EP1851819B1 - Antenna and means for fastening said antenna to a vehicle and connecting the same to one or several wires of a harness installed in the vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are an antenna and a means for fastening said antenna to a vehicle and connecting the antenna to one or several wires (30) of a harness installed in the vehicle. The vehicle comprises a support part (23) that is provided with an exterior face, an interior face, and a hole (24) while the antenna encompasses a base part (1) with a bottom side which faces the support part (23). The means for fastening the antenna is fitted with a first fixing device (10) located on the base part (1) and a second fixing device (15, 22) which cooperates with the first fixing device (10) and is equipped with a fixture (15). Said fixture (15) is embodied such that the same can be braced together with the base part (1) of the antenna in such a way that the support part (23) is clamped between the fixture (15) and the base part (1) while one or several HF wires which protrude from the base part (1) and in which one respective HF plug-in connection (7, 28) is arranged are guided into the interior of the vehicle between the exterior face of the fixture (15) and the edge of the hole (24) via the hole (24) and are connected there to the one or several wires (30) of the harness by means of the respective plug-in connection (7, 28). Each inventive HF plug-in connection (7, 28) is composed of a plug (7) that is placed in a fixed manner on the base part (1) and a coupler (28) which is mounted on one of the wires (30) of the harness and is attached in a receiving device (29, 29a). Said receiving device (29, 29a) is designed so as to accommodate a coupler (28) for each plug (7) that is located on the base part (1) and is to be connected and fix said coupler (28) in a position which is mirror-inverted relative to the position of the plugs (7). The receiving device (29, 29a) can directly or indirectly be plugged onto the fixture (15) and be fixed thereto in order to connect the couplers (28) to the plugs (7).

Description

The invention relates to an antenna and means for mounting the antenna on a vehicle and for connecting the antenna to one or more cables of a vehicle-mounted harness with the features specified in the preamble of claim 1. Such a system is out of the DE 20 2004 015503 U1 known.

A similar system is in the older, but not previously published German patent application 10 2004 037 813.4 disclosed. In this case lead out of the foot of the antenna RF cable, which led laterally past the holder of the antenna and then guided on the underside of the support member of the vehicle to which the antenna is mounted, in particular on the roof of the vehicle, until the cable finally be connected at a location farther from the mounting location of the antenna with a laid in the vehicle, prefabricated cable harness. To this end, at the ends of the RF cables leading out of the antenna are coaxial plugs with matching coaxial couplers be connected, which are pre-assembled to the associated cables of the wiring harness. This type of connection of the antenna to the wiring harness is expensive and requires multiple plug-in operations at different locations, eg. As in the range of the C-pillar of the vehicle, care must be taken to ensure that the plugs are connected to the correct couplers, what these coded either color match or mechanically coded in different ways so that incorrect connections are excluded. Once the antenna has been mounted, connected and the wiring hidden by the headliner, repair work and retrofitting are only possible with great effort.

From the JP 2003 318619 A a vehicle antenna with a holder is known, which makes a ground contact and allows the connection of a single line. The holder has for this purpose a coupler whose opening is aligned parallel to a base surface. To connect the line, an E-shaped bracket, which contains a plug in its center with the coupler locked.

From the DE 102 10 593 A1 a fastening device for a vehicle antenna with a latching support is known, which has four outgoing from a center latching support elements, wherein between adjacent latching support elements in each case one line extends.

In vehicle antennas, which are to be connected with only a single cable, it is also known to arrange at the foot of the antenna a plug which comes to lie centrally in the hole of the vehicle roof, and to provide an associated cable of the wiring harness with a matching coupler, which can be plugged directly onto the plug on the antenna base. However, this solution has become known by previous use is not suitable for connecting two or more cables to the antenna, for which a comparatively high effort is required. The present invention has for its object to provide a way how an antenna to be mounted on vehicles with less effort than before can be connected to multiple cables.

This object is achieved by an antenna and means for mounting the antenna on a vehicle and for connecting the antenna having the features specified in claim 1 and by a vehicle having the features specified in claim 31. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

• Jegliche Steckverbinder, mit welchen die Antenne mit dem vorgefertigten und im Fahrzeug verlegten Kabelbaum verbunden wird, sind unmittelbar an der Unterseite des Fußteiles der Antenne angeordnet.
• Es müssen keine aus dem Antennenfuß austretende Leitungen mehr in das Loch im Trägerteil (Dach) des Fahrzeuges eingefädelt und bis zu einer entfernt liegenden Verbindungsstelle mit dem Kabelbaum geführt werden.
• Die Antenne kann von oben her mit nur einer Hand und orientierungssicher mit vormontierter Halterung durch das Loch im Trägerteil gesteckt werden.
• Nach dem Aufstecken der Antenne kann diese durch Anziehen der Schraube ebenfalls mit nur einer Hand endgültig festgelegt werden.
• Die Aufnahmeeinrichtung für die Kuppler kann bereits beim Hersteller des Kabelbaumes mit den Kupplern verbunden werden, nachdem die koaxialen Kuppler an den zugehörigen Kabeln des Kabelbaumes montiert worden sind.
• Bei der Montage im Fahrzeugwerk muss der Monteur lediglich noch die Aufnahmeeinrichtung in die Hand nehmen und auf die Halterung der Antenne stecken. Das lässt sich ebenfalls mit nur einer Hand bewerkstelligen.
• Dabei kann durch entsprechende mechanische Codierung zwischen der Aufnahmeeinrichtung und der Halterung sichergestellt werden, dass durch das Aufstecken der Aufnahmeeinrichtung die Kuppler auf die richtigen Stecker gelangen.
• Die Erfindung ist reparaturfreundlich: Die Kuppler können, wenn erforderlich, aus der vorzugsweise als Gehäuse ausgebildeten Aufnahmeeinrichtung entnommen werden; die Aufnahmeeinrichtung kann nach Lösen der Verrastung von der Halterung der Antenne abgezogen werden. Durch Lösen der Schraube und Verengen der Schenkel der Halterung kann die Antenne vollends abgebaut werden. Alle diese Arbeiten sind ausschließlich auf die Montagestelle der Antenne beschränkt.
• Zusätzliche Schnittstellen in der C-Säule des Fahrzeuges entfallen.
• Die Außenleiter der koaxialen Stecker können der metallischen Grundplatte des Fußteils der Antenne einstückig angeformt werden. Sie können je nach Ausführungsform der Antenne auch teilweise unbelegt bleiben, wenn weniger als die maximal vorgesehene Anzahl Leitungen aus dem Fußteil der Antenne herausgeführt werden müssen. Das erlaubt es, ohne besonderen Aufwand für unterschiedliche Ausführungsformen der Antenne übereinstimmende Fußteile, stets die gleiche Anzahl koaxialer Stecker oder wenigstens deren Außenleiter, übereinstimmende Halterungen und Befestigungseinrichtungen und übereinstimmende Kuppler und Aufnahmeeinrichtungen für die Kuppler vorzusehen.
• Werden weniger als die maximal möglich Anzahl Kuppler benötigt, können die in der Aufnahmeeinrichtung dafür vorgesehenen Plätze einfach frei bleiben.
• Die Erfindung eignet sich besonders für bis zu vier koaxiale Stecker an der Unterseite der Fußplatte und für dementsprechend bis zu vier Kuppler in der Aufnahmeeinrichtung. Damit können alle gegenwärtigen und absehbaren Anwendungsfälle abgedeckt werden. Die Verwendung gleicher Fußteile, gleicher Kuppler und gleicher Aufnahmeeinrichtungen dafür ermöglicht eine weitgehende Standardisierung über unterschiedliche Fahrzeugmodelle hinweg.
• Die Aufnahmeeinrichtung kann preiswert als Spritzgußteile aus Kunststoff hergestellt werden.
• Das Fußteil der Antenne kann einschließlich der Außenleiter für die koaxialen Stecker preiswert einstückig durch Druckgießen, z. B. aus Aluminium, hergestellt werden.
• Die Erfindung eignet sich besonders auch für schwierige und schwer zugängliche Einbaustellen und für beengte Platzverhältnisse im Fahrzeug.
• Durch gegenseitige mechanische Kodierungen an der Aufnahmeeinrichtung und an den Kupplern kann sichergestellt werden, dass diese jeweils stets nur in einer vorgegebenen Position in der Aufnahmeeinrichtung angeordnet werden können. Vorzugsweise gibt es bis zu vier Kodierungen für das Anschließen von bis zu vier Kabeln an bis zu vier Antennenabgänge. Mit einer gegenseitigen mechanischen Kodierung der Halterung und der Aufnahmeeinrichtung kann man zusätzlich erreichen, dass sich die Aufnahmeeinrichtung nur in einer einzigen Orientierung auf die Halterung stecken lässt. Beides zusammen führt dazu, dass die Kabel des Kabelbaumes nur funktionsrichtig mit den Steckern der Antenne verbunden werden können.
• Eine Nachrüstung von HF-Kabeln ist ohne größeren Aufwand möglich.
• Die Ausleitung kann nach Wahl über abgewinkelte Kuppler oder über gerade Kuppler erfolgen, was die Universalität der Einsatzmöglichkeiten erhöht.
• Bisher erforderliche Krimp-Kontakte zur Befestigung von Steckern an den aus dem Antennenfuß herausführenden Leitungen entfallen. Sie können durch in den Antennenfuß integrierte HF-Kontakte ersetzt werden. Eine direkte Kontaktierung der Innenleiter der koaxialen Stecker ist auf einer Leiterplattenoberseite im Antennenfuß durch Löten oder prozessoptimiert durch federnde
• Innenleiterkontakte an der Leiterplattenunterseite gleichzeitig mit dem Fügen der Leiterplatten möglich.
• Man kommt mit einem quadratischen Karosserieloch mit einer Nennweite von 17mm aus. Ein solches Loch kann für alle Fahrzeugtypen eines Fahrzeugherstellers Verwendung finden.
• Die Aufnahmeeinrichtung für die koaxialen Kuppler kann gleichzeitig zur Abfangung der von den Kupplern ausgehenden koaxialen Leitungen und dem Schutz der elektrischen Kontakte dienen.
• Die Erfindung eignet sich zur Ergänzung der in der deutschen Patentanmeldung 10 2004 037 813.4 offenbarten Befestigungsvorrichtung für eine Antenne auf einem Fahrzeug. Montagetechnik und Werkzeuge, die dafür entwickelt wurden, können auch für Zwecke der vorliegenden Erfindung verwendet werden.
• Die Leitungssatzplanung beim Fahrzeughersteller wird erleichtert, Antennenleitungsänderungen entfallen.
• Durch ein mit der Halterung der Antenne gekoppeltes Kontaktteil aus Metall kann zugleich mit der Befestigung der Antenne auf dem Dach oder auf einem anderen leitenden Trägerteil wie z. B. auf einer metallisierten Scheibe, eine erwünschte Massekontaktierung für die Antenne verwirklicht werden.

The invention has significant advantages:

• Any connector with which the antenna is connected to the prefabricated and installed in the vehicle wiring harness, are located directly on the underside of the foot part of the antenna.
• It is no longer necessary to thread cables emerging from the antenna base into the hole in the carrier part (roof) of the vehicle and to guide them to a remote connection point with the cable harness.
• The antenna can be inserted from above with only one hand and orientation safe with pre-mounted bracket through the hole in the carrier part.
• After attaching the antenna, this can be determined by tightening the screw also with only one hand final.
• The coupler receptacle may already be connected to the coupler by the manufacturer of the harness after the coaxial couplers have been mounted to the associated cables of the harness.
• During assembly in the vehicle plant, the installer only has to pick up the receiving device and insert it onto the holder of the antenna. This can also be done with just one hand.
• It can be ensured by appropriate mechanical coding between the receiving device and the holder, that get through the attachment of the receiving device, the coupler on the right plug.
• The invention is easy to repair: The couplers can, if necessary, be removed from the preferably designed as a housing receiving device; the receiving device can be deducted after releasing the locking of the holder of the antenna. By loosening the screw and narrowing the legs of the holder, the antenna can be completely dismantled. All this work is limited to the mounting location of the antenna.
• Additional interfaces in the C-pillar of the vehicle are eliminated.
• The outer conductors of the coaxial connector can be integrally formed on the metallic base plate of the foot part of the antenna. Depending on the embodiment of the antenna, they may also be partially unoccupied, if less as the maximum number of lines must be led out of the foot of the antenna. This makes it possible, without particular effort for different embodiments of the antenna matching foot parts, always the same number of coaxial connector or at least their outer conductor, matching mounts and fasteners and matching couplers and receptacles for the coupler provide.
• If less than the maximum number of couplers is required, the slots provided in the receiving device can simply remain free.
• The invention is particularly suitable for up to four coaxial plugs on the underside of the footplate and, accordingly, for up to four couplers in the receptacle. Thus, all present and foreseeable applications can be covered. The use of the same foot parts, the same coupler and the same recording devices allows a wide standardization across different vehicle models away.
• The receiving device can be inexpensively manufactured as injection molded plastic parts.
• The foot of the antenna, including the outer conductor for the coaxial connector inexpensive integrally by die-casting, z. B. made of aluminum.
• The invention is particularly suitable for difficult and difficult to access installation sites and for limited space in the vehicle.
• By mutual mechanical coding on the receiving device and on the couplers can be ensured that they can always be arranged only in a predetermined position in the receiving device. Preferably, there are up to four codings for connecting up to four cables to up to four antenna outlets. With a mutual mechanical coding of the holder and the receiving device can also achieve that the receiving device can only be stuck in a single orientation on the holder. Both together This means that the cables of the cable harness can only be connected properly to the plugs of the antenna.
• A retrofit of RF cables is possible without much effort.
• The discharge can be done on choice of angled couplers or straight couplers, which increases the universality of applications.
• Previously required crimp contacts for attaching plugs to the leading out of the antenna base lines omitted. They can be replaced by HF contacts integrated into the antenna base. A direct contacting of the inner conductor of the coaxial connector is on a PCB top in the antenna base by soldering or process optimized by resilient
• Internal conductor contacts on the underside of the PCB possible simultaneously with the joining of the printed circuit boards.
• It comes with a square body hole with a nominal width of 17mm. Such a hole can be used for all vehicle types of a vehicle manufacturer.
• The coaxial coupler receptacle can simultaneously serve to cushion the coaxial lines from the couplers and protect the electrical contacts.
• The invention is suitable for supplementing the fastening device disclosed in German Patent Application 10 2004 037 813.4 for an antenna on a vehicle. Assembly techniques and tools developed therefor can also be used for purposes of the present invention.
• Wiring set planning at the vehicle manufacturer is made easier, antenna line changes are eliminated.
• By a coupled with the holder of the antenna contact part made of metal can simultaneously with the attachment of the antenna on the roof or on another conductive support member such. B. on a metallized disc, a desired ground contact for the antenna can be realized.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments.

Figur 1

ist eine isometrische Ansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Antenne bei abge- nommener Abdeckung,

Figur 2

ist eine isometrische Ansicht der Antenne aus Figur 1, jedoch schräg von unten gesehen und mit aufgesetzter Abdeckung,

Figur 3

zeigt die Antenne in einer Ansicht wie in Figur 2, ergänzt um eine am Anten- nenfuß angebrachte Halterung,

Figur 4

zeigt die Antenne aus Figur 3, nachdem die Halterung durch ein Loch in ei- nem Trägerteil eines Fahrzeuges gesteckt wurde,

Figur 5

zeigt als Detail in einer Ansicht auf die Unterseite des Trägerteils des Fahr- zeugs das in dem Trägerteil vorgesehene Loch mit vier vom Antennenfuß ausgehenden, durch das Loch ragenden Steckern, bei abgenommener Hal- terung,

Figur 6

zeigt die Ansicht aus Figur 5, ergänzt durch die Halterung,

Figur 7

zeigt die Ansicht aus Figur 6, ergänzt um ein auf die Halterung geschobenes Kontaktteil,

Figur 8

zeigt die Ansicht aus Figur 7, ergänzt um eine Befestigungsschraube,

Figur 9

zeigt die Ansicht aus Figur 8, ergänzt um eine Aufnahmeeinrichtung mit vier abgewinkelten Kupplern,

Figur 10

zeigt die Anordnung aus Figur 9, wobei von der Aufnahmeeinrichtung ein Gehäuseteil abgenommen ist,

Figur 11

zeigt die Anordnung der Winkelstecker aus Figur 10, jedoch ohne die Auf- nahmeeinrichtung, welche die Winkelstecker aufnimmt,

Figur 12

zeigt eine Abwandlung der Figur 9 dahingehend, dass die Aufnahmeeinrich- tung nur zwei abgewinkelte Kuppler enthält,

Figur 13

ist eine Ansicht auf die dem Trägerteil des Fahrzeugs abgewandte Seite der Aufnahmeeinrichtung, jedoch ohne eingesetzte Kuppler,

Figur 14

ist die Ansicht auf die dem Trägerteil des Fahrzeugs zugewandte Seite der Aufnahmeeinrichtung, ohne eingesetzte Kuppler,

Figur 15

zeigt in einer Darstellung entsprechend der Figur 10 ein abgewandeltes Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung mit einer anders gestalteten Aufnahme- einrichtung für vier abgewinkelte Kuppler,

Figur 16

zeigt die Anordnung aus Figur 15, jedoch mit einer abgenommenen Gehäu- sehälfte der Aufnahmeeinrichtung,

Figur 17

zeigt die Anordnung der Kuppler aus Figur 16, jedoch ohne die sie aufneh- mende Aufnahmeeinrichtung,

Figur 18

zeigt ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung in einer Schrägansicht auf die Unterseite des Trägerteils eines Fahrzeuges mit einer Halterung für vier gerade Kuppler,

Figur 19

zeigt als Detail vergrößert die Aufnahmeeinrichtung aus Figur 18, auf die Halterung der Antenne gesteckt,

Figur 20

zeigt die Anordnung der Stecker aus Figur 19, jedoch ohne die Aufnahme- einrichtung für die Stecker,

Figur 21

zeigt die Aufnahmeeinrichtung aus Figur 19 in einer Ansicht auf die dem Trägerteil abgewandte Seite, jedoch ohne aufgenommene Kuppler,

Figur 22

zeigt die Aufnahmeeinrichtung aus Figur 21 ohne aufgenommene Kuppler, und in einer Ansicht auf die dem Trägerteil zugewandte Seite,

Figur 23

zeigt das Aufnahmeteil aus Figur 21, jedoch mit nur einem einzigen einge- setzten Kuppler,

Figur 24

zeigt die Verwendung einer einstückigen Aufnahmeeinrichtung für bis zu vier Kuppler in einer Ansicht auf die dem Trägerteil zugewandte Seite,

Figur 25

zeigt die Aufnahmeeinrichtung aus Fig. 24 in einer Ansicht auf die dem Trä- gerteil abgewandte Seite, und

Figur 26

zeigt die Aufnahmeeinrichtung aus den Figuren 24 und 25 in einer transpa- renten Schrägansicht, welche die Anordnung der vier eingesetzten Kuppler erkennen lässt.

Die in den Figuren 1 und 2 dargestellte Antenne hat einen flachen Fußteil 1, welcher auf einem Sockel 2 mehrere Strahler für unterschiedliche Frequenzbereiche hat, von denen sich ein erster Strahler auf einer aufragenden Schaltungsträgerplatte 3 und weitere Strahler, z. B. als Patch ausgebildet, in zwei strahlungsdurchlässigen Kästen 4 und 5 befinden, welche auf dem Sockel 2 angeordnet sind. Der Sockel 2 ist als Gehäuse ausgebildet, in welchem sich passive und/oder aktive Schaltungselemente für die verschiedenen Strahler befinden. Die in Figur 1 dargestellte Oberseite des Fußteils 1 wird durch eine Kappe 6 aus einem Kunststoff, dargestellt in Figur 2, wasserdicht abgedeckt.Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Like or corresponding parts are designated in the various embodiments with corresponding reference numerals.

FIG. 1

is an isometric view of an antenna according to the invention with the cover removed,

FIG. 2

is an isometric view of the antenna FIG. 1 , but seen obliquely from below and with attached cover,

FIG. 3

shows the antenna in a view like in FIG. 2 , supplemented by a holder attached to the antenna base,

FIG. 4

shows the antenna FIG. 3 after the holder has been inserted through a hole in a carrier part of a vehicle,

FIG. 5

shows as a detail in a view of the underside of the carrier part of the vehicle, the hole provided in the carrier part with four outgoing from the antenna base, protruding through the hole plugs, with removed bracket,

FIG. 6

shows the view FIG. 5 , supplemented by the holder,

FIG. 7

shows the view FIG. 6 , supplemented by a contact part pushed onto the holder,

FIG. 8

shows the view FIG. 7 , supplemented by a fixing screw,

FIG. 9

shows the view FIG. 8 supplemented by a receptacle with four angled couplers,

FIG. 10

shows the arrangement FIG. 9 wherein a housing part is removed from the receiving device,

FIG. 11

shows the arrangement of the angle plug FIG. 10 but without the receiving device, which holds the angle plugs,

FIG. 12

shows a modification of FIG. 9 in that the receptacle contains only two angled couplers,

FIG. 13

is a view of the support member of the vehicle remote from the side of the receiving device, but without inserted couplers,

FIG. 14

is the view on the carrier part of the vehicle side facing the receiving device, without couplers,

FIG. 15

shows in a representation according to the FIG. 10 a modified embodiment of the invention with a differently shaped receiving device for four angled couplers,

FIG. 16

shows the arrangement FIG. 15 but with a removed half of the housing of the receiving device,

FIG. 17

shows the arrangement of couplers FIG. 16 but without the recording device receiving it,

FIG. 18

shows a further embodiment of the invention in an oblique view of the underside of the support member of a vehicle with a holder for four straight couplers,

FIG. 19

shows enlarged as a detail of the receiving device FIG. 18 , plugged into the holder of the antenna,

FIG. 20

shows the arrangement of the plug FIG. 19 but without the receptacle for the plugs,

FIG. 21

shows the recording device FIG. 19 in a view on the side facing away from the carrier part, but without recorded couplers,

FIG. 22

shows the recording device FIG. 21 without recorded couplers, and in a view of the carrier part facing side,

FIG. 23

shows the receiving part FIG. 21 but with only one single coupler used,

FIG. 24

shows the use of a one-piece receiving device for up to four couplers in a view on the side facing the carrier part,

FIG. 25

shows the recording device Fig. 24 in a view on the side facing away from the carrier part, and

FIG. 26

shows the receiving device from the Figures 24 and 25 in a transparent oblique view, which reveals the arrangement of the four couplers used.

The in the FIGS. 1 and 2 shown antenna has a flat foot part 1, which has a plurality of radiators for different frequency ranges on a base 2, of which a first radiator on an uprising circuit board 3 and further radiator, z. B. formed as a patch, located in two radiation-transparent boxes 4 and 5, which are arranged on the base 2. The base 2 is formed as a housing, in which there are passive and / or active circuit elements for the different radiators. In the FIG. 1 shown top of the foot part 1 is represented by a cap 6 made of a plastic, shown in FIG FIG. 2 , waterproof covered.

The foot part 1 consists essentially of a metallic base plate, for example, zinc or aluminum die casting, through which RF leads can be led down and ends in coaxial RF connectors 7, the inner conductor 9 is held with an insulating support, not shown, in the outer conductor 8. The underside of the base plate of the foot part 1, a first base 1a and a second base 1b is formed, which is located centrally on the first base 1a. Both bases 1a and 1b have in plan view the outline shape of a square with rounded corners, wherein the first base 1a projects on all sides beyond the outer edge of the second base 1b. A total of four RF connectors 7 are arranged so that they form the corners of an imaginary square. In the middle of this imaginary square of the metallic base plate of the foot part 7, a sleeve 10 is integrally formed. The sleeve 10 has four longitudinal slots 11 which define four posts 12. The sleeve 10 is provided with a not in FIG. 2 , but in FIG. 5 provided threaded hole 21 provided. It is surrounded by a recess 13 in the second base 1 b, in which when mounting the antenna, a contact part 16 can dip, which is based on the FIG. 7 will be described. The first base 1a serves to accommodate a second base 1 b surrounding, flat, compressible seal, which is not shown and is thicker than the height of the second base 1b above the first base 1 a. When attaching the antenna to a support part 23 of the vehicle, for. B. on the roof, the flat seal is compressed until the second base 1b abuts the support member 23. Another seal 14 is provided at the edge of the foot part 1.

In order to fix the antenna to a support part 23 of a vehicle, for example on the vehicle roof, a combination of a holder 15 made of plastic and a metallic contact part 16 is attached to the foot part 1. The holder 15 has a base 17, from which four legs 18 emanate, which are arranged regularly around an axis of symmetry 19 around. The base 17 is an annular formation having an outer edge from which the legs 18 extend, and having an inner edge from which extends a tapered, longitudinally slotted socket 20 which serves to captive a screw 22 which extends through the Contact member 16 and the holder 15 extends into the provided in the sleeve 10 threaded bore. With the screw 22 The combination of the holder 15 and the contact part 16 can be attached to the foot part 1.

FIG. 4 shows the support member 23 of the vehicle with a hole 24 which has the outline of a square with rounded corners. The screw 22 is first only a bit far, but not completely, rotated in the threaded bore of the sleeve 10 of the foot part 1. Pre-assembled in this way, the antenna with the holder 15 and the contact part 16 is inserted through the hole 24. The width of the hole 24 is smaller than the distance of the front ends of opposing legs 18 of the holder 15 and the distance between the front ends of the opposite legs 25 of the contact part 16, which are coupled to the legs 18. The holder 15 and the contact part 16 must therefore be elastically compressed on their legs in order to be able to push them through the hole 24, after which they spring back outwards. This position is in FIG. 4 shown. The legs 18 of the holder 15 are then directed against the underside of the support member 9 and are pressed by tightening the screw 22 against the underside of the support member 23. As a result, the support part 23 between the holder 15 and the contact part 16 on the one side and the foot part 1 is firmly clamped on the other side. The seal 14 is pressed against the top of the support member 23.

The structure of the holder 15, the contact part 16, the screw 22 and their interaction with the foot part 1 are in detail in the German patent application 10 2004 037 813.4 disclosed. This disclosure is hereby incorporated by reference.

As the FIGS. 4 and 5 show, the arrangement of the coaxial connector 7 is selected and matched to the size and contour of the hole 24 in the support member 23 that the plug 7 lie in the rounded corners of the hole 24 and extending therethrough. FIG. 5 shows, moreover, that at the edge of the hole 24 a bulge 26 is provided, in which a projecting rib 27th can engage, which is provided only on a single leg 18 of the holder 15, see FIG. 6 , In this way, the holder 15 can be inserted into the hole 24 only in a single predetermined orientation. By an asymmetrical formation of the longitudinal slots 11 in the sleeve 10 (FIG. FIG. 5 ) and a mating positive engagement of the still existing between the slots 11 post 12 of the sleeve 10 in the socket 20, which holds the screw 22, one achieves that the holder 15 fits in only a single orientation on the sleeve 10.

FIG. 7 shows that the legs 25 of the contact part 16 in a first portion which adjoins the base 17, in a recess on the outside of the legs 18 to then pass through the legs 18 in the vicinity of its free end, so that the free Ends of the legs 25 lie on the inside of the legs 18. The free ends of the legs 25 protrude beyond the legs 18 so far that they then, when the legs 18 have come out of the hole 24 again and feathers to the outside, are still within the hole 24 and cause an electrical Massekontaktgabe on the edge of the hole 24 ,

FIG. 8 shows the state that the holder 15 is clamped by means of the screw 22 against the underside of the support member 23. The antenna is now immovably clamped to the support member 23, for example on the vehicle roof.

Is the bracket 15, as in FIG. 8 shown firmly mounted, the plug 7 can be contacted. For this purpose, as in FIG. 9 represented, four angled coaxial RF coupler 28 positively held in a receiving device 29, lead out of which coaxial lines 30, which are part of a prefabricated cable harness. In the example according to FIG. 9 The receiving device 29 contains four couplers and two coaxial lines 30 each lead out of the receiving device 29 in opposite directions. The receiving device 29 has a central recess 31 with four latching hooks 32, which are arranged in pairs opposite one another and against the axis of symmetry 19 directed lugs 32 which can engage in a gap between the head of the screw 22 and the holder 15 and the contact part 16. The receiving device 29 is inserted with its recess 31 on the holder 15 until the latching hooks 32 engage with their lugs 33 and is then fixed in a form-fitting manner on the holder 15.

The receiving device 29 is a molded plastic two-piece housing, the housing parts 34 and 35 are hingedly connected by Folienscharniere 36. FIG. 10 shows the receiving device 29 after removing a housing part 34. It can be seen that in the other housing part 35 a plurality of recesses are present. A first group of recesses 37 serve to receive the housings of the couplers 28 and a length of the coaxial lines 30. The housings of the couplers 28 have projections 38 pointing in opposite directions which engage in recesses 39 which extend transversely to the recesses 37. In this way, the couplers 28 can be received only in a single predetermined orientation. A further recess 40 receives the projecting rib 27 of the holder 15 and ensures in this way that the receiving device 29 can be placed on the holder 15 only in a single, predetermined orientation. Once this is done and all detent hooks 32 are engaged, the receiving device 29 is captively fixed to the bracket 15 and at the same time the four couplers 28 are connected in the correct assignment with the four connectors 7.

Alternatively, the housing of the receiving device may also be formed integrally, if care is taken that the coupler 28 can be added and fixed in other ways. For example, you could modify the housing part 35 so that the coupler 28 can be locked in it directly. Then the other housing part 34 can be omitted.

The arrangement of the four couplers 28 on the connectors 7 shows the FIG. 11 , It should be noted that the couplers 28 are always in the receiving device 29 when they are connected to the connectors 7. In FIG. 11 the receiving device 29 has been omitted only to illustrate the arrangement of the coupler 28 on the connectors 7.

For different types of vehicles different antennas may be used, which may have different radiators and a different number of radiators. Depending on the equipment variant, it may therefore be necessary to lead more or less coaxial cables out of the foot part 1 and to connect them to the cable harness laid in the vehicle. In the example shown the Figures 9 and 10 At least one coaxial line is led out of the foot part 1. A maximum of four coaxial lines can be led out of the foot in the example shown. For rationalization reasons, however, the same number of plugs 7 or at least of their outer conductors 8 can be provided on the foot part 1 for all equipment variants, which can be integrally formed on the foot part 1. Not all outer conductor 8 of the plug 7 must be provided with an inner conductor 9 and connected to a coupler 28. The in the Figures 9 and 10 However, receiving device 29 shown can still be used unchanged for less than four couplers 28, z. B. for only two couplers 28, as exemplified in FIG. 12 is shown.

The Figures 13 and 14 show the receiving device 29 from the Figures 9 . 10 and 12 in two different views without inserted coupler 28. This makes the central recess 31 and the projecting four latching hooks 32 clearly visible. The two housing parts 34 and 35, which form the receiving device 29 connected via the film hinges 36, can be opened after one has solved two locking closures 41 by finger pressure, which are integrally formed on a housing part 35 and engage in an undercut 42, which on the other housing part 34 is provided.

That in the FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrated embodiment differs from that in the Figures 9 and 10 illustrated embodiment in that the receiving device 29 is not approximately rectangular in plan, but approximately round. In this case too, the two-part receiving device 29 accommodates four coaxial couplers 28. Two couplers 28 and their coaxial lines 30 extend parallel to each other in the same direction, whereas the two other couplers 28 and their coaxial lines 30 extend at right angles thereto in opposite directions. Otherwise, the structure of the receiving device 29 corresponds to the FIGS. 15 and 16 the construction in the Figures 9 and 10 , FIG. 17 shows omitting the receiving device 29 according to FIG. 15 and 16 the arrangement of couplers 28 on the connectors 7th

If there is sufficient space between the vehicle roof and the inner panel of the vehicle roof, the coupler 28 must not be angled, but also straight coupler 28 can be used, from which the coaxial lines 30 first emerge perpendicular to the support member 23 (vehicle roof) and then be continued arcuate, as in FIG. 18 is shown. In this case, a receptacle 29 which is smaller in outline than that in the example of FIG Figures 9 and 10 illustrated receiving device 29th FIG. 19 shows an enlarged section FIG. 18 , The receiving device 29 may be integrally formed in this case and are plugged in the manner of a cap on the holder 15 and arranged next to this plug 7.

The receiving device 29 has a recess 43 for each coupler 28, which has a lateral bulge 44 to the straight coupler 28, the housing has a lateral projection 38 (see FIG. 20 ) record positively. Another recess 40 (see FIG. 22 ) serves to receive the projecting rib 27 of the holder 15 and ensures that even this receiving device 29 inserted only in a single, predetermined orientation on the holder 15 can be. The fixing of the receiving device 29 on the holder 15 is also done in this case by means of four latching hooks 32, which are formed on the receiving device 29 and projecting against the axis of symmetry 19.

The Figures 24 . 25 and 26 show an embodiment of an integrally molded receptacle 29a for up to four angled couplers 28, which according to the example, which in the FIGS. 9 to 11 are arranged in the Carré, each two coaxial lines 30 lead out in opposite directions from the receiving device 29a. On the back of the receiving device 29 a, which the carrier part 23 (see FIG. 4 ), there are four grooves 52, each receiving the rear, angled portion of one of the couplers 28, as in FIG. 25 is shown.

On its front side, which faces the carrier part 23, of the receiving device 29a, a projecting wall 53 is formed, which forms the group of the rear side (FIG. FIG. 25 ) surrounds coupler 28 inserted through receptacle 29a as a whole, as in FIG FIG. 24 shown. FIG. 24 shows from each coupler 28 a cylindrical outer conductor 45, a coaxially arranged therein inner conductor bushing 46 and a surrounding outer conductor 45 and it protective sleeve 47 made of an electrically insulating plastic. In each coupler 28, the sleeve 47 has a window 48 into which a protrusion 49 formed on the receptacle 29a engages when the coupler 28 is inserted through a suitable opening from the back to the front of the receptacle 29a. By engaging the projection 49 in the window 48 of the relevant coupler 28 is fixed in the receiving device 29 a.

Thus, the four couplers 28 can be inserted only in a predetermined arrangement in the one-piece receiving device 29a, the peripheral walls of the openings in the receiving device 29a, in which the coupler 28 are inserted, with differently arranged and / or formed keyways 50a, 50b, 50c , 50d and 50e, into which matching wedges 51a and 51b engage, which each extend axially on the outside of the sleeve 47 and are provided projecting radially outwards. The rear ends of the splines 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d and 50e are in FIG FIG. 25 to see. Of the associated wedges, only two wedges 51a and 51b can be seen in FIG. 24, which are arranged on the sleeve 47 of one of the couplers 28. The arranged on the sleeves 47 of the other three couplers 28 parts are in the for FIG. 24 obscured view direction.

As in the embodiment of FIGS. 9 to 11 are in the space enclosed by the wall 53 four pairs opposite, outgoing from the inside of the wall 53 latching hooks 32 provided with lugs 33, with which the receiving device 29a can be snapped onto the holder 15, wherein also, as in the FIGS. 9 to 11 described, due to a mutual mechanical coding is possible only in a predetermined orientation.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1.

footboard

1 a.

first socket at the bottom of T

1 b.

second socket at the bottom of T

Second

base

Third

Circuit board

4th

box

5th

box

6th

cap

7th

plug

8th.

outer conductor

9th

inner conductor

10th

shell

11th

longitudinal slots

12th

post

13th

deepening

14th

poetry

15th

bracket

16th

contact part

17th

Base

18th

Thighs of 15

19th

axis of symmetry

20th

version

21st

threaded hole

22nd

screw

23rd

support part

24th

hole

25th

Thighs of 16

26th

bulge

27th

projecting rib

28th

pimp

29th

recording device

29a.

one-piece receiving device

30th

coaxial cables

31st

recess

32nd

latch hook

33rd

nose

34th

housing part

35th

housing part

36th

film hinge

37th

recesses

38th

projections

39th

recesses

40th

another recess

41st

Rest Close

42nd

undercut

43rd

recess

44th

bulge

45th

Outer conductor of 28

46th

Inner conductor socket of 28

47th

Sleeve at 45

48th

window

49th

head Start

50a-50e.

Keyways for a mechan. coding

51a, 51b

Wedges for a mechan. coding

52nd

groove

53rd

wall

Claims (31)

1. An antenna and means for fastening the antenna to a vehicle and for connecting the antenna to one or more cables (30) of a wiring harness run in the vehicle, the cables each ending at a coupler (28),
   the antenna comprising a base part (1) having a bottom side,
   one or more HF lines exiting the base part (1) by way of a connector (7) rigidly disposed on the base part,
   the means for fastening the antenna comprising a first fastening device (10), which is provided at the base part (1), and a second fastening device (15, 22) interacting with the first fastening device (10), the second fastening device comprising a holder (15) which is designed to be braced with the base part (1) of the antenna such that a carrier part (23) of the vehicle having a hole (24) can be clamped between the holder (15) and the base part (1), so that one or more HF lines can be guided between the outside of the holder (15) and the edge of the hole (24) through this hole into the interior of the vehicle and can be connected there to one or more cables (30) of a wiring harness,
   characterized by
   a receiving device (29, 29a), which is equipped to receive and fix a coupler (28) of a wiring harness disposed on and to be connected to the base part (1) in a position that mirror-images the position of the connectors (7), wherein
   the receiving device (29, 29a) can be directly or indirectly placed on the holder (15) in order to connect received couplers (28) to the connectors (7) rigidly disposed on the base part (1) and can be fixed thereon, so that each connector (7) rigidly disposed on the base part (1) can establish an HF plug connection (7, 28) with a coupler (28).
2. The antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that up to four connectors (7) are provided at the bottom of the base part (1).
3. The antenna according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connectors (7) are disposed at the corners of an imaginary rectangle or square.
4. An antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer conductors (8) of the connectors (7) are integrally formed with a metal base plate of the base plate (1).
5. An antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the arrangement of the connectors (7) surrounds a sleeve (10), which is rigidly connected to the base part (1) and
   is an essential part of the first fastening device.
6. An antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first fastening device (10, 11, 12) comprises an internal thread.
7. An antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second fastening device (15, 22) comprises a screw (22).
8. The antenna according to claim 5, characterized in that the sleeve (10) comprises posts (12) which are formed by longitudinal slots (11) and form a non-symmetrical arrangement and engage in a matching non-symmetrical arrangement of recesses in the holder (15).
9. An antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holder (15) and/or the base part (1) has a section, which has a non-symmetrical contour, is determined for positive engagement in a hole (24) and has a matching, accordingly non-symmetrical contour.
10. The antenna according to claim 9, characterized in that on the base part (1) or on the outside of the holder (15) a protrusion (27) is disposed, which runs transversely to the base part (1) and can be inserted into a non-symmetrically disposed convexity (26) at the edge of a hole (24).
11. The antenna according to claim 10, characterized in that the protrusion (27) is a rib parallel to the axis of symmetry (19).
12. The antenna according to claim 9, 10, or 11, characterized in that the base part (1) of the antenna and the holder (15) engage in each other only in a predetermined azimuthal direction with respect to the base part (1) as a result of mutually tailored designs.
13. An antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving device (29, 29a) has recesses (37, 39), flanges, collars or protruding sleeves, which can each receive a coupler in a predetermined position and orientation.
14. The antenna according to claim 13, characterized in that the respective recess (37, 39) of the receiving device (29, 29a) can positively receive a coupler (28).
15. The antenna according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the receiving device (29) is designed as a housing that can be closed.
16. The antenna according to claim 15, characterized in that the receiving device (29) designed as a housing can be closed by latching the housing parts (34, 35).
17. The antenna according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the receiving device (29) designed as a housing comprises two housing parts (34, 35) connected to each other by a hinge (36).
18. The antenna according to claim 17, characterized in that the two housing parts (34, 35) are formed of plastic and the hinge is a film hinge by which the two housing parts (34, 35) are connected in one piece.
19. The antenna according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the receiving device (29a) is designed as one piece.
20. The antenna according to claim 19, characterized in that the couplers (28) can be fixed in the receiving device (29a) by clamping, latching or locking.
21. An antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving device (29, 29a) can be fixed by latching to the holder (15).
22. An antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving device is designed to fix angled couplers (28).
23. An antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving device (29, 29a) has a recess (29, 29a) with which it can be positively placed on the holder (15).
24. The antenna according to claim 23, characterized in that the receiving device (29, 29a) is designed to receive couplers (28) in an arrangement surrounding the recess (31).
25. An antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving device (29, 29a) can be fixed only in a single predetermined orientation on the holder (15) as a result of the non-symmetrical design.
26. An antenna according to claims 23 or 24 and 25, characterized in that the recess (31) in the receiving device (29, 29a), with which it is placed on the holder (15), has a non-symmetrical contour and that the holder (15) has a section having an accordingly non-symmetrical contour determined for positively engaging in this recess (31).
27. An antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving device (29, 29a) can optionally receive up to four couplers (28).
28. An antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and second fastening devices (10, 15, 22) are designed in an electrically conductive manner by using metal, and that the holder (15) is connected to a metal contact part (16), which establishes contact with the metal of the fastening devices (10, 22) and is also designed to establish elastic contact with the edge of the hole (24) in the carrier part (23), and that the contact part (16) and the holder (15) connected thereto have diameters that can be reduced with respect to restoring forces.
29. An antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving device (29, 29a) is designed to receive couplers (28) which have a housing or a protective sleeve, which is mechanically coded by the design thereof, so that the respective coupler (28) can assume only a single position in the receiving device (29, 29a).
30. The antenna according to claim 29, characterized in that the receiving device (29, 29a) is designed to receive couplers (28) which have a lateral protrusion (38) or a lateral recess for mechanical coding.
31. A vehicle comprising an antenna having the characteristics according to any one of the preceding claims.

Images