Antenna for Use With a Portable Radio Apparatus

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an antenna for use in a portable radio apparatus and, more particularly, to an antenna which is to be incorporated in the housing of a radio apparatus or in a peripheral device to the radio apparatus.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Portable radio apparatuses of various types, such as portable radio receivers and pagers, are commercially available. They are used in great numbers because they are small, light and useful. They have an antenna to receive radio waves. In most cases, the antenna is provided in the housing of the apparatus or in a peripheral device to the apparatus.

The recent advancement in the integrated circuit technology has provided miniaturized components of radio-circuit components which consume but a little power. Additionally, small, high-performance and large-capacity dry cells and rechargeable batteries for use in portable radio apparatuses have come into practical use. However, antennas for use in portable radio apparatuses have yet to be miniaturized. This is because the power an antenna can output is proportional to the wave-receiving area of the antenna and the length of the antenna. It should be noted that the antenna length is closely related to the lengths of radio waves to detect.

Among portable radio apparatuses hitherto developed is a watch-shaped one which comprises a case and a band. If it is an AM radio, it has a bar antenna provided within the case, for receiving MF (Middle-Frequency) radio waves. If it is an FM radio or a pager, it has a loop-type band antenna incorporated in the band, for receiving FM (Frequency-Modulated) radio waves. A portable FM radio receiver and a pager, i.e., two other types of portable radio apparatus, have a cord-type antenna which functions as an earphone, as well.

Conventional antennas, such as a bar antenna, a cord-type antenna and a loop-type band antenna, for use in portable radio apparatuses, are disadvantageous in the following respects.

(a) The bar antenna or the like to be set within the case of a watch-shaped radio apparatus cannot perform a desired function if used in combination with a pager, a mobile telephone or a personal digital assistance (PDA) having a radio receiver/transmitter, which needs to receive high-frequency radio waves of hundreds of megahertzes to several gigahertzes. Further, in order to accommodate the bar antenna or the like, the case must be made of electrically conductive material such as metal.

(b) The cord-type antenna for use in a portable FM radio receiver, which functions also as an earphone, has to be connected to or wrapped around the receiver when it is used.

(c) The loop-type band antenna has a complex structure, and the manufacturing cost of its antenna section is high. This is because a loop must be formed when the antenna is connected to the buckle of the wrist band. Since the antenna is wrapped around the wrist, the diameter of the loop changes with the size of the wrist, inevitably changing the antenna length. To maintain the characteristics of the antenna, an adjusting circuit must be used to compensate for the change in the antenna length.

(d) Even if a metal conductor is bonded to the band of the watch-shaped radio apparatus, the characteristics of the antenna remain unstable. This is because the size of the antenna is limited and also because the conductor or the wrist, which is also a conductor, extends through the antenna loop. As a consequence, the antenna cannot have a sensitivity as high as desired and cannot receive or transmit radio waves reliably.

(e) Generally, the ratio of the radiation resistance to the input resistance is small in the loop antenna. Further, the loop antenna cannot be used unless the input reactance is canceled out. It has be used at an extremely low efficiency.

Accordingly it is the object of the present invention to provide an antenna for use in a portable radio apparatus, which can be used as a radio apparatus using high-frequency waves of ultrashort-wave band or a higher band, which can be manufactured at low cost and which has good characteristics to increase the sensitivity, efficiency and stability of the radio apparatus. To achieve the above object, one aspect of the invention is directed to a band antenna for use in a portable radio apparatus. The band antenna includes a main body provided with a radio wave circuit, and first flexible power-fed antenna element conductors symmetrically arranged with respect to the main body and fed with power from the main body such that current distributions flowing along the length direction thereof are symmetrical with respect to the main body. Second flexible power-fed antenna element conductors are symmetrically arranged with respect to the main body and fed with power from the main body such that current distributions flowing along the length direction thereof are symmetrical with respect to the main body. A band section is provided with a buckle and holes for securing the apparatus to a user. The first and second flexible power-fed antenna element conductors are embedded in the band section such that the holes are between the first and second flexible power-fed antenna element conductors.

Having this specific structure, the antenna can be very portable, can reliably receive radio waves of various frequencies and can yet be manufactured at low cost.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are a front view and sectional view of a watch-shaped radio apparatus equipped with an antenna according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are, respectively, a diagram showing the antenna and an equivalent circuit diagram thereof, respectively;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are a diagram showing the antenna according to a second embodiment of the invention and an equivalent circuit diagram thereof, respectively;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are a diagram illustrating a modification of the antenna shown in FIG. 3A and an equivalent circuit diagram of the modified antenna, respectively;

FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C are a diagram showing an antenna according to a third embodiment of the invention, an equivalent circuit diagram thereof and a schematic diagram thereof, respectively.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are a diagram representing the antenna according to a fourth embodiment of this invention and an equivalent circuit diagram thereof, respectively;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are a diagram illustrating a modification of the antenna shown in FIG. 6A and an equivalent circuit diagram of the modified antenna, respectively;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are a diagram showing another modification of the antenna shown in FIG. 6A and an equivalent circuit diagram of this modified antenna, respectively;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are a diagram illustrating still another modification of the antenna shown in FIG. 6A and an equivalent circuit diagram of this modified antenna, respectively;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are a diagram showing a further modification of the antenna shown in FIG. 6A and an equivalent circuit diagram of the modified antenna, respectively;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are a front view of a watch-shaped radio apparatus equipped with an antenna which is a fifth embodiment of the invention, and a schematic view of the antenna, respectively;

FIGS. 12A and 12B are a schematic view of the antenna shown in FIG. 11B and a schematic view of a folded antenna, respectively;

FIGS. 13A through 13E are equivalent circuit diagrams of the antenna according to the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 14 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the antenna according to the fifth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 15 is a schematic representation of an antenna according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 16A and 16B are a schematic diagram of equivalent circuit diagram of the antenna shown in FIG. 15, respectively;

FIG. 17A is a front view and FIG. 17B is a sectional view of a watch-shaped radio apparatus equipped with a patch antenna which is a seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18A is a front view and FIG. 18B is a sectional view of the patch antenna according to the seventh embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a micro-strip line, explaining the operating principle of the patch antenna;

FIGS. 20A, 20B and 20C are an equivalent circuit diagram of a micro-strip antenna, a graph showing the current- and voltage-distribution in the micro-strip antenna and a sectional view of the micro-strip antenna, respectively;

FIGS. 21A and 21B are, respectively, a perspective view of a micro-strip line made in the form of a rectangular patch and a diagram illustrating how power is radiated from the micro-strip line;

FIGS. 22A and 22B show an electric field generated at a conductor plate having a slot in the center part and an electric field generated from a small dipole current;

FIGS. 23A and 23B are, respectively, a diagram showing a magnetic current flowing in a patch antenna and a diagram illustrating a rectangular loop antenna in which a current flows in the same way as the magnetic current;

FIGS. 24A, 24B 24C and 24D are a perspective view of a patch antenna, a perspective view of a small patch antenna, a diagram showing an inverted-L antenna and a diagram showing an inverted-F antenna, respectively;

FIG. 25B is a front view of a patch antenna, FIG. 25C is a sectional view of the patch antenna and a FIG. 25A is a diagram showing the current-voltage characteristic thereof, respectively;

FIG. 26B is a front view of another patch antenna, FIG. 26C is a sectional view of the patch antenna and FIG. 26A is a diagram showing the current-voltage characteristic thereof, respectively;

FIG. 27B is a front view of still another patch antenna, FIG. 27C is a sectional view of this patch antenna and FIG. 27A is a diagram showing the current-voltage characteristic thereof, respectively;

FIG. 28 is a schematic representation of an antenna according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 29 is a sectional view of a part of the antenna shown in FIG. 28;

FIGS. 30A through 30C are front views of the antenna of FIG. 28, illustrating the layers which constitute the antenna;

FIGS. 31A and 31B are a front view and partially sectional view of an antenna according to a ninth embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 31C and 31D are front views of the antenna shown in FIGS. 31A and 31B, illustrating the layers which constitute the antenna;

FIGS. 32A and 32B are a front view and partially sectional view of an antenna according to a tenth embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 32C and 32D are front views of the antenna shown in FIGS. 32A and 32B, illustrating the layers which constitute the antenna;

FIGS. 33A and 33B are a front view and partially sectional view of an antenna according to an eleventh embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 33C and 33D are front views of the antenna shown in FIGS. 33A and 33B, illustrating the layers which constitute the antenna;

FIG. 34 is a block diagram of a watch-shaped, FM stereophonic radio/FM teletext receiver whose receiving antenna is a patch antenna according to the invention;

FIG. 35 is a block diagram of a watch-shaped, FM wireless microphone/FM character code transmitter whose transmitting antenna is a patch antenna according to this invention; and

FIG. 36 is a block diagram of a watch-shaped mobile telephone whose receiving/transmitting antenna is a patch antenna according to the invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are designed for use in watch-shaped portable radio apparatuses.

First Embodiment

1. Structure

FIG. 1A is a front view of a watch-shaped radio apparatus equipped with a band antenna which is the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is a sectional view of the watch-shaped radio apparatus. As shown in FIG. 1A, the radio apparatus comprises a main body 1, two band sections 2a and 2b, and a buckle section 3. The main body 1 contains electronic components which perform watch function and radio-apparatus function. The band sections 2a and 2b are connected to the main body 1 to secure the main body 1 to a user's wrist. The buckle section 3 fastened to the free end of the band section 2a. The main body 1 has a display 1b which is an LCD or the like, on its upper surface. On its each side the main body 1 has two switches 1c.

A ring 4 is mounted on the band section 2a. Into this ring 4 the user inserts the other band section 2b when he or she wraps both band section 2a and 2b around the wrist to wear the watch-shaped radio apparatus. The band section 2b has a row of holes 5. The buckle section 3 has a pin 3a and a decorative ring 3b. The user inserts the pin 3a into one of the holes 5 to secure the radio apparatus on his or her wrist. The pin 3a remains in contact with the decorative ring 3b as long as the user wears the watch-shaped radio apparatus.

The main body 1 contains a radio circuit section 6 and conductive power-supply terminals 7a and 7b. The radio circuit section 6 is designed to supply power to antenna conductors 10a and 10b, which will be described later. An input/output terminal projects from the section 6, for supplying to the section 6 the power the antenna conductors 10a and 10b have received. The input/output terminal is connected to conducive bases 11a and 11b, both electrically and physically. The power-supply terminals 7a and 7b extend in the axial direction of the band section 2a and 2b. They are connected at one end to the base 11a and 11b, respectively, both electrically and physically by, for example, solder.

In the band section 2a, the other end of the power supply terminal 7a is electrically and physically secured by a conductive screw 7c to one end of the antenna conductor 10a which extends in the axial direction of the band section 2a. In the band section 2b, the other end of the power supply terminal 7b is electrically and physically secured by a conductive screw 7d to one end of the antenna conductor 10b which extends in the axial direction of the band section 2b. The antenna conductors 10a and 10b are metal strips, thin metal strips or wires, which are flexible members. The power-supply terminal 7a is provided between the main body 1 and the band section 2a, and the power-supply terminal 7b between the main body 1 and the band section 2b. Both power-supply terminals 7a and 7b are made of flexible material, allowing the sections 2a and 2b to move with respect to the main body 1.

2. Electrical Characteristics

FIG. 2A is a schematic representation of the above-mentioned band antenna, and FIG. 2B is an equivalent circuit diagram of the band antenna. As shown in FIG. 2A, the band antenna has an antenna length L1 which is the sum of the length of the power-supply terminal 7a and that of the antenna conductor 10a. The antenna length L2 is given as: ##EQU1##

The band antenna is therefore identical in structure to a so-called "half-wave dipole antenna", which will be hereinafter referred to as "half-wave antenna." Most half-wave antennas are omnidirectional in two planes which are symmetrical with respect to the antenna axis and which are located at the same distance from the antenna axis. The input impedance of a half-wave antenna is expressed as follows: ##EQU2## where 2L (=2L1) is the total antenna length, .rho. is the diameter of either antenna conductor, k=2.pi./.lambda., .lambda. is the wavelength, and We is the wave impedance. The resistance R of the half-wave antenna is substantially proportional to the square of the total length 2L (=.lambda./2). That is, the less the total length 2L, the lower the resistance R. Hence, the input reactance X of the antenna changes almost linearly with the total length 2L. The greater the diameter .rho. of the antenna conductors, the greater the input reactance X, provided that the total length 2L is relatively small. Generally, it is desirable that the input impedance of the half-wave antenna be almost the same as forward resistance. To make the input impedance as nearly equal to the forward resistance, it is required, as can be understood from the equation (2), that the total length 2L be a little less than half-wave length E.lambda./2. In other words, it suffices to set the half antenna-length L (=L1) at 0.90 to 0.95 times .lambda./4.

The radiation power Wr of the half-wave antenna is defined as follows: ##EQU3##

The radiation resistance Rr of the antenna is represented by the following equation: ##EQU4##

The directional gain Gd of the antenna is given as: ##EQU5##

Second Embodiment

1. Structure

FIG. 3A is a front view of a watch-shaped radio apparatus equipped with a band antenna which is the second embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3B is a sectional view of the watch-shaped radio apparatus. This band antenna A has a plurality half-wave antenna conductors. More precisely, as shown in FIG. 3A, two antenna conductors 12a and 13a are provided in a band section 2a, spaced apart by a distance d and electrically connected by a loop-shaped power-supply terminal 14a. Similarly, two antenna conductors 12b and 13b are provided in a band section 2b, spaced apart by a distance d and electrically connected by a U-shaped power-supply terminal 14b. The half antenna-length L1 of the second embodiment is the sum of the length of the power-supply terminal (14a or 14b) and that of the antenna conductor (10a or 10b).

The second embodiment comprises two identical half-wave antennas which are spaced apart from each other by the distance d. Therefore, the input impedance of the second embodiment is given as: ##EQU6##

The mutual impedance Z12 (=R12 +jX12) is represented by the following equation: ##EQU7##

In the band antenna of the second embodiment, the mutual impedance Z12 is applied, in series, to the input impedance. To reduce reactance component X12 to zero, that is, to change it into pure resistance, it suffices to satisfy the conditions of d/(.lambda./4)=0.5 or 2.8, or d=.lambda./8 or 0.7.lambda.. More simply stated, the antenna conductors 12a and 13a should be spaced apart, and the antenna conductors 12b and 13b should be spaced apart, by .lambda./8 or 0.7.lambda.. In this case, the gain Gh attainable in the maximum radiation direction is: ##EQU8##

Obviously, the gain Gh is 4 to 5 dB greater than the gain Gd of the half-wave antenna of the first embodiment, when the distance d ranges from 2.5 to 3 times .lambda./4.

Modification of the Second Embodiment

FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a modification of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3A, and FIG. 4B is an equivalent circuit diagram of the modified band antenna. The modified band antenna has two U-shaped antenna conductors 15a and 15b which are embedded in band sections 2a and 2b, respectively. The antenna conductors 15a and 15b extend in the axial direction of the sections 2a and 2b. They are electrically connected to power-supply terminals 16a and 16b. Each antenna conductor has two parallel portions which have different lengths L1 and L2 (L1<L2) and which are spaced apart by a distance d. The modified band has characteristics similar to those of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 5A is a diagram showing a band antenna which is the third embodiment of the invention. FIG. 5B is an equivalent circuit diagram of this band antenna. FIG. 5C is a schematic representation of the band antenna.

As illustrated in FIG. SA, two antenna conductors 17a and 18a are embedded in a band section 2a, are spaced apart by a distance d and extend in the axial direction of the band section 2a. Similarly, two antenna conductors 17b and 18b are embedded in a band section 2b, are spaced apart by distance d and extend in the axial direction of the band section 2b. The antenna conductors 17a and 18a are electrically connected to a radio circuit section 6 (i.e., power-supply section) by power-supply terminals 20a and 20b. The antenna conductors 17b and 18b are electrically connected to a radio circuit section 6, too, by power-supply terminals 20c and 20d. A phase shifter 21 is provided on the line connecting the power-supply terminal 20b to the radio circuit section 6. Due to the phase shifter 21, the conductors 17a and 18a function as a half-wave antenna which differs in phase from the half-wave antenna constituted by the conductors 17b and 18b. Thus, even if the distance d is reduced, the band antenna can acquire characteristics as good as those of an antenna in which the distance d ranges 5.lambda./8 to 3.lambda./4 and which therefore has a great gain. The third embodiment therefore equals the first and second embodiments in antenna characteristics.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 6A is a diagram representing the band antenna which is the fourth embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 6B is an equivalent circuit diagram of the band antenna. As seen from FIG. 6A, antenna conductors 21a and 22a are embedded in a band section 2a and extend in the axial direction of the section 2a. Also, antenna conductors 21b and 22b are embedded in a band section 2b and extend in the axial direction of the section 2b. Of the four antenna conductors, only the conductors 21a and 21b are electrically connected to a radio circuit section 6 (i.e., power-supply section) by power-supply terminals 23a and 23b, respectively. The other conductors 22a and 22b are connected in series to each other by a load ZL. The conductor 22a is spaced from the conductor 21a by a distance d, and the conductor 22b from the conductor 21a by the same distance d. An intense electric field is generated in the vicinity of the conductors 21a and 21b when power is supplied to these conductors 21a and 21b. As a result, a current flows through the conductors 22a and 22b located near the conductors 21a and 21b, though power is supplied to neither the conductor 22a nor the conductor 22b. The conductors 22a and 22b therefore function as antenna conductors. To be more precise, they operate as reflectors or directors.

The input impedance the entire antenna has, i.e., the input impedance at the antenna conductors 21a and 21b, is expressed by the following equation: ##EQU9##

The gain Gh (.theta., .phi.) of the half-wave antenna comprised of antenna conductors 21a and 21b is defined by the following equation: ##EQU10##

where R.sub.0 is the radiation resistance of the half-wave antenna, given as follows. ##EQU11##

As can be understood from the equation (10), the input impedance and gain of the half-wave antenna can be changed by adjusting the load ZL connected between the antenna conductors 22a and 22b to which no power is supplied. If the load ZL is adjusted, thus increasing the gain in the direction where .phi.=0, the antenna conductors 22a and 22b will work as directors. If the load ZL is adjusted, thereby increasing the gain in the direction where .phi.=80, the antenna conductors 22a and 22b will work as reflectors.

First Modification of the Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating a first modification of the fourth embodiment, i.e., the band antenna shown in FIG. 6A. FIG. 7B is an equivalent circuit diagram of the first modified band antenna. As shown in FIG. 7A, no load ZL is used in this antenna, short-circuiting antenna conductors 22a and 22b to which no power is supplied. The conductors 22a and 22b therefore perform the same function of the reflectors of an antenna known as "Yagi-Uda antenna." In this modified antenna, the antenna conductors 22a and 22b differ in length from the antenna conductors 21a and 21b, thereby achieving the same results as can be attained by adjusting the value for the load ZL in the antenna shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. To be more specific, if the length L2 of the antenna conductors 22a and 22b are longer or shorter than the antenna conductors 21a and 21b which constitute a half-wave antenna (2L1=.lambda./2, L1=.lambda./4), the reactance component of the self-impedance of each of the conductors 22a and 22b, the total length of which nearly equals the half-wave length .lambda./2, changes greatly, while the resistance component of the self-impedance changes a little. Hence, the change in the length L2 of the conductors 22a and 22b results in a change in the reactance X22 only.

If their length L2 is equal to or greater than .lambda./4 (2L2=.lambda./2), the antenna conductors 22a and 22b will operate as reflectors, and the axial gain of the band antenna will decrease about 6 dB. On the other hand, if their length L2 is 0.8 to 0.9 times .lambda./4, they will operate as directors, and the axial gain will increase 2 db to 3 dB. The thicker the antenna conductors 22a and 22b, the shorter they can be to work as directors.

Second Modification of the Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating a second modification of the fourth embodiment, i.e., the band antenna shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. FIG. 8B is an equivalent circuit diagram of the first modified band antenna. As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, antenna conductors 24a and 24b which are shorter than antenna conductors 21a and 21b are used, replacing the antenna conductors 22a and 22b which are longer than the conductors 21a and 21b. More precisely, the conductors 24a and 24b have a length L3 which is 0.8 to 0.9 times the length L1 of the conductors 21a and 21b. The conductors 24a and 24b, to which no power is supplied, are spaced apart from the conductors 21a and 21b, respectively, by a distance d3. The antenna conductors 24a and 24b operate as directors.

Third Modification of the Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 9A is a diagram illustrating a third modification of the fourth embodiment, i.e., the band antenna shown in FIGS. 6A and 5B. FIG. 9B is an equivalent circuit diagram of this modified antenna. As seen from in FIG. 8A, band sections 2c and 2d are provided which are broader than the band sections 2a and 2b shown in FIG. 6A. The band section 2d has two rows of holes. Three antenna conductors 25a, 26a and 27a are embedded in the band section 2c and spaced apart by a distance d3. Similarly, three antenna conductors 25b, 26b and 27b are embedded in the band section 2d and spaced apart by a distance d3. The conductors 25a and 25b are connected to a radio circuit section 6 (i.e., power-supply section), constituting a half-wave antenna. No power is supplied to the remaining conductors 26a, 26b, 27a and 27b, which operate as directors. To reverse the transmitting (or receiving) directivity of the band antenna while the conductors 26a, 26b, 27a and 27b are operating as directors, it suffices to exchange the positions of the conductors 25a and 25b and the radio circuit section 6 with the positions of the antenna conductors 26a and 26b.

Fourth Modification of Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 10A is a diagram illustrating a fourth modification of the fourth embodiment, i.e., the band antenna shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. FIG. 10B is an equivalent circuit diagram of the fourth modified antenna. As illustrated in FIG. 10A, three antenna conductors 30a, 31a and 32a are embedded in a band section 2a, and three antenna conductors 30b, 31b and 31b in a band section 2b. The conductors 31a and 31b, which have a length L1, are connected to a radio circuit section 6 (i.e., power-supply section), constituting a half-wave antennas. The conductors 30a and 30b are located near the conductors 31a and 31b, respectively, spaced apart therefrom by a distance d2. The conductors 32a and 32b are located near the conductors 31a and 31b, respectively, spaced apart therefrom by a distance d3.

The antenna conductors 30a and 30b have an effective length L2 which is greater than the effective length L1 of that of antenna conductors 31a and 31b. By contrast, the conductors 32a and 32b have an effective length L3 which is less than the effective length L1 of that of antenna conductors 31a and 31b. The conductors 20a and 30b constitute a reflector, whereas the conductors 32a and 32b constitute a director. The fourth modification is a three-component Yagi-Uda antenna provided in the form of a band antenna. The input impedance and gain of this antenna can be changed by adjusting the distance d3 between the conductors 31a and 31b, on the one hand, and the conductors 32a and 32b, on the other, and by adjusting the effective length L3 of the conductors 32a and 32b. The fourth modification is a three-component (reflector+director+antenna) antenna and has a gain which is 4 to 6 dB greater than that of an ordinary half-wave antenna.

Fifth Embodiment

1. Structure

FIG. 11A is a front view of a watch-shaped radio apparatus equipped with an antenna which is the fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11B is a schematic view of the antenna. Like any embodiment described above, the fifth embodiment has a radio circuit section 6 and power-supply terminals 7a and 7b as is shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B. An input/output terminal projects from the radio circuit section 6. The input/output terminal is connected to conductive bases 11a and 11b, both electrically and physically by, for example, solder. The terminal is provided to supply power from the section 6 to antenna conductors 40a and 40b which are embedded in the band sections 2a and 2b, respectively, and to supply to the section 6 the power which the antenna conductors 40a and 40b have received. Further, power-supply terminals 7a and 7b extend in the axial direction of the band section 2a and 2b and are connected at one end to the base 11a and 11b, respectively, both electrically and physically by, for example, solder.

In the band section 2a, the other end of the power supply terminal 7a is electrically and physically secured to one end of the antenna conductor 40a which extends in the axial direction of the band section 2a. In the band section 2b, the other end of the power supply terminal 7b is electrically and physically secured to one end of the antenna conductor 40b which extends in the axial direction of the band section 2b. The antenna conductors 40a and 40b are metal strips, thin metal strips or wires, which are flexible. The power-supply terminal 7a is provided between the main body 1 and the band section 2a, and the power-supply terminal 7b between the main body 1 and the band section 2b. Both power-supply terminals 7a and 7b are made of flexible material, allowing the sections 2a and 2b to move with respect to the main body 1.

The antenna conductor 40a consists of two power-supply antenna elements 42a and 43a which constitute a half-wave antenna having a total length (2L4) equal to half-wave length (.lambda./2). Similarly, the antenna conductor 40b consists of two power-supply antenna elements 42b and 43b which are parallel to each other, which are connected at one end to each other and which constitute a half-wave antenna having a total length (2L4) equal to half-wave length (.lambda./2).

2. Electrical Characteristics

As can be seen from FIG. 11B, the diameter 2.rho.2 (radius=.rho.2) of the antenna conductors, to which no power is supplied, is one to six times as great as the diameter 2.rho.1 (radius=.rho.1) of the antenna conductors 42a and 42b which constitute a half-wave antenna and to which power is supplied. The antenna conductors 42a and 43a are arranged, with their axes spaced apart by a distance d. Also, the antenna conductors 42b and 43b are arranged, with their axes spaced apart by a distance d.

Being large in size, the band antenna according to the fifth embodiment is used as a folded antenna in a high-frequency region. As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, a folded antenna is characterized in that the two conductors have radii .rho.1 and .rho.2 and the distance d between their axes are sufficiently small. When the folded antenna is used in place of a rod-shaped antenna such as a half-wave antenna of ordinary type, its input impedance can easily be changed to an appropriate value, without altering its radiation characteristic. Why so will be explained below.

Assume that a voltage V is applied and a current flows, at the power-supplying point of the folded half-wave antenna, as is illustrated in FIG. 13A. The electromagnetic field generated in this case is a combination of two electromagnetic fields shown in FIGS. 13B and 13C. The electromagnetic field of FIG. 13B is one generated when the same voltage Vr is applied at the axes of the two conductors, whereby currents Ir and arIr flow into the two conductors. The electromagnetic field of FIG. 13C is one generated when voltages afVf and -Vf are applied to the two conductors, respectively, whereby currents If and -If flow along the axes of the two conductors in the opposite directions.

Applying the reciprocity theorem to the two electromagnetic fields shown in FIGS. 13B and 13C, we obtain:

The equation (11) reduces to the following:

The electromagnetic field shown in FIG. 13A is the sum of those shown in FIGS. 13B and 13C. Assuming that ar=af=a, we obtain:

The system shown in FIG. 13B is regarded as one linear antenna composed of a bundle of two conductors. It is therefore equivalent to the antenna shown in FIG. 13D which is constituted by a single thick conductor. The input impedance Zr of the antenna shown in FIG. 13D is given as:

The system shown in FIG. 13C is equivalent to an antenna shown in FIG. 13E which comprises two units, each consisting of two parallel lines which are short-circuited at the distal end and which are supplied with power at the proximal end. The impedance Zf of these units is expressed as: ##EQU12##

From the equations (13) and (14) there drives the following equations: ##EQU13##

Applying the equations (18), (19) and (20) to the equation (15), we obtain: ##EQU14##

Therefore, the input impedance of the folded antenna is given as follows: ##EQU15##

That is, the input impedance Z is equivalent to a parallel circuit comprised of impedance Zr(1+a).sup.2 and impedance 2Zf, which is represented by the circuit diagram of FIG. 14. The current radiated is 2Ir only, as is clear from FIGS. 13A to 13E, and the folded antenna is equivalent to the antenna illustrated in FIG. 13D, which is shown in FIG. 13D. Therefore, the folded antenna has the same directivity as one linear antenna, provided it involves no power loss. The electromagnetic field shown in FIG. 13E is considered to do nothing but change the electromagnetic field generated near the antenna, ultimately changing the input impedance or received voltage, as can be understood from FIG. 14.

The input impedance Zf of the folded antenna is obtained as follows:

where Z0 is the impedance inherent in the two parallel lines and 2L is the overall length of the antenna. /Zf/=.infin. if the antenna is a half-wave antenna wherein 2L=.lambda./2. Hence, the equation (22) reduced to the following:

Obviously, the input impedance Z is (1+a).sup.2 times the impedance Zr of the half-wave antenna. Variable a is given as: ##EQU16##

If .rho.1=.rho.2, .mu.=1. In this case, a=1, regardless of the value of .nu.. Thus, (1+a).sup.2 =4. Namely, the input impedance Z is as four times as high as that of the half-wave antenna. The input impedance Z can be changed merely by adjusting variable .mu.(=.rho.2/.rho.1) and variable .nu.(=d/1), both included in the equation (25). Differently stated, Z can be changed by adjusting the diameter .rho.1 of the antenna conductors 42a and 42b, the diameter .rho.2 of the antenna conductors 43a and 43b and the above-defined distance d.

Generally, impedance conversion ratio a (i.e., (1+a).sup.2) is limited by the diameter of the antenna conductors. The ratio can easily be set at a value ranging from 2 to 10, thanks to the resistance loss and mechanical strength of the antenna. The folded antenna is a broad-band one and is advantageous, in this respect, over a single-conductor which has the same conductor diameter. This is because Zr and Zf involve serial resonance and parallel resonance, respectively, and are connected in parallel to each other.

Sixth Embodiment

FIG. 15 is a schematic representation of a band antenna according to the sixth embodiment of this invention. FIG. 16A is another schematic diagram of the band antenna, and FIG. 16B is an equivalent circuit diagram thereof.

As illustrated in FIG. 15, a loop-shaped antenna conductor 44a and a straight antenna conductor 45a are embedded in a band section 2a, extend parallel to each other and are spaced apart from each other by a distance d3. Similarly, a loop-shaped antenna conductor 44b and a straight antenna conductor 45b are embedded in a band section 2b, extend parallel to each other and are spaced apart from each other by a distance d3. In operation, power is supplied to the antenna conductors 44a and 44b, and no power is supplied to the antenna conductors 45a and 45b. The antenna conductors 44a, 44b, 45a and 45b are metal strips, thin metal strips or wires, which are flexible. The distance d3 is 0.2 to 1.5 times the quarter-wave length (.lambda./4).

The U-shaped antenna conductor 44a consists of two parallel conductors 46a and 47a which are connected together at their distal end and which are arranged with their axes spaced apart by a distance d. The loop-shaped antenna conductor 44b consists of two parallel conductors 46b and 47b which are connected together at their distal end and which are arranged with their axes spaced apart by the distance d. The conductors 46a and 46b constitute a half-wave (.lambda./2) antenna having an overall length 2L8. The conductors 47a and 47b, to which no power is applied, constitute a half-wave (.lambda./2) antenna having the same overall length 2L8. The antenna conductors 44a an 44b constitute a folded half-wave antenna having an overall length 2L4 (see FIG. 16A).

The antenna conductors 45a and 45b are short-circuited, constituting a director which has an overall length 2L7. The length 2L7 is less than the overall length 2L4 (.lambda./2) of the folded half-wave antenna. More precisely, the length 2L7 is 0.8 to 0.9 times the overall length 2L4 of the folded half-wave antenna. The antenna conductors 45a and 45b therefore operate as directors. The thicker the conductors 45a and 45b, the shorter they can be to work as directors.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 16A, the sixth embodiment is a band antenna which comprises a folded antenna and a director. The structure of the band antenna according to the sixth embodiment can be represented by the equivalent circuit diagram of FIG. 16B.

If the antenna conductors 45a and 45b are longer or shorter than the antenna conductors 44a and 44b, more precisely if the overall length 2L7 of the director is greater or less than the overall length 2L4 of the folded half-wave antenna constituted by the conductors 44a and 44b, the reactance component of the self-impedance of each of the conductors 44a and 44b, the total length of which nearly equals the half-wave length .lambda./2, changes greatly, while the resistance component of the self-impedance changes a little. The mutual impedance Z21 between the half-wave antenna and the director changes but a little if the overall length 2L7 of the director (i.e., the conductors 45a and 45b). Hence, the change in the length 2L7 of the conductors 22a and 22b causes a change in the reactance X22 only.

The sixth embodiment can have its input impedance increased over that of a half-wave antenna having elements to which no power is supplied--without reducing the large gain or the good directivity. Furthermore, the axial gain (.phi.=0) or anti-axial gain (.phi.=180.degree.) can be more increased than is possible with the folded antenna of the fifth embodiment, since the length of the antenna conductors 45a and 45b are adjusted with respect to the length of the antenna conductors 44a and 44b. In addition, the conductors 45a and 45b can function as a director or a reflector, thereby to change the gain or directivity of the band antenna, by adjusting their length with respect to the length of the antenna conductors 44a and 44b.

Seventh Embodiment

1. Radio Apparatus

FIG. 17A is a front view and FIG. 17B is a sectional view of a watch-shaped radio apparatus equipped with a patch antenna which is the seventh embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, the watch-shaped radio apparatus comprises a main body 1 and two band sections 2a and 2b. The main body 1 contains electronic components which perform watch function and radio-apparatus function. The band sections 2a and 2b are connected to the main body 1 to secure the main body 1 to a user's wrist. The main body 1 has a display 1f which is an LCD or the like, on its upper surface. The display 1f is protected by a glass cover 1E. On its each side the main body 1 has switches 1d for switching the operating mode of the apparatus and the display mode of the display 1f.

Contained in the main body 1 are a radio circuit section 6a and a battery 6b. The battery 6b is provided to supply power to the radio circuit section 6a. The section 6a comprises an electronic circuit which is designed to supply power to a patch antenna 9 and to receive power therefrom. (The patch antenna 9 will be described later.) The section 6a is connected to the patch antenna 9 by a coaxial cable 8. The patch antenna 9 is located in the antenna receptacle 10c which is mounted on one side of the main body 1.

2. Structure of Patch Antenna

FIG. 18A is a front view and FIG. 18B is a sectional view of the patch antenna 9. As shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, the patch antenna 9 is a three-layer component, comprising a base plate 11c, a dielectric layer 12c, and a patch-shaped conductor 13c. The base plate 11c is made of electrically conductive material. The dielectric layer 12c is made of the same material as the band sections 2a and 2b (FIG. 17A), such as Teflon. The conductor 13c has an effective length which is less than or equal to .lambda./(4.sqroot..epsilon.), or less than or equal to .lambda./4, where .lambda. is wavelength. The base plate 11c and the conductor 13c are connected to the coaxial cable 8, at a power-supplying point 14c. That end portion of the conductor 13c which is close to the main body 1 is bent in the form of letter L and is short-circuited to the base plate 11c. In short, the patch-antenna 9 comprises two conductors and one insulating layer sandwiched between the conductors. The operating principle of the patch antenna 9 will be explained below.

3. Operating Principle of the Patch Antenna

A micro-strip antenna, usually formed on a printed circuit board, is used in increasing numbers as a small-sized antenna or a component of an array antenna. This is because it is easy to manufacture and has a planar structure. As shown in FIG. 19, a micro-strip antenna comprises a dielectric layer 15c, a base plate 16c, and a micro-strip line 17c. The base plate 16c is a conductive layer bonded to one surface of the layer 15c and thinner than the layer 15c. The micro-strip line 17c has been formed by processing a conductive layer bonded to the other surface of the layer 15c. The line 17c is a signal transfer line which is thinner than a coaxial cable.

Once the base plate 16c and the micro-strip line 17c are connected to a power supply, the line 17c becomes equivalent to two parallel signal transfer lines provided beneath the base plate 16c as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 20A. When these signal transfer lines are opened at their terminations, stationary waves are generated as illustrated in FIG. 20B. As seen from FIG. 20B, the electric field is most intense at the termination of the either signal transfer line as depicted by the solid-line curve, while the current is zero at the termination of either signal transfer line as indicated by the broken-line curve. As shown in FIG. 20C, the micro-strip line 17c is cut at a half-wave distance from its end, and power is supplied to the line 17c at point P located at some distance from the center of the line 17c, from below the base plate 16c through a coaxial cable 18c. The micro-strip antenna is thereby manufactured.

When these signal transfer lines are opened at the termination, the reflection factor becomes "1," whereby all power supplied is reflected and the electric field gains the maximal intensity at the termination of either signal transfer line. On the other hand, the current becomes zero and the magnetic field ceases to exist. When these signal transfer lines are short-circuited at the termination, the electric field ceases to exist and the magnetic field gains its maximum intensity. In this case, a conductive wall is present at the termination of either signal transfer line. The electric field and the magnetic field change in opposite directions when the signal transfer lines are opened at the termination. Since the change in the electric field and the change in the magnetic field are similar phenomena, the end of either signal transfer line can be considered to have been closed by a magnetic wall. The relation between an electric field and a conductive wall is the same as the relation between a magnetic field and a magnetic wall. Hence, no magnetic field is generated which extends parallel to the magnetic wall. In other words, any magnetic field generated extends perpendicular to the magnetic wall.

Since the micro-strip line 17c is cut and exposed, it can be said to be surrounded by magnetic walls and short-circuited thereby. The micro-strip line 17c, thus cut, is also called "patch." If the patch is surrounded and short-circuited by magnetic walls, no radio waves are radiated from the patch. The patch therefore does not function as an antenna at all. Nonetheless, the patch is used as so-called "magnetic wall model" for calculating a simple approximate value for the electromagnetic field or resonance frequency in the patch. FIG. 21A shows a rectangular patch 22c mounted on a base plate 23c. The electric field generated between the patch 22c and the base plate 23c has a y-axis component only. The y-axis component generated when the patch 22c undergoes resonance is given as: ##EQU17## where 2a is the half-wave length of the micro-strip line. The half-wave length 2a is expressed as follows: ##EQU18##

where .lambda. is the free-space wavelength.

where .lambda. is the dielectric constant of the base plate 23c. The base plate 23c is made of Teflon as in most patch antennas. Teflon has a specific dielectric constant .epsilon. of 2.4. Therefore, the wave has a length which is 0.6 times the free-space wavelength .lambda..

When the termination of the signal transfer line is opened, all power is reflected, except a part. The part of power leaks outwards as shown in FIG. 21B, in the same way as an electric field leaks through a slot cut in a conductive plate. As shown in FIG. 22A, an electric field 26c leaks upward through a slot 25c made in a conductive plate 24c. If a current generated by a tiny dipole flows at the slot 25c, a magnetic field 27c will be generated as shown in FIG. 22B, in which only upper half of the magnetic field 27c is illustrated. The electric field 26c leaking through the slot 25c and the magnetic field 27c generated from the dipole current are identical in shape, both extending in the .phi.-axis direction in the polar coordinate system. From this it can be said that a magnetic current flowing through the slot 25c constitutes a magnetic (electric) field. Hence, the electromagnetic field radiating from the slot 25c can be obtained by replacing the electric field and the magnetic field with each other, which constitute an electromagnetic field and which have been generated from a current.

The directivity of the micro-strip antenna is obtained from a magnetic current. The magnetic current constitutes an electric field, which corresponds to a magnetic field constituted by currents which flow in the same way as the magnetic current. Since an electric field is generated at the edges of the patch 22c as shown in FIG. 21B, a magnetic current flows as shown in FIG. 23A, forming a source of radio waves. An antenna, whose wave source is a current flowing in the same way as this magnetic current, is a rectangular loop antenna which is shown in FIG. 23B. The loop antenna radiates intense radio waves in the y-axis direction. Of the magnetic current shown in FIG. 23A, two parts extending in the x-axis direction are short and opposite to each other. The remaining two parts extend in the z-axis direction and mainly serve as source of radio waves. The loop antenna therefore has almost the same directivity as an array antenna which comprises two dipole antenna juxtaposed in the z-axis direction. The electric field extending in the z-axis direction is zero in intensity as can be understood from the equation (26) and the electric field generated at the patch 22c (FIG. 21B). Thus, the distribution of the electromagnetic field remains unchanged if the patch 22c is short-circuited at its center part.

Hence, even if the patch 22c is cut into halves, or two patches 33a, each patch 33a functions as an antenna as illustrated in FIG. 24A. The patch 33a is obviously useful as a small-sized antenna. As shown in FIG. 24A, the patch 33a is grounded at one side to a base plate 35a by a short-circuiting plate 34. A coaxial cable 36 is connected to the center portion of the patch 33a, to supply power thereto. The patch antenna shown in FIG. 24A is of the same structure as the antenna shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. The length of the patch antenna, measured in the x-axis direction, is .lambda./4. If designed to transmit and receive radio waves of the 900 MHz band, such as mobile-telephone waves, the patch antenna is about 8.3 cm long, provided that the base plate 35a has a specific dielectric constant of 1. The patch antenna cannot be said to be small enough for use in mobile telephones.

The width of the patch antenna, measured along the z-axis (i.e., transverse axis), depends on the frequency band of radio waves the antenna is to transmit and receive. Namely, the broader the band, the broader the antenna. In the case where the frequency band allocated to mobile telephones ranges from 900 MHz to about 910 MHz, the patch 33a should be almost square. This is because, the patch 33a will radiate radio waves readily over a broad band if the patch 33a has a large width. The width of the patch 33a is equal to the length of the magnetic-current dipole. The longer the dipole, the higher the radiation resistance, and the higher the efficiency of radiation of radio waves.

FIG. 24C is a diagram showing a small-sized patch antenna. This patch antenna is identical to the patch antenna shown in FIG. 24A, except for two respects. First, a narrow strip 37 is used in place of the short-circuiting plate 34. Second, the patch 33b equivalent to the patch 33a (FIG. 24A) is bent downwards at one edge. The narrow strip 37 works as an inductance mounted on the patch 33b. The bent edge of the patch 33b imparts to the antenna a capacitance large enough to generate an intense electric field at that edge of the patch 33b. Generally, an antenna becomes smaller when an impedance is mounted on it. Hence, the length of the patch 33b can be decreased to .ltoreq..lambda./4.

Hitherto known is an inverted-L antenna which is illustrated in FIG. 24C. The patch of this antenna has half-wave length. The patch is bend in the form of letter L, because it is difficult in practice to stretch it straight. The quarter-wave length (.lambda./4) will be as much as 75 m if the antenna is designed to transmit and receive 1 MHz waves which are 300 m long. Also known is another type of an antenna called "inverted-F antenna," which is shown in FIG. 24D. The inverted-F antenna differs from the inverted-L antenna in that power is supplied to the middle part of the patch, improving the operating efficiency of the antenna.

In the case of a rod-shaped antenna, the thicker conductor, the broader the frequency band of the antenna. The rod-shaped conductor may be replaced by a plate-shaped conductor which has a large width. An antenna having such a plate-shaped conductor is the very patch antenna which is illustrated in FIG. 24B.

Three patch antennas having different shapes will be described, with reference to FIGS. 25, 26 and 27.

FIG. 25B is a front view of a patch antenna, FIG. 25C is a sectional view of the patch antenna, and FIG. 25A is a diagram showing the current-voltage characteristic thereof. The patch antenna is a half-wave antenna. As shown in FIG. 25B, it is a three-layer structure, comprising a base plate 40, a dielectric layer 41 and a patch-shaped conductor 42. The base plate 40 is made of electrically conductive material. The dielectric layer 41, which is interposed between the base plate 40 and the conductor 42, is made of dielectric material such as Teflon. The patch-shaped conductor 42 has an effective length 2a (=.lambda./(2.sqroot..epsilon.). The antenna further comprises a coaxial cable 43, which is connected to the base plate 40 and conductor 42, extending from a power-supply point 44.

FIG. 26B is a front view of another patch antenna, FIG. 26C is a sectional view of the patch antenna, and FIG. 26A is a diagram showing the current-voltage characteristic thereof. This is a .lambda./4 inverted-L patch antenna of the type shown in FIG. 24A. It is also a three-layer structure, comprising a base plate 50, a dielectric layer 51 and a patch-shaped conductor 52. The base plate 50 is made of electrically conductive material. The dielectric layer 51, which is interposed between the base plate 50 and the conductor 52, is made of dielectric material such as Teflon. The patch-shaped conductor 52 has an effective length a (=.lambda./(4.sqroot..epsilon.). The inverted-L patch antenna further comprises a short-circuiting plate 53, which electrically connects one edge of the conductor 52 to the base plate 50.

FIG. 27B is a front view of still another patch antenna, FIG. 27C is a sectional view of this patch antenna, and FIG. 27A is a diagram showing the current-voltage characteristic thereof. This is a .lambda./4 inverted-F patch antenna of the type shown in FIG. 24B. It is also a three-layer structure, comprising a base plate 60, a dielectric layer 61 and a patch-shaped conductor 62. The base plate 60 is made of electrically conductive material. The dielectric layer 61, which is interposed between the base plate 60 and the conductor 62, is made of dielectric material such as Teflon. The patch-shaped conductor 62 has an effective length a (.ltoreq..lambda./(4.sqroot..epsilon.). The inverted-L patch antenna further comprises a short-circuiting plate 63, which electrically connects one edge of the conductor 62 to the base plate 60. The patch-shaped conductor 62 is bent at one edge in the form of letter L.

Eighth Embodiment

Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to any one of the three patch antennas shown in FIGS. 25B, 26B and 27B. The patch antenna shown in FIG. 26B will be described as the eighth embodiment of the present invention, with reference to FIGS. 28, 29, 30A, 30B and 30C.

FIG. 28 is a schematic representation of the patch antenna, FIG. 29 is a sectional view of a part of the patch antenna, and FIGS. 30A to 30C are front views of the patch antenna, illustrating the layers which constitute the antenna. The components identical or similar to those shown in FIG. 17 are designated at the same reference numerals in FIGS. 28, 27, 30A, 30B and 30C and will not be described in detail in the following explanation.

As shown in FIGS. 28 and 29, the patch antenna 50 of three-layer structure is embedded in a band section 2a or formed integral therewith. The antenna 50 comprises a patch-shaped conductor 71 and a base plate 72. A conductor strip 73 connects the conductor 71 and the plate 72 are connected to a radio circuit section 6 which is incorporated in a main body 1. The patch-shaped conductor 71 extends parallel to the axis of the band section 2a and has an overall length a (.ltoreq..lambda./4.sqroot..epsilon.). The conductor 71 is connected to the base plate 72 by a conductor 75 which passes through a dielectric layer 74. The conductor 71 is connected also to the conductor strip 73 by a conductor 76 which passes through the dielectric layer 74. Power is supplied at a point 77 where the patch-shaped conductor 71 is connected to the conductor strip 73.

The patch antenna 70 is a three-layer structure as shown in FIG. 30A. The first layer comprises the patch-shaped conductor 71 and connecting terminals 78 and 79. The terminals 78 and 79 connect the conductor 71 to the radio circuit section 6. The second layer is the base plate 72 which has a through hole 80 at a power-supply point 77. The third layer is the conductor strip 73 which extends from the point 77 to the connecting terminal 78 as is illustrated in FIG. 30C.

The band section 2a can be made longer than the main body 1 as in most watch-shaped radio apparatuses. The patch-antenna 70 can be as long as about 6 to 8 cm. Since the conductor 71 and the plate 72 (i.e., the two conductors of antenna 70) are electrically connected together at their outer ends by means of the conductor 75, the antenna 70 can be used as a quarter-wave (.lambda./4) antenna which has half the length of a rod-shaped half-wave antenna. Further, the antenna 70 can function as a so-called inverted-F quarter-wave antenna, since the power-supply point 77 is displaced a little toward the main body 1 from the center of the patch-shaped conductor 71.

The dielectric layer 74, which is made of Teflon or the like, is sandwiched between the patch-shaped conductor 71 and the base plate 72. The dielectric layer 74 therefore works as a signal transfer line of micro-strip type. This helps to reduce the length of the antenna 70, which operates as a patch-shaped, micro-strip antenna, to .lambda./4.sqroot..epsilon. or less. That is, the antenna 70 can be made small. The patch-shaped conductor 71, base plate 72 and conductor strip 73 can be formed on the band section 2a, easily by punching, print etching or the like. The patch antenna 70 can be thin enough to be incorporated into the band section 2a since its constituent layers are thin metal layers.

Ninth Embodiment

FIGS. 31A and 31B are a front view and partially sectional view of an antenna according to the ninth embodiment of the invention. FIGS. 31C and 31D are front views of this antenna, illustrating the layers which constitute the antenna. The components identical or similar to those shown in FIGS. 28 and 29 are designated at the same reference numerals in FIGS. 31A to 31D and will not be described in detail.

The ninth embodiment is a patch antenna 85, which is embedded in a band section 2b. The patch antenna 85 is a three-layer structure like the eighth embodiment or formed integral therewith. The antenna 85 comprises a patch-shaped conductor 86, a base plate 87 and a dielectric layer 88. The dielectric layer 88 is made of Teflon or the like and sandwiched between the conductor 86 and the base plate 87. (Alternatively, the layer 88 may be made of the same material as the band section 2a.) The patch-shaped conductor 86 and the base plate 87 are connected to each other by two terminals 89 which pass through the dielectric layer 88. The conductor 86 extends parallel to the axis of the band section 2a and has an overall length a (.ltoreq..lambda./4.sqroot..epsilon.). Power is supplied to the patch-shaped conductor 86 at a point 90 which is displaced a little from the center of the conductor 86 toward the main body (not shown) of a watch-shaped radio apparatus incorporating the patch antenna 85. The antenna 85 further comprises a conductor strip 92 which extends from the point 90 toward the main body, forming a connecting terminal 91.

As shown in FIG. 31C, the patch-shaped conductor 86, the conductor strip 92, and a connecting terminal 93 are provided in the same plane. The connecting terminal 93 connects the base plate 87 to the radio circuit section (not shown) provided in the main body. As shown in FIG. 31B, the base plate 87 is located below the conductor 86. As shown in FIG. 31D, the base plate 87 has a projection 94, which is connected to the connecting terminal 93. The patch antenna 85 has only two conductive layers (i.e., patch-shaped conductor 86 and base plate 87) and only one insulating layer (i.e., dielectric layer 88) interposed between the conductor layers. The patch antenna 85 is no doubt more simple in structure than the eighth embodiment. Thus, the antenna 85 can be thinner and be manufactured at lower cost.

Tenth Embodiment

FIGS. 32A and 32B are a front view and partially sectional view of an antenna according to the tenth embodiment of the invention. FIGS. 32C and 32D are front views of this antenna, illustrating the layers which constitute the antenna. The components identical or similar to those shown in FIGS. 28 and 29 are designated at the same reference numerals in FIGS. 32A to 32D and will not be described in detail.

The tenth embodiment is a patch antenna 100, too. Like the eighth and ninth embodiments, the patch antenna 100 is embedded in a band section 2a or formed integral therewith and is a three-layer structure. The antenna 100 comprises a patch-shaped conductor 101, a base plate 102 and a dielectric layer 103. The dielectric layer 103 is made of Teflon or the like and sandwiched between the conductor 101 and the base plate 102. (Alternatively, the layer 103 may be made of the same material as the band section 2a.) The patch-shaped conductor 101 and the base plate 102 are connected to each other by a conductor strip 104 which passes through the dielectric layer 103. The conductor 101 extends parallel to the axis of the band section 2a and has an overall length a (.ltoreq..lambda./4.sqroot..epsilon.). Power is supplied to the patch-shaped conductor 101 at a point 105 which is displaced a little from the center of the conductor 101 toward the main body (not shown) of a watch-shaped radio apparatus incorporating the patch antenna 100. The antenna 100 further comprises an L-shaped conductor strip 107 which is formed integral with the patch-shaped conductor 101. The first portion of the L-shaped strip 107 is connected to the conductor 101 and extends from the point 105 toward one edge of the band section 2a. The second portion of the strip 107 extends toward the main body along that edge of the band section 2a. The free end portion of the L-shaped conductor 107 works as a connecting terminal 106.

As shown in FIG. 32C, the patch-shaped conductor 101, the conductor strip 107, the connecting terminal 106, and a connecting terminal 108 are provided in the same plane. The connecting terminal 108 connects the base plate 102 to the radio circuit section (not shown) provided in the main body. As shown in FIG. 32B, the base plate 102 is located below the conductor 101. As shown in FIG. 32D, the base plate 102 has a projection 109, which is connected to the connecting terminal 108. The patch antenna 100 has only two conductive layers (i.e., patch-shaped conductor 101 and base plate 102) and only one insulating layer (i.e., dielectric layer 103) interposed between the conductor layers. The patch antenna 101 is no doubt more simple in structure than the eighth embodiment. The antenna 100 can therefore be thinner and be manufactured at lower cost.

Eleventh Embodiment

FIGS. 33A and 31B are a front view and partially sectional view of an antenna according to the eleventh embodiment. FIGS. 33C and 33D are front views of this antenna, illustrating the layers which constitute the antenna. The components identical or similar to those shown in FIGS. 28 and 29 are designated at the same reference numerals in FIGS. 33A to 33D and will not be described in detail.

The eleventh embodiment is a patch antenna 120, too. Like the eighth to tenth embodiments, the patch antenna 120 is embedded in a band section 2a or formed integral therewith and is a three-layer structure. The antenna 120 comprises a patch-shaped conductor 121, a base plate 122 and a dielectric layer 123. The dielectric layer 123 is made of Teflon or the like and sandwiched between the conductor 121 and the base plate 122. (Alternatively, the layer 123 may be made of the same material as the band section 2a.) The patch-shaped conductor 121 and the base plate 122 are connected together by a conductor strip 124 which passes through the dielectric layer 123. The conductor 121 extends parallel to the axis of the band section 2a and has an overall length a (.ltoreq..lambda./4.sqroot..epsilon.). Power is supplied to the patch-shaped conductor 121 at a point 125 which is displaced a little from the center of the conductor 121 toward the main body (not shown) of a watch-shaped radio apparatus incorporating the patch antenna 120. The antenna 120 further comprises a conductor strip 128 which is formed integral with the patch-shaped conductor 121. The conductor strip 128 is aligned at one end with the power-supply point 125, and its other end portion serves as a connecting terminal 127.

As shown in FIG. 33C, the patch-shaped conductor 121, the conductor strip 128, the connecting terminal 127, and a connecting terminal 126 are provided in the same plane. The connecting terminal 126 connects the base plate 102 to the radio circuit section (not shown) provided in the main body. As shown in FIG. 33B, the base plate 122 is located below the conductor 121. As shown in FIG. 33D, the base plate 122 has a projection 129, which is connected to the connecting terminal 126. The patch antenna 120 has only two conductive layers (i.e., patch-shaped conductor 121 and base plate 122) and only one insulating layer (i.e., dielectric layer 123) interposed between the conductor layers. The patch antenna 121 is no doubt more simple in structure than the eighth embodiment. The antenna 120 can therefore be thinner and be manufactured at lower cost.

Portable Radio Apparatuses

Portable radio apparatuses incorporating any one of the patch antennas described above will be described below.

1. Watch-Shaped, FM Stereophonic Radio/FM Teletext Receiver

A watch-shaped, FM stereophonic radio/FM teletext receiver whose receiving antenna is a patch antenna 140 of this invention will be described, with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 34.

As may be understood from FIG. 34, the radio-wave signal the patch antenna 140 has received is supplied via a band-pass filter 141 to an FM font end 142. Controlled by a control circuit 155, the FM front end 142 generates intermediate-frequency (IF) waves. The IF waves are superposed with the radio-wave signal of a desired channel, forming an IF signal. The IF signal is supplied via an IF transformer 143 to an IF amplifier 144. The IF amplifier 144 amplifies the IF signal, which is supplied through a band-pass filter 145 and an FM detector 146 to a stereophonic demodulator 147 and also to a band-pass filter 149. The demodulator 147 demodulates the amplified IF signal into a left (L) audio signal and a right (R) audio signal. The L-audio signal and the R-audio signal are supplied to an audio-frequency (AF) amplifier 148. The AF amplifier 148 amplifies both audio signals, which are supplied to two speakers SP(L) and SP(R), respectively. The speakers SP(L) and SP(R) generates sounds.

In the meantime, the FM mixed signal supplied from the FM detector 146 is supplied to the band-pass filter 149, which extracts a subcarrier multiplex signal. The multiplex signal is supplied to an MSK demodulator 150. The MSK demodulator 150 demodulates the multiplex signal, obtaining text data. The teletext data is supplied via the low-pass filter 151 to a decoder 152 and also to a clock reproducer 153. The decoder 152 decodes the text data, which is supplied to the control circuit 150. The clock reproducer 153 generates a reference clock signal from the teletext data. The reference clock signal is input to a synchronization circuit 154. The circuit 154 generates a sync clock signal, which is supplied to the control circuit 150.

Meanwhile, the control circuit 150 has received from an input section 156 various instructions, including the operating mode selected, instructions for the wave-receiving function and instructions for the watch function. In accordance with these instructions the control circuit 150 supplies data representing the selected channel to the FM front end 142 and controls a memory 157, an error corrector 158 and a display controller 160. The memory 157 stores the text data under the control of the control circuit 155. The error corrector 158 corrects errors, if any, in the text data stored in the memory 157. The text data is supplied from the memory 157 to a character generator 159. The character generator 159 generates character data from the text data. The character data is supplied via the display controller 160 to a liquid crystal display 161. The display 161 displays the character data under the control of the control circuit 155.

2. Watch-Shaped, FM Wireless Microphone/FM Character Code Transmitter

A watch-shaped, FM wireless microphone/FM character code transmitter whose transmitting antenna is a patch antenna 186 according to the present invention will be described, with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 35.

As shown in FIG. 35, the audio signal detected by a microphone 170 is amplified by a low-frequency amplifier 171. The signal amplified is supplied to a signal selector 172. In the meantime, text data is supplied from an input section 173 to a control section 174 and hence is stored into a memory 175. The text data is transferred to a display data register 176 under the control of the control circuit 174. The text data is then supplied to a character generator 177. The generator 177 generates character data from the text data. The character data is supplied to a display controller 178, which controls a liquid crystal display 179. Controlled by the controller 178, the display 179 displays the character data.

Meanwhile, the text data input from the input section 173 and stored into the memory 175 is supplied to a parallel-to-serial converter 180. The converter 180 converts the text data to serial data, which is modulated by an FSK modulator 181. The text data thus modulated is supplied the signal selector 172. Controlled by the control section 174, the selector 172 selects the audio signal or the text data. The data selected is supplied to an FM modulator 182, in a predetermined format. The FM modulator 182 modulates the input data with the subcarrier generated by an oscillator 183, thus generating radio waves. The radio waves are multiplied by a multiplier 184 and amplified by a power amplifier 185. The radio waves are then radiated from the patch antenna 186.

3. Watch-Shaped Mobile Telephone

A watch-shaped mobile telephone whose receiving/transmitting antenna is a patch antenna 190 according to the present invention will be described, with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 36.

As illustrated in FIG. 36, the signal the antenna 190 has received is supplied through an RF (radio-frequency) switch 191 to an RF converter 192. The RF converter 192 mixes the signal with a local signal of a prescribed frequency output by a PLL synthesizer (not shown), thereby generating an IF signal of 1.9 to 1 MHz. The IF signal is supplied to the demodulator 193a of a modem 193. The demodulator 193a demodulates the IF signal, producing a stream of IQ data items. The IQ data stream is supplied to a TDMA link controller 194. The receiving section of the link controller 194 extracts one slot of data from the IQ data stream at a predetermined time. Further, the receiving section extracts a unique word (i.e., a sync signal) from the data slot, thereby generating a frame sync signal. The receiving section also descrambles the control data and audio data contained in the data slot. The descrambled control data is supplied to an audio codec 195. In the audio codec 195, the AD-PCM decoder 195a expands the AD-PCM audio signal (4 bit.times.8 KHz=32 Kbps) supplied from the TDMA link controller 194, into a PCM audio signal (8 bits.times.8 MHz=64 Kbps). Also in the audio code 195, the audio interface 195b converts the PCM audio signal to an analog audio signal. The analog audio signal is supplied to a speaker SP, which generates sound.

On the other hand, the audio signal input from a microphone MIC is supplied to the audio interface 195b of the audio codec 195. The audio interface 195b converts the audio signal to a digital audio signal, which is supplied to the AD-PCM decoder 195a. The decoder 195a compresses the digital audio signal, forming ADPCM audio data. The ADPCM data is supplied to the TDMA link controller 194. The transmitting section of the TDMA link controller 194 adds control data and the like to the audio data supplied from the audio codec 195, then scrambles the audio data and finally adds a unique word to the scrambled audio data, thereby providing a one-slot data to be transmitted. The one-slot data is supplied to the modem 193. In the modem 193, the modulator 193b generates IQ data from the data supplied from the TDMA link controller 194 and performs .lambda./4 shift QPSK modulation on the IQ data. The IQ data thus modulated is supplied to the RF converter 192. The transmitting section of the RF converter 192 mixes the IQ data with the local signal output by the PLL synthesizer (not shown), thereby generating an IF signal of 1.9 to 1 MHz. The IF signal is supplied via the RF switch 190 to the patch antenna 190. The patch antenna 190 radiates radio waves of 1.9 to 1 MHz.

The RF switch 191, TDMA channel link controller 192, audio codec 195 and the like, all described above, are controlled by a control circuit 196. Connected to the control circuit 196 are a display controller 197, an ID memory 199 and an input section 200. The control circuit 196 supplies display data to the display controller 197, whereby a liquid crystal display 198 displays the data. The ID memory 199 stores ID data identifying the authorized user of the watch-shaped mobile telephone. The input section 200 comprises numeral keys, an on/off hook switch, a volume switch and the like. When these keys and switches are operated, data is generated. The data thus generated is supplied to the control circuit 196.

As described above, the patch antennas according to the present invention can be used in combination with watch-shaped radio apparatuses, such as a watch-shaped, FM stereophonic radio/FM teletext receiver, a watch-shaped, FM wireless microphone/FM character code transmitter and a watch-shaped mobile telephone whose receiving/transmitting antenna.