ANTENNA MODULE, WIRELESS DEVICE, AND FIELD DEVICE CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20160204824A1
• Filed: 09/01/2014
• Published: 07/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
• Inventors: MOCHIZUKI, Satoshi
• Granted Patent: US 10,033,426 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/24 with receiving set
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/065 Microstrip dipole antennas patch antenna H01Q9/0407
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/48 in circuits for connecting transmitter and receiver to a common transmission path, e.g. by energy of transmitter H04B1/46 takes precedence

Abstract

One aspect of the present invention provides an antenna module includes an antenna, a circuit configured to transmit and receive wireless signals by using the antenna, a housing that stores the circuit to cover circumference of the circuit, an antenna casing that stores the antenna to enable the antenna to transmit and receive wireless signals, and a first connector that is connected to the housing, the first connector being configured to input and output signals which are transmitted and received by the circuit.

Claims

1. An antenna module comprising:

an antenna;

a circuit configured to transmit and receive wireless signals by using the antenna;

a housing that stores the circuit to cover circumference of the circuit;

an antenna casing that stores the antenna to enable the antenna to transmit and receive wireless signals; and

a first connector that is connected to the housing, the first connector being configured to input and output signals which are transmitted and received by the circuit.

2. The antenna module according to claim 1, wherein

the circuit comprises:

a transmission/reception circuit configured to receive a signal transmitted from outside through the first connector, and transmit a signal to outside through the first connector, and

a wireless signal processing circuit configured to transmit the signal, which is received by the transmission/reception circuit, from the antenna as a wireless signal, the wireless signal processing circuit being configured to process a wireless signal received by the antenna.

3. The antenna module according to claim 1, wherein

the first connector comprises:

a first ground connector that is connected, through an external connector, to a signal ground which determines a reference potential of the circuit; and

a second ground connector that is connected, through an external connector, to a frame ground which determines a potential of the housing.

4. The antenna module according to claim 3, wherein

the first connector comprises:

a signal connector that is connected to a signal input/output terminal of the external connector; and

a power source connector that is connected to a power source of the circuit through the external connector.

5. The antenna module according to claim 1, wherein

the housing is made of material which blocks the wireless signals.

6. The antenna module according to claim 1, wherein

the antenna casing is made of material which transmits the wireless signals.

7. The antenna module according to claim 1, wherein

a surface layer of the circuit is coated with resin.

8. The antenna module according to claim 1, wherein

inside of the housing is filled with resin.

9. The antenna module according to claim 1, wherein

a shortest distance L between a feeding point of the antenna and the housing, in an axis direction of the housing, is represented by following formula (1), where θ

is a 3 dB half-value angle of the antenna with reference to a plane which is perpendicular to an axis of the housing and includes the feeding point of the antenna, and φ

is an external radius of the housing.

L=×

tan θ

 

 

(1)

10. The antenna module according to claim 1, wherein

the antenna is a microstrip antenna formed on a substrate.

11. The antenna module according to claim 1, wherein

the housing comprises:

a first housing disposed on a first end of the antenna module; and

a second housing disposed on a second end which is an end opposite to the first end,

wherein the antenna and the antenna casing are disposed between the first housing and the second housing.

12. The antenna module according to claim 11, wherein

the first connector is disposed on both the first housing and the second housing.

13. A wireless device comprising:

a signal processing module configured to transmit signals to a field device and receive signals from the field device; and

an antenna module configured to transmit signals to the signal processing module and receive signals from the signal processing module,

wherein the antenna module comprises;

an antenna;

a circuit configured to transmit and receive wireless signals by using the antenna;

a housing that stores the circuit to cover circumference of the circuit;

an antenna casing that stores the antenna to enable the antenna to transmit and receive wireless signals; and

a first connector that is connected to the housing, the first connector being configured to input and output signals which are transmitted and received by the circuit.

14. The wireless device according to claim 13, wherein

the signal processing module comprises:

a second connector configured to transmit signals to the first connector of the antenna module and receive signals from the first connector of the antenna module.

15. The wireless device according to claim 14, further comprising:

a cable that connects between the first connector and the second connector.

16. The wireless device according to claim 15, wherein

the cable comprises:

a ground line that is connected to a signal ground which determines a reference potential of the circuit disposed in the antenna module;

a signal line that is connected to the circuit, and in which signals are transmitted to the field device and received from the field device;

a power source line that is connected to a power source of the circuit; and

a shield that is disposed around the ground line, the signal line, and the power source line, the shield being connected to a frame ground which determines a potential of the housing of the antenna module.

17. A field device control system comprising:

a field device;

a signal processing module configured to transmit signals to the field device and receive signals from the field device; and

an antenna module configured to transmit signals to the signal processing module and receive signals from the signal processing module,

wherein the antenna module comprises;

an antenna;

a circuit configured to transmit and receive wireless signals by using the antenna;

a housing that stores the circuit to cover circumference of the circuit;

an antenna casing that stores the antenna to enable the antenna to transmit and receive wireless signals; and

a first connector that is connected to the housing, the first connector being configured to input and output signals which are transmitted and received by the circuit.

18. The field device control system according to claim 17, wherein

the signal processing module comprises:

a second connector configured to transmit signals to the first connector of the antenna module and receive signals from the first connector of the antenna module.

19. The field device control system according to claim 18, further comprising:

a cable that connects between the first connector and the second connector.

20. The field device control system according to claim 19, wherein

the cable comprises:

a ground line that is connected to a signal ground which determines a reference potential of the circuit disposed in the antenna module;

a signal line that is connected to the circuit, and in which signals are transmitted to the field device and received from the field device;

a power source line that is connected to a power source of the circuit; and

a shield that is disposed around the ground line, the signal line, and the power source line, the shield being connected to a frame ground which determines a potential of the housing of the antenna module.