Combination of wireless communication module and base circuit board, lock unit, and wireless communication module

Abstract

The present invention provides a combination of a wireless communication module (22WL) and a base circuit board (224) to which the wireless communication module is attached. The wireless communication module includes: a circuit board (221); a wireless communication interface (222) provided on a first surface of the circuit board; and an antenna (223) provided on a second surface on the opposite side of the circuit board to the first surface and used in wireless communication executed by the wireless communication interface. A portion of the base circuit board is an attachment region (AR) that overlaps at least a portion of the circuit board in a state in which the wireless communication module is attached to the base circuit board.

Description

Combination of wireless communication module and base circuit board, lock unit and wireless communication module

[0001] This disclosure relates to a combination of a wireless communication module and a base circuit board, a lock unit, and a wireless communication module.

[0002] Electrical appliances are being operated wirelessly with mobile devices (such as smartphones). Examples of electrical appliances operated wirelessly include home appliances such as televisions, air conditioners, and lighting fixtures, as well as electronic locks installed on vehicle doors and house doors.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses an electronic locking device comprising a coupling means for a thumbturn and a driving means for rotating a lock on a door in the unlocking or locking direction, a driving means for rotating the thumbturn in the unlocking and locking directions using the coupling means, a control means for operating the driving means provided on the back surface of the door, an instruction means for the control means provided on the door, and based on information from the instruction means, the thumbturn is rotated by the driving means through the coupling means.

[0004] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-198062

[0005] If a product like the electronic lock device described in Patent Document 1 is designed to use a certain wireless communication method, changing the design of that product to use a different wireless communication standard is not easy, as it would require a significant redesign of the circuit board.

[0006] This disclosure aims to provide a combination of a wireless communication module and a base circuit board that allows for easy modification of the wireless communication method, a lock unit equipped with said combination, and a wireless communication module used in said combination.

[0007] A first aspect of the present disclosure provides a combination of a wireless communication module and a base circuit board on which the wireless communication module is to be mounted, wherein the wireless communication module comprises a circuit board, a wireless communication interface provided on a first surface of the circuit board, and an antenna provided on a second surface of the circuit board opposite to the first surface and used in wireless communication performed by the wireless communication interface, and a portion of the base circuit board is a mounting area that overlaps with at least a portion of the circuit board when the wireless communication module is mounted on the base circuit board.

[0008] A second aspect of the present disclosure provides a lock unit comprising the first aspect combination, in which the wireless communication module is mounted on the base circuit board, and an actuator module that performs locking and unlocking operations of the lock based on wireless communication via the combination.

[0009] A third aspect of the present disclosure is provided, a wireless communication module to be mounted on a base circuit board, comprising: a circuit board; a wireless communication interface provided on a first surface of the circuit board; an antenna provided on a second surface of the circuit board opposite to the first surface and used in wireless communication performed by the wireless communication interface; and a mounting portion provided on a side surface of the circuit board, the mounting portion configured to mount the wireless communication module to the base circuit board by overlapping at least a part of the circuit board with the base circuit board.

[0010] According to this disclosure, a combination of a wireless communication module and a base circuit board that allows for easy modification of the wireless communication method, a lock unit equipped with the combination, and a wireless communication module used in the combination are provided.

[0011] Figure 1 is a side view showing a lock system, one embodiment of the design, mounted on a door. Figure 2(a) is an exploded perspective view showing an example of an outdoor unit. Figure 2(b) is an exploded perspective view showing an example of an indoor unit. Figure 3 is a top view showing an example of a lock unit. Figure 4(a) is a side view showing an example of an actuator module. Figure 4(b) is a front view showing an example of an actuator module. Figure 4(c) is a rear view showing an example of an actuator module. Figure 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the lock system. Figure 6 is a plan perspective view showing an example of the arrangement of a circuit board, motor, power transmission unit, and sensor group in an actuator module. Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of a wireless communication module. Figure 8 is a perspective view showing an example of a wireless communication module. Figure 9(a) is a top view of a wireless communication submodule included in the wireless communication modules of Figures 7 and 8. Figure 9(b) is a bottom view of a wireless communication submodule included in the wireless communication modules of Figures 7 and 8. Figure 10 is a bottom view of the circuit board of a control submodule included in the wireless communication modules of Figures 7 and 8. Figure 11 is a plan view showing an example of a circuit board to which a wireless communication submodule is to be mounted.

[0012] <Embodiment> A lock system 100 (Figure 1), which is one embodiment of the present disclosure, will be described as an example of a case in which the lock system 100 is attached to a door 1000 (Figure 1) with reference to Figures 1 to 10.

[0013] [Structure of Door 1000] A door 1000 that is locked and unlocked by a locking system 100 will be described. As shown in Figures 2(a) and 2(b), the door 1000 mainly consists of a door body 1000M, a deadbolt 1000B provided on the side of the door body 1000M, and a deadbolt moving mechanism BM for moving the deadbolt 1000B.

[0014] Door body 1000M interior surface S ＩＮ (Figure 2(b)) shows opening OP １０００ An opening OP is provided. １０００Inside it, a deadbolt moving mechanism BM provided inside the door body 1000M is arranged. The deadbolt moving mechanism BM moves the deadbolt 1000B between a protruding state where the tip of the deadbolt 1000B protrudes from the side surface of the door body 1000M (the state shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b)) and a retracted state where the tip of the deadbolt 1000B is flush with the side surface of the door body 1000M. The deadbolt 1000B and the deadbolt moving mechanism BM are an example of the "lock" of the present disclosure.

[0015] In the example of this embodiment, when the deadbolt 1000B is in the protruding state, it is assumed that the door 1000 is in the locked state. Also, in the example of this embodiment, when the deadbolt 1000B is in the retracted state, it is assumed that the door 1000 is in the unlocked state.

[0016] On the door body 1000M, a through hole th ＩＮ extending between the indoor surface S ＯＵＴ and the outdoor surface S １０００ of the door body 1000M is provided.

[0017] [Structure of the locking system 100] As shown in FIG. 1, the locking system 100 includes an indoor unit 100 ＩＮ attached to the indoor surface S ＩＮ of the door body 1000M, and an outdoor unit 100 ＯＵＴ attached to the outdoor surface S ＯＵＴ of the door body 1000M. The indoor unit 100 ＩＮ and the outdoor unit 100 ＯＵＴ cooperate with the deadbolt 1000B and the deadbolt moving mechanism BM to function as a locking mechanism for the door 1000.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2(b), the indoor unit 100 ＩＮ mainly includes a base 10, a lock unit 20, and a cover 30. As shown in FIG. 2(a), the outdoor unit 100 ＯＵＴ mainly includes a base 40, a circuit board 50 (including a controller 51, details will be described later), and a cover 60.

[0019] For the sake of explanation, the front-to-back, left-to-right, and up-and-down directions of the locking system 100 will be as shown in Figures 1, 2(a), and 2(b). The front-to-back direction is the outdoor unit 100. ＯＵＴ and indoor unit 100 ＩＮ The direction is such that the door body 1000M is sandwiched between them, and the interior unit 100 ＩＮ The side where it is located is forward, outdoor unit 100 ＯＵＴ The direction in which the lock system 100 is located is considered the rear. The left-right and up-down directions correspond to the width and height directions of the door body 1000M when the lock system 100 is attached to the door body 1000M, respectively. The right and left sides as viewed from the front are considered the right and left in the left-right direction. The front-back, left-right, and up-down directions are perpendicular to each other.

[0020] [Base 10] Base 10 is the indoor unit 100 ＩＮ This is the base part. The base 10 can be made of any material such as metal or resin. The base 10 is a roughly rectangular flat plate with the vertical direction being the longer side and the horizontal direction being the shorter side. An opening OP penetrates the base 10 in the front-to-back direction on the upper side of the center of the base 10. １０ An opening op is provided on the lower side of the center of the base 10, which penetrates the base 10 in the front-to-back direction. １０ A system is in place.

[0021] The base 10 is fastened to the interior surface S of the door body 1000M by fasteners such as screws (not shown). ＩＮ It is fixed to the door body 1000M. When the base 10 is fixed to the door body 1000M, the opening OP is visible in the front-rear direction. １０ The opening OP １０００ It overlaps with the opening OP １０ through hole th １０００ This is a duplicate.

[0022] [Lock Unit 20] The lock unit 20 is the drive unit of the lock system 100. Specifically, the lock unit 20 is a mechanism that moves the deadbolt 1000B of the door 1000 between the protruding position and the retracted position by driving itself.

[0023] As shown in Figure 3, the lock unit 20 comprises an actuator module 21 and a wireless communication module 22. The actuator module 21 and the wireless communication module 22 are connected by wiring W3.

[0024] As shown in Figures 3, 4(a) to 4(c), and 5, the actuator module 21 comprises a housing 211, a circuit board 212 housed inside the housing 211, a controller 213, a motor driver 214, a motor 215, a power transmission unit 216, and a sensor group 217.

[0025] The housing 211 is box-shaped. The housing 211 can be made of any material such as metal or resin. As shown in Figure 4(a), the housing 211 has a front portion 211a and a rear portion 211b. By fitting the front portion 211a and the rear portion 211b together in the front-to-back direction, an internal space for arranging a circuit board 212 and the like is defined.

[0026] The front portion 211a has a front plate 211Sa and a peripheral wall Wa that stands upright rearward from the outer periphery of the front plate 211Sa. Above the center of the front plate 211Sa is an opening OP that penetrates the front plate 211Sa in the front-rear direction. ２１１Ｓａ An opening OP is formed. ２１１Ｓａ Inside this, the output gear G4 (described later) of the power transmission unit 216 is located.

[0027] The rear portion 211b has a rear plate 211Sb and a peripheral wall Wb that stands upright forward from the outer periphery of the rear plate 211Sb. Above the center of the rear plate 211Sb is an opening OP that penetrates the rear plate 211Sb in the front-rear direction. ２１１Ｓｂ An opening OP is formed. ２１１Ｓｂ Inside this, the output shaft S2 (described later) of the power transmission unit 216 is located.

[0028] The circuit board 212 is a printed circuit board (PCB) on which the controller 213 and other components are mounted.

[0029] The controller 213 controls the motor 215 via the motor driver 214, controls the sensor group 217, and communicates with the controller 51 on the main circuit board 50. The controller 213 is mounted on the circuit board 212. In this embodiment, the controller 213 is an MCU (microcontroller).

[0030] Controller 213 has communication port P ２１３－５１ , communication port P ２１３－２２５ It has a communication port P. ２１３－５１ The controller 213 is connected to the controller 51 of the circuit board 50 via wiring W1. ２１３－２２５ It is connected to the controller 225 (described later) of the wireless communication module 22 via wiring W3.

[0031] The motor driver 214 controls the drive of the motor 215 based on instructions from the controller 213. The motor driver 214 is mounted on the circuit board 212.

[0032] In this embodiment, the motor 215 is a DC motor. As shown in Figure 6, for example, the motor 215 is located inside the housing 211, below the left-right center. The motor 215 has an output shaft 215S.

[0033] The power transmission unit 216 is a mechanism that transmits power from the motor 215 to the deadbolt moving mechanism BM of the door 1000. As shown in Figure 6, the power transmission unit 216 has a worm gear G0, driven gear G1, driven gear G2, driven gear G3, output gear G4, and shaft member SS.

[0034] The worm gear G0 is attached to the output shaft 215S of the motor 215. The driven gear G1 is a two-stage gear having a large diameter gear G11 and a small diameter gear G12, with the large diameter gear G11 meshing with the worm gear G0. The driven gear G2 is a two-stage gear having a large diameter gear G21 and a small diameter gear G22, with the large diameter gear G21 meshing with the small diameter gear G12 of the driven gear G1. The driven gear G3 meshes with the small diameter gear G22 of the driven gear G2. The output gear G4 is provided coaxially with the driven gear G3.

[0035] The shaft member SS is provided at the rotational center of the driven gear G3 and the output gear G4, penetrating the driven gear G3 and the output gear G4 in the front-rear direction. The shaft member SS has an input shaft S1 and an output shaft S2 (Figure 4(c)). The input shaft S1 is the shaft to which the thumbturn ST (described later) is attached. The output shaft S2 is the shaft connected to the deadbolt moving mechanism BM of the door 1000. As shown in Figure 4(c), the rear end face S2E of the output shaft S2 has a recessed hole R extending in the axial direction of the output shaft S2. Ｓ２ A rotating shaft is provided. Hereinafter, the rotating shaft of the driven gear G3, output gear G4, and shaft member SS will be referred to as the rotating shaft X (Figure 6).

[0036] The sensor group 217 includes a potentiometer PM and magnetic sensors MS1 to MS4.

[0037] The potentiometer PM is mounted on the circuit board 212. The sensor gear SG attached to the rotating shaft (not shown) of the potentiometer PM meshes with the output gear G4 of the power transmission unit 216. Based on the rotation of the sensor gear SG in accordance with the rotation of the output gear G4, the potentiometer PM detects the rotational position of the output gear G4 and the shaft member SS.

[0038] The magnetic sensors MS1 to MS4 are mounted on the circuit board 212 so as to face the driven gear G3. The magnetic sensors MS1 to MS4 are arranged on a circle centered on the rotation axis X, in a counterclockwise direction when viewed from the front, and spaced approximately 90° apart from each other. The magnetic sensors MS1 to MS4 detect a magnet (not shown) attached to the driven gear G3 when it approaches. The controller 213 detects the rotational position of the driven gear G3 based on which of the magnetic sensors MS1 to MS4 has detected the magnet.

[0039] As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the wireless communication module 22 includes a wireless communication submodule 22WL (an example of a "wireless communication module") and a control submodule 22CT.

[0040] In the following description of the wireless communication module 22, for convenience of explanation, the X, Y, and Z directions shown in Figures 7 to 10 will be used. The X, Y, and Z directions are orthogonal to each other. As shown in Figures 7 to 10, for each of the X, Y, and Z directions, one side is considered the positive side and the other side is considered the negative side.

[0041] As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the wireless communication submodule 22WL mainly includes a circuit board 221, a wireless communication interface 222, an antenna group 223, and mounting sections A1 to A15 (an example of "module-side mounting sections").

[0042] The circuit board 221 is a rectangular printed circuit board (PCB) with the Y direction as the longer side and the X direction as the shorter side. However, the shape of the circuit board 221 is not limited to this, and it may be any shape such as a square or polygon.

[0043] The wireless communication interface 222 is an interface for wireless communication with a user terminal (e.g., a smartphone) to give instructions for locking and unlocking the lock system 100. In this embodiment, the wireless communication interface 222 is an interface that communicates using the UWB (Ultra Wide Band) method. Specifically, the wireless communication interface 222 is, for example, an IC (Integrated Circuit).

[0044] In this embodiment, the wireless communication interface 222 is located on the front surface FS of the circuit board 221. ２２１ It is implemented in the region on the negative side of the center in the Y direction (an example of "Face 1").

[0045] The antenna group 223 is an antenna used in wireless communication performed by the wireless communication interface 222.

[0046] As shown in Figure 9(b), the antenna group 223 is located on the back side BS of the circuit board 221. ２２１ Includes antennas AN1, AN2, and AN3 printed on (an example of "Page 2").

[0047] Antennas AN1, AN2, and AN3 are, for example, rectangular planar antennas with the Y direction as the longer side and the X direction as the shorter side. The shape and dimensions of antennas AN1, AN2, and AN3 are not particularly limited as long as they can be mounted on the circuit board 221. Furthermore, the shape and dimensions of antennas AN1, AN2, and AN3 may be the same or different.

[0048] Antenna AN1 is located on the back side BS of circuit board 221 ２２１ It is located near the corners on the positive X and Y directions. Antenna AN2 is located on the back side BS of the circuit board 221. ２２１ It is located near the corner on the negative side in the X direction and the positive side in the Y direction. Antenna AN1 and antenna AN2 are located at the same position in the Y direction.

[0049] Antenna AN3 is located on the back side of circuit board 221 BS ２２１ It is located on the negative side in the Y direction of antenna AN1. Antennas AN1 and AN3 are located at the same position in the X direction. Note that the arrangement of antennas AN1, AN2, AN3, and the wireless communication interface 222 on the circuit board 221 is not limited to the example described above.

[0050] Antennas AN1, AN2, and AN3 each have electrical connection terminals TT1, TT2, and TT3. Terminals TT1, TT2, and TT3 are located on the front surface FS of the circuit board 221. ２２１ Furthermore, the circuit board 221 is electrically connected to the wireless communication interface 222 via wiring WW1, WW2, and WW3 that pass through its interior. Power is supplied to antennas AN1, AN2, and AN3 via wiring WW1, WW2, WW3 and terminals TT1, TT2, and TT3, respectively.

[0051] Antennas AN1, AN2, and AN3 are each configured to perform wireless communication at 6.4896 GHz and 7.9872 GHz. However, the wireless communication frequencies of each of antennas AN1, AN2, and AN3 are not limited to these.

[0052] Each of the mounting sections A1 to A15 is a structure for electrically connecting the wireless communication submodule 22WL and the control submodule 22CT, and for physically fixing the wireless communication submodule 22WL to the control submodule 22CT.

[0053] Mounting portions A1 to A15 may have the same structure or may have different structures. In this embodiment, each of the mounting portions A1 to A15 is a U-groove, a so-called end-face through-hole, that extends in the thickness direction (Z direction) of the circuit board 221 and has a metal layer formed on its surface.

[0054] Mounting portion A1 is the end face EF of the circuit board 221 facing the positive X direction. ＸＰ It is located in a region on the positive side of the center of the circuit board 221 in the Y direction.

[0055] Mounting parts A2 to A4 are end faces EF ＸＰ It is located in the region on the negative side of the center of the circuit board 221 in the Y direction. Mounting parts A2 to A4 are provided at equal intervals.

[0056] Mounting portions A5 to A10 are located on the end face EF of the circuit board 221 facing the negative side in the Y direction. ＹＮ It is provided in the following location. Mounting parts A5 to A10 are provided at equal intervals over almost the entire area in the X direction.

[0057] Mounting portions A11 to A14 are located on the end face EF of the circuit board 221 facing the negative side in the X direction. ＸＮ It is located in the region on the negative side of the center of the circuit board 221 in the Y direction. Mounting parts A11 to A14 are provided at equal intervals.

[0058] Mounting portion A15 is end face EF ＸＮ It is located in a region on the positive side of the center of the circuit board 221 in the Y direction.

[0059] Each of the mounting parts A1 to A15 (more specifically, each metal layer of mounting parts A1 to A15) is on the front surface FS of the circuit board 221 ２２１ Furthermore, it is electrically connected to the wireless communication interface 222 by wiring (not shown) extending inside the circuit board 221.

[0060] Here, as shown in Figure 9(b), each of the mounting parts A1 to A15 is in the XY plane (i.e., the back surface BS) ２２１ The antennas are arranged so as not to overlap with antennas AN1 to AN3 when viewed in one direction extending in the XY plane, and so as not to overlap with antennas AN1 to AN3 when viewed in an orthogonal direction perpendicular to that direction when extending in the XY plane. This arrangement allows a certain distance to be maintained between the mounting parts A1 to A15 and antennas AN1 to AN3, thereby suppressing a decrease in the communication quality of the antenna group 223.

[0061] The control submodule 22CT mainly comprises a circuit board 224 (an example of a "base circuit board"), a controller 225, and mounting sections AA1 to AA15 (an example of "base-side mounting sections").

[0062] As shown in Figure 7, the circuit board 224 is a rectangular printed circuit board (PCB) with the Y direction as the longer side and the X direction as the shorter side. However, the shape of the circuit board 224 is not limited to this, and it may be any shape such as a square or polygon.

[0063] As shown in Figure 7, a mounting area AR is provided on the negative X-direction and positive Y-direction side of the circuit board 224. As shown in Figure 8, a wireless communication submodule 22WL is mounted on the mounting area AR (details will be described later).

[0064] The mounting area AR is a rectangular region with the X direction as the shorter side and the Y direction as the longer side. The shape and dimensions of the mounting area AR as viewed in the Z direction are equal to the shape and dimensions of the wireless communication submodule 22WL as viewed in the Z direction.

[0065] In the mounting area AR, the front surface FS of the circuit board 224 ２２４ , front side FS ２２４ No circuit elements protrude in the Z direction. Note that "circuit elements" refer to elements that constitute a circuit on a circuit board, including, for example, resistors, capacitors, switches, and semiconductor electronic components such as semiconductor integrated circuits. Note that wires such as wiring patterns are not included in the definition of circuit elements.

[0066] An insulating region ARI is provided inside the mounting region AR. The insulating region ARI is a rectangular region with the X direction as the short side and the Y direction as the long side. In the insulating region ARI, the front surface FS ２２４ , reverse side BS ２２４ Conductors and semiconductors are not provided throughout the entire thickness direction (Z direction) of the circuit board 224 including the above. For example, in the insulating region ARI, the front surface FS ２２４ , reverse side BS ２２４ No circuit elements or wires are provided throughout the entire thickness of the circuit board 224, including the circuit board itself.

[0067] The controller 225 is located on the positive X-direction side of the mounting area AR, on the front surface FS of the circuit board 224. ２２４ It is implemented in [the game / platform].

[0068] The controller 225 controls the wireless communication interface 222 of the wireless communication submodule 22WL, communicates with the controller 51 on the circuit board 50, and performs other functions. In this embodiment, the controller 225 is an MCU (microcontroller).

[0069] Controller 225 has communication port P ２２５－５１ , communication port P ２２５－２１３ It has a communication port P. ２２５－５１ The controller 51 on the circuit board 50 is connected to the controller 51 via the wiring W2 connected to the controller 50. The controller 225 is connected to the communication port P ２２５－２１３ It is connected to the controller 213 of the actuator module 21 via wiring W3, which allows for communication.

[0070] Each of the mounting sections AA1 to AA15 is a structure for electrically connecting the wireless communication submodule 22WL and the control submodule 22CT, and for physically fixing the wireless communication submodule 22WL to the control submodule 22CT. The mounting sections AA1 to AA15 of the wireless communication submodule 22WL are fixed to each of the mounting sections AA1 to AA15 by soldering.

[0071] The mounting portions AA1 to AA15 may have the same structure or may have different structures. In this embodiment, each of the mounting portions AA1 to AA15 is a tab-shaped terminal, a so-called pad, formed as a metal layer.

[0072] The mounting portion AA1 is provided in the region on the positive side of the outer edge of the mounting area AR in the X direction, which is on the positive side of the central part of the mounting area AR in the Y direction.

[0073] Mounting portions AA2 to AA4 are located on the outer edge of the mounting area AR on the positive side in the X direction, in the area negative to the center of the mounting area AR in the Y direction. Mounting portions AA2 to AA4 are provided at equal intervals.

[0074] Mounting portions AA5 to AA10 are provided on the outer edge of the mounting area AR on the negative side in the Y direction. Mounting portions AA5 to AA10 are provided at equal intervals over substantially the entire area of ​​the mounting area AR in the X direction.

[0075] Mounting portions AA11 to AA14 are provided in the area on the negative side of the outer edge of the mounting region AR in the X direction, which is on the negative side of the center of the mounting region AR in the Y direction. Mounting portions AA11 to AA14 are provided at equal intervals.

[0076] The mounting portion AA15 is located on the outer edge of the mounting area AR on the negative side in the X direction, in a region on the positive side of the mounting area AR's center in the Y direction.

[0077] Mounting sections AA2 to AA13 are on the front surface FS of the circuit board 224 ２２４ It is electrically connected to the controller 225 by wiring (not shown) extending inside the circuit board 224 and / or by wiring.

[0078] As shown in Figure 8, the wireless communication submodule 22WL is attached to the control submodule 22CT with the circuit board 221 superimposed on the circuit board 224 and the mounting parts A1 to A15 in contact with the mounting parts AA1 to AA15, respectively. By using multiple mounting parts A1 to A15 and multiple mounting parts AA1 to AA15, the positioning of the circuit board 221 (and thus the wireless communication submodule 22WL) on the circuit board 224 (and thus the control submodule 22CT) can be easily performed.

[0079] The wireless communication submodule 22WL is fixed to the control submodule 22CT and electrically connected to the control submodule 22CT by soldering connections between each set of mounting parts A1 to A15 and mounting parts AA1 to AA15.

[0080] By electrically connecting the wireless communication submodule 22WL to the control submodule 22CT, the wireless communication interface 222 of the wireless communication submodule 22WL and the controller 225 of the control submodule 22CT are electrically connected.

[0081] With the wireless communication submodule 22WL attached to the control submodule 22CT, the circuit board 221 is located within the mounting area AR of the circuit board 224. (Image of the back side BS of the circuit board 221) ２２１ This is the front surface FS in the mounting area AR of the circuit board 224 ２２４ It is in contact with the front surface FS of the circuit board 224 in the mounting area AR. ２２４ Since no circuit elements protruding in the Z direction are provided on the front surface FS of the circuit board 221 ２２４ This ensures good contact and increases the physical strength of the integrated structure between circuit board 221 and circuit board 224.

[0082] When the wireless communication submodule 22WL is attached to the control submodule 22CT, the circuit board 221 of the wireless communication submodule 22WL is located inside the mounting area AR of the circuit board 224 when viewed in the Z direction. That is, the circuit board 221 (and by extension the wireless communication submodule 22WL) is located only inside the mounting area AR when viewed in the Z direction, and not outside the mounting area AR.

[0083] Furthermore, when the wireless communication submodule 22WL is attached to the control submodule 22CT, the entire antenna group 223 of the wireless communication submodule 22WL (specifically, the entire area of ​​antennas AN1, AN2, and AN3) is contained within the insulating region ARI of the circuit board 224 when viewed in the Z direction. In other words, the circuit board 224 is configured such that, when viewed in the Z direction with the wireless communication submodule 22WL attached to the control submodule 22CT, conductors and semiconductors are not located in the positions where the antenna group 223 (antennas AN1, AN2, and AN3) are located. This suppresses interference between conductors and semiconductors and the antenna group 223, thereby suppressing a decrease in the communication quality of the antenna group 223.

[0084] As shown in Figure 2(b), the actuator module 21 of the lock unit 20 is fixed to the base 10 by fasteners such as screws (not shown). With the actuator module 21 fixed to the base 10, the output shaft S2 is located at the opening OP １０ Opening OP through １０００ It extends into the interior. Opening OP １０００ Inside, the deadbolt moving mechanism BM of the door 1000 is located in the recessed hole R of the output shaft S2. Ｓ２ It fits into it.

[0085] The wireless communication module 22 of the lock unit 20 can be positioned at any location within the lock system 100 such that the antenna group 223 is in a suitable position for communication. As a specific example, the indoor unit 100 ＩＮ It can be placed inside, near the actuator module 21. Another example is the outdoor unit 100. ＯＵＴ It can be fixed to the base 40 and placed near the circuit board 50.

[0086] In the following description of this embodiment, the wireless communication module 22 is located in the indoor unit 100. ＩＮ It is fixed to the base 10 and positioned in the vicinity of the actuator module 21.

[0087] [Cover 30] Cover 30 (Figure 2(b)) houses the lock unit 20 inside and the indoor unit 100ＩＮ This is a part that constitutes the exterior appearance. The cover 30 can be made of any material such as metal or resin.

[0088] The cover 30 has a plate portion 31 and a peripheral wall 32 that rises rearward from the outer circumference of the plate portion 31. An opening OP penetrates the plate portion 31 in the front-rear direction above the center of the plate portion 31. ３０ It is formed.

[0089] The cover 30 is fixed to the base 10 by fasteners such as screws (not shown). With the cover 30 fixed to the base 10, the input shaft S1 is located at the opening OP. ３０ It extends forward of the plate portion 31 through this. A thumbturn ST (Figure 1) is attached to the tip of the input shaft S1.

[0090] [Base 40] Base 40 (Figure 2(a)) is the outdoor unit 100 ＯＵＴ This is the base part. The base 40 can be made of any material such as metal or resin. The base 40 is a roughly rectangular flat plate with the vertical direction being the longer side and the horizontal direction being the shorter side. An opening op penetrates the base 40 in the front-to-back direction on the lower side of the center of the base 40. ４０ It is formed.

[0091] Opening OP ４０ A battery case 41 is provided on the lower side. The battery housed in the battery case supplies the power required to drive the lock unit 20. The position of the battery case 41 is arbitrary; for example, the indoor unit 100 ＩＮ A battery case 41 may be provided on the base 10. Alternatively, the actuator module 21 may be powered by a power source other than a battery. For example, it may be powered from a household power supply via a circuit board 50. Alternatively, the actuator module 21 may be powered wirelessly.

[0092] The base 40 is attached to the exterior surface S of the door body 1000M by fasteners such as screws (not shown). ＯＵＴ It is fixed to the door body 1000M. When the base 40 is fixed to the door body 1000M, the opening OP is visible in the front-rear direction. ４０ through hole th １０００ This is a duplicate.

[0093] [Circuit board 50] The circuit board 50 (Figure 2(a)) is a printed circuit board (PCB). A controller 51 is mounted on the circuit board 50.

[0094] The controller 51 processes input from the numeric keypad unit 63 (described later), communicates with the controller 213 of the actuator module 21, and communicates with the controller 225 of the wireless communication module 22. In this embodiment, the controller 51 is an MCU (microcontroller). The controller 51 is connected to a power supply (not shown) by wiring (not shown) formed on the circuit board 50. As shown in Figure 5, the controller 51 is connected to the communication port P ５１－２１３ , communication port P ５１－２２５ It has.

[0095] The circuit board 50 is fixed to the base 40 by fasteners such as screws (not shown). While the circuit board 50 is fixed to the base 40, it is connected to the battery case 41 by wiring (not shown).

[0096] [Cover 60] Cover 60 (Figure 2(a)) houses the circuit board 50 inside and the outdoor unit 100 ＯＵＴ This is a part that constitutes the exterior appearance. The cover 60 can be made of any material such as metal or resin.

[0097] In this embodiment, as an example, the cover 60 has a plate portion 61 and a peripheral wall 62 that rises forward from the outer circumference of the plate portion 61. A numeric keypad unit 63 is provided on the plate portion 61.

[0098] The cover 60 is fixed to the base 40 by fasteners such as screws (not shown). The keypad unit 63 is connected to the controller 51 on the circuit board 50 by wiring (not shown).

[0099] Furthermore, with the lock system 100 installed on the door 1000, the communication port P of the controller 213 of the actuator module 21 is... ２１３－５１ and the communication port P of the controller 51 on the circuit board 50 ５１－２１３ Wiring W1 connecting the two, and the communication port P of the controller 225 of the wireless communication module 22. ２２５－５１and the communication port P of the controller 51 of the circuit board 50 ５１－２２５ The wiring W2 connecting to is through the opening op of the base 10 １０ and the through hole th of the door body 1000M １０００ and the opening op of the base 40 ４０ is disposed inside.

[0100] [Operation of the lock system 100] The operation of the lock system 100 attached to the door 1000 will be described.

[0101] [Unlocking and locking] The user of the lock system 100 uses an arbitrary indicating device (specifically, for example, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or a remote control dedicated to unlocking) to transmit an unlocking instruction or a locking instruction to the indicating device. Note that this instruction may be sent by the user operating the indicating device, or the indicating device may send it without the user's operation. The controller 225 of the wireless communication module 22 receives the instruction via the antenna group 223. Further, the controller 225 of the wireless communication module 22 may measure the distance from the lock system 100 to the indicating device using the antenna group 223. Since the wireless communication module 22 also uses the UWB method, it can perform ranging and / or positioning with high accuracy.

[0102] The controller 225 may transmit the received instruction to the controller 51 of the circuit board 50 via the wiring W2. In this case, the controller 51 sends the received instruction to the controller 213 via the wiring W1. Alternatively, the controller 225 may transmit the received instruction to the controller 213 of the actuator module 21 via the wiring W3 without passing through the controller 51.

[0103] The controller 213 of the actuator module 21 controls the motor driver 214 according to the received instruction and rotates the motor 215. Thereby, if the received instruction is an unlocking instruction, the motor 215 rotates in the direction of moving the dead bolt 1000B to the storage position, and if the received instruction is a locking instruction, the motor 215 rotates in the direction of moving the dead bolt 1000B to the protruding position.

[0104] When controller 225 transmits an unlock or lock instruction to controller 51 on circuit board 50, controller 51 transmits the received instruction to controller 213 on actuator module 21 via wiring W1. By transmitting the unlock or lock instruction to actuator module 21 via controller 51 on circuit board 50 in this way, controller 51 can determine, for example, whether the instruction was sent by an authenticated user.

[0105] On the other hand, when the controller 225 sends an unlocking or locking instruction to the controller 213 of the actuator module 21, it is not necessary to operate the controller 51 on the circuit board 50 when locking or unlocking the lock. This reduces the power consumed by locking and unlocking the lock.

[0106] Furthermore, even when controller 213 receives an instruction from controller 225, controller 213 may determine whether the instruction was sent by an authenticated user, and rotate the motor (i.e., lock / unlock) if it was sent by an authenticated user. Alternatively, for example, when controller 213 or controller 51 receives an instruction from controller 225, it may request authentication of the instruction from an external server (not shown), and rotate the motor only if it is notified by the server that authentication was successful.

[0107] In addition, the user of the lock system 100 can unlock and lock the door 1000 by driving the motor 215 by entering a predetermined authentication number via the keypad unit 63. Specifically, for example, the controller 51 may compare the authentication number entered via the keypad unit 63 with authentication number data stored in a storage unit (not shown; for example, mounted on a circuit board 50), and if they match, send an unlocking instruction to the controller 213 of the actuator module 21. The controller 213 of the actuator module 21 controls the motor driver 214 in accordance with the received instruction and rotates the motor 215.

[0108] The main features of this embodiment and the advantageous effects based on these features are summarized below.

[0109] The wireless communication module 22 of this embodiment is configured as a combination of a wireless communication submodule 22WL having a circuit board 221 and a wireless communication interface 222, and a control submodule 22CT including a circuit board 224 and a controller 225. The wireless communication submodule 22WL is attached to the control submodule 22CT with the circuit boards 221 and 224 overlapping and in contact with each other. The controller 225 of the control submodule 22CT controls the wireless communication interface 222 of the wireless communication submodule 22WL.

[0110] Thus, in this embodiment, since the wireless communication module 22 has a wireless communication submodule 22WL that is separate from the control submodule 22CT, the wireless communication method performed by the wireless communication module 22 can be easily changed simply by replacing the wireless communication submodule 22WL, without requiring any redesign of the circuit board 224.

[0111] Furthermore, the wireless communication module 22 of this embodiment is located on the back side BS of the circuit board 221. ２２１ The entire circuit board 224 is on the front side FS ２２４ The wireless communication submodule 22WL is mounted to the control submodule 22CT by being superimposed on the other components. Therefore, the physical strength of the wireless communication module 22 is high. For example, impact resistance, durability against forces from a direction perpendicular to the circuit boards 221 and 224 (the Z direction in the example of Figure 7), and durability against forces that bend the circuit boards 221 and / or 224 can be improved.

[0112] In particular, the back side BS of the circuit board 221 ２２１ The entire circuit board 224 is on the front side FS ２２４ When the wireless communication submodule 22WL is attached to the control submodule 22CT in a state where it is superimposed on and in contact with the control submodule 22, the physical strength of the wireless communication module 22 is increased.

[0113] Thus, the increased physical strength is particularly advantageous when used in lock units and the like, which are frequently moved by the opening and closing of doors and may be subjected to strong external forces in response to the impact of opening and closing doors. For example, even if a strong external force is applied in response to the impact of opening and closing doors, the detachment of the circuit board 221 from the circuit board 224 can be effectively suppressed.

[0114] Furthermore, when wiring is formed in the mounting area AR of the circuit board 224 and the circuit board 221 is superimposed on it, the dimensions viewed in the Z direction can be reduced by the area required for arranging the wiring, etc., compared to the configuration using a single circuit board. Also, for example, when the circuit board 221 is a 6-layer wiring board and the circuit board 224 is a 4-layer wiring board, the amount of 6-layer wiring board used can be reduced (i.e., at a lower cost), and the dimensions viewed in the Z direction can be reduced, compared to the configuration using a single circuit board and making that circuit board a 6-layer wiring board.

[0115] <Modification> In the above embodiment, the following modified forms can also be used.

[0116] [Modifications concerning the attachment of the wireless communication submodule 22WL to the control submodule 22CT] In the above embodiment, the attachment of the wireless communication submodule 22WL to the control submodule 22CT can be carried out in various ways such that at least a part of the circuit board 221 overlaps with the circuit board 224.

[0117] In the above embodiment, the circuit board 221 has 15 mounting portions A1 to A15 provided at its end, and the circuit board 224 has 15 mounting portions AA1 to AA15 provided at the outer edge of the mounting area AR. However, it is not limited to this. The number and arrangement of mounting portions on the circuit boards 221 and 224 are arbitrary. Alternatively, the circuit boards 221 and 224 may be configured without mounting portions, with the circuit board 221 being attached to the circuit board 224 using fasteners such as screws, adhesives, adhesive tapes, etc.

[0118] Each of the attachment parts A1 to A15 and the attachment parts AA1 to AA15 may have any configuration that can be used for physical and / or electrical connection of a circuit board. The attachment parts A1 to A15 and the attachment parts AA1 to AA15 may be connectors.

[0119] In the above embodiment, the control sub-module 22CT of the wireless communication sub-module 22WL is fixed to the circuit board 221 and the electrical connection between the wireless communication sub-module 22WL and the control sub-module 22CT is achieved by soldering through the attachment parts A1 to A15 of the circuit board 221 and the attachment parts AA1 to AA15 of the circuit board 224. In this way, by having the attachment parts play both the roles of electrical connection and physical connection, the number of attachment parts can be reduced and the circuit boards 221 and 224 can be miniaturized. However, the attachment part for fixing the control sub-module 22CT of the wireless communication sub-module 22WL and the attachment part for making an electrical connection between the wireless communication sub-module 22WL and the control sub-module 22CT may be provided as different attachment parts. In addition, at least one of the attachment parts A1 to A15 and the attachment parts AA1 to AA15 may not be connected to an electrical wiring, and the attachment part may be used only for physical connection between the circuit boards.

[0120] In the above embodiment, in the state where the wireless communication sub-module 22WL is attached to the control sub-module 22CT, the circuit board 221 has the back surface BS ２２１ abutting against the front surface FS ２２４ of the circuit board 224 and overlapping the circuit board 224. However, this is not limited thereto. Specifically, for example, there may be a gap between the back surface BS ２２１ of the circuit board 221 and the front surface FS ２２４ of the circuit board 224, and a spacer may be sandwiched in the gap.

[0121] In this disclosure and the present invention, "overlapping" of one substrate with another means that, when viewed in the thickness direction of one substrate, one substrate and another substrate are located at the same position. Therefore, the state in which one substrate and another substrate overlap is not limited to the state in which one substrate and another substrate are parallel. Furthermore, in the state in which one substrate and another substrate overlap, one substrate and another substrate may or may not be in contact.

[0122] In the above embodiment, with the wireless communication submodule 22WL attached to the control submodule 22CT, the back surface BS of the circuit board 221 ２２１ The entire surface is the front side FS of the circuit board 224 ２２４ It overlaps with the other. However, it is not limited to this; it is sufficient if at least a part of circuit board 221 overlaps with circuit board 224.

[0123] Specifically, for example, the circuit board 221 may be attached to the circuit board 224 such that, when viewed in the Z direction, a part of the circuit board 221 protrudes outside the circuit board 224. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 11, a notch NT may be provided in the circuit board 224, and a mounting area AR smaller in area than the circuit board 221 may be defined adjacent to the notch NT. Then, the circuit board 221 may be attached to the circuit board 224 such that a part of the circuit board 221 overlaps with the mounting area AR, and the entirety or part of the remaining portion of the circuit board 221 is located inside the notch NT when viewed in the Z direction.

[0124] In this case as well, the integrated structure of the two substrates can be made to have high physical strength by contact between the two substrates in the overlapping region and / or by fixing the two substrates using the overlapping region.

[0125] By mounting the circuit board 221 to the circuit board 224 in such a manner that the circuit board 224 does not exist in the position where the antenna group 223 exists when viewed in the Z direction, the deterioration of the communication quality of the antenna group 223 is suppressed. Specifically, for example, the insulating region ARI of the circuit board 224 may be replaced with a notch, an opening, etc. That is, the insulating region ARI may be a region where the circuit board 224 itself does not exist.

[0126] In the above embodiment, the front surface FS of the circuit board 224 in the mounting area AR ２２４ Although there are no circuit elements protruding in the Z direction, this is not limited to the above. The front surface FS of the circuit board 224 in the mounting area AR ２２４ Circuit elements may be provided there.

[0127] In the above embodiment, it is not necessary to provide an insulating region ARI on the circuit board 224.

[0128] [Variations concerning the wireless communication submodule 22WL] The wireless communication submodule 22WL may be a module that performs wireless communication using any wireless communication method (wireless communication standard). Furthermore, the wireless communication submodule 22WL may be a module that performs wireless communication using multiple wireless communication methods. The wireless communication method performed by the wireless communication submodule 22WL is determined based on the configuration of the wireless communication interface 222. Examples of wireless communication methods performed by the wireless communication submodule 22WL include the UWB method, as well as the BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) method, the NFC (Near Field Communication) method, the Wi-Fi method, and others.

[0129] In the above embodiment, the wireless communication interface 222 of the wireless communication submodule 22WL is controlled by the controller 225 of the control submodule 22CT, but this is not limited to this. The controller that controls the wireless communication interface 222 may be provided on the circuit board 221 of the wireless communication submodule 22WL.

[0130] The number and shape of the antennas in the antenna group 223 are arbitrary and can be appropriately determined based on the specifications of the device into which the wireless communication submodule 22WL is built. As in the embodiment described above, by having antennas AN1 and AN2 aligned in the X direction and AN1 and AN3 aligned in the Y direction, the position of the radio wave source in XYZ space can be detected. Even in a configuration with only one antenna, the distance from the radio wave source to the antenna can be measured.

[0131] In the above embodiment, antennas AN1, AN2, and AN3 are electrically connected to the wireless communication interface 222 by wiring WW1, WW2, and WW3 provided on the circuit board 221. However, this is not limited to this. The wireless communication interface 222 and antennas AN1, AN2, and AN3 do not need to be electrically connected within the wireless communication submodule 22WL. In this case, for example, when the wireless communication submodule 22WL is attached to the control submodule 22CT, the wireless communication interface 222 and antennas AN1, AN2, and AN3 may be electrically connected via wiring provided within the control submodule 22CT.

[0132] [Modifications regarding the mounting target of the wireless communication submodule 22WL] In the above embodiment, the wireless communication submodule 22WL is mounted on the control submodule 22CT which does not have a wireless communication function, but it is not limited to this. The control submodule 22CT may be equipped with a wireless communication interface, and may be equipped with a wireless communication interface that performs wireless communication using a wireless communication method other than the UWB method, for example.

[0133] The wireless communication submodule 22WL in the above embodiment is not limited to being mounted on the control submodule 22CT. The wireless communication submodule 22WL may be mounted on other circuit boards of the lock system 100 (an example of a "base circuit board"), or on circuit boards of modules of other devices different from the lock system 100 (such as home appliances or electronic locks) (an example of a "base circuit board").

[0134] The module to which the wireless communication submodule 22WL is attached may or may not have wireless communication functionality. If the module to which the wireless communication submodule 22WL is attached has wireless communication functionality, the wireless communication submodule 22WL is attached, for example, to enable the use of other wireless communication methods.

[0135] In the present invention, "combination of wireless communication module and base circuit board" includes both a state in which the wireless communication module is mounted on the base circuit board and a state in which the wireless communication module and the base circuit board are separated from each other.

[0136] [Other Modifications] The lock system 100 of the above embodiment is on the interior surface S of the door body 1000M. ＩＮ and exterior surface S ＯＵＴ It can be installed in, but is not limited to, the door body 1000M. The entire lock system 100 may be embedded inside the door body 1000M.

[0137] In the above embodiment, the indicator device that instructs the lock system 100 to unlock or lock may be a card key that can be touched or scanned by a card reader provided on the cover 60 or the like.

[0138] The locking systems 100 of the above embodiments and modifications are not limited to doors for buildings, but can be used to open and close locks on any structure.

[0139] As long as the features of the present invention are maintained, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and other forms conceivable within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention are also included within the scope of the present invention. The features described in the embodiments described above and the features described in each of the modifications described above can be used in any combination.

[0140] 10 Base; 20 Lock unit; 21 Actuator module; 211 Housing; 212 Circuit board; 213 Controller; 214 Motor driver; 215 Motor; 216 Power transmission unit; 217 Sensor group; 22 Wireless communication module; 221 Circuit board; 222 Wireless communication interface; 223 Antenna group; 224 Circuit board; 225 Controller; 22WL Wireless communication submodule; 22CT Control submodule; 30 Cover; 40 Base; 50 Circuit board; 51 Controller; 60 Cover; 100 Lock system; 1000 Door; W1, W2, W3 Wiring

Claims

1. A combination of a wireless communication module and a base circuit board to which the wireless communication module is mounted, wherein the wireless communication module comprises a circuit board, a wireless communication interface provided on a first surface of the circuit board, and an antenna provided on a second surface of the circuit board opposite to the first surface and used in wireless communication performed by the wireless communication interface, and a portion of the base circuit board is a mounting area that overlaps with at least a portion of the circuit board when the wireless communication module is mounted on the base circuit board.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the mounting area overlaps with the entire circuit board when the wireless communication module is mounted on the base circuit board.

3. The combination according to claim 1 or 2, wherein no circuit elements protruding from the surface of the mounting area are provided on the surface facing the circuit board when the wireless communication module is mounted on the base circuit board.

4. The combination according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the base circuit board is configured such that, when viewed in the thickness direction of the base circuit board with the wireless communication module attached to the base circuit board, the conductor and semiconductor are not located at the position where the antenna is located.

5. The combination according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the base circuit board is configured such that, when viewed in the thickness direction of the base circuit board with the wireless communication module attached to the base circuit board, the base circuit board is not present in the position where the antenna is located.

6. The combination according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the end face of the circuit board is provided with a module-side mounting portion for attaching the wireless communication module to the base circuit board.

7. The combination according to claim 6, wherein the module-side mounting portion does not overlap with the antenna when viewed in one direction extending within the plane of the second surface of the circuit board, and does not overlap with the antenna when viewed in an orthogonal direction that extends within the plane of the second surface and is perpendicular to the one direction.

8. The combination according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a base-side mounting portion for mounting the wireless communication module to the base circuit board is provided on the outer edge of the mounting area of ​​the base circuit board.

9. The combination according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a module-side mounting portion for attaching the wireless communication module to the base circuit board is provided on the end face of the circuit board, and a base-side mounting portion for attaching the wireless communication module to the base circuit board is provided on the outer edge of the mounting area of ​​the base circuit board, and the module-side mounting portion and the base-side mounting portion are configured such that the wireless communication module is fixed to the base circuit board and an electrical connection is made between the wireless communication module and the base circuit board by attaching the wireless communication module to the base circuit board via the module-side mounting portion and the base-side mounting portion.

10. The combination according to claim 9, wherein the module-side mounting portion and the base-side mounting portion are connected by solder.

11. The combination according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the wireless communication module is configured to communicate using the UWB method.

12. A lock unit comprising the combination according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the wireless communication module is mounted on the base circuit board, and an actuator module that performs locking and unlocking operations of the lock based on wireless communication via the combination.

13. A wireless communication module to be mounted on a base circuit board, comprising: a circuit board; a wireless communication interface provided on a first surface of the circuit board; an antenna provided on a second surface of the circuit board opposite to the first surface and used in wireless communication performed by the wireless communication interface; and a mounting portion provided on a side surface of the circuit board, the mounting portion configured to mount the wireless communication module to the base circuit board by overlapping at least a part of the circuit board with the base circuit board.

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