Broadband antenna

Abstract

A broadband antenna (1) comprises a substrate (70), a ground conductor (72), and a plate-shaped conductor (2). The plate-shaped conductor (2) includes: a first part (10) having a long part (12) along the main surface of the substrate (70); a second part (20) disposed along the main surface of the substrate (70) and connected to the long part (12); a ground part (52) connected to the ground conductor (72); a power supply part (41); and a first capacitance part (31) and a second capacitance part (32) connected to the second part (20), extending from the second part (20) toward the ground conductor (72), and separated from the ground conductor (72). The ground part (52) is connected to one end portion of at least one of the long part (12) and the second part (20) in a first direction. The power supply part (41), the first capacitance part (31), and the second capacitance part (32) are connected to one end portion of the second part (20) in a second direction. The power supply part (41) is disposed between the first capacitance part (31) and the second capacitance part (32).

Description

Wideband Antenna

[0001] The present disclosure relates to wideband antennas.

[0002] In recent years, wireless terminals based on standards such as wireless local area networks (LANs) have begun to be installed not only in information devices such as personal computers but also in home appliances such as televisions and audio equipment. To perform wireless communication in such devices, a wireless communication antenna is disposed within the housing of the device. In such antennas, a wide resonant frequency band is required to support wireless communication according to multiple standards (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] JP 2015-050517 A

[0004] The present disclosure provides a broadband antenna that resonates in a desired frequency band.

[0005] a first portion having an elongated portion spaced apart from the ground conductor and arranged along the main surface of the substrate; a second portion spaced apart from the ground conductor and arranged along the main surface of the substrate and connected to the elongated portion; a ground portion connected to the ground conductor; a power feeding portion fixed to the substrate without contacting the ground conductor and connected to the second portion to receive a signal; and a first capacitive portion and a second capacitive portion connected to the second portion, extending from the second portion toward the ground conductor and spaced apart from the ground conductor; When the longitudinal direction is defined as a first direction and a direction intersecting the first direction and running along a main surface of the substrate is defined as a second direction, the length of the elongated portion in the first direction is longer than the length of the second portion in the first direction, and in a plan view of the substrate, the elongated portion and the second portion are arranged in the second direction, the ground portion is connected to one end in the first direction of at least one of the elongated portion and the second portion, the power supply portion, the first capacitance portion, and the second capacitance portion are connected to one end in the second direction of the second portion, and one end of the elongated portion in the second direction is connected to the other end in the second direction of the second portion, and the power supply portion is disposed between the first capacitance portion and the second capacitance portion in the first direction.

[0006] A wideband antenna according to another aspect of the present disclosure includes a substrate, a film-like ground conductor disposed on a main surface of the substrate and connected to ground, and a plate-like conductor fixed to the substrate, the plate-like conductor having a first portion having an elongated portion spaced apart from the ground conductor and disposed along the main surface of the substrate, a second portion spaced apart from the ground conductor and disposed along the main surface of the substrate and connected to the elongated portion, a ground portion connected to the ground conductor, a power feeding portion fixed to the substrate without contacting the ground conductor and connected to the second portion to receive a signal, and an additional ground portion connected to the ground conductor, wherein a longitudinal direction of the elongated portion and the second portion is defined as a first direction, and the first direction is defined as a second direction. When a direction intersecting the first direction and along a main surface of the substrate is defined as a second direction, the length of the elongated portion in the first direction is longer than the length of the second portion in the first direction, and in a plan view of the substrate, the elongated portion and the second portion are arranged in the second direction, the ground portion is connected to an end portion in the first direction of at least one of the elongated portion and the second portion, the power supply portion is connected to one end portion in the second direction of the second portion, the one end portion of the elongated portion in the second direction is connected to the other end portion of the second portion in the second direction, and the additional ground portion is connected to the other end portion of the elongated portion in the second direction and is spaced apart from the ground portion.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, a wideband antenna that resonates in a desired frequency band can be realized.

[0008] Fig. 1 is a first perspective view of a wideband antenna according to embodiment 1. Fig. 2 is a second perspective view of the wideband antenna according to embodiment 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the wideband antenna according to embodiment 1. Fig. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between frequency and voltage standing wave ratio of the wideband antenna according to embodiment 1. Fig. 5 is a first perspective view of a wideband antenna according to embodiment 2. Fig. 6 is a second perspective view of the wideband antenna according to embodiment 2.

[0009] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] The embodiments described below are all comprehensive or specific examples, and the numerical values, shapes, materials, components, arrangement and connection of the components, steps, and order of steps shown in the following embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

[0011] In addition, each drawing is a schematic diagram and is not necessarily an exact illustration. In addition, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals in each drawing.

[0012] Furthermore, in this specification, terms indicating the relationship between elements, such as parallel and perpendicular, terms indicating the shape of elements, such as plate-like, and numerical ranges are not expressions that only express a strict meaning, but are expressions that also include a substantially equivalent range, for example, a difference of about a few percent.

[0013] (First embodiment) A wideband antenna according to a first embodiment will be described.

[0014] [1-1. Configuration] First, the configuration of a wideband antenna according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Figures 1, 2, and 3 are a first perspective view, a second perspective view, and a plan view, respectively, of a wideband antenna 1 according to this embodiment. Figures 1 to 3 show an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis that are perpendicular to each other.

[0015] The wideband antenna 1 according to this embodiment is an antenna that transmits and receives high-frequency signals. The high-frequency signals are not particularly limited, but may be, for example, signals in the 2.4 GHz band, 5 GHz band, or 6 GHz band based on wireless LAN standards. In this embodiment, the wideband antenna 1 resonates in the 2.4 GHz band, 5 GHz band, and 6 GHz band. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , the wideband antenna 1 includes a substrate 70, a ground conductor 72, and a plate-like conductor 2. In this embodiment, the wideband antenna 1 further includes a floating conductor 76.

[0016] The substrate 70 serves as a base for the wideband antenna 1 and is a plate-like member having a pair of main surfaces. At least one of the main surfaces of the substrate 70 is made of an insulating material. A ground conductor 72 and a floating conductor 76 are arranged on a main surface 71 of the substrate 70 made of an insulating material. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , the main surface 71 is a plane perpendicular to the Z-axis direction. In other words, the main surface 71 is parallel to the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. In this embodiment, the substrate 70 is an insulating substrate. The material of the substrate 70 is not particularly limited. For example, a glass epoxy substrate or the like can be used as the substrate 70.

[0017] The ground conductor 72 is a film-like conductor that is disposed on the main surface 71 of the substrate 70 and is connected to ground (i.e., grounded). The ground conductor 72 extends along the main surface 71. In other words, the ground conductor 72 extends along the XY plane. There are no particular limitations on the material of the ground conductor 72 as long as it is a conductor. For example, a copper film disposed on the main surface 71 of the substrate 70 can be used as the ground conductor 72.

[0018] The floating conductor 76 is a conductor disposed on the principal surface 71 of the substrate 70 and separated from the ground conductor 72. When the plate conductor 2 is removed from the substrate 70, the floating conductor 76 is electrically insulated from the ground conductor 72. When the plate conductor 2 is attached to the substrate 70, the floating conductor 76 is electrically connected to the ground conductor 72 via the plate conductor 2. As described above, in this specification, "separated" means physically separated (i.e., not in contact) and does not necessarily mean electrically isolated. The material of the floating conductor 76 is not particularly limited as long as it is a conductor. For example, a copper film disposed on the principal surface 71 of the substrate 70 can be used as the floating conductor 76. The floating conductor 76 and the ground conductor 72 may be formed in the same process. In this embodiment, the floating conductor 76 is disposed in an island shape within the opening of the ground conductor 72. The floating conductor 76 extends along the principal surface 71. In other words, the floating conductor 76 extends along the XY plane.

[0019] The plate conductor 2 is a plate-shaped conductive member fixed to the substrate 70. The plate conductor 2 is formed, for example, from a folded plate-shaped metal member. The plate conductor 2 has a first portion 10, a second portion 20, a ground portion 52, and a power supply portion 41, and functions as an inverted-F antenna. In this embodiment, the plate conductor 2 further has a first capacitance portion 31, a second capacitance portion 32, and an additional ground portion 54. The first portion 10, the second portion 20, the ground portion 52, the power supply portion 41, the first capacitance portion 31, the second capacitance portion 32, and the additional ground portion 54 of the plate conductor 2 are electrically connected to one another.

[0020] The first portion 10 has a first flat portion 11 that is spaced apart from the ground conductor 72 and is disposed along the main surface 71 of the substrate 70. In the present embodiment, the first portion 10 is disposed parallel to the XY plane. The first portion 10 is disposed at a predetermined distance greater than 0 from the ground conductor 72. The first portion 10 is electrically connected to the ground conductor 72 via the ground portion 52 and the additional ground portion 54.

[0021] The first flat portion 11 has a long portion 12 and a bent portion 14. In this embodiment, the long portion 12 and the bent portion 14 are each a plate-like portion arranged parallel to the main surface 71 of the substrate 70. In the following, the longitudinal direction of the long portion 12 (and the second portion 20) is referred to as the first direction, and the direction intersecting the first direction and along the main surface 71 of the substrate 70 is referred to as the second direction. In this embodiment, the first direction is a direction perpendicular to the second direction. In each drawing, the first direction corresponds to the X-axis direction, and the second direction corresponds to the Y-axis direction. The length of the long portion 12 in the first direction is longer than the length of the second portion 20 in the first direction.

[0022] In this embodiment, the ground portion 52 is connected to one end of the elongated portion 12 in the first direction (in other words, the end on the positive side in the X-axis direction).

[0023] The bent portion 14 is disposed at the other end of the elongated portion 12 in the first direction (in other words, the end on the negative side in the X-axis direction) and extends in the second direction. The bent portion 14 is a plate-like portion disposed parallel to the main surface 71 of the substrate 70 (i.e., parallel to the XY plane). The bent portion 14 is separated from the second portion 20. In other words, a slit is formed between the bent portion 14 and the second portion 20 (a second flat portion 22 of the second portion 20, which will be described later). The bent portion 14 is electrically connected to the second portion 20 via the elongated portion 12.

[0024] The first section 10 has a fixed portion 16 that is fixed to the substrate 70 without contacting the ground conductor 72. At least a portion of the fixed portion 16 extends in a direction intersecting the main surface 71 of the substrate 70 (i.e., a direction intersecting the XY plane). In this embodiment, the fixed portion 16 has a portion that extends in the Z-axis direction and a portion that extends on the main surface 71 of the substrate 70 in a direction parallel to the main surface 71 of the substrate 70 (i.e., a direction parallel to the XY plane). The portion of the fixed portion 16 that extends in a direction parallel to the main surface 71 of the substrate 70 is disposed on a floating conductor 76. The fixed portion 16 and the floating conductor 76 are joined by a conductive bonding material such as solder. The manner in which the fixed portion 16 is fixed to the substrate 70 is not limited thereto. For example, the fixing portion 16 does not need to have a portion extending in a direction parallel to the main surface 71 of the substrate 70, and a portion of the fixing portion 16 extending in a direction intersecting the main surface 71 of the substrate 70 (the Z-axis direction in this embodiment) may be fixed to the substrate 70. In this case, for example, a through hole for inserting the fixing portion 16 may be provided at a position of the substrate 70 corresponding to the fixing portion 16, and the fixing portion 16 and the substrate 70 may be fixed using a bonding material such as solder. Note that the portion of the fixing portion 16 extending in a direction intersecting the main surface 71 of the substrate 70 (the Z-axis direction in this embodiment) is an end of the bending portion 14 in the first direction, and is connected to an end farther from the second portion 20.

[0025] The second portion 20 is spaced apart from the ground conductor 72, arranged along the main surface 71 of the substrate 70, and connected to the elongated portion 12. In this embodiment, the second portion 20 is arranged along the X-axis direction. The second portion 20 is arranged so that its longitudinal direction coincides with the first direction. As shown in FIG. 3 , in a plan view of the substrate 70, the elongated portion 12 and the second portion 20 are arranged in the second direction. The power supply portion 41, the first capacitance portion 31, and the second capacitance portion 32 are connected to one end of the second portion 20 in the second direction. One end of the elongated portion 12 in the second direction is connected to the other end of the second portion 20 in the second direction. As a result, the second portion 20, the elongated portion 12, the power supply portion 41, the first capacitance portion 31, and the second capacitance portion 32 are electrically connected to one another. The second portion 20 is electrically connected to the ground conductor 72 via the long portion 12 of the first portion 10 , the ground portion 52 , and the additional ground portion 54 .

[0026] In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , the second portion 20 has a second flat portion 22 and a connection portion 24. The second flat portion 22 is disposed closer to the substrate 70 than the elongated portion 12. The second flat portion 22 is a plate-like portion disposed parallel to the main surface 71 of the substrate 70 (i.e., parallel to the XY plane). The power supply portion 41, the first capacitance portion 31, and the second capacitance portion 32 are connected to one end of the second flat portion 22 in the second direction. In this embodiment, the power supply portion 41, the first capacitance portion 31, and the second capacitance portion 32 are connected to the end of the second flat portion 22 on the positive side in the Y-axis direction. The connection portion 24 is connected to the other end of the second flat portion 22 in the second direction. In this embodiment, the connection portion 24 is connected to the end of the second flat portion 22 on the negative side in the Y-axis direction. A slit is formed between the second flat portion 22 and the bent portion 14 of the first flat portion 11.

[0027] The connection portion 24 connects the second flat portion 22 and the elongated portion 12 of the first portion 10. This electrically connects the second flat portion 22, the connection portion 24, and the elongated portion 12 to one another. In the present embodiment, the connection portion 24 extends in a direction intersecting with the main surface 71 of the substrate 70. More specifically, the connection portion 24 extends in a direction perpendicular to the main surface 71 of the substrate 70 (i.e., the Z-axis direction).

[0028] The ground portion 52 is connected to the ground conductor 72. The ground portion 52 is connected to one end in the first direction of at least one of the long portion 12 and the second portion 20. In the present embodiment, the ground portion 52 is connected to one end in the first direction of the long portion 12. More specifically, the ground portion 52 is connected to the end of the long portion 12 on the positive side in the X-axis direction. The ground portion 52 extends in a direction intersecting with the main surface 71 of the substrate 70. More specifically, the ground portion 52 extends in a direction perpendicular to the main surface 71 of the substrate 70 (i.e., the Z-axis direction) and in the second direction. The ground portion 52 and the ground conductor 72 are joined by a conductive joining member such as solder.

[0029] The additional ground portion 54 is connected to the ground conductor 72. The additional ground portion 54 is connected to the other end of the elongated portion 12 in the second direction (i.e., the end opposite the end connected to the second portion 20) and is separated from the ground portion 52. The additional ground portion 54 is electrically connected to the ground portion 52 via the elongated portion 12 of the first portion 10. In the plate conductor 2 according to this embodiment, the power supply portion 41 is disposed at one end of the plate conductor 2 in the second direction, and the additional ground portion 54 is disposed at the other end of the plate conductor 2 in the second direction. The additional ground portion 54 extends in a direction intersecting with the main surface 71 of the substrate 70. That is, the additional ground portion 54 extends in a direction intersecting with the XY plane. More specifically, the additional ground portion 54 extends in a direction perpendicular to the main surface 71 of the substrate 70 (i.e., the Z-axis direction) and in the first direction. The additional ground portion 54 and the ground conductor 72 are joined together by a conductive joining material such as solder.

[0030] The first capacitive portion 31 and the second capacitive portion 32 are connected to the second portion 20, extend from the second portion 20 toward the ground conductor 72, and are spaced apart from the ground conductor 72. The first capacitive portion 31 and the second capacitive portion 32 extend in a direction intersecting the main surface 71 of the substrate 70 (i.e., a direction intersecting the XY plane). In the present embodiment, the first capacitive portion 31 and the second capacitive portion 32 extend in a direction perpendicular to the main surface 71 of the substrate 70 (i.e., the Z-axis direction). The first capacitive portion 31 and the second capacitive portion 32 are connected to one end of the second portion 20 in the second direction. More specifically, the first capacitive portion 31 and the second capacitive portion 32 are connected to an end of the second portion 20 on the positive side in the Y-axis direction. The first capacitive portion 31 and the second capacitive portion 32 are arranged in the first direction. In the first direction, the power supply portion 41 is arranged between the first capacitive portion 31 and the second capacitive portion 32. The first capacitance unit 31 and the second capacitance unit 32 are connected at their ends in the first direction to the power supply unit 41. More specifically, the first capacitance unit 31 is connected at its negative end in the X-axis direction to the positive end of the power supply unit 41 in the X-axis direction, and the second capacitance unit 32 is connected at its positive end in the X-axis direction to the negative end of the power supply unit 41 in the X-axis direction.

[0031] In this embodiment, the distance between the first capacitive portion 31 and the ground conductor 72 is different from the distance between the second capacitive portion 32 and the ground conductor 72. More specifically, the distance between the first capacitive portion 31 and the ground conductor 72 is shorter than the distance between the second capacitive portion 32 and the ground conductor 72. In other words, the dimension of the first capacitive portion 31 in the Z-axis direction is larger than the dimension of the second capacitive portion 32 in the Z-axis direction.

[0032] In this embodiment, the dimensions in the first direction of the first capacitance portion 31 and the second capacitance portion 32 are different. More specifically, the dimension in the first direction of the first capacitance portion 31 is smaller than the dimension in the first direction of the second capacitance portion 32.

[0033] The power supply unit 41 is fixed to the substrate 70 without contacting the ground conductor 72, and is connected to the second portion 20 to receive a signal (high-frequency signal). The power supply unit 41 is disposed, for example, in an opening in the ground conductor 72 and is spaced apart from the ground conductor 72. The power supply unit 41 receives a signal from, for example, a through electrode (in other words, a via-hole electrode) or the like from the main surface 71 of the substrate 70 opposite the main surface 71 on which the ground conductor 72 is disposed. The power supply unit 41 and the through electrode or the like are joined by a conductive bonding member such as solder. The power supply unit 41 is electrically connected to the ground conductor 72 via the second portion 20, the elongated portion 12, the ground portion 52, and the additional ground portion 54.

[0034] In the present embodiment, the power supply unit 41 is connected to one end of the second section 20 in the second direction. In other words, the power supply unit 41 is connected to one of the ends of the second section 20 in the second direction opposite the end to which the elongated section 12 is connected. At least a portion of the power supply unit 41 extends in a direction intersecting the main surface 71 of the substrate 70 (i.e., a direction intersecting the XY plane). In the present embodiment, the power supply unit 41 has a portion that extends in a direction perpendicular to the main surface 71 of the substrate 70 (i.e., the Z-axis direction) and a portion that is connected to the portion and extends on the main surface 71 of the substrate 70 in a direction parallel to the main surface 71 of the substrate 70 (i.e., a direction parallel to the XY plane). The portion of the power supply unit 41 that extends in a direction parallel to the main surface 71 of the substrate 70 is fixed to the substrate 70. Note that power supply unit 41 does not need to have a portion extending in a direction parallel to main surface 71 of substrate 70, and a portion of power supply unit 41 extending in a direction intersecting main surface 71 of substrate 70 (the Z-axis direction in this embodiment) may be fixed to substrate 70. In this case, for example, a through hole or the like for inserting power supply unit 41 may be provided at a position on substrate 70 corresponding to power supply unit 41, and fixing portion 16 and substrate 70 may be fixed using a bonding material such as solder. Power supply unit 41 is disposed between first capacitance unit 31 and second capacitance unit 32 in the first direction. One end of power supply unit 41 in the first direction is connected to first capacitance unit 31, and the other end is connected to second capacitance unit 32. In this embodiment, the positive end of power supply unit 41 in the X-axis direction is connected to first capacitance unit 31, and the negative end of power supply unit 41 in the X-axis direction is connected to second capacitance unit 32.

[0035] [1-2. Effects] The effects of the wideband antenna 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between frequency and voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) of the wideband antenna 1 according to this embodiment.

[0036] A wideband antenna 1 according to a first aspect includes a substrate 70, a film-shaped ground conductor 72 that is disposed on a principal surface 71 of the substrate 70 and connected to ground, and a plate-shaped conductor 2 that is fixed to the substrate 70. The plate-shaped conductor 2 includes a first portion 10 that is spaced apart from the ground conductor 72 and has an elongated portion 12 that is disposed along the principal surface 71 of the substrate 70, a second portion 20 that is spaced apart from the ground conductor 72 and is disposed along the principal surface 71 of the substrate 70 and connected to the elongated portion 12, a ground portion 52 that is connected to the ground conductor 72, a power feeding portion 41 that is fixed to the substrate 70 without making contact with the ground conductor 72 and is connected to the second portion 20 to receive a signal, and a first capacitive portion 31 and a second capacitive portion 32 that are connected to the second portion 20, extend from the second portion 20 toward the ground conductor 72, and are spaced apart from the ground conductor 72. When the longitudinal direction of the long portion 12 and the second portion 20 is defined as a first direction and the direction intersecting the first direction and along the main surface 71 of the substrate 70 is defined as a second direction, the length of the long portion 12 in the first direction is longer than the length of the second portion 20 in the first direction. In a plan view of the substrate 70, the long portion 12 and the second portion 20 are arranged in the second direction. The ground portion 52 is connected to one end in the first direction of at least one of the long portion 12 and the second portion 20. The power supply portion 41, the first capacitance portion 31, and the second capacitance portion 32 are connected to one end in the second direction of the second portion 20, and one end in the second direction of the long portion 12 is connected to the other end in the second direction of the second portion 20. The power supply portion 41 is disposed between the first capacitance portion 31 and the second capacitance portion 32 in the first direction.

[0037] In this way, in the wideband antenna 1 according to the first aspect, a first capacitance section 31 and a second capacitance section 32 are arranged on either side of the power supply section 41 in the first direction, forming a capacitance between the power supply section 41 and the ground conductor 72.

[0038] Here, the effects of the wideband antenna 1 according to the first embodiment will be described while comparing an antenna of a comparative example with the wideband antenna 1 according to the first embodiment. The antenna of the comparative example differs from the wideband antenna 1 according to the first embodiment in that it does not include the first capacitance portion 31 and the second capacitance portion 32, but is the same in other respects. The antenna of the comparative example has a small VSWR only in two frequency bands: a narrow frequency band where resonance occurs mainly in the first portion 10, and a narrow frequency band where resonance occurs mainly in the second portion 20.

[0039] On the other hand, the wideband antenna 1 according to the first embodiment includes the first capacitance section 31 and the second capacitance section 32, thereby enabling the resonant frequency band to be broadened. In particular, the frequency band in which the second section 20 resonates can be broadened. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4 , the wideband antenna 1 according to the first embodiment can reduce the VSWR in the 2.4 GHz band in which the first section 10 resonates and in the frequency band from about 5 GHz to about 8 GHz in which the second section 20 resonates. In this way, the wideband antenna 1 according to the first embodiment can realize an antenna that resonates in a desired frequency band. The wideband antenna 1 can transmit and receive signals in the 2.4 GHz band, 5 GHz band, and 6 GHz band, which are used in wireless LAN standards, for example.

[0040] A wideband antenna 1 according to the second aspect includes a substrate 70, a film-like ground conductor 72 that is disposed on a principal surface 71 of the substrate 70 and connected to ground, and a plate-shaped conductor 2 that is fixed to the substrate 70. The plate-shaped conductor 2 includes a first portion 10 that is spaced apart from the ground conductor 72 and has an elongated portion 12 that is disposed along the principal surface 71 of the substrate 70, a second portion 20 that is spaced apart from the ground conductor 72, disposed along the principal surface 71 of the substrate 70, and connected to the elongated portion 12, a ground portion 52 that is connected to the ground conductor 72, a power feeding portion 41 that is fixed to the substrate 70 without making contact with the ground conductor 72, and is connected to the second portion 20 to receive a signal, and an additional ground portion 54 that is connected to the ground conductor 72. If the longitudinal direction of the long portion 12 and the second portion 20 is defined as a first direction, and a direction intersecting the first direction and running along the main surface 71 of the substrate 70 is defined as a second direction, the length of the long portion 12 in the first direction is longer than the length of the second portion 20 in the first direction. In a plan view of the substrate 70, the long portion 12 and the second portion 20 are arranged in the second direction, and the ground portion 52 is connected to an end portion in the first direction of at least one of the long portion 12 and the second portion 20. The power supply portion 41 is connected to one end portion in the second direction of the second portion 20. One end portion in the second direction of the long portion 12 is connected to the other end portion in the second direction of the second portion 20. The additional ground portion 54 is connected to the other end portion in the second direction of the long portion 12 and is spaced apart from the ground portion 52.

[0041] In the wideband antenna 1 according to the second aspect, the additional ground portion 54 makes it possible to easily control the resonant frequency band of the wideband antenna 1. Specifically, by changing the position of the additional ground portion 54 in the first direction, the frequency band in which the first portion 10 resonates can be shifted. For example, by moving the position of the additional ground portion 54 in the first direction closer to the ground portion 52, the frequency band in which the first portion 10 resonates can be shifted to a lower frequency. Conversely, by moving the position of the additional ground portion 54 in the first direction away from the ground portion 52, the frequency band in which the first portion 10 resonates can be shifted to a higher frequency.

[0042] In addition to the method using the additional ground portion 54, it is possible to adjust the frequency band in which the first portion 10 mainly resonates. For example, the frequency band in which the first portion 10 mainly resonates can be adjusted by adjusting the length of the long portion 12 in the first direction. However, with this adjustment method, the frequency band in which the second portion 20 mainly resonates is also affected by the length adjustment of the long portion 12, making adjustment difficult.

[0043] In contrast, in the wideband antenna 1 according to the second aspect, changing the position of the additional ground portion 54 in the first direction hardly affects the frequency band that resonates mainly in the second portion 20. In other words, by changing the position of the additional ground portion 54 in the first direction, it is possible to selectively shift only the frequency band that resonates mainly in the first portion 10. In this way, the wideband antenna 1 according to the second aspect can easily realize an antenna that resonates in a desired frequency band.

[0044] In the wideband antenna 1 according to the third aspect, in the first aspect, the distance between the first capacitive portion 31 and the ground conductor 72 is different from the distance between the second capacitive portion 32 and the ground conductor 72 .

[0045] This makes it possible to adjust the frequency band in which the second section 20 resonates.

[0046] In the wideband antenna 1 of the fourth aspect, in either the first or third aspect, the plate-shaped conductor 2 has an additional ground portion 54 connected to the ground conductor 72, and the additional ground portion 54 is connected to the other end of the elongated portion 12 in the second direction and is spaced apart from the ground portion 52.

[0047] This provides the same effects as the wideband antenna 1 according to the second embodiment.

[0048] In the wideband antenna 1 of the fifth aspect, in any of the first to fourth aspects, the second portion 20 has a second flat portion 22 that is positioned closer to the substrate 70 than the long portion 12, and a connection portion 24 that connects the second flat portion 22 and the long portion 12.

[0049] Such a step between the long portion 12 of the first portion 10 and the second flat portion 22 of the second portion 20 can be used to adjust the characteristics of the wideband antenna 1.

[0050] In the wideband antenna 1 of the sixth aspect, in any of the first to fifth aspects, the first part 10 has a fixed part 16 that is fixed to the substrate 70 without contacting the ground conductor 72, and at least a portion of the fixed part 16 extends in a direction intersecting with the main surface 71 of the substrate 70.

[0051] This allows the plate conductor 2 to be fixed to the substrate 70 by the power supply portion 41, the ground portion 52, and the fixed portion 16. Therefore, the plate conductor 2 can be fixed more firmly to the substrate 70. Furthermore, because the fixed portion 16 also functions as part of the inverted-F antenna, it is possible to increase the electrical length of the first portion 10 while suppressing an increase in the size of the first portion 10 in the first direction. In other words, it is possible to achieve resonance in the low-frequency band while suppressing an increase in the size of the plate conductor 2 in the first direction.

[0052] The wideband antenna 1 of the seventh aspect is any of the first to sixth aspects, in which the first part 10 has a bending part 14 that is arranged at the other end in the first direction, extends in the second direction, and is separated from the second part 20.

[0053] This makes it possible to increase the electrical length of the first portion 10 while suppressing an increase in the size of the first portion 10 in the first direction. In other words, it is possible to achieve resonance in the low frequency band while suppressing an increase in the size of the plate conductor 2 in the first direction.

[0054] The wideband antenna 1 according to the eighth aspect resonates in the 2.4 GHz band, the 5 GHz band, and the 6 GHz band in any of the first to seventh aspects.

[0055] This allows the wideband antenna 1 to be used for transmitting and receiving signals used in wireless LAN standards, for example.

[0056] (Embodiment 2) A wideband antenna according to embodiment 2 will be described. The wideband antenna according to this embodiment differs from the wideband antenna 1 according to embodiment 1 in the configuration of the second part. The wideband antenna according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, focusing on the differences from the wideband antenna 1 according to embodiment 1. FIGS. 5 and 6 are first and second perspective views, respectively, of the wideband antenna 101 according to this embodiment. Similar to FIGS. 1 to 3, FIGS. 5 and 6 show the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, which are perpendicular to each other.

[0057] The wideband antenna 101 according to this embodiment includes a substrate 70, a ground conductor 72, and a plate-like conductor 102. In this embodiment, the wideband antenna 101 further includes a floating conductor 76.

[0058] The plate conductor 102 is a plate-shaped conductive member fixed to the substrate 70. The plate conductor 102 is formed, for example, from a folded plate-shaped metal member. The plate conductor 102 has a first portion 10, a second portion 120, a ground portion 52, and a power supply portion 41, and functions as an inverted-F antenna. In this embodiment, the plate conductor 102 further has a first capacitance portion 31, a second capacitance portion 32, and an additional ground portion 54.

[0059] Similar to the second section 20 according to the first embodiment, the second section 120 according to the present embodiment is spaced apart from the ground conductor 72, arranged along the main surface 71 of the substrate 70, and connected to the elongated section 12. The second section 120 is arranged such that its longitudinal direction coincides with the first direction.

[0060] In this embodiment, no step is formed between the long portion 12 of the first portion 10 and the second portion 120. In other words, the top surfaces (the surfaces farther from the substrate 70) of the long portion 12 and the second portion 120 are connected so as to be flush with each other. In other words, the second portion 120 is a plate-like portion disposed parallel to the main surface 71 of the substrate 70 (i.e., parallel to the XY plane), and the distance from the second portion 120 to the substrate 70 is substantially equal to the distance from the first portion 10 to the substrate 70.

[0061] The wideband antenna 101 including such a plate-like conductor 102 also achieves the same effects as the wideband antenna 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0062] (Modifications, etc.) While the wideband antenna of the present disclosure has been described above based on the embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments. As long as the modifications do not deviate from the spirit of the present disclosure, various modifications conceivable by those skilled in the art to the above embodiments may also be included within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0063] For example, in each of the above embodiments, the ground portion 52 is connected to the long portion 12 of the first portion 10, but the configuration of the ground portion 52 is not limited to this. For example, the ground portion 52 may be connected to the second portion 20 or the second portion 120, or may be connected to both the first portion 10 and the second portion 20 (or the second portion 120).

[0064] Furthermore, in each of the above-described embodiments, the first section 10 has the bent section 14 and the fixed section 16, but it is not necessary for the first section 10 to have at least one of the bent section 14 and the fixed section 16.

[0065] In the above embodiments, the distance between the first capacitive portion 31 and the ground conductor 72 is smaller than the distance between the second capacitive portion 32 and the ground conductor 72, but may be larger or equal to the distance between the second capacitive portion 32 and the ground conductor 72. In the above embodiments, the dimension of the first capacitive portion 31 in the first direction is smaller than the dimension of the second capacitive portion 32 in the first direction, but may be larger or equal to the dimension between the first capacitive portion 31 and the ground conductor 72.

[0066] Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the plate-shaped conductor has the additional ground portion 54, but the additional ground portion 54 may not be included.

[0067] Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the plate-shaped conductor has the first capacitance portion 31 and the second capacitance portion 32, but the plate-shaped conductor does not have to have at least one of the first capacitance portion 31 and the second capacitance portion 32.

[0068] In addition, the present disclosure also includes forms that are realized by arbitrarily combining the components and functions of each embodiment within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0069] The wideband antenna of the present disclosure can be used as an antenna for wireless communication used in devices such as personal computers and television receivers.

[0070] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1, 101 Wideband antenna 2, 102 Plate conductor 10 First portion 11 First flat portion 12 Long portion 14 Bent portion 16 Fixed portion 20, 120 Second portion 22 Second flat portion 24 Connection portion 31 First capacitance portion 32 Second capacitance portion 41 Power supply portion 52 Ground portion 54 Additional ground portion 70 Substrate 71 Main surface 72 Ground conductor 76 Floating conductor

Claims

1. A substrate comprising: a film-shaped ground conductor arranged on a principal surface of the substrate and connected to ground; and a plate-shaped conductor fixed to the substrate, the plate-shaped conductor having: a first portion having a long portion spaced apart from the ground conductor and arranged along the principal surface of the substrate; a second portion spaced apart from the ground conductor, arranged along the principal surface of the substrate and connected to the long portion; a ground portion connected to the ground conductor; a power feeding portion fixed to the substrate without making contact with the ground conductor and connected to the second portion to receive a signal; and a first capacitive portion and a second capacitive portion connected to the second portion, extending from the second portion toward the ground conductor and spaced apart from the ground conductor, wherein a first direction is a longitudinal direction of the long portion and the second portion, and a second direction is a direction intersecting the first direction and along the principal surface of the substrate, the length of the long portion in the first direction is longer than the length of the second portion in the first direction, A wideband antenna, in a planar view of the substrate, wherein the elongated portion and the second portion are arranged in the second direction, the ground portion is connected to one end in the first direction of at least one of the elongated portion and the second portion, the power supply portion, the first capacitive portion, and the second capacitive portion are connected to one end in the second direction of the second portion, one end of the elongated portion in the second direction is connected to the other end of the second portion in the second direction, and the power supply portion is disposed between the first capacitive portion and the second capacitive portion in the first direction.

2. The wideband antenna according to claim 1, wherein the plate-shaped conductor has an additional ground portion connected to the ground conductor, the additional ground portion being connected to the other end of the elongated portion in the second direction and spaced apart from the ground portion.

3. A wideband antenna as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the second portion has a flat portion located closer to the substrate than the long portion, and a connecting portion connecting the flat portion and the long portion.

4. A wideband antenna as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the first portion has a fixing portion that is fixed to the substrate without contacting the ground conductor, and at least a part of the fixing portion extends in a direction intersecting with a main surface of the substrate.

5. A wideband antenna as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the first portion has a bent portion disposed at the other end in the first direction, extending in the second direction and spaced apart from the second portion.

6. The wideband antenna according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the distance between the first capacitive portion and the ground conductor is different from the distance between the second capacitive portion and the ground conductor.

7. The wideband antenna according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wideband antenna resonates in the 2.4 GHz band, the 5 GHz band, and the 6 GHz band.

8. A substrate, comprising: a film-shaped ground conductor arranged on a principal surface of the substrate and connected to ground; and a plate-shaped conductor fixed to the substrate, wherein the plate-shaped conductor has: a first portion having a long portion spaced apart from the ground conductor and arranged along the principal surface of the substrate; a second portion spaced apart from the ground conductor and arranged along the principal surface of the substrate and connected to the long portion; a ground portion connected to the ground conductor; a power supply portion fixed to the substrate without contacting the ground conductor and connected to the second portion to receive a signal; and an additional ground portion connected to the ground conductor, wherein a first direction is a longitudinal direction of the long portion and the second portion, and a second direction is a direction intersecting the first direction and along the principal surface of the substrate, the length of the long portion in the first direction is longer than the length of the second portion in the first direction, the long portion and the second portion are arranged in the second direction in a plan view of the substrate, and the ground portion is connected to an end portion in the first direction of at least one of the long portion and the second portion, a second end of the second portion in the second direction, the second end of the second portion in the second direction, the second end of the second portion in the second direction, and the additional ground portion in the second direction, the second end of the second portion in the second direction, and the additional ground portion in the second direction.

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