Abstract:
The present invention relates an RF tuner module that comprises one or more standard RF connectors. As, relative big, standard RF connectors are widely in use but at the same time there is a pressure to make products smaller an RF tuner module design is size constrained. The invention describes a measure to make an RF tuner module, with a standard RF-connector, smaller by extending one of the shielding sides of the RF tuner in order to facilitate a proper mounting of the RF connector to the RF tuner module.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention also relates to a tuner module with a reduced height that comprises a standard RF connector. 
     Moreover the present invention relates to an apparatus comprising a reduced height tuner module that comprises a standard RF connector. 
     The present invention is particularly relevant for consumer electronics and PC products where space limitations forces module and component makers to develop ever-smaller products, whilst being able to interface to the outside world with standard connections. Such products may include LCD-TV, flat-STB, cable modems and Multi-Media equipped PC&#39;s and gadgets with, e.g., Audio, Video and or data reception capabilities. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the field of consumer electronic products, such as an LCD TV, Set-Top-Box, a cable modem, a move towards slim designs and smaller components is required. This includes the requirement for a smaller (low-profile) RF (Radio Frequency) tuner module. However, the requirement of the use of standard RF connectors such as IEC and F-type connectors (which typically can be found as part of a RF tuner module) creates a restriction to the design of a low-profile RF tuner module. 
     A prior art, high vertical profile, RF tuner module typically comprises a metal-stamped frame, which houses an internal electrical circuit. It has both a top and bottom metal cover that closes the frame for shielding purposes. The module also may comprise one or more standard RF connectors, I/O (Input/Output) pins and mounting tags on the frame. Such as module can be applicated by, e.g., inserting its signal pins and mounting tags onto, e.g., a chassis PCB with a matching footprint. An RF signal is fed into the tuner module via an RF coaxial cable with a matching RF connector at its end. 
     Another prior art low-profile design RF tuner module does not comprise a standard RF connector. The RF input is fed instead to the module via one or more signal pins through its cover. Such a module can also be applicated by, e.g., inserting its signal pins (including an RF-in signal pin) and mounting tags onto, e.g., a chassis PCB with a matching footprint. The RF-in pin is connected to a separate RF connector via copper track on the chassis PCB. This affects the RF signal coming into the tuner module due to signal disturbances though the copper track connections, and also poor matching of the input impedance via the pin connector, resulting in bad performance of the RF tuner module. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide tuner module comprising a standard RF input connector. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a reduced height tuner module comprising a standard RF input connector without compromising on signal integrity. 
     It is yet another object of the invention to provide a chassis PCB (i.e., a PCB plus components) comprising a reduced height tuner module comprising a standard RF input connector that results in an overall thinner design of the chassis PCB. 
     It is yet another object of the invention to provide an apparatus or a consumer electronics product comprising a reduced height tuner module comprising a standard RF input connector that results in an overall thinner design of the apparatus. 
     In one embodiment, one of the shielding sides of the RF tuner is extended in order to facilitate a proper mounting of a standard, relative big, RF connector to the RF tuner module. 
     In another embodiment, a chassis PCB comprises the RF tuner of the previous embodiment that is mounted on the chassis PCB such that the RF connector extends over an edge of the chassis PCB. This results in an overall slimmer PCB design. 
     In yet another embodiment, an apparatus comprises a chassis PCB wherein the RF tuner of the first embodiment is mounted on the chassis PCB such that the RF connector extends over an edge of the chassis PCB. This results in an overall smaller apparatus design. 
     These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and will be elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1   a  shows a first prior art RF tuner module; 
         FIG. 1   b  shows a side view of a first chassis PCB comprising the first prior art RF tuner module; 
         FIG. 2   a  shows a second prior art RF tuner module; 
         FIG. 2   b  shows a side view of a second chassis PCB comprising the second prior art RF tuner module; 
         FIG. 3   a  shows a side view of the RF tuner module in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 3   b  shows a side view of a third chassis PCB comprising the RF tuner module in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 3   c  shows another side view of the third chassis PCB comprising the RF tuner module in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows an apparatus comprising the RF tuner module in accordance with the invention. 
     
    
    
     Throughout the drawings, the same reference numeral refers to the same element, or an element that performs substantially the same function. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1   a  shows a first prior art RF tuner module  100 . Module  100  comprises shielding body  102 , shielding body sidewall  108 , RF-connector  104  and signal pins  106 . RF tuner module height h 1 A (that is the thickness of a tuner module, inclusive of both bottom and top covers) is constrained by the size h 1  of RF-connector  104  as connector  104  needs sufficient surface at shielding body sidewall  108  in order to be adequately attached. 
       FIG. 1   b  shows a side view of a first chassis PCB (Printed Circuit Board)  150  comprising the first prior art RF tuner module  100 . Module  150  also comprises PCB  130  wherein signal pins  106  of module  100  have been soldered to PCB  130 .  FIG. 1   b  also shows an RF cable and connector  120 . First chassis PCB height h 1 B at least comprises the height of RF connector  120  and the thickness of PCB  130 . 
       FIG. 2   a  shows a second prior art RF tuner module  200 . RF tuner module  200  comprises shielding body  202 , RF-signal pin  204 , signal pins  206  and grounding lips  210 . Signal pins  206  are exposed from shielding body  202  through a hole. As module  200  does not comprise an RF connector such as module  100 , RF tuner module height h 2 A can be less than RF tuner module height h 1 A. 
       FIG. 2   b  shows a side view of a second chassis PCB  250  comprising the second prior art RF tuner module  200 . Second chassis PCB  250  also comprises PCB  230 , RF-signal track  232 , and RF-connector  234 . Second chassis PCB height h 2 B at least comprises the height of RF connector  234  and the thickness of PCB  230 . Therefore, although RF tuner module height h 2 A can be less than RF tuner module height h 1 A, the overall height of chassis PCB is still constrained by h 2 B. Another disadvantage of second chassis PCB  250  is that RF-signal track is not shielded and this in turn can cause degradation of received RF signals. 
       FIG. 3   a  shows a side view of the RF tuner module  300  in accordance with the invention. RF tuner module  300  comprises shielding body  302 , shielding body sidewall  308 , RF-connector  304  and signal pins  306 . RF tuner module height h 3 A (that is the thickness of a tuner module inclusive of both top and bottom cover, but not measuring an RF-connector) is not constrained by the size h 3 B of RF-connector  304  as shielding body sidewall  308  has been extended downwards and by doing so provides a sufficient surface for RF-connector  304  to be adequately attached. RF-connector  304  can be of a standard type such as an “F-connector” (typically found in the rear of a USA Television or radio set for connection to Cable and/or antenna) or an “IEC-connector” (IEC169-2; typically found in the rear of a European Television or radio set for connection to Cable and/or antenna) or other, e.g., emerging types of, connectors. 
       FIG. 3   b  shows a side view of a third chassis PCB  350  comprising the RF tuner module  300  in accordance with the invention. Chassis PCB  350  also comprises PCB  330 . 
     Shielding body  302  and shielding body sidewall  308  can be produced from a single-piece of metal. Shielding body  302  can be stamped with a lower height. Provisions for one or more standard RF connectors  304  can be made at one end of the shielding body in order to form shielding body sidewall  308 . By doing so, the end of the shielding body (that is shielding body sidewall  308 ), has a height that is larger than the rest of the shielding body. This in turn provides adequate area for the fixation of the RF connector  304 . RF tuner module  300  can be mounted on PCB  330 , with the shielding body sidewall  308  (together with RF connector  304 ) over the edge of PCB  330 . 
     Third chassis PCB height h 4 A comprises RF tuner module height h 3 A plus the thickness of PCB  330 . Therefore, the overall height of chassis PCB  350  has been reduced by h 4 B compared to prior art chassis PCB  150 . 
     Third chassis PCB  350  does not expose any RF signal to the outer world so RF signal integrity will be much better as compared to prior art chassis PCB  250 . 
       FIG. 3   c  shows another side view of fourth chassis PCB  380  comprising RF tuner module  390  in accordance with the invention. RF tuner module  390  comprises two RF connectors  304  and shielding body sidewall  308 . It is clearly shown that shielding body sidewall  308  is extended downward at the location of RF connectors  304  in order to provide sufficient area of fixation of the connectors  304 . Fourth chassis PCB  380  comprises RF tuner module  390  that is mounted on PCB  330  such that the RF connectors  304  extend over an edge of chassis PCB  380 . 
     One skilled in the art recognizes that extending an RF connector over an edge of a chassis PCB can take different shapes. For instance, a PCB should have a place with a cutout area. This area should be sufficiently large so that an RF-connector can be lowered into the PCB at that area. Therefore, using a tuner of the invention enables the design of a chassis PCB that has an overall thinner or slimmer design. 
       FIG. 4  shows an apparatus  400  that comprises a flat LCD Television. Apparatus  400  comprises a RF tuner module  460  (although only an RF connector of module  460  is visible in  FIG. 4 ) in accordance with the invention, flat speaker  472 , LCD screen  470  and RF-cable  420  connected to RF tuner module  460 . Due to the application of a reduced RF tuner module in accordance with the invention, thickness T of apparatus can be reduced. This results in a more stylish design something that the market requires. 
     An LCD Television is taken as example. The reader will understand that apparatus  400  can take the shape of a wide variety of products as described earlier in the invention and therefore apparatus  400  is not limited to the example of the LCD Television. Other examples of such an apparatus include a set-top-box, a cable modem, a Multi-Media equipped PC, a gadget with, e.g., Audio, Video and or data reception capabilities and a USB-TV box. 
     One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that alternative schemes can be devised by making tweaks in the RF tuner module and/or chassis PCB described. 
     The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the invention. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements which, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are thus within its spirit and scope.