Communication terminal including close-proximity communication coil, power transmission coil, and metal plate

• US 9,805,861 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2014
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Original Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Inventors: Kato, Noboru, Ozawa, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hai L
• Application Number:
  US14/551,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20150076922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/28 Coils; Windings; Conductive connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/363 made of electrically conductive material
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/248 provided with an AC/DC converting device, e.g. rectennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/263 Multiple coils at either side
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A communication terminal includes a close-proximity communication coil, a power transmission coil, and a metal plate. The close-proximity communication coil is configured to be used in a close-proximity communication system. The power transmission coil is configured to be used in a contactless power transmission system. At least a portion of the metal plate is disposed between the close-proximity communication coil and the power transmission coil. The close-proximity communication coil and the power transmission coil are disposed in non-overlapping locations when viewed from a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a main surface of the metal plate. At least one of the close-proximity communication coil and the power transmission coil electromagnetically couples with the metal plate.

Claims

1. A communication terminal comprising:

a close-proximity communication coil configured to be used in a close-proximity communication system;

a power transmission coil configured to be used in a contactless power transmission system; and

a metal plate;

wherein

at least a portion of the metal plate is disposed between the close-proximity communication coil and the power transmission coil when viewed from a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a main surface of the metal plate;

the close-proximity communication coil and the power transmission coil are disposed in non-overlapping locations when viewed from a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the main surface of the metal plate;

the close-proximity communication coil is electromagnetically coupled with the metal plate;

a portion of the close-proximity communication coil overlaps with the metal plate when viewed from a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the main surface of the metal plate;

the metal plate includes a first slit portion; and

a coil opening portion of the close-proximity communication coil overlaps with the first slit portion when viewed from a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the main surface of the metal plate.

2. The communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the close-proximity communication coil and the power transmission coil are spaced from each other by no less than a coil radius of the close-proximity communication coil and no less than a coil radius of the power transmission coil, when viewed from a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the main surface of the metal plate.

3. The communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the close-proximity communication coil and the power transmission coil are disposed in locations facing each other with a central portion of the metal plate located therebetween, when viewed from a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the main surface of the metal plate.

4. The communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the communication terminal is a smartphone.

5. The communication terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a camera located at a center or approximate center of a winding of the close-proximity communication coil.

6. A communication terminal comprising:

a close-proximity communication coil configured to be used in a close-proximity communication system;

a power transmission coil configured to be used in a contactless power transmission system; and

a metal plate;

wherein

at least a portion of the metal plate is disposed between the close-proximity communication coil and the power transmission coil when viewed from a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a main surface of the metal plate;

the close-proximity communication coil and the power transmission coil are disposed in non-overlapping locations when viewed from a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the main surface of the metal plate;

the power transmission coil is electromagnetically coupled with the metal plate;

a portion of the power transmission coil overlaps with the metal plate when viewed from a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the main surface of the metal plate;

the metal plate includes a second slit portion; and

a coil opening portion of the power transmission coil overlaps with the second slit portion when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the main surface of the metal plate.

7. The communication terminal according to claim 6, wherein the close-proximity communication coil and the power transmission coil are spaced from each other by no less than a coil radius of the close-proximity communication coil and no less than a coil radius of the power transmission coil, when viewed from a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the main surface of the metal plate.

8. The communication terminal according to claim 6, wherein the close-proximity communication coil and the power transmission coil are disposed in locations facing each other with a central portion of the metal plate located therebetween, when viewed from a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the main surface of the metal plate.

9. The communication terminal according to claim 6, wherein

a portion of the close-proximity communication coil overlaps with the metal plate when viewed from a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the main surface of the metal plate;

and

the close-proximity communication coil is electromagnetically coupled with the metal plate.

10. The communication terminal according to claim 6, wherein the communication terminal is a smartphone.

11. A communication terminal comprising:

a close-proximity communication coil configured to be used in a close-proximity communication system;

a power transmission coil configured to be used in a contactless power transmission system; and

a metal plate;

wherein

at least a portion of the metal plate is disposed between the close-proximity communication coil and the power transmission coil when viewed from a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a main surface of the metal plate;

the close-proximity communication coil and the power transmission coil are disposed in non-overlapping locations when viewed from a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the main surface of the metal plate;

the close-proximity communication coil is electromagnetically coupled with the metal plate;

the metal plate includes a loop portion; and

the loop portion configures the power transmission coil.

12. The communication terminal according to claim 11, wherein the close-proximity communication coil and the power transmission coil are spaced from each other by no less than a coil radius of the close-proximity communication coil and no less than a coil radius of the power transmission coil, when viewed from a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the main surface of the metal plate.

13. The communication terminal according to claim 11, wherein the close-proximity communication coil and the power transmission coil are disposed in locations facing each other with a central portion of the metal plate located therebetween, when viewed from a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the main surface of the metal plate.

14. The communication terminal according to claim 11, wherein the communication terminal is a smartphone.

15. The communication terminal according to claim 11, further comprising a camera located at a center or approximate center of a winding of the close-proximity communication coil.

16. A communication terminal comprising:

a close-proximity communication coil configured to be used in a close-proximity communication system;

a power transmission coil configured to be used in a contactless power transmission system;

a metal plate; and

a housing that is partially configured of the metal plate;

wherein

at least a portion of the metal plate is disposed between the close-proximity communication coil and the power transmission coil when viewed from a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a main surface of the metal plate;

the close-proximity communication coil and the power transmission coil are disposed in non-overlapping locations when viewed from a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the main surface of the metal plate; and

at least one of the close-proximity communication coil and the power transmission coil is electromagnetically coupled with the metal plate.

17. The communication terminal according to claim 16, wherein the close-proximity communication coil and the power transmission coil are spaced from each other by no less than a coil radius of the close-proximity communication coil and no less than a coil radius of the power transmission coil, when viewed from a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the main surface of the metal plate.

18. The communication terminal according to claim 16, wherein the close-proximity communication coil and the power transmission coil are disposed in locations facing each other with a central portion of the metal plate located therebetween, when viewed from a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the main surface of the metal plate.

19. The communication terminal according to claim 16, wherein

a portion of the close-proximity communication coil overlaps with the metal plate when viewed from a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the main surface of the metal plate;

and

the close-proximity communication coil is electromagnetically coupled with the metal plate.

20. The communication terminal according to claim 16, wherein the communication terminal is a smartphone.