WO2003030297A1

WO2003030297A1 - Electric apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2003030297A1
Application number: PCT/SE2002/001806
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vasilios Spiropoulos; Martin Jensen
Original assignee: Perlos Ab
Priority date: 2001-10-04
Filing date: 2002-10-03
Publication date: 2003-04-10
Also published as: SE0103331D0

Abstract

An electric apparatus with wireless transmission comprises an apparatus casing and a circuit card disposed therein, an antenna (12) as well as a number of additional components (8-11, 13) such as a vibrator, a loudspeaker, an audio plug socket, a camera, a screen box, etc. The apparatus has a carrier device (2) of an electrically insulating and non-magnetic material. The antenna (12) and some of the additional components (8-11, 13) are disposed on or in the carrier device (2). The carrier device (2) has means (3, 4, 6) for mechanical securing on the circuit card (1). The antenna (12) has contact means (17) which extend to corresponding contact means (18) on the circuit card (1).

Description

ELECTRIC APPARATUS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an electric apparatus with wireless transmission, comprising an apparatus casing, a circuit card disposed therein, an antenna, as well as a number of additional components such as a vibrator, a loudspeaker, an audio plug socket, a camera, a screen box, a microphone etc.

BACKGROUND ART

In prior art apparatuses of the above-disclosed type, certain of the additional components have, as a rule, been mounted direct on the circuit card of the apparatus, while others have been mounted on the outer casing of the apparatus. Thus, there has not been any consistent pattern for mounting such additional components.

In the mounting of the components on the circuit card, the electric connection will be simple. The wiring can become complicated when the components are mounted in the outer casing of the apparatus.

Another - and decisive - disadvantage resides in the fact that the party manufacturing and supplying the antenna of the apparatus has no control over the environment .where the antenna is ultimately to be employed. This implies that the antenna manufacturer knows nothing about those additional components (or sources of disturbance) which will be located in the proximity of the antenna, nor how close they are located. As a result, he is not in a position to optimise the antenna for the best performance in response to the relevant environment.

Finally, the previously known prior art technology entails an unnecessarily high cost level which renders the end product more expensive.

PROBLEM STRUCTURE

The present invention has for its object to design the apparatus disclosed by way of introduction such that the drawbacks inherent in prior art technology are obviated. In particular, the present invention has for its object to design the apparatus in such a manner that the manufacturer of the antenna of the apparatus has good control over the environment in which the antenna is to operate. Further, the present invention has for its object to design the apparatus such that a compact construction mode will be achieved and that costs may be reduced as a result of simplified mounting and assembly.

SOLUTION

The objects forming the basis of the present invention will be attained if the electric apparatus is characterised by a carrier device of electrically insulating and non-magnetic material, that the antenna and at least some of the additional components are disposed on or in the carrier device, and that this is provided with means for mechanical fixing on the circuit card.

As a result of these features, the major advantage will be afforded that, when the antenna manufacturer knows which external component or components are to be placed in the carrier device and its detailed appearance is known, the antenna manufacturer is in possession of good knowledge of the environment in which the antenna is to operate. As a result, the antenna manufacturer is in a position to optimise the antenna not only in "empty space" but also in the real environment where the antenna is to operate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow, with reference to the accompanying Drawings. In the accompanying Drawings:

Fig. 1 shows in perspective a circuit card included in an electric apparatus with a carrier device mounted thereon, the carrier device having an antenna and a number of additional electric components;

Fig. 2 is an exploded view in perspective of those parts which are also shown in Fig. i;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the carrier device according to Fig. 1, but seen from the side in Fig. 1 facing towards the circuit card; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the carrier device seen in a direction in towards the circuit card;

Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to that of Fig. 4, but seen from the opposite direction; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the carrier device seen from beneath in Fig. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An apparatus for wireless communication may typically be exemplified as a cell or mobile telephone. Such an apparatus includes, as will have been apparent from the foregoing, one or more circuit cards with the electric circuitry of the apparatus. The apparatus has a core which caters for the mechanical strength of the apparatus and which at least includes a casing for the apparatus, but preferably also its circuit card. The casing may be the outer casing of the apparatus and, in terms of mechanical strength, is bearing, and whose outside is thus at least partly freely exposed to the surroundings and is therefore subject to aesthetic and ergonomic considerations.

However, the casing may also be in the form of an inner casing which is enclosed, wholly or partly, in an often replaceable outer shell which thus forms the visible exterior of the apparatus.

Combinations between the two above-described alternatives are also possible.

In its most generic form, the present invention entails that, in an apparatus for wireless communication, the antenna of the apparatus or antennas, together with a number of additional components such as, for example, a loudspeaker, a camera, an audio plug socket, an external antenna connection, a vibrator, a screen box, a microphone etc., etc., are gathered to form a unit which is then connected to or mounted on the circuit card of the apparatus. The unit includes a carrier device which may be a separate unit but which may also be an integrated part of the interior or exterior casing of the apparatus, i.e. a part of its "core". The above-mentioned components and radiator or radiators of the apparatus are mounted in or on this carrier, whereby their mutual physical positions are established already when the carrier is designed. The same applies also to the electric interaction which may occur between the radiator or radiators on the one hand and the remaining components on the other hand.

As a result of this concept, the major advantage will, above all, be afforded that the environment in which the antenna, i.e. the radiator or radiators, is to operate is well known to the antenna manufacturer. Consequently, he does not run the risk that an antenna which has been optimised in a certain environment is gravely impaired as regards performance by being placed in a different environment.

The general inventive concept as herein disclosed also includes the feature that those components which are mounted or in the carrier device must be simple to mount, for example by the employment of snap connections, press connections, self-adhesive surfaces or tape connections etc. Further, the electric connection of the components is centralised and is realised by means of contactor devices on the carrier.

Fig. 1 shows in perspective a circuit card 1 included in an electric apparatus with wireless transmission and on which card a carrier device 2 manufactured as a separate unit is secured. As will be apparent from the Figure, the carrier device 2 is secured on the circuit card 1 on the one hand by the intermediary of at least one snap connection 3, and, on the other hand, by the intermediary of at least one screw union 4. In addition, there are suitably mutually cooperating guide means for accurate positioning of the carrier device 2 in relation to the circuit card 1. Such guide means include mutually engaging holes 5 and pins 6, guide pins, as will be apparent from Fig. 2. The screw unions illustrated with reference to Fig. 1 also include accommodation holes 7 provided in the circuit card 2 for the screws, these also being shown in Fig. 2.

The carrier device 2 is manufactured from an electrically insulating and non-magnetic material, for example a plastic material. The carrier device must be "customised" in accordance with the application which is relevant at the time. Thus, the carrier device 2 has a number of accommodation spaces, anchorages, assembly pockets or the like for mounting of the above-listed components. These accommodation spaces, anchorages, mounting pockets etc., are adapted as regards design directly to the additional components with which they are intended to co-operate. Fig. 2 shows, apart from an antenna 12, a number of additional components, thus reference numeral 8 relates to a screen box, reference numeral 9 to an audio plug socket, reference numeral 10 to a camera, reference numeral 11 to a loudspeaker and reference numeral 13 to a vibrator. Naturally, in many applications only some of the above-listed components may be topical for mounting, as well as, naturally, other components than those exemplified above.

In the illustrated embodiment, the antenna 12 is planar and has a radiator produced from a metallised film, a thin metal film, a relatively thin metal disk or the like. The antenna 12 displays guide means for accurate alignment, on the one hand, of the various parts of the antenna mutually, and, on the other hand, for alignment of the antenna in its entirety in relation to the carrier device 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the guide means include holes 14 in the antenna and corresponding guide pins 15 on the planar side 16 of the carrier device 2 facing away from the circuit card 1. The securing of the antenna 12 may, in the illustrated embodiment, be realised by means of a self-adhesive layer either on the antenna or on the antenna supporting surface 16 of the carrier device 2 or both.

The above-disclosed antenna has been described as planar. Naturally, the inventive concept as herein disclosed also encompasses the use of antennas designed otherwise, which may be three-dimensional in design. Regardless of the design of the antenna, it is placed, according to the invention, on and positionally fixed in relation to the carrier device 2, preferably its side facing away from the circuit card 1 or on a side directed upwards in the normal use of the apparatus.

In the illustrated embodiment, the antenna 12 has connector means 17 which extend through the carrier device 2 in order to contact with corresponding contact means, so-called pads 18, on the circuit card 1. Correspondingly, the remaining components placed in the carrier device 2 display their own connector means to corresponding connector means on the circuit card 1. For example, the audio plug socket 9 has contact fingers 19 while the camera 10 has contact devices 20 for co-operation with a corresponding contact device (not shown) disposed on the circuit card 1.

The side of the carrier device 2 facing away from the circuit card 1, preferably the antenna supporting surface 16, but also additional surfaces on the carrier device 2 facing away from the circuit card 1 have apertures for the components which must be accessed through corresponding apertures in the apparatus casing since this closely abuts adjacent the antenna 12 and the antenna supporting surface 16.

As regards the dimensioning of the carrier device 2, this is naturally determined, on the one hand, by the size of the antenna 12, but also by the number and size of the additional components 8-11 and 13 which are disposed on or in the carrier device. In order to avoid disturbance to the antenna caused by the circuit card 1, the dimensions of the carrier device 2 at right angles to the plane of the circuit card should, however, be as large as space permits.

Figs. 4, 5 and 5 show a carrier device 2 in which have been mounted, on the one hand the antenna 12, and, on the other hand the additional components 8-11 and 13. No detailed description of these Drawing Figures is necessary, but, for purposes of clarity, the Figures have the same reference numerals as those employed above.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An electric apparatus with wireless transmission, comprising an apparatus casing, a circuit card disposed therein, an antenna (12), as well as a number of additional components (8-11, 13) such as a vibrator, a loudspeaker, an audio plug socket, a camera, a screen box, a microphone etc., characterised by a carrier device (2) of electrically insulating and nonmagnetic material, that the antenna (12) and at least some of the additional components (8-11, 13) are disposed on or in the carrier device (2), and that this has means (3, 4, 6) for mechanical securing on the circuit card (1).

2. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the antenna (12) has contact means (17) which extend to corresponding contact means (18) on the circuit card (1).

3. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the antenna (12) is mounted on the side (16) of the carrier device (2) facing away from the circuit card (1).

4. The apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the antenna (12) is an antenna produced from an electrically conductive foil and is secured on a substantially planar surface (16) on the carrier device (2).

5. The apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the additional components (8-11, 13) in or on the carrier device (2) have their own contact means which are disposed for co-operation with corresponding contact means on the circuit card (1).

6. The apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the carrier device (2) has accommodation spaces or brackets for the additional components (8-11, 13) as well as anchorages for their securing therein.

7. The apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the means of the carrier device (2) for securing on the circuit card (1) comprise, on the one hand, guide means (6) such as guide pins and, on the other hand one or more snap connections (3).

8. An electric apparatus with wireless transmission comprising a casing, a circuit card (1), an antenna (12) as well as a number of additional components (8-11, 13) such as a vibrator, a loudspeaker, an audio plug socket, a camera, a screen box, microphone etc., the apparatus having a core which is bearing in terms of mechanical strength, characterised by a carrier device (2) of electrically insulating, non-magnetic material, the antenna (12) and at least some of the additional components (8-11, 13) being disposed on or in the carrier device (2), and that this constitutes apart of the core of the apparatus.

9. The electric apparatus as claimed in Claim 8, characterised in that the carrier device (2) constitutes an integrated part of an interior casing for the apparatus, the casing being wholly or partly enclosed in a decorative outer shell.

10. The electric apparatus as claimed in Claim 8, characterised in that the carrier device (2) constitutes an integrated part of an exterior casing for the apparatus, the casing having its outside wholly or partly exposed to the surroundings.