Patent Publication Number: US-2015070222-A1

Title: Signal transfer apparatus having antenna unit

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0107991, filed on Sep. 9, 2013, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     Apparatuses and methods consistent with the embodiments relate to a signal transfer apparatus and, more particularly, to a signal transfer apparatus having an antenna unit which includes a slot antenna and a communication module. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In general, a signal transfer apparatus, such as a jack pack apparatus and a set-top box apparatus, transfers an external signal, such as an image signal, a video signal, and an audio signal, which is received from diverse kinds of electronic devices to a television (TV). 
     A jack pack apparatus is an apparatus which is separate from a TV and is connected to the TV via one connect cable in order to prevent a plurality of cables connected to diverse devices from being directly connected to the TV so that disorder caused by the plurality of cables may be minimized. The jack pack apparatus includes a connecting terminal, such as a digital visual interface (DVI), a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI), an audio/video (AV) interface, and a Sony/Philips digital interconnect format (S/PDIF) interface, that connects the jack pack apparatus to a communication module or diverse kinds of devices so that diverse kinds of signals input from diverse kinds of external devices may be transferred to the TV (for example, an ultra high definition (UHD) TV) via the one connect cable. The separate jack pack apparatus may include a built-in TV tuner. 
     A set-top box apparatus is an apparatus that restores a compressed signal transmitted from a video server via a digital network into an original video or audio signal, and transfers the restored signal to a TV. The set-top box may convert an analog broadcast into a digital broadcast and, in particular, have a function for enabling the internet through an internet protocol TV (IPTV) recently. 
     In the related art, such a signal transfer apparatus includes an antenna to transmit a wireless signal to or receive a wireless signal from an external wireless device. The antenna may be directly patterned on a printed circuit board included in the signal transfer apparatus. Alternatively, an antenna, such as a planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA), may be connected to a connector via an radio frequency (RF) cable and may be connected to a wireless communication module mounted in a printed circuit board. 
     The antenna patterned on the printed circuit board may be simply manufactured. However, since an external case is made of a metallic material and thus the antenna is in a closed environment, a radiation pattern may deteriorate, and antenna characteristics may not be better than that of general antennas (a separate antenna that is connected to the exterior of the signal transfer apparatus). 
     However, in the case of the PIFA, the performance of the PIFA is a little bit better than that of the antenna patterned on the printed circuit board, but, an assembly defect rate between the connector and the RF cable, and a high unit cost of the RF cable raises manufacturing costs of the signal transfer apparatus. Also, since an external case is made of a metallic material, there is a limit to sufficiently securing a radiation pattern of the antenna, thereby deteriorating the performance of the antenna. 
     SUMMARY 
     Additional aspects and/or advantages will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the embodiments. 
     Exemplary embodiments overcome the above disadvantages and other disadvantages not described above. Also, the embodiments are not required to overcome the disadvantages described above, and an exemplary embodiment may not overcome any of the problems described above. 
     The embodiments provide a signal transfer apparatus including a slot antenna on an external case or a shield plate in order to enhance the performance to transmit or receive an antenna signal. 
     According to an aspect of the embodiments, a signal transfer apparatus includes a housing, an interface provided at a housing to be connected to an external device to transmit a signal to or receive a signal from the external device, an external case configured to cover the housing, an antenna unit configured to comprise a slot antenna, and a communication module which is connected to the slot antenna and transmits a signal to or receives a signal from an external wireless device through the slot antenna, a controller provided in the housing to be electrically connected to the interface and the antenna unit, and transmit an external signal received through the interface or the antenna unit directly to a display apparatus or convert the external signal and transmit the converted signal to the display apparatus. 
     The external case may be made of a conductive metallic material, and the slot antenna is formed on the external case. In this case, the slot antenna may include at least one radiation pattern which is perforated on the external case. In this case, a connecting terminal of the communication module may be connected to a connecting terminal of the slot antenna via at least one cable, or may be directly soldered to a connecting terminal of the slot antenna. 
     The signal transfer apparatus may further include a shield plate configured to be made of a conductive metallic material to block an electromagnetic wave and be covered by the external case. The eternal case may be made of a non-metallic material. The slot antenna may include at least one radiation pattern perforated on the shield plate. In this case, a connecting terminal of the communication module may be connected to a connecting terminal of the slot antenna via at least one cable, or may be directly soldered to a connecting terminal of the slot antenna. 
     The shield plate may include an antenna signal radiation hole through which an antenna signal of the slot antenna passes, and the antenna unit may be provided at a location corresponding to the antenna signal radiation hole. 
     The antenna unit may include a conductive metal plate on which at least one radiation pattern of the slot antenna is perforated. In this case, the signal transfer apparatus may further include a coupling configured to separably couple the metal plate to the shield plate. A connecting terminal of the communication module may be directly soldered to a connecting terminal of the slot antenna. 
     The coupling may be a pair of slots extended in parallel along sides of the antenna signal radiation hole which face each other. 
     The coupling may be a conductive adhesive tape to attach the metal plate to the shield plate. 
     The coupling may be a plurality of connecting members to fix the metal plate to the shield plate. 
     The coupling may be a plurality of fixing protrusion which are extended from the shield plate and are formed around the antenna signal radiation hole. 
     The metal plate may be attached with at least one foreign substance blocking member to prevent a foreign substance from flowing into the radiation pattern. In this case, the foreign substance blocking member is an insulating tape or an insulating film. 
     The communication module may include a first communication circuit and a second communication circuit to transmit or receive at least two different signals respectively, and the slot antenna may include at least one first radiation pattern to be connected to the first communication circuit, and at least one second radiation pattern to be connected to the second communication circuit. 
     Additional and/or other aspects and advantages of the embodiments 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 embodiments. 
     According to an aspect of the embodiments a signal transfer apparatus includes an interface provided to be connected to an external device, a case, a slot antenna formed by the case and a controller connected to the interface and the antenna unit to transfer a signal between the interface and the antenna where the case may be metal and the antenna may be formed by perforation of the metal case. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and/or other aspects of the embodiments will be more apparent by describing certain exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a signal transfer apparatus consistent with a first exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the interior of an external case to show a connection state between a slot antenna and a communication module shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an example of the communication module that is directly soldered to a conductive member of the slot antenna; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another connection structure between the slot antenna and the communication module shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate diverse patterns of the slot antenna; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a signal transfer apparatus consistent with a second exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of an example in which a slot antenna of the signal transfer apparatus consistent with the second exemplary embodiment is slotted into a shield plate; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an example in which the slot antenna of the signal transfer apparatus consistent with the second exemplary embodiment is taped on the shield plate; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an example in which the slot antenna of the signal transfer apparatus consistent with the second exemplary embodiment is fixed on the shield plate by a plurality of connecting members; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates an example in which the slot antenna of the signal transfer apparatus consistent with the second exemplary embodiment is fixed on the shield plate by a plurality of fixing protrusions; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an example in which foreign substance blocking members are attached to both sides of the slot antenna to prevent foreign substances from flowing into a radiation pattern of the slot antenna perforated on a metal plate; and 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a signal transfer apparatus consistent with a third exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below to explain the embodiments by referring to the figures. 
     In the following description, same drawing reference numerals are used for the same elements even in different drawings. The matters defined in the description, such as detailed construction and elements, are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the embodiments. Thus, it is apparent that the exemplary embodiments can be carried out without those specifically defined matters. Also, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the embodiments with unnecessary detail. 
     Signal transfer apparatuses  100  ( FIG. 1) and 100A  ( FIG. 7 ) consistent with first and second exemplary embodiments are jack pack apparatuses, and a signal transfer apparatus  1008  ( FIG. 13 ) consistent with a third exemplary embodiment is a set-top box apparatus. The jack pack apparatus and the set-top box apparatus have an antenna unit including a slot antenna in common. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the signal transfer apparatus  100  consistent with the first exemplary embodiment may includes a housing  110 , a connecting terminal panel  130 , a controller  150 , an external case  170 , and an antenna unit  190 . 
     The housing  110  is made of a metallic material to maintain a predetermined rigidity or a synthetic resin material having a predetermined hardness. 
     The connecting terminal panel  130  is an interface that is connected to diverse external devices in order to transmit a signal to or receive a signal from the diverse external devices. The connecting terminal panel  130  may include a plurality of connecting terminals  131 ,  132 ,  133 , and  134 . The connecting terminals  131 ,  132 ,  133 , and  134  may include a digital visual interface (DVI), a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI), an audio/video (AV) interface, a Sony/Philips digital interconnect format (S/PDIF) interface, and the like. 
     The controller  150  is provided in the housing  10 , and processes a signal input from diverse external devices through the connecting terminal panel  130  or processes a signal input through the antenna unit  190 . In addition, the controller  150  transmits diverse types of signals to a TV (not shown, for example, an ultra high definition (UHD) TV) through one for a single connection connecting cable  151 . In this case, the at least one connect cable  151  may include a connecting terminal  153  that is electrically connected to a connecting terminal (not shown) of the TV. 
     The external case  170  may be made of a metallic material in order to block electromagnetic interference (EMI) radiated from the controller  150  and diverse electronic units (not shown) in the housing  110  and to enhance electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). In this case, the external case  170  may be a conductive material to be formed with a slot antenna  191  of the antenna unit  190  in one body so as to transmit or receive a signal. 
     The antenna unit  190  may include the slot antenna  191 , and a communication module  193  which is electrically connected to the slot antenna  191 . 
     The slot antenna  191  may include first radiation patterns  191 A and  191 B and a second radiation pattern  191 C which are perforated on the external case  170  that is a conductive material. In this case, the location of the first and second radiation patterns  191 A,  191 B, and  191 C are not limited to that shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The first and second radiation patterns  191 A,  191 B, and  191 C may be provided on an appropriate location of the external case  170  in light of the controller  150  and adjacent electronic unit (not shown). 
     The first radiation patterns  191 A and  191 B are substantially symmetrical to each other, and radiate a first antenna signal (for example, a Wi-Fi signal). The second radiation pattern  191 C is provided below the first radiation patterns  191 A and  191 B, and radiates a second antenna signal (for example, a Bluetooth signal) which is different from the first antenna signal. 
     The first radiation patterns  191 A and  191 B and the second radiation pattern  191 C are connected to the communication module  193  via first to third cables (for example, RF cables)  192 A,  192 B, and  192 C respectively. In this case, one ends of the first and second cables  192 A and  192 B are connected to connecting terminals T1 and T2 of the first radiation patterns  191 A and  191 B, and the other ends are connected to first and second connecting terminals  201  and  202  of a connector  200 . In addition, one end of the third cable  192 C is connected to a connecting terminal T3 of the second radiation pattern  192 C, and the other end is connected to a third connecting terminal  203  of the connector  200 . 
     In this case, the connector  200  is electrically connected to one side of the communication module  193  which is connected to the controller  150 . 
     The communication module  193  may include a first communication circuit  193 A to transmit a signal to or receive a signal from an external wireless device through the first radiation patterns  191 A and  191 B, and a second communication circuit  193 B to transmit a signal to or receive a signal from an external wireless device through the second radiation pattern  191 C. In this case, an external wireless device that transmits a signal to or receives a signal from the first and second communication circuits  193 A and  193 B may include a separate controller, a smart phone, a table PC, etc. The first and second communication circuits  193 A and  193 B are mounted in a printed circuit board (PCB)  193 C. 
     In the aforementioned antenna unit  190 , the slot antenna  191  and the communication module  193  are separate from each other, and are connected to each other via the plurality of cables  192 A,  192 B, and  192 C. However, the antenna unit  190  is not limited to the separate type, and may include the slot antenna  191  and the communication module  193  in or as one body as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , an antenna unit  190 ′ may not include the plurality of cables  192 A,  192 B, and  192 C unlike the aforementioned antenna unit  190 , thereby reducing the manufacturing costs. In the antenna unit  190 ′, a plurality of connecting terminals  195 A′,  195 B′, and  195 C′ of a communication module  193 ′ are directly soldered to connecting terminals T1′, T2′, and T3′ of first and second radiation patterns  191 A′,  191 B′, and  191 C′ respectively. 
     In this case, the plurality of connecting terminals  195 A′,  195 B′, and  195 C′ of the communication module  193 ′ are formed in a semicircle shape at ends of a PCB  193 C′ which is adjacent to the connecting terminals T1′, T2′, and T3′ of the first and second radiation patterns  191 A′,  191 B′, and  191 C′. The inside of the plurality of connecting terminals  195 A′,  195 B′, and  195 C′ is coated with a conductive material. In addition, the plurality of connecting terminals  195 A′,  195 B′, and  195 C′ are electrically connected to first and second communication circuits  193 A′ and  193 B′ by wiring. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , in an antenna unit  190 ″, a plurality of connecting terminals  195 A″,  195 B″, and  1950 ″ of a communication module  193 ″ may be formed as through-holes. In this case, ends of connecting terminals T1″, T2″, and T3″ of first and second radiation patterns  191 A″,  191 B″, and  1910 ″ may be bent in the same direction in order to be inserted into the plurality of connecting terminals  195 A″,  195 B″, and  1950 ″ of the communication module  193 ″. In this structure, the connecting terminals T1″, T2″, and T3″ of first and second radiation patterns  191 A″,  191 B″, and  1910 ″ are directly soldered to the plurality of connecting terminals  195 A″,  195 B″, and  1950 ″ of the communication module  193 ″ respectively. 
     The location of the first radiation patterns  191 A and  191 B and the second radiation pattern  191 C is not limited to that shown in  FIG. 2 , but may be provided as shown in  FIG. 5  or  6 . That is, in a slot antenna  1191  shown in  FIG. 5 , a second radiation pattern  1191 C may be located between radiation patterns  1191 A and  1191 B. In a slot antenna  2191  shown in  FIG. 6 , radiation patterns  2191 A and  2191 B may be spaced apart from a second radiation pattern  2191 C. In  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the communication module  193  is not illustrated for convenience of description. 
     The reason why the radiation patterns  2191 A and  2191 B are spaced apart from the second radiation pattern  2191 C as shown in  FIG. 6  is to secure isolation to prevent communication problems caused by signal interference when a Bluetooth signal and a Wi-Fi signal share the same frequency band (for example, 2.4 GHz). 
     With reference to  FIG. 7 , the signal transfer apparatus  100 A consistent with the second exemplary embodiment has the same construction as the first exemplary embodiment except that the antenna unit  190  is not provided on an external case  170 A but on a shield plate  230 . In the signal transfer apparatus  100 A consistent with the second exemplary embodiment, description of the same construction as the first exemplary embodiment is not repeated. 
     The external case  170 A covers the shield plate  230  entirely. The external case  170 A may be made of a nonmetallic material to transmit or receive a signal smoothly without interference using the antenna unit  190  provided on the shield plate  230 . In this case, the external case  170 A may be made of a synthetic resin material in light of ease of manufacture and strength. 
     The shield plate  230  may be made of a metallic material to block EMI generated by the controller  150  and diverse electronic units and enhance EMC. 
     The location of the antenna unit  190  in the second exemplary embodiment changes from the external case  170  in the first exemplary embodiment to the shield plate  230 , but the detailed construction of the antenna unit  190  is the same as in the external case  170  of the first exemplary embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 2 to 6 . 
     When the antenna unit  190  consistent with the second exemplary embodiment includes the slot antenna  191  and the communication module  193  in one body as in the antenna units  190 ′ and  190 ″ shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  of the first exemplary embodiment, the antenna unit  190  may be manufactured as a separate component and be connected to the shield plate  230  as shown in  FIGS. 8 to 11 . In  FIGS. 8 to 11 , the communication module is not illustrated for convenience of description. 
     With reference to  FIG. 8 , a slot antenna  291  is not perforated directly on a shield plate  230 A, but is perforated on a separate conductive metal plate  251 . In this case, the slot antenna  291  includes first radiation patterns  291 A and  291 B to radiate a first antenna signal (for example, a Wi-Fi signal), and a second radiation pattern  291 C to radiate a second antenna signal (for example, a Bluetooth signal). 
     The shield plate  230 A includes a first coupling  261  to be coupled to the metal plate  251 . The first coupling  261  may include a pair of slots  261 A and  261 B along sides of an antenna signal radiation hole  231 A formed on the shield plate  230 A that face each other. 
     In this case, the pair of slots  261 A and  261 B may be formed by bending a portion of the shield plate  230 A in multi-steps. When the slot antenna  291  is slid into the first coupling  261 , the upper side and lower side of the slot antenna  291  may be stably inserted into the pair of slots  261 A and  261 B. The width of the slots  261 A and  261 B may be equal to or smaller than the thickness of the metal plate  251  so that the pair of slots  261 A and  261 B may securely fix the metal plate  251 . 
     In  FIG. 8 , the first coupling  261  is formed using the portion of the shield plate  230 A, but is not limited thereto. It is also possible that the shield plate  230 A and a separate member (not shown) are provided in a slot form and are welded together along sides of the antenna signal radiation hole  231 A which face each other. 
     With reference to  FIG. 9 , a second coupling  263  may include a plurality of conductive adhesive tapes. In order to fix the metal plate  251  using the conductive adhesive tapes, the metal plate  251  is placed on a location corresponding to an antenna signal radiation hole  231 B, and is taped on a shield plate  230 B along the four sides of the metal plate  251  using the conductive adhesive tapes  263 . When the metal plate  251  is fixed on the shield plate  230 B using the conductive adhesive tapes  263 , it is easy to fix the meal plate  251  without a separate component to fix the metal plate  251 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 10 , a third coupling  265  may include a plurality of screws. In this case, the metal plate  251  is fixed to the shield plate  230 C by penetrating and tightening a portion of the four sides of the metal plate  251  and a portion around an antenna signal radiation hole  231 C using the screws. When the third coupling  265  is used, the metal plate  251  is easily separate from the shield plate  230 C by loosening the screws so that maintenance and repair may become easy. 
     With reference to  FIG. 11 , a fourth coupling means  267  may include a plurality of fixing protrusions perforated around an antenna signal radiation hole  231 D. In this case, the plurality of fixing protrusions may be formed using a portion of the shield plate  230 D, and may be located to correspond to the edge of the metal plate  251  in order to fix the edge of the metal plate  251 . When the metal plate  251  is fixed to the shield plate  230 D using the fourth coupling  267 , the portion of the shield plate  230 D is used without any separate fixing member so that the manufacture may be simple. 
     In the metal plate  251  shown in  FIGS. 8 to 11 , when foreign substances flow into the first and second radiation patterns  291 A,  291 B, and  291 C, the performance of the antenna may deteriorate. Accordingly, in order to prevent performance deterioration of the antenna, foreign substance blocking members  271  and  273  may be attached to both sides of the metal plate  251  as shown in  FIG. 12 . The foreign substance blocking members  271  and  273  may be insulating tapes or insulating films (for example, a thin plastic film of polypropylene). 
     When the first and second radiation patterns  191 A,  191 B, and  191 C are directly provided on the shield plate  170  as shown in  FIG. 7 , the foreign substance blocking members  271  and  273  may be attached to the front side and the rear side of the shield plate  170 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 13 , the signal transfer apparatus  100 B consistent with the third exemplary embodiment may include a housing  110 , a plurality of collecting terminal panel (not shown) provided at the rear of the housing  110 , a controller  150  installed in the housing  110 , an external case  170  to cover the interior of the housing  110 , and an antenna unit  190  as in the signal transfer apparatus  100  consistent with the first exemplary embodiment. 
     In addition, the signal transfer apparatus  100 B consistent with the third exemplary embodiment may include a control panel  140  which includes a plurality of manipulation buttons  141  to enable a user to manipulate the signal transfer apparatus  100 B, a power button  142 , and a display  143  at the front of the housing  110 . 
     The antenna unit  190  in the signal transfer apparatus  100 B consistent with the third exemplary embodiment may be formed in a separate type in which the slot antenna  191  and the communication module (not shown) are connected via a plurality of cables as shown in  FIG. 2  of the first exemplary embodiment, or may be formed in an combined type in which the slot antenna  191  and the communication module (not shown) are provided in one body as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  of the first exemplary embodiment. In this case, the construction of the communication module in the signal transfer apparatus  100 B consistent with the third exemplary embodiment is the same as that of the communication module  193  in the first exemplary embodiment. 
     In addition, the slot antenna  191  in the third exemplary embodiment is provided at the external case  170 , but is not limited thereto. When the signal transfer apparatus  100 B includes a shield plate (not shown) made of a conductive metallic material as in the signal transfer apparatus  100 A consistent with the second exemplary embodiment (see  FIG. 7 ), the slot antenna  191  may be provided at the shield plate. When the signal transfer apparatus  100 B includes the shield plate, the external case  170  may be made of a nonmetallic material (for example, a synthetic resin material having a predetermined hardness) to prevent signal interference. 
     In  FIG. 13 , reference numeral  171  indicates a plurality of heat radiation holes provided at the external case  170  to discharge heat generated in the signal transfer apparatus  100 B outside the external case  170 . 
     The foregoing exemplary embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the embodiments. The present teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. Also, the description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims, and many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the embodiments, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.