Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7394039?dq=7,292,151
Timestamp: 2016-08-27 22:20:27
Document Index: 517712796

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 2005', 'arts 35', 'art 35', 'art 37', 'arts 35', 'art 11', 'art 32', 'arts 31', 'art 32', 'art 37', 'art 37', 'art 35', 'arts 31', 'art 33', 'art 11', 'art 33', 'arts 120', 'arts 120', 'arts 120', 'arts 120', 'art 103', 'art 120', 'art 121', 'Application No. 2006']

Patent US7394039 - Keyboard and membrane switch for keyboard - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsA disclosed keyboard includes a housing with a base member, a top plane member, and a membrane switch installed inside the housing. The membrane switch has a first resin sheet, a second resin sheet, and a spacer resin sheet arranged between the first and second resin sheets. The membrane switch includes...http://www.google.com/patents/US7394039?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7394039 - Keyboard and membrane switch for keyboardAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7394039 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/543,905Publication dateJul 1, 2008Filing dateOct 6, 2006Priority dateMar 10, 2006Fee statusLapsedAlso published asUS20070209920Publication number11543905, 543905, US 7394039 B2, US 7394039B2, US-B2-7394039, US7394039 B2, US7394039B2InventorsMasahiro Yanagi, Shigemi Kurashima, Hideki Iwata, Takashi Yuba, Masahiro Kaneko, Yuriko Segawa, Takashi AritaOriginal AssigneeFujitsu Component LimitedExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (109), Referenced by (4), Classifications (20), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetKeyboard and membrane switch for keyboard
US 7394039 B2Abstract
A disclosed keyboard includes a housing with a base member, a top plane member, and a membrane switch installed inside the housing. The membrane switch has a first resin sheet, a second resin sheet, and a spacer resin sheet arranged between the first and second resin sheets. The membrane switch includes a UWB flat antenna that has an antenna element pattern formed on the first resin sheet, a microwave transmission line extending from the antenna element pattern, and a ground pattern arranged in a position facing the antenna element pattern.
a housing including a base member and a top plane member;
a membrane switch installed inside the housing, the membrane switch having a first resin sheet, a second resin sheet, and a spacer resin sheet arranged between the first and second resin sheets;
wherein the membrane switch includes a UWB flat antenna having an antenna element pattern formed on the first resin sheet, a microwave transmission line extending from the antenna element pattern, and a ground pattern arranged in a position facing the antenna element pattern.
2. The keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microwave transmission line includes a microstrip line type microwave transmission line.
3. The keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microwave transmission line includes a coplanar line type microwave transmission line.
4. The keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spacer resin sheet has a relative dielectric constant higher than that of the first and second resin sheets.
5. The keyboard as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
plural of the UWB flat antennas formed in the membrane switch.
6. The keyboard as claimed in claim 5, wherein the plural UWB flat antennas are oriented in different directions.
7. The keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first resin sheet, the second resin sheet, and the spacer resin sheet each have a protruding part protruding in an outward direction, wherein the protruding part of the first resin sheet, the second resin sheet, and the spacer resin sheet are superposed on each other.
8. The keyboard as claimed in claim 7, wherein the superposed protruding parts are bent in a direction orthogonal to the membrane switch.
a membrane switch installed inside the housing, the membrane switch having a UWB flat antenna including an antenna element pattern, a microstrip line extending from the antenna element pattern, and a ground pattern arranged in a position facing the antenna element pattern;
wherein the UWB flat antenna is a flexible sheet adhered to a part inside the housing;
wherein the flexible sheet has a front surface on which the antenna element pattern and the microstrip line are formed and a rear surface on which the ground pattern is formed.
10. A membrane switch used for a keyboard having a housing into which the membrane switch is installed, the membrane switch comprising:
a first resin sheet, a second resin sheet, and a spacer resin sheet arranged between the first and second resin sheets;
wherein the membrane switch includes a UWB flat antenna having an antenna element pattern formed on the first resin sheet, a microwave transmission line extending from the antenna element pattern, and a ground pattern arranged in a position facing the antenna element pattern. Description
The present invention generally relates to a keyboard and a membrane switch for a keyboard, and more particularly to, for example, a wireless type keyboard and a membrane switch for a wireless type keyboard.
Keyboards which are used as input devices for computers include a type having a keyboard connected to a computer with a cord or the like and a wireless type having, for example, a built-in transmission circuit and an antenna for performing wireless communications with a computer.
The wireless type keyboards have different transmission distances depending on the transmission circuit of the wireless keyboard. For example, there are long distance type wireless keyboards transmitting data (signals) at long distances (e.g. several tens of meters) and short distance type wireless keyboards transmitting data (signals) at short distances (e.g. no more than ten meters). The long distance type wireless keyboards are mainly used outdoors and the short distance type wireless keyboards are mainly used indoors (e.g. inside the house or office).
The conventional short distance type wireless keyboard uses radio waves in a narrow bandwidth and has a center frequency of approximately 300 MHz. The short distance type wireless keyboard includes a rod-shaped antenna. Since the rod-shaped antenna occupies a large amount of the small space inside the keyboard, only a single antenna can be installed in the keyboard.
The conventional short distance type wireless keyboard has two problems. The first problem is that the data transmission speed is insufficient due to the narrow bandwidth of the radio waves. The second problem is that fading may be caused by the environment surrounding the keyboard since only a single antenna can be installed in the keyboard. This results in low reliability in the data transmission from the keyboard to the main body of the computer.
The present invention may provide a keyboard and a membrane switch for a keyboard that substantially obviate one or more of the problems caused by the limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
Features and advantages of the present invention are set forth in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent from the description and the accompanying drawings, or may be learned by practice of the invention according to the teachings provided in the description. Objects as well as other features and advantages of the present invention will be realized and attained by a keyboard and a membrane switch for a keyboard particularly pointed out in the specification in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, an embodiment of the present invention provides a keyboard including: a housing including a base member and a top plane member; a membrane switch installed inside the housing, the membrane switch having a first resin sheet, a second resin sheet, and a spacer resin sheet arranged between the first and second resin sheets; wherein the membrane switch includes a UWB flat antenna having an antenna element pattern formed on the first resin sheet, a microwave transmission line extending from the antenna element pattern, and a ground pattern arranged in a position facing the antenna element pattern.
In the keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention, the microwave transmission line may include a microstrip line type microwave transmission line.
In the keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention, the microwave transmission line may include a coplanar line type microwave transmission line.
In the keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention, the spacer resin sheet may have a relative dielectric constant higher than that of the first and second resin sheets.
In the keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention, the keyboard may further include: plurality of the UWB flat antennas formed in the membrane switch.
In the keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention, the plural UWB flat antennas may be oriented in different directions.
In the keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention, the first resin sheet, the second resin sheet, and the spacer resin sheet may each have a protruding part protruding in an outward direction, wherein the protruding part of the first resin sheet, the second resin sheet, and the spacer resin sheet are superposed on each other.
In the keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention, the superposed protruding parts may be bent in a direction orthogonal to the membrane switch.
Furthermore, the present invention provides a keyboard including: a housing including a base member and a top plane member; a membrane switch installed inside the housing, the membrane switch having a UWB flat antenna including an antenna element pattern, a microstrip line extending from the antenna element pattern, and a ground pattern arranged in a position facing the antenna element pattern; wherein the UWB flat antenna is a flexible sheet adhered to a part inside the housing; wherein the flexible sheet has a front surface on which the antenna element pattern and the microstrip line are formed and a rear surface on which the ground pattern is formed.
Furthermore, the present invention provides a membrane switch used for a keyboard having a housing into which the membrane switch is installed, the membrane switch including: a first resin sheet, a second resin sheet, and a spacer resin sheet arranged between the first and second resin sheets; wherein the membrane switch includes a UWB flat antenna having an antenna element pattern formed on the first resin sheet, a microwave transmission line extending from the antenna element pattern, and a ground pattern arranged in a position facing the antenna element pattern.
FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view showing a keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a keyboard shown in relation to a block diagram of a module of a wireless function keyboard circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of a UWB flat antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3B is another schematic diagram of a UWB flat antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIIC-IIIC of FIG. 3B;
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for describing a UWB flat antenna being fixed to a base material by bending a tip of a UWB flat antenna and inserting the tip in an insertion part according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 5A-5B are schematic diagrams showing a configuration of a UWB flat antenna;
FIG. 6 is a graph showing a relationship of VSWR and frequency of a UWB flat antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a keyboard in use according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for describing a UWB flat antenna fixed to the inside of a keyboard according to another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a perspective exploded view showing a keyboard according to yet another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 10A is a schematic diagram of a UWB flat antenna according to yet another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 10B is another schematic diagram of a UWB flat antenna according to yet another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 10C is a cross-sectional view taken along line XC-XC of FIG. 10B; and
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a part of a group of edge contacts according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a wireless type keyboard (hereinafter also simply referred to as “keyboard”) 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
The keyboard 10 has plural planar UWB (Ultra Wide Band) flat antennas (in this example, four antennas) 21-24 installed therein. The UWB flat antennas 21-24 form a united body with a membrane switch 30. With reference to FIG. 1, the directions X1-X2 indicate the right and left directions, respectively, from the viewpoint of the user of the keyboard 10, the directions Y1-Y2 indicate the rear and front directions, respectively, from the viewpoint of the user of the keyboard 10 (width direction of the keyboard 10), and the directions Z1-Z2 indicate the height directions from the viewpoint of the user of the keyboard 10 (thickness direction of the keyboard 10).
A basic configuration of a UWB flat antenna 2100 is described with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B (as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-378396 filed by the applicant of this application). The UWB flat antenna 2100 includes a dielectric plate 2101. A front face of the dielectric plate 2101 is formed with an antenna element pattern (in this example, shaped as a home plate) 2102 and a conductor (in this example, shaped as a strip, hereinafter referred to as “strip conductor”) 2103 extending from the antenna element pattern 2102. A rear face of the dielectric plate 2101 is formed with a ground pattern 2104 at a portion facing the strip conductor 2103. The ground pattern 104 and the antenna element pattern 2102 are arranged in a manner so that their edge parts do not overlap with each other. The strip conductor 2103 and the ground pattern 2104 are arranged in a manner facing each other with the dielectric plate 2101 disposed therebetween. Thereby, the strip conductor 2103 and the ground pattern 2104 form a microstrip line type microwave transmission line 2105 of 50 Ω. The microwave transmission line 2105 is configured to transmit a microwave(s). Thus, the UWB flat antenna 2100 has a configuration including the antenna element pattern 2102, the ground pattern 2104, and the microwave transmission line 2105. The UWB flat antenna 2100 provides a desired characteristic in accordance with the angle θ formed by a side of the antenna element pattern 2102 facing the ground pattern 2104 (See FIG. 5A). The ground pattern 2104 is configured to be a ground potential part in the vicinity of the antenna element pattern 2102 so that electric lines of force can be formed surrounding the antenna element pattern 2102. In addition, the ground pattern 2104 is configured to be a part of the microwave transmission line 2105 by being arranged facing the strip conductor 2103 with the dielectric plate 2101 disposed therebetween. In FIGS. 5A and 5B, reference numeral 2110 indicates the axis of the UWB flat antenna 2100.
The frequency of the UWB flat antenna 100 with respect to VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio) is shown in FIG. 6. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the frequency ranges from 3.1 to 10.6 GHz and the VSWR is no greater than 1.4. Furthermore, the UWB flat antenna 100 has directivity oriented in a periphery direction centered on its axis 110.
As shown in FIG. 1, the keyboard 10 includes a base member 11 and a top plane member 12 that are assembled to form a housing. The membrane switch 30 including the UWB flat antennas 21-24, a membrane switch supporting plane 60, and a keyboard circuit module that has a wireless transmission function 40 (hereinafter simply referred to as “keyboard circuit module 40 ”) are provided inside the space created by assembling the base member 11 and the top plane member 12 together.
The top plane member 12 has numerous key tops 10 arranged thereon.
The membrane switch 30 has a layered structure including a spacer resin sheet 33 provided between a lower resin sheet 31 and an upper resin sheet 32. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3A, a lower contact part(s) 35 and a lower wiring pattern(s) 36 are formed on an upper surface 31 a of the lower resin sheet 31 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Furthermore, an upper contact part(s) 37 and an upper wiring pattern(s) 38 are formed on a lower surface 32 a of the upper resin sheet 32 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the upper and lower contact parts 35, 37 and the upper and lower wiring patterns 36, 38 are printed on the upper surface 31 a of the lower resin sheet 31, and the lower surface 32 a of the upper resin sheet 32, respectively. The upper contact part 35 and the lower contact part 37 are positioned facing each other. An opening 33 a is formed in the spacer resin sheet 33 at the part where the upper and lower contact parts 35, 37 face each other (See FIG. 3A). In this example, both the lower resin sheet 31 and the upper resin sheet 32 are formed of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material. Since the spacer resin sheet 33 serves as a part of the UWB flat antennas 21-24, the spacer resin sheet 33 is formed of a liquid crystal polymer material. Reference numeral 39 in FIGS. 1 and 3B indicates an edge contact group portion including an arrangement (group) of contact parts allocated at or in the vicinity of the edges of the wiring patterns 36, 38, a contact part allocated at or in the vicinity of the edges of the strip conductor 103, and a contact part allocated at or in the vicinity of the edges of the ground pattern 104.
As shown in FIG. 1, the keyboard circuit module 40 and a battery 51 are provided on an upper face of the base member 11. The keyboard circuit module 40 includes a printed circuit board 41 on which a connector 42 and an electronic component 43 are mounted. The connector 42 is configured to be connected to or contact the edge contact group portion 39. In this example, the battery 51 is a replaceable battery. Furthermore, the base member 11 has an insertion part 11 a which is integrally formed as a united body with the base member 51 (See FIG. 4)
The membrane switch supporting plane 60 is fixed to the base member 11 in a manner that covers the keyboard circuit module 40.
The membrane switch 30 including the UWB flat antennas 21-24 is mounted on the membrane switch supporting plane 60. Connection between the membrane switch 30 and the keyboard circuit module 40 is established by having the edge contact group portion 39 (in this example, the edge contact group portion 39 extends in the Y1 direction) bent in the Z2 direction and inserted into the connector 42. That is, the edge contact group portion 39 is bent in a direction orthogonal to the plane of the membrane switch 30 and inserted into the connector 42.
Next, the configuration of the UWB flat antennas 21-24 that are integrally formed (i.e. formed as a united body) with the membrane switch 30 is described in further detail.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the UWB flat antennas 21-24 are integrally formed with the membrane switch 30. The UWB flat antennas 21-24 are separately positioned in various parts of the membrane switch 30. Since the flat antennas 21-24 are of an UWB (Ultra Wide Band) type, the flat antennas 21-24 can transmit data several times faster than conventional antennas. In FIG. 2, the UWB flat antenna 21 is situated at a part along the edge of the membrane switch 30 toward direction Y1, more specifically, at a position P1 on the X1 side of the membrane switch 30. The UWB flat antenna 22 is situated at a part also along the edge of the membrane switch 30 toward direction Y1, more specifically, at a position P2 on the X2 side of the membrane switch 30. The UWB flat antenna 23 is situated at a part along the edge of the membrane switch 30 toward direction X1, more specifically, at a position P3 on the X1 side of the membrane switch 30. The UWB flat antenna 24 is situated at a part along the edge of the membrane switch 30 toward direction X2, more specifically, at a position P4 on the side X2 of the membrane switch 30.
The configuration of the UWB flat antenna 23 is illustrated more specifically in FIGS. 3A-3C. As shown in FIG. 3A, the UWB flat antenna 23 has an antenna element pattern 101 formed on a protruding part 32 b of the lower surface 32 a of the upper resin sheet 32. The strip conductor 103 of the UWB flat antenna 23 extends from a base part of the antenna element pattern 101 of the upper resin sheet 32 and has its distal end reaching the edge contact group portion 39 at the extended part of the lower surface 32 a of the upper resin sheet 32. Protruding parts 31 b and 33 b are respectively formed in the lower resin sheet 31 and the spacer resin sheet 33 in correspondence with the protruding part 32 b of the upper resin sheet 32. A belt-like ground pattern 104 is formed on the upper surface of the lower resin sheet 31 along the strip conductor 103 of the upper resin sheet 32. The strip conductor 103, the ground pattern 104, and the spacer resin sheet 33 disposed therebetween form the microstrip linear type microwave transmission line 105 of 50 Ω. The antenna element pattern 101 and the strip conductor 103 are formed simultaneously with the contact part 37 and the wiring pattern 38. In this example, the antenna element pattern 101 and the strip conductor 103 as well as the contact part 37 and the wiring pattern 38 are printed simultaneously on the upper resin sheet 32. Furthermore, the ground pattern 104 is printed simultaneously with the contact part 35 and the wiring pattern 36 on the lower resin sheet 31. The ground pattern 104 is extended so that its distal end reaches the edge contact group portion 39. A part of the belt-like ground pattern 104 situated in the vicinity of the antenna element pattern 101 (toward direction X1) is a ground potential part for forming electric lines of force that surround the antenna element pattern 101. The remaining part of the ground pattern 104 serves as part of the microwave transmission line 105.
As shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, the UWB flat antenna 23 is configured with the protruding parts 31 b, 32 b, and 33 b superposed on each other. When the UWB flat antenna 23 is fixed (See FIG. 4), the UWB flat antenna 23 has a configuration mainly including the antenna element pattern 101, the strip conductor 103, the ground pattern 104, and the protruding part 33 b of the spacer resin sheet 33 between the strip conductor 103 and the ground pattern 104. That is, from a schematic view point, the UWB flat antenna 23 includes the antenna element pattern 101, the part of the ground pattern 104 situated toward the antenna element pattern 101, and the microwave transmission line 105. As shown in FIG. 4, the UWB flat antenna 23 is fixed, for example, to the base member 11 by being bent toward the Z2 direction and having its distal end inserted into the insertion part 11 a. The protruding part 33 b, which is part of the spacer resin sheet 33, corresponds to the dielectric plate 2101 shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. Accordingly, the UWB flat antenna 23 can utilize the parts of the membrane switch 30 instead of having to employ an additional component that functions as a dielectric plate. The spacer resin sheet 33 is, for example, formed of a liquid crystal polymer material. The spacer resin sheet 33 formed of liquid crystal polymer material has a relative dielectric constant of approximately 10. Accordingly, the relative dielectric constant of the spacer resin sheet 33 formed of liquid crystal polymer material is considerably higher than that in a case of using polyethylene terephthalate (approximately 3). Therefore, the size of the antenna element pattern 102 of the UWB flat antenna 23 can be reduced to thereby achieve size reduction of the UWB flat antenna 23. Hence, the UWB flat antenna can be satisfactorily disposed inside the main body of the keyboard 13.
The other UWB flat antennas 21, 22, and 24 also utilize the parts situated in the vicinity of the respective edges of the upper resin sheet 32, the spacer resin sheet 33, and the lower resin sheet 31 in the same manner as the above-described UWB flat antenna 23. It is however to be noted that the other UWB flat antennas 21, 22, and 24 are not bent as the UWB flat antenna 23 but maintain a planar state parallel to the plane of the membrane switch 33.
As described above, the UWB flat antennas 21-24 are allocated in various parts of the membrane switch 30. Furthermore, the axes of the UWB flat antennas 21-24 are oriented in different directions. That is, the UWB flat antennas 21, 22 have their axes 21 a, 22 a oriented in the Y1 direction (See FIG. 2), the UWB flat antenna 24 has its axis 24 a oriented in the X2 direction (See FIG. 2), and the UWB flat antenna 23 has its axis 23 a oriented in the Z2 direction (See FIG. 4). Accordingly, regardless of the conditions surrounding the keyboard 10, satisfactory communications sensitivity including reception sensitivity and/or transmission sensitivity can be attained with at least one of the UWB flat antennas 21-24 with their axes oriented in different directions.
The UWB flat antennas 21-24 may also have a patterned filter provided in a middle section of the strip conductor 103.
Alternatively, the UWB flat antennas 21-24 may have the antenna element pattern 101 and the strip conductor 103 formed on the upper surface of the lower resin sheet 31, and the ground pattern 104 formed on the lower surface of the upper resin sheet 32.
Next, the keyboard circuit module 40 is described in detail.
As shown in FIG. 2, the keyboard circuit module 40 includes a keyboard control circuit 45, a transmission circuit 46, a switching circuit 47, and a reception circuit 48. The keyboard circuit module 40, which is driven by the battery 51 serving as a power supply, can be used in a frequency bandwidth ranging from 3.1 to 10.6 GHz. The switching circuit 47 switches between the four UWB flat antennas 21-24 according to the signals transmitted from the keyboard control circuit 45. The keyboard control circuit 45 transmits the signals based on reception sensitivity data (described below) of the UWB flat antennas 21-24. The keyboard control circuit 45 transmits the signals so that the UWB flat antenna having the highest reception sensitivity is selected as the UWB flat antenna to be used for communications. The reception circuit 48 transmits reception data of one of the selected UWB flat antennas 21-24 and its reception sensitivity data to the keyboard control circuit 45. Input signals generated in correspondence with the controls of the user operating the keyboard 10 are transmitted from the transmission circuit 46 to one of the UWB flat antennas 21-24 selected by the switching circuit 47.
Next, an example of operating the keyboard 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is described.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a keyboard 10 in use (operation) according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 200 indicates a main body of a computer (computer main body), reference numeral 201 indicates a display, reference numeral 202 indicates a mouse, and reference numeral 203 indicates a communications unit. The communications unit 203 also includes a UWB flat antenna and is connected to the computer main body 200.
The keyboard 10 is situated relatively close to the communications unit 203. When the user operates the keyboard 10, input signals corresponding to the operation of the user are transmitted from one of the UWB flat antennas 21-24 by wireless transmission. The communications unit 203 receives the transmitted signal and sends the transmitted signal to the computer main body 200 via the cable 204.
Furthermore, the data in the wireless signal transmitted from the UWB flat antenna of the communications unit 203 are received by the UWB flat antenna having the highest reception sensitivity among the four UWB flat antennas 21-24.
In operating the keyboard 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the rate of wireless transmission of data is considerably faster than that of a conventional wireless keyboard since UWB flat antennas are used as the antennas for the wireless transmission. Furthermore, since plural UWB flat antennas (in this example, four antennas) can be mounted in various parts of the keyboard 10 oriented in different directions, problems such as fading can be avoided even when the keyboard 10 is operated in a severe communications environment. As a result, data can be reliably transmitted by using the keyboard 10.
FIG. 8 shows the inside of the keyboard 10 where a UWB flat antenna (in this embodiment, employed as an independent component) 300 is adhered to an inner surface of the keyboard 10 or a surface of a component installed inside the keyboard 10. In this example, the UWB flat antenna 300 is adhered to a peripheral surface of a cylindrical protruding member 11 c formed in the base member 11 of the keyboard 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The UWB flat antenna 300 is formed with a flexible resin sheet material instead of, for example, using the plate 2101 formed of a dielectric material shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 301 indicates a coaxial cable.
FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing a wireless type keyboard 10 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
A configuration of a UWB flat antenna 21A according to the third embodiment of the present invention is show in FIGS. 10A-10C. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an edge contact group portion 39A facing a connector 42A according to the third embodiment of the present invention. It is to be noted that like components are denoted with like reference numerals as those of the first and second embodiments of the present invention and are not described further detail.
The keyboard 10A of the third embodiment is different from the keyboard 10 of the first embodiment in that the microwave transmission line 105A of the UWB flat antenna 21A is a coplanar line type microwave transmission line.
The UWB flat antenna 21A includes, for example, the antenna element pattern 101, a strip conductor 103A, ground conductor line parts 120, 121, a ground pattern 104A, and a ground conductor line 130.
The ground conductor line parts 120, 121 are aligned in parallel with the strip conductor 103A one on each side of the strip conductor 103A. In this embodiment, the strip conductor 103A and the ground conductor line parts 120, 121 form a microwave transmission line 105A of 50 Ω. The strip conductor 103A, the ground conductor line parts 120, 121 are formed on the lower surface 32 a of the upper resin sheet 32. Thereby, the microwave transmission line 105A is configured as a coplanar line type microwave transmission line.
A square-shaped ground pattern 104A and a ground conductor line 130 extending from the square-shaped ground pattern 104A are formed on the upper surface 31 a of the lower resin sheet 31.
As shown in FIG. 11, the edge contact group portion 39A has a contact part 103Aa of the strip conductor 103A, a contact part 120 a of the ground conductor line 120, and a contact part 121 a of the ground conductor line 121 aligned on the same plane. Accordingly, the connector 42A, which is to be connected to the edge contact group portion 39A, can be formed with a simple configuration due to the coplanar alignment of the contact parts. Thereby, the edge contact group portion 39A can be easily connected to the connector 42A. It is to be noted that numeral 130 a of FIG. 11 indicates a contact part of the ground conductor line 130 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
Although not shown in FIG. 9, the microwave transmission lines of other UWB flat antennas 22-24 according to the third embodiment of the present invention are also coplanar type microwave transmission lines.
The present application is based on Japanese Priority Application No. 2006-066441 filed on Mar. 10, 2006, with the Japanese Patent Office, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS748746Apr 10, 1903Jan 5, 1904 Willis sUS1187103Dec 18, 1915Jun 13, 1916Interstate Electric Novelty CompanyCasing for portable electric flash-lights.US2012929Nov 6, 1933Aug 27, 1935Bigelow Sanford Carpet Co IncFloor covering and method of making sameUS2114450Mar 30, 1936Apr 19, 1938Mastic Asphalt CorpSiding panel for buildingsUS3002868Mar 2, 1959Oct 3, 1961Horace BoivinSponge back floor coveringUS3247638May 22, 1963Apr 26, 1966James W FairInterlocking tile carpetUS3309259Oct 29, 1963Mar 14, 1967Patchogue Plymouth CompanyDouble backed carpetUS3322607Aug 17, 1964May 30, 1967Du PontLubricated polypropylene polyethylene self-bonded nonwoven carpet backingUS3325323Jul 5, 1963Jun 13, 1967Forkner John HTufting through a porous backing which is subsequently fusedUS3360421Apr 23, 1965Dec 26, 1967Du PontBonded nonwoven backing material having perforate selvage and carpet made therefromUS3414458Dec 16, 1965Dec 3, 1968Du PontNon-cracking tufted carpet with nonwoven secondary backing and method of making sameUS3522637Mar 6, 1968Aug 4, 1970George C BrumlikSelf-gripping fastening filamentUS3574019Aug 23, 1968Apr 6, 1971American Velcro IncMethod of making a laminated fastening deviceUS3583057Jun 9, 1969Jun 8, 1971American Velcro IncApparatus for attaching flexible coversUS3708833Mar 15, 1971Jan 9, 1973American Velcro IncSeparable fastening deviceUS3711349Jan 28, 1970Jan 16, 1973Commercial AffiliatesTape seaming methodUS3712845Mar 15, 1971Jan 23, 1973Dura Tufting GmbhTile floor covering and method of covering a floor surfaceUS3735988Jun 17, 1971May 29, 1973Breinin I APractice putting surfaceUS3775856Aug 11, 1971Dec 4, 1973H SchmidtTile setting templateUS3817015Oct 24, 1972Jun 18, 1974J FrangosConvertible floor systemUS3849840Sep 20, 1973Nov 26, 1974Kanebo LtdMethod for imparting pressure sensitive adhesion to velvet type fastenersUS3866267Jan 14, 1974Feb 18, 1975Raymond Lee Organization IncRugs with detachable sectionsUS4093763Oct 9, 1975Jun 6, 1978Lutravil Spinnvlies Gmbh & Co.Multiple-layered non-woven fabricUS4096302Sep 2, 1976Jun 20, 1978Conwed CorporationBacking for tufted carpet of a thermoplastic net and plurality of fibersUS4172166Sep 29, 1978Oct 23, 1979Firma Carl FreudenbergCarpet with non-woven backingUS4210690Sep 29, 1978Jul 1, 1980Firma Carl FreudenbergSpun nonwoven fabric of polyester filaments for use as backing material for a deep-drawable tufted carpetUS4342802Jan 2, 1981Aug 3, 1982Ozite CorporationFloor covering of needled woven fabric and nonwoven battUS4389443Dec 10, 1981Jun 21, 1983Ozite CorporationCut pile fabric with fused carrier and method of making sameUS4390582Dec 10, 1981Jun 28, 1983Ozite CorporationCut pile fabric with carrier and texturized loopsUS4391866Dec 9, 1981Jul 5, 1983Ozite CorporationCut pile fabric with texturized loopsUS4405668Dec 10, 1982Sep 20, 1983Lewis J. McDermott, IIIOne piece binder-carpet constructionUS4412877Apr 21, 1982Nov 1, 1983E. I. Du Pont De Nemours & Co.Embossing secondary backings of carpetsUS4489115Feb 16, 1983Dec 18, 1984Superturf, Inc.Synthetic turf seam systemUS4522857Sep 24, 1984Jun 11, 1985Milliken Research CorporationCarpet tile with stabilizing material embedded in adhesive layerUS4528783Nov 14, 1984Jul 16, 1985Mentor Dynamics LimitedMethod of securing a lining to a substrateUS4557774Sep 4, 1984Dec 10, 1985Jac Tac, Inc.System for holding carpet in place without stretchingUS4578910Jul 2, 1984Apr 1, 1986Donn IncorporatedElevated floor panel systemUS4622253Oct 12, 1984Nov 11, 1986Harry LevyThermal laminated lining and method of manufactureUS4649069May 8, 1985Mar 10, 1987Saami Co., Ltd.Rectangular tile-like carpetUS4671976Aug 13, 1986Jun 9, 1987Vidal Stella MWeb-type stock material with upwardly projecting filamentary elements and defined peripheryUS4673603Nov 5, 1984Jun 16, 1987The 2500 CorporationFloor mat mounting systemUS4697294Sep 20, 1985Oct 6, 1987Schaefer HartmutSpeed bumps for roadwaysUS4755401Feb 2, 1987Jul 5, 1988J. F. Adolff AgArtificial turf with playing field markingsUS4758457Feb 24, 1987Jul 19, 1988The 2500 CorporationFloor mat with integral retainer meansUS4766022Oct 22, 1986Aug 23, 1988Saami Co., Ltd.Rectangular tile-like carpet with looped tile on both surfacesUS4769895Jan 7, 1988Sep 13, 1988Milliken Research CorporationInterlocking dust control matsUS4770917Jul 31, 1985Sep 13, 1988Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing CompanySheet material used to form portions of fastenersUS4797170Jul 7, 1986Jan 10, 1989Jactac, Inc.System for holding carpet in place without stretchingUS4810546Oct 6, 1987Mar 7, 1989Mclaughlin John JGeneral floor carpet with flush removable sectionUS4822658Dec 23, 1987Apr 18, 1989Pacione Joseph RCarpet backing and installation systemUS4824498Jul 9, 1987Apr 25, 1989James River CorporationStrippalble sponge cushion underlay for a surface covering, such as carpetingUS4825477Aug 4, 1987May 2, 1989Aranda John PHair retriever tub drain deviceUS4829627Oct 15, 1987May 16, 1989The 2500 CorporationFloor mat and method of attaching retainer theretoUS4870725Jan 15, 1988Oct 3, 1989Velcro Industries B.V.Pop-through touch fastenerUS4898417May 26, 1988Feb 6, 1990Ikeda Bussan Co., Ltd.Structure for covering seat slide legsUS4921742May 27, 1988May 1, 1990The 2500 CorporationFloor mat retention system for automotive vehiclesUS4968548Jun 19, 1989Nov 6, 1990Gibson William ERemovable floor cover for recreational vehiclesUS4974384Nov 7, 1988Dec 4, 1990Tac-Fast System SaStructural assembly systemUS5042221Mar 28, 1989Aug 27, 1991Tac-Fast Systems SaApparatus for applying wall covering and wall coveringUS5045389May 23, 1990Sep 3, 1991Pmc, Inc.Carpet padding comprising cover film, and prime and rebond foam layersUS5060443Jul 19, 1989Oct 29, 1991Tac-Fast Systems SaAnchor board systemUS5116439Feb 13, 1989May 26, 1992Sponge-Cushion, Inc.Method and product for floor covering installation and removalUS5133166Jun 21, 1990Jul 28, 1992Tac-Fast Systems SaStructural assembly systemUS5144786Mar 11, 1991Sep 8, 1992Tac-Fast Systems SaAnchor board systemUS5149573Jun 1, 1990Sep 22, 1992Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing CompanyHighly transparent strip material used for forming fastenersUS5191692Mar 1, 1991Mar 9, 1993Tac-Fast Systems SaCarpet jointing methodUS5199141Sep 6, 1991Apr 6, 1993Gates Formed-Fibre Products, Inc.Method of producing a nonwoven fibrous textured panel and panel produced therebyUS5200245Oct 25, 1991Apr 6, 1993Brodrick Jr Louis TFastenerUS5216790Aug 12, 1992Jun 8, 1993Milliken Research CorporationNeedled nonwoven fabricUS5219647Apr 5, 1991Jun 15, 1993Hoechst AktiengesellschaftThermally stable, binder-consolidated spunbonded webUS5259163Mar 11, 1991Nov 9, 1993Tac-Fast Systems SaAnchor board systemUS5324562Jan 23, 1992Jun 28, 1994Mullinax Larry EMultiple segment carpet tile and methods and apparatus for production of such tileUS5382462Jul 28, 1993Jan 17, 1995Tac-Fast Systems SaCarpet tapeUS5386670Nov 29, 1991Feb 7, 1995Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaMethod for manufacturing system floor and floor base for system floorUS5398347Sep 22, 1993Mar 21, 1995Luedtke; Richard C.Urinal matUS5479755May 18, 1995Jan 2, 1996Tac-Fast Systems SaMethod of installing looped backed carpetUS5482755Apr 28, 1994Jan 9, 1996Manning; James H.Readily attachable and detachable coverings for surfacesUS5529825Oct 26, 1992Jun 25, 1996Caledonia Matting LimitedMattingUS5537793Mar 1, 1995Jul 23, 1996Ykk CorporationJoint structure of panel-like componentsUS5654066Jun 9, 1995Aug 5, 1997Pacione; Joseph R.Carpet and layered backing for dimensional stability and integrityUS5672404Dec 13, 1995Sep 30, 1997Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing CompanyAttachment stripsUS5691026Mar 8, 1994Nov 25, 1997Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing CompanyFastener member with a dual purpose cover sheetUS5691027Sep 29, 1995Nov 25, 1997Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing CompanyFastener with a dual purpose cover sheetUS5693171Nov 14, 1994Dec 2, 1997Orcon CorporationMethod and apparatus for seaming carpetsUS5723195Sep 21, 1993Mar 3, 1998Pacione; Joseph RoccoCarpet and underpad attachment systemUS5753336Oct 2, 1996May 19, 1998Stull; Thomas EmersonReversible underlay for rugsUS5804273Jan 10, 1997Sep 8, 1998Burlington Industries, Inc.Floor covering with carpet over carpet and hook and loop fastenersUS5832619Oct 7, 1996Nov 10, 1998Volkema, Jr.; Charles L.Adjustable tile installation tool and method of useUS5863637Dec 28, 1995Jan 26, 1999Ergomat A/SMat as a support for persons in a standing working postureUS5879777Jun 19, 1997Mar 9, 1999Asten, Inc.Modular papermaking fabricUS5902663Nov 3, 1997May 11, 1999Fibertex A/SLow-stretch and dimension stable floor coveringUS5965232Oct 4, 1996Oct 12, 1999E.I. Du Pont De Nemours & Co., Inc.Decorative composite floor coveringsUS5980230Apr 11, 1997Nov 9, 1999Velcro Industries B.V.Forming fastener productsUS6083596May 13, 1998Jul 4, 2000Tac-Fast Georgia, L.L.C.Hooked tape with adhesive for fastening carpet seamsUS6158185May 5, 1999Dec 12, 2000Counihan; JamesResilient flooringUS6182414Mar 30, 1999Feb 6, 2001Chin-Chih HuangWooden floorboard assemblyUS6203881Nov 4, 1996Mar 20, 2001Milliken & CompanyCushion backed carpetUS6217974Jun 10, 1996Apr 17, 2001Tac-Fast Georgia, L.L.C.Carpet and layered backing for dimensional stability and integrityUS6250001Jul 29, 1998Jun 26, 2001Indoor Media Group, Inc.Advertising floor matUS6850227 *Oct 24, 2002Feb 1, 2005Minebea Co., Ltd.Wireless keyboardUS7081859 *Jun 22, 2004Jul 25, 2006Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.Antenna unit having a wide bandUS7212161 *Nov 19, 2004May 1, 2007Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.Low-profile embedded antenna architectures for wireless devicesUS20030173201 *Mar 10, 2003Sep 18, 2003Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaMembrane switch, key switch using membrane switch, keyboard having key switches, and personal computer having keyboardUS20060109184 *Nov 19, 2004May 25, 2006Chen Zhi NLow-profile embedded antenna architectures for wireless devicesUS20060170597 *Jan 30, 2006Aug 3, 2006Fujitsu Component LimitedAntenna apparatus and electronic deviceUS20070073935 *Dec 28, 2005Mar 29, 2007Jong Won KimWireless USB host apparatus supporting UWBUS20070231937 *Nov 27, 2006Oct 4, 2007Fujitsu Component LimitedElectronic apparatus and method of manufacturing electronic apparatusUS20070273595 *May 21, 2007Nov 29, 2007Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInformation equipment with a plurality of radio communication antennasEP1775741A1 *Oct 6, 2006Apr 18, 2007Polymatech Co., Ltd.Key sheet* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS8971024Nov 27, 2012Mar 3, 2015Google Inc.Input for computing deviceUS9117602Jan 17, 2008Aug 25, 2015Harris CorporationThree-dimensional liquid crystal polymer multilayer circuit board including membrane switch and related methodsUS9223410Jan 20, 2015Dec 29, 2015Google Inc.Input for computing deviceUS20080230362 *Mar 12, 2008Sep 25, 2008Jensin Intl Technology Corp.Membrane switch* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification200/512, 200/520International ClassificationH01H1/10Cooperative ClassificationH01Q9/40, H01Q1/38, H01H13/704, H01H13/81, H01H2239/018, H01H2239/01, H01H2209/068, H01Q1/2266, G06F3/0231, H01H2239/004, H01H2207/048European ClassificationH01Q1/22G2, H01Q9/40, H01Q1/38, G06F3/023C, H01H13/81, H01H13/704Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionOct 6, 2006ASAssignmentOwner name: FUJITSU COMPONENT LIMITED, JAPANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:YANAGI, MASAHIRO;KURASHIMA, SHIGEMI;IWATA, HIDEKI;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:018397/0217Effective date: 20060929Nov 30, 2011FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Feb 12, 2016REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedJul 1, 2016LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesRotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services