Loop antenna device

• US 7,142,163 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2004
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group), Yoshikawa RF Systems Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group), Yoshikawa RF Systems Company Limited
• Inventors: Kosugi, Yasuhiko, Asauchi, Noboru, Ishii, Eiichi, Fukano, Takakazu
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HOANGANH T
• Application Number:
  US10/928,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20050134519A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 343/742, 343/741, 343/841, 343/842, 343/866, 343/867, 340/572, 340/505, 340/825, 340/826
• US Class Current: 343/742
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2474 Antenna or antenna activator geometry, arrangement or layout loop antennae H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/04 Screened antennas H01Q7/02, H01Q7/06 take precedence

Abstract

A plurality of small loop antenna cells 61, 62 and 63 are magnetically coupled to an antenna coil 8 of a non-contact type data carrier 3. In the plurality of small loop antenna cells, the directions of the magnetic moments of the signals transmitted to the non-contact type data carrier 3 are opposite to each other, the sum of the magnetic moments generated from all the small loop antenna cells 61 to 63 is zero and a conductor forming a short ring pattern 67 is provided collectively for the plurality of small loop antenna cells. Thus, imbalance caused between the small loop antenna cells 61 to 63 can be compensated for by the short ring pattern 67.

Claims

1. A loop antenna device comprising a plurality of small loop antenna cells magnetically coupled to an antenna coil of a non-contact type data carrier to transmit signals to a non-contact type data carrier, wherein:

the small loop antenna cells generate magnetic moments in directions opposite to one another to transmit the signals to the non-contact type data carrier;

the sum of the magnetic moments generated from all the small loop antenna cells is zero; and

the loop antenna device further comprising conductor that forms a short ring collectively for all the small loop antenna cells, and

electric field shielding conductors that are respectively provided on the small loop antenna cells to reduce electric field components emitted from the small loop antenna cells, wherein each of the electric field shielding conductors includes a gap for preventing formation of a short ring such that a portion of each of the small loop antenna cells is exposed.

2. A loop antenna device according to claim 1, wherein conductors forming the small loop antenna cells and the conductor forming the short ring are laminated on a base.

3. A loop antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the conductor that forms the short ring collectively for all the small loop antenna cells is adapted to compensate an imbalance between the small loop antenna cells caused due to influence of an environment around the loop antenna device.

4. A loop antenna device comprising:

a base;

a first conductor forming a plurality of loop antenna cells, the first conductor being provided to a first surface of the base; and

a second conductor being provided to the first surface of the base, the second conductor including;

an outer continuous ring portion overlaid above an outer peripheral portion of the first conductor; and

an inner discontinuous portion defining a gap or gaps by which the second conductor is discontinuous above each of the loop antenna cells,

wherein the first conductor forms at least three loop antenna cells that are provided to the first surface of the base.

5. A loop antenna device according to claim 4, further comprising:

a third conductor forming electric shields and being disposed between the first and second conductors, each of the electric shields being substantially overlaid above but discontinuous above a corresponding one of the plurality of loop antenna cells.

6. A loop antenna device according to claim 4 or 5, further comprising:

a fourth conductor including;

an outer continuous ring portion overlaid above an outer peripheral portion of the first conductor; and

an inner discontinuous portion defining a gap or gaps by which the fourth conductor is discontinuous above each of the plurality of loop antenna cells,

the first conductor being interposed between the second conductor and the fourth conductor.

7. A loop antenna device according to claim 6, wherein the fourth conductor is provided to a second surface of the base opposite from the first surface of the base.

8. A loop antenna device according to claim 4, wherein the at least three loop antenna cells generate magnetic moments in directions opposite to one another to transmit signals to a non-contact type data carrier;

and

the sum of the magnetic moments generated from all of the at least three loop antenna cells that are provided to the first surface of the base is zero.

9. A loop antenna device comprising:

a base;

a first conductor forming a plurality of loop antenna cells, the first conductor being provided to a first surface of the base; and

a second conductor being provided to the first surface of the base, and having;

an outer continuous ring portion overlaid above an outer peripheral portion of the first conductor;

an inner discontinuous portion defining a gap or gaps by which the second conductor is discontinuous above each of the loop antenna cells; and

a third conductor forming electric shields and being disposed between the first and second conductors, each of the electric shield being substantially overlaid above but discontinuous above a corresponding one of the loop antenna cells.