Mobile terminal device

An antenna shaft of an antenna is first inserted through a shaft through-hole created on a lateral plate casing of a stationary-side front case. Then, a flange on the antenna shaft is screw-fixed in a screw hole created at a predetermined position on the lateral plate casing of the stationary-side front case. When the antenna shaft of the antenna is inserted through the shaft through-hole created on the lateral plate casing, an inserted tip of the antenna shaft abuts against a substantially V-shaped connection receiving unit, which is fixed on a circuit board in the stationary-side front case. As a result, an electric connection is established between the antenna and the circuit board.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-117854, filed on Apr. 28, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal device having an antenna and particularly relates to a mobile terminal device that is waterproof and has an uncomplicated antenna attaching mechanism.

2. Description of the Related Art

Typically, in a cellular phone, a coupling unit is used to couple a movable-side housing having a display panel to a stationary-side housing having an operation panel in a foldable manner. Moreover, an external antenna is attached to the cellular phone for reception of radio waves. The antenna can be attached to the outside of the stationary-side housing in a foldable manner (e.g., see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2006-60396).

Given below is the description with reference to FIG.7of a conventional antenna attaching mechanism for attaching an external antenna to a cellular phone.FIG. 7is a diagram for explaining a case when an external antenna is attached to a cellular phone in a conventional manner.

As shown inFIG. 7, an external antenna300ais fixedly attached to a chassis155arranged inside a stationary-side housing (a stationary-side front case110and a stationary-side rear case120) of a cellular phone10. The chassis155is also used as a waterproofing member.

More particularly, as shown inFIG. 7, the chassis155is a substantially L-shaped chassis arranged inside the stationary-side front case110and the stationary-side rear case120. A screw through-hole156is created on a predetermined position on the chassis155.

An antenna shaft325of the antenna300ahas a screw hole326in which a screw160is fixed. First, when the antenna300ais inserted between the stationary-side front case110and the stationary-side rear case120, the screw160is inserted through the screw through-hole156of the chassis155.

Subsequently, the screw160is wound through the screw hole326on the antenna shaft325such that the antenna300ais attached to the chassis155.

As shown inFIG. 7, when the antenna shaft325of the antenna300ais attached to the chassis155, the bottom surface of the inserted tip of the antenna shaft325abuts against a connecting terminal141, which is fixed to a circuit board140. As a result, an electric connection is established between the antenna300aand the circuit board140.

However, in the case of the above-mentioned configuration, it is necessary to separately perform processing operations such as creating the screw hole326on the antenna shaft325such that the screw160can be wound therethrough or fabricating an abutting surface (flat surface) on the bottom surface of the antenna shaft325such that the connecting terminal141, which is fixed to the circuit board140, abuts against that abutting surface.

Moreover, use of the chassis155for attaching the antenna300ato the cellular phone and for waterproofing the cellular phone leads to an increase in the number of components in the cellular phone. Furthermore, the amount of space required to arrange the chassis155gets in the way of downsizing the cellular phone.

Moreover, because the antenna300ais attached to the cellular phone at an early stage of assembly of the cellular phone, there is a possibility that the antenna300agets damaged during the remaining assembly.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of an embodiment, a mobile terminal device includes a stationary-side housing that includes a stationary-side front case to which an antenna is attached and a stationary-side rear case; a movable-side housing; and a coupling hinge unit that couples the movable-side housing to the stationary-side housing. The antenna includes an antenna body, an antenna shaft arranged at rear end of the antenna body, and an antenna attaching member arranged on the antenna shaft. The stationary-side front case has a shaft through-hole at a predetermined position through which the antenna shaft is insertable into the stationary-side front case. The mobile terminal device further includes a connection establishing unit arranged on a circuit board inside the stationary-side front case abuts against an inserted tip of the antenna shaft and establishes an electric connection therewith. The antenna body is fixedly attached to a predetermined position on the stationary-side front case by using the antenna attaching member.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention (embodiment) will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the exemplary embodiment, description is given for a cellular phone as a mobile terminal device. The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment.

Given below is the description of an exemplary configuration of a cellular phone10with reference toFIG. 1.FIG. 1is an external perspective view of the cellular phone10in an open state according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The cellular phone10includes a palm-size stationary-side housing100and a movable-side housing200. The stationary-side housing100and the movable-side housing200are coupled by a coupling unit250.

More particularly, in the cellular phone10shown inFIG. 1, the stationary-side housing100is used to talk during a telephone call and has a plurality of operating keys such as a numerical keypad111with number keys from (0 to 9) and a function key112(mode setting key). The movable-side housing200is fabricated to have a substantially identical size to that of the stationary-side housing100and includes an LCD module (not shown). The coupling unit250couples the movable-side housing200to the stationary-side housing100in a foldable manner. The stationary-side housing100and the movable-side housing200are fabricated in a box shape from, although not limited to, a lightweight and high-strength magnesium alloy.

The stationary-side housing100is a two-fraction structure of a stationary-side front case110on the front side and a stationary-side rear case120on the rear side (the downside inFIG. 1). The stationary-side front case110includes an operation panel115in which the operation keys such as the numerical keypad111and the like are arranged.

More particularly, as shown inFIG. 1, the stationary-side front case110includes the numerical keypad111, the function key112, and a mouthpiece113having a microphone to convert voice of the user into electric signals. The stationary-side front case110and the stationary-side rear case120are clamped together at four positions by using spanning screws' (not shown).

An external foldable antenna300and a set of side keys400are arranged on a lateral side of the stationary-side front case110. The detailed description of an antenna attaching mechanism for attaching the antenna300to the cellular phone10according to the first embodiment is described below in detail.

The movable-side housing200is a two-fraction structure of a movable-side front case210on the front side and a movable-side rear case220on the rear side (downside inFIG. 1). As shown inFIG. 1, a large-size display panel211and a large-size display screen212are arranged in the substantially central portion of the movable-side front case210. The display panel211and the display screen212are used for viewing the display output by an LCD module (not shown).

An earpiece213is disposed in the top portion of the movable-side front case210. The earpiece213catches the voice of the person on the other end of the line during a conversation. The movable-side front case210and the movable-side rear case220are clamped at four positions by using spanning screws (not shown). The spanning screws in the top portion of the display panel211are covered by screw covers214.

Given below is the description with reference toFIGS. 2 to 6of the antenna attaching mechanism for attaching the antenna300to the cellular phone10according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 2is an external perspective diagram of the antenna300.FIG. 3is an exploded perspective view of the stationary-side housing100.FIG. 4is an enlarged perspective view for explaining essential parts around the position at which the antenna is attached.FIG. 5is an enlarged perspective view for explaining essential parts before attaching the antenna300.FIG. 6is an enlarged perspective view for explaining essential parts after attaching the antenna300.

The antenna300to be attached externally to the cellular phone10according to the first embodiment includes an antenna body310and an antenna shaft325with a flange330. The antenna shaft325is arranged at the rear end of the antenna body310. The feature of the cellular phone10is that the stationary-side front case110includes a circuit board140to which a connection establishing unit150is fixed. When the antenna shaft325is inserted through a shaft through-hole132, an electric connection is established between the antenna shaft325and the connection establishing unit150. Moreover, the flange330on the antenna shaft325is used in attaching the antenna body310to the stationary-side front case110.

In the cellular phone10according to the first embodiment, the shaft through-hole132is created on a lateral plate casing130of the stationary-side front case110. To attach the antenna300to the cellular phone10, the antenna shaft325is inserted through the shaft through-hole132and the flange330is screw-fixed to a screw hole134, which is also created on the lateral plate casing130, by using a screw350. An O-ring340is disposed at the area of contact between the antenna300and the lateral plate casing130(i.e., around the shaft through-hole132) to achieve waterproofing property.

After inserting the antenna shaft325of the antenna300through the shaft through-hole132formed on the lateral plate casing130of the stationary-side front case110, the inserted tip of the antenna shaft325is linked to the connection establishing unit150fixed on the circuit board140of the stationary-side front case110, which has a substantial V shape, such that an electric connection is established between the antenna300and the cellular phone10.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the antenna300includes the antenna body310, which is long cylindrical in shape, and a rear antenna portion320. The antenna shaft325is arranged at the rear end of the rear antenna portion320at a substantially right angle with the rear antenna portion320. That is, the antenna shaft325is configured to be bent at the rear end of the rear antenna portion320in a direction substantially perpendicular to the antenna body310.

The flange330is arranged at the joint between the rear antenna portion320and the antenna shaft325. The flange330has a screw through-hole331through which the screw350is inserted.

The antenna body310of the antenna300is housed in an antenna casing unit135formed at a predetermined position on the lateral plate casing130. To increase the length of the antenna300, the antenna body310can be elongated from the rear antenna portion320by extending an antenna central axis315.

As described above, an electric connection is established between the antenna300and the connection establishing unit150when the antenna shaft325is inserted through the shaft through-hole132created on the stationary-side front case110and linked to the connection establishing unit150fixed on the circuit board140.

The O-ring340fits on the rod-like antenna shaft325(seeFIG. 3) such that the inside of the cellular phone10is maintained waterproof.

As shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, a lateral recess131is formed in the superior portion of the lateral plate casing130of the stationary-side front case110(left side inFIG. 3). The shaft through-hole132is created on the lateral plate casing131. The antenna shaft325of the antenna300is inserted through the shaft through-hole132. A ring fitting depression133is formed around the shaft through-hole132in which the O-ring340fits.

Similarly, a screw hole134is created on the lateral recess131of the lateral plate casing130. The screw350is fixed in the screw hole134after it has passed through the screw through-hole331of the flange330.

In this way, by screw-fixing the flange330on the antenna shaft325to the lateral recess131of the lateral plate casing130with the use of the screw350, it is possible to fixedly attach the antenna300to the stationary-side front case110.

As described above, the antenna body310and the rear antenna portion320of the antenna300are housed in the antenna casing unit135, which is formed in an elongated shape on the lateral plate casing130. Meanwhile, the stationary-side rear case120includes a rectangular battery casing unit121that is used to house a battery pack. Moreover, two notches126and127are created at predetermined positions in the superior portion (left side inFIG. 3) of a lateral plate casing125of the stationary-side rear case120. When the stationary-side rear case120and the stationary-side front case110are assembled to form the stationary-side housing100, the notches126and127surround the lateral recess131of the lateral plate casing130.

Thus, because the antenna300is attached after assembling the external molded case (the stationary-side front case110and the stationary-side rear case120), the antenna300remains housed in the antenna casing unit135and does not get damaged during the remaining assembly. Moreover, because there is no need to use the chassis155(seeFIG. 7), which is a conventional antenna attaching member and a waterproofing member for attaching the antenna300, the number of required components decreases thereby reducing the manufacturing cost. Moreover, by saving the space required to arrange the chassis155, it becomes possible to downsize the cellular phone10.

The circuit board140is arranged inside the stationary-side front case110. An electric connection terminal (not shown) is disposed at a predetermined position on the circuit board140. The connection establishing unit150, which is used to establish an electric connection with the antenna shaft325of the antenna300, is attached to the electric connection terminal.

As shown inFIG. 5, the connection establishing unit150is open toward the shaft through-hole132on the lateral plate casing130of the stationary-size front case110and is fabricated by arranging a pair of connection plates151in a substantial V shape.

More particularly, the reason for fabricating the connection establishing unit150open toward outside (in a substantial V shape) is to enable insertion of the antenna300through the shaft through-hole132(seeFIG. 4) from the outside of the molded case (i.e., the stationary-side front case110).

In the first embodiment, the connection establishing unit150fabricated from the pair of connection plates151is made of, although not limited to, beryllium copper alloy that has low frequency of magnetization, predetermined strength, and high electric conductivity.

To sandwich the antenna shaft325, the pair of connection plates151has a predetermined spring pressure. When the tip of the antenna shaft325of the antenna300is inserted in the connection establishing unit150, the antenna shaft325robustly fits in the connection establishing unit150because of the spring pressure of the pair of connection plates151thereby resulting in excellent electric conductivity.

Moreover, because the antenna shaft325of the antenna300abuts against the pair of connection plates151over a wide area, the problem of loose connection between the antenna shaft325and the connection establishing unit150does not occur even if the antenna300is twisted or turned.

Given below is the description of a sequence of attaching the antenna300to the cellular phone10with reference toFIGS. 5 and 6.

(1) First, the antenna shaft325of the antenna300is inserted through the shaft through-hole132created on the lateral plate casing130(the lateral recess131) of the stationary-side front case110.

(2) At that time, the O-ring340on the antenna shaft325fits in the ring fitting depression133formed around the shaft through-hole132(seeFIG. 4). That is, by disposing the O-ring340at the joint between the antenna shaft325of the antenna300and the shaft through-hole132(i.e., the ring fitting depression133), it becomes possible to make the stationary-side front case110and the stationary-side rear case120waterproof.

(3) The inserted tip of the antenna shaft325then gets linked to the connection establishing unit150, which is fixed to the circuit board140.

(4) Subsequently, the screw350is inserted through the screw through-hole331created on the flange330on the antenna shaft325and is fixed in the screw hole134created on the lateral plate casing130(the lateral recess131).

To sum up, in the cellular phone10according to the first embodiment, the antenna shaft325of the antenna300is first inserted through the shaft through-hole132created on the lateral plate casing130of the stationary-side front case110and then the flange330on the antenna shaft325is screw-fixed in the screw hole134created at a predetermined position on the lateral plate casing130of the stationary-side front case110. That eliminates the need to use an antenna attaching member (e.g., a chassis) to attach the antenna300to the stationary-side front case110. As a result, the number of required components decreases and the antenna300can be housed in a smaller space. Such a configuration enables manufacturing of small and slim cellular phones.

When the antenna shaft325of the antenna300is inserted through the shaft through-hole132created on the lateral plate casing130of the stationary-side front case110, the inserted tip of the antenna shaft325abuts against the substantially V-shaped connection establishing unit150fixed on the circuit board140. As a result, an electric connection can be robustly established between the antenna300and the circuit board140.

As described above, after attaching the antenna300to the cellular phone10, it is housed in the antenna casing unit135in a folded manner (seeFIG. 3). Subsequently, the stationary-side rear case120and the stationary-side front case110are assembled. As a result, unlike in a conventional assembly, it becomes possible to reliably prevent the antenna300from getting damaged during the assembly.

Meanwhile, although the first embodiment is given for a folding cellular phone in which a hinge structure is used for coupling a movable-side housing to a stationary-side housing, it is also possible to use a hinge structure other than that shown in the drawings. Moreover, instead of a folding cellular phone, the above description can also be implemented for a cellular phone in which the movable-side housing is overlappably coupled to the stationary-side housing with the use of a coupling unit having a sliding structure or a rotating structure.

The mobile terminal device in the first embodiment is assumed to be a cellular phone. However, the above description can also be implemented as an antenna attaching configuration for a small-size information processing device such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a small-size music player, or a portable television, or a handheld gaming device.

In this way, according to the embodiments, an antenna is attached to a cellular phone as the last step of assembly thereby making the assembly process more efficient and preventing the antenna from getting damaged during the assembly. Moreover, because there is no need to use an additional antenna attaching member (e.g., a chassis) to attach the antenna to a stationary-side front case of the cellular phone, it becomes possible to reduce the number of required components and downsize the cellular phone.