CN219040723U

CN219040723U - Antenna module

Info

Publication number: CN219040723U
Application number: CN202221565971.7U
Authority: CN
Inventors: F·布舍尔
Original assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
Current assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
Priority date: 2021-06-22
Filing date: 2022-06-22
Publication date: 2023-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 2032-06-22
Also published as: DE102021206360A1

Abstract

The present application relates to an antenna module (1) having: -a plastic housing (6), and-at least one antenna (7, 8, 11, 12) which is designed on the inside (14) of the plastic housing (6).

Description

Antenna module

Technical Field

The utility model relates to an antenna module, in particular a roof antenna module, and to a method for producing an antenna module.

Background

DE 10 2021 205 869.8 discloses a motor vehicle roof antenna module.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the utility model is to improve an antenna module, in particular a motor vehicle roof antenna module.

One or preferably several antennas (hereinafter also referred to as antenna structures) designed inside the plastic housing of the antenna module enable efficient manufacturing of suitable antenna modules.

For other designs:

according to one embodiment of the utility model, the antenna or antennas located on the inside of the plastic housing of the antenna module are metal surfaces applied by coating.

According to a further embodiment of the utility model, a solderable region is provided on the inside of the plastic housing of the antenna module, in particular for (or with) an SMD component (patch component) for the antenna and/or a further region of the matching network, and/or in particular a region not provided as an antenna.

According to a further embodiment of the utility model, the antennas are each designed as a metal surface coating with a layer thickness of 0.5 μm to approximately 2 μm on the inside of the plastic housing of the antenna module.

According to a further embodiment of the utility model, the inner side of the plastic housing of the antenna module is only partially (i.e. not completely and/or not over the entire surface of the inner side) coated.

According to a further embodiment of the utility model, the antenna located on the inside of the plastic housing of the antenna module is a metal surface applied by coating, in particular a plating, in particular comprising aluminum and/or copper and/or nickel.

According to a further embodiment of the utility model, a plurality of these antennas are provided for transmitting communication signals, in particular as antennas for cellular mobile radio and/or WiFi and/or GNSS and/or RKE and/or autopilot and/or SDARS and/or DAB and/or V2X.

Drawings

Further possible features and advantages of the inventive design will emerge from the following description of the inventive design with the aid of the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

figure 1 shows an antenna module which can be fitted for example on a vehicle roof from above in perspective in section,

figure 2 shows the plastic housing of the (roof) antenna module in perspective from below,

figure 3 shows in a simplified manner the assembly of the plastic housing on the base plate 4 of the (roof) antenna module from above in perspective,

figure 4 shows the assembled (roof) antenna module in a simplified manner in perspective from above,

figure 5 shows a further (roof) antenna module in perspective from above,

figure 6 shows the (roof) antenna module in perspective from above,

figure 7 shows the (roof) antenna module in a simplified manner from above in perspective,

figure 8 shows the (roof) antenna module in a simplified manner from below in perspective,

fig. 9 shows a simplified side view of a (roof) antenna module located on the roof of a vehicle.

Detailed Description

Fig. 9 shows a simplified side view of a (roof) antenna module 1, which is mounted on a roof 2 of a vehicle 3, such as a motor vehicle, a passenger motor vehicle (PKW), a load motor vehicle (LKW). The antenna module 1 may be designed for communication with a mobile radio network such as 2G/3G/4G/5G/6G/7G and/or with a WLAN and/or with a vehicle radio access system and/or by bluetooth and/or by satellite navigation and/or by short-range radio and/or as an external part of the vehicle and/or as a radio broadcast inside the vehicle 3 and the like, for example.

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the utility model of an antenna module 1 (for example, a roof or a tailgate or a windshield for a vehicle, etc.) in a perspective view from above, a base plate 4 having a ground plane for abutting against a vehicle 3 being provided on the underside, a central frame 5 being fastened to the ground plate 4.

The antenna module 1 has (here laterally and upwardly) a plastic housing 6 which is fastened to the base plate 4.

The antenna module 1 has a plurality of antennas 7 to 12 for transmitting communication signals 13 (received and/or to be transmitted), in particular here a first and a second (e.g. MIMO) antenna 7,8 for cellular (2G and/or 3G and/or 4G and/or 5G and/or 6G and/or 7G etc.) mobile radio, a (plate) antenna 9 for WiFi and/or V2X, a (patch) antenna 10 for GNSS and/or SDARS and/or HAF, and (as antenna diversity) two

antennas

11, 12 for keyless/wireless electric vehicle access RKE, wherein additionally antennas for e.g. autopilot and/or antennas for DAB and/or other antennas are also possible.

All or some of the antennas 7 to 12 are designed on the inner side 14 of the plastic housing 6, for example, the

antennas

7,8, 11, 12 are designed on the inner side 14 of the upper side of the plastic housing 6.

Furthermore, solderable areas 17 to 22 etc. (for example made of/containing tin) are provided on the inner side 14 of the upper side of the plastic housing 6, for example in two

areas

23, 24 marked with circles.

On the solderable areas 17 to 22 (of the inner side 14 of the plastic housing 6) electronic components 26 to 30 can be fastened, for example by means of SMD/soldering or the like. The electronic components 26 to 30 may be, for example, matching network components for one or more matching networks for the at least one antenna 7 to 12, respectively.

On the inner side 14 (here the upper side) of the plastic housing 6, electrically conductive areas 31, 32 (for example made of tin) are also provided, which electrically conductively connect the at least one

antenna

11, 12 to contact points provided for contact, for example in the form of plug outlets 33, 34 (facing the vehicle interior, for example with a cable).

Furthermore, fig. 1 shows a motherboard 35, for example, with an ECU (electronic control unit) and/or an NAD. The NAD (Network Access Device ) can be constructed, for example, similarly to a cell phone/mobile radio terminal device/USB-3G/4G/5G network card. The NAD (network access device) may for example have electronics such as receivers, transmitters, amplifiers, 2G/3G/4G/5G/6G/7G etc., baseband chip sets etc. The electronic device may send and/or receive signals 13 using antennas 7 to 12, for example by means of at least one cellular mobile radio network and/or WiFi or the like.

In fig. 1, for the

antenna

7,8, 11, 12 to be in electrically conductive contact with the main board 35 via the

connection terminals

31, 32 and the

contact points

33, 34, for example spring elements and/or soldered joints/soldering parts and/or (possibly for insulation) silicone pads are provided.

Fig. 2 shows the embodiment of the utility model of the plastic housing 6 of the antenna module 1 (as shown for example in fig. 1) in perspective from below. The inner side 14 of the plastic housing 6 (here with four side walls 36 to 39 and a top side 40) is provided with

antennas

7,8, 11, 12 as shown in fig. 1 for transmitting the communication signals 13 (received and/or to be transmitted), for example two antennas 7,8 for cellular mobile radio and two

antennas

11, 12 for keyless/radio vehicle access being provided on the top wall (cover side) 40. The antennas 7 to 12 are applied here as a metal coating on the plastic housing 6.

Fig. 3 shows in a simplified manner from above a perspective view a design of the inventive assembly of a plastic housing 6 which is mounted onto a base plate 4 (and for example glued/screwed onto it), in fig. 3, on the base plate 4 for example a central frame 5 made of for example metal (for example zinc die cast) for fastening the ECU and shielding electronics. In fig. 3, the main board is put into the center frame 5, and then the plastic case 6 is placed and fastened on the base plate 4. The main board 35 is used, for example, for processing the signals 13 and/or as a carrier for the additional antennas 9, 10 and/or for the

antenna connection elements

31, 32 located inside the plastic housing 6.

The dimensions of the antenna module 1 may be, for example, about 30 x 100 x 350mm or the antenna module may be of other dimensions.

Fig. 4 shows the design of the assembled antenna module 1 in a simplified manner, in a perspective view from above, with only borderlines.

Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment of the utility model (shark-fin-shaped) of the antenna module 1 (in particular of a roof antenna module) in a perspective view from above obliquely, a base plate having a ground plane for abutment against the vehicle 3 being provided on the bottom side.

The antenna module 1 (here laterally and upwardly) also has a plastic housing 6 which is fastened to the base plate 4.

The antenna module 1 has a plurality of antennas 7 to 12 for transmitting (received and/or to be transmitted) communication signals 13, in particular here first and second (e.g. MIMO) antennas 7,8 for cellular (2G and/or 3G and/or 4G and/or 5G and/or 6G and/or 7G etc.) mobile radios, a (plate) antenna 9 for WiFi and/or V2X, a (patch) antenna 10 for GNSS and/or SDARS and/or HAF located on a motherboard (main PCB/printed circuit board) 35. Furthermore, for example, one or both

antennas

11, 12 for keyless/radio vehicle access RKE and/or an antenna for autopilot and/or an antenna for DAB and/or other antennas may be implemented.

All or some of the antennas 7 to 12 are designed on the inner side 14 of the plastic housing 6, for example, the antennas 7,8, 9 are each designed on the inner side 14 of the side of the plastic housing 6.

Further,

plug outlets

33, 34 are provided for connecting the main board 35 (main circuit board) to the at least one antenna 7,8, respectively. For example, a silicone pad, spring element, solder, etc. may be used to contact the antenna with the motherboard.

Plugs

36, 37 may extend downwardly from the main panel, which plugs may for example protrude through roof recesses into the interior of the vehicle 3 and may be used for inserting cables or cable bundles to contact units in the vehicle 3.

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view from above of the plastic housing 6 (with integrated metal antenna structure) of the antenna module 1 (as shown for example in fig. 5). All or one or as here some of the antennas 7 to 12 (for example antennas 7,8, 9) are applied (as antenna structures) on the inner side 14 of the plastic housing 6 of the antenna module 1.

Fig. 7 shows a plastic housing 6 (with an integrated metal antenna structure) of the antenna module 1 (as shown for example in fig. 5 and 6) in a simplified manner from above in a perspective transparent manner.

Fig. 8 shows a simplified perspective view of the plastic housing 6 (with integrated metal antenna structure) of the antenna module 1 (as shown for example in fig. 5 to 7) in a manner looking at the antenna module 1 from below.

The advantages regarding a possible embodiment of the utility model with regard to the placement of the antennas 7,8, (11), 12 and/or the solderable areas 16 to 22 on the inner side 14 of the plastic housing 6 of the antenna module are as follows:

the antenna can be applied, for example, on the inside of the plastic housing 6 of the antenna module 1, for example by PVD method, with a metal plating layer made of, for example, aluminum-copper-nickel and/or having a layer thickness of, for example, 0.5 μm to about 2 μm. The plastic housing 6 of the antenna module 1 can thus be embodied with an integrated metal coating on the inner side 14; the layer may also be designed to be solderable.

The solderable areas 16 to 22 of the inner side 14 of the plastic housing 6 of the antenna module 1 can replace additional circuit boards, for example for SMD components (for example for matching networks) for adjusting the required antenna frequency.

The locally metal-coated region of the inner side of the plastic housing of the antenna module can be developed as an antenna structure specifically for the desired frequency range and does not require additional parts/components for the individual antennas.

Directly on the plastic (coated area close to the antenna structure) means for matching the network can be equipped with SMD technology to adjust the antenna frequency.

Since the plastic housing is directly and locally metal-coated on the inside, it can serve as a carrier for both the protective housing and the matching network.

The combination of the properties and low weight of plastics with the functionality of a thinner integrated antenna structure may have advantages.

It is possible to realize a smaller number of components and a lower complexity (cost) and lighter weight of the module than an antenna and matching network element in the form of a PCB.

A metallic surface coating with a layer thickness of in particular 0.5 μm to about 2 μm may be used for the antenna structures 7,8, (11), 12 and/or the solderable areas 16 to 22.

Claims

1. An antenna module (1),

the antenna module has:

-a plastic housing (6)

-at least one antenna (7, 8, 11, 12) designed on the inside (14) of said plastic housing (6).

2. The antenna module (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the antenna module (1) is a roof antenna module (1) for a motor vehicle.

3. An antenna module (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of antennas (7, 8, 11, 12) are designed on the inner side (14) of the plastic housing (6).

4. The antenna module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the antenna (7, 8, 11, 12) located on the inside (14) of the plastic housing (6) of the antenna module (1) is a metal surface applied by coating.

5. The antenna module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the antennas (7, 8, 11, 12) are each designed as a metallic surface coating with a layer thickness of 0.5 μm to about 200 μm on the inner side (14) of the plastic housing (6) of the antenna module (1).

6. The antenna module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner side (14) of the plastic housing (6) of the antenna module (1) is only partially coated.

7. The antenna module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the antenna (7, 8, 11, 12) located on the inside (14) of the plastic housing (6) of the antenna module (1) is a metal surface applied by coating.

8. The antenna module (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the antennas (7, 8, 11, 12) located on the inner side (14) of the plastic housing (6) of the antenna module (1) are plating layers.

9. The antenna module (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the plating comprises an aluminum plating and/or a copper plating and/or a nickel plating.

10. The antenna module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more of the antennas (7, 8, 11, 12) are arranged for transmitting communication signals.

11. Antenna module (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that antennas (7, 8, 11, 12) for cellular mobile radio and/or WiFi and/or GNSS and/or RKE and/or autopilot and/or SDARS and/or DAB and/or V2X are provided.

12. The antenna module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a solderable area (16-22) is provided or used on the inner side (14) of the plastic housing (6) of the antenna module (1).

13. The antenna module (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that an area for SMD components and/or matching network components for the antenna is provided or used on the inner side (14) of the plastic housing (6) of the antenna module (1).

14. The antenna module (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that some solderable areas (16-22, 23, 24) provided on the inside (14) of the plastic housing (6) of the antenna module (1) are not provided or used as antennas (7, 8, 11, 12) but only as areas for electronic components.

15. The antenna module (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that some solderable areas (16-22, 23, 24) provided on the inside (14) of the plastic housing (6) of the antenna module (1) are not provided or used as antennas (7, 8, 11, 12) but only as areas for SMD components and/or matching network components of the antennas (7, 8, 11, 12).