EP3574550A1

EP3574550A1 - Mounting of antenna electronic boxes on a tail lid of a vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP3574550A1
Application number: EP16908412.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ke Kai Yang; Rong Hua PENG; Brunet Manquat DAVID; Song Li; Cui Ping LIU; Zi Ye Wang; Sen Gen Chen
Original assignee: PSA Automobiles SA
Current assignee: PSA Automobiles SA
Priority date: 2016-07-12
Filing date: 2016-07-12
Publication date: 2019-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 2036-07-12
Also published as: EP3574550A4; CN109643838A; EP3574550B1; CN109643838B; WO2018010080A1

Abstract

A support zone (8.1, 8.2) on a tail lid for an antenna electronic box (10') for a vehicle is provided, comprising a support surface (12) for receiving the box (10'); a hole for receiving a screw fastener (16) for fastening the box (10'); and at least two ribs (20, 22) extending from the support surface (12), opposed to each other and offset so as to enable a positioning of the box (10') against and between said ribs (20, 22).

Description

MOUNTING OF ANTENNA ELECTRONIC BOXES ON A TAIL LID OF A VEHICLE

Field of the Invention

The invention is directed to the field of vehicles, more particularly to the mounting of antenna electronic boxes on a vehicle.
Background Art
Antennas are nowadays increasingly integrated on vehicles so that they are no longer visible from outside of the vehicle. It is however important for antennas to be adequately positioned on the vehicles so as to achieve their function in a satisfactory manner. The radiative part of antennas can therefore be made up of electrically conductive line or strips printed or deposited on a window of the vehicle. The rear window is usually used for supporting such conductive strips. There is commonly provided an antenna box comprising electronics configured for interconnecting the antenna (s) on the glass sheet of the window with the radio reception device of the vehicle. In addition, the antenna box can be a multifunction one, i.e. with different antennas for different functions, like FM radio reception, AM radio reception and also remote keyless entry reception.
In certain vehicles, e.g. high end ones, FM radio reception can be enhanced by combining different antennas, for example up to two, three or even four antennas, called FM1, FM2, FM3 and FM4. These different antennas are provided on the same support, like the rear window, and are differentiated essentially by their collector points. These collector points create different electromagnetic responses to an emitted radio signal. These different antennas can be combined, by adding, subtracting and/or switching in rotation, in order to supply an output signal that is enhanced in comparison to a single antenna. Different antenna boxes can be used and have therefore to be mounted at the vicinity of the glass sheet of the window. The geometrical differences between the boxes can lead to difficulties for a proper and accurate mounting of these boxes on the vehicle, in particular when these boxes can be permutated depending on the vehicle configuration.
Prior art patent document published US 2007/0120754 A1 discloses the arrangement of two pairs of vertical conductive strips on a rear window for providing two antenna aerials FM1 and FM2, in addition to a defrosting network on the window. The two pairs of strips are connected to a single electronic box that comprises different circuits for the AM, FM1 and FM2 radio receptions and for the remote keyless entry function.
Prior art patent document published CN104241847 discloses an antenna box with a fixing structure comprising a base plate and a box to be attached to said base plate in order to enclose an electronic circuit. The base plate comprises two recesses for receiving fasteners of the screw type.
Summary of the Invention
The invention has for technical problem to provide a solution to at least one drawback of the above cited prior art. More specifically, the invention has for technical problem to provide a solution for a proper and accurate mounting of antenna electronic boxes, especially for boxes which are geometrically different.
The invention is directed to a support zone for an antenna electronic box for a vehicle, comprising a support surface for receiving said box； and a hole for receiving a screw fastener for fastening the box； wherein the support zone further comprises at least two ribs extending from the support surface, opposed to each other and off-set so as to enable a positioning of the box against and between said ribs.
The support surface can be generally flat. The at least two ribs can extend generally transversely, preferably perpendicularly, to an axis parallel to the support surface and intersecting the hole. The off-set of the at least two ribs is along the axis parallel to the support surface and intersecting the hole.
According to a preferred embodiment, the two ribs are off-set by a distance comprised between 5 and 30mm, preferably between 8 and 20mm.
According to a preferred embodiment, said support zone further comprises a deepening in the support surface, said deepening being distant from the hole and being configured for receiving a plug-type fastener of the box.
According to a preferred embodiment, the deepening is elongate along an axis parallel to the support surface and intersecting the hole.
According to a preferred embodiment, said support zone is integrally made of plastic.
The invention is also directed to a tail lid of a vehicle, comprising: a body with a window frame； a support mounted on the window frame； at least one antenna electronic box mounted on the support； wherein the support comprises at least one support zone according to the invention.
According to a preferred embodiment, each of the at least one antenna electronic box comprises a box-shaped main portion and a fastening tongue extending from said main portion, said tongue comprising a hole through which the screw fastener extends.
According to a preferred embodiment, the at least one support zone comprises a first support zone supporting a first antenna electronic box of the at least one antenna electronic box and a second support zone supporting a second antenna electronic box of said at least one antenna electronic box.
According to a preferred embodiment, the first antenna electronic box is different from the second antenna electronic box, each of said first and second boxes comprising a fastener, said fastener being at a distance from the hole of the tongue, said distances being different on said first and second boxes, said fastener being housed in the deepening of the corresponding support zone.
According to a preferred embodiment, the at least one support zone is located on an upper portion of the window frame.
According to a preferred embodiment, said lid comprises a window mounted in the window frame, the at least one antenna electronic box is connected to at least one antenna provided on said window.
The invention is particularly interesting in that it provides a versatile mounting location for different antenna electronic boxes. This is particularly interesting for vehicles equipped with at least two such boxes at distinct locations. The support zone of the invention at these locations allows the mounting of different boxes, in particular boxes with two fixed fastening means at a relative distance which varies and depends on the box type. Such fastening means are in principle advantageous in that they provide an isostatic mounting of the box. They are however disadvantageous in that the distance between them varies and requires therefore the presence two holes at a specific relative distance on the support zone. Thanks to the invention, boxes of different sizes, in particular of different lengths, can be positioned and mounted in an isostatic way on the support zone. For the vehicles with at least two boxes at distinct locations, the invention allows these boxes to be very easily interchanged while still providing an isostatic or at least quasi-isostatic positioning.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a view of the inner and upper side of a tail lid of a vehicle, in accordance with the invention.
Figure 2 is a view of the lower sides of two different antenna electronic boxes that can be mounted on the tail lid of figure 1.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of an antenna electronic box mounted on a support on the tail lid of figure 1.
Figure 4 is a top view of the antenna electronic box of figure 3.
Detailed Description of Embodiments
Figure 1 depicts the upper portion of a tail lid 2. The lid 2 comprises a body with a window frame 4 delimiting a window area 6. A support 8 is mounted on an upper portion of the window frame 4. The support 8 comprises two support zones 8.1 and 8.2 for supporting, each, an antenna electronic box 10 or 10’. The support 8 can have additional supporting zones, including for other devices and/or functions. It can also feature a decorative function. The antenna electronic boxes 10 and 10’contain electronic circuits that are connected to electrically conductive strips or lines (not represented) printed or deposited on the glass sheet of the window and forming antennas. These antennas can be for FM radio reception. The use of such electronic boxes in connection with antennas deposited on a window is as such well known from the skilled person. The support zones 8.1 and 8.2 and the electronic boxes 10 and 10’will be detailed here after.
Figure 2 depicts two antenna electronic boxes 10 and 10’, where each of these boxes comprises a box-shaped main portion 10.1 and a fastening tongue 10.2 extending from said main portion 10.1. The fastening tongue 10.2 comprises a hole 10.3 for receiving a fastener that can be of the screw type. The box 10, 10’comprises also a fastener 10.4 that extends from the lower face (i.e. the face visible in figure 2) of the main portion 10.1. This fastener 10.4 can be of the plug-type, i.e. with deformable portions that elastically deform when the fastener is inserted into a hole and that engage with said hole in order to retain the fastener in said hole. Such fasteners are as such well known from the skilled person. The box 10, 10’comprises also two electrical connectors 10.5 and 10.6, one being for a connection to the antenna (s) on the window and the other for a connection with the electrical circuit of the vehicle.
As is apparent in figure 2, the boxes 10 and 10’differ from each other essentially in their dimensions, more particularly in the distance d and d’between the fastener 10.4 and the hole 10.3. For instance the distance d can be 45mm and the distance d’can be 40mm. This difference is due to the fact that the boxes 10 and 10’are different by their electronic circuits and therefore also by their dimensions.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the support zones 8.1 and 8.2. The support zone 8.1 or 8.2 comprises a support surface 12 for receiving an antenna electronic box. In the illustration of figure 3, the antenna electronic box 10’at the right of figure 2 is mounted on the support zone. The support zone comprises also a hole 14 for receiving a screw fastener 16. The latter extends also through the hole of the fastening tongue 10.2 of the box 10’. The screw fastener 16 can engage with a nut or a threaded hole on the body part of the tail lid on which the support zone 8.1 or 8.2 is located. The support zone comprises also a deepening 18 on the support surface 12, said deepening being dimensioned for receiving the fastener 10.4 of the box 10’. As is apparent in figure 3, the deepening is dimensioned large enough so that the fastener 10.4 does not interact with said deepening. As is also apparent in figure 3, the deepening extends longitudinally so as to accommodate the fastener 10.4 located at another distance from the hole of the fastening tongue 10.2, i.e. at a distance d that is larger than the distance d’ (see figure 2) .
Figure 4 is a top view of the support zone 8.1 or 8.2 of figures 1 and 3. As is apparent, the support zone comprises also two ribs 20 and 22 that extend from the support surface 12. The two ribs are generally planar and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the box 10’. They are also advantageously off-set along that axis so as to provide an accurate positioning of the box. The off-set can be by a distance comprised between 5 and 30mm, preferably between 8 and 20mm. The rib 20 is designed to abut against the fastening tongue 10.2 and to extend along a side of the box-shaped main portion 10.1, said side being adjacent to the tongue. The rib 22 abuts against an opposite lateral side of the box-shaped main portion 10.1. The screw 16 in the hole in the fastening tongue 10.2 and the two ribs 20 and 22 provide an isostatic positioning of the box against the support surface 12. Indeed, even if the screw would loosen, the pivoting of the box around the axis of the screw and the corresponding hole is preventer by the ribs 20 and 22. The fastener 10.4 (figure 3) of the box can therefore be accommodated in the deepening 18 (figure 3) without interaction with said deepening.
The support zone 8.1 or 8.2 illustrated in figures 1, 3 and 4 provide therefore a versatile fixation zone for antenna electronic boxes of different sizes, in particular with a fastener extending from the main portion of the box at different distances from a fastening hole. The ribs cooperate with external faces and/or portions of the box that are independent from the location of the fastener.
The support zone illustrated in figures 1, 3 and 4 can therefore also support the box 10 of figure 2, i.e. with a distance d between the fastening hole 10.3 and the fastener 10.4 that is larger than the corresponding distance d’of the box 10’.

Claims

Support zone (8.1, 8.2) for an antenna electronic box (10, 10’ ) for a vehicle, comprising:

-a support surface (12) for receiving the box (10, 10’ ) ； and

-a hole (14) for receiving a screw fastener (16) for fastening the box (10, 10’) ；

wherein the support zone further comprises

at least two ribs (20, 22) extending from the support surface (12) , opposed to each other and off-set so as to enable a positioning of the box (10, 10’ ) against and between said ribs (20, 22) .
Support zone (8.1, 8.2) according to claim 1, wherein the two ribs (20, 22) are off-set by a distance comprised between 5 and 30mm, preferably between 8 and 20mm.
Support zone (8.1, 8.2) according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein said support zone further comprises a deepening (18) in the support surface (12) , said deepening (18) being distant from the hole (14) and being configured for receiving a plug-type fastener (10.4) of the box (10, 10’ ) .
Support zone (8.1, 8.2) according to claim 3, wherein the deepening (18) is elongate along an axis parallel to the support surface (12) and intersecting the hole (14) .
Support zone (8.1, 8.2) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said support zone is integrally made of plastic.
Tail lid (2) of a vehicle, comprising:

-a body with a window frame (4) ；

-a support (8) mounted on the window frame (4) ；

-at least one antenna electronic box (10, 10’ ) mounted on the support (8) ； wherein

the support (8) comprises at least one support zone (8.1, 8.2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
Tail lid (2) according to claim 6, wherein each of the at least one antenna electronic box (10, 10’ ) comprises a box-shaped main portion (10.1) and a fastening tongue (10.2) extending from said main portion (10.1) , said tongue (10.2) comprising a hole (10.3) through which a screw fastener (16) extends.
Tail lid (2) according to one of claims 6 and 7, wherein the at least one support zone (8.1, 8.2) comprises a first support zone (8.1) supporting a first antenna electronic box (10) of the at least one antenna electronic box and a second support zone (8.2) supporting a second antenna electronic box (10’ ) of said at least one antenna electronic box.
Tail lid (2) according to claims 7 and 8, wherein the first and second support zones are according to one of claims 3 and 4, and wherein the first antenna electronic box (10) is different from the second antenna electronic box (10’ ) , each of said first and second boxes (10, 10’ ) comprising a fastener (10.4) , said fastener being at a distance (d, d’ ) from the hole (10.3) of the tongue (10.2) , said distances (d, d’ ) being different on said first and second boxes (10, 10’ ) , said fastener (10.4) being housed in the deepening (18) of the corresponding support zone (8.1, 8.2) .
Tail lid (2) according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the at least one support zone (8.1, 8.2) is located on an upper portion of the window frame (4) .
Tail lid (2) according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein said lid comprises a window mounted in the window frame, the at least one antenna electronic box (10, 10’ ) is connected to at least one antenna provided on said window.