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`as) United States
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`a2) Patent Application Publication 10) Pub. No.: US 2007/0095913 Al
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`(43) Pub. Date: May3, 2007
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`Takahashiet al.
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`US 20070095913A1
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`(54) ANTENNA MODULE AND PORTABLE
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`COMMUNICATION TERMINAL EQUIPPED
`WITH THE ANTENNA MODULE
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`10/559,325
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`Jun. 4, 2004
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`PCT/JP04/08172
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`(76)
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`Inventors:
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`(30)
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`Jun. 6, 2003
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`to achieve overall size reduction of the module.
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`Isao Takahashi, Miyagi (JP); Hiraku
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`Akiho, Miyagi (JP)
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`Correspondence Address:
`SONNENSCHEIN NATH & ROSENTHAL LLP
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`P.O. BOX 061080
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`WACKERDRIVE STATION, SEARS TOWER
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`CHICAGO,IL 60606-1080 (US)
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`(21) Appl. No.:
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`(22) PCT Filed:
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`(86) PCT No.:
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`§ 371(€)(),
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`(2), (4) Date: Dee. 2, 2005
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`Foreign Application Priority Data
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`(IP) veeeeessesssessscseeneeneees 2002-163055
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`Publication Classification
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`(51)
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`Int. CL
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`(2006.01)
`G06K 7/08
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`(2006.01)
`G06K 19/06
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`(52) U.S. C1.
`cecccsccssessssessseesterssenseseees 235/451; 235/492
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`(57)
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`ABSTRACT
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`An antenna module and a portable communication terminal
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`equipped with the antenna module are provided. The
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`antenna module has a space-saving design, and also has both
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`a capability for long communication distance for a tag
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`function and a capability for wide communication range for
`a reader/writer function.
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`A first antenna coil (11) for communication with a reader/
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`writer and a second antenna coil (12) for communication
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`with an IC tag are disposed on a base substrate (10). Thefirst
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`antenna coil (11) is disposed in an outermost periphery
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`section of the base substrate (10) so that a communication
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`distance is attained. The second antenna coil (12) is disposed
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`within an inner periphery ofthe first antenna coil (11) so as
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`Patent Application Publication May 3, 2007 Sheet 1 of 10
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`10a
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`Fig. 1
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`Patent Application Publication May 3, 2007 Sheet 2 of 10
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`Patent Application Publication May 3, 2007 Sheet 3 of 10
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`US 2007/0095913 Al
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`Patent Application Publication May 3, 2007 Sheet 4 of 10
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`US 2007/0095913 Al
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`Patent Application
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`May 3, 2007 Sheet 5 of 10
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`US 2007/0095913 Al
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`12b ~~
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`Fig.9
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`Patent Application Publication May 3, 2007 Sheet 7 of 10
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`US 2007/0095913 Al
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`Patent Application Publication May 3, 2007 Sheet 8 of 10
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`US 2007/0095913 Al
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`11
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`Patent Application Publication May 3, 2007 Sheet 9 of 10
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`US 2007/0095913 Al
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`Patent Application Publication May 3, 2007 Sheet 10 of 10
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`US 2007/0095913 Al
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`US 2007/0095913 Al
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`May3, 2007
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`ANTENNA MODULE AND PORTABLE
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`COMMUNICATION TERMINAL EQUIPPED WITH
`THE ANTENNA MODULE
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`TECHNICAL FIELD
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`[0001] The present invention relates to an antenna module
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`used for an RFID (radio frequency identification) system,
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`and to a portable communication terminal equipped with
`such an antenna module.
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`[0009] Generally, an important capability for an IC tag is
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`communication distance, whereas an important capability
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`for a reader/writer is communication range rather than
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`communication distance. The communication property of an
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`antenna module required for a tag function differs from the
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`communication property of an antenna module required for
`a reader/writer function. Since these antenna modules
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`require different antenna configurations,
`it is substantially
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`impossible to satisfy the two functions with a single antenna
`coil.
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`[0010] Patent Document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent
`BACKGROUND ART
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`Application Publication No. 8-194785) discloses a technol-
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`ogy related with an improved reader/writer antenna coil for
`[0002] Conventionally,
`in RFID technology typically
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`increasing the communication distance between an IC card
`known for a contact-free IC card system, an antenna coilis
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`and a reader/writer. Patent Document 2 (Japanese Unexam-
`built in an identification IC tag, such as an IC card, and
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`ined Patent Application Publication No. 11-66260) discloses
`forms inductive coupling with an electric wave released
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`an IC card equipped with an antenna coil having an
`from a transmitter-receiver antenna of a reader/writer, such
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`improved data transmitting efficiency. Patent Document 3
`that data communication is performed.
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`(Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
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`[0003] Currently, a mode for performing data communi-
`2002-15288) discloses a reader/writer that
`is capable of
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`cation between an IC tag and a reader/writeris applied to, for
`performing multi-communication with a plurality of differ-
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`example, making payments for train fares using an IC card.
`ent transponders (IC tags). Furthermore, Patent Document4
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`In such an example, when checking the usage of an IC card,
`(Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
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`a ticket-vending machineset in a train station or a specific
`2002-325013) discloses an antenna module that prevents the
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`viewer for reading data in the IC card is necessary. More-
`communication properties from deteriorating, which may be
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`over, in order to bill the IC card, the IC card must be billed
`caused by mutual interference with an attaching object.
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`(by cyber billing) on the Internet via, for example, a ticket-
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`[0011] On the other hand,in the field of electronic devices
`vending machine in a train station or a personal computer
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`typically known for portable communication terminals, a
`equipped with a reader/writer.
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`lightweight, thin, compact structure is in great demand. This
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`Such a mode for performing data communication
`[0004]
`is achieved by, for example, size reduction, high-density
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`between an IC tag and a reader/writer is expected to become
`packaging, and high integration of electronic components.
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`more diversified in years to come. For example, in order to
`Consequently, there is substantially no free space remaining
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`further increase the level of convenience, portable commu-
`for an addition of a new module for adding a new function.
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`nication terminals, such as mobile phones and PDAs(per-
`For this reason,
`incorporating the two above-mentioned
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`sonal digital assistants), will assumably be equipped with a
`types of antenna modules and a signal processing circuit
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`tag function and a reader/writer function.
`thereof (RFID circuit) into the portable communication
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`terminal automatically leads to a large dimension of the
`[0005] For example, by providing a mobile phone with a
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`terminal body.
`tag function, the mobile phone can be usedto paytrain fares
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`by holding the phone up againsttheticket gate. Furthermore,
`is possible to inhibit the
`it
`[0012] On the other hand,
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`cyber billing can be achieved by using the communication
`terminal body from becoming large in size by reducing the
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`function of the mobile phone. In addition, the outstanding
`dimension of each antenna module. In that case, however,
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`balance in the tag included in the terminal can be checked by
`the communication properties are inevitably subject to dete-
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`using the display function of the mobile phone.
`rioration. This is due to the fact that each antenna requires
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`a certain surface area or more in order to satisfy the desired
`[0006] Furthermore, by providing a mobile phone with a
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`communication properties (communication distance, com-
`reader/writer function, the mobile phone can function alter-
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`munication range, etc.).
`natively as a ticket-vending machineinatrain station. For
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`example, this allows for checking of information related
`In view of the circumstances described above,it is
`[0013]
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`with the outstanding balance of other IC tags (IC cards), and
`an object of the present invention to provide an antenna
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`also enables cyberbilling.
`module that achieves a space-saving design as well as
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`having both a capability for long communication distance
`for
`if a mobile phone,
`[0007] As described above,
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`for a tag function and a capability for wide communication
`example, is equipped with both a tag function and a reader/
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`range for a reader/writer function, and to provide a portable
`writer function, a terminal body must carry designated
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`communication terminal equipped with such an antenna
`antenna modules respectively for the tag function and the
`module.
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`reader/writer function.
`In other words, when using the
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`mobile phone as a tag, an antenna module used for com-
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`munication with an external reader/writeris required. On the
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`other hand, when using the mobile phoneas a reader/writer,
`an antenna module used for communication with an external
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`IC tag (IC card) is required.
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`[0008]
`Specifically, in recent RFID systems that operate at
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`a frequency of 13.56 MHz, a proper operating environment
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`is required. For example, with regard to communication
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`properties, a longer communication distance is desired, or if
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`the reader/writer and the IC tag are opposed to each other,
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`a wide planar communication range is desired.
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`DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
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`[0014]
`Inorder to achieve the above-mentioned object, the
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`present
`invention provides an antenna module which
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`includes a commonsubstrate; a first antenna coil disposed
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`on the common substrate and provided for communication
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`with a reader/writer; and a second antenna coil disposed on
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`the common substrate and provided for communication with
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`an IC tag. Accordingly, a space-saving antenna module
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`having both a long communication distance required for a
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`tag function and a wide communication range required for a
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`reader/writer function is provided.
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`Page 12 of 19
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`Page 12 of 19
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`

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`US 2007/0095913 Al
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`May3, 2007
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`[0024] FIGS. 4A and 4B are enlarged cross-sectional
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`views illustrating examples of a positional relationship
`betweenthe first antenna coil 11 and the second antennacoil
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`12 of the antenna module 1.
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`[0025] FIGS. 5A to 5C are enlarged cross-sectional views
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`illustrating examples of a positional relationship between the
`first antenna coil 11 and the second antenna coil 12 of the
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`antenna module 1.
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`[0026]
`FIG.6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a unit-
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`ized state in which a magnetic sheet 18 and a metallic plate
`19 are bonded to the antenna module 1.
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`[0027]
`FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the
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`structure and one operational example of a portable com-
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`munication terminal 20 containing the antenna module 1.
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`[0028]
`FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating the
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`structure and another operational example of the portable
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`communication terminal 20 containing the antenna module
`1.
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`In order to further contribute to a space-saving
`[0015]
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`design of the antenna module, each of the first and second
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`antenna coils is preferably an air core coil (loop coil) wound
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`in a spiral manner within a plane of the substrate, and one
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`of antenna coils is preferably disposed within an inner
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`periphery of the other antenna coil. Thus,
`the antenna
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`module can be given the same dimension as the occupied
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`area bythefirst antenna coil requiring a long communication
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`distance and provided for communication with the reader/
`writer.
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`invention provides
`the present
`[0016] Furthermore,
`another antenna module which includes a common sub-
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`strate; a first antenna coil disposed on the commonsubstrate
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`and provided for communication with a reader/writer; a
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`second antenna coil disposed on the common substrate and
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`provided for communication with an IC tag; and a signal
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`processing circuit disposed on the common substrate and
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`including an IC storage medium storing data to be trans-
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`mitted via the first and second antenna coils. According to
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`this structure, the space-saving design of the antenna module
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`is further improved.
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`FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating a modification
`[0029]
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`In order to further contribute to the space-saving
`[0017]
`example of a second antennacoil 12A of the antenna module
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`1.
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`design of the antenna module, each of the first and second
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`antenna coils is preferably an air core coil woundinaspiral
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`[0030]
`FIG. 10 is a plan view of an antenna module 2
`manner within a plane of the substrate. Moreover, one of
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`according to a second embodimentofthe present invention.
`antenna coils is preferably disposed within an inner periph-
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`ery of the other antenna coil, and the signal processing
`[0031]
`FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line
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`circuit is preferably disposed within the inner periphery of
`[11]-[11] in FIG. 10.
`the other antennacoil.
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`[0032] FIGS. 12A and 12Bare cross-sectional viewsillus-
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`[0018] Furthermore, the present invention provides a por-
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`trating bonding examples of the magnetic sheet 18 with
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`table communication terminal having a function for data
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`respect to the antenna module 2.
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`communication via communication network. The portable
`communication terminal includes an antenna module includ-
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`[0033] FIGS. 13A and 13B are cross-sectional viewsillus-
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`ing a common substrate on which a first antenna coil for
`trating bonding examples of the magnetic sheet 18 and the
`communication with a reader/writer and a second antenna
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`metallic plate 19 with respect to the antenna module 2.
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`coil for communication with an IC tag are disposed; and an
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`[0034]
`FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a
`IC storage medium storing data to be transmitted viathefirst
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`and second antenna coils.
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`modification example of the configuration shown in FIG.
`13B.
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`[0019] Accordingly, a portable communication terminal
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`having both a tag function and a reader/writer function is
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`achieved. For example, the tag function of the terminal can
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`be used for paying train fares, and the reader/writer function
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`of the terminal can be used to check information, such as the
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`outstanding balance in the IC tag.
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`[0020] Furthermore, since the first antenna coil for com-
`munication with a reader-writer and the second antenna coil
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`for communication with an IC tag are included in a single
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`antenna module, a space-saving design of the antenna mod-
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`ule is achieved, thereby preventing the terminal body from
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`having a large size.
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`FIG. 15 is a plan view illustrating a modification
`[0035]
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`example of the base substrate 10 of the antenna module 2.
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`[0036]
`FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view illustrating
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`another modification example of the configuration shown in
`FIG. 13B.
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`FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view illustrating
`[0037]
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`another modification example of the configuration shown in
`FIG. 13B.
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`FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view illustrating
`[0038]
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`another modification example of the configuration shown in
`FIG. 13B.
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`BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE
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`INVENTION
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`[0039] Embodiments of the present invention will now be
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`described with reference to the drawings.
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`First Embodiment
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`[0040] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an antenna module 1
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`according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`[0021] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an antenna module 1
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`according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
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`[0022] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line
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`[2}{2] in FIG. 1.
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`[0023] FIGS. 3A and 3B are enlarged cross-sectional
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`views illustrating examples of a positional relationship
`betweena first antenna coil 11 and a second antenna coil 12
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`of the antenna module 1.
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`Page 13 of 19
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`Page 13 of 19
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`

`

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`US 2007/0095913 Al
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`May3, 2007
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`disposed aroundthe outer periphery of thefirst antenna coil
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`11 (see FIG. 4B) if the desired communication performance
`is different.
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`[0050] The antenna configuration of the first antenna coil
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`11 and the second antenna coil 12 may be set in accordance
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`with the desired communication performance, and may take
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`other shapes, such as a circular shape, instead of the rect-
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`angular shape shown in the drawing. Furthermore, although
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`each of the antenna coils 11, 12 is wound twice in the
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`drawings, the number of windings maybeset in accordance
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`with the specification.
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`[0051] The first antenna coil 11 and the second antenna
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`coil 12 are separated from each other by a distance that
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`prevents the two from being magnetically coupled to each
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`other. In other words, the distance is set to an extent that the
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`two antennacoils are prevented from disturbing each other’s
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`communication properties.
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`[0052]
`FIG. 9 illustrates a modification example of the
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`second antenna coil 12. In the drawing, a second antenna
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`coil 12A indicated by a dashedline is disposed on the bottom
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`surface (underside of the drawing) of the base substrate 10.
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`[0053] The second antenna coil 12A shownin the drawing
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`has a structure in which coil portions on opposite sides of the
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`central region of the second antenna coil 12A are asym-
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`metrical to each other. With respect to one direction, the
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`windings in one coil portion are arranged at a pitch that is
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`different from that of the windings in the other coil portion,
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`and moreover, the windings in the one coil portion have a
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`line width that is different from that of the windings in the
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`other coil portion.
`In other words, with respect
`to one
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`direction (i.e. the horizontal direction in FIG. 9), the second
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`antenna coil 12 has a right portion 12a in which the pitch and
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`the line width of the windings are narrow, anda left portion
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`126 in whichthepitch andthe line width of the windings are
`wide.
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`Specifically, FIG. 1 is a plan view of the antenna module 1,
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`and FIG.2 is a cross-sectional view taken alongline [2]-[2]
`in FIG.1.
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`[0041] The antenna module 1 according to the first
`embodiment includes a commonbasesubstrate 10 on which
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`a first antenna coil 11 for communication with a reader/
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`writer and a second antenna coil 12 for communication with
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`an IC tag are disposed.
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`[0042] The second antenna coil 12 indicated by a dashed
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`line in the drawing is disposed on the bottom surface
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`(underside of the drawing) of the base substrate 10. This will
`be described in detail below.
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`[0043] The base substrate 10 is composedofan insulating
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`material. The base substrate 10 may be formed of a material
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`having rigidity (self-supporting capability), such as a glass
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`epoxy substrate, or may be formed of a flexible material,
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`such as polyimide, PET, and PEN.
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`[0044] The base substrate 10 includes a coil holding
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`section 10a having a large surface area in which thefirst
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`antenna coil 11 and the second antenna coil 12 are disposed;
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`and a connecting section 106 having a small surface area in
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`which an external-terminal connecting portion 15 electri-
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`cally connected to ends of the first and second antenna coils
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`11, 12 is disposed. The external-terminal connecting portion
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`15 is connected to a terminal of an IC chip, not shown,or to
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`a terminal on a printed circuit board having an IC chip
`mounted thereon.
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`[0045]
`In FIG. 1, reference numeral 16 indicates through
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`holes for electrically connecting the top and bottom surfaces
`of the base substrate 10. The first and second antennacoils
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`11, 12 are connected to predetermined positions in the
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`external-terminal connecting portion 15 via the through
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`holes 16. The top and bottom surfaces of the base substrate
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`10 are each provided with an over-coating member 14
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`composed of an insulating material.
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`[0046] The first antenna coil 11 and the second antenna
`[0054]
`In this case, the magnetic distribution by the sec-
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`coil 12 are composed of a conductive material, which may
`ond antenna coil 12A is different from a symmetrical mag-
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`be a thin metal film of, for example, aluminum or copper, or
`netic distribution by the first antenna coil 11 in which the
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`a printed body of a conductive paste. The width and the
`pitch andthe line width of the windings are symmetrical. In
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`length of each antenna coil and the film thickness or the
`detail, the magnetic distribution by the second antenna coil
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`coating thickness for each antenna coil are set in accordance
`12A is asymmetrical such that the magnetic distribution is
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`with the desired communication performance.
`emphasizedin the left portion 126 in which the pitch and the
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`line width of the windings are wide.
`[0047] Each ofthefirst and second antennacoils 11, 12 is
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`aan air core coil (loop coil) woundin a spiral manner within
`[0055] Accordingly, by giving the second antenna coil
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`a plane of the base substrate 10. Although the positional
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`12Athe structure shownin the drawing, the communication
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`relationship betweenthefirst antenna coil 11 and the second
`range with an IC tag (IC card) can be made larger, and
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`antenna coil 12 is not specifically limited,
`the second
`moreover, the communicable position can be shifted in one
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`antenna coil 12 is disposed within the inner periphery of the
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`direction. Furthermore, since the second antenna coil 12A
`first antenna coil 11 in the first embodiment.
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`can be made smaller in size than the antenna coil on the IC
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`tag side, the communication performance is prevented from
`[0048] According to this configuration, a large area can be
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`deterioration even if the second antenna coil 12A is disposed
`attained for the first antenna coil 11, thereby improving a tag
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`within the inner periphery ofthe first antenna coil 11.
`function generally requiring a sufficient communication
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`distance. Furthermore, since the antenna module 1 is given
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`[0056]
`Thefirst antenna coil 11 is disposed on a side of a
`a dimension that is substantially equal to the occupied area
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`communication surface CS of the antenna module1(i.e. the
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`by the first antenna coil 11, the antenna module 1 can be
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`top surface of the base substrate 10), whereas the second
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`made smaller in size in comparison to a case wherethe first
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`antenna coil 12 is disposed on the opposite side (i.e. the
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`and second antenna coils 11, 12 are arranged in parallel.
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`bottom surface of the base substrate 10) of the communi-
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`[0049] Although the first antenna coil 11 is disposed
`cation surface CS of the antenna module 1 (FIG. 2, FIG.
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`aroundthe outer periphery of the second antennacoil 12 (see
`3A). Accordingly, this improvesthe tag function requiring a
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`sufficient communication distance.
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`FIG. 3A), the second antenna coil 12 may alternatively be
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`Page 14 of 19
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`Page 14 of 19
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`

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`US 2007/0095913 Al
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`May3, 2007
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`[0057] Alternatively, if the desired communication perfor-
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`manceis different (for example, if a certain communication
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`distance or more is also required for the reader/writer
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`function), the second antenna coil 12 may be disposed on the
`side of the communication surface CS of the antenna module
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`1 (FIG.3B, FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B). In that case, the first antenna
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`coil 11 may be disposed on the opposite side of the com-
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`munication surface CS of the antenna module 1 (FIG. 3B),
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`or may be disposed onthe side of the communication surface
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`CS of the antenna module 1 together with the second
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`antenna coil 12 (FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B).
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`the positional
`[0058] As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B,
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`relationship between the antenna coils 11, 12 is flexible.
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`Whetherthe antenna coils 11, 12 are positioned on the outer
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`periphery side or the inner periphery side is determined
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`based on the desired communication performance.
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`[0059] Furthermore,
`the first antenna coil 11 and the
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`second antenna coil 12 disposed on the opposite surfaces of
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`the base substrate 10 must not overlap each other in order to
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`prevent the two from being magnetically coupled to each
`other.
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`[0060] On the other hand, the first antenna coil 11 and/or
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`the second antenna coil 12 disposed on the base substrate 10
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`is/are not limited to one type. In other words, multiple types
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`of first and second antenna coils 11, 12 may be provided so
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`as to communicable with IC tags or reader/writers of mul-
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`tiple types having different communication specifications by
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`using the same antenna module 1.
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`[0061] For example, FIG. 5A illustrates an example in
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`which a total of two types of first antenna coils 11 are
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`respectively disposed in the outer periphery section and the
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