Patent Description:
Tuner modules each have a circuit board on which a circuit portion constituting at least part of a tuner is mounted, a metal shield case (referred to as a tuner case, as appropriate) housing the circuit board, and an antenna-signal input connector attached to the tuner case. One described in PTL <NUM> is proposed as one example of such tuner modules.

The tuner module described in PTL <NUM> has a configuration in which a ground terminal integrated with a tuner case is electrically connected with a circuit board via solder. The tuner module described in PTL <NUM> is to solve a problem that since the ground terminal, the circuit board, and the solder have mutually different thermal expansion coefficients in the configuration, the solder cracks, and the property in terms of contact between the ground terminal and the circuit board deteriorates. That is, since it is difficult, in terms of processing, to provide a penetrating hole for a through hole at an outer circumference section of the circuit board, the structure of the ground terminal is often used on the outer circumference of the tuner case. A previously proposed arrangement is disclosed in <CIT>.

The configuration described in PTL <NUM> has a drawback in terms of insufficient strengths of joints since the ground terminal which is soldered does not penetrate a through hole of the circuit board. In addition, complicated processing methods such as coining have been required for maintaining the strengths of solder-joint points, and giving the solder-joint points flexibility against temperature. However, such necessitates different detail designing for different models depending on the overall shapes of tuners, the positions of ground terminals and the like, and becomes a cause of an increase of man-hours for designing.

Accordingly, an object of the present technology is to provide a tuner module that makes it possible to sufficiently ensure the strengths of joints between a ground terminal and a circuit board, to simplify processing methods, and to prevent an increase of man-hours for designing.

The present technology relates to a tuner. In addition, the present technology relates to a receiving device having the tuner module.

According to at least one embodiment, a direct current and a high-frequency resistance between grounds of an input connector, a nearby tuner case, and a circuit board can be made very small, and also joints between the tuner case and the circuit board can be made strong. Note that the effects described here are not necessarily the only effects, and effects that can be attained may include any effect described in the present technology and an effect which is different in kind from those effects. In addition, the effects illustrated as examples in the following explanation should not be interpreted as limitations on the content of the present technology.

Embodiments explained below are suitable specific examples of the present technology, and given various technologically preferable limitations. However, the scope of the present technology is not limited by the embodiments unless there are descriptions that limit the present technology in particular manners in the following explanation.

Note that the explanation of the present technology is given in accordance with the following order.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a tuner module according to the present technology is explained with reference to the drawings. <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of the tuner module according to the first embodiment of the present technology. <FIG> is a perspective view of a state where a circuit board is removed. <FIG> is a perspective view of a state where the circuit board and an auxiliary piece are removed. <FIG> is a perspective view of a state where the circuit board and the auxiliary piece are removed, and the tuner module is turned upside down as compared to the one illustrated in <FIG>.

The tuner module includes a tuner case <NUM>, a circuit board <NUM>, an input connector <NUM>, and an auxiliary piece <NUM>. On one surface or both surfaces of the circuit board <NUM>, circuit components that constitute at least part of the tuner module are mounted. The tuner case <NUM> is a metallic case that functions as a shield case. Note that a lid (not illustrated) may cover part of or the entire surface of the circuit board <NUM>. The lid includes a material similar to the material of the tuner case <NUM>.

The tuner case <NUM> has a box shape including: a rectangular bottom-surface plate 11a; and a front-surface plate 11b, a back-surface plate 11c, a side-surface plate 11d, and a side-surface plate 11e that are raised from the front, back, left, and right edges of the bottom-surface plate 11a, respectively. The tuner case <NUM> has one open surface. In addition, hole sections <NUM> and <NUM> are screw holes for fixing the tuner module to the housing of a television receiver, for example. The circuit board <NUM> is attached so as to cover the open surface of the tuner case <NUM>. An external conductor of the input connector <NUM> includes a metal such as iron, brass, or zinc. As one example, a base section of the external conductor of the input connector <NUM> is attached to the front-surface plate 11b of the tuner case <NUM> by non-screwing mechanical joining, screwing or the like.

The input connector <NUM> is a coaxial connector used for supplying an output of an antenna to a tuner, for example, and is an IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) connector, for example. It should be noted, however, that the input connector <NUM> may have another configuration, and may be an F connector, for example. One type of F connectors is connected to one end of a coaxial cable, and is called an F connector plug or the like. Another type of F connectors is an F connector that receives the center conductor (hereinafter, referred to as the core wire) of a coaxial cable projecting from an F connector plug, and is called an F connector receptacle or the like.

The core wire of the coaxial cable inserted into the input connector <NUM> is pinched by two internal spring contact points (pinching pieces). The spring contact points constitute at least part of a center electrode, and a terminal section 13a connected with the center electrode is introduced from a rear section of the input connector <NUM> into the tuner case <NUM> through a hole formed through the front-surface plate 11b of the tuner case <NUM> (see <FIG>).

A plurality of leg portions <NUM><NUM>, <NUM><NUM>, <NUM><NUM>,. , and <NUM><NUM> (in a case that it is not necessary to distinguish between these leg portions, these are referred to as leg portions <NUM>) projects upward from end surfaces of the side-surface plates of the tuner case <NUM>. The leg portions <NUM> may penetrate holes formed through the circuit board <NUM>. The inner walls of the penetrating holes have through-hole structures plated with copper foils on the circuit board <NUM>, are connected with a ground terminal, and make the tuner case <NUM> serve as a uniform ground potential. In such a manner, joints can be formed around the entire circumferences of the through-hole holes of the circuit board <NUM> in which the leg portions <NUM> of the tuner case <NUM> are inscribed, and the mechanical strengths of the joints can be ensured. Note that all the leg portions projecting upward from the tuner case <NUM> are preferably joined with the holes formed through the circuit board <NUM>.

The terminal section 13a of the input connector <NUM> is bent upward at an intermediate portion thereof, and the bent portion serves as a leg portion <NUM>. The leg portion <NUM> may penetrate a hole formed through the circuit board <NUM>. The hole has a configuration of a through hole, and serves as a signal terminal on the circuit board <NUM>.

The auxiliary piece <NUM> is formed by bending a metal plate of a material similar to the material of the tuner case <NUM> into an L-shape, and has a base section 14a and a raised section 14b. Center portions of the base section 14a and the raised section 14b are clipped to form an opening 14c. The base section 14a of the auxiliary piece <NUM> is mechanically and electrically connected with the bottom-surface plate 11a of the tuner case <NUM>. Note that both the base section 14a and the raised section 14b may be mechanically and electrically connected with the tuner case <NUM>. The opening 14c is formed at a position similar to the position of the hole of the front-surface plate 11b, and the terminal section 13a is introduced into the tuner case <NUM> through the hole and the opening 14c. Methods that can be used for connection between the tuner case <NUM> and the auxiliary piece <NUM> include screwing, non-screwing mechanical joining, welding, soldering and the like.

The terminal section 13a is connected with the core wire of the coaxial cable connected to the input connector <NUM>, and for suppression of radio waves radiated from the terminal section 13a, the length of the terminal section 13a is preferably short. On the other hand, since the leg portion <NUM> at the tip of the terminal section 13a may penetrate a through hole formed through the circuit board <NUM>, it becomes difficult to form the through hole at an end section of the circuit board <NUM> if the length of the terminal section 13a is made short. Accordingly, the length of the terminal section 13a is made short only to the extent that the through hole can be formed at the end section of the circuit board <NUM>.

Two leg portions <NUM> and <NUM> project parallel to each other inward from an upper section of the opening 14c of the raised section 14b of the auxiliary piece <NUM>. The leg portions <NUM> and <NUM> have approximately similar shapes which are bent upward at intermediate portions thereof. As illustrated in <FIG>, the leg portions <NUM> and <NUM> are arranged to be positioned near both sides of the leg portion <NUM> of the terminal section 13a. Accordingly, in a case that the leg portions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are connected to the circuit board <NUM>, the connection locations on the circuit board <NUM> may be positioned relatively close to each other. Thereby, occurrence of unnecessary radiation can be suppressed.

Since the leg portions <NUM> and <NUM> are connected with the tuner case <NUM>, the leg portions <NUM> and <NUM> serve as ground terminals. In order to provide such ground terminals, in a possible case, the auxiliary piece <NUM> may not be used, but by sheet metal working, for example, an external conductor of the input connector <NUM> may be cut, and the cut portions may be raised. The method leads to more significant deterioration of the strength of the input connector <NUM>, and there is a fear that when a load is applied to the input connector <NUM> by a coaxial cable connected to the input connector <NUM> at the time of actual use, the input connector <NUM> may be damaged. In addition, since a hole through which the core wire of the input connector <NUM> penetrates is provided, the leg portions are undesirably located closer to the input connector <NUM>, it becomes necessary to form holes, through which the leg portions are to be inserted, near an end section of the circuit board <NUM>, and there is a fear that the circuit board <NUM> may be damaged. Furthermore, the method of forming the leg portions by processing of cutting the tuner case <NUM> itself and raising the cut portions necessitates forming holes through the tuner case <NUM>, and gives rise to a problem that radiation from the holes is caused.

In order to avoid such problems, the auxiliary piece <NUM> is used. The auxiliary piece <NUM> assists connection between the tuner case <NUM> and the circuit board <NUM> that serve as a ground potential. The base section 14a of the auxiliary piece <NUM> is in surface-contact with the bottom-surface plate 11a of the tuner case <NUM>, thereby realizing a low contact resistance. In order to surely realize the surface-contact, as illustrated in <FIG>, a plurality of protrusions 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d projecting from the base section 14a is formed, and holes 23a, 23b, 23c, and 23d are formed at positions on the bottom-surface plate 11a that correspond to the protrusions 22a to 22d. The protrusions 22a to 22d fit to the holes 23a to 23d, thereby making it possible to surely realize the surface-contact.

In the first embodiment of the present technology mentioned above, all the ground connecting sections between the tuner case <NUM> and the circuit board <NUM> can be soldered connections around the entire circumferences of the through-hole hole sections. Accordingly, solder joints in which a direct current and a high-frequency resistance between grounds of the input connector, the nearby tuner case, and the circuit board can be made very small can be realized, and strong connections can be established. In addition, the intervals between the inner walls of the through holes and the inserted leg portions of the tuner case <NUM> are very narrow, and solder melted in a reflow oven experiences capillary action, and is drawn into the intervals, thereby making it possible to realize strong joints simply and conveniently.

For reference, conventional tuner-assembling steps are explained. A semifinished product of a tuner on which surface mount components are mounted on a circuit board is created. Typically, after solder before being melted is printed on the circuit board, the surface mount components are mounted in such a manner that the surface mount components come into contact with the solder printed by a robot machine having nozzles that suctionally attract the surface mount components, and the solder is melted by first heating by the reflow oven and joined with the surface mount components. Thereafter, a tuner case of the tuner is inserted into a slit section provided to the circuit board, and is joined by second heating by the reflow oven. The solder printing described above is a typical construction method (screen printing) of performing printing by using an aluminum screen of approximately <NUM>, and can fix many electronic components onto the circuit board while ensuring conduction therebetween.

<FIG> is for explaining the second reflow process. First, as illustrated in <FIG>, a circuit board <NUM> is inverted before insertion of a tuner case, and on a side opposite to surface mount components <NUM>, solder <NUM> pushed into nozzles <NUM> by a laterally-sliding squeegee <NUM> is applied onto the board <NUM> in accordance with the principle of what is called mimeograph printing (collective application of solder).

Next, as illustrated in <FIG>, while being careful not to allow the solder <NUM> before being melted to scatter or drip, the circuit board <NUM> is inverted again (board inversion). The reference signs 106a and 106b indicate copper foils. Then, as illustrated in <FIG>, a mechanical component <NUM> such as a tuner case is mounted, and as illustrated in <FIG>, the mechanical component <NUM> is joined by second reflowing.

In the conventional tuner manufacturing steps, the nozzles <NUM> need to be designed and manufactured as dedicated facilities optimized for individual tuners, and care is also required regarding the viscosity and granularity of the solder <NUM>, before being cured, to be applied by being caused to pass through the nozzles <NUM>. In addition, since heating by the reflow oven is performed at least twice during the steps, care is also required regarding heat stress on the surface mount components <NUM>. These issues make it necessary to perform inspections regarding the degree of completion by performing inspection experiments after trial manufacture, trial manufacture tests, tests for checking the reliability, and the like, and place a significant burden in terms of know-how, technology, costs, and time.

On the other hand, according to the present technology, the method of applying solder to fill the through-hole holes can be performed by printing on a surface where the surface mount components <NUM> are mounted by application of a screen. Accordingly, it is possible to make the nozzles <NUM> unnecessary, and the problems mentioned above can be solved.

In the first embodiment of the present technology mentioned above, the portion near the input connector <NUM> serves as a portion where conversion is performed such that what is called high-frequency signals, such as UHF-band signals or IF signals for satellite broadcasting, flowing through a coaxial line is made to flow through a planar circuit on the circuit board <NUM>. At such a portion, the change in the form of transmission paths, that is, release from a closed circuit in the coaxial line onto the board makes it more likely that the impedance of the high-frequency signals changes significantly. In view of this, for the characteristics impedance of <NUM> Q of typical coaxial lines, for the purpose of making the ground potentials of the points of conversion equal at the time of designing such that one line width of a double-sided board having a ground layer forms a <NUM>-Q microstrip line, the leg portions <NUM> and <NUM> are provided.

In the first embodiment of the present technology, high-frequency signals are supplied to a signal processing section (referred to as a planar circuit) on the circuit board <NUM> through the coaxial cable and the input connector <NUM>. That is, signals are transmitted from the coaxial cable to the planar circuit. The point is examined.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a coaxial cable has a center conductor (core wire) <NUM> and an external conductor <NUM> that covers the center conductor <NUM> with a dielectric <NUM> being interposed therebetween. The circumference of the external conductor <NUM> is covered by a protection cover (not illustrated). A current flows inside the center conductor <NUM> and the external conductor <NUM>. A current from a signal source located at one end of the coaxial cable flows through the center conductor <NUM> to a load on the other end side, and furthermore passes through the external conductor <NUM> to return to the signal source on the one end side.

As illustrated in <FIG>, if the outer diameter of the center conductor <NUM> of the coaxial cable is defined as d, the inner diameter of the external conductor <NUM> is defined as D, and the dielectric constant of the dielectric <NUM> is ε, the impedance Z of the coaxial cable is represented by the following formula.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in the coaxial cable, lines of electric force (indicated by arrows) are induced radially from the center conductor <NUM>, and the lines of electric force and flux lines (dotted line) orthogonal to the lines of electric force form a transmission path and do not leak to the outside. On the other hand, <FIG> illustrate the configuration of a microstrip line in which a conductor line <NUM> is provided on one surface of a dielectric board <NUM>, and a ground conductor surface <NUM> is provided on the other surface of the dielectric board <NUM>. High-frequency signals are transmitted from a coaxial cable to a surface circuit represented by a microstrip line, and are converted into the shape of flux line and lines of electric force as illustrated in <FIG>.

As is apparent from <FIG>, radial lines of electric force in the coaxial cable are almost confined between the conductor line <NUM> and the ground conductor surface <NUM> that are located above and below each other. During the process of conversion, almost half of the radial lines of electric force are not transmitted. Radiation of high-frequency signals can be prevented, and also less attenuated transmission of the high-frequency signals becomes possible by arranging what is called a conductor line and a grounded portion such that the distance therebetween becomes short. When the input connector <NUM> is connected to the circuit board <NUM>, it is also necessary to adopt the conditions mentioned above, and desired results have conventionally been realized by know-how acquired through cut-and-try.

In recent years, the performance of personal computers has been enhanced, and the computational capability has improved significantly. Thereby, simulations of such discontinuous points have become possible. It can be known that, for efficient transmission to the surface circuit, rather than modifying the shape of a connector, it is effective to make a connection of the grounded section with the board sufficiently large, and also make narrow the gap between the conductor line and the grounded section disposed on the same layer. Qualitatively, signals that are undesirably radiated at discontinuous portions become part of losses.

In the present technology, the portion near the connector connecting section is designed in according with the basic theory mentioned above, and it is found that a connection with a ground potential established by the auxiliary piece <NUM> is the most effective connection.

Next, a second embodiment of a tuner module according to the present technology is explained. <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of the tuner module according to the second embodiment of the present technology. <FIG> is a perspective view of a state where a circuit board is removed. <FIG> is a perspective view of a state where the circuit board and an auxiliary piece are removed.

The second embodiment adopts a biaxial configuration obtained by adding an input connector <NUM> to the configuration of the first embodiment. For example, digital terrestrial broadcasting reception signals are supplied to the input connector <NUM>, and satellite broadcasting IF signals are supplied to the input connector <NUM>. The tuner module includes a tuner case <NUM>, a circuit board <NUM>, the input connectors <NUM> and <NUM>, and an auxiliary piece <NUM>. On one surface or both surfaces of the circuit board <NUM>, circuit components that constitute at least part of the tuner module are mounted. The tuner case <NUM> is a metallic case that functions as a shield case. Note that a lid (not illustrated) may cover part of or the entire surface of the circuit board <NUM>. The lid includes a material similar to the material of the tuner case <NUM>.

The tuner case <NUM> has a box shape including: a rectangular bottom-surface plate 111a; and a front-surface plate 111b, a back-surface plate 111c, a side-surface plate 111d, and a side-surface plate 111e that are raised from the front, back, left, and right edges of the bottom-surface plate 111a, respectively. The tuner case <NUM> has one open surface. In addition, hole sections <NUM> and <NUM> are screw holes for fixing the tuner module to the housing of a television receiver, for example. The circuit board <NUM> is attached so as to cover the open surface of the tuner case <NUM>. External conductors of the input connectors <NUM> and <NUM> include a metal such as iron, brass, or zinc. Base sections of the external conductors of the input connectors <NUM> and <NUM> are attached to the front-surface plate 111b of the tuner case <NUM> by non-screwing mechanical joining, screwing or the like.

The input connectors <NUM> and <NUM> are coaxial connectors used for supplying outputs of antennas to a tuner, for example. The input connector <NUM> is an F connector, for example. It should be noted, however, that, similarly to the input connector <NUM>, the input connector <NUM> may be an IEC connector.

The core wires of coaxial cables inserted into the input connectors <NUM> and <NUM> are each pinched by two internal spring contact points (pinching pieces). The spring contact points constitute at least part of center electrodes, and terminal sections 13a and 113a connected with the center electrodes are introduced from rear sections of the input connectors <NUM> and <NUM> into the tuner case <NUM> through holes formed on the front-surface plate 111b of the tuner case <NUM> (see <FIG>).

A plurality of leg portions projects upward from end surfaces of the side-surface plates 111d and 111e and the back-surface plate 111c of the tuner case <NUM>. Furthermore, a plurality of plate-like bodies is provided on the bottom-surface plate 111a of the tuner case <NUM>, and leg portions are provided on the upper end surfaces of the plurality of plate-like bodies. The leg portions are inserted into through holes provided as ground terminals of the circuit board <NUM>, and soldered. Some of the plurality of plate-like bodies are provided to surround areas of corner sections of the tuner case <NUM> where the respective input connectors <NUM> and <NUM> are provided. The plate-like bodies include a metal similar to the metal of the tuner case <NUM>, and function as shield members. Note that the auxiliary piece <NUM> may integrally have plate-like bodies that have similar functions.

In such a manner, the leg portions may penetrate holes formed through the circuit board <NUM>. The inner walls of the penetrating holes have through-hole structures plated with copper foils on the circuit board <NUM>, are connected with a ground terminal, and make the tuner case <NUM> serve as a uniform ground potential. In such a manner, joints can be formed around the entire circumferences of the through-hole holes of the circuit board <NUM> in which the leg portions of the tuner case <NUM> are inscribed, and the mechanical strengths of the joints can be ensured. Note that all the leg portions projecting upward from the tuner case <NUM> are preferably joined with the holes formed through the circuit board <NUM>.

The terminal section 13a of the input connector <NUM> and the terminal section 113a of the input connector <NUM> are bent upward at intermediate portions thereof, and the bent portions serve as leg portions <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. The leg portions <NUM> and <NUM> may penetrate holes formed through the circuit board <NUM>. The holes have configurations of through holes, and serve as signal terminals on the circuit board <NUM>.

The auxiliary piece <NUM> is formed by bending a metal plate of a material similar to the material of the tuner case <NUM> into an L-shape, and has a base section 114a and a raised section 114b. Center portions of the base section 114a and the raised section 114b are clipped to form an opening 114c. The base section 114a of the auxiliary piece <NUM> is mechanically and electrically connected with the bottom-surface plate 111a of the tuner case <NUM>. Note that both the base section 114a and the raised section 114b may be mechanically and electrically connected with the tuner case <NUM>. The opening 114c is formed at a position similar to the position of the hole of the front-surface plate 111b, and the terminal section 13a is introduced into the tuner case <NUM> through the hole and the opening 114c. Methods that can be used for connection between the tuner case <NUM> and the auxiliary piece <NUM> include screwing, non-screwing mechanical joining, welding, soldering and the like.

The terminal section 13a is connected with the core wire of the coaxial cable connected to the connector <NUM>, and for suppression of radio waves radiated from the terminal section 13a, the length of the terminal section 13a is preferably short. On the other hand, since the leg portion <NUM> at the tip of the terminal section 13a may penetrate a through hole formed through the circuit board <NUM>, it becomes difficult to form the through hole at an end section of the circuit board <NUM> if the length of the terminal section 13a is made short. Accordingly, the length of the terminal section 13a is made short only to the extent that the through hole can be formed at the end section of the circuit board <NUM>.

Two leg portions <NUM> and <NUM> project parallel to each other inward from an upper section of the opening 114c of the raised section 114b of the auxiliary piece <NUM>. The leg portions <NUM> and <NUM> have approximately similar shapes which are bent upward at intermediate portions thereof. As illustrated in <FIG>, the leg portions <NUM> and <NUM> are arranged to be positioned near both sides of the leg portion <NUM> of the terminal section 13a. Accordingly, in a case that the leg portions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are connected to the circuit board <NUM>, the connection locations on the circuit board <NUM> may be positioned relatively close to each other. Thereby, occurrence of unnecessary radiation can be suppressed.

Since the leg portions <NUM> and <NUM> are connected with the tuner case <NUM>, the leg portions <NUM> and <NUM> serve as ground terminals. In order to provide such ground terminals, in a possible case, the auxiliary piece <NUM> may not be used, but by sheet metal working, for example, an external conductor of the input connector <NUM> may be cut, and the cut portions may be raised. The method leads to more significant deterioration of the strength of the input connector <NUM>, and there is a fear that when a load is applied to the input connector <NUM> by a coaxial cable connected to the input connector <NUM> at the time of actual use, the input connector <NUM> may be damaged. In addition, the leg portions connected with the core wire of the input connector <NUM> are undesirably located closer to the input connector <NUM>, and there is a fear that when holes through which the leg portions are to be inserted are formed near an end section of the circuit board <NUM>, the circuit board <NUM> may be damaged. Furthermore, the method of forming the leg portions by processing of cutting the tuner case <NUM> itself and raising the cut portions necessitates forming holes through the tuner case <NUM>, and gives rise to a problem that radiation from the holes is caused.

In order to avoid such problems, the auxiliary piece <NUM> is used. The auxiliary piece <NUM> assists connection between the tuner case <NUM> and the circuit board <NUM> that serve as a ground potential. The base section 114a of the auxiliary piece <NUM> is in surface-contact with the bottom-surface plate 111a of the tuner case <NUM>, thereby realizing a low contact resistance. Similarly to the first embodiment, in the second embodiment, solder joints in which a direct current and a high-frequency resistance between grounds of the input connector, the nearby tuner case, and the circuit board can be made very small can also be realized, and strong connections can be established. Note that a leg portion <NUM> for connection with the ground terminals is provided near the terminal section 113a of the input connector <NUM>.

Next, a third embodiment of a tuner module according to the present technology is explained. <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of the tuner module according to the third embodiment of the present technology. <FIG> is a perspective view of a state where a circuit board is removed. <FIG> is a perspective view of a state where the circuit board and an auxiliary piece are removed.

The third embodiment adopts a triaxial configuration obtained by adding an input connector <NUM> between the input connector <NUM> and the input connector <NUM> in the configuration in the second embodiment. For example, digital terrestrial broadcasting reception signals are supplied to the input connector <NUM>, and satellite broadcasting IF signals are supplied to the input connectors <NUM> and <NUM>. The tuner module includes a tuner case <NUM>, a circuit board <NUM>, the input connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, and an auxiliary piece <NUM>. On one surface or both surfaces of the circuit board <NUM>, circuit components that constitute at least part of the tuner module are mounted. The tuner case <NUM> is a metallic case that functions as a shield case. Note that a lid (not illustrated) may cover part of or the entire surface of the circuit board <NUM>. The lid includes a material similar to the material of the tuner case <NUM>.

The tuner case <NUM> has a box shape including: a rectangular bottom-surface plate 211a; and a front-surface plate 211b, a back-surface plate 211c, a side-surface plate 211d, and a side-surface plate 211e that are raised from the front, back, left, and right edges of the bottom-surface plate 211a, respectively. The tuner case <NUM> has one open surface. In addition, hole sections <NUM> and <NUM> are screw holes for fixing the tuner module to the housing of a television receiver, for example. The circuit board <NUM> is attached so as to cover the open surface of the tuner case <NUM>. External conductors of the input connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> include a metal such as iron, brass, or zinc. Base sections of the external conductors of the input connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are attached to the front-surface plate 211b of the tuner case <NUM> by non-screwing mechanical joining, screwing or the like.

The input connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are coaxial connectors used for supplying outputs of antennas to a tuner, for example. The input connectors <NUM> and <NUM> are F connectors, for example. It should be noted, however, that, similarly to the input connector <NUM>, the input connectors <NUM> and <NUM> may be IEC connectors.

The core wires of coaxial cables inserted into the input connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are each pinched by two internal spring contact points (pinching pieces). The spring contact points constitute at least part of center electrodes, and terminal sections 13a, 113a, and 213a connected with the center electrodes are introduced from rear sections of the input connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> into the tuner case <NUM> through holes formed on the front-surface plate 211b of the tuner case <NUM> (see <FIG>).

A plurality of leg portions projects upward from end surfaces of the side-surface plates 211d and 211e and the back-surface plate 211c of the tuner case <NUM>. Furthermore, a plurality of plate-like bodies is provided on the bottom-surface plate 211a of the tuner case <NUM>, and a plate-like body 214d is provided on the auxiliary piece <NUM> mentioned below. Leg portions are provided on the upper end surfaces of the plate-like bodies. The leg portions are inserted into through holes provided as ground terminals of the circuit board <NUM>, and soldered. Some of the plurality of plate-like bodies are provided to surround areas of the tuner case <NUM> where the respective input connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are provided. The plate-like bodies include a metal similar to the metal of the tuner case <NUM>, and function as shield members.

The terminal section 13a of the input connector <NUM>, the terminal section 113a of the input connector <NUM>, and the terminal section 213a of the input connector <NUM> are bent upward at intermediate portions thereof, and the bent portions serve as leg portions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, respectively. The leg portions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may penetrate holes formed through the circuit board <NUM>. The holes have configurations of through holes, and serve as signal terminals on the circuit board <NUM>.

The auxiliary piece <NUM> is formed by bending a metal plate of a material similar to the material of the tuner case <NUM> into an L-shape, and has a base section 214a and a raised section 214b. Center portions of the base section 214a and the raised section 214b are clipped to form an opening 214c. In addition, the auxiliary piece <NUM> has the plate-like body 214d as a shield member between the input connectors <NUM> and <NUM>. The base section 214a of the auxiliary piece <NUM> is mechanically and electrically connected with the bottom-surface plate 211a of the tuner case <NUM>. Note that both the base section 214a and the raised section 214b may be mechanically and electrically connected with the tuner case <NUM>. The opening 214c is formed at a position similar to the position of the hole of the front-surface plate 211b, and the terminal section 13a is introduced into the tuner case <NUM> through the hole and the opening 214c. Methods that can be used for connection between the tuner case <NUM> and the auxiliary piece <NUM> include screwing, non-screwing mechanical joining, welding, soldering and the like.

The terminal section 213a is connected with the core wire of the coaxial cable connected to the input connector <NUM>, and for suppression of radio waves radiated from the terminal section 213a, the length of the terminal section 213a is preferably short. On the other hand, since the leg portion <NUM> at the tip of the terminal section 213a may penetrate a through hole formed through the circuit board <NUM>, it becomes difficult to form the through hole at an end section of the circuit board <NUM> if the length of the terminal section 213a is made short. Accordingly, the length of the terminal section 213a is made short only to the extent that the through hole can be formed at the end section of the circuit board <NUM>.

Two leg portions <NUM> and <NUM> project parallel to each other inward from an upper section of the opening 214c of the raised section 214b of the auxiliary piece <NUM>. The leg portions <NUM> and <NUM> have approximately similar shapes which are bent upward at intermediate portions thereof. As illustrated in <FIG>, the leg portions <NUM> and <NUM> are arranged to be positioned near both sides of the leg portion <NUM> of the terminal section 213a. Accordingly, in a case that the leg portions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are connected to the circuit board <NUM>, the connection locations on the circuit board <NUM> may be positioned relatively close to each other. Thereby, occurrence of unnecessary radiation can be suppressed.

In order to avoid such problems, the auxiliary piece <NUM> is used. The auxiliary piece <NUM> assists connection between the tuner case <NUM> and the circuit board <NUM> that serve as a ground potential. The base section 214a of the auxiliary piece <NUM> is in surface-contact with the bottom-surface plate 211a of the tuner case <NUM>, thereby realizing a low contact resistance. Note that leg portions <NUM> and <NUM> for connection with the ground terminals are provided near the terminal sections 113a and 213a of the input connectors <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively.

In the present technology mentioned above, all the ground connecting sections between the tuner case <NUM> and the circuit board <NUM> can be soldered connections around the entire circumferences of the through-hole hole sections. Accordingly, solder joints in which a direct current and a high-frequency resistance between grounds of the input connector, the nearby tuner case, and the circuit board can be made very small can be realized. The present technology is suitable for tuner modules of advanced BS receiving devices (to be put on the market as <NUM> and <NUM> television television) that receive the frequency range that covers <NUM> as a result of the future expansion of the reception band. In addition, the intervals between the inner walls of the through holes and the inserted leg portions of the tuner case <NUM> are very narrow, and solder melted in a reflow oven experiences capillary action and is drawn into the intervals, thereby making it possible to realize strong joints simply and conveniently.

Furthermore, as is apparent from the examples in the second and third embodiments, if a shield wall is installed by cutting and raising for the purpose of improving isolation between input connectors, the number of opening sections of a tuner case increases. This makes it more likely that leakage of signals and outputs of a local transmitter to the outside of a tuner module occurs. As a countermeasure against this, the auxiliary piece is arranged to block the opening sections of the tuner case. Thereby, the effect of improving connection of the ground pattern and the effect of reducing unnecessary radiation can be attained.

On the other hand, the use of collective application of solder by means of nozzles can be avoided, and manufacturing steps by simple and convenient solder printing by means of an aluminum screen can be adopted. Accordingly, for example, dedicated nozzles that are prepared for manufacture of uniaxial tuners and triaxial tuners having different solder connection points become unnecessary, and therefore technology and know-how necessary for the manufacturing steps become unnecessary. Then, since special facilities necessary for collective application of solder also become unnecessary, a launch, transfer, or change of a manufacture factory also becomes easy, and accordingly a huge cost-reduction effect can be expected in terms of business. Furthermore, elimination of reflow steps by collective application of solder leads to reduction of the number of times of heat stress on components to be used for modules, and contributes to enhancement of the reliability of the components. That is, this is because deterioration of molds and the like is slowed since the number of times of heating at the time of reflow decreases.

<FIG> illustrates one example of a device for measuring the effects of the present technology. That is, the configuration illustrates a system for measurement of coaxial-line shielding effects called S4 indicated in the standard called EN55020 stipulated by the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization called Cenelec in Europe. A measurement-target tuner <NUM>, a desired signal generator <NUM>, a measuring probe <NUM>, and an EMI (Electro-Magnetic Interference: electro-magnetic interference) measurement device <NUM> are provided.

An antenna-signal input connector 41a of the measurement-target tuner <NUM> and the measuring probe <NUM> are connected by a coaxial cable (<NUM>Ω) <NUM>, and the desired signal generator <NUM> and the measuring probe <NUM> are connected by an impedance matching device <NUM> and a coaxial cable <NUM>. The impedance matching device <NUM> performs impedance conversion (<NUM> Q → <NUM>Ω). A high-frequency signal generated by the desired signal generator <NUM> is supplied to the measurement-target tuner <NUM>, and a leaked signal induced to the outer covering (ground line) of the coaxial cable <NUM> by the measuring probe <NUM> is measured by the EMI measurement device <NUM>. Measurement is performed for determining that the shielding effect of the coaxial cable <NUM> does not deteriorate due to an input circuit of the measurement-target tuner <NUM>.

Table <NUM> illustrates one example of measurement results. Table <NUM> illustrates measurement values obtained by using <NUM> with which the lowest shielding effect has been obtained. The sample without an auxiliary piece corresponds to a measurement result of a conventional tuner module, and the sample A and the sample B to which auxiliary pieces are added correspond to tuner modules to which the present technology is applied. As can be known from Table <NUM>, the present technology can improve shielding amounts.

For example, an IC (circuit) as a terrestrial television broadcasting (TV) tuner-module function section or an IC (circuit) as a satellite broadcasting (BS) tuner-module function section, and electronic components are formed (mounted) on the circuit boards of the tuner modules described as the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and the third embodiment mentioned above. The tuner-module boards are mounted on circuit boards of television receivers, as one example.

A receiving device is at least partially constituted by using any of the tuner modules. The receiving device is configured to be able to receive terrestrial television broadcasting wave signals and satellite broadcasting wave signals, for example. The receiving device has a reception antenna that receives broadcasting wave signals, a tuner module having a frequency conversion function, and a demodulating section.

A first system of the receiving device includes a reception antenna, an antenna connector, a filter, a low-noise amplifier (Low Noise Amplifier: LNA), a tuner section, and a demodulating section. In addition, a second system of the receiving device includes a reception antenna, an antenna connector, a filter, a low-noise amplifier (LNA), a tuner section, and a demodulating section.

The embodiments of the present technology are explained specifically thus far, but the present technology is not limited by the embodiments mentioned above, and various types of modifications based on the technical ideas of the present technology are possible. In addition, the configurations, methods, steps, shapes, materials, numerical values and the like of the embodiments mentioned above can be combined with each other unless such combinations result in deviation from the gist of the present technology.

Claim 1:
A tuner module comprising:
an input connector (<NUM>) comprising a terminal section (13a) connected with a centre electrode of the input connector, the terminal section having a leg portion (<NUM>);
a tuner case (<NUM>);
a circuit board (<NUM>); and
an auxiliary piece (<NUM>), wherein
the auxiliary piece contacts a surface of the tuner case and is fixed to the surface of the tuner case, wherein
first and second leg portions (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the auxiliary piece are connected as a ground potential with the circuit board, and the first and second leg portions of the auxiliary piece are arranged to be positioned near both sides of the leg portion of the terminal section to suppress radio waves radiated from a connection location on the circuit board for the leg portion of the terminal section.