Vertical RF transmitter

Abstract

To provide a transmitter superior to conventional transmitters. [Solution] A transmitter comprising a housing, a circuit board disposed within the housing and outputting a high-frequency signal, an antenna member disposed within the housing, and a metal plate disposed within the housing between the circuit board and the antenna member.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vertically emitting RF transmitter. [Background technology]

[0002] Controlling the antenna's directivity is often an issue for wireless power supplies. There are various ways to control this, and depending on the application, there are various antennas available, such as omnidirectional antennas that transmit signals in various directions, and directional antennas that transmit signals most strongly in one direction.

[0003] For example, International Publication No. 20 / 084841 (Patent Document 1) discloses "an antenna module to be installed in a vehicle, the antenna module comprising an array antenna that forms a beam directed toward the outside of the vehicle from an opening provided in the outer wall of the vehicle, and a housing that holds the array antenna inside the vehicle (see abstract)." [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 20 / 084841 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Patent Document 1 does not consider the structure of a simple small transmitter. Therefore, the present invention provides a simple and compact transmitter. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, for example, the configurations described in the claims are adopted. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, a simple and small transmitter can be provided. Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an example of an explanatory diagram illustrating a transmitter 1 and the like connected to a network 5. In FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an example of a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the transmitter and electronic equipment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a perspective view of the transmitter according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an example of an exploded perspective view of the transmitter shown in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a front view of the transmitter in FIG. [Figure 6] Fig. 6A is a diagram showing an example of a connection structure between a main board and an antenna board, and Fig. 6B is a diagram explaining the effect of a metal plate. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an example of a side cross-sectional view of the transmitter shown in FIG. [Figure 8] Fig. 8A is an enlarged view of the front and rear cases before and after they are sealed, respectively. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a structure for mounting a transmitter to an aluminum frame. [Figure 10] Fig. 10A is a diagram showing an example of a conventional antenna structure, and Fig. 10B is a diagram showing an example of the antenna structure of transmitter 1 according to the present invention. [Figure 11] Fig. 11A is a diagram showing a first modified example of the antenna member, and Fig. 11B is a diagram showing a second modified example of the antenna member. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the structure of a transmitter according to another embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an image of the antenna gain of the transmitter according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] (1) Overall Configuration of Wireless Power Supply System 100 Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a wireless power supply system 100 including a transmitter 1 according to the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, the transmitter 1 (1a, 1b, ..., 1n) is a transmitter placed in a space, particularly in a closed space, and is particularly a transmitter for wireless power supply.

[0011] The transmitters 1 (1a, 1b, . . . , 1n) can be placed in, for example, a factory, an office, or the like. The transmitters 1 (1a, 1b, ..., 1n) emit electromagnetic waves through the space in which they are installed so that the electronic devices 2 can wirelessly receive power. The transmitters 1 (1a, 1b, ..., 1n) are arranged so that they can supply power to the electronic devices 2 (2A, 2B) as if there were an outlet in the air.

[0012] The electronic devices 2 (2A, 2B) are electronic devices placed in factories, offices, etc., and in particular are electronic devices that can receive power via wireless power supply. The electronic device 2 may be fixed in position within the space in which the transmitter 1 is mounted, but may also move within the space, for example with a user or a mobile object, or with a larger device to which the electronic device 2 is mounted.

[0013] The first electronic device 2A is, for example, sensors 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, . . . The sensors 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d may be, for example, a light sensor, a temperature sensor, an audio sensor (e.g., a microphone), an optical sensor (e.g., a camera, a visible light sensor, an invisible light sensor, etc.), a proximity sensor, a touch sensor, a force sensor, a vibration sensor, a direction sensor, a motion sensor (e.g., an accelerometer or a speed sensor), a thermal sensor, a resistive sensor, a magnetic sensor, a millimeter wave sensor, a CO2 sensor, etc.

[0014] The second electronic device 2B is, for example, actuators 2e, 2f, 2g, 2h, . . . The actuators 2e, 2f, 2g, and 2h may be, for example, electromagnetic drive devices used to perform operations such as rotation, pivoting, translation, reciprocation, vertical movement, opening and closing, and pressing.

[0015] The electronic devices 2 (2A, 2B) are connected to a management server 3, a management terminal 4, an air conditioner 6, a lighting device 7, etc. via a network 5 so as to be able to perform data communication, particularly so as to be able to perform data communication with each other.

[0016] In such a configuration, the electronic device 2 (2A, 2B) can be supplied with power wirelessly from the transmitter 1. Furthermore, the electronic device 2 (2A, 2B) transmits the detected data to a management server 3 or a management terminal 4, such as a programmable logic controller (PLC) provided therein, and activates an air conditioning device 6 or a lighting device 7 based on specific detected data, such as the presence or absence of a person or the person's body temperature.

[0017] The electronic device 2 may be fixed in position within the space in which the transmitter 1 is installed, but it may also be configured to be movable within the space, for example together with a larger device to which an actuator is attached.

[0018] An example of a larger device equipped with actuators is, for example, an articulated robot. The transmitter 1 may be configured to be capable of wirelessly feeding power to devices that consume power, such as actuators built into the articulated robot.

[0019] Using a transmitter 1, wireless power is supplied to electronic devices 2 such as various sensors 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, etc. and actuators 2e, 2f, 2g, 2h, etc., used in fields such as factory automation (FA), the Internet of Things (IoT), and home appliances. The transmitter 1 enables the power wiring for these electronic devices 2 to be wireless, which can significantly reduce problems such as the burden of wiring, disconnection, and maintenance that can occur when power wiring is wired.

[0020] (2) Electrical configuration of transmitter 1 and electronic device 2 FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration of the transmitter 1 and the electronic device 2. As shown in FIG. The transmitter 1 is configured to supply power to the electronic device 2 . The transmitter 1 is further configured to be able to perform data communication with the electronic device 2 .

[0021] The transmitter 1 includes, for example, a main board (circuit board) 10 and a first antenna board (antenna member) 20. The main board 10 is a circuit board including, for example, a control unit 11, a first transmission unit 12, a second transmission unit 13, a display unit 14, an input unit 15, an output unit 16, and the like.

[0022] The control unit 11 includes, for example, a microcontrol unit 111 that controls the transmission function of the transmitter 1, a matching circuit 112, and the like. The first transmitter 12 includes, for example, a first oscillator 121, a first amplifier 122, and the like.

[0023] The second transmitter 13 includes, for example, a second oscillator 131, a second amplifier 132, and the like. The control unit 11 uses the first transmission unit 12 to generate electromagnetic waves for wireless power supply, and also uses the second transmission unit 13 to generate electromagnetic waves for data communication.

[0024] The display unit 14 displays information using, for example, LEDs, and in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the display unit 14 includes four LEDs. The control unit 11 controls the lighting state, blinking state, color, etc. of each LED according to the functional state, operating state, etc. of the transmitter 1.

[0025] By controlling the lighting status, blinking status, color, etc. of the LED, it is possible to output to the user information such as whether there is power, whether the device is starting up or initializing, whether the device is operating normally or the RF output is ON, and whether there is a power supply error (for example, the power supply is below 15V).

[0026] An input 15 is available for inputting power and data into the transmitter 1 . An output 16 is available for outputting power and data from the transmitter 1 . For example, the transmitter 1a may be configured so that it can be connected in series to another transmitter 1b in a daisy chain manner via a cable or the like.

[0027] In a configuration in which the transmitter 1a and the transmitter 1b are connected in series, the output section of the transmitter 1a and the input section of the transmitter 1b may be connected via a cable or the like, or vice versa. In such a configuration, there is no need to provide individual power supply cables or communication cables for each of the transmitters 1a, 1b, . . . , 1n, and therefore it is possible to arrange a plurality of transmitters 1 in a space at lower cost.

[0028] The antenna substrate 20 includes, for example, a first antenna 21 and the like. The first antenna 21 radiates electromagnetic waves for wireless power supply to the outside based on the signal received from the first transmitter 12, particularly the signal oscillated at a predetermined frequency.

[0029] The first antenna 21 can not only supply the energy received via the input unit 15 to the electronic device 2, but also transmit the energy to any object such as a robot, a device, or a PC.

[0030] Furthermore, the target of the power transmission may be other electronic devices such as a mobile phone, a PDA (personal digital assistant), a wireless microphone, a wireless USB, a wireless theater, a wireless television, a wireless camera, a wireless headphone, a wireless mouse, a wireless keyboard, a wireless router, a wireless printer, etc.

[0031] The electronic device 2 includes, for example, a receiving antenna unit 201, a rectifier circuit 202, a power management unit 203, a battery 204, a transmitting / receiving antenna unit 205, a transceiver 206, a control unit 207, a functional unit or drive unit 208, and the like.

[0032] The receiving antenna unit 201 receives, for example, microwaves for power supply transmitted to the outside from the first antenna 21. For example, the receiving antenna unit 201 may function as a power receiving antenna in the 920 MHz band, for example, 918 MHz.

[0033] The rectifier circuit 202 (eg, part of a PCB or FPC) is configured to rectify the received radio waves and convert them into a rectified voltage. The power management unit 203 (eg, part of the PCB or FPC) is configured to control the charging voltage based on the rectified voltage.

[0034] The battery 204 may be mounted, for example, on a portion of a PCB or FPC. The battery 204 is configured to be charged by a charging voltage from the power management unit 203 .

[0035] The battery 204 can send the received power to the control unit 207, the functional unit, the drive unit 208, etc. via the power management unit 203. This allows the electronic device 2 to function and be driven by wireless power supply from the transmitter 1.

[0036] The control unit 207 is configured to continuously or intermittently monitor the status of the power management unit 203, the status of the functional unit or drive unit 208, and, in a configuration in which the functional unit or drive unit 208 is a sensor, information acquired by the sensor, etc.

[0037] The transceiver 206 transmits the status of the power management unit 203, the status of the functional unit or drive unit 208, information acquired by the functional unit or drive unit 208 such as a sensor, etc. to the external transmitter 1 via the transmit / receive antenna unit 205.

[0038] The transmitting / receiving antenna unit 205 may be configured as, for example, an inverted-F antenna. The transmitting / receiving antenna unit 205 configured as an inverted-F antenna is configured to function as, for example, a data communication antenna in the 2.4 GHz band.

[0039] As mentioned above, power (microwaves) for wireless power supply (for example, 920 MHz) is transmitted in one direction, whereas radio waves for data communication (for example, 2.4 GHz) can be transmitted in both directions.

[0040] In particular, the transmitter 1 preferably accommodates the main board 10 and the antenna board 20 in its front case 9 (see, for example, FIG. 4). The opening of the front case 9 is closed by the rear case .

[0041] In a configuration in which the metal rear case 40 closes the opening of the front case 9, it is possible to design the overall dimensions of the transmitter 1, particularly the size of the transmitter 1 in the radiation direction (thickness of the transmitter 1), to be compact, and to increase the directivity of the first antenna 21 that radiates electromagnetic waves, particularly electromagnetic waves for power transmission.

[0042] (3) Transmitter 1 component configuration FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a perspective view of the transmitter 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an exploded perspective view of the transmitter 1 shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the transmitter 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape extending in one axial direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the transmitter 1 is used while being fixed to a frame or the like installed near a ceiling indoors. The location where the transmitter 1 is installed can be changed as desired, such as outdoors or indoors on a floor or wall.

[0043] 4, the transmitter 1 includes a front case 9, a main board 10, an antenna board 20, a metal plate 30, a rear case 40, a packing 50, a chassis 60, a connector 70, a fixing bracket 80, and a panel 90. Each of these components will be described in turn below.

[0044] The front case 9 is a box-shaped housing that covers the periphery of the transmitter 1 and opens in one direction (upward in the illustrated example). The front case 9 protects the components housed inside from external impacts and environmental factors. The front case 9 also functions to not impede the transmission of electromagnetic waves, allowing electromagnetic waves in the required frequency band to pass through. For this reason, the front case 9 may be made of a resin (such as PC or ABS) that has excellent weather resistance and durability. The front case 9 houses the main board 10 and antenna board 20 in fixed positions.

[0045] The front case 9 has a housing surface that is approximately parallel to the antenna board 20 having the first antenna 21 and the metal plate 30. In the illustrated example, the front case 9 mainly houses within its housing space the main board 10, the antenna board 20, the metal plate 30, and a chassis 60 that holds these components.

[0046] The main board 10 is the first circuit board arranged inside the front case 9. The main board 10 is equipped with a signal processing unit in the transmitter 1 and has the function of generating electrical signals. The main board 10 generates high-frequency signals and control signals to be supplied to the antenna board 20 and outputs them to the antenna board 20, as well as receiving control inputs and power from outside and controlling the operation of the entire unit. The main board 10 is structured as a rectangular printed circuit board, with various electronic components mounted on its front and back surfaces. The main board 10 is provided with screw holes and spacer mounting portions for fixing the board.

[0047] The main board 10 is made of a flame-retardant and low-conductivity material, such as 1.2t (1.2mm) FR-4. A cover-like shielding section 17 is mounted on the top surface of the main board 10 to cover each element mounted on the main board 10. The shielding section 17 is configured to reduce the generation of spurious signals and unwanted radiation from signal generators such as power amplifiers.

[0048] The shielding portion 17 is a cover (metal cover, metal case) made of a metal plate 30, for example, galvanized steel (SECC). The shielding portion 17 is preferably configured to further reduce the amount of noise and the like generated by signal generating portions such as a power amplifier (PA) and an RF transmitter from leaking outside the shielding portion 17. As shown in FIG. 5, the shielding portion 17 is mounted on one of the front and rear surfaces of the main board 10 that faces away from the antenna board 20. This allows the noise shielding effect of the shielding portion 17 to be further enhanced.

[0049] The antenna board 20 is a second circuit board arranged inside the front case 9. The antenna board 20 has a function of being equipped with an antenna element (antenna section) for emitting the high-frequency signal generated by the main board 10 as an electromagnetic wave. The antenna board 20 has high-frequency components and an antenna pattern arranged thereon, and is designed to optimize characteristics such as directivity and gain.

[0050] The antenna substrate 20 is a printed circuit board that has a rectangular base similar to the main substrate 10 and can be shaped as needed. The antenna substrate 20 is made of a flame-retardant and low-conductivity material, such as 0.6t (0.6mm) FR-4. A metal pattern or a plating layer is applied to the antenna element.

[0051] The metal plate 30 is a metal plate 30 (first metal plate) disposed inside the front case 9. The metal plate 30 has the function of reflecting electromagnetic waves emitted from the antenna substrate 20 in a specific direction to form a desired directivity. A highly conductive metal (such as aluminum or copper-plated steel plate) may be used for the metal plate 30 to efficiently reflect electromagnetic waves, particularly in the high frequency band. The metal plate 30 has a flat plate-like structure and is disposed so as to face the antenna substrate 20. An opening 31 is formed in the metal plate 30, penetrating the metal plate 30. The opening 31 has a rectangular shape in a plan view.

[0052] The metal plate 30 has a higher reflectivity than the front case 9 for the electromagnetic waves emitted by the transmitter 1. The metal plate 30 reflects a portion of the electromagnetic waves emitted from the first antenna toward the surface of the front case 9 facing the panel 90, thereby forming the directivity of the antenna of the transmitter 1. The electromagnetic waves emitted from the first antenna 21 toward the surface facing the panel 90 and the electromagnetic waves emitted from the first antenna 21 and reflected by the metal plate 30 are superimposed and radiated with directionality outward from the panel 90 (downward in the illustrated example). The metal plate 30 is made of an aluminum alloy, for example, ADC12.

[0053] The rear case 40 is a cover member that closes the opening of the front case 9, and is disposed opposite the opening of the front case 9. The rear case 40 is attached to the front case 9 via a packing 50, thereby sealing the opening of the front case 9. The attachment structure of the rear case 40 will be described in detail later.

[0054] The rear case 40 functions to protect the circuits and antenna mounted inside the front case 9 from external impact. The rear case 40 also functions to reduce unnecessary electromagnetic wave radiation from the antenna and external noise. The rear case 40 also functions to dissipate internal heat. In this regard, aluminum is a preferable material for the rear case 40 because of its excellent electromagnetic shielding effect and heat dissipation properties. The rear case 40 has a plate-like shape that covers the entire opening of the front case 9, and has screw holes on its bottom for fixing. The rear case 40 functions as the second metal plate in the present invention. The rear case 40 is made of metal, and reflects the components of the radio waves radiated from the antenna board 20 that are not reflected by the metal plate 30 toward the surface of the front case 9 facing the panel 90.

[0055] The packing 50 is a sealing member that ensures airtightness, waterproofness, and dustproofness inside the front case 9. The packing 50 has a rectangular shape that follows the edge of the opening of the front case 9. For example, when the transmitter 1 is used in a harsh environment such as outdoors, it is necessary to prevent water and dust from entering the interior. The packing 50 is structured such that an elastic material such as rubber or silicone resin is molded into a ring or plate shape and is arranged by being pressure-bonded to the joint surface between the rear case 40 and the front case 9.

[0056] The chassis 60 functions as a holder for holding the main board 10, antenna board 20, metal plate 30, etc., and is a member responsible for ensuring the mechanical strength of all the components housed inside the transmitter 1. The chassis 60 is made of a material such as polycarbonate (PC), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), or ABS resin, which provides appropriate rigidity and electrical insulation. The chassis 60 is designed to have multiple support ribs, screw holes, clips, etc., so that the boards and metal plate 30 can be fixed in place.

[0057] The connector 70 is an input / output terminal that functions to connect an external power source and signal lines to the transmitter 1. The connector 70 has a structure that is resistant to water, dust, and vibrations for industrial use, etc., and is suitable for outdoor and in-vehicle environments. The connector 70 has a cylindrical metal shell with multiple pins arranged inside. The metal shell is configured to facilitate the attachment of, for example, an M12D cable. The connector 70 is attached in a manner that protrudes outward from the chassis 60 or rear case 40, and is connected to external devices, etc. The connector 70 may be equipped with a locking mechanism.

[0058] The fixing bracket 80 is a component that functions to fix the transmitter 1 to an installation target (for example, an indoor ceiling). The fixing bracket 80 is arranged so as to cover the connecting device 70. The fixing bracket 80 secures the housing with bolts and screws, improving durability against vibration and impact. The fixing bracket 80 is in the form of a bracket or stay made of metal such as steel or stainless steel, and is attached so as to cover the connecting device 70. Details of the manner in which the fixing bracket 80 is used to fix the transmitter 1 to an installation target (for example, an indoor ceiling) will be described later.

[0059] The panel 90 is located on the outer surface of the front case 9 (the underside in the illustrated example) and is a component that improves the appearance and provides protection. In addition to being a design element, the panel 90 also functions to ensure antenna characteristics by using a material that does not impair radio wave transparency. Structurally, it is a flat plate that covers almost the entire underside of the front case 9. The panel 90 is attached to the front case 9 via double-sided tape 91. The panel 90 enhances the sense of unity with the structure to which it is attached, for example, in terms of the appearance of the front case 9.

[0060] The double-sided tape 91 functions as a joining means for stably attaching the front case 9 and the panel 90. Compared to mechanical fastening methods such as screws and rivets, the double-sided tape 91 has the advantage of being able to easily absorb vibrations and shocks and not impair the appearance. The double-sided tape 91 is a resin film with thin adhesive layers on both sides, and has a moderate flexibility to fit securely to the surface to which it is attached. It is attached to a predetermined position on the front case 9, chassis 60, etc., and is firmly fixed by applying pressure.

[0061] (4) Positional Relationship between the Main Board 10, Antenna Board 20, and Metal Plate 30 5 is a front view of the transmitter 1 in FIG. 4. In this figure, the fixing bracket 80 is not shown. As shown in FIG. 5, inside the front case 9, the metal plate 30 is disposed between the main board 10 and the antenna board 20. The main board 10, the metal plate 30, and the antenna board 20 are disposed approximately parallel to one another. The chassis 60 is disposed between the antenna board 20 and the metal plate 30.

[0062] In this way, the antenna substrate 20 and the metal plate 30 are arranged opposite to each other, thereby forming electromagnetic wave directivity. Specifically, the antenna portion of the antenna substrate 20 radiates radio waves in both the up and down directions in FIG. 5. In contrast, the metal plate 30 reflects the electromagnetic waves output from the antenna substrate 20 toward the antenna substrate 20. As a result, a radiated wave radiated directly downward from the antenna substrate 20 and a reflected wave radiated upward once and reflected downward by the metal plate 30 are radiated with directionality in one direction (downward in the illustrated example) from the transmitter 1.

[0063] (5) Arrangement of each part 6A is a diagram showing an example of a connection structure between the main board 10 and the antenna board 20. As shown in FIG. 6A, the transmitter 1 further includes a connect member 24 that electrically connects the main board 10 and the antenna board 20. The connect member 24 passes through an opening 31 in the metal plate 30, and connects the main board 10 and the antenna board 20. The connect member 24 transmits a high-frequency signal generated by the main board 10 toward the antenna board 20.

[0064] A conductive material 25 is disposed between the metal plate 30 and the main board 10. The metal plate 30 and the main board 10 are electrically connected by the conductive material 25. The surface of the main board 10 facing the metal plate 30 serves as a GND that is electrically connected to the metal plate 30 via the conductive material 25. A heat conductive sheet or a heat conductive fluid (grease, etc.) may be used as the conductive material 25.

[0065] In this embodiment, the main board 10 and the metal plate 30 are electrically connected by direct conductive coupling by being in close contact with each other via the conductive material 25. Note that the main board 10 and the metal plate 30 may also be directly conductively connected by being in close contact with each other without using other members such as the conductive material 25.

[0066] The main board 10 and the metal plate 30 may also be electrically coupled in a state other than direct conductive coupling. Specifically, the main board 10 and the metal plate 30 may be arranged with a small gap between them, without being in close contact, and may be electrically coupled by capacitive coupling due to an electric field formed between the main board 10 and the metal plate 30. The main board 10 and the metal plate 30 may also be electrically coupled by inductive coupling via a magnetic field generated in the surroundings.

[0067] 4, the metal plate 30 is larger in size than the main board 10 in a plan view. Therefore, the back side of the main board 10, which is electrically connected to the metal plate 30, can be effectively grounded. The size of the metal plate 30 in a plan view is preferably equal to or larger than either the main board 10 or the antenna board 20. Furthermore, the metal plate 30 is preferably positioned so as to overlap and cover the entire area of ​​either the main board or the antenna board 20 in a plan view.

[0068] 6B is a diagram illustrating the effect of the metal plate 30. As shown in FIG. 6B, the metal plate 30 dissipates heat transferred from the main board 10 via the conductive material 25. A space is formed between the metal plate 30 and the antenna board 20. Therefore, the air flow in this space causes the heat transferred from the main board 10 via the conductive material 25 to be dissipated from the metal plate 30. In other words, the metal plate 30 functions as a heat dissipation section.

[0069] Furthermore, in the transmitter 1, the metal plate 30 is disposed between the main board 10 and the antenna board 20, and functions as an important noise shield that effectively suppresses unwanted electromagnetic interference (EMI) that occurs between the two boards. Specifically, it prevents spurious signals and unwanted radiation generated from high-frequency components such as a power amplifier and an RF transmitter, which are signal generators mounted on the main board 10, from affecting the antenna board 20. Similarly, it also prevents electromagnetic waves emitted from the antenna board 20 from adversely affecting the control circuit and other electronic components on the main board 10.

[0070] In addition, in cooperation with other noise countermeasures, the shielding portion 17 that covers the elements on the main board 10 also contributes to reducing unwanted radiation, and the metallic rear case 40 also functions to reduce unwanted electromagnetic wave radiation and external noise. In this way, the metal plate 30, together with the shielding portion 17, functions as part of a multi-layered noise countermeasure in the transmitter 1.

[0071] The metal plate 30 also functions as a ground. A conductive material 25 is disposed between the main board 10 and the metal plate 30, providing electrical continuity between them. This allows the metal plate 30 to also function as a ground plate for the entire antenna, reducing the impact of noise on peripheral circuits and contributing to improved reliability of the entire system. In particular, the surface of the main board 10 facing the metal plate 30 serves as a GND (ground) that is electrically connected to the metal plate 30 via the conductive material 25, thereby achieving stable electrical characteristics and noise resistance.

[0072] In addition, the presence of the connecting member 24 that connects the main board 10 and the antenna board 20 through the opening 31 provided in the metal plate 30 that serves as a noise shield improves the EMC performance of the entire transmitter 1, which ensures the necessary electrical connection, without impairing the main noise shielding function of the metal plate 30.

[0073] The presence of metal plate 30 is one factor that increases the degree of freedom in board layout and size design, and at the same time contributes to reducing electromagnetic interference (EMI). These configurations enable transmitter 1 to suppress the emission of unnecessary electromagnetic waves, and achieve highly reliable operation that is less susceptible to external noise.

[0074] Furthermore, a heat transfer material 26 is disposed between the rear case 40 and the main board 10. The rear case 40 dissipates heat transferred from the main board 10 via the heat transfer material 26. In other words, the rear case 40 functions as a heat dissipation section. The heat transfer material 26 may be, for example, a silicone sheet.

[0075] FIG. 7 is an example of a side cross-sectional view of the transmitter 1 shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 7, a space is formed inside the chassis 60. A main board 10 and an antenna board 20 are arranged in the chassis 60. A metal plate 30 is arranged on one side of the chassis 60. Legs 61 of the chassis 60 extend toward the other side opposite the metal plate 30. The antenna board 20 is attached to the legs 61. In other words, the antenna board 20 is attached to the opposite side of the chassis 60 from the antenna board 20.

[0076] In the transmitter 1, the distance L1 between the main board 10 and the metal plate 30 is smaller than the distance L2 between the metal plate 30 and the antenna board 20. That is, by reducing the distance L1 between the main board 10 and the metal plate 30, the main board 10 and the metal plate 30 can be arranged to be easily electrically joined. Furthermore, by ensuring the distance L2 between the metal plate 30 and the antenna board 20, the reflection characteristics when the electromagnetic waves radiated from the antenna board 20 are reflected by the metal plate 30 can be improved.

[0077] As specific example dimensional values, the distance L1 is, for example, about several mm, and the distance L2 is, for example, tens to tens of mm. The distance L1 is set mainly based on the electrical bonding characteristics between the main substrate 10 and the metal plate 30. The distance L2 is set mainly based on the dielectric constant of the space between the antenna substrate 20 and the metal plate 30, the respective sizes of the antenna substrate 20 and the metal plate 30, etc. For example, by placing a dielectric between the antenna substrate 20 and the metal plate 30, i.e., in the space inside the chassis 60, the distance L2 can be made smaller.

[0078] (6) Transmitter 1 assembly and mounting structure Next, the mounting structure of the transmitter 1 will be described with reference to Figures 8 and 9. Figure 8A is an enlarged view of the front case 9 and the rear case 40 before they are sealed. Figure 8B is an enlarged view of the front case 9 and the rear case 40 after they are sealed. As shown in Figure 8A, a recess 9A is formed at the opening edge of the front case 9. The recess 9A is formed around the entire periphery of the opening edge of the front case 9. A packing 50 is housed in the recess 9A. Before the rear case 40 is attached, the packing 50 is housed in the recess 9A in a state where it protrudes upward from the recess 9A.

[0079] As shown in FIG. 8B, the rear case 40 is attached to the front case 9 and fastened with a mounting screw to seal the opening of the front case 9. The mounting screw fastens the rear case 40 via an O-ring. At this time, the rear case 40 presses and deforms a portion of the packing 50 that protrudes upward from the recess 9A. This ensures watertightness between the rear case 40 and the front case 9.

[0080] 9 is a diagram showing an example of a mounting structure for the transmitter 1 to the aluminum frame AL. In the example shown, the transmitter 1 is disposed below the aluminum frame AF. The upper surface of the rear case 40 of the transmitter 1 is close to the lower surface of the aluminum frame AF. Therefore, when the rear case 40 acts as a heat dissipation section, heat can be efficiently transferred from the upper surface of the rear case 40 to the aluminum frame AF side via the outer surface of the aluminum frame AF.

[0081] The fixture 80 of the transmitter 1 is fixed to the aluminum frame AL by a mounting member 81. The fixture 80 has a groove 80A formed in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis Ax. In the illustrated example, the two grooves 80A are formed symmetrically on the fixture 80. Furthermore, two protrusions 9B that are housed in the grooves 80A are formed symmetrically on the side of the front case 9. Therefore, the front case 9 of the transmitter 1 can rotate around the rotation axis Ax in response to an operator's operation so that the protrusions 9B move inside the grooves 80A. This makes it possible to adjust the main radiation direction of radio waves (the direction of the arrow) with the transmitter 1 fixed to the aluminum frame AL.

[0082] (7) Summary FIG. 10A is a conceptual diagram showing the structure of an antenna known in the prior art. FIG. 10B is a conceptual diagram showing the relative positions of a main board 10, a metal plate 30, and an antenna board 20 in a transmitter 1 according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 10A, an antenna known in the prior art is composed of two conductors: an antenna plate that serves as an antenna element, and a circuit board that also functions as a ground plate. In such a structure, in order to ensure antenna directivity, the size of the ground plate (the circuit board in this structure) in a plan view needs to be equal to or larger than the antenna plate. For this reason, there was a concern that the size of the circuit board would increase along with the size of the antenna plate, thereby increasing the manufacturing cost of the entire antenna.

[0083] In contrast, as shown in Fig. 10B, in the transmitter 1 of the present invention, due to the arrangement of the components described above, a metal plate 30 is disposed between the main board 10 and the antenna board 20, and the main board 10 and the metal plate 30 are electrically connected. This allows the metal plate 30 to function as a ground plate for the entire antenna. As a result, there is no need to make the main board 10 function as a ground plate as in the conventional case, and as long as the metal plate 30 is large enough relative to the antenna board 20, the size of the main board 10 can be freely selected independent of the size of the antenna board 20. For example, by making the main board 10 smaller in size relative to the antenna board 20, as in the transmitter 1, the transmitter 1 can be made smaller as a whole.

[0084] Furthermore, in the transmitter 1, the metal plate 30 not only reflects the electromagnetic waves output from the antenna section, but also functions as a noise shield for the main board 10 and the antenna board 20 by being located between the main board 10 and the antenna board 20. Therefore, in the transmitter 1, in addition to the shielding section 17 that covers the elements of the main board 10, the metal plate 30 also functions to shield noise, so that EMC measures can be effectively implemented.

[0085] The transmitter 1 further includes a connecting member 24 that passes through an opening 31 formed in the metal plate 30 to electrically connect the main board 10 and the antenna board 20. As a result, the electromagnetic waves generated on the main board 10 are transmitted to the antenna board 20 through the inside of the opening 31 in the metal plate 30, which serves as a noise shield, making EMC countermeasures even more effective.

[0086] Furthermore, in the transmitter 1, a conductive material 25 is disposed between the metal plate 30 and the main board 10, which electrically connects the metal plate 30 and the main board 10, and the surface of the main board 10 facing the metal plate 30 serves as a GND which is electrically connected to the metal plate 30 via the conductive material 25. This allows the main board 10 and the metal plate 30, which are physically separate members, to be electrically connected, allowing the metal plate 30 to function as a ground plate for the antenna.

[0087] Furthermore, in the transmitter 1, the metal plate 30 is larger in size in a plan view than the main board 10. This allows the metal plate 30 to fully exert its effect as a ground plate, while also making the main board 10 more compact and reducing manufacturing costs.

[0088] Furthermore, in the transmitter 1, the metal plate 30 functions as a heat dissipation section that dissipates heat transferred from the main board 10 via the conductive material 25. Therefore, an effective heat dissipation effect can be achieved.

[0089] Furthermore, in the transmitter 1, a heat transfer material 26 is disposed between the rear case 40 and the main board 10, and the rear case 40 functions as a heat dissipation section that dissipates heat transferred from the main board 10 via the heat transfer material 26. Therefore, in addition to heat dissipation from the metal plate 30, heat can also be dissipated from the rear case 40, resulting in an even more effective heat dissipation effect.

[0090] The transmitter 1 further includes a chassis 60 made of a synthetic resin material, which is disposed between the main board 10 and the antenna board 20 inside the front case 9. The metal plate 30 is disposed on one side of the chassis 60, and the antenna board 20 is attached to the other side of the chassis 60. This provides a certain level of mechanical strength to the assembled structure of the antenna board 20 and the metal plate 30 via the chassis 60.

[0091] Furthermore, in the transmitter 1, the chassis 60 has legs 61 extending toward the other side, and the antenna board 20 is attached to the tips of the legs 61. This makes it possible to ensure a certain distance between the metal plate 30 arranged on one side of the chassis 60 and the antenna board 20 attached to the tips of the legs 61, and prevents heat radiation from the metal plate 30 from being transmitted to the antenna board 20.

[0092] (7) Modified Antenna Part Next, modified examples of the antenna member will be described. Figure 11A is a diagram showing a first modified example of the antenna member. Figure 11B is a diagram showing a second modified example of the antenna member. As shown in FIG. 11A, the antenna member according to the first modification is equipped with a dipole antenna instead of the antenna substrate 20. In the illustrated example, one main substrate 10 is configured with two antenna elements 20B. A metal plate 30 is disposed between the main substrate 10 and the antenna element 20B. The metal plate 30 acts as a reflector and affects the formation of the antenna's directivity. Furthermore, since the main substrate 10 has the metal plate 30 that contributes to the antenna's directivity, sufficient directivity can be ensured even if the size of the main substrate 10 is made smaller than the size of the two antenna elements 20B.

[0093] 11B, in the antenna member according to the first modification, another antenna (for example, a pattern antenna) and an LED are mounted on the antenna substrate 20C, thereby expanding the size of the antenna substrate 20C in the width direction. In this way, the antenna substrate 20C may be enlarged to add another function.

[0094] Even when a portion of the antenna substrate 20C extends beyond the area of ​​the main substrate 10 in a planar view, a metal plate 30, which is equal to or larger than the size of the main substrate 10 and overlaps the main substrate 10 so as to cover the entire area of ​​the main substrate 10 from below in a planar view, is interposed between the main substrate 10 and the antenna substrate 20C. This allows the metal plate 30 to provide a noise shielding effect, thereby enabling the size of the main substrate 10 to be reduced. Furthermore, reducing the size of the main substrate 10 also reduces the impact of noise generated by the main substrate 10. In other words, if the metal plate 30 were not disposed between the main substrate 10 and the antenna substrate 20C, the circuit board would need to be shaped as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 11B so as to cover the entire area of ​​the antenna substrate 20C in a planar view. This would result in poor workability, but the transmitter 1 eliminates such concerns.

[0095] (8) Other embodiments Next, a transmitter 1B according to another embodiment will be described. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the structure of the transmitter 1B according to another embodiment. As shown in FIG. 12, in the transmitter 1B, the size of the main board 10 is larger than the metal plate 30. The size of the antenna board 20 is equal to that of the metal plate 30. The metal plate 30 is positioned so as to overlap with and cover the entire area of ​​the antenna board 20 in a plan view. A data communication unit (DRx) and a Wi-Fi (registered trademark) module 19 are further mounted in an area of ​​the main board 10 outside the metal plate 30. A plurality of through holes 10A are formed in the main board 10, and input / output terminals 93 are arranged to pass through the through holes 10A.

[0096] The transmitter 1 is fixed to a ceiling or the like by a mounting bracket 92 that also functions as a heat sink. A conductive material 25 is disposed between the main board 10 and the metal plate 30 (on the back side of the main board 10). The conductive material 25 electrically connects the main board 10 and the metal plate 30, and also functions to transfer heat generated in the main board 10 to the metal plate 30 and dissipate the heat.

[0097] As described above, in transmitter 1B, metal plate 30 is disposed between main board 10 and antenna board 20. Furthermore, main board 10 and metal plate 30 are electrically connected, so that the back side of main board 10 serves as GND. Therefore, metal plate 30 provides directionality to the antenna and also functions as a noise shield, allowing the size of main board 10 to be larger than that of antenna board 20.

[0098] Furthermore, the transmitter 1 solves the problems of the conventional technology by disposing a metal plate 30, which serves as a reflector, between the main board 10 and the antenna board 20. Specifically, in the conventional technology, the metal plate 30 was not disposed, and therefore the entire area of ​​the antenna board 20 had to be covered by the main board 10 in a plan view in order for the main board 10 to function as a ground plate. This resulted in restrictions on the shape of the main board 10, such as concerns about providing holes in parts of the main board 10.

[0099] On the other hand, in the transmitter 1, the metal plate 30 is disposed between the main board 10 and the antenna board 20, and the main board 10 and the metal plate 30 are electrically connected, allowing the antenna board 20 to function as a ground plate. This eliminates restrictions on the shape and size of the main board 10 in the transmitter 1. Therefore, even if a through hole 10A is formed in the main board 10 as shown in the figure, no problems arise because the metal plate 30 covers the entire area of ​​the antenna board 20 in a plan view, allowing for flexibility in the shape of the main board 10.

[0100] Furthermore, in the prior art, the back side of the main board 10 was not grounded, so it was not possible to place the metal plate 30 between the main board 10 and the antenna board 20. On the other hand, in the transmitter 1, the main board 10 and the metal plate 30 are closely attached to each other, which makes it possible to place the metal plate 30 between the main board 10 and the antenna board 20, something that was not previously possible, thereby improving design freedom and enabling miniaturization.

[0101] The effects obtained by the structure of the transmitter 1 are listed below. 1) Achieving compact size By separating the main board 10 and the antenna board 20 and placing a metal plate 30 between them as a reflector, the size of the board can be flexibly changed, achieving a smaller overall size. In addition, by using a metal plate 30 with a heat dissipation function as a heat countermeasure, heat generated by the antenna and power supply units can be efficiently dispersed. In other words, the improved space efficiency achieved by placing the metal plate 30 contributes to the size reduction, and at the same time, the placement of the metal plate 30 also contributes to heat dissipation.

[0102] 2) Increased design freedom The placement of the metal plate 30 allows for flexible design of the layout and size of the board. In addition, the metal plate 30 serves to shield electromagnetic waves, thereby suppressing unwanted electromagnetic interference (EMI) between the main board 10 and the antenna board 20 from the perspective of EMC measures. Furthermore, by combining it with a ground plane, it is possible to reduce the impact of noise on peripheral circuits and improve the reliability of the entire system. In other words, the presence of the metal plate 30 between the main board 10 and the antenna board 20 is a factor that realizes design flexibility, and at the same time contributes to reducing electromagnetic interference (EMI) and controlling heat.

[0103] 3) Improved antenna radiation efficiency The metal plate 30 efficiently reflects electromagnetic waves, giving the antenna directionality and improving performance. Furthermore, from the perspective of EMC measures, the placement of the metal plate 30 can suppress unnecessary radiation and minimize interference with other electronic circuits. Furthermore, as a heat dissipation design, increasing the thermal conductivity of the metal plate 30 reduces the impact of heat generated by the antenna and achieves stable operation. In other words, the electromagnetic wave reflection ability of the metal plate 30 not only contributes to improving radiation efficiency, but also plays a role in EMI countermeasures and heat dispersion.

[0104] Thus, the object of the present invention is to improve design freedom and achieve miniaturization by separating the main board 10 and the antenna board 20 and placing the metal plate 30 between them. Also, by adhering the metal plate 30 to the main board 10 via the conductive material 25, the structural stability of the entire board is improved, and durability and reliability are increased.

[0105] Furthermore, as mentioned above, miniaturization is possible, which reduces the amount of material used and leads to reduced manufacturing costs. Furthermore, increased design freedom is expected to improve the efficiency of the manufacturing process. Furthermore, miniaturization is expected to improve the ease of installation of the transmitter 1.

[0106] (9) Antenna gain image Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an image of the antenna gain of a transmitter according to the present invention. In this diagram, the maximum gain is normalized to be 0 dB. As shown in Fig. 13, in the transmitter 1, the antenna gain is high in one direction (downward in the illustrated example) due to the above-mentioned configurations. In other words, the metal plate 30 is disposed between the main board 10 and the antenna board 20, thereby forming antenna directivity in the transmitter 1.

[0107] (10) Other The transmitter 1 may further include a second antenna board. The antenna of the second antenna board may be configured to radiate electromagnetic waves for data communication to the outside based on a received signal, particularly a signal oscillated at a predetermined frequency, or to receive electromagnetic waves for data communication radiated from the electronic device 2. The front and back surfaces of the second antenna board may be inclined so as to be approximately perpendicular to the front and back surfaces of the antenna board 20 and the main board 10. Such a configuration allows for a space-saving, compact transmitter 1 to be realized.

[0108] It should be noted that the metal plate 30 in the present invention does not necessarily have to be made of a metal material. In other words, any material that is not a metal material but has high conductivity such that electromagnetic waves do not penetrate deep into the material and are canceled out in a very shallow layer on the surface can be used as a plate material that exhibits functions such as reflecting electromagnetic waves radiated from the antenna substrate, suppressing electromagnetic interference, and providing a ground, and can be placed between the main substrate 10 and the antenna substrate 20.

[0109] Compared to transmitters using the various antennas described above, the present transmitter 1 has good or very good characteristics in terms of size / low profile, radiation efficiency, directivity, mass productivity, cost, installability / operability, and robustness. The transmitter 1 has a low profile structure and good directivity, which makes it particularly advantageous when used as a power supply device for wireless power supply, for example.

[0110] The communication band used for power supply is not limited to the 920 MHz band, but may be any UHF band, such as the 868 MHz band used in Europe and the 915 MHz band in the United States, or any other frequency band belonging to the UHF band. Furthermore, the communication band for data communication is not limited to the 2.4 GHz band, and any frequency band within the range of (±10%) around 2.4 GHz may be used. For example, the 2.45 GHz band may be used. A communication band around 5.7 GHz may also be used. While a high frequency band is required for high-speed data communication, a lower frequency band than that for data communication can be used for power supply.

[0111] The control device may be, for example, a single-board computer equipped with a processor. The control device may be, for example, a Raspberry Pi. The control device may also be realized by edge computing implemented using Python (registered trademark) on a Raspberry Pi. The control device may also be realized by a microcomputer, an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit), or a PLC (programmable logic controller).

[0112] The control device is not limited to the above examples and may be, for example, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, tablet, mobile phone, or personal digital assistant (PDA), or a wearable terminal such as glasses, a wristwatch, or clothing. The control device may also be a desktop computer, a portable laptop computer, a server located on the cloud or a network, or a combination of multiple such terminals. For example, a combination of one smartphone and one wearable terminal can logically function as one terminal. Other information processing terminals may also be used.

[0113] A main memory device can be associated with the control device. This main memory device stores various programs, applications, etc. (modules), and the processor executes these programs and applications to realize each functional element of the overall system. Each of these modules may be implemented in hardware, for example by integration. Each module may be an independent program or application, or may be implemented as a subprogram or function within a single integrated program or application.

[0114] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and includes various modifications. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail to clearly explain the present invention, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to those including all of the described configurations. Furthermore, it is possible to replace part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment, or to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. Furthermore, it is possible to add, delete, or replace part of the configuration of each embodiment with other configurations.

[0115] Furthermore, the above-described configurations, functions, processing units, processing means, etc. may be partially or entirely implemented in hardware, for example, by designing them as integrated circuits. The above-described configurations, functions, etc. may also be implemented in software, with a processor interpreting and executing a program that implements each function. Information such as the programs, tables, and files that implement each function can be stored in a memory, a recording device such as a hard disk or SSD (Solid State Drive), or a recording medium such as an IC card, SD card, or DVD.

[0116] In addition, the control lines and information lines shown are those that are considered necessary for the explanation, and do not necessarily show all the control lines and information lines in the product. In reality, it can be assumed that almost all components are interconnected. The above-described embodiments disclose at least the configurations described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0117] 1...Transmitter, 2...Electronic device, 9...Front case (housing), 10...Main board, 20...Antenna board, 30...Metal plate, 40...Rear case (lid), 50...Packing, 60...Chassis, 70...Connector, 80...Fixing bracket, 90...Panel

Claims

1. The housing and a circuit board that is disposed within the housing and outputs a high-frequency signal; an antenna member disposed within the housing; a metal plate disposed between the circuit board and the antenna member within the housing; a heat transfer member disposed between the circuit board and the metal plate and configured to transfer heat generated in the circuit board to the metal plate; a holding portion that is provided between the antenna member and the metal plate in the housing, holds the antenna member and the metal plate, and has electrical insulation, a space is formed between the antenna member and the metal plate, The metal plate is arranged to cover an opening leading to the space.

2. The transmitter of claim 1 , wherein the metal plate is electrically coupled to the circuit board.

3. 3. The transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the metal plate forms a directivity of an antenna in the transmitter and functions as a noise shield for the circuit board and the antenna member.

4. a connecting member that electrically connects the circuit board and the antenna member; 3. The transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member electrically connects the circuit board and the antenna member through an opening formed in the metal plate.

5. a conductive material is disposed between the metal plate and the circuit board; 3. The transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the metal plate and the circuit board are electrically connected by the conductive material.

6. The transmitter according to claim 5 , wherein the surface of the circuit board facing the metal plate is a GND that is electrically connected to the metal plate via the conductive material.

7. The transmitter according to claim 6 , wherein the metal plate is larger in size than the circuit board in a plan view.

8. The transmitter according to claim 5 , wherein the metal plate functions as a heat dissipation portion that dissipates heat transferred from the circuit board via the conductive material.

9. The device further includes a cover member that is a second metal plate that covers the opening of the housing, a heat transfer material is disposed between the cover member and the circuit board; The transmitter according to claim 8 , wherein the cover functions as a heat dissipation section that dissipates heat transferred from the circuit board via the heat transfer material.

10. a chassis formed of a synthetic resin material and disposed between the circuit board and the antenna member within the housing, as the holding portion; the metal plate is disposed on one surface of the chassis, 3. The transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the antenna member is attached to the other side of the chassis.

11. the chassis has legs extending toward the other side, The transmitter of claim 10 , wherein the antenna member is attached to the leg.

12. 3. The transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the circuit board and the metal plate is smaller than the distance between the metal plate and the antenna member.

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