Ring Antenna GPS Clock with Shielded Circuit Substrate
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic timepieces with box-shaped patch antennas face noise interference from circuit components, leading to decreased signal-to-noise ratio and inaccurate time correction due to the compact arrangement of circuit portions.
Innovation Solution
The design features a tubular case with a ring-shaped antenna body inside, a shield pattern on the circuit substrate, and a receiver positioned to face away from the antenna body, reducing noise input and improving space efficiency by detouring noise around the antenna.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the receiver is disposed close to the antenna body for compactness, then the device size is reduced, but noise from the receiver is inputted to the antenna body
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit substrate is divided into two sides by a shield pattern, with the antenna body on one side and the receiver on the other side, physically separating the noise source from the antenna while maintaining compact integration
Solution Approach 2:
A shield pattern is introduced as an intermediary element between the antenna body and the receiver to block electromagnetic noise from the receiver from reaching the antenna body, enabling close proximity arrangement without noise interference
2Area of stationary object
If circuit portions are disposed on the same side as the antenna body for compactness, then space usage is improved, but noise is inputted to the antenna from the circuit portion
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit substrate area is segmented by the shield pattern into two functional zones: one side for the antenna body and indication hands, and the other side for the receiver and processing circuits, achieving compact layout while preventing noise coupling
Solution Approach 2:
The shield pattern acts as an electromagnetic barrier that allows circuit portions to be disposed on the same physical substrate as the antenna body while preventing noise from the circuit portions from interfering with the antenna body
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances space usage efficiency and significantly reduces noise interference, allowing for more accurate signal reception and improved time correction in portable electronic timepieces.
Implementation Method 1
a shield pattern which is formed on a circuit substrate and on which the receiver and the antenna body are so disposed that the receiver and the antenna body are present on opposite sides with the shield pattern being a boundary
Implementation Method 2
a ring-shaped antenna body which is provided along an inner circumference of the exterior case
Implementation Method 3
a receiver that is so disposed on the circuit substrate that the receiver faces away from the antenna body with the shield pattern being a boundary and amplifies and processes a signal received by the antenna body
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
Space usage efficiency is improved, and the amount of noise inputted to an antenna body is reduced. An electronic timepiece 100 includes a tubular exterior case 80, a cover glass plate 84 that blocks one of two openings of the exterior case 80, a ring-shaped antenna body 40 provided along an inner circumference of the exterior case 80, a circuit substrate 25 which is provided in a position below the antenna body 40 when viewed from the cover glass plate 84 and on which a shield pattern G is formed, and a GPS receiver 26 that is so provided on the circuit substrate 25 that the GPS receiver 26 faces away from the antenna body 40 with the shield pattern G being a boundary and amplifies and processes a signal received by the antenna body 40.