EP3966890A1

EP3966890A1 - Vehicle pane

Info

Publication number: EP3966890A1
Application number: EP20719470.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Varun RAMESH KUMAR; Guillaume Francois; Thomas HOLTSTIEGE
Original assignee: Saint Gobain Glass France SAS; Compagnie de Saint Gobain SA
Current assignee: Saint Gobain Glass France SAS; Compagnie de Saint Gobain SA
Priority date: 2019-05-08
Filing date: 2020-04-23
Publication date: 2022-03-16
Anticipated expiration: 2040-04-23
Also published as: KR102663936B1; JP7383729B2; WO2020224973A1; KR20210152563A; MA55870A; US20220231405A1; CN112243550B; PL3966890T3; JP2022531604A; CN112243550A; EP3966890B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle pane with a first substrate (GS1), at least one antenna structure (ANT), and a connection region (AB). The antenna structure (ANT) is arranged on a flexible film (F), and additionally a first line region (GPCW1) is provided on the flexible film (F). The connection region (AB) is arranged on a support (T), and additionally the second line region (GPCW2) is provided on the support (T), wherein the flexible film (F) has a first contact region (C1), and the support has a second contact region (C2) for reciprocally connecting the first line region (GPCW1) and the second line region (GPCW2) together, said flexible film (F) being guided around an end of the first substrate (GS1).

Description

Vehicle window

Vehicles are increasingly being equipped with electrical components. In addition to the classic radio devices, there is an increasing number of devices in a vehicle that can receive or send high-frequency signals.

At this point, the reception of signals from a navigation system or signals from communication systems is mentioned as an example.

Navigation systems can e.g. be a satellite navigation satellite system (GNSS). Systems in operation are, for example, the Global Positioning System (GPS) or the GLObal Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS). Other navigation systems are e.g. possible on the basis of mobile radio systems.

Communication systems can e.g. Short-range radio systems for car-to-car or car-to-infrastructure or mobile radio communication systems, e.g. 2nd / 3rd / 4th or 5th generation mobile communication systems.

Corresponding antennas can be attached to the outside of the vehicle, but such additional devices present a problem in several respects.

Exemplary arrangements are known from the publication US 20140176374 A1.

On the one hand, the corresponding facilities require breakthroughs that are susceptible to corrosion. On the other hand, such devices often disturb the visual impression. Frequently, however, such facilities also provide a source of noise as well an increased wind resistance ready. In addition, such antennas are also a target of vandalism.

Based on this, there has been a trend in the past to provide antennas in other locations.

For example, GNSS antennas can be arranged inside the vehicle interior, for example below the dashboard or below the windshield.

It is difficult to find a suitable position with a good view of the antenna on the GNSS satellites and at the same time to avoid EMC problems caused by electrical devices in the dashboard and by the vehicle engine.

Furthermore, electrically conductive layers such as infrared-reflecting layers or low-E layers can prevent the transmission of electromagnetic radiation through the pane and block the GNSS signal.

Typical GPS antennas are implemented as plane antennas and typically as patch antennas and are known, for example, from WO 00/22695 A1, DE 202006011919 U1 or DE 202010011837 U1. A planar metallic antenna structure is arranged on one side of a printed circuit board or a ceramic carrier. A flat base plate is arranged as a ground plane on the opposite side. The antenna structure and base plate are connected to an electrical receiving unit via electrical lines. Due to the material thickness of the printed circuit board or the ceramic carrier, the antenna has a certain thickness and is clearly visible and not very aesthetic when it is arranged directly on the windshield. From US Pat. No. 9,257,747 B2 a Vivaldi antenna is known which can be attached to a vehicle window. A patch antenna that can be attached to a vehicle window is known from WO 2005/091827 A2. A crossed dipole antenna arrangement that can be attached to a vehicle window is known from US 2008/029619 A1.

Furthermore, from the US patent application US 201 1/121 924 A1, an antenna mounted on a vehicle window with a coaxial cable connection is known.

Up to now, antennas that are attached to the pane surface have been connected with a coaxial cable.

Another arrangement of an antenna with a connection for arrangement on a vehicle window is known from the Japanese publication JP 2014-179 858 A.

The integration of antennas and supply lines in panes is desired due to many considerations. On the one hand, considerations about placement play a role, on the other hand, considerations relating to the electrical connection of the antennas.

At the same time, however, a sufficiently strong signal with as little noise as possible must be made available for the subsequent signal processing.

Therefore, signals are amplified before signal processing / decoding. It turns out, however, that the attenuation on the feed lines to the amplifiers has already led to a strong attenuation of the useful signals, so that the amplifiers have to be particularly low-noise so that the signal / noise ratio is only slightly impaired. However, such amplifiers are expensive. From US Pat. No. 5,499,444 a manufacturing method for a rigid circuit board with flexible parts is known. However, the circuit board provided in this way is not suitable for being integrated into a vehicle window.

An arrangement is also known from the Chinese utility model CN 203015290 in which two rigid circuit boards are connected to one flexible circuit board. However, the arrangement provided in this way is not suitable for being integrated into a vehicle window.

An arrangement is also known from the Korean patent application KR 10-2008-0029054 in which two rigid circuit boards are connected to one flexible circuit board. However, the arrangement provided in this way is not suitable for being integrated into a vehicle window.

A so-called low-profile blanket antenna is known from the Chinese patent application CN 106450690 A1. Although this is broadband, it cannot be integrated into a vehicle window.

US patent application US 2015/0102 874 A1 discloses an expansion of a flexible circuit board in order to provide better RF decoupling.

It is common to all of the aforementioned documents that the structures made available there cannot be integrated into a vehicle window. In addition, the structures can only be produced with considerable effort, so that they do not provide a cost-effective solution.

Based on this, it is an object of the invention to provide a vehicle window into which an antenna and a supply line can be integrated safely, reliably and inexpensively. The object is achieved by a vehicle window with a first substrate and with at least one antenna structure and a connection area, the antenna structure being arranged on a flexible film, wherein a first line area is also provided on the flexible film, the connection area being arranged on a carrier, a second line area being provided on the carrier, the flexible film having a first contact area and the carrier having a second contact area for the mutual connection of the first line area to the second line area, the flexible film being guided around one end of the first substrate.

The invention enables an antenna to be integrated into a vehicle window, while devices for signal processing, such as filters / amplifiers, are provided on a rigid support close to the antenna. By providing suitable contact areas, the transmission can be impedance-adapted to the respective line areas. This means that the signal-to-noise ratio can be largely maintained. That is, the invention allows extensive integration with a cost-effective manufacturing method at the same time.

In one embodiment of the invention the carrier is rigid. I.e. the invention can e.g. use circuit boards.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the first contact area and the second contact area have three or more electrical contact points.

This allows e.g. a connection for co-planar waveguides can be provided.

According to a further embodiment, the first contact area and the second contact area have five or more electrical contact points.

A higher number of contact points can, for example, provide better shielding in the contact area. According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the film and the carrier are arranged in an essentially overlapping manner in the area of the first contact area and the second contact area.

In the overlapping area e.g. Structures can be realized that require a plurality of structured conductor layers.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the film has a first structured conductor layer and a second structured conductor layer, the first conductor area being designed as a grounded coplanar waveguide.

I.e. By means of the invention, a well-shielded, low-attenuation transmission to the contact area can be implemented in a particularly simple manner.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the film has at least one via.

I.e. by means of the invention, more complex structures, e.g. Waveguide structures or stripline structures are provided.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the film has polyimide. A flexible (partial) arrangement can thus be made available in a particularly simple manner.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the carrier has FR4. A rigid (partial) arrangement can thus be made available in a particularly simple manner. In yet another embodiment, the carrier has at least one via.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, a vehicle with a glass pane according to the invention, in particular a land, sea, air or space vehicle, is provided.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the glass pane according to the invention is used to receive signals for satellite-based navigation, in particular to receive GNSS signals from Navstar GPS, Galileo, Glonass, Beidou, Navic, QZSS. Alternatively or additionally, the glass pane according to the invention is used to receive signals from a mobile communication system, in particular a mobile communication system of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th generation.

Without restricting generality, the vehicle window can be a windshield, a rear window, a side window or a roof window.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing and exemplary embodiments. The drawing is a schematic representation and is not true to scale. The drawing does not restrict the invention in any way.

Show it: 1 shows a schematic overview with regard to the arrangement of foils, glass layer (s) to illustrate aspects according to the prior art and the invention,

2 shows a schematic sectional illustration through embodiments of a film according to embodiments of the invention,

3 shows a schematic sectional illustration through embodiments of a carrier according to embodiments of the invention,

4 shows a schematic perspective view of line areas according to embodiments of the invention,

5 shows a schematic perspective view of contact areas according to embodiments of the invention, and FIG

6 shows a schematic sectional illustration through embodiments of a carrier and a film according to embodiments of the invention

The invention will be illustrated in more detail below with reference to the figures. It should be noted that different aspects are described that can be used individually or in combination. I.e. any aspect can be used with different embodiments of the invention unless explicitly shown as a pure alternative.

Furthermore, for the sake of simplicity, reference is generally only made to one entity in the following. Unless explicitly stated, the invention can also have several of the entities concerned. In this respect, the use of the words “a”, “an” and “an” is only to be understood as an indication that at least one entity is used in a simple embodiment.

As far as methods are described below, the individual steps of a method can be arranged and / or combined in any order, unless the context explicitly results in something different. Furthermore, the processes can be combined with one another - unless expressly indicated otherwise. Figures with numerical values are generally not to be understood as exact values, but also include a tolerance of +/- 1% up to +/- 10%.

Insofar as standards, specifications or the like are named in this application, reference is at least always made to the standards, specifications or the like applicable on the filing date. I.e. if a standard / specification etc. is updated or replaced by a successor, the invention can also be applied to this.

Various embodiments are shown in the figures.

According to embodiments of the invention, a vehicle window 1 with a first substrate GS1 and with at least one antenna structure ANT and a connection area AB is provided.

The antenna structure ANT is arranged on a flexible film F. Furthermore, a first line area GCPW1 is provided on the flexible film F.

The flexible (dielectric) film F can have at least one material selected from the group consisting of polyimide, polyurethane, polymethylene methacrylic acid, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl butyral, FR6, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polybutylene terephthalate, polyamide.

The connection area AB is arranged on a carrier T that can be produced separately. A second line area GCPW2 is also provided on the carrier T. The carrier T can be made of a material corresponding to the film F, or it can also have a different material, such as a rigid plate, for example made of FR4.

The flexible film F has a first contact area C1 and the carrier T has a second contact area C2 for the mutual connection of the first line area GCPW1 to the second line area GCPW2.

The flexible film F is guided around one end of the first substrate GS1.

The invention enables an antenna ANT to be integrated into a vehicle window 1, while devices for signal processing, such as filters / amplifiers, can be provided close to the antenna ANT on a (rigid) carrier T that can be produced separately. By providing suitable contact areas C1, C2, the forwarding can take place in an impedance-adjusted manner on the respective line areas GCPW1, GCPW2. This means that the signal-to-noise ratio can be largely maintained. That is, the invention allows extensive integration with a cost-effective manufacturing method at the same time.

In one embodiment of the invention, the carrier T is rigid. I.e. the invention can e.g. use circuit boards. Thus e.g. electronic components EK can be fitted using conventional technology. This allows such devices to be manufactured inexpensively, which can be arranged close to the antenna ANT, so that the attenuation of the useful signal prior to amplification / filtering is minimal. This allows e.g. cheap amplifiers are used.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the first contact area C1 and the second contact area C2 each have three or more electrical contact points.

In this way, for example, a connection for co-planar waveguides can be made available. For example, a connection of a ground potential to the external contact points can be achieved Are made available, while the central contact point provides a connection for the useful signal.

According to a further embodiment, the first contact area C1 and the second contact area C2 each have five (as shown in FIG. 5) or more electrical contact points. For example, a connection of a ground potential can be made available with the outer contact points, while the central contact point provides a connection for the useful signal. With a higher number of contact points, e.g. better shielding can be provided in the contact area.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the film F and the carrier T - as shown in FIG. 6 - are arranged in an essentially overlapping manner in the area of the first contact area C1 and the second contact area C2. In the overlapping area e.g. Structures can be realized that require a plurality of structured conductor layers.

It should be noted that further optional layers are also shown in the figures.

A first substrate GS1 of a vehicle window 1 can also be seen in FIG. If the vehicle window 1 is made available as a composite window, e.g. a connecting film VF and a second substrate GS2 can be provided.

The substrate GS1, GS2 preferably contains glass, particularly preferably flat glass, float glass, quartz glass, borosilicate glass, soda-lime glass or clear plastics, preferably rigid clear plastics, in particular polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, polyamide, polyester, polyvinyl chloride and / or mixtures thereof.

A sectional view through a film F is shown in FIG. The film F can have a first electrically conductive layer LS1 and a second electrically conductive layer LS2. By structuring one (or can) in these two electrically conductive layers (or several) antenna (s) and a first lead structure GCPW1 are made available. Optionally, the film can also be equipped with a barrier layer B, for example a (flexible) solder stop layer. Likewise, one or more additional layer (s) ZS can be provided, for example a (glued) cover layer. The cover layer can, for example, also consist of a film material.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the (first and / or the second) electrically conductive layer has a height hi_si, hi_s2 of 10 pm-75 pm.

This enables a thin arrangement that can also be integrated into a composite pane or that can also be adapted to a curved surface.

A sectional view through a carrier T is shown in FIG. The carrier T can have a third electrically conductive layer LS3 and an (optional) fourth electrically conductive layer LS4. A connection area AB and a second lead structure GPCW2 can be made available in these two electrically conductive layers by structuring. Optionally, the carrier T can also be provided with a barrier layer B, e.g. a (flexible) solder stop layer.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the (third and / or the fourth) electrically conductive layer has a height hi_s3, hi_s4 of 10 pm-75 pm.

In connection with a likewise thin film F (h _F = 25 μm... 75 μm), this enables a thin arrangement which can also be integrated into a composite pane or which can also be adapted to a curved surface.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the electrically conductive layers LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4 have silver and / or copper and / or gold and / or aluminum and / or indium and / or graphenes. It should be noted here that the electrically conductive layers LS1, LS2 can have different materials. Prefers however, they have the same materials. That is, the conductor structures can also be adapted to electrical and / or thermal and / or mechanical boundary conditions.

Without loss of generality, the carrier T can cover the film F in a partial area or in the full area.

While a small overlap area is advantageous for small sizes, a larger overlap area can be advantageous for better signal transmission and / or increased mechanical stability. Design options are thus given to the person skilled in the art so that different needs can be satisfied.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, one or more plated-through holes VIA - as indicated in FIG. 4 - are arranged at least between one of the lateral conductors L1 and the conductor ground potential plane GP which is opposite with respect to the film F. The vias VIA can be arranged at a predetermined distance. Furthermore, plated-through holes VIA can also be provided in an analogous manner with respect to the second lateral conductor L2 and the opposite ground potential plane GP. The distance can be based on the wavelength of the signals to be conducted. Furthermore, the wave impedance of the line area GCPW1, GCPW2 can be adapted by means of such vias VIA. By means of the plated-through holes VIA, an improved equipotentiality is also achieved over the expansion of the arrangement, so that the high-frequency properties can be further improved.

Like the film F, the carrier T can be equipped with VIAs that can perform the same function.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the arrangement has - as indicated in FIG. 1 - a connection area AB for an electromechanical High-frequency connector S on. In particular, the high-frequency connection element S can have or consist of an SMA socket. The SMA socket can e.g. B. have an angle arrangement so that a low overall height is made available in the connection area. Typically, vehicle windows are equipped as a built-in part / replacement part with an electromechanical high-frequency connecting element S in order to enable quick installation and secure contact.

I.e. unlike in the prior art, the antenna and one or more electronic components can now be brought closer to one another. In this way, the signal-to-noise ratio can be favorably influenced early on.

In particular, the possibility of using so-called grounded coplanar waveguides for the line areas GCPW1, GCPW2 allows low-interference and / or low-loss transmission.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, a vehicle with a glass pane 1 according to the invention, in particular a land, sea, air or space vehicle, is provided.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the glass pane 1 according to the invention is used to receive signals for satellite-based navigation, in particular to receive GNSS signals from Navstar GPS, Galileo, Glonass, Beidou, Navic, QZSS. As an alternative or in addition, the glass pane 1 according to the invention is used to receive signals from a mobile communication system, in particular a mobile communication system of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th generation.

That is, the integration of antennas for satellite navigation is made possible in particular by means of the invention. The amplifier can be arranged close to the antenna. The antenna or the antennas can / can between substrates GS1, GS2 of a laminated glass pane 1 be arranged. Since the antenna (s) ANT are arranged on a flexible film F, the antenna ANT can adapt to the curvature of the vehicle window. By means of the flexible film F, a feed structure, for example as a coplanar (grounded) waveguide, GCPW1 can be made available. Since the film F is flexible, the film can, for example, be guided around one end of a substrate GS1.

The electronics for an amplifier and / or filter can be provided on a carrier T that can be produced separately.

The carrier T and the film F can be made available as an integrated element - as shown in FIG. 6 - or as shown in FIG. 5 via contact elements.

In the example of Figure 6 it is possible e.g. to provide a via VIA from an electrically conductive layer LS3 to the electrically conductive layer LS1. The via VIA thus provides a contact area C1 / C2.

Thus, the high-frequency part can be implemented without substantial changes in geometry, so that the impedance remains essentially unchanged.

The connection area AB can be designed like a contact area C1 / C2 (for example as shown in FIG. 5).

List of reference symbols

1 vehicle window

GS1, GS2 substrate

F flexible film

T carrier

EK electrical component

LS1, LS2 electrically conductive layer LS3, LS4 electrically conductive layer ANT antenna structure

GCPW1 feed structure

GCPW2 feed structure

h LS 1 h | _S2 height

h | _S3 h LS4 height

VIA through hole

VF connecting foil

AB connection area

S connector

C1, C2 contact area

B barrier layer

ZS Further layer (s)

L1, L2 conductor tracks

ML Middle track (useful signal)

GP ground potential level

Claims

1. Vehicle window with a first substrate (GS1) and with at least one antenna structure (ANT) and a connection area (AB), the antenna structure (ANT) being arranged on a flexible film (F), with the flexible film (F) continuing a first line area (GPCW1) is provided, the connection area (AB) being arranged on a carrier (T), a second line area (GPCW2) also being provided on the carrier (T), the flexible film (F) having a first Contact area (C1) and the carrier has a second contact area (C2) for the mutual connection of the first line area (GPCW1) with the second line area (GPCW2), the flexible film (F) being guided around one end of the first substrate (GS1).

2. Vehicle window according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrier (T) is rigid.

3. Vehicle window according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first contact area (C1) and the second contact area (C2) each have three or more electrical contact points.

4. Vehicle window according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first contact area (C1) and the second contact area (C2) each have five or more electrical contact points.

5. Vehicle window according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the film (F) and the carrier (T) are arranged in an essentially overlapping manner in the area of the first contact area (C1) and the second contact area (C2).

6. Vehicle window (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the film (F) has a first structured conductor layer (LS1) and a second structured conductor layer (LS2), the first conductor area (GPCW1) being designed as a grounded coplanar waveguide is.

7. Vehicle window (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the film (F) has at least one through-hole contact (VIA).

8. Vehicle window (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the film (F) comprises polyimide.

9. Vehicle window (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier (T) has FR4.

10. Vehicle window (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier (T) has at least one through-hole contact (VIA).

11. Vehicle window (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the antenna structure is designed to receive high-frequency signals.

12. Use of a vehicle window (1) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to

11, for receiving signals for satellite-based navigation, in particular for receiving GNSS signals from Navstar GPS, Galileo, Glonass, Beidou, Navic, QZSS.