METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ATTACHED-TYPE PATCH ANTENNA FOR MOBILE
TERMINAL AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ATTACHED-TYPE ANTENNA FOR
MOBILE TERMINAL USING THE FORMER METHOD
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing
10 an attached-type patch antenna for a mobile terminal and a
method of manufacturing an attached-type antenna for a mobile
terminal using the former method. More particularly, the
present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an
attached-type patch antenna for a mobile terminal and a method
15 of manufacturing an attached-type antenna for a mobile terminal
using the former method, in which the patch antenna is formed
such that a loop-shaped wire to serve as antenna is attached to
a Ferrite sheet rather than to a casing of a mobile terminal so
that the Ferrite sheet can be attached to an inside surface of
20 a casing of a mobile terminal, the methods having the advantage
of increasing manufacturing productivity of antennas while
maintaining the quality of antennas, and producing patch
antennas and antennas that can be applied to all types of
casings for mobile terminals.
Description of the Related Art
As well known, wireless communication devices such as a
mobile communication handset, a PCS terminal, a PDA, a smart,
phone, and a next-generation mobile communication handset are
mobile terminals that can transmit and receive data such as
5 sound, characters, and images through wireless communication.
Nowadays, wireless communication devices are equipped with
a Near Field Communication (NFC) function for . electronic
payment. Since the NFC function uses a frequency of, for
example, 13.56 MHz, an antenna for the NFC function is
10 inevitably long. For this reason, despite the long length, the
antenna needs to be accommodated inside a device for the
purpose of being waterproof.
In addition, EM1 shielding to reduce electromagnetic
interference with a metallic material such as a battery is
15 achieved by using a Ferrite sheet. Korean Patent Application
Publication No. 2003-0035265 discloses a built-in contactlesstype
electronic card having such an EM1 shielding structure.
Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2003-0035265 relates
to a built-in contactless-type electronic card which is
20 structured such that a Ferrite core to eliminate interference
or jamming of electromagnetic waves or magnetic fields is
attached to an object and which is built in a mobile terminal
or mobile item containing an interference material therein
which interferes with electromagnetic waves or magnetic fields.
25 The electronic card will be briefly described with
reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically
illustrating the overall structure of a contactless-type RF
card according to a conventional art, and FIG. 2 is a view
illustrating a manner that the built-in contactless-type
5 electronic card according to the convention art, Korean Patent
Application Publication No. 2003-0035265, is used.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a contactless-type RF card 1
with a built-in chip is used as a security key that controls
entrance through a door or gate, or a micropayment means for
10 paying subway or bus fares. In the electronic card, a looptype
antenna and a wireless electronic chip are built. A card
reader 2 installed at a specific place communicates with the
electronic chip via the antenna to read information of an
identifier recorded in the electronic chip and transmits the
15 read information along with the amount of a charge for
purchased goods or service to a banking server 4 or a security
system via a communication means 3. That is, the user of the
micropayment RF card 1 is given a service or goods in advance
without immediate payment, then information about the amount of
20 a charge for the service or goods that the user received and
information about a unique identifier recorded in the
electronic chip are sent immediately or later to the banking
server 4, and finally the user pays a bill later, on a
predetermined payment date, i. e. , a predetermined period of
25 time after the user received the service or goods. When the RF
card 1 as a prepaid card is used to pay the fare of a public
transportation, the RF card 1 communicates with a card reader 2
to settle the fare, then a new balance after the settlement is
recorded in the RF card 1. The user of the RF card 1 can
5 increase the balance of the RF card 1 by prepaying a
predetermined amount of money in a specific station where a
charging apparatus for charging the RF card 1 with money is
installed.
The conventional contactless-type RF card 1 has a problem
10 that the user has to carry the RF card 1 at all times, thereby
being at risk of losing the card, and the user has to visit a
charging station to increase the balance of the RF card 1.
Currently, the contactless-type RF card as a security key or a
micropayment card which is not in contact with a card reader
15 when used is shielded from electromagnetic waves or magnetic
field and protected from an interference material.
Accordingly, the electronic chip built in the contactless-type
RE card is not likely to be damaged and there is no loss in
electric energy to be transferred to the electronic chip.
20 In addition, a built-in contactless-type electronic card
20 illustrated in FIG. 2 is generally built in a predetermined
position within a mobile terminal 10 such as a mobile phone, a
PDA, or an IMT-2000 terminal, and more specifically in a
position inside the front surface of the mobile terminal 10 or
25 in a position within a battery attached to the back surface of
the mobile terminal 10. For example, the built-in contactlesstype
electronic card 20 is embedded between the inside surface
of a non-metallic material which forms an outer shell of the
mobile terminal 10 and a metallic material or device disposed
5 at a more inner side, i.e. between the inside surface a nonmetallic
material which forms an outer shell of the mobile
terminal 10 and an EM1 shielding device or EM1 shielding
material which is coated. The electronic card 20 includes a
loop antenna which can communicate with a card reader 2
10 installed in a subway station or in a bus, an electronic chip
23 in which information of an identifier is stored and which
transmits the information of the identifier in response to a
request from the card reader 2, and a Ferrite core 22 made from
an oxide of Fe204 and a specific material (manganese (Mn) or
15 zinc (Zn)). The Ferrite core 22 eliminates .or prevents
interference or jamming of electromagnetic waves or magnetic
field when information within the card is read in response to
the request from the card reader 2. The electronic card 20 can
be built in an electronic scheduler, an electronic notebook, an
20 electronic handbook, or a wrist watch, for use.
The electronic card 20 is installed in a predetermined
position within a mobile terminal 10. The electronic card 20
is structured such that a coating 21 is disposed on the back
surface of a card, the Ferrite core 22 which eliminates or
25 prevents interference or jamming of electromagnetic waves or
magnetic field when the electronic card 20 is read is disposed
on the coating 21, and the loop antenna and the electronic chip
23 are disposed on the Ferrite core 22. An adhesive layer 24
can be applied to the upper surface of the loop antenna and the
5 electronic chip, as necessary. In the mobile terminal 10, the
electronic card 20 is embedded between the inside surface of a
non-metallic material which forms an outer shell of the mobile
terminal and a metallic material or device disposed at a more
inner side, i.e., between the inside surface of a non-metallic
10 material which forms an outer shell of the mobile terminal and
an EM1 shielding device or an EM1 shielding material which is
coated.
An example of a use state of the electronic card 20, i.e.,
an example where the electronic card 20 is embedded inside a
15 battery to be attached to the back surface of the mobile
terminal will be described with reference to FIG. 2. The
electronic card 20 is embedded in a predetermined position
inside the battery which supplies power to the mobile terminal
10. When a user of the electronic card 20 touches the mobile
20 terminal 10 in which the electronic card 20 is built to a card
reader 2 installed in a subway station or a bus in order to pay
the faire of a public transportation, the card reader 2
transmits a signal of a specific frequency of 13.56 MHz through
a wireless communication network. The electronic card 20
25 generates electric energy via the loop antenna which is
provided to communicate with the card reader 2, obtains the
information of the identifier of the user which is stored in
the electronic chip 23 connected to the loop antenna, and
transmits the information of the identifier of the .user, who
5 signed up for a given service in advance, in response to a
request from the card reader 2.
The card reader 2 charges the user for. the provided
service through communication with the electronic chip 23 which
is built in the electronic card 20, based on the information of
10 the identifier of the user, and transmits, immediately or
later, the information about the amount of the charge and the
information about the identifier to the banking server 4 or a
recording medium. Then, a banking institute managing the
server 4 sends a bill to the user several days after the use of
15 the electronic card, and the user pays the bill on a
predetermined payment date.
However, the antenna according to the conventional art has
the problems of high manufacturing cost and negative impact on
the environment because it is formed in a printed manner.
20 That is, an antenna for a wireless communication terminal
according to a conventional art includes a base which
constitutes the body of the antenna, and an antenna pattern
formed in the base. The antenna pattern is connected to the
PCB of the wireless communication terminal using a soldering
25 method so that the wireless communication terminal can receive
a signal via the antenna.
The antenna for a mobile terminal according to the
conventional art has problems of complexity of manufacturing
process steps, low productivity, and high production cost
5 because a printed pattern for the antenna is formed through
many process steps including, for example, a step of forming a
metal layer and a step of etching the meal layer.
Furthermore, since the mobile terminal needs to secure an
installation space for the antenna, the size of the mobile
10 terminal increases. In order to solve these problems, an
antenna for a mobile terminal is disclosed in Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2009-0088428.
The antenna for a mobile terminal disclosed in Korean
Patent Application No. 10-2009-0088428 includes a fixed portion
15 formed inside a casing of a mobile terminal, a wire member
which is curved along the fixed portion and is fixed to the
fixed portion, and a ground member to which an end of the wire
member is connected so that the wire member can be connected to
the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) of the mobile terminal. In the
20 antenna, the ground member includes a support portion which is
formed in the casing and to which the wire member is grounded,
an elastic portion which protrudes from the upper surface of
the support portion, and a ground portion which is bent by the
elastic member and is in contact with the support portion.
25 The antenna for a mobile terminal according to this
conventional art has the problems of a long manufacturing time
and a high manufacturing defect ratio because the antenna is
manually manufactured.
The foregoing is intended merely to aid in the
5 understanding of the background of the present invention, and
is not intended to mean that the present invention falls within
the purview of the related art that is already known to those
skilled in the art.
Documents of Related Art
(Patent Document 1) Korean Patent Application Publication
No. 10-2003-0035265 (May 9, 2003) titled "Built-in Contactlesstype
Electronic Card"
(Patent Document 2) Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-
15 0088428 (September 18, 2009) titled "Antenna for Mobile
Terminal"
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
20 Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping
in mind the above problems occurring in the related art, and
the present invention is intended to propose a method of
manufacturing an attached-type patch antenna for a mobile
terminal, which can automatically form a meandering pattern of
25 a wire to function as an antenna on a Ferrite sheet, without
deteriorating transmission and reception quality of a wireless
signal, thereby enabling mass production of antennas, resulting
in decreases in manufacturing cost and a manufacturing defect
ratio, and the present invention is further intended to propose
5 a method of manufacturing an attached-type antenna for a mobile
terminal using the method of manufacturing the attached-type
patch antenna.
According to a first aspect, there is provided a method of
manufacturing an attached-type patch antenna for a mobile
10 terminal, including: (a) mounting a movable jig on a jig
support board in a state where fixed pins, protruding from an
upper surface of the jig support board, are aligned with
insertion holes formed in the movable jig; (b) mounting a
Ferrite sheet, which has a first adhesive layer on a surface
15 thereof, on the movable jig; (c) forming a meandering pattern
of a wire on the first adhesive layer on the Ferrite sheet; (d)
removing the movable jig from the jig support board; and (el
applying a second adhesive layer onto the wire and the Ferrite
sheet.
20 According to a second aspect, there is provided a method
of manufacturing an attached-type patch antenna for a mobile
terminal, including: (a1) mounting a movable jig on a jig
support board in a state where fixed pins, protruding from an
upper surface of the jig support board, are aligned with
25 insertion holes formed in the movable jig; (bl) mounting a
double-sided adhesive tape, in which a second adhesive layer is
detachably attached to release paper, on the movable jig; (c' )
forming a meandering pattern of a wire on the second adhesive
layer; (dl) removing the movable jig from the jig support
5 board; and (el) reversing and attaching the second adhesive
layer, which has the meandering pattern of the wire on one
surface thereof, to a Ferrite sheet on which a first adhesive
layer is formed.
Preferably, the method may further include a step of
10 applying release paper to an upper surface of the second
adhesive layer.
Preferably, in step (b), a flexible PCB with connection
terminals may be attached to a portion of the Ferrite sheet on
which the first adhesive layer is formed; and in step (c), when
15 the meandering pattern of the wire is formed on the Ferrite
sheet, a leading end portion and a tail end portion of the wire
may extend across the connection terminals of the flexible PCB.
Preferably, a leading end portion and a tail end portion
of the wire extend over respective through holes, extend along
20 boundaries of the respective through holes, or extend across
respective electrodes disposed at edge portions of the Ferrite
sheet.
Preferably, the meandering pattern of the wire may include
one or more loop-shaped patterns, or zigzag patterns.
25 Preferably, an insulating sheet is disposed between a
horizontal portion and a vertical portion of the loop-shaped
antenna pattern, in positions at which the horizontal portion
and the vertical portion overlap each other.
Preferably, step (c) includes: (cl) causing a moving unit
5 to move an operation unit; (c2) causing a driving unit to
drive; (c3) supplying a wire from a wire supply unit through a
nozzle of a wire pulling-out nozzle unit and winding the wire
around one or more fixed pins protruding from a substrate,
according to a pattern which is recorded in a control unit;
10 (c4) moving the operation unit to a wire fixing unit in order
to fix the wire to the wire fixing unit; (c5) causing a cutting
unit to move down; (c6) causing the driving unit to drive the
operation unit so that the wire is cut by a cutting blade of
the cutting unit; (c7) causing the cutting unit to move up; and
15 (c8)causing the moving unit to retreat from the operation unit.
According to a third aspect of the invention, there is
provided an attached-type patch antenna for a mobile terminal
obtained using the method according to the first aspect or the
second aspect.
20 According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a method
of manufacturing an attached-type antenna for a mobile
terminal, which uses the method according to the first or
second aspect, includes: (g) after performing steps (a) to (e)
or steps (a') to ( e , removing the release paper, reversing
25 the patch antenna so that a surface of the Ferrite sheet, on
which the meandering pattern of the wire is provided, faces an
inside surface of a casing of a mobile terminal, and attaching
the patch antenna to the inside surface of the casing via the
second adhesive layer; and (h) connecting the electrode on the
5 patch antenna or the leading end portion of the wire to an
electrode of the casing.
Preferably, step (h) is performed using a spot welding
method.
According to a fifth aspect, there is provided a method of
10 manufacturing an attached-type antenna for a mobile terminal
using the method of manufacturing the attached-type patch
antenna for a mobile terminal, the method including: (g'),
after performing steps (a) through (e) or steps (a') through
(el) removing the release paper, reversing the patch antenna
15 so that a surface of the patch antenna on which the meandering
pattern of the wire is provided faces an inside surface of a
casing of a mobile terminal, and attaching the patch antenna to
the inside surface of the casing via the second adhesive layer;
and (h' ) connecting electrically a bump on the flexible PCB of
20 the patch antenna to an electrode of the casing.
Preferably, the bump on the flexible PCB of the antenna
path may be formed in an island shape using a soldering method,
and step (h') is performed such that the island-shaped solder
bump and the electrode of the casing are aligned with and
25 pressed against each other, and then pass through a high
temperature furnace.
According to the method of manufacturing the attached-type
patch antenna for a mobile terminal according to the invention,
it is possible to form a wire-type antenna, to be attached to
5 the inside surface of a casing of the mobile terminal and
having a meandering pattern, on a Ferrite sheet through an
automatic process, without deteriorating transmission reception
quality of a wireless signal. Accordingly, mass production of
antennas becomes possible, so that a manufacturing defect ratio
10 and manufacturing cost can be reduced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other objects, features and other advantages
15 of the present invention will be more clearly understood from
the following detailed description when taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating the overall
structure of a contactless-type RF card device according to a
20 conventional art ;
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a manner in which a
built-in contactless-type electronic card according to a
conventional are is used;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an apparatus for
25 manufacturing an antenna for a mobile terminal according to one
embodiment of the present invention;
F I G . 4 is an enlarged view illustrating a moving unit and
an operation unit of the apparatus for manufacturing an antenna
for a mobile terminal according to one embodiment of the
5 present invention;
F I G . 5 is an enlarged side view illustrating one side of
the moving unit of the apparatus for manufacturing an antenna
for a mobile terminal according to one embodiment of the
present invention;
10 F I G . 6 is an enlarged view illustrating a wire-pulling-out
nozzle unit and a wire cutting unit of the apparatus for
manufacturing an antenna for a mobile terminal according to the
embodiment of the present invention;
F I G . 7 is a flowchart describing a method of manufacturing
15 an antenna for a mobile terminal according to another
embodiment of the present invention;
F I G . 8A is a perspective view used to describe a
preparation stage for manufacturing an attached-type patch
antenna for a mobile terminal according to a first embodiment
20 of the present invention;
F I G . 8B is a cross-sectional view used to describe a
method of manufacturing an attached-type patch antenna for a
mobile terminal according to the first embodiment of the
present invention;
25 F I G . 9 is a plan view illustrating a state where a wire of
a meandering pattern is disposed on a Ferrite sheet in the
process of manufacturing the attached-type patch antenna for a
mobile terminal according to the first embodiment of the
present invention;
FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a wire to serve as an
antenna pattern according to a modification of the first
embodiment, which is different from the wire of FIG. 9 in the
shape of the meandering pattern;
FIG. 11 is a photograph showing the top and bottom
10 surfaces of the attached-type patch antenna for a mobile
terminal according to the first embodiment of the present
invention and a photograph showing the inside surface of a
casing of a mobile terminal to which the attached-type patch
antenna is to be attached;
15 FIG. 12 is a flowchart describing manufacturing processes
for manufacturing an attached-type patch antenna for a mobile
terminal according to the first embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 13 is a plan view used to describe a method of
20 manufacturing an attached-type patch antenna for a mobile
terminal according to a second embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line A-A of
FIG. 13, which shows an attached-type patch antenna for a
25 mobile terminal according to the second embodiment of the
present invention; and
FIG. 15 is a flowchart to describe a method of
manufacturing an attached-type patch antenna for a mobile
terminal according to the second embodiment of the present
5 invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a method of manufacturing a patch antenna to
10 be attached to a mobile terminal and a method of manufacturing
an antenna for a mobile terminal according to embodiments of
the present invention will be described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
The accompanying drawings and embodiments disclosed herein
15 are only to aid better understanding of the contents of the
present invention. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will
appreciate that the scope of the invention is not limited to
the accompanying drawings and the embodiments described herein.
For reference, the inventor of the present application
20 filed an application for a patent on June 20, 2012, which is
numbered "Korean patent application no. 2012-66087" and related
to an apparatus and method for manufacturing an antenna for a
mobile terminal, and the entirety of the patent application is
hereby incorporated by reference. Especially, the wiring
25 method described in Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-66087
is used in embodiments of the present invention.
An apparatus and method for manufacturing an antenna for a
mobile terminal will be described with reference to F I G S . 3 to
7.
5 F I G . 3 is a perspective view illustrating an apparatus for
manufacturing an antenna for a mobile terminal according to one
embodiment of the present invention; F I G . 4 is an enlarged view
illustrating a moving unit and an operation unit of the
apparatus for manufacturing an antenna for a mobile terminal
10 according to one embodiment of the present invention; F I G . 5 is
an enlarged side elevation view illustrating one side of the
moving unit of the apparatus for manufacturing an antenna for a
mobile terminal according to one embodiment of the present
invention; F I G . 6 is an enlarged view illustrating a wire-
15 pulling-out nozzle unit and a wire cutting unit of the
apparatus for manufacturing an antenna for a mobile terminal
according to one embodiment of the present invention; and F I G .
7 is a flowchart describing a method of manufacturing an
antenna for a mobile terminal according to another embodiment
20 of the present invention.
The apparatus for manufacturing an antenna for a mobile
terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention
can automatically form a meandering pattern of a wire, which to
function as an antenna, on a surface of a casing of a mobile
25 terminal.
As illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 6, the apparatus 100 for
manufacturing an antenna for a mobile terminal according to one
embodiment of the present invention includes a moving unit 120,
a housing 130, a driving unit 140, an operation unit 150, a
5 wire supply unit (not shown), a wire pulling-out nozzle unit
160, a wire fixing unit 170, a cutting unit 180, and a control
unit. The moving unit 120 is installed at a portion of an
upper surface of a fixed support 110. The upper surface of the
moving unit 120 is structured such that a casing 10 of a mobile
10 terminal can be placed thereon, in which a substrate 10a with a
pair of connection pins is fixed to the surface of the casing
10. The moving unit 120 can be moved in a first direction and
a second direction which is opposite to the first direction by
air pressure or oil pressure. The housing 130 has an opening
15 in one face. The driving unit 140 is installed inside the
housing 130. The operation unit 150 is installed at one side
of the moving unit 120 and a first end of the operation unit
150 is connected to a first end of the driving unit 140 so that
the operation unit 150 can move back and forth directions, left
20 and right directions, and up and down directions. Respective
ends of a horizontal bar 160 are fixed to a lower end portion
of a second end of the operation unit 150. The wire pullingout
nozzle unit 160 is fixed to the horizontal bar 161 and
allows a leading end of the wire supplied from the wire supply
25 unit (not shown) to advance toward the casing 10 placed on a
support board. The wire fixing unit 170 is installed under the
operation unit 150. Respective ends of the fixing unit 170 are
coupled to the housing 130. The wire fixing unit 170 is moved
by oil pressure or air pressure. The leading end of the wire
5 11 which passed through the wire pulling-out nozzle unit 160 is
wound at one connection pin protruding from the substrate 10a,
progresses across over a surface of the casing, and wound again
at the other connection pin protruding from the substrate 10a.
After the wire 11 is wound around the connection pins, the
10 leading end of the wire 11 is fixed to the wire fixing unit
170. The cutting unit 180 is installed above the second end of
the operation unit 150 and is movable in a vertical direction
by oil pressure or air pressure. The cutting unit 180 cuts an
end portion of the wire 11 which is fixed to the wiring fixing
15 unit 170. The control unit (not shown) can control the moving
unit 120, the driving unit 140, the operation unit 150, the
wire fixing unit 170, and the cutting unit 180 and the control
unit when an operator manipulates operation buttons 190
installed in front of the moving unit 120.
20 The apparatus further includes a casing fixing unit 200.
A first end portion of the casing fixing unit 200 is fixed to
the upper surface of the moving unit 120 and a second end
portion of the casing fixing unit 200 can move in the first
direction and the second direction under the control of the
25 control portion. After the casing fixing unit 200 is moved in
this way, the casing fixing unit 200 can immobilize an end of
the casing 10 placed on the upper surface of the moving unit
120.
As illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5, the moving unit 120 of the
5 apparatus for manufacturing an antenna for a mobile terminal is
installed in the first portion (front portion) of the upper
surface of the fixed support 110. The moving unit 120 moves
the casing 10, placed by an operator, to the operation unit 150
and removes the casing 10 from the operation unit 150.
The moving unit 120 includes a fixed portion 121 which is
fixed to the first portion of the upper surface of the fixed
support 110, a movable portion 122 which is slidable along the
upper surface of the fixed portion, a moving cylinder 123, and
a support board 125. The moving cylinder includes a piston
15 (illustrated but not denoted by a reference number), an end of
which is fixed to one surface of the movable portion 122 and
which performs piston motion according to control of the
control unit, thereby moving the movable portion 122 in the
first and second directions. The support board 125 is
20 installed such that the bottom surface thereof is fixed to the
upper surfaces of connection bars 124, ends of which are
connected to portions of the upper surface of the movable
portion 122. The support board 125 is fixed by multiple
screws. The casing 10 can be placed on the support board 125.
25 The driving unit 140 is installed inside the housing 130
as illustrated in FIG. 3, and drives to move the operation unit
150 up and down directions, left and right directions, and back
and forth directions, according to the control of the control
unit.
5 The driving unit 140 includes a back-and-forth driving
portion 141, a left-and-write driving portion 142, and an upand-
down driving portion 143. The back-and-forth driving
portion 141 includes a back-and-forth driving motor 141b having
a back-and-forth rotation shaft 141a connected thereto. The
10 back-and-forth driving portion 141 moves the operation unit 150
in the back and forth directions according to the control of
the control unit so that the operation unit 150 moves toward
the casing 10 placed on the support board 125. The left-andright
driving portion 142 includes a left-and-right driving
15 motor 142b having a left-and-right rotation shaft 142a
connected to a lower end of the back-and-forth driving portion
141. The left-and-right driving portion 142 moves the
operation unit 150 in the left and right directions according
to the control of the control unit so that the operation unit
20 150 moves toward the casing 10 placed on the support board 125.
The up-and-down driving portion 143 includes an up-and-down
driving motor (not shown) having an up-and-down rotation shaft
fixed to the front surface of the back-and-forth driving
portion 141. The up-and-down driving portion 143 moves the
25 operation unit 150 in up and down directions according to the
control of the control unit so that the operation unit 150
moves toward the casing 10 placed on the support board 125.
The operation unit 150 is in front of the housing 130 as
illustrated in FIG. 3, and a first end of the operation unit
5 150 is fixedly connected to a second surface of the up-and-down
driving portion 143 of the driving unit 140 as illustrated in
FIGS. 3 and 4. Accordingly, the operation unit 150 can move in
the back-and-forth directions, the left-and-right directions,
and the up-and-down directions according to the control of the
10 control unit.
The operation unit 150 includes a connection portion 151
and horizontal bar holding portions 152. A first end of the
connection portion 151 is fixedly connected to a second surface
of the up-and-down driving portion 143 of the driving unit 140.
15 First ends of the horizontal bar holding portions 152 are fixed
to the end portions of the connection portion 151, respectively
by screws so that the horizontal bar 161 can be fixedly
installed by the horizontal bar holding portions 152.
The wire pulling-out nozzle unit 160 is attached to the
20 horizontal bar 161 and enables the wire 11 to be pulled out by
a predetermined length corresponding to the operation amount
that the operation unit 150 is operated by the driving unit
140.
As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6, the wire pulling-out
25 nozzle unit 160 includes a nozzle fixing portion 162 and a
nozzle portion 163. An end of the nozzle fixing portion 162 is
fixed to the front surface of the horizontal bar 161, ends of
which are fixed to the opposing inside surfaces of the
horizontal bar holding portions 152, respectively. The nozzle
5 portion 163 is fixed to the nozzle fixing portion 162 and has a
through-hole, through which the wire 11 passes, in the center
thereof.
As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6, the wire fixing unit 170
is installed in a lower portion of the housing 130 and under
10 the wire pulling-out nozzle unit 160. The wire fixing unit 170
is moved by air pressure or oil pressure according to the
control of the control unit and fixes an end of the wire 11
which passed through the through-hole of the wire pulling-out
nozzle portion 160. The wire 11 passes through the wire
15 pulling-out nozzle ,unit 160 and is wound along a meandering
path which is curved at one connection pin protruding from the
substrate loaf extends across over the surface of the casing
10, and is curved again at the other connection pin. Then, the
wire is cut by the cutting unit 180, and this cut end of the
20 wire 11 is fixed so that the wire can form a meandering pattern
on another casing later.
The wiring fixing unit 170 includes a pair of fixing-unit
moving cylinders (not shown), a fixing-unit holding member 173,
a fixing-unit fixed cylinder 174, a fixed support board 175,
25 and a fixing and pressing portion 176. The fixing-unit moving
cylinders (not shown) have respective fixing-unit moving
pistons 172. Ends of the fixing-unit moving pistons are
installed to move along a pair of guide holes (not denoted by
reference numbers in the drawings), respectively formed in a
5 fixing-unit guide portion 171 having respective ends which are
fixed to a front end portion of the housing 130. The fixingunit
moving cylinders (not shown) are moved by air pressure or
oil pressure which is applied according to the control amount
of the control unit. The fixing-unit holding member 173 holds
10 the fixing-unit moving pistons 172 such that first ends of the
fixing-unit moving pistons 172 of the fixing-unit moving
cylinders are embedded in the fixing-unit holding member 173.
The fixing-unit fixed cylinder 174 is fixed to the lower
surface of the fixing-unit holding member 173. The fixing-unit
15 fixed cylinder 174 allows a piston, which extends through the
fixing-unit holding member 173, to be operated by air pressure
or oil pressure which is applied according to the control of
the control unit. The fixed support board 175 is fixed such
that a lower end thereof is fixed to the upper surface of the
20 fixing-unit holding member 173. The fixed support board 175
has a hollow portion in the center and the piston of the
fixing-unit fixed cylinder moves passing through the hollow
portion. The fixing and pressing portion 176 extends through
the fixed support board 175 and is fixed to an end of the
25 piston in the fixing-unit fixed cylinder which reciprocates in
one direction and the reverse direction. The fixing and
pressing portion 176 fixes the wire 11 by pressing the upper
surface of the fixed support board 175 against the wire 11 when
a portion of the wire 11, which passed out through the wire
5 pulling-out nozzle unit 160 by the movement of the operation
unit 150, is wound around the outer circumferential surface of
the piston of the fixing-unit fixed cylinder.
The cutting unit 180 is installed above the second end of
the operation unit 150. The cutting unit 180 cuts, according
10 to the control of the control unit, the wire 11 which is
sequentially wound around one connection pin protruding from
the upper surface of the substrate loaf the surface of the
casing 10, and the other connection pin protruding from the
substrate 10a, and which is fixed at its one end by the fixing
15 and pressing portion 176 and the fixed support board 175 of the
wire fixing unit 170.
As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6, the cutting unit 180
includes a cutting-unit cylinder 181, a cutting-unit movable
portion 182, a cutting-unit connection portion 183, and a
20 cutting blade 184. The cutting-unit cylinder 181 is installed
above the second end of the operation unit 150 and has a
cutting piston (not shown) which is operated by air pressure or
oil pressure which is applied according to the control of the
control unit. In addition, an end of the cutting-unit movable
25 portion 182 is fixed to the cutting piston. The cutting-unit
movable portion 182 can move up and down while it is positioned
at the second end of the operation unit 150, along with the
operation of the cutting-unit cylinder 181. A first end of the
cutting-unit connection portion 183 is fixed to the bottom
5 surface of the cutting-unit movable portion 182. A first end
of the cutting blade 184 is fixed to a second end of the
cutting-unit connection portion 183 so that the cutting blade
184 can cut the wire 11.
The casing fixing unit 200 is arranged such that a first
10 end thereof is fixed to the upper surface of the movable
portion 122 of the moving unit 120 and a second end thereof
moves in a direction and the reversed direction according to
the control of the control unit as illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5.
In this manner, the casing fixing unit 200 immobilizes the
15 casing 10 placed on the support board 125 by pressing one end
of the casing 10 so that the casing 10 does not move while the
meandering pattern of the wire 11 is being formed on the
surface of the casing 10.
The casing fixing unit 200 includes a fixing-unit cylinder
20 201, a fixing-unit movable portion 202, and a fixing and
pressing portion 203. The fixing-unit cylinder 201 is arranged
such that a first end thereof is fixed to the upper surface of
the movable portion 122 of the moving unit 120 and has a piston
(not shown) which is operated by air pressure or oil pressure
25 so that the casing fixing unit 200 can move toward the support
board 125 according to the control of the control unit. The
fixing-unit movable portion 202 is disposed on the surface of
the fixing-unit cylinder 201 and is arranged such that a first
end thereof is fixed to the piston. Because of this
5 arrangement, the fixing-unit movable portion 202 can move
toward the support board 125 according to the operation of the
fixing-unit cylinder 201. The fixing and pressing portion 203
is arranged such that a first end thereof is fixed to the
second end of the fixing-unit movable portion 202 and a second
10 end thereof is provided with a pressing and holding portion
203a. Thus, when the fixing-unit movable portion 202 moves,
the fixing and pressing portion 203 presses an end of the
casing 10 placed on the support board 125.
Next, a method of manufacturing an antenna for a mobile
15 terminal according to the present invention will be described
with reference to FIG. 7. First, a casing 10 to which a
substrate 10a with a pair of connection pins is fixed is
mounted on a support board of a moving unit 120 (Step S310).
Next, when an operator pushes an operation button 190, the
20 moving unit 120 moves toward an operation unit according to
control of a control unit (Step 5320). Next, a driving unit,
which is installed inside a housing, is started to drive
according to control of the control unit (Step S330). Next, as
the driving unit 140 starts operating in Step S330, the
25 operation unit 150 moves forward and downward to approach the
support board 125, and the wire 11 is supplied from the wire
supply unit through the wire pulling-out nozzle unit 160 and is
wound along a predetermined path (i.e. from first connection
pin, to casing, to second connection pin, for example) which is
5 recorded in the control unit (Step S340). Next, after the wire
11 is wound around the first connection pin and the second
connection pin which protrude from the upper surface of the
substrate 10a in Step S340, the operation unit 150 moves toward
the wire fixing unit 170 according to the control of the
10 control unit and the wire 11 is wound and fixed to the wire
fixing unit 170 (Step S350). After the wire 11 is wound around
and fixed to the wire fixing unit 170 in Step S350, the cutting
unit 180 moves downward according to the control of the control
unit (Step S360). After the cutting unit 180 moves downward in
15 Step S360, the driving unit 140 starts driving to move the
operation unit 150 downward according to the control of the
control unit and the wire 11 is cut by the cutting blade 184 of
the cutting unit 180. After the wire 11 is cut in Step S370,
the cutting unit 180 moves upward according to the control of
20 the control unit (Step S380). After the cutting unit 180 moves
upward in Step S380, the moving unit 120 moves backward
according to the control of the control unit (Step S390).
After the moving unit 120 moves downward in Step S390, the
casing 10 which is placed on the support board 125 and on which
25 a meandering pattern of the wire 11 is arranged is discharged
in Step S390.
Before the moving unit 120 moves forward to approach the
operation unit 150 in Step S320, the casing fixing unit 200
moves forward to approach the support board 125 according to
5 the control of the control unit so that an end of the casing 10
placed on the support 125 is immobilized in Step S311. After
the wire is wound to form a predetermined pattern and the
moving unit 120 is moved back, the casing unit 200 is moved
back according to the control of the control unit so that the
10 casing 10 is discharged from the support board 125 in Step
S391.
When forming the meandering pattern of the wire for an
antenna on the casing using the method of manufacturing an
antenna for a mobile terminal according to the present
15 invention described above, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the casing
10 to which the substrate 10a with a pair of connection pins is
fixed is placed on the support board 125 of the moving unit 120
(Step S310).
When the casing 10 is placed on the support board 125, an
20 operator presses the operation button 190 installed on a fixed
board 110.
With the pressing operation performed on the operation
button 190, the casing fixing unit 200 is moved to the support
board 125 according to the control of the control unit, and
25 immobilizes an end of the casing 10 (Step S311).
After the casing 10 is immobilized by the casing fixing
unit 200, the moving unit 120 moves to the operation unit 150
according to the control of the control unit (Step S320).
After the moving unit 120 moves to the operation unit 150,
5 the driving unit 140 installed inside the housing 130 is driven
according to the control of the control unit (Step S330), the
operation unit 130 connected to the driving unit 140 is placed
on the support board 125, and moved downward to the casing 10
which is immobilized by the casing fixing unit 200.
10 After the operation unit 150 is moved downward, the
driving unit 150 is driven to move in a direction which is
programmed in the control unit and the operation unit 150
operates accordingly.
The wire 11 is wound around the first and second
15 connection pins protruding from the upper surface of the
substrate 10a i.e. being curved at one of the first and second
connection pins, extending over the surface of the casing 10,
and being curved at the other connection pin of the first and
second connection pins while it is continuously supplied
20 through the wire pulling-out nozzle unit 160, along with the
operation of the operation unit 150 (Step S340).
After the wire 11 is wound in this manner, the operation
unit 150 moves to the wire fixing unit 170 according to the
control of the control unit, and winds the leading end of the
25 wire 11 around the wire fixing unit 170.
After the wire is wound around the wire fixing unit 170,
the wire fixing unit 170 starts operating. That is, the fixing
and pressing portion 176 presses the upper surface of the
fixing-unit supporting portion 175, fixing the wire by applying
5 pressure (Step S350).
After the wire 11 is fixed, the cutting unit 180 moves
down according to the control of the control unit (Step 5360).
After the cutting unit 180 moves down, the driving unit
140 starts driving to move according to the control of the
10 control unit, causing the operation unit 150 to move downward
and causing the wire 11 to be cut by the cutting blade 184 of
the cutting unit 180 (Step S370).
After the wire 11 is cut, the cutting unit 180 moves up
according to the control of the control unit (Step S380).
15 After the cutting unit 180 moves up, the moving unit 120 moves
back according to the control of the control unit (Step S390).
After the moving unit 120 moves back, the casing fixing
unit 200 moves back according to the control of the control
unit (Step S391), and is then placed on the support board,
20 discharging the casing 10 on which the meandering pattern of
the wire 11 is formed. All through the process steps described
above, an antenna for a mobile phone is produced.
( First embodiment)
A method of manufacturing an attached-type patch antenna
for a mobile terminal according to a first embodiment of the
present invention, and a method of manufacturing an attachedtype
antenna for a mobile terminal using the former method will
be described with reference to the accompanying drawings FIGS.
5 8A to 12.
FIG. 8A is a perspective view to describe a preparation
stage in a method of manufacturing an attached-type patch
antenna for a mobile terminal according to the first embodiment
of the present invention, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view
10 to describe the method of manufacturing an attached-type patch
antenna for a mobile terminal according to the first embodiment
of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating a
state where a wire of a meandering pattern is disposed on a
Ferrite sheet in the process of manufacturing the attached-type
15 patch antenna for a mobile terminal according to the first
embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a plan view
illustrating a wire to serve as an antenna pattern according to
a modification of the first embodiment, which is different from
the wire of FIG. 9 in the shape of the meandering pattern; FIG.
20 11 is a photograph showing the top and bottom surfaces of the
attached-type patch antenna according to the first embodiment
of the present invention and a photograph showing the inside
surface of a casing of a mobile terminal to which the patch
antenna is to be attached; and FIG. 12 is a flowchart
25 describing manufacturing processes for manufacturing an
attached-type patch antenna for a mobile terminal according to
the first embodiment of the present invention.
As illustrated in FIGS. 8Af 8B, and 12, in order to
manufacture the attached-type patch antenna for a mobile
according to the first embodiment, fixed pins 125a need to be
formed in suitable positions in a manner of protruding from the
surface of a jig supporting board 125' which is disposed on a
moving unit 120 in the antenna manufacturing apparatus
illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 6.
Specifically, the fixed pins are formed in positions at
which a winding direction of a wire for an antenna is changed.
That is, when forming a meandering pattern of wire using the
wiring apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 6, a wire is wound
to surround the fixed pins. By winding the wire in this way,
an antenna having a precise length and shape can be formed.
In addition, insertion holes 126a, in which the fixed pins
are to be inserted, are formed in the upper surface of a
movable jig 126 which supports a Ferrite sheet thereon. The
insertion holes 126a are formed in positions corresponding to
the fixed pins.
Hereinafter, the method of manufacturing an attached-type
patch antenna using the above-described apparatus and jig will
be described in more detail.
The fixed pins 125a and the insertion holes 126a are
aligned with each other and then the movable jig 126 is mounted
on the jig receiving supporting table 125' of the moving unit
(120 in FIG. 3) of the antenna manufacturing apparatus (Step
S11 in FIG. 12). A ferrite sheet 10' is mounted on the movable
jig (Step S12 in FIG. 12) . The Ferrite sheet 10' is composed
5 of a Ferrite layer 11' with a thickness of 0.2 to 0.3 mm and a
first thin adhesive layer 12 disposed on the Ferrite layer 11'.
The first adhesive layer 12 may be a double-sided adhesive
tape. In this case, the fixed pins 125a penetrate through the
thin, soft Ferrite sheet as needles do and protrude from the
10 upper surface of the Ferrite sheet (refer to FIG. 8A).
A wire is wound using the antenna manufacturing apparatus
of FIG. 3, forming a meandering pattern of wire on the first
adhesive layer of the Ferrite sheet of 'FIG. 8A (Step S13 in
FIG. 12). The wire 13 is wound through Step S320 to Step S390
15 in FIG. 7 in an automatic manner. In this case, preferably, a
leading end portion and a tail end portion of the wire extend
over through-holes lob as illustrated in FIG. 8A, extend along
the boundaries of through-holes lob as illustrated in FIG. 9,
or extend through electrodes 10c formed at an edge portion of
20 the Ferrite sheet 10' as illustrated in FIG. 10.
The length of the wire (antenna pattern) varies depending
on a frequency used for communication. In order to increase
the length of the antenna pattern, the wire is wound inward to
form a plurality of loops 13 which is not superimposed as
25 illustrated in FIG. 9, and the tail end portion of the wire
extends over the loops. Alternatively, the wire may be
arranged to form a zigzag pattern 13' as illustrated in FIG.
10. In the case of the loop-type antenna illustrated in FIG.
9, the wire is coated with enamel and an insulating sheet 10d
5 is disposed between a horizontal portion of the wire and a
vertical portion of the wire, in positions at which the
horizontal portion and the vertical portion overlap each other.
Next, with reference to FIG. 8B and 12, the movable jig
126 is removed from the jig supporting board 125 (Step S14 in
10 FIG. 12). Through this process, the wire 13 (13') is pasted
and fixed to the Ferrite sheet 10' via the first adhesive layer
12.
Next, in order to firmly fix the wire, a second adhesive
layer 14 is formed on the resultant surface (Step S15 in FIG.
15 12). Preferably, the second adhesive layer may be a doublesided
adhesive tape.
Finally, release paper 15 is applied to the second
adhesive layer 14 for the purpose of protecting the second
adhesive layer 14 (Step S16 in FIG. 12). As a result, the
20 attached-tape patch antenna for a mobile terminal is produced.
Section (a) of FIG. 11 is a photograph showing the bottom
surface of the attached-type patch antenna for a mobile
terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention,
and Section (b) of FIG. 11 is a photograph showing the bottom
25 surface of the attached-type patch antenna for a mobile
terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Section (c) of FIG. 11 is a photograph showing the inside
surface of a casing 1 to which an attached-type antenna for a
mobile terminal according to one embodiment of the present
5 invention is to be attached. The upper and lower electrodes
10c are connected to each other through the through-hole lob or
the edge portion of the Ferrite sheet, so that the wire can be
connected to the lower electrode. However, the upper and lower
electrodes 10c are not essential elements. When the upper and
10 lower electrodes 10c do not exist and an end of the wire is
connected to an electrode (la in section (c) of FIG. 11) of the
casing 1 of a mobile terminal through soldering, the end of the
wire is disposed at an edge portion of the Ferrite sheet or at
the boundary of the through-hole lob, or is arranged to pass
15 through the through-hole.
Hereinafter, a method of manufacturing an attached-type
antenna for a mobile terminal using the patch antenna will be
described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12 (refer to Step S21
and the subsequent steps) .
20 First, as described above, when release paper 15 is
disposed to protect the second adhesive layer, the release
paper 15 is removed (Step S21 in FIG. 12), a reference recess
of a mobile terminal is aligned with a protrusion (herein, a
mark with characters "SKY" thereon) of the patch antenna, and
25 the upper surface of the patch antenna is attached to the
inside surface of the casing 1 (Step S22 in FIG. 12).
The electrode la in the casing is connected to the
electrode 10c in the patch antenna using a soldering method or
a spot welding method. Alternatively, the electrode la in the
5 casing and a leading end portion of the wire of the patch
antenna are connected using a soldering method or a spot
welding method (Step S23 in FIG. 12).
In this way, the terminal la, connected to a signal
processing chip (not shown) or a communication device, is
10 electrically connected to a wire-typed NFC patch antenna.
Accordingly, contactless communication between an electronic
card and a nearby card reader is possible. Furthermore, since
the patch antenna is firmly attached to the casing 1 via the
second adhesive layer 14, jamming by an EM1 material inside the
15 mobile terminal can be prevented by the Ferrite sheet.
Furthermore, since the wire 13 (or 13' ) can be firmly,
precisely, and rapidly embedded in the soft Ferrite sheet 10'
due to the fixed pins 125a, NFC antennas with good performance
can be obtained, and the NFC antennas can be manufactured at
20 low cost.
The NFC antenna may be formed using an absorber sheet
which is made from a simple soft material when the NFC antenna
is mounted on the inside surface of a casing of a mobile item
which does not have an EM1 material inside thereof such as a
25 mobile phone, or when there are no or nearly no elements which
are likely to cause radio jamming in a position to which the
antenna is attached even though the antenna is used for a
mobile phone. Accordingly, the Ferrite sheet used in the
embodiment of the present invention and defined in the claims
5 includes a soft absorber sheet.
On the other hand, according to a modification of the
first embodiment, a double-sided table in which a second
adhesive layer 14 is detachably attached to release paper may
be mounted on the movable jig 126 instead of the Ferrite sheet
10 1 0 ' . Then a meandering pattern of the wire 13 (or 13') can be
arranged on the second adhesive layer 14. Next, the second
adhesive layer 14 on the upper surface of which the meandering
pattern of the wire 13 (or 13') is disposed may be reversed and
attached to an Ferrite sheet 10' on which a first adhesive
15 layer 12 is formed.
According to the modification, there is an advantage that
holes attributable to penetration of the fixed pins are not
formed in the Ferrite layer 11' and a disadvantage that the
meandering pattern of the wire is likely to be displaced
20 because of the displacement of the double-sided table.
However, this disadvantage can be eliminated by increasing the
thickness and strength of the release paper.
(Second Embodiment)
A method of manufacturing an attached-type patch antenna
for a mobile terminal according to another embodiment and a
method of manufacturing an antenna for a mobile terminal using
the method of manufacturing the attached-type patch antenna
will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 15.
5 FIG. 13 is a plan view used to describe a method of
manufacturing an attached-type patch antenna for a mobile
terminal according to a second embodiment of the present
invention, FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line
A-A of FIG. 13, which shows an attached-type patch antenna for
10 a mobile terminal according to the second embodiment of the
present invention, and FIG. 15 is a flowchart to describe a
method of manufacturing an attached-type patch antenna for a
mobile terminal according to the second embodiment of the
present invention.
15 For simplification of description of the second
embodiment, like elements and steps are represented by like
reference signs and a description thereof will be omitted.
First, in order to manufacture an attached-type patch
antenna for a mobile terminal according to the second
20 embodiment, in an apparatus for manufacturing an antenna as
illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 6, fixed pins 125a are formed to
protrude from an upper surface of a jig supporting board 125'
disposed on a moving unit 120 in suitable positions at which a
winding direction of a wire is changed to form a meandering
25 pattern, and insertion holes 126a corresponding to the fixed
pins are formed in an upper surface of a movable jig 126 on
which a Ferrite sheet is stationed.
According to the second embodiment, within the Flexible
sheet lo', a flexible PCB 16 is attached to a portion (i.e.
5 portion to be connected to a terminal of a casing) of an upper
surface of a first adhesive layer 12 as illustrated in FIGS. 13
and 14.
In addition, a wire contact 16a is disposed at a first
side of the flexible PCB 16, i.e., in a position at which an
10 end of the wire is disposed. A contact terminal 16b is
disposed at a second side of the flexible PCB 16, i.e., in a
position where an electrode (refer to la in section (c) of FIG.
11) of the casing 1 is disposed. In addition, a printed
circuit 16c to connect the wire contact 16a and the contact
15 terminal 16b to serve as a positive electrode (+) and a
negative electrode ( - ) is formed in advance.
The wire contact 16a and the contact terminal 16b have the
shape of a terminal with a predetermined area. Preferably, the
contact terminal 16b may be a solder bump so that the electrode
20 la of the casing of a mobile terminal and the contact terminal
16b can be connected simply through a heat compressive method.
A meandering pattern of a wire is formed on the Ferrite
sheet to which the Flexible PCB 16 is attached using the
apparatus and method according to the first embodiment. The
25 pattern of a wire 13 starts from the position of one-side
contact 16a (for example, positive (+) contact), wound through
Step S320 through Step 5390 in an automatic manner, and ends at
the other-side contact 16a (for example, positive (+) contact).
In this case, since the surface of the PCB is coated with
5 an insulating material in advance or a double-sided adhesive
tape is attached to the surface of the PCB, even though the
wire which is not coated with enamel is used to form the
meandering pattern as illustrated in F I G . 13, insulating paper
10d illustrated in F I G . 9 is not necessary.
10 In Step S13 of F I G . 12, i. e., when the wire is fixed (Step
S350 in F I G . 7) and cut (Step S370 in F I G . 7 ) , a leading end
and a tail end of the wire are disposed on the contacts 16a of
the flexible PCB 16.
According to the first embodiment, the wire is temporarily
15 fixed by the first adhesive layer 12 and the ends of the wire
and the electrode of the patch antenna are connected to the
electrode of the casing using a welding method. Accordingly,
without connection of the ends of the wire, the second adhesive
layer is directly formed. However, since the leading end and
20 the tail end of the wire are located on the contacts 16a of the
flexible PCB 16 in the second embodiment and an adhesive layer
is not formed on the flexible PCB in the second embodiment, as
illustrated in F I G . 15, it is preferable that the leading and
tail ends of the wire be connected to the contacts 16a using an
25 ultrasonic welding method right after Step S13 is performed.
In a case where a second adhesive layer 14 is formed again
(Step S15 in FIG. 15), the ends of the wire are fixed using a
double-sided tape and the contact terminal 16b is exposed.
Finally, the electrode la of the casing is connected to
5 the contact terminal 16b on the flexible PCB 16 disposed on the
patch antenna. In this step, the connection is made using a
soldering method or a spot welding method in the first
embodiment. However, more preferably, positions of the contact
terminals 16a having a solder bump shape which is an island
10 shape formed of solder are aligned with the electrodes la of
the casing, and the superposed structure is pressed and made to
pass through a hot furnace (not shown), the temperature of
which rises up to a melting point of solder. Thus, the contact
terminals 16b and the electrodes la of the casing are connected
15 at the same time (Step S33 in FIG. 15).
According to the second embodiment, since the ends of the
wire are fixed to the PCB which is more rigid than the wire
through an ultrasonic welding method or a soldering method,
reliable connection is made between the wire and the electrode.
20 Alternatively, the spot welding method used in the first
embodiment may be used instead of the soldering method.
According to a modification of the second embodiment, a
double-sided tape in which a second adhesive tape 14 is
detachably attached to release paper is mounted on the movable
25 jig 126 instead of the Ferrite sheet lo', a meandering pattern
of the wire 13 (or 13') may be formed on the second adhesive
layer 14, and the second adhesive layer 14 which has the
meandering pattern of the wire 13 (or 13') on one surface
thereof is reversed and attached to the Ferrite sheet 10' on
5 which a first adhesive layer 12 is formed.
In the modification of the second embodiment, a flexible
PCB 16 with connection terminals is attached to one side of the
double-sided tape in which the detachable second adhesive layer
14 is provided, and a meandering pattern of the wire 13 (or
10 13') is formed on the second adhesive layer 14 of the doublesided
tape. In this case, since the flexible PCB is smaller in
size than the second adhesive layer and positioned in a
periphery portion, a situation where the fixed pins 125
penetrate through the flexible PCB can be avoided. In
15 addition, the ends of the wire are made to pass through the
connection terminals of the flexible PCB 16. At an appropriate
time between the completion of the winding of the wire and the
cutting of the wire, the ends of the wire need to be
electrically connected to the wire contacts 16a of the flexible
20 PCB 16. In this case, a spot welding method can be used.
Alternatively, a soldering method may be used. In this case,
the wire contacts 16a may be formed as solder bumps like the
contact terminals 16b, and heated when the ends of the wire
extend over. Even in the modification of the second
25 embodiment, when a third adhesive layer extending from the
second adhesive layer is formed on the surface of the flexible
PCB, since the ends of the wire can be temporarily attached to
the third adhesive layer, the ends of the wire and the wire
contacts 16a can be connected later.
5 Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention
has been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in
the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions
and substitutions are possible, without departing from the
scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the
10 accompanying claims.

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A method of manufacturing an attached-type patch
antenna for a mobile terminal, comprising:
5 (a) mounting a movable jig on a jig support board in a
state where fixed pins, protruding from an upper surface of the
jig support board, are aligned with insertion holes formed in
the movable jig;
(b) mounting a Ferrite sheet, which has a first adhesive
10 layer on a surface thereof, on the movable jig;
(c) forming a meandering pattern of a wire on the first
adhesive layer on the Ferrite sheet;
(d) removing the movable jig from the jig support board;
and
15 (e) applying a second adhesive layer onto the meandering
pattern of the wire.
2. A method of manufacturing an attached-type patch
antenna for a mobile terminal, comprising:
20 (a') mounting a movable jig on a jig support board in a
state where fixed pins, protruding from an upper surface of the
jig support board, are aligned with insertion holes formed in
the movable jig;
(b') mounting a double-sided adhesive tape, in which a
25 second adhesive layer is detachably attached to release paper,
on the movable jig;
(c') forming a meandering pattern of a wire on the second
adhesive layer;
(d' ) removing the movable jig from the jig support board;
5 and
(el) reversing and attaching the second adhesive layer,
which has the meandering pattern of the wire on one surface
thereof, to a Ferrite sheet which has a first adhesive layer on
a surface thereof.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein in step (b), a
flexible PCB with connection terminals is attached to a first
portion of the Ferrite sheet on which the first adhesive layer
is formed; and wherein in step (c), when the meandering pattern
15 of the wire is formed on the Ferrite sheet, a leading end
portion and a tail end portion of the wire extend across the
connection terminals of the flexible PCB.
4. The method according to claim 2, wherein in step (b'),
20 a flexible PCB with connection terminals is attached to a
portion of the double-sided tape which includes the second
adhesive layer which is detachable; and wherein in step (cl),
when the meandering pattern of the wire is formed on the second
adhesive layer of the double-sided table, a leading end portion
25 and a tail end portion of the wire extend across the connection
terminals of the flexible PCB.
5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
wherein a leading end portion and a tail end portion of the
5 wire extend over respective through holes, extend along
boundaries of the respective through holes, or extend across
respective electrodes disposed at edge portions of the Ferrite
sheet.
6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
wherein the meandering pattern of the wire includes one or more
loop-shaped patterns and wherein an insulating sheet is
disposed between a horizontal portion and a vertical portion of
the loop-shaped patterns, in positions at which the horizontal
15 portion and the vertical portion overlap each other.
7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
wherein
the meandering pattern of the wire has a zigzag shape.
20
8. A method of manufacturing an attached-type antenna for
a mobile phone using the method according to claim 1 or 2,
further comprising:
(g) after performing steps (a) through (e) or steps (a')
25 through (el), removing the release paper, reversing the patch
antenna so that a surface of the Ferrite sheet, on which the
meandering pattern of the wire is provided, faces an inside
surface of a casing of a mobile terminal, and attaching the
patch antenna to the inside surface of the casing via the
5 second adhesive layer; and
(h) connecting the electrode in the patch antenna or the
leading end portion of the wire to an electrode of the casing.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein step (h) is
10 performed using a spot welding method.
10. A method of manufacturing an attached-type antenna for
a mobile terminal using the method according to claim 3 or 4,
further comprising:
15 g after performing steps (a) through (e) or (a')
through ( e , removing the release paper, reversing the patch
antenna so that a surface of the patch antenna on which the
meandering pattern of the wire is provided faces an inside
surface of a casing of a mobile terminal, and attaching the
20 patch antenna to the inside surface of the casing via the
second adhesive layer; and
(h') connecting electrically a bump on the flexible PCB of
the patch antenna to an electrode of the casing.
25 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the bump on
the flexible PCB of the antenna path is formed in an island
shape using a soldering method, and wherein step (h') is
performed such that the island-shaped solder bump and the
electrode of the casing are aligned with and pressed against
5 each other, and pass through a high temperature furnace.