration on a printed circuit board 202 that includes an antenna section 201, a wireless control section 203, and a connector section 204.

[0012] The printed circuit board 202 is a rigid circuit board constructed by wiring conductive members to an insulating substrate such as glass epoxy material using copper etching or the like. The conductive members connect the antenna section 201, the wireless control section 203, and the connector section 204. Furthermore, the conductive members, when configured in a predetermined shape, form a pattern antenna that becomes the antenna section 201 capable of transmitting and receiving radio waves. The printed circuit board 202 includes one or more antenna sections 201 (pattern antennas).

[0013] Pattern antennas can have a variety of shapes, but in this embodiment, an inverted F-shaped antenna is used. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the inverted F-shaped antenna. In FIG. 2, a wireless module 102 having an antenna portion 201 which is a pattern antenna of the inverted F-shaped antenna is disposed on a predetermined surface of a housing 101a of an information processing apparatus 101 including components made of a conductor (hereinafter referred to as "conductive members"). The inverted F-shaped antenna has radio wave lobes in all directions in the vertical direction with respect to the long side of the antenna (in FIG. 2, only the propagation status in the front-back, left-right directions is shown). When the wireless module 102 is disposed on a predetermined surface of the housing 101a of the information processing apparatus 101, direct waves propagate in the direction of the black arrow, but are attenuated on the side (back side) of the information processing apparatus 101. This is because the conductive members of the information processing apparatus 101 inhibit the radio wave propagation from the antenna portion 201.

[0014] The wireless control unit 203 is configured to include a SoC (System-on-a-Chip) having functions such as an amplifier and an interface conversion not shown and peripheral circuits such as filters. The wireless control unit 203 transmits and receives radio waves while controlling the frequency and output by the SoC. The filter filters the radio waves transmitted and received by the antenna portion 201. The wireless control unit 203 relays communication between the information processing apparatus 101 connected by wire and another device not shown connected by wireless communication through interface conversion. The wireless control unit 203 is covered by a shield case not shown and is not exposed.

[0015] The connector portion 204 is connected to a cable for connecting the wireless control unit 203 and the information processing apparatus 101 by wire. The connector portion 204 has a shape to which a cable including a communication path and a power sharing path such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) or SDIO (Secure Digital Input / Output) is connected. The wireless module 102 is driven by the power supplied from the information processing apparatus 101 through the connector portion 204.

[0016] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a radio wave lobe by the wireless module 102 alone. The broken lines indicate the radio wave lobes in each direction. FIG. 3(a) shows that when the long side of the inverted F-shaped antenna is directed in the Z-axis direction, a radio wave lobe 301 is generated circularly 360 degrees in the XY plane (horizontal direction). In FIG. 3(b) showing the XZ plane, the radio wave lobe 302 is horizontally long (extends in the horizontal direction) and is unlikely to occur in the Z direction (vertical direction).

[0017] When viewed three-dimensionally, the radio wave lobe has a donut shape placed in the XY plane such that the Z axis passes through its hole. The pattern wiring of the antenna portion 201 forming the inverted F-shaped antenna has a width of about 1 [mm], but this width is sufficiently small with respect to the radio wave propagation distance and the wavelength of the radio wave. Therefore, hereinafter, the antenna portion 201 (pattern antenna) is treated as a two-dimensional line without width.

[0018] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a radio wave lobe when the wireless module 102 is arranged on a predetermined surface of the housing of the information processing apparatus 101 including a conductive member. FIG. 4 is a view of the information processing apparatus 101 seen from the Z-axis direction (vertically upward). In order to give the information processing apparatus 101 a wireless communication function in the horizontal direction (XY plane), the wireless module 102 is arranged on a predetermined surface of the housing 101a of the information processing apparatus 101 such that the long side of the antenna portion 201 (pattern antenna) is directed in the Z-axis direction.

[0019] The information processing apparatus 101 may be configured such that, for example, the housing 101a is also made of a conductor. Therefore, the radio wave lobe is shielded by the information processing apparatus 101 including the conductive member and is hardly confirmed in the positive Y-axis direction of the XY plane.

[0020] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration for improving propagation characteristics. As described above, the wireless module 102 provided on a predetermined surface of the housing 101a of the information processing apparatus 101 including a conductive member inhibits radio wave propagation in the horizontal direction by the information processing apparatus 101. FIG. 5 shows a configuration for suppressing this inhibited region and improving propagation characteristics.

[0021] The wireless module 102 is positioned such that its antenna section 201 is separated from the conductive material of the information processing device 101 by a predetermined distance or more. Here, the predetermined distance is distance d. For this reason, the wireless module 102 is installed so as to protrude from the surface of the housing 101a of the information processing device 101. The wireless module 102 is provided so as to protrude from the surface of the housing 101a, and the antenna section 201 is positioned at the furthest point from the housing 101a on the printed circuit board 202 of the wireless module 102. As a result, the distance from the antenna section 201 to the conductor is greater than the predetermined distance, and the area in which the radio wave lobe is shielded by the conductor is smaller than in the case of Figure 4. Therefore, the propagation characteristics of radio waves by the antenna section 201 are improved. In the configuration of Figure 5, radio waves will also propagate in the positive Y-axis direction, which was shielded in Figure 4. In other words, radio waves will propagate in the direction of the surface opposite to the surface on which the wireless module 102 is mounted.

[0022] The housing 101a and wireless module 102 of the information processing device 101 are enclosed in a decorative casing 501. The decorative casing 501 is made of a non-conductive material such as resin. Because the decorative casing 501 is made of a non-conductive material, radio waves from the wireless module 102 (antenna section 201) are not blocked.

[0023] The distance d depends on the frequency of the carrier wave transmitted and received by the wireless module 102, and is set to, for example, 1 / 4 wavelength or more of the carrier wave. In Figure 5, the radio wave lobe in this case is shown by a dashed line. The area of ​​the radio wave lobe that is shaded by the information processing device 101, which includes a conductive member, is reduced. With this arrangement, the wireless module 102 can directly send waves to the back side of the housing 101a of the information processing device 101, relative to the surface on which the wireless module 102 is installed.

[0024] As described above, in this embodiment, when arranging the wireless module 102 on the information processing device 101, a distance of a predetermined distance or more is provided between the conductor and the antenna portion 201 of the wireless module 102. At that time, the antenna portion 201 is arranged so as to extend beyond a predetermined surface of the information processing device 101. This makes it possible to expand the direct wave reach range in the positive Y-axis direction, which is not reached in Figure 4.

[0025] In the first embodiment, the distance d of the antenna portion 201 of the wireless module 102 is determined based on the position of the conductive member of the information processing device 101. The wireless module 102 is positioned between the conductive member of the information processing device 101 and the non-conductive portion of the decorative casing 501, so that it is not exposed to the outside in appearance.

[0026] (Second Embodiment) To minimize the overall size of the information processing device 101 equipped with the wireless module 102, it is necessary to reduce the amount of the wireless module 102 protruding from the information processing device 101 (housing 101a). Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram of the mounting position of the wireless module 102 to the information processing device 101 in this case. The wireless module 102 is mounted without protruding from a predetermined surface of the housing 101a of the information processing device 101. Figure 6(a) is a view from the Y-axis direction, and Figure 6(b) is a view of the AA' cross section of Figure 6(a) from the Z-axis direction.

[0027] The information processing device 101 has an area where no conductive material is present at the corner formed by two predetermined faces of the housing 101a. In Figure 6(b), the area where no conductive material is present is a recess in the housing of the information processing device 101. The wireless module 102 is positioned on one of these two faces, with the antenna section 201 located in the recess. This ensures a distance d between the information processing device 101, which includes the conductive material, and the antenna section 201 (pattern antenna). The distance d depends on the frequency of the carrier wave transmitted and received by the wireless module 102, and is, for example, 1 / 4 wavelength or more of the carrier wave.

[0028] In the second embodiment, a recess is provided in the information processing device 101 such that no conductive member is present within a predetermined distance d from the pattern of the antenna portion 201, thereby preventing obstruction of radio wave propagation by the antenna portion 201. In this configuration, even if a wireless module 102 is provided on the information processing device 101 which includes a conductive component, a certain distance is maintained between the conductive member and the antenna portion 201 of the wireless module 102, and the wireless module 102 does not protrude from the surface of the information processing device 101. Because the wireless module 102 does not protrude from the surface of the information processing device 101, the overall size of the information processing device 101 can be reduced.

[0029] (Third embodiment) Even if sufficient distance is secured between the conductive member of the information processing device 101 and the antenna unit 201, the propagation characteristics of the wireless module 102 may not be maintained if the information processing device 101 is placed adjacent to a conductive material such as a metal wall. Therefore, in the third embodiment, a configuration will be described in which the wireless module 102 can maintain certain propagation characteristics even when the information processing device 101 is placed adjacent to a conductive material. Figure 7 is an explanatory diagram of the mounting position of the wireless module 102 to the information processing device 101 in this case. The information processing device 101 is installed adjacent to a conductive wall 701.

[0030] The information processing device 101 is equipped with a decorative casing 501 so that the antenna section 201 is separated from the wall 701 by a predetermined distance or more. The separation width between the antenna section 201 and the wall 701 provided by the decorative casing 501 is a predetermined distance d2 or more. The distance d2 is greater than the distance d, which is the distance between the pattern of the antenna section 201 and the conductive member of the information processing device 101.

[0031] In Figure 7, the distance between the inner wall of the decorative exterior 501 facing the wall 701 and the pattern of the antenna section 201 is set to distance d or greater, thereby setting the distance between the antenna section 201 and the wall 701 to distance d2. This ensures that the distance between the antenna section 201 and the wall 701 is at least d2. Distance d2 depends on the frequency of the carrier wave transmitted and received by the wireless module 102, and is, for example, at least 1 / 4 wavelength of the carrier wave.

[0032] In the third embodiment, the antenna unit 201 is positioned between a conductor such as a wall 701 and an information processing device 101 including a conductive member, at a distance of d or more from the conductive member and at a distance of d2 or more from the wall 701. In this configuration, the installation location of the information processing device 101 is determined without being limited by the radio wave propagation of the antenna unit 201.

[0033] (Fourth Embodiment) By providing a conductor around the wireless module 102, the radio wave lobe of the wireless module 102 can be intentionally corrected. In the fourth embodiment, a configuration is described in which the transmission and reception characteristics of the antenna are changed by arranging a conductor around the wireless module 102.

[0034] Figure 8 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration for correcting the radio wave lobe of the wireless module 102. The wireless module 102 is mounted on the housing 101a of the information processing device 101, as in Figure 5. A conductive shield cover 801 is attached to the housing 101a of the information processing device 101 so as to shield a portion of the area around the wireless module 102. The shield cover 801 corrects the direction of the radio wave lobe of the wireless module 102.

[0035] In the fourth embodiment, a conductor (shield cover 801 and conductor of information processing device 101) is provided at a distance d or more away from the antenna section 201 in the positive Y-axis direction and the negative X-axis direction. The distance d depends on the frequency of the carrier wave transmitted and received by the wireless module 102, and is, for example, 1 / 4 wavelength or more of the carrier wave.

[0036] The radio waves radiated from the antenna unit 201 are filtered by the shield cover 801, generating radio wave lobes only in the limited quadrants of the negative Y-axis and positive X-axis directions. Direct waves radiated from the antenna unit 201 in the positive Y-axis and negative X-axis directions are reflected by the shield cover 801 and transmitted as radio waves in the opposite directions, i.e., the negative Y-axis and positive X-axis directions. As a result, the radio waves radiated in the positive Y-axis and negative X-axis directions strengthen the radio wave lobes in the negative Y-axis and positive X-axis directions as reflected waves. In this way, the radio waves transmitted from the wireless module 102 become directional in the negative Y-axis and positive X-axis directions due to the shield cover 801.

[0037] In this fourth embodiment, the shield cover 801 can correct the radio wave lobe of the wireless module 102. The shape of the radio wave lobe can be corrected in various ways depending on the shape of the shield cover 801. In Figure 8, the wireless module 102 is mounted on the housing 101a in the same configuration as in Figure 5, but the mounting configuration may be as shown in Figure 6.

[0038] In the first to fourth embodiments, the information processing device 101 is a device capable of wireless communication, such as an image forming apparatus, a personal computer, a portable information terminal, and a wireless router. Figure 9 illustrates the case where the information processing device 101 is an image forming apparatus. The housing 101a holds an image forming unit 901 for forming an image on a sheet. A wireless module 102 is attached to the housing 101a. The housing 101a that holds the image forming unit 901 and the wireless module 102 are enclosed in a decorative casing 501. The shape of the housing 101a and the state of the wireless module 102 may be those described in Figures 6, 7, or 8. In any case, the image forming unit 901 is provided inside the housing 101a.

[0039] The wireless module 102 is, for example, a wireless NIC (Network Interface Card) for connecting to a wireless LAN (Local Area Network). By equipping the information processing device 101 with the wireless module 102, wireless communication becomes possible.

[0040] The information processing device 101 of the first to fourth embodiments makes it possible to maintain the electrical coupling between the wireless module 102 and the information processing device 101 while reducing the range in which the propagation of radio waves radiated from the wireless module 102 is obstructed. The wireless module 102's communication direction can be controlled by its positional relationship with the conductor that affects the transmission and reception performance of the antenna unit 201. In the above example, the distance d is set to be at least 1 / 4 wavelength of the carrier wave transmitted and received by the wireless module 102, but it is sufficient if it is at least 1 / 4 wavelength of the longest wavelength radio wave transmitted and received by the wireless module 102.

[0041] Those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications are possible for each of the first to fourth embodiments, and that the invention remains within the scope of the present invention even when general components not exemplified are added.

Claims

1. A housing comprising at least a conductive member, The housing is provided on a predetermined surface and includes a wireless module for wireless communication, The wireless module has an antenna portion that is positioned away from the conductive member, The radio waves from the antenna propagate to the surface of the housing opposite to the predetermined surface, characterized in that Information processing device.

2. The wireless module is provided with the antenna portion on a circuit board and is provided so as to protrude from the predetermined surface of the housing, The antenna portion is characterized in that it is provided at the position furthest from the housing of the substrate. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

3. It has an exterior made of non-conductive material, The exterior is characterized by enclosing the housing and the wireless module. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

4. The information processing device is positioned adjacent to the conductor, The antenna portion is characterized in that the inner wall of the exterior facing the adjacent conductor is separated from the antenna portion by a predetermined distance or more. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3.

5. The corners formed by two predetermined surfaces of the housing are recesses inward of the housing. The wireless module is characterized in that the antenna portion is positioned in the recess on one of the two surfaces. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

6. The housing is characterized by having a cover attached which is a conductive material that shields a part of the area surrounding the wireless module. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

7. The cover and the antenna portion are characterized by being separated by a predetermined distance or more. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6.

8. The wireless module is provided with the antenna portion on a circuit board and is provided so as to protrude from a predetermined surface of the housing. The antenna section is provided at the position furthest from the housing of the substrate. The cover is characterized by shielding a portion of the area surrounding the antenna portion. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6.

9. The distance between the wireless module and the conductive member is characterized in that it depends on the frequency of the radio waves transmitted and received by the wireless module. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

10. The distance between the wireless module and the conductive member is characterized in that it is at least one-quarter wavelength of the radio waves transmitted and received by the wireless module. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9.

11. A wireless module that is attached to a predetermined surface of the housing of an information processing device comprising at least a conductive member and performs wireless communication, It has an antenna portion that is positioned away from the conductive member, The radio waves from the antenna propagate to the surface of the housing opposite to the predetermined surface, characterized in that Wireless module.

12. A housing comprising at least a conductive member, The image forming unit held in the housing, It comprises a wireless module mounted on a predetermined surface of the housing for wireless communication, The wireless module has an antenna portion that is positioned away from the conductive member, The radio waves from the antenna propagate to the surface of the housing opposite to the predetermined surface, characterized in that Image forming apparatus.

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