IP Library Granted Patent US 8,185,048
Granted Patent B2
US 8,185,048 · App. 12/576,198 · Granted May 22, 2012

Communication apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,185,048
App. No.
12/576,198
Granted
May 22, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A communication apparatus includes a transmitter configured to supply an information signal as an electric field to a transmission medium; a receiver configured to detect the electric field through the transmission medium to acquire the information signal; an insulating casing that accommodates at least one of the transmitter and the receiver; and a filling member that is arranged at least one of between the casing and the transmitter and between the casing and the receiver.

Claims (38)

1. A communication apparatus comprising:

a transmitter configured to supply an information signal as an electric field to a transmission medium;

a receiver configured to detect the electric field through the transmission medium to acquire the information signal;

an insulating casing that accommodates at least one of the transmitter and the receiver; and

a filling member that is arranged at least one of between an internal surface of the casing and the transmitter accommodated in the casing and between the internal surface of the casing and the receiver accommodated in the casing,

wherein at least one of the transmitter and the receiver accommodated in the casing includes an electrode arranged so as to face the internal surface of the casing,

wherein the filling member fills a gap between the electrode and the internal surface of the casing, and

wherein part of the casing facing the electrode includes a thin wall portion such that a volume ratio of the filling member with respect to the casing between the electrode and the internal surface is increased.

2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the filling member is formed of a material having a dielectric constant higher than a dielectric constant of the casing.

3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is provided in the casing.

4. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the filling member further fills an opening formed in the casing.

5. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the receiver is provided in the casing.

6. A receiver that detects an electric field through a transmission medium to acquire an information signal, comprising:

a receiver circuit and an electrode;

an insulating casing that accommodates the receiver circuit and the electrode; and

a filling member that is arranged between an internal surface of the casing and the electrode,

wherein the electrode is arranged so as to face the internal surface of the casing;

wherein the filling member fills a gap between the electrode and the internal surface of the casing, and

wherein part of the casing facing the electrode includes a thin wall portion such that a volume ratio of the filling member with respect to the casing between the electrode and the internal surface is increased.

7. The receiver according to claim 6 , wherein the filling member is formed of a material having a dielectric constant higher than a dielectric constant of the casing.

8. The receiver according to claim 6 ,

wherein the filling member further fills in an opening formed in the casing.

9. A transmitter that supplies an information signal as an electric field to a transmission medium, comprising:

a transmitter circuit and an electrode;

an insulating casing that accommodates the transmitter circuit and the electrode; and

a filling member that is arranged between an internal surface of the casing and the electrode,

wherein the electrode is arranged so as to face an internal surface of the casing,

and wherein the filling member fills a gap between the electrode and the internal surface of the casing, and

wherein part of the casing facing the electrode includes a thin wall portion such that a volume ratio of the filling member with respect to the casing between the electrode and the internal surface is increased.

10. The transmitter according to claim 9 , wherein the filling member is formed of a material having a dielectric constant higher than a dielectric constant of the casing.

11. The transmitter according to claim 9 ,

wherein the filling member further fills an opening formed in the casing.

12. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the filling member has a dielectric constant higher than a dielectric constant of air so as to increase a capacitive coupling between the electrode and the transmission medium.

13. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the filling member is formed of a material having a dielectric constant higher than a dielectric constant of the casing such that the increased volume ratio of the filling member increases a capacitive coupling between the electrode and the transmission medium.

14. The receiver according to claim 6 , wherein the filling member has a dielectric constant higher than a dielectric constant of air so as to increase a capacitive coupling between the electrode and the transmission medium.

15. The receiver according to claim 6 , wherein the filling member is formed of a material having a dielectric constant higher than a dielectric constant of the casing such that the increased volume ratio of the filling member increases a capacitive coupling between the electrode and the transmission medium.

16. The transmitter according to claim 9 , wherein the filling member has a dielectric constant higher than a dielectric constant of air so as to increase a capacitive coupling between the electrode and the transmission medium.

17. The transmitter according to claim 9 , wherein the filling member is formed of a material having a dielectric constant higher than a dielectric constant of the casing such that the increased volume ratio of the filling member increases a capacitive coupling between the electrode and the transmission medium.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 1, 2019
From: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 048209/0318 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 8, 2009
From: HEBIGUCHI, HIROYUKI; NAKASATO, MITSUHARU; SASAKI, MAKOTO; INOUE, DAICHI; SAITO, YOSHIHARU
To: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 023349/0653 →