DK2814121T3 - System with active or passive electronic signal processing unit, in particular antenna amplifier - Google Patents

Description

System with active or passive electronic signal processing unit, in particular antenna amplifier

Description [0001] The invention relates to a system with an active or passive electronic signal processing unit, in particular an antenna amplifier or an antenna combiner for mobile use, having a housing accommodating electronic parts and components, as well as connection sockets and/or connector plugs situated on the housing and intended for connecting supply lines to contact elements and for signal inputting and signal outputting according to the preamble to Claim 1.

[0002] An antenna amplifier with connectors between the antenna amplifier and electrical conductors is already known from DE 10 2005 017 397 Al. This antenna amplifier, provided in particular for a vehicle, comprises a housing in which a circuit board with electronic components for the realization of the electrical functions is arranged. Electrical conductors are also present which can be contact-connected to the antenna amplifier as the signal processing unit.

[0003] According to that solution, the housing has an opening in which a single slot is arranged, or out of which a supply line to the single slot is led, wherein the electrical conductors can be connected to the slot via at least one corresponding connector. With such a configuration having a single slot, this must either be realized as a special, type-specific slot, or use is made of a standard connector which, however, must then have a large number of terminals, wherein such standard connectors usually do not have the optimum transmission and attenuation properties desired for the high-frequency range.

[0004] In the electronic device for a vehicle, in particular an antenna amplifier or tuner with receiving space for a connector according to DE 10 2006 009 582 Al, the housing consists of plastic. It is also already known from this document of the prior art, that the housing forms boundaries for a receiving space of a connector, wherein at least one contact partner that starts from the circuit board for contacting the connector is arranged inside the receiving space. While such a solution has the advantage of saving a connection partner, it nevertheless creates problems in respect of the required screening and the protection class or ability to withstand environmental influences.

[0005] The generic DE 103 56 226 Al, which is viewed as the closest prior art, relates to an antenna amplifier with a connector between the antenna amplifier and an electrical supply line. Specifically, it is provided there that the electrical supply line is arranged detachably at the signal processing unit, i.e. the antenna amplifier. This should have the advantage that the signal processing unit can be handled separately from the contacting means through which the contact is made to the antenna structure. The signal processing unit thus no longer forms one construction unit with the contacting means. During production of the vehicle, the signal processing unit can be mounted in the construction space provided for it, and this can be done in the same way as the contacting means. The attachment of the electrical supply lines then subsequently takes place. The type and manner of the structure and the contacting of the contacting means should be arbitrary, and can be adapted to the respective application purpose, in particular to the available construction space. Different types of electrical supply line should also come into consideration.

[0006] If it is intended in a solution according to DE 103 56 226 Al that the signal processing unit is exchanged or retrofitted, use must nevertheless be made of the special supply lines required, as well as of the special connector. This does, however, give rise to difficulties when, on the one hand, the connectors used are not subject to any standardization or, on the other hand, an exchange or retrofit is to be done on an object that contains signal-inputting or signal-outputting assemblies that belong to different types or generations of device technology.

[0007] For the above reasons it is therefore the object of the invention to specify a more developed system with an active or passive electronic signal processing unit, namely an antenna amplifier or an antenna combiner for mobile use, in particular in motor vehicle equipment, which is able, on the basis of a housing and connection sockets and/or connector plugs, to react to individual requirements, so that it is possible to react without any difficulty to customer requests, and an exchange or retrofit is possible quite independently of the respective device generation in use.

[0008] The object of the invention is achieved through the combination of features according to Claim 1 and to the set according to the teaching of Claim 4. A system with an active or passive electronic signal processing unit, in particular an antenna amplifier or an antenna combiner for mobile application, here namely in turn the application in the automobile field, is accordingly assumed, wherein the signal processing unit has a housing that accommodates the necessary electronic parts and components. Connection sockets and/or connector plugs are further provided on the housing, which serve to connect supply lines to contact elements and for inputting and outputting signals.

[0009] According to the invention, the connection sockets and/or connector plugs situated on the housing correspond to a uniform type of coaxial connectors, wherein the connectable supply lines have at one first connection end an in this respect complementary connector plug or a connection socket and at a further, second connection end an individual plug or socket corresponding to the respective signal inputting or outputting assembly.

[0010] The housing is formed as a flat housing with a square or rectangular design. The connection sockets or connector plugs on the housing side are located at at least one of the flat housing side faces or housing end faces.

[0011] The connection sockets or connector plugs on the housing side have a miniaturized design.

[0012] For example, but also preferably, the connection sockets or connector plugs on the housing side are realized as SMB A or FAKRA connectors.

[0013] In a preferred development of the invention, the connection sockets or connector plugs provided at the other connection end of the respective connectable supply line are realized as MCX connectors, UHF connectors, N connectors, SMA connectors, SMB connectors, WICLIC connectors, TS-9 connectors, DIN ISO car antenna connectors or similar connectors.

[0014] According to the invention, a set composed of an antenna amplifier and/or an antenna combiner according to the teaching outlined above, and comprising pre-assembled, connectable supply lines with connection sockets or connector plugs specific to customer requests, is also provided.

[0015] The invention is to be explained in more detail below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment and of a figure.

[0016] The figure here illustrates an exemplary housing of an antenna amplifier with an antenna signal input. An antenna signal output for a DAB signal, and a further output for a usual AM/FM signal, are also present. The antenna amplifier thus fulfils the function of an antenna combiner at the same time.

[0017] The supply with electrical energy can be made via a so-called phantom power input or by means of a separate energy supply cable according to the illustration in the figure.

[0018] The figure is based in the first place on an active antenna amplifier with integrated antenna combiner 1.

[0019] The antenna amplifier with integrated antenna combiner 1 is located in a flat, metal housing with, preferably, a rectangular form.

[0020] A group of three connection sockets 3, 4, 5 is arranged at a front face 2 of the antenna amplifier with the antenna combiner.

[0021] A supply cable 6 with associated flat blade connector 7 is also provided.

[0022] A corresponding plug 8 or 9, located at one end of a connectable supply line 10 or 11, can now be connected to the connection sockets 3, 4 and 5.

[0023] The further connecting end of the connectable supply line 10 or 11 then comprises, for example, a classic DIN-ISO antenna plug (angle plug) 13 or a BNC or CNC connector 14, or another suitable coaxial connecting element 15 or 16.

[0024] The connection sockets or connector plugs 3, 4, 5 on the housing side preferably have a miniaturized design. They can, in particular, be used as so-called SMBA or FAKRA connectors. FAKRA connectors 17 are also used in the case of the supply lines 10 and 11 with the connectors 15 and 16 illustrated in the figure.

[0025] It is within the sense of the invention, that the connectors 13, 14 or 15, 16 can also be realized as MCX connectors, UHF connectors, N connectors, SMA connectors, SMB connectors, WICFIC connectors, TS-9 connectors or the like.

[0026] The set illustrated in the figure, which in this form is constituted with the supply lines 10 and 11 and in the corresponding connection sockets or connector plugs, is a variation of the fulfilment of a customer request. Because the actual signal processing unit is provided with uniform connecting elements with miniaturized design, further sets can be provided and delivered depending on the customer’s requirements or the particular application. It is therefore not necessary to implement additional, parallel sockets or plugs corresponding to other standards or types of connector, with the result that there is neither an impairment of the electrical properties of the signal processing unit, nor does the housing take up too much construction space.

Claims (4)

1. System of active or passive electronic signal processing unit, in particular antenna amplifier or antenna combiner (1) for mobile use in the automobile area, with a housing containing electronic components and components, as well as connection sockets provided on the housing, and / or connection plugs (3, 4, 5) for connecting wires (10, 11) to contact elements as well as for the input and output of signals, characterized in that the connection sockets or connection connectors (3, 4, 5) located on the housing corresponds to a unit type of coaxial connectors, wherein the connectable leads (10, 11) to a connector end comprise a complementary connector connector or connector (8, 9, 17), as well as a further connector end one to the respective connector. signal input and output component corresponding to individual connectors or socket (13, 14, 15, 16), and the housing has a flat, square or rectangular design, and connection socket e or the connectors on the housing side are located on at least one of the flat housing sides (2), whereby the connection sockets or connectors (3, 4, 5) on the housing side have a miniaturized design. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection sockets or connectors (3, 4, 5) on the housing side are designed as SMBA or FAKRA connectors. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection sockets or connectors provided at the other connection end for each of the connectable supply lines (10, 11) are designed as MCX connectors, UHF connectors, N connectors, SMA connectors, SMB connectors, WICLIC connectors, TS-9 connectors, DIN ISO auto antenna connectors or similar connectors. A kit consisting of an antenna amplifier and / or an antenna combiner according to at least one of the preceding claims, and prefabricated, connectable supply lines with connection sockets or connectors which are customer-specific.