Mobile image apparatus and an antenna apparatus used for the mobile image apparatus

• US 6,028,554 A
• Filed: 03/05/1998
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Original Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Inventors: Oida, Toshifumi, Tsuru, Teruhisa, Mandai, Harufumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, THO GIA
• Application Number:
  US09/035,522
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700 MS, 343/702, 343/872, 343/853, 343/745, 343/749, 343/752, 343/829, 343/846, 343/895
• US Class Current: 343/700.0MS
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2283 mounted in or on the surface of a semiconductor substrate as a chip-type antenna or integrated with other components into an IC package
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/362 for broadside radiating helical antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system

Abstract

The invention provides a mobile image apparatus (10), comprising: a case unit (11); at least one antenna (12) disposed at least one of within said case unit (11) and outside said case unit (11); wherein said chip antenna (12) comprises; a substrate (1) made of at least one of a dielectric material and a magnetic material; at least one conductor (2) disposed at least one of within said substrate (1) and on a surface of said substrate (1); at least one power feeding terminal (3) disposed on a surface of said substrate (1) and connected to one end of said conductor (2) for applying a voltage to said conductor (2).

Claims

1. A mobile image apparatus, comprising:

a case unit;

a plurality of chip antennas connected to each other and disposed at least one of within said case unit and outside said case unit;

each of said chip antennas comprising;

a substrate comprising at least one of a dielectric material and a magnetic material;

at least one conductor disposed at least one of within said substrate and on a surface of said substrate;

at least one power feeding terminal disposed on a surface of said substrate and connected to a first end of said conductor for applying a voltage to said conductor, each of said chip antennas further comprising at least one free terminal disposed on a surface of said substrate connected to a second end of said conductor, and further wherein said plurality of chip antennas are connected in series by connecting their respective free terminals to power feeding terminals, the plurality of chip antennas having a respective different resonance frequency.

2. The mobile image apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an extra antenna is connected to one of said power feeding terminal and said free terminal.

3. The mobile image apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of said chip antennas are provided in accordance with receiving frequencies.

4. The mobile image apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one variable capacitance element is connected to said free terminal of the chip antenna.

5. The mobile image apparatus according to claim 4, wherein one of said variable capacitance elements is connected to said free terminal of the chip antenna at the final stage of said plurality of chip antennas which are connected to each other in series.

6. The mobile image apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a radiation conductor is connected to said free terminal of the chip antenna at the final stage.

7. The mobile image apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a capacitance element is connected between at least one of the connection points of said free terminal and said power feeding terminal, and a ground.

8. The mobile image apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a switching element is connected in series to said capacitance element.

9. The mobile image apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a coaxial cable is connected to the power feeding terminal of the chip antenna at the first stage of said plurality of chip antennas which are connected to each other in series.

10. The mobile image apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said chip antenna further comprise a trimming electrode disposed at least one of within said substrate and on a surface of said substrate and connected to the other end of said conductor.

11. The mobile image apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a resin layer covering said trimming electrode.

12. The mobile image apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

said conductor is formed in a plane on one of a surface of the substrate in a meander shape.

13. The mobile image apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:

said substrate is formed by laminating a plurality of layers together, the layers each having a major surface; and

said trimming electrode is disposed on one of the major surfaces of said layers.

14. The mobile image apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:

said substrate is formed by laminating a plurality of layers together, the layers each having a major surface and the substrate having a laminating direction normal to the major surface; and

said conductor are spiral shaped and having a spiral axis disposed perpendicular to the laminating direction of said substrate.

20. The antenna apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a switching element is connected in series to said capacitance element.

15. An antenna apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of chip antennas connected to each other and having a different resonance frequency respectively, each of said chip antennas comprising;

a substrate comprising at least one of a dielectric material and a magnetic material;

at least one conductor disposed at least one of within said substrate and on a surface of said substrate;

at least one power feeding terminal disposed on a surface of said substrate and connected to a first end of said conductor for applying a voltage to said conductor; and

at least one free terminal disposed on a surface of said substrate and connected to a second end of said conductor, and further wherein said plurality of chip antennas are connected in series by connecting their respective free terminals to power feeding terminals, the plurality of chip antennas having a respective different resonance frequency.

16. The antenna apparatus according to claim 15, wherein at least one variable capacitance element is connected to said free terminal of the chip antenna.

17. The antenna apparatus according to claim 16, wherein one of said variable capacitance elements is connected to said free terminal of the chip antenna at the final stage of said plurality of chip antennas which are connected to each other in series.

18. The antenna apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a radiation conductor is connected to said free terminal of the chip antenna at the final stage.

19. The antenna apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a capacitance element is connected between at least one of the connection points of said free terminal and said power feeding terminal, and a ground.

21. The antenna apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a coaxial cable is connected to the power feeding terminal of the chip antenna at the first stage of said plurality of chip antennas which are connected to each other in series.