JP2005332644A - Contact device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the displacement of a contact part to enable stable electrical connection. <P>SOLUTION: This contact device comprises: a plate spring-like elastic member 32 formed by bending a conductive plate in parallel an even number of times; and a contacting part 34 mounted at one end of the elastic member 32 and including a contact part 34a formed of a conductor energized by the elastic member 32 to be pressed against a body to be contacted. The contact device is so structured as to secure conduction between the body to be contacted and the elastic member 32 through the contacting part 34. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a contact device having a configuration in which a contact member is pressed against a contacted body using an elastic member.

  FIG. 7 shows a conventional contact device 10. The contact device 10 is used for a connecting portion when electrical conduction is ensured between two components. The contact device 10 of FIG. 7 includes an elastic member 12 made of metal bent into a V shape, and a contact portion 14 including a contact portion 14a and a case 14b. The contact portion 14a is made of conductive rubber, and is fixed to one end of the elastic member 12 in a state of being stored in a plastic case 14b so as to ensure electrical continuity with the elastic member 12. A fixing hole 16 is provided at the other end of the elastic member 12. Further, the terminal 18 is drawn out from the end where the fixing hole 16 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the contact device 10 is fixed to a first component 20 (for example, a signal processing unit for a vehicle window antenna) using a fixing hole 16, and a second member as a contacted body. A conduction path is formed in a state where the contact portion 14a is pressed against the component 22 (for example, vehicle window or the like) side by the biasing force of the elastic member 12.

  This type of contact device has the advantage of eliminating the need for wiring work for electrical connection between two parts. In particular, the distance between the two parts varies and there are individual differences (variations). This is effective when As this type of contact device, for example, one disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known.

JP 2002-144969 A

  However, in the conventional contact device, as shown in FIG. 9, the contact portion 14a moves in the horizontal direction by a distance d as the distance between the first component 20 and the second component 22 varies. Become. As a result, the electrical contact provided on the second component 22 and the contact portion 14a may be misaligned, causing a problem in electrical contact.

  In particular, when used for connection between a contact point of an antenna wire provided in a vehicle window and a signal processing unit for a vehicle window antenna, the distance between the vehicle window and the signal processing unit changes due to vibration of the traveling vehicle. Since the contact portion 14a is also displaced while being contacted in the horizontal direction, there arises a problem that noise is superimposed on the received signal. Further, wear occurs at the contact portion of the contact portion 14a, and stable contact over a long period of time cannot be obtained.

  In order to solve the above problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a contact device that eliminates a positional shift of a contact portion and enables stable electrical connection.

  The present invention includes a leaf spring-like elastic member configured by bending an even number of conductive plates in parallel, and one end of the elastic member, and is urged by the elastic member and pressed against a contacted body. And a contact portion including a contact portion made of a conductor, and a contact device for a high-frequency circuit, wherein conduction between the contacted body and the elastic member is ensured through the contact portion.

  Here, the contact portion is preferably made of conductive rubber. By making the contact portion conductive rubber, it is possible to stably contact the contacted body. The elastic member preferably has a through hole. By providing the through hole, the spring load of the elastic member can be appropriately adjusted.

  When the contact device of the present invention is used for a vehicle window antenna, the effect is remarkably exhibited in that the contact can be satisfactorily maintained in spite of vibration during traveling of the vehicle and the high frequency transmission characteristics are excellent.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate the positional deviation of the contact portion and enable stable electrical connection with a very simple configuration. In addition, power supply with excellent high-frequency transmission characteristics can be realized.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view showing an example of a contact device 30 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the contact device 30.

  The contact device 30 includes a conductive elastic member 32 and a contact portion 34 including a contact portion 34a and a case 34b. The contact device 30 is a conduction path between a first component 20 (for example, a signal processing unit for a vehicle window antenna) side and a second component 22 (for example, a vehicle window) side as a contacted body. Is used to form

  The elastic member 32 is a leaf spring formed into a Z-shape by bending a plastic strip-like metal plate twice in parallel to the longitudinal direction. At this time, it is preferable to mold the leaf spring so that both end portions of the elastic member 32 are substantially parallel.

  The contact portion 34a is made of conductive rubber, and is fixed to one end of the elastic member 32 in a state of being stored in a plastic case 34b so as to ensure electrical continuity with the elastic member 32. A fixing hole 36 is provided at the other end of the elastic member 32. Further, the terminal 38 is drawn out from the end portion where the fixing hole 36 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the contact device 30 is fixed to the first component 20 side. The first component 20 is fixed by a tap screw or the like screwed into the fixing hole 36. The terminal 38 is electrically connected to the first component 20 (for example, a terminal of a signal processing unit for a vehicle window antenna).

  The contact portion 34 a is urged toward the second component 22 (ie, upward) by the urging force of the elastic member 32, and is pressed against the second component 22. Among these, the contact part 34a has a substantially planar contact surface on the upper surface side. Further, the movable range of the contact portion 34a in the vertical direction is regulated by the movable range of the spring of the elastic member 32.

  FIG. 3 shows the posture of the contact device 30 in a mounted state (a state where the contact device 34 is attached to the first component 20 and the contact portion 34a presses the contacted surface of the second component 22 as the contacted body). It is a figure illustrated.

  When the distance between the first component 20 and the second component 22 in the vertical direction (the direction of arrow A in the figure) fluctuates (for example, the distance between the first component 20 and the second component 22 approaches) ), The position of the contact portion 34a in the horizontal direction (arrow B direction in the figure) does not change. This is because the bent portion of the elastic member 32 is an even number of times (twice), so that the horizontal displacement cancels each other. Accordingly, the positional contact between the electrical contact provided on the second component 22 and the contact portion 34a does not occur, and the contact between the contact portion 34a and the contact surface of the contacted body can be maintained.

  With such a configuration, it is possible to maintain good electrical contact and improve wear resistance.

  Further, in the present embodiment, by making the elastic member 32 into a leaf spring shape, it is possible to suppress the inductance component when transmitting a high frequency as compared with the case where the elastic member 32 is made into a coil spring shape. Thereby, transmission loss in high-frequency transmission can be reduced. In particular, it can be seen that extremely high frequency transmission characteristics are exhibited up to at least about 800 MHz in a frequency band of 300 MHz or higher. Of course, in order to obtain good frequency characteristics, it is also important to consider the shape and material of the elastic member 32, the relative dielectric constant of the constituent members, the arrangement of surrounding metal objects, and the like.

  The elastic member 32 is preferably provided with a through hole 40 as shown in FIG. By changing the size and shape of the through hole 40 at the design stage, the load characteristic of the spring of the elastic member 32 can be adjusted.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the elastic member 32 may be a leaf spring obtained by bending a metal plate having plasticity twice or more in the longitudinal direction. At this time, it is preferable to constitute the leaf spring by bending the metal plate evenly. By bending evenly, a structure in which a plurality of Z-shaped leaf springs are overlapped is formed. Even when the vertical distance between the first component 20 and the second component 22 fluctuates, the contact portion 34a can be moved in the horizontal direction. It can be maintained in a fixed position.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a glass antenna 50 for a vehicle using the contact device 30 according to the present embodiment. The antenna element 52 of the vehicle glass antenna 50 is attached to the vehicle interior side of the rear window glass 54 of the vehicle by printing or the like. One end of each antenna element 52 extends to the overlap portion H of the vehicle roof panel 56 and the rear window glass 54. A substrate support base 58 that supports a processing circuit such as an amplifier for processing a signal received by the antenna element 52 is fixed to the roof panel 56 with, for example, a bolt or the like. Note that a cover or the like (not shown) is attached to the overlapped portion H so that it cannot be seen from the outside.

  On the substrate support base 58, a contact device 30 that contacts a processing circuit such as an amplifier or an end contact 52a formed at an end of the antenna element 52 is placed. Accordingly, the substrate support base 58 is provided so that the contact between the contact element 30 and the end contact 52a of the rear window glass 54 is pressed and the continuity between the antenna element 52 and the internal circuit of the substrate support base 58 is ensured. The roof panel 56 is fixed at a predetermined position. In FIG. 6, two systems of antenna units 50a and 50b having substantially the same function are provided so that diversity is configured. Further, the number and shape of the antenna elements 52 are not limited to those shown in the drawing, and are appropriately set according to the function and the like. The substrate support base 58 corresponds to the first component 20, and the rear window glass 54 corresponds to the second component 22, that is, the contacted body.

  In the vehicle glass antenna 50 having such a configuration, first, the substrate support base 58 on which the contact device 30 is placed is mounted on the roof panel 56, and then the rear window glass 54 is placed at a predetermined position and fixed. Is done. Since the rear window glass 54 as the contacted body is pressed against the contact portion 34a of the contact device 30 in a state where it is mounted on the vehicle, the rear window glass 54 has not yet reached the mounting position on the vehicle side. In addition, the contact device 30 is always contacted. And it will be in the state which the edge part contact 52a of the rear window glass 54 and the contact part 34a of the contact apparatus 30 contacted.

  When such a vehicle glass antenna 50 is mounted on a vehicle, the distance between the rear window glass 54 and the roof panel 56 slightly varies due to vibration during traveling. At this time, by using the contact device 30 of the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the displacement of the contact portion and to maintain good electrical contact. In addition, mechanical wear can be prevented and long-term reliability can be improved.

  Further, since the contact device 30 forms a conduction path by the elastic member 32 having a leaf spring shape, an inductance component in the conduction path is reduced, and extremely excellent high frequency transmission characteristics are realized particularly in transmission and reception in a frequency band of several hundred MHz. can do.

  Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within an equivalent range.

1 is an external view of a contact device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing in the state which the contact apparatus of FIG. 1 contact | abutted with the to-be-contacted body. It is a figure which shows the state of the contact apparatus of FIG. 1 when the contact distance with a to-be-contacted body changes. It is a figure which shows another example of the shape of the elastic member in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the shape of the elastic member in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the principal part structure of the glass antenna for vehicles using the contact device concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the conventional contact device. It is sectional drawing in the state which the conventional contact device contact | abutted with the to-be-contacted body. It is a figure which shows the state of the conventional contact device when the contact distance with a to-be-contacted body changes.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Contact device, 12 Elastic member, 14 Contact part, 14a Contact part, 14b Case, 16 Fixing hole, 18 Terminal, 20 1st component, 22 2nd component (contact object), 30 Contact device, 32 elastic member, 34 contact part, 34a contact part, 34b case, 36 fixing hole, 38 terminal, 40 through hole, 50 glass antenna for vehicle, 50a, 50b antenna unit, 52 antenna element, 52a end contact, 54 Rear window glass, 56 roof panel, 58 substrate support base.

Claims (4)

A leaf spring-like elastic member configured by bending an even number of conductive plates in parallel;
A contact portion that is attached to one end of the elastic member and includes a contact portion made of a conductor that is urged by the elastic member and pressed against the contacted body,
A contact device for a high-frequency circuit, wherein conduction between the contacted body and the elastic member is ensured through the contact portion. The contact device for a high-frequency circuit according to claim 1,
The contact device for a high-frequency circuit, wherein the contact portion is made of conductive rubber. The contact device for a high frequency circuit according to claim 1 or 2,
The contact member for a high frequency circuit, wherein the elastic member has a through hole. A leaf spring-like elastic member configured by bending an even number of conductive plates in parallel;
A contact portion that is mounted on one end of the elastic member and includes a conductor that is biased by the elastic member and pressed against the contacted body,
A contact device used for a vehicle window antenna, wherein conduction between the contacted body and the elastic member is ensured through a conductor of the contact portion.

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