JP2004015160A - Module with antenna - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a module with antenna entirely small in size, the entire thickness of which is thin, and providing ease of manufacture. <P>SOLUTION: The module with antenna used at least for any of mobile communications, local area networks, and GPS receivers includes: a base made of a resin or a hybrid material formed composite with a resin and a ceramic; a slot antenna configured on one surface of the base; a shield conductor for almost entirely covering the surfaces of the base other than that above; and a signal processing circuit for processing at least either of a received signal and a transmitted signal by the slot antenna and provided inside the base. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a module with an antenna for use in at least one of a mobile communication, a local area network, and a GPS receiver.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a conventional module with antenna AM11. FIG. 10B is a perspective view of FIG. 10A as viewed from the back.
[0003]
A conventional module with antenna AM11 is described in JP-A-2001-339239, in which patch-like antenna elements 111 and 112 are arranged on a substrate 114, and a GND layer 113 and an RF circuit 116 are provided inside the substrate 114. Is configured. As described above, in the conventional module with antenna AM11, the influence of each other is minimized by arranging the antenna 111 around and configuring the RF circuit 116 inside.
[0004]
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a conventional module with antenna (circularly polarized patch antenna device) AM12. FIG. 11 (2) is a perspective view as seen from the inside of FIG. 11 (1).
[0005]
The conventional module AM12 with an antenna is a module in which circularly polarized patch antenna elements 102a, 102b, and 102c are arranged on each surface of a cube, and a GND conductor 107 and an RF circuit 192 are provided therein. .
[0006]
The conventional antenna-equipped modules AM11 and AM12 are antenna modules whose objective is to make the antenna directivity of the circularly polarized wave close to non-directionality and to incorporate an RF circuit.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The above publication (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-339239) discloses a structure in which an RF circuit arranged in the center of the substrate is completely covered with a shield together with an antenna-equipped module AM11. However, there is a problem that the thickness is very large, and furthermore, there is a problem that its manufacture is difficult.
[0008]
Further, in the conventional module AM12 with an antenna, the RF circuit 192 is completely shielded by the GND conductor 107, so that the RF circuit 192 has very high shielding properties, but it is difficult to reduce the size. In addition, there is a problem that its manufacture is difficult.
[0009]
An object of the present invention is to provide an antenna-equipped module in which the overall thickness of the antenna-equipped module is small, the manufacture thereof is easy, and the overall shape is small.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to a module with an antenna for use in at least one of mobile communication, a local area network, and a GPS receiver, wherein a base made of resin or a hybrid material in which resin and ceramic are composited; A slot antenna formed on one surface of the base, a shield conductor covering substantially the entire surface of the base other than the one surface, and a signal for performing at least one of reception and transmission by the slot antenna And a signal processing circuit provided inside the base.
[0011]
Embodiments and Examples of the Invention
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a module AM1 with an antenna according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0012]
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the module with antenna AM1.
[0013]
The antenna-equipped module AM1 is an antenna-equipped module used for at least one of mobile communication, a local area network, and a GPS receiver.
[0014]
The module with antenna AM1 includes a base 10, a slot antenna 20, a shield conductor 30, and an RF circuit 40.
[0015]
The base 10 is a rectangular parallelepiped made of a resin or a hybrid material of a resin and a ceramic. The shape of the base 10 may be a polyhedron other than a rectangular parallelepiped.
[0016]
The slot antenna 20 is formed on one surface S1 of the base 10.
[0017]
The shield conductor 30 is a shield that covers almost all surfaces S2, S3, S4, S5, and S6 other than the one surface S1. The surface S6 is a surface facing the surface S5. Each of the surfaces S2 to S6 is a surface of the base 10, but in the figure, when a lead is drawn from the surface of the base 10, it is difficult to clearly indicate the position of the tip of the lead. For convenience, a lead wire is drawn from the shield conductor 30.
[0018]
In FIG. 2, one side is grounded to form a resonator, so that it may be connected to a shield conductor. However, when drawing the ungrounded circuit end to the side, do not connect it to the shield conductor.
[0019]
Further, the slot antenna 20 and the shield conductor 30 are connected.
[0020]
The RF circuit 40 is a circuit that processes a signal for performing at least one of reception and transmission by the slot antenna 20 and is provided inside the base 10.
[0021]
The module with antenna AM1 is made of a resin or a hybrid material, and has a multilayer structure.
[0022]
The slot antenna 20 has a circular polarized wave excitation pattern in which two diagonal vertexes of a quadrangle are chamfered. In addition, a power supply strip line 50 for supplying power to the slot antenna 20 is provided inside the base 10. The width and length of the feed strip line 50 can be arbitrarily configured according to the dielectric constant of the base 10 and the design principle of the antenna.
[0023]
Further, the slot antenna 20 is not limited to the one having two chamfered corners, and may be a λ / 2 long slot formed in a circular or vertical C shape. Circularly polarized waves can be excited.
[0024]
In the above embodiment, circularly polarized waves are excited, but a linearly polarized slot antenna may be used instead of the slot antenna 20.
[0025]
Further, a GND layer 60 for an antenna and a strip line is formed inside the base 10.
[0026]
An RF circuit 40 is configured on the opposite side of the slot antenna 20 with the GND layer 60 interposed therebetween, and a bandpass filter 70 configured by a strip line is provided in the base 10. A bandpass filter (BPF) 70 is configured in the same manner as when the power supply stripline 50 of the slot antenna 20 is configured.
[0027]
Also, components of the RF circuit 40 other than the bandpass filter 70 are arranged inside the cavity C formed on the surface opposite to the configuration surface of the slot antenna 20 with the GND layer 60 interposed therebetween. Are arranged by mounting chip components.
[0028]
When forming the cavity C, the cavity C is formed on the base 10 formed by a general printed circuit board method by drilling, sandblasting, laser processing, or the like. After the components of the RF circuit 40 are mounted in the cavity C, the cavity C is filled with a sealing resin so that the surface of the chip component is completely covered.
[0029]
After that, electroless plating and electrolytic plating are performed on the surface of the base 10 so that the surface of the sealing resin also becomes the shield conductor 30. If it is necessary to pattern the surface pattern after the plating, patterning is performed by etching or the like, and if necessary, external connection terminals and the like are formed.
[0030]
Epoxy, BT resin, polyimide resin, PPE, phenolic resin, Teflon (registered trademark), vinylbenzyl, and the like are considered as a resin that is a kind of the material of the base 10.
[0031]
Further, as a hybrid material which is a kind of the material of the base 10, a material in which ceramic is composited inside the resin material can be considered. Cordierite, forsterite, alumina, glass-based ceramic, titanium oxide-based ceramic, or a mixture thereof can be considered as the ceramic.
[0032]
When these materials are selected, they may be appropriately selected according to the frequency to be used and required characteristics. In particular, when high Q characteristics and a high dielectric constant are required, it is preferable to select a hybrid material. In addition, copper, gold, silver, palladium, aluminum, nickel, tin, platinum, alloys thereof, and the like are used for the conductors (inner and outer layers).
[0033]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a module with antenna AM2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[0034]
FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a module AM2 with an antenna according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[0035]
The module with antenna AM2 is different from the module with antenna AM1 in that an RF circuit 41 is provided instead of the RF circuit 40. The RF circuit 41 is provided on the side where the slot antenna 20 is provided. This is an embodiment in which a space 10 (cavity C1) is formed by hollowing out and having no sealing resin.
[0036]
The method of manufacturing the module with antenna AM2 is basically the same as the method of manufacturing the module with antenna AM1. After the base 10 is formed, the cavity C1 is formed inside the slot antenna 20. Then, the RF circuit 41 is formed in the cavity C1. In this case, no resin or the like is filled in the cavity C1.
[0037]
The cavity C1 may be filled with resin or the like. In this case, the dielectric constant increases, the entire antenna can be reduced by the wavelength shortening effect, and the entry of a high frequency is prevented. be able to.
[0038]
Further, no conductor is provided on the inner wall of the cavity C1. That is, no conductor is provided on the inner wall of the cavity C1 in order to prevent the slot antenna 20 from being affected. The cavity C1 may be filled with a resin, but in this case, no conductor is provided on the surface of the filled resin in order to prevent the slot antenna 20 from being affected.
[0039]
As described above, since the RF circuit 41 is provided inside the base 10, a portion where the slot antenna 20 is not provided can be effectively used. Therefore, the entire antenna-equipped module is reduced by the volume of the RF circuit 41. The thickness can be reduced.
[0040]
In the antenna-equipped module AM2, the GND layer 61 does not cut off the entire base 10 but has a gap between the shield conductor 30 (surface S3 side) and the GND layer 61 on the left side in FIG. are doing. As described above, when the GND layer 61 does not completely cut the base 10, the possibility that the base 10 peels off at the boundary of the GND layer 61 is reduced. Therefore, it can be said that the strength of the entire module AM2 is high.
[0041]
FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a module AM3 with an antenna according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
[0042]
The module with antenna AM3 is an embodiment in which the baseband circuit unit 42 is added to the module with antenna AM2.
[0043]
That is, similarly to the case of making the module with antenna AM2, the slot antenna 20 and the RF circuit 41 are formed, and the baseband circuit is formed on the back surface (the surface (the surface) facing the slot antenna 20 in the module with antenna AM2). The unit 42 is configured.
[0044]
The baseband circuit 42 is one on which ordinary components are mounted, and the baseband circuit 42 is covered with a shield case 80. In this case, the baseband circuit 42 generates noise of a very high voltage, and if this noise reaches the RF circuit 41, it has a significant effect on the characteristics. In order to suppress this effect, a GND layer 62 is provided between the RF circuit 41 and the baseband circuit 42.
[0045]
In the module with antenna AM3, power is supplied to the slot antenna 20 not from the strip line but from the power supply unit provided on the same surface as the configuration surface of the slot antenna 20 with the coupling capacitance CC. In this case, the accuracy between the patterns is very important. However, in the module with antenna AM3, the patterns can be formed with high accuracy by etching or the like. On the other hand, it is difficult to improve the accuracy by a configuration method such as a shield case.
[0046]
FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a module AM4 with an antenna according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
[0047]
In the embodiment of the module with antenna AM4, the cavities C2 and C3 are provided at positions opposite to the slot antenna 20 with respect to the GND layer 60, and the RF circuit 40 and the baseband circuit 42 are provided in the cavities C2 and C3, respectively. It is.
[0048]
In the antenna-equipped module AM4, in order to prevent interference between the RF circuit 40 and the baseband circuit 42, different cavities C2 and C3 are formed, and the inner walls of the cavities C2 and C3 are shielded by plating M1 and M2. ing. By doing so, it is possible to make the module thinner than the module with antenna AM3. In this case, interference between the RF circuit 40 and the baseband circuit 42 may be prevented by means other than the plating M1 and M2.
[0049]
Although the cavities C2 and C3 are provided with the embedded resins 12 and 13, respectively, the embedded resins 12 and 13 may be omitted.
[0050]
FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a module AM5 with an antenna according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
[0051]
The antenna-equipped module AM5 is an embodiment in which the inductor 81, the capacitor 82, and the resonator 83 are inside the base 10 in the antenna-equipped module AM1.
[0052]
Materials suitable for each of the inductor 81, the capacitor 82, and the resonator 83 can be used. A high-ε hybrid material is used for the capacitor 82, and a low-ε, High-Q hybrid material is used for the inductor 81 and the resonator 83. Materials are used. Further, as the slot antenna 20, it is possible to use a hybrid material whose dielectric constant and Q are optimized according to the frequency to be used and required characteristics.
[0053]
The basic method of manufacturing the base 10 is the same as in the other embodiments. By doing so, it is possible to make components smaller and thinner.
[0054]
FIG. 8 is an exploded view showing the layer configuration of the module with antenna AM5.
[0055]
8, the antenna-equipped module AM5 includes layers 1 to 9, and is provided with a mounting land pattern 84 for mounting the RF circuit 40 and an inner via 85.
[0056]
When manufacturing the module AM5 with an antenna, it is manufactured by a general printed circuit board laminating method such as a method of alternately stacking a core substrate and a prepreg or a build-up method of vertically stacking RCC on a core substrate.
[0057]
In the antenna-equipped modules AM1 to AM5, the shield conductors on the side surfaces of the base 10 are formed by plating. However, through-holes with internal plating are formed with a high density so as not to affect the operating frequency. The arrangement may form a shield conductor.
[0058]
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration example of a GPS receiver 90 in which the RF circuits 40 and 41 and the baseband circuit 42 are used.
[0059]
In the present specification, the RF circuits 40 and 41 are circuits from the subsequent stage of the slot antenna 20 to the A / D conversion circuit, and the baseband circuit 42 is a circuit after the RF circuits 40 and 41. In this specification, the RF circuit 40 or 41 and the baseband circuit 42 are referred to as a signal processing circuit.
[0060]
That is, in the antenna-equipped module AM5, a part of passive elements such as inductors and capacitors used in the signal processing circuit is formed in a layer inside the base 10.
[0061]
According to each of the above embodiments, the high-frequency module incorporating the high-performance slot antenna is small, thin, and has high shielding properties. Further, since the power supply pattern to the slot antenna 20 and the distance between the slot antenna 20 can be configured with high accuracy, variations are small and mass productivity is high.
[0062]
In each of the above embodiments, the shield conductor 30 does not need to cover all of the surfaces S2 to S6 other than the one surface S1 of the base 10, and it is sufficient that the shield conductor 30 covers substantially the entire surfaces S2 to S6.
[0063]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the whole thickness of the module with an antenna used for at least one of a mobile communication, a local area network, and a GPS receiver can be reduced, and its manufacture is easy. In addition, there is an effect that the overall shape is small.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a module AM1 with an antenna according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the module with antenna AM1.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a module AM2 with an antenna according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an antenna-equipped module AM2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a module with antenna AM3 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an antenna-equipped module AM4 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an antenna-equipped module AM5 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an exploded view showing a layer configuration of the module with antenna AM5.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a GPS receiver showing an RF circuit and a baseband circuit.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a conventional module with antenna AM11.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a conventional module with antenna (circularly polarized patch antenna device) AM12.
[Explanation of symbols]
AM1 to AM5: Module with antenna,
10 ... substrate,
11, 12, 13 ... embedded resin,
20 ... Slot antenna,
21 ... antenna conductor,
30 ... Shield conductor,
40, 41 ... RF circuit,
42 ... baseband circuit,
50 ... Stripline,
60, 61 ... GND layer,
70 ... BPF,
80 ... Shield case,
C1, C2 ... cavity,
CC: coupling capacity.

Claims (9)

An antenna module for use in at least one of a mobile communication, a local area network, and a GPS receiver,
A base made of a resin, or a hybrid material of a resin and a ceramic;
A GND layer provided inside the base;
A slot antenna configured on one surface of the base;
A shield conductor that covers substantially the entire surface of the base other than the one surface;
A signal processing circuit that processes a signal that performs at least one of reception and transmission by the slot antenna, and that is provided inside the base;
A module with an antenna, comprising: In claim 1,
The above-mentioned slot antenna is an antenna for exciting circularly polarized waves. In claim 1,
The module with an antenna, wherein the signal processing circuit is configured in a cavity provided in a part of the base. In claim 1,
A module with an antenna, wherein a part of a passive element used in the signal processing circuit is formed in a layer inside the base. In claim 1,
On the above substrate, a strip line is formed as an inner layer,
An antenna-equipped module, wherein power is supplied to the slot antenna by the stripline. In claim 1,
The module with an antenna, wherein the signal processing circuit is an RF circuit or a baseband circuit. In claim 1,
The signal processing circuit is divided into an RF circuit and a baseband circuit, the divided RF circuit is disposed on the slot antenna side with respect to the GND layer, and the divided baseband circuit is arranged with respect to the GND layer. An antenna-equipped module, which is disposed on a side opposite to the slot antenna side. In claim 1,
The signal processing circuit is divided into an RF circuit and a baseband circuit, and the divided RF circuit and the baseband circuit are disposed on the opposite side of the GND layer from the slot antenna side, A module with an antenna, wherein the circuit and the baseband circuit are divided by a shield. In claim 1,
A module with an antenna, wherein the shield conductor is formed by plating or through-holes arranged at a high density so as not to affect the operating frequency.

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