WO2005064741A1

WO2005064741A1 - A method for mounting a contact element in an antenna arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2005064741A1
Application number: PCT/SE2004/001986
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stefan Morén
Original assignee: AMC Centurion AB
Current assignee: Laird Technologies AB
Priority date: 2003-12-29
Filing date: 2004-12-23
Publication date: 2005-07-14
Anticipated expiration: 2006-06-29
Also published as: KR100597628B1; SE526253C2; SE0303546L; SE0303546D0; KR20050069847A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for mounting a contact element (1) in an antenna arrangement for a portable radio communication device. The method comprises the steps of inserting the contact element (1) into a through hole (4) of a dielectric carrier (3), on a first side thereof supporting a radiating element (2). The contact element (1) is in one end in electrical contact with a contact portion (13) of the radiating element, and the other end (6) protrudes out of a second side of the dielectric carrier (3). The protruding end of the contact element is bent, with the dielectric carrier (3) as former, to provide a resilient contact element (1), and to prevent the contact element (1) from being pushed back through the hole (4).

Description

A METHOD FOR MOUNTING A CONTACT ELEMENT IN AN ANTENNA ARRANGEMENT

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to contact elements in antenna arrangements for portable radio communication devices. Particularly, the present invention relates to a method for mounting a contact element in an antenna arrangement for a portable radio communication device .

BACKGROUND

As portable radio communication devices, such as mobile phones, become smaller the electronic components contained within the devices, e.g. antennas, will also need to be smaller. The electrical connection of these components is realized by means of connectors, which shall provide good and well defined electrical contact and which should be insensitive to small variations in manufacturing dimensions.

Therefore, elastic type or spring type of connector is becoming increasingly attractive for small components. Such connectors are known to provide reliable electrical connection. Spring features provide a well-defined contact and the flexibility to avoid tolerances build up when manufacturing dimensions are not all perfectly exact. The compliance is also needed to accommodate departures from planarity as is common in high volume manufacturing processes where the contact pads may not be exactly flat.

The conventional method of electrically connecting such an electronic component, being of a miniature size, is to interpose between the electronic component and the printed circuit board, an electrical connector such as a so-called pogo pin connector. The pogo pin is an elongated pin containing a head that makes contact with one surface and can be compressed by its connection to a spring within a socket of the pin that is soldered to the printed circuit board.

Mobile phones are also subject to cost reduction demands as well as increasing adaptation for large-scale manufacturing. For that reason parts included in a mobile phone are preferably designed to ensure low manufacturing and assembling costs. The above mentioned pogo pins are rather complicated, including a plurality of details, and their sockets have to be soldered to a component in the communications device. Thus, the use of pogo pins is relatively expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for mounting contact elements, which reduces manufacturing costs without reduction of advantageous such as well defined electrical contact and insensitivity to small variations in manufacturing dimensions.

This object, among others, is according to the present invention attained by a method as defined in the appended claims.

By bending the contact element with the dielectric carrier as former two features are obtained with one action. Firstly, the contact element provides a resilient contact means for electric connection to RF circuitry, as the end of the contact element protruding from the carrier is not perpendicular to the carrier. Secondly, the contact element is prevented from being pushed back through the hole, as the contact element now comprises a bend and the hole is at least partly form fitted with the contact element. By utilization of a bent sheet metal, compared to a pogo pin, to provide a resilient contact element improved RF characteristics is obtained. Also, it is possible to provide a contact element that utilizes less space then a pogo pin, which space in turn may be utilized for more of a radiating element .

Further features and advantages of the present invention will be evident from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description of embodiments given below and the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitative to the present invention, wherein:

Fig. 1 illustrates a first position in a mounting method according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates a second position in a mounting method according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 illustrates a set up for a first bending in a mounting method according to the present invention;

Fig. 4 illustrates a contact element bent in a first bending;

Fig. 5 illustrates a set up for a main bending in a mounting method according to the present invention;

Fig. 6 illustrates a contact element bent in a first bending and a main bending;

Fig. 7 illustrates a second embodiment of an antenna arrangement according to the present invention; and Figs. 8 and 9 schematically illustrates two different cross- sections of a through hole which at least partly form fit a contact element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, for purpose of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth, such as particular techniques and applications in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent for a person skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from these specific details. In other instances, detailed description of well-known methods and apparatuses are omitted so as not to obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary details .

A first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figs. 1-6, which are illustrated with portions cut away in order to facilitate the understanding of the present invention.

An antenna arrangement for a portable radio communication device, such as a mobile phone, comprises a dielectric carrier 3, a radiating element 2 arranged on a first side of the carrier 3, and a contact element 1 for electrically connecting the radiating element 2 to RF circuitry or ground of the mobile phone.

The carrier 3 has a through hole 4 from the first side to a second side of the carrier 3. The hole 4 is for receiving the contact element 1. The hole 4 is arranged to at least partly form fit the contact element 1 , such that a mounted contact element is stably fixed in its position. The contact element 1 is manufactured of an elongated sheet metal, preferably copper. One end of the contact element 1 is curved to provide a fastening means for secure electrical contact to a contact surface 13 of the radiating element 2. Preferably, the other end of the contact element 1 comprises an embossed protrusion 5, provided to obtain the possibility of a well-defined contact with a printed wiring board of the mobile phone.

The mounting method comprises the first step of inserting the contact element 1 into the hole 4. The movement is from the first side of the carrier 3, as the curved end of the contact element 1 is larger then the smallest part of the hole 4. Preferably, during the insertion of the contact element 1 the contact surface 13 of the radiating element is pushed down into the hole 4, by means of the movement of the contact element 1.

In this way the contact surface of the radiating structure is positioned along a wall of the hole 4 and the curved end of the contact element 1 is positioned such that it electrically connects to the contact surface. The curved part of the contact element 1 provides a resilient force in the hole 4 securing the electrical connection to the radiating element 2.

The protrusion 5 moves in a groove of the hole 4 , allowing the protrusion 5 to move through the carrier 3 and still at least partly form fitting the hole to the contact element. A cross-section of the hole 4 at least partly form fitting the contact element 1 is illustrated in Fig. 9. A cross-section of an alternative hole 4' is illustrated in Fig. 8, in which the contact element 1' does not have any protrusion. The through hole may alternatively comprise other grooves or recesses, as long as it at least partly form fitting the contact element.

Next a second step in the mounting method comprises a first bending of the contact element 1. A holder 9 and a former 7 are positioned on two sides of the contact element 1. A bending finger 8 is utilized to bend the tip 6 of the contact element 1 against the former 7. This step is preferably only used when the protruding part of the contact element 1 is long, i.e. when the distance to RF circuitry or ground of the mobile phone is long.

A third step of the mounting method comprises a main bending with the hole 4 as both former 11 and holder 10. A bending finger 12 performs the bending of the contact element 1, such that a desired shape of the contact element 1 is attained. The contact element 1 will thus be bent at the hole 4, which bending is indicated by reference number 12.

Due to the bent shape of the contact element 1 , performed by the main bending, and the form fitting of the hole 4 the contact element 1 is prevented from being pushed back into the hole 4. The movement force back into the hole 4 is generally a problem with resilient contact element, but is thus here prevented.

Only mounting of one contact element has been described, but the antenna arrangement may comprise several contact elements, each preferably mounted according to the method of the present invention. Also, each such element may be mounted in a separate mounting process, or several elements may be mounted simultaneously.

A second embodiment of the present invention will next be described with reference to Fig. 7. This second embodiment of the present invention is identical to the first embodiment described above, apart from the following.

The antenna arrangement, particularly the dielectric carrier, of the first embodiment described above is manufactured for sandwich mounting to a printed wiring board of the mobile phone. The antenna arrangement of the second embodiment of the present invention is manufactured for mounting outside the edge of a printed wiring board of the mobile phone, i.e. on the top or bottom of the mobile phone outside the printed wiring board.

It will be obvious that the present invention may be varied in a plurality of ways . Such variations are not to be regarded as departure from the scope of the present invention. All such variations as would be obvious for a person skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. One example of such a variation is that a contact element may be formed as a T, or an upside-down L, before insertion, such that the electrical contact with the contact surface of the radiating element is obtained outside of the hole. This configuration may be secured only by means of the bending of the contact element at the hole, or even further secured by means of soldering at the contact surface, which soldering however has manufacturing drawbacks .

Claims

1. A method for mounting a contact element ( 1 ) in an antenna arrangement for a portable radio communication device, wherein the antenna arrangement comprises a radiating element (2) mounted on a first side of a dielectric carrier (3), which dielectric carrier (3) includes a through hole (4) from said first side to a second side of said dielectric carrier (3), wherein said radiating element (2) has a contact surface (13) at said hole (4), said method being characterized by the following steps:

- inserting said contact element (1) through said hole (4) from the first side to the second side of said dielectric carrier (3), such that a first end of said contact element protrudes out from said second side of said dielectric carrier (3) ;

- arranging a second end of said contact element (1) in electrical contact with said contact surface (13) of said radiating element ( 2 ) ; and

- bending said first end of said contact element ( 1 ) , with said dielectric carrier (3) as former, to provide a resilient contact means for electric connection to RF circuitry in a portable radio communication device, and to provide a stopper preventing said contact element (1) from being pushed back through said hole (4),

wherein said contact element (1) is form fitted to at least a portion of said hole (4).

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising the following step before the step of bending said first end: - positioning a former (7) at said first end of said contact element (1),

- bending a portion (6) of said first end of said contact element (1), over said former (7), and

- removing said former (7) from the position at said contact element ( 1) .

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 , wherein said contact element (1), in the first end thereof, comprises a protrusion (5), and said dielectric carrier (3) comprises a groove, in which said protrusion (5) moves during said inserting step.

4. The method as claimed in any of claims 1-3, wherein said second end of said contact element is larger than the smallest part of said hole (4).

5. The method as claimed in any of claims 1-4, wherein said contact element (1) is made of an elongated piece of sheet metal, such as copper.

6. The method as claimed in any of claims 1-5, wherein said step of arranging is performed by means of said step of inserting.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said contact surface (13) being arranged in said hole (4) and said second end of said contact element (1) being arranged to provide a contact force, radial in said hole, to secure said electrical contact with said contact surface.

8. The method as claimed in any of claims 1-7, wherein said contact surface (13) initially is mounted over said hole (4) and said step of inserting pushes said contact surface into said hole ₍4), to provide said contact surface (13) in said hole (4).