Wireless module and wireless card

Abstract: A wireless module (M) has a module substrate (1) on which an LSI (3) is to be mounted and an antenna (2) mounted on the module substrate (1) in a coil form wound a plurality of times and connected to the LSI via terminals (2a, 2b) positioned on both ends thereof, for attaining non-contact data communication. The coil tiers constituting the antenna (2) are divided into two portions each having a plurality of tires in the vicinity of the LSI (3). The LSI (3) is positioned between the two divided portions. Terminals of the LSI are connected to both terminals (2a, 2b) of the antenna (2) by way of metal wires (6, 6).

Description: The present invention relates to a wireless module and a wireless card for use in a thin-layer electronic device involved in non-contact data-communication. The functional portion of the thin-layer electronic device of this type consists of a wireless module and an antenna, which is a discrete member and connected to the wireless module with a solder or the like. The functional portion consisting of the wireless module and the antenna is incorporated in the card base member which is formed by a molding method or by a laminating method. In this manner, a card is formed. The wireless module comprises a module substrate and an electronic part such as an LSI (hereinafter, referred to as "LSI") mounted on the module substrate. However, the wireless module conventionally used does not have an antenna incorporated therein, so that the non-contact data communication cannot be attained. Hence, to inspect the LSI of the wireless module, an antenna must be connected to the wireless module with a solder or the like. Therefore, disadvantageously long time is required for inspecting the LSI. The LSI is conventionally positioned on an upper surface of the antenna or in the vicinity of the antenna. However, if the LSI is positioned on the upper surface of the antenna, the LSI is easily broken along the antenna. If the LSI is positioned in the vicinity of the antenna, the LSI is mistakenly operated by the magnetic field generated from the antenna. EP 0 737 935 A2 discloses a wireless module according to the preamble of claim 1. The present invention has been made in view of the aforementioned circumstances. An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless module and a wireless card which makes it possible to attain data communication by itself and to prevent breakage and misoperation of the electronic part. This object is achieved by the wireless module according to claim 1. Further developments of the invention are given in the dependent claims. This summary of the invention does not necessarily describe all necessary features so that the invention may also be a sub-combination of these described features. The invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a wireless module according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing a first installment example of an LSI and an antenna on a module substrate; FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a reel base to be used in manufacturing the wireless module; FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a wireless card in which the wireless module of FIG. 1 is to be installed; FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view showing a wireless card; FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view showing a second installment example of an LSI and an antenna on a module substrate; FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a third installment example of an LSI and an antenna on a module substrate; FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a wireless card with the wireless module of FIG. 7 mounted thereon; FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a fourth installment example an LSI and an antenna on a module substrate; FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a wireless card with the wireless module of FIG. 9 mounted thereon; FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a fifth installment example of an LSI and an antenna on a module substrate; FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a sixth installment example of an LSI and an antenna on a module substrate; FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a wireless card with the wireless module of FIG. 12 mounted thereon; FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a wireless module according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 15 is a side cross-sectional view showing an installment example of an LSI and an antenna in the wireless module of FIG. 14; FIG. 16 is a plan view showing a wireless card with the wireless module of FIG. 15 mounted thereon; FIG. 17 is a plan view showing a wireless module according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 18 is a plan view showing a wireless card in which the wireless module of FIG. 17 is to be installed; and FIG. 19 is a side cross-sectional view showing a wireless card of FIG. 18. Now, the present invention will be explained with reference to an embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a wireless module M. The wireless module M has a module substrate 1 as a base. The module substrate 1 is formed of a glass epoxy of 0.2 mm thick. An antenna 2 is mounted on the lower surface of the module substrate 1. The antenna 2 is arranged in the form of a coil wound a plurality of times and integrally attached to the module substrate 1. FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing a first installment example of an LSI 3 and the antenna 2 on the wireless module M. A device hole 5 is formed through the module substrate 1. An electronic part, an LSI 3 is placed in the device hole 5. Both terminals 2a, 2b of the antenna 2 are connected to the LSI 3 by way of conductive metal wires 6, 6. The LSI 3 and the metal wires 6, 6 are sealed with a resin agent 4. The terminals 2a, 2b of the antenna 2 are respectively abutted against each of the sides of the LSI 3. The antenna 2 (coil tiers) is arranged in a bundle form until it approaches the LSI 3 and then divided symmetrically into right and left portions (each having uniform numbers of tiers) to avoid overlapping the LSI 3. Therefore, the metal wires 6, 6 connected to the LSI at one end is connected at the other end to terminals 2a, 2b of the antenna 2 so as to sandwich the antenna tiers. Since the metal wires 6, 6 and both terminals 2a, 2b of the antenna 2 are abutted against LSI 3, the resin-sealed shape of them can be reduced in size. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a reel base 21 for use in manufacturing the wireless module M. The reel base 21 is formed of a glass epoxy substrate of 0.2 mm thick and 35 mm width. The wireless module M is formed as follows: the LSI 3, the antenna 2, and the metal wires 6, 6 are mounted on the reel base 21 so that two module substrates 1 can be juxtaposed on the reel base 21 in the width direction. Then, the LSI 3 and the metal wires 6, 6 are sealed with the resin agent 4. Thereafter, the reel base 21 is punched out in accordance with an outline shape of the module substrate. FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively show a plan view and a cross-sectional view of a wireless card K. The wireless card K has a card base 11 incorporating a wireless module M manufactured as described above therein. The card base 11 consists of front and back sheet materials 12, 13 and a resin layer 14 interposed between the front and back sheet materials 12, 13. The wireless module M is embedded in the resin layer 14. The front and back sheet materials 12, 13 are polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sheets of 100 µm in thickness and respectively adhered onto the front and back surfaces of the resin layer 14 with an adhesive agent 14. According to this embodiment, the LSI 3 and the antenna 2 are mounted on the module substrate 1 of the wireless module M. It is therefore possible to effect non-contact data communication by using the wireless module alone. Hence, LSI 3 can be inspected by using the wireless module alone. More specifically, LSI 3 can be inspected without connecting an antenna externally to the wireless module, unlike in the conventional case. This means that the inspection of LSI can be made simpler. Both terminals 2a, 2b of the antenna 2 are respectively arranged on each of both sides of LSI 3. Therefore, after sealing with the resin agent 4, the sealed shape of both terminals and the antenna takes a symmetrical form such as a square or a circle. As a result, the strength against bending can be improved. The antenna 2 is arranged in a bundle form until it approaches the LSI 3 and is then divided symmetrically into right and left portions (each having a uniform number of tiers) to avoid overlapping the LSI 3. It follows that magnetic fields generated from the antenna 2 at both sides of the LSI 3 are canceled out each other, preventing misoperation of LSI 3. Since the LSI 3 is installed by inserting it into the device hole 5, the resultant structure can be reduced by the thickness (0.2 mm) of the module substrate 1. FIG. 6 shows a second installment example of the LSI 3 and the antenna 2 on the module substrate 1. In this example, the LSI 3 and the antenna 2 are mounted on the upper surface of the module substrate 1. As a result, the resultant structure is formed thicker by the thickness of the module substrate 1, as compared to that of the first installment example. FIG. 7 shows a third installment example of the LSI 3 and the antenna 2. In this example, the antenna 2 is arranged in a coil form wound an even number of times (6 times). The antenna coil tiers are divided into right and left halves (three tiers) in the vicinity of the LSI 3. In this embodiment, unlike the first installment example, the antenna 2 is not arranged in a bundle form but arranged in the half-divided form (each having three tiers) before approaching the LSI 3. The LSI 3 are arranged on a solid pattern 7 which is not electrically connected to the antenna 2 and therefore free from effects of antenna 2. FIG. 8 is a fourth installment example of the LSI 3 and the antenna 2. In this example, the antenna 2 is arranged in a coil form wound an odd number of times (five times). A pattern 2A serving as a mounting base for LSI is formed on a third round tier. The LSI 3 is mounted on the pattern 2A and fixed thereon with an insulating adhesive agent. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a wireless card with the wireless module M of FIG. 9 mounted thereon; FIG. 11 is a fifth installment example of the LSI 3 and the antenna 2. Both terminals 2a, 2b of the antenna are arranged at a far distance around the LSI 3. As a result, the LSI sealed with the resin agent 4 results in a rectangular form. FIG. 12 is a sixth installment example of the LSI 3 and the antenna 2. In this example, the LSI 3 is arranged diagonally to the horizontal line so as to appear diamond-shaped and so as to allow a pair of corner portions of LSI facing each other to correspond to the winding shape of the antenna coil tiers. The both terminals 2a, 2b of the antenna 2 are positioned in the vicinity of both sides of one of another pair of corner portions of the LSI 3 so as to sandwich the antenna coil tiers. It follows that the resin-sealed shape of the LSI 3 with the resin agent 4 takes a square, improving the bending strength over the resin-sealed shape of FIG. 11. FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a wireless module M. FIG. 15 is a side cross-sectional view showing an installment example of the LSI 3 and the antenna 2. In this example, a contact electrode 3a serving as a first electrode is provided on the back surface of the LSI 3. The contact electrode 3a is electrically connected to one of terminals 2a of the antenna 2 with a conductive adhesive agent 9. Furthermore, a pad 3b serving as a second electrode is provided on the upper surface of the LSI 3. The pad 3b is connected to one of terminals 2b of the antenna 2 with a metal wire 10 serving as a conductive connecting member. In this way, a wireless module M attaining wireless communication is formed. In this example, it is possible to lower latent malfunctions by reducing the connecting portions with a metal wire 10, thereby improving reliability of the LSI 3. FIG. 16 is plan view showing a wireless card with the wireless module M of FIG. 14 mounted thereon. FIG. 17 is a plan view showing a wireless module M according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a coil antenna 8 serving as an auxiliary antenna is provided on the antenna 2 mounted on the module substrate 1 of the wireless module M. The coil antenna 8 is larger than the antenna 2. Both ends of the coil antenna 8 are electrically connected to the antenna 2 of the wireless module M with a solder or a conductive paste. As the coil antenna 8, a wind coil is used. According to the embodiment, the antenna can be formed larger. It is therefore possible to extend a communication distance, drastically. FIGS. 18 and 19 are respectively a plan view and a side cross-sectional view of a wireless card K in which a wireless module M of FIG. 17 is installed. A card base 11 of the wireless card K consists of frond and back sheet materials 12, 13 and a resin layer 14 interposed between the front and back sheet materials 12, 13, similarly to the case shown in FIG. 5. The wireless module M of FIG. 17 and the coil antenna 8 are embedded in the resin layer 14.

Claims: A wireless module (M), comprising an electronic part (3), a module base (1) on which the electronic part (3) is mounted, and an antenna (2) mounted on the module base (1) in the form of a coil wound a plurality of times to form coil windings and connected to the electronic part (3) via terminals (2a, 2b) arranged at both ends of the antenna (2), for attaining non-contact data communication, characterized in that the antenna (2) is divided into two portions each having a plurality of the windings, the electronic part (3) is positioned between the two divided portions of the antenna in the vicinity of the windings, and the terminals of the electronic part (3) are respectively connected to each of the terminals (2a, 2b) of the antenna (2) via conductive bodies (6, 6). The wireless module according to claim 1, characterized in that the antenna (2) is arranged in the form of a coil having an even number of windings and divided into halves in the vicinity of the electronic part (3), thereby sandwiching the electronic part. The wireless module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that of the electronic part (3) has a pair of corner portions facing each other and the winding shape of the antenna coil windings (2) corresponds to the pair of comer portions and the antenna terminals (2a, 2b) are connected to the terminals of the electronic part (3) via a connecting member (6) at one of another pair of comer portions. The wireless module according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the terminals of the electronic part (3) are connected to the terminals (2a, 2b) of antenna (2) respectively at the outer sides of the antenna coil windings (2) via a connecting member (6) crossing the antenna coil windings (2). The wireless module according to claim 1, characterized in that the antenna (2) is arranged in the form of a coil wound an odd number of times to form the coil windings, a central winding tier of the coil is located under the mounting portion for the electronic part (3), the other windings are divided into the two portions each having half of the other windings, and the electronic part (3) is mounted on the mounting portion (7) with an insulating adhesive agent. The wireless module according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the two portions of windings are arranged without overlapping with the electronic part (3). A wireless card, comprising a wireless module (M) according to one of claims 1 to 6, and a card base (11) on which the wireless module (M) is to be mounted.

Inventors: MUROHARA MASARU, MUROHARA, MASARU
Applicants: TOSHIBA KK, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Application year: 1998
Main classification: G06K19
IPC codes: G06K19, B42D15