EP1863119A1 - Antenna module, in particular as a central transmission and/or receiver module for a vehicle, with several antennas - Google Patents

Abstract

The aerial module has an upper and a lower part (1) with multiple aerials (13). The aerials are separated through an area of a carriage body of a vehicle. The upper and the lower part are mechanically connected with one another, by the area of the carriage body. The upper and lower parts, arranged at the inner and outer sides of the carriage body, overlap one another. A fixing means guide through small break-through of few millimeters through the carriage body in the area of the overlapping.

Description

The invention relates to an antenna module according to the preamble of claim 1. Such antenna modules are used in automotive engineering to radio services such as radio reception (analog, digital), television reception (analog, digital), GPS information, vehicle access control system, control of the immobilizer, release the engine start, making personal settings, interior monitoring, parking assistance, tire pressure monitoring, mobile radiotelephony (GMS bands, UMTS), auxiliary heating, remote start, Bluetooth, WLAN etc.

Such services are partly carried out separately in services for the vehicle exterior and services for the vehicle interior, the services also being transmitted on different frequencies (LF, HF) or bands. On the other hand, some services require over-the-vehicle trans-boundary transmission, such as the communication between the ID transmitter (key) and the access control control unit, interior control and engine start or immobilizer control, to determine the exact position of a person and to take appropriate actions in the vehicle Dependence of the position trigger.

In order to enable these different services partly on different frequencies for the vehicle exterior and vehicle interior, usually several antennas are arranged in the vehicle and outside the vehicle.

The arrangement of a plurality of antennas including any power supply (controllers and / or active antennas) and forwarding the transmitted signals, however, requires increased cabling and is thus in today's increased number of existing services in the vehicle disadvantageously in the production and maintenance and any subsequent installation and repair time consuming and costly. In addition, an exact electromagnetic separation of the antennas or their transmission or reception fields in the increased number of antennas is problematic.

The present invention is therefore an object of the invention to provide an antenna module which avoids the aforementioned disadvantages and met in a cost effective and simple way, multiple services while reducing the cabling and easy to attach it.

This object is achieved with an antenna module having the features of claim 1.

According to the invention, an antenna module has an upper and lower part, each with a plurality of antennas, which are separated by a region of the body of a vehicle and mechanically connected to each other through the region of the body. By means of this embodiment, it is advantageously possible to accommodate as many as possible or even all of the antennas required in or on a vehicle at one location, for example in the rear central roof or rear area.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper and lower parts arranged on the inside and outside of the body overlap, wherein fastening means pass through the body in the region of the overlap by means of at least a small opening of a few millimeters. As a result, it is advantageously possible to mount an antenna module together with the upper and lower parts at the same point or inside and outside of the body, so that the cable paths also remain small between the upper and lower parts of the antenna module.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the upper and / or lower part of a base plate and / or board, wherein each of the circuit board and / or base plate of the upper part with the board and / or base plate of the lower part in the assembled state is mechanically interconnected. This advantageously allows a simple construction of the antenna module.

The mechanical connection or attachment of the antenna module can be configured as a non-destructive detachable connection, for example as a screw, snap-in or Einclipsverbindung, so that a repair, maintenance, change the configuration (hardware) in a simple way is possible.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the antenna module on an in-vehicle circuit board and a vehicle-external circuit board, which forms an electrically, in particular high-frequency technical, connected ground surface in the mounted state. As a result, a shielding and adaptation of the antenna module can be ensured in a simple manner, in the sense of a high-frequency electrical connection and waveguide, such as pipe tap come with any layout in question.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments illustrated in the drawings.

Fig. 1

eine schematische dreidimensionale Unteransicht auf ein montiertes erfindungsgemäßes Antennenmodul als Teilausschnitt eines Fahrzeugdachs;

Fig. 2

eine schematische dreidimensionale Seitenansicht nach Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine dreidimensionale Seitenschnittansicht nach Fig. 2;

Fig. 4

eine Grundrissansicht eines oberen Teils eines Antennenmoduls nach Fig. 1;

Fig. 5

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer ersten Ausführungsform einer Befestigungsmechanik eines Antennenmoduls nach Fig. 1 bis Fig. 3;

Fig. 6

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer zweiten Ausführungsform einer Befestigungsmechanik eines Antennenmoduls nach Fig. 1 bis Fig. 3 und

Fig. 7

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer dritten Ausführungsform einer Befestigungsmechanik eines Antennenmoduls nach Fig. 1 bis Fig. 3.

In the drawing show:

Fig. 1

a schematic three-dimensional bottom view of an assembled antenna module according to the invention as a partial section of a vehicle roof;

Fig. 2

a schematic three-dimensional side view of FIG. 1;

Fig. 3

a three-dimensional side sectional view of FIG. 2;

Fig. 4

a plan view of an upper part of an antenna module according to Fig. 1;

Fig. 5

a schematic side view of a first embodiment of a fastening mechanism of an antenna module according to Fig. 1 to Fig. 3;

Fig. 6

a schematic side view of a second embodiment of a fastening mechanism of an antenna module according to Fig. 1 to Fig. 3 and

Fig. 7

3 shows a schematic side view of a third embodiment of a fastening mechanism of an antenna module according to FIGS. 1 to 3.

The antenna module shown in Fig. 1 has on its outer side, for example on a vehicle roof, preferably in the middle rear region or at a vehicle rear, an upper part in the form of an external housing 1, for example in the form of a fin, which preferably has an aerodynamic outer shape, ie has a tapered shape in the direction of travel.

Below this external housing 1, a lower part in the form of an internal housing 3 is arranged on the inside of the corresponding location of the vehicle roof 5, which is a flat rectangular or any, preferably other has flat shape, so that this internal housing 3 can be positioned in a rectangular, round or other shape between the car roof and the roof panel.

As shown in Fig. 2, the internal housing 3, for example, a rectangular circuit board 7, on the underside of vehicle-internal antennas 8 and at the top of transceiver or transmitter and receiver in the form of electronic components, are arranged. From the upper side of the printed circuit board 7, which is preferably arranged parallel to the roof 5, connecting elements 12, for example in the form of bolts with spacers 27 (FIG. 7) extend vertically in the direction of the roof 5, which pass through corresponding recesses, for example in the form of bores or punches extend the roof 5 in the external housing 1.

Furthermore, coaxial RF connecting elements 9, 11, which, as shown in FIG.

In the interior of the external housing 1 is located on the roof 5, an upper base plate 17, which is made of metal, in particular aluminum. On this base plate 17 is an upper vehicle external circuit board 15, for example, by enclosure, gluing, screwing, etc., preferably the mass electrically connected.

The connecting bolts 12, preferably also made of metal, are mechanically and mass-conductively connected to the upper base plate 17 and / or the upper printed circuit board 15, so that a ground connection is established between the lower circuit board 7 and the upper circuit board 17.

As shown in FIG. 3, instead of or in addition, the coaxial RF connections 9, 11 or their outer shield can ensure such a ground connection, so that an inductive high-frequency-technically correct one is achieved by the short paths Connection (high conductor cross-section, multiple connections, small distances) of the electrical ground surfaces of the lower and upper circuit board 7, 15 is made possible.

On the upper side of the printed circuit board different vehicle external antennas 13 are arranged, the signaling connection to the lower circuit board via the coaxial RF connections 9, 11 takes place. In addition, as shown in Fig. 3, additional line connections 14 lead out of corresponding vehicle external antennas 13 through the roof 5 into the lower part 3 into and out of this via not shown terminals.

From the plan view of an upper part 1 or the upper base plate 17 shown in FIG. 4 it can be seen that the base plate has a plurality, preferably six, recesses 10 through which the connecting bolts extend or terminate with their end regions.

Various embodiments of a fastening mechanism of an antenna module are shown schematically in FIGS. 5 to 7.

Thus, for example, as shown in Fig. 1, instead of the lower circuit board 7, a lower vehicle-internal base plate 19, in which the lower circuit board 7 is fixed, fasteners, for example in the form of locking elements 21, which through the roof 5 through in the rich upper base plate. These latching elements 21, for example in the form of longitudinally slotted bolts with conical enlargements pass through the recesses 10 and clip into them, so that the downwardly directed shoulder of the conical extensions acts on the base plate 17 in the direction of the roof 5 with a pressing force. In this embodiment, with an additional lower, for example, cup-shaped base plate 19, a correspondingly formed to the base plate 19 housing cover also on the base plate 19 instead of the lower circuit board 7 directly pushed, clamped, clipped, screwed or glued.

The illustrated in Fig. 6 second embodiment of a fastening mechanism, however, shows how a lower circuit board 7 without additional base plate 19 with the upper base plate 17 'can be mechanically fixed. For this purpose, the fastening elements, for example in the form of bolts or screws 23, in the region between the top of the circuit board 7 and the roof 5 spacer sleeves 27, so that the circuit board is preferably fixed without direct contact with the inside of the roof 5. The fastening of the fastening elements on the upper base plate 17 'can be carried out in any desired variants, wherein, as shown in Fig. 6, instead of a clip connection described above, a screw with screwed onto the top of the base plate 17 nuts is possible.

As shown in Fig. 7 as a third embodiment, the completion of the attachment to the top of the upper base plate 17 'instead of screwed nuts also take place by means of snapping head sleeves, the cup-shaped sleeves directed down a narrowing inner region, for example in the form of a circumferential Bead, which, when pushed into a corresponding circumferential groove or groove of the fasteners, such as pin 23 ', snaps.

As a result, the lower circuit board 7 and the upper base plate 17 'as in the second embodiment described above by the lower extended head portion of the elements 23 and 23' and the upper stationary termination 25 and 25 'mechanically fixed to each other and the roof 5 is fixed.

An upper cover of the upper part 1 can be made on the upper base plate, for example by gluing, so that the upper circuit board 15 with the antennas arranged thereon 13 against external influences (weather, wind, mechanical damage) is protected.

Of course, the above-described types of attachment can be combined, with other mechanical and in addition an electrical ground connection guaranteeing attachment types (gluing, riveting, soldering, etc.) are conceivable. In particular, the clip connection or its complementary region can be formed with corresponding grooves, projections, spring elements, etc., also within the recesses 10, so that a protruding out of the end regions of the fastening elements 25, 25 'and 21 can be avoided.

The clip connection can advantageously ensure a fast work cycle of, for example, a few seconds in the attachment of the antenna module according to the invention, which has a positive effect on a reduction in the manufacturing cost of a suitably equipped vehicle.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

upper part or external housing

3

lower part or internal housing

5

Vehicle roof middle rear area

7

internal or lower circuit board

8th

In-vehicle antennas

9

coaxial RF connection

10

recesses

11

coaxial RF connection

12

connecting bolts

13

vehicle external antennas

14

additional (signal) connection cables

15

external or upper circuit board

17

external or upper base plate

17 '

external or upper base plate

19

internal or lower base plate

21

Fasteners or longitudinally slotted connecting bolts

23

screw

25

nuts

27

spacer sleeves

Claims (6)

Antenna module, in particular as a central transmitting and / or receiving module for a vehicle, with a plurality of antennas (8, 13)
characterized in that
the antenna module has an upper and a lower part (1, 3) each having a plurality of antennas (13, 8) which are separated by an area of the body (5) of a vehicle and
the upper and lower parts (1, 3) are mechanically interconnected through the body region. Antenna module according to claim 1, characterized in that arranged on the inside and outside of the body upper and lower parts (1, 3) overlap in plan and in the region of the overlap by at least a small breakthrough of a few millimeters through the body attachment means (21, 23 , 23 ') pass. Antenna module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the upper and / or lower part (1, 3) of a base plate (17, 17 ', 19) and / or board (7, 15) consist, wherein each of the board ( 15) and / or base plate (17, 17 ') of the upper part (1) with the circuit board (7) and / or base plate (19) of the lower part (3) is mechanically connected together in the mounted state. Antenna module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mechanical connection is designed as a non-destructive detachable connection. Antenna module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mechanical connection is designed as a screw, snap-in or Einclipsverbindung. Antenna module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the antenna module has a vehicle-internal circuit board (7) and a vehicle-external circuit board (5), which forms an electrically, in particular high-frequency technical, connected ground surface in the mounted state.

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