Wearable antenna device

Abstract

The present invention provides a wearable antenna device that provides a favorable directionality while minimizing increase in the thickness of the device. This wearable antenna device comprises: an antenna part (2) which is attached to a portion of a garment (1) having a body housing part (1a) for housing a portion of the body (4); and a functional element (3), at least a part of which is disposed on the garment (1) at a position that faces the antenna part (2) across the body housing part (1a). The functional element (3) either serves as another antenna part or functions to reflect, shield, and / or absorb electric waves.

Description

Wearable Antenna Device

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a wearable antenna device.

[0002] In recent years, various wireless communication services have become available outdoors, such as mobile phones, wireless LANs (Local Area Networks), and WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access). Furthermore, voice transmission and wireless digital image transmission using wireless microphones and transceivers have also become widespread, and in order to effectively utilize limited frequencies, it is important to manage frequency allocations in accordance with the Radio Law.

[0003] In addition, at large-scale sporting events (such as the Olympics, Paralympics, and World Cups for various sports), media organizations from around the world gather and transmit video and audio data in real time using various wireless communication devices. For this reason, different frequencies are assigned to each media organization in each country. In order for each media organization to communicate smoothly, it is desirable for them to use the frequencies assigned to them correctly.

[0004] Radio wave monitoring is performed to ensure that such frequency allocations are properly observed. Antennas for radio wave monitoring are required to have wideband performance to monitor radio waves over a wide range of frequencies. Furthermore, because large-scale event venues tend to be crowded with large numbers of spectators and media, there is a growing need for wearable antenna devices that can monitor radio waves while moving smoothly through crowds. Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which an antenna having a planar conductive sheet is attached or sewn to clothing such as a shirt. Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration in which a planar antenna is attached to clothing such as a blazer or jacket using a hook-and-loop fastener or the like.

[0005] JP 2010-200200 A Japanese Patent No. 5516422 A

[0006] Wearable antenna devices are typically configured with planar antenna elements rather than three-dimensional elements. Examples of planar antenna elements with broadband performance include bowtie antennas and spiral antennas. However, bowtie and spiral antennas have wide directivity, meaning that the radio wave reception level is equal in both the forward and reverse directions, which are perpendicular to the plane containing the antenna element. This makes it difficult to focus the directivity in a specific direction. This is disadvantageous when searching for radio wave sources during radio wave monitoring.

[0007] The configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1 can adjust the directivity caused by the current at the upper and lower sides of the curved peripheral shape of the planar conductive sheet. However, this configuration does not particularly consider the directivity in a direction perpendicular to the planar conductive sheet. Similarly, the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 2 also does not particularly consider the directivity in a direction perpendicular to the planar antenna.

[0008] To concentrate the directivity of a planar antenna in a specific direction, it is possible to place a reflector or a metal cavity at a distance of approximately λ / 4 from the antenna element. The optimal location of the reflector or cavity (optimal distance from the antenna element) varies depending on the frequency. In the case of an antenna receiving radio waves over a wide frequency band, if a reflector or a metal cavity is fixedly placed at a specific position relative to the antenna element, the antenna performance may be significantly degraded depending on the frequency due to the influence of reflected waves from the reflector or cavity. As a countermeasure, a radio wave absorber may be attached to the reflector or cavity to attenuate the reflected waves. However, stacking a reflector or a cavity on the antenna element and then providing a radio wave absorber on the reflector or cavity increases the thickness of the wearable antenna device, causing discomfort to the user when wearing the wearable antenna device. For example, wearing clothing incorporating such a wearable antenna device is uncomfortable and undesirable.

[0009] Therefore, at least one of the objects of the present disclosure is to solve the above-mentioned problems and provide a wearable antenna device that has good directivity while keeping the thickness small.

[0010] The wearable antenna device of the present disclosure includes an antenna unit attached to a portion of clothing having a body accommodation portion that accommodates a portion of the body, and a functional element located on at least a portion of the clothing facing the antenna unit across the body accommodation portion, the functional element being either another antenna unit or an element that performs at least one of reflecting, blocking, and absorbing radio waves.

[0011] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a wearable antenna device that has good directivity while keeping the thickness small.

[0012] FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a wearable antenna device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 6B is an expanded view of a wearable antenna device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 7A is a front view showing the inside of the front body of the clothing of the wearable antenna device shown in FIG. 2A; FIG. 7B is a front view showing the inside of the back body of the clothing of the wearable antenna device shown in FIG. 2A; FIG. 7C is an exploded view of the wearable antenna device shown in FIG. 2A; FIG. 7D is an enlarged front view of a portion of the antenna unit of the wearable antenna device shown in FIG. 2A; FIG. 7E is a front view of a power supply member attached to the antenna unit shown in FIG. 4; FIG. 7F is a rear view of the power supply member shown in FIG. 5A; FIG. 7F is a front view showing the inside of the front body of the clothing of a modified example of the wearable antenna device according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 7G is an expanded view of the wearable antenna device shown in FIG. 7A with the antenna unit removed; FIG. 7H is a front view showing the inside of the front body of the clothing of a modified example of the wearable antenna device according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 10B is a development view of a state in which the antenna unit of a wearable antenna device according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure has been removed; FIG. 10C is a front view of the antenna unit of a wearable antenna device according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 10D is a front view of an antenna unit of a modified example of a wearable antenna device according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 10E is a development view of a state in which the antenna unit of a wearable antenna device according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure has been removed; FIG. 10F is a front view of an antenna unit of a modified example of a wearable antenna device according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 10G is a perspective view of a wearable antenna device according to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 10H is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a wearable antenna device according to a seventh embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0013] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below. A wearable antenna device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, as schematically shown in FIG. 1 , includes an antenna unit 2 and a functional element 3 in a garment 1 having a body accommodation portion 1a that accommodates a portion of a body 4 (schematically shown by a two-dot chain line). Specifically, the antenna unit 2 is disposed in a portion of the garment 1, and the functional element 3 is disposed in a position on the garment 1 such that at least a portion of the antenna unit 2 faces the antenna unit 2 across the body accommodation portion 1a. Therefore, at least a portion of the antenna unit 2 and the functional element 3 face each other across the body accommodation portion 1a. For convenience, the antenna unit 2 side of the body accommodation portion 1a will be referred to as the "front" and the direction opposite the antenna unit 2 will be referred to as the "rear," although these may not necessarily coincide with the front (abdominal side) and rear (back side) of the human body when the garment is worn.

[0014] In the configuration of this embodiment, the body 4 accommodated (inserted) in the body accommodation portion 1a located between the antenna portion 2 and the functional element 3 functions as a dielectric having frequency characteristics. Specifically, the water in the body, which is a major component of the body 4, absorbs and attenuates radio waves.

[0015] Furthermore, if the functional element 3 is an element that performs at least one of reflecting, absorbing, and blocking radio waves, radio waves from the direction in which the functional element 3 is located are reflected, absorbed, or blocked by the functional element 3, and are also absorbed or attenuated by the body 4 located between the functional element 3 and the antenna unit 2. Therefore, the amount of radio waves that reach the antenna unit 2 is reduced. As a result, when the antenna unit 2 receives radio waves, the reception level of radio waves arriving from in front of the antenna unit 2 is high, while the reception level of radio waves arriving from the functional element 3 and the body 4 is low, resulting in a large difference in reception levels between the two directions. Therefore, the antenna unit 2 achieves highly directional reception. This is extremely useful, for example, when the antenna unit 2 is used as a radio wave receiving antenna for monitoring radio waves and searching for the source of illegal radio waves.

[0016] When the antenna unit 2 radiates radio waves, the radio waves traveling from the antenna unit 2 toward the functional element 3 and the body 4 are absorbed or attenuated by the body 4, as in the example described above, and are also reflected, absorbed, or blocked by the functional element 3. Therefore, the level of the radio waves traveling from the antenna unit 2 toward the functional element 3 and the body 4 is reduced. As a result, the level of the radio waves radiated forward from the antenna unit 2 is high, while the level of the radio waves traveling toward the functional element 3 and the body 4 is low, resulting in a large difference in the levels in both directions. Therefore, highly directional transmission by the antenna unit 2 is achieved. In this way, this embodiment achieves high directivity in both reception and transmission of radio waves using the antenna unit 2.

[0017] In particular, when the functional element 3 is a reflecting element, the functional element 3 reflects radio waves that arrive from the front of the antenna unit 2 and reach the functional element 3, and redirects them back toward the antenna unit 2. This may further increase the radio wave reception level or radiation level at the antenna unit 2. However, if there is a possibility that the radio waves reflected by the functional element 3 may have an undesirable effect on the performance of the antenna unit 2, it is advisable to provide a functional element 3 that has a blocking or absorbing function rather than a reflecting function.

[0018] Furthermore, even when the functional element 3 functions as another antenna unit, it is effective for the body 4 located between the antenna unit 2 and the functional element 3 to function as a dielectric and absorb or attenuate radio waves. That is, when radio waves are emitted from the antenna unit 2, they travel forward at a high level, but are absorbed or attenuated by the body 4 and transmitted to the functional element 3 at a low level. Therefore, radio waves emitted from the antenna unit 2 in front do not significantly affect the reception or transmission of radio waves by the functional element 3 functioning as another antenna unit. That is, when the functional element 3 transmits radio waves as another antenna unit, radio waves arriving from the antenna unit 2 side (front) are absorbed or attenuated by the body 4 and do not reach the functional element 3 very often. As a result, the functional element 3 can radiate radio waves in the direction opposite the antenna unit 2 without being affected by radio waves from the antenna unit 2. Meanwhile, radio waves radiated from the functional element 3 toward the antenna unit 2 side (front) are also absorbed or attenuated by the body 4. As a result, the functional element 3 is capable of transmitting radio waves with high directivity, similar to the antenna section 2 .

[0019] When the functional element 3 receives radio waves as another antenna unit, the radio waves arriving from the antenna unit 2 are absorbed or attenuated by the body 4 and do not reach the functional element 3 very much. As a result, the functional element 3 functioning as an antenna unit achieves high directivity, with a high reception level for radio waves from the opposite side of the antenna unit 2 and a high reception level for radio waves from the antenna unit 2 side (front). Note that when the antenna unit 2 receives radio waves and the functional element 3 transmits radio waves, the antenna unit 2 can receive with high directivity and the functional element 3 can transmit with high directivity. This can be understood by reading the above explanation with the terms antenna unit 2 and functional element 3 interchangeably.

[0020] When both the antenna unit 2 and the functional element 3 receive radio waves, both elements can receive with high directivity. This is because at least a portion of the antenna unit 2 and the functional element 3 face each other with the body accommodation portion 1a and the body 4 in between, and therefore radio waves from the functional element 3 side relative to the antenna unit 2 are absorbed or attenuated by the body 4. Also, radio waves from the antenna unit 2 side relative to the functional element 3 are absorbed or attenuated by the body 4.

[0021] As described above, in this embodiment, the antenna unit 2 can transmit and receive highly directional radio waves, primarily due to the action of the body 4, which is a dielectric. This high directivity reduces the impact of radio waves arriving from undesired directions on the antenna unit 2, and also reduces undesirable effects on other components caused by radio waves from the antenna unit 2. Therefore, the antenna unit 2 can be made larger, thereby enabling a high-performance wearable antenna device to be constructed. Furthermore, if the functional element 3, at least a portion of which faces the antenna unit 2 across the body accommodation portion 1a, is an element that reflects, absorbs, or blocks radio waves, the directionality of the radio wave transmission and reception of the antenna unit 2 can be further improved, resulting in a larger size and higher performance. On the other hand, if the functional element 3 functions as another antenna, the functional element 3 can transmit and receive highly directional radio waves, similar to the antenna unit 2, primarily due to the action of the body 4, which is a dielectric, thereby enabling a larger size and higher performance. As described above, this embodiment contributes to improving directionality whether the antenna unit 2 transmits or receives, and whether the functional element 3 reflects, absorbs, or blocks radio waves or functions as another antenna unit. Furthermore, by designing the antenna unit 2 and the electrical system connected to it after taking the frequency characteristics of the body 4 into consideration in advance, it is possible to effectively use the body 4 as a dielectric and easily form a wearable antenna device that has appropriate performance (according to the required specifications) according to the actual conditions of use.

[0022] 1, almost the entire antenna unit 2 and the functional element 3 face each other across the body accommodation unit 1a. However, only a portion of each of the antenna unit 2 and the functional element 3 may face each other across the body accommodation unit 1a. That is, the antenna unit may be attached to a portion of clothing, and the functional element 3 may be disposed at a position where at least a portion of the clothing faces the antenna unit across the body accommodation unit. Such a configuration is also within the scope of the present disclosure, because the body 4 accommodated in the body accommodation unit 1a can absorb or attenuate radio waves, thereby achieving at least some effect in improving the directionality of radio wave transmission and reception by the antenna unit 2.

[0023] More detailed embodiments of the wearable antenna device of the present disclosure are described below. Fig. 2A is an exploded view of a wearable antenna device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 2B is a front view showing the inside of the front body of the wearable antenna device. Fig. 2C is a front view showing the inside of the back body of the wearable antenna device. Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the wearable antenna device, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged front view of a portion of the antenna unit of the wearable antenna device. Figs. 5A and 5B are front and rear views of a power supply member attached to the antenna unit.

[0024] In this embodiment, the wearable antenna device, similar to the first embodiment described above, includes an antenna unit 2 disposed on a portion of the garment 1 and a functional element 3 disposed on at least a portion of the garment 1 facing each other across the body accommodation section 1a. In this embodiment, a vest is used as the garment 1 in the wearable antenna device. The antenna unit 2 is disposed on the front portion of the vest 1, and the functional element 3 is disposed on the back portion. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3 , a hook-and-loop fastener 5 is attached to the inside of the front portion of the vest 1 (the side closest to the body 4). As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B , the antenna unit 2 includes a planar antenna element 8, such as a spiral antenna, formed on a flexible, sheet-like base 7. For example, a spiral antenna made of conductive thread, cloth, ink, and / or film is formed on a thin, insulating base 7 made of fabric or resin. Furthermore, although not shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B , a hook-and-loop fastener 6 is attached to the base 7 in a position opposite the hook-and-loop fastener 5 on the vest 1, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 . The hook-and-loop fastener 6 may be formed to avoid the antenna element 8, or may be formed to overlap the antenna element 8. By joining the hook-and-loop fasteners 5 and 6 shown in FIG. 3 , the antenna unit 2 can be attached to the inside of the front body of the vest 1 (the side closest to the body 4). Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 2A, 2C, and 3, the functional element 3 is disposed on the inside of the back body of the vest 1. The antenna unit 2 and the functional element 3 can be formed in a similar manner. For example, they can be formed directly on the garment 1 using conductive thread, cloth, ink, film, etc., or they can be indirectly attached to the garment 1. For example, the functional element 3 can be formed by attaching a sheet of conductive material to the back body of the vest 1 or by applying conductive ink to the back body of the vest 1. The functional element 3 may be configured with a conductive material formed over the entire surface as shown in the figure, or may be configured with a conductive material patterned, for example, into a mesh shape, or may be configured with a conductive material formed in any other shape.

[0025] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 , a power supply snap button 9 is provided on a portion of the antenna element 8 (in the illustrated example, the innermost end of the spiral antenna). A power supply member 14, shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B , is attached to this power supply snap button 9. Specifically, a coaxial cable 12 is connected to a printed circuit board 11 having a power supply snap button 10 corresponding to the power supply snap button 9, and the coaxial cable 12 is further connected to an electronic device 13, such as a spectrum analyzer, to form the power supply member 14. The power supply snap button 10 of this power supply member 14 is fitted into the power supply snap button 9 of the antenna unit 2, thereby connecting the electronic device 13 to the antenna element 8. This allows the electronic device 13 to analyze radio waves received by the antenna unit 2 and to emit required radio waves from the antenna unit 2 in response to commands from the electronic device 13. If the functional element 3 is an element used as another antenna unit, a similar power supply snap button and power supply member, not shown, can be provided to form a power supply mechanism for the functional element 3.

[0026] In this embodiment, the antenna unit 2 and functional element 3 are attached to the inside of the vest 1 (the side closest to the body 4, i.e., the back side) and are positioned closer to the body within the body accommodation section 1a than when they are attached to the outside (front side). Furthermore, the vest 1 of this embodiment can be fastened in a tight, adherent state along the user's body 4 using a hook-and-loop fastener 15 provided on the side belt section 1b located at the waist. When the antenna unit 2 and functional element 3 are held in close contact with the body 4 in this configuration, no gaps are created between the antenna unit 2 or functional element 3 and the body 4, which functions as a dielectric, through which radio waves can circulate. In other words, the antenna unit 2 and functional element 3 can be maintained as electrically isolated as possible. Therefore, the antenna unit 2 and functional element 3 can function independently, providing high reliability in achieving the aforementioned effects, such as improved directivity. Furthermore, the antenna unit 2 and functional element 3 can be enlarged without significant concern about electrical connection between the antenna unit 2 and functional element 3 due to radio wave circumvention. This significantly contributes to improving the performance of the antenna unit 2 and functional element 3. However, even when the antenna unit 2 and functional element 3 are attached to the inside of the vest 1 (the body side 4, the back side), they are covered with a shirt or cloth (not shown) to prevent the antenna element 8 from coming into direct contact with the body 4 and becoming electrically conductive. In this embodiment, the antenna unit 2 and functional element 3 may be attached to the outside (front side) of clothing (e.g., the vest 1) taking into account the design and functionality of the clothing. Also, the antenna unit 2 and functional element 3 may be held in a state where they are not in close contact with the body 4. Even in such a case, the configuration of this embodiment is effective for improving the directionality of radio wave transmission and reception and obtaining the associated effects, as described above.

[0027] In this embodiment, the antenna unit 2 is disposed on the front side (front, abdominal side) of the human body when the garment (vest) 1 is worn, and the functional element 3 is disposed on the opposite side, i.e., the rear side (rear, back side). As a result, directivity is concentrated in the front of the human body, i.e., in the line of sight of the user wearing the vest 1, making it extremely easy to locate the source of illegal radio waves when they are received, for example.

[0028] 6A to 6C are diagrams showing a modified example of this embodiment. In this modified example, the antenna element 8 is a rectangular spiral antenna rather than a circular or nearly circular spiral. In this way, antenna elements 8 of various shapes can be used, and planar antenna elements of various forms other than spiral antennas can also be used. The rest of the configuration is the same as the configuration shown in FIGS. 2A to 5B, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0029] 7A and 7B are diagrams illustrating a third embodiment of the wearable antenna device of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the functional element 3 is formed over a large area, extending not only from the rear (back side) of the vest 1 but also to the front of the shoulders. While the rear and front sections of the vest 1 are shown separated in the development views such as FIG. 7B for convenience, they are actually continuous, with the functional element 3 located across the entire back section connected to the functional element 3 located on the shoulders of the front section. In this configuration, the larger functional element 3 improves its functionality. Therefore, the large-area functional element 3 contributes to further improving the directivity of the antenna section 2 and also improves the performance of the functional element 3 itself when it functions as another antenna section. The remaining configuration is similar to that of the first embodiment, and therefore will not be described again. Furthermore, as shown in the modified example in FIG. 7C, the antenna element 8 of this embodiment may also be a planar antenna element of various shapes, such as a rectangular spiral antenna.

[0030] 8A and 8B are diagrams illustrating a fourth embodiment of the wearable antenna device of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, as in the third embodiment, the functional element 3 is formed over a large area, extending not only to the rear (back side) of the vest 1 but also to the front of the shoulders. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the antenna unit 2 is attached to the vest 1 using snap buttons 16 and 17 rather than hook-and-loop fasteners 5 and 6. This configuration also facilitates attachment of the antenna unit 2 to the vest 1. Furthermore, as shown in the modified example in FIG. 8C, this embodiment can also use a planar antenna element 8 of various shapes, such as a rectangular spiral antenna.

[0031] 9A and 9B are diagrams illustrating a fifth embodiment of the wearable antenna device of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, as in the third and fourth embodiments, the functional element 3 is formed over a large area, extending not only to the rear (back side) of the vest 1 but also to the front of the shoulders. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the antenna unit 2 is attached to the vest 1 using fasteners 18 and 19, rather than hook-and-loop fasteners 5 and 6 or snap buttons 16 and 17. This configuration also facilitates attachment of the antenna unit 2 to the vest 1. Furthermore, as shown in the modified example in FIG. 9C, this embodiment can also use a planar antenna element 8 of various shapes, such as a rectangular spiral antenna.

[0032] The antenna unit 2 can be attached to the garment 1 using various clothing attachment / detachment mechanisms, such as the hook-and-loop fasteners 5 and 6, the snap buttons 16 and 17, and the zippers 18 and 19 of the first to fifth embodiments, or buttons (not shown). All of these clothing attachment / detachment mechanisms are generally readily available at low cost, and the attachment process and the attachment / detachment process of the antenna unit 2 using them can be performed extremely easily. The user can decide at their own discretion which specific attachment / detachment mechanism to use. The functional element 3 may also be attached to the garment 1 using a similar clothing attachment / detachment mechanism.

[0033] FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a sixth embodiment of the wearable antenna device of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, an overcoat is used as the garment 1 instead of a vest, and the antenna unit 2 is attached to the inside of the rear (back side) of the overcoat 1 using snap buttons 20. This configuration allows the power supply member 14 and the electronic device connected thereto (not shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B ) to be held without being exposed to the front. A functional element may be provided on the front (abdominal side). In this manner, the position of the antenna unit 2 can be changed depending on the design and functionality of the garment 1. Furthermore, the wearable antenna device of the present disclosure can be configured using various garments, not limited to vests as in the second to fifth embodiments or overcoats as in the sixth embodiment. Depending on the design and function of the garment, the wearable antenna device of the present disclosure may be configured using any part of the body, such as the abdomen, chest, shoulders, back, waist, buttocks, arms, legs, neck, head, or fingers, as a dielectric. In other words, regardless of the configuration in which the antenna unit 2 and at least a part of the functional element 3 face each other across any part of the body 4, the effects of the present disclosure described above (e.g., improved directivity of the antenna unit 2) can be achieved.

[0034] A seventh embodiment of the wearable antenna device of the present disclosure, as schematically shown in FIG. 11 , has a configuration in which only a portion of the functional element 3 faces the antenna unit 2 across the body accommodation unit 1a. Even with this configuration, the aforementioned effects of the present disclosure (e.g., improved directivity of the antenna unit) can be achieved to some extent. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the functional element 3 is provided with a radio wave absorber 21. This configuration further improves the radio wave absorption function of the functional element 3, making it easy to configure a wearable antenna device according to required specifications.

[0035] In the present disclosure, a body accommodation portion 1a for accommodating a part of the body is disposed between the antenna unit 2 and the functional element 3, and the body 4 accommodated in the body accommodation portion 1a functions as a dielectric having specific frequency characteristics. In the present disclosure, the desired performance of the wearable antenna device is achieved by actively utilizing the dielectric function of the body 4, i.e., the absorption or attenuation of radio waves by water, which is a major component of the body 4. Furthermore, the dielectric function of the body 4 improves the directionality of radio wave reception and transmission by the antenna unit 2, thereby realizing good functionality and performance as a wearable antenna device used, for example, for radio wave monitoring. Note that the present disclosure may also be configured by appropriately combining some of the configurations of the first to seventh embodiments described above.

[0036] Although the present disclosure has been described above with reference to the embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the above. Various modifications that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present disclosure within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0037] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-091928, filed May 2, 2017, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0038] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 clothing 1a body accommodation section 1b side belt section 2 antenna section 3 functional element 4 body 5, 6 hook-and-loop fastener 7 base 8 antenna element 15 hook-and-loop fastener (clothing attachment / detachment mechanism) 16, 17 snap button (clothing attachment / detachment mechanism) 18, 19 fastener (clothing attachment / detachment mechanism) 20 snap button (clothing attachment / detachment mechanism) 21 radio wave absorber

Claims

------25 / 11 / 2562------(OCR)1. Wearable antenna device comprising an antenna attached to a portion of clothing, a torso support portion, and functional elements arranged in one position of the clothing such that at least one of the functional elements faces the antenna, with the torso support inserted between them, and the functional element being another antenna or one of the elements performing at least one of the following functions: reflection, shielding, or absorption of radio waves.

2. Wearable antenna device under claim 1 where the antenna and functional elements are arranged on the front surface of the clothing and the antenna and one or more of the functional elements are arranged on the back surface of the clothing.

3. Wearable antenna device under claim 1 or 2 where the antenna and functional elements are arranged on the inside, which is the side of the clothing closest to the torso.4.Wearable antenna devices under any of the claims 1 to 3 are provided for in such a way that the antenna and functional elements are arranged in such a way that they make close contact with the supported torso in the torso support.

5. Wearable antenna devices under any of the claims 1 to 4 are provided for in such a way that the antenna and functional elements each have at least one conductive thread, fabric, ink, or film and are flexible.

6. Wearable antenna devices under any of the claims 1 to 5 are provided for incorporating a garment attachment / detachment mechanism to attach the antenna and functional elements to the garment, where the garment attachment / detachment mechanism has at least one surface fastener, fastener, button, or snap fastener. 7.Wearable antenna device compliant with any one of the claims 1 to 6, whereby the functional element shall be an element that performs at least one of the following radio wave reflection, shielding, and absorption, and the radio wave absorber shall be provided in the functional element.------------DEPCT631. Wearable antenna device compliant with an antenna section attached to clothing, a body support section, and a functional element arranged in the clothing such that at least one of the functional elements faces the antenna section, with the body support section inserted between them, whereby the functional element shall be another antenna section or an element that performs at least one of the following radio wave reflection, shielding, and absorption.2.Wearable antenna device under Reputation 1 where the antenna and functional components are arranged on the front surface of the garment and one or more antennas and functional components are arranged on the back surface of the garment.

3. Wearable antenna device under Reputation 1 or 2 where the antenna and functional components are arranged on the inside surface of the garment closest to the torso.

4. Wearable antenna device under either Reputation 1 to 3 where the antenna and functional components are arranged in such a way that they make intrinsic contact with the torso supported in the torso support.

5. Wearable antenna device under either Reputation 1 to 4 where each antenna and functional component contains at least one conductive thread, fabric, ink, or film and is flexible. 6.Wearable antennas under any of the claims 1 to 5, which include a garment attachment / detachment mechanism to attach the antenna and one or both functional elements to the garment, where the garment attachment / detachment mechanism includes at least one of the following: a surface fastener, fastener, button, or snap fastener.

7. Wearable antennas under any of the claims 1 to 6, where the functional element performs at least one of the following functions: a reflector, a shield, or a radio absorber, and the radio absorber is provided in the functional element.