JP2006222657A - Integrated antenna assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a plurality of antennas to have proper directivity without making the constitution of the whole assembly large-sized nor complicated. <P>SOLUTION: An in-vehicle integrated antenna assembly 1 has a GPS antenna 2 mounted at a nearly center in a square region 12 on a ground base board 4 and a VICS antenna 3 mounted in a rectangular region 13 on the ground base board 4 while a feed point 11 is disposed off the center of the rectangular region 13 in short side directions. Symmetrical directivity such that a zenithal gain is large and an elevation angle is small can be obtained as the directivity of the GPS antenna 2, and directivity which is asymmetrical at short sides of the rectangular region 13 or directivity which is asymmetrical in at long sides of the rectangular region 13 can be obtained as the directivity of the VICS antenna 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention provides a first antenna capable of receiving a first radio wave arriving from a zenith direction, a second antenna capable of receiving a second radio wave arriving from an obliquely upward direction, the first antenna, The present invention relates to an integrated antenna device including a ground substrate that functions as a ground for both the second antenna and the second antenna.

There is provided an integrated antenna device in which a plurality of antennas are mounted on the same ground substrate (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-349527 A

  By the way, in the integrated antenna device described in Patent Document 1 described above, the unipole antenna, which is one of a plurality of antennas, receives a radio wave coming from any direction. A configuration in which the size of the ground substrate is increased or the shape thereof is complicated is conceivable so that the directivity is close to the theoretical characteristic (directivity having symmetry). However, in such a configuration in which the size of the ground substrate is increased or the shape is complicated, there is a problem that the configuration of the entire apparatus is increased in size or complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is that each of a plurality of antennas achieves appropriate directivity without increasing or complicating the configuration of the entire apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide an integrated antenna device.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the first antenna capable of receiving the first radio wave coming from the zenith direction is mounted on the substantially central portion in the square area of the ground substrate. Therefore, it is possible to realize appropriate directivity having a large gain and being symmetric at a low elevation angle. In addition, the second antenna capable of receiving the second radio wave arriving from diagonally above is located at a position where the feeding point is in a rectangular area of the ground substrate and deviates from the center of the rectangular area in the short side direction. As a result, a difference occurs in the area in the short side direction of the rectangular area of the ground substrate when viewed from the feeding point, thereby realizing directivity that is asymmetrical in the short side direction of the rectangular area. In addition, a difference in the area of the long side direction of the rectangular area of the ground substrate as seen from the feeding point of the second antenna is realized, thereby realizing directivity that is asymmetrical in the long side direction of the rectangular area. Can do.

  Accordingly, a VICS transmitter that is applied to an in-vehicle integrated antenna device and that receives a GPS radio wave transmitted from, for example, a GPS satellite as a first antenna and is installed on the road as a second antenna, for example. If the VICS antenna that receives the VICS radio wave transmitted from the GPS is applied, the GPS antenna can achieve appropriate directivity, and the gain in the vehicle traveling direction and the traveling lane direction is increased. By mounting the VICS antenna on the vehicle, the VICS antenna can realize appropriate directivity. Further, in this case, the ground substrate is formed in a rectangular shape in which a square region and a rectangular region are combined and a part of the square region and a part of the rectangular region are overlapped. It is possible to avoid complication, and it is also possible to avoid an increase in the size and complexity of the overall configuration of the apparatus.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the second antenna includes a vertical side portion that is substantially perpendicular to the ground substrate and a parallel side portion that is substantially parallel to the ground substrate. Therefore, the height of the antenna as a whole can be reduced, and the entire device can be downsized.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, since the second antenna is formed in a shape in which the element is folded halfway, the horizontal dimension of the whole antenna can be reduced, and the device The whole can be reduced in size.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, since the dielectric base is interposed between the second antenna and the ground substrate, the element length of the second antenna can be shortened by the wavelength shortening effect. In addition, the entire apparatus can be reduced in size, the element of the second antenna can be mechanically held, and mechanical strength can be ensured.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the first radio wave and the third radio wave having a different band from the second radio wave can be received in the hollow area formed by the square area and the rectangular area of the ground substrate. Since the third antenna is provided, the hollow region formed by the square region and the rectangular region of the ground substrate can be effectively used without waste, and the multifunctional antenna device can be achieved.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, the light receiving element for receiving the optical signal is disposed in the hollow region formed by the square region and the rectangular region of the ground substrate. The hollow area formed by the square area and the rectangular area can be effectively used without waste, and the multifunctional antenna device can be achieved.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the light receiving element is disposed so that the light receiving surface thereof is substantially perpendicular to the direction of arrival of the optical signal, the light receiving efficiency can be increased.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which an integrated antenna device of the present invention is applied to an in-vehicle integrated antenna device mounted on a vehicle will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. FIG. 1 schematically shows the overall configuration of the in-vehicle integrated antenna device 1. The in-vehicle integrated antenna device 1 is installed on a road with a GPS antenna 2 (first antenna according to the present invention) that receives a circularly polarized GPS radio wave (first radio wave according to the present invention) transmitted from a GPS satellite. A VICS antenna 3 (second antenna according to the present invention) that receives vertically and horizontally polarized VICS radio waves (second radio wave according to the present invention) transmitted from a VICS transmitter that is connected to the ground substrate 4. It is installed and configured.

  The GPS antenna 2 receives a 1.5 GHz band GPS radio wave transmitted from a GPS satellite, and a plate-like radiation element (radiation electrode) 5 is mounted on a surface portion 6a of a rectangular parallelepiped dielectric base 6. A predetermined portion of the radiating element 5 is a feeding point 7.

  The VICS antenna 3 receives a 2.5 GHz band VICS radio wave transmitted from a VICS transmitter installed on the road, and has two vertical sides whose elements 8 are substantially perpendicular to the ground substrate 4. Deformation folded at two midpoints and folded at one midpoint so as to have 9a, 9b and two parallel sides 10a, 10b substantially parallel to the ground substrate 4 It is composed of a folded monopole antenna, and one end side of the element 8 is a feeding point 11. In this case, the element length of the element 8 is formed so as to be substantially equal to a length obtained by multiplying the wavelength of the VICS radio wave by “½”.

  The ground substrate 4 includes a square area 12 and a rectangular area 13 combined with each other, a part 12a of the square area 12 (approximately half of the −x direction in FIG. 1) and a part 13a of the rectangular area 13 (−y direction in FIG. 1). Are formed in a rectangular shape that is overlapped. That is, in the square region 12, a portion 12a that overlaps the portion 13a of the rectangular region 13 is an overlapping region, and the other portion 12b that does not overlap with the portion 13a of the rectangular region 13 (substantially half in the + x direction in FIG. 1) is non- It is an overlapping area. In addition, the rectangular region 13 has a portion 13a that overlaps with the portion 12a of the square region 12 as an overlapping region, and the other portion 13b that does not overlap with the portion 12a of the square region 12 (substantially half in the + y direction in FIG. 1) is not. It is an overlapping area. In FIG. 1, the square region 12 of the ground substrate 4 has one side indicated by “a”, and the rectangular region 13 of the ground substrate 4 has a short side (side in the x direction). “B” and the length of the long side (side in the y direction) are indicated by “c”.

Now, the mounting positions of the GPS antenna 2 and the VICS antenna 3 will be described.
The GPS antenna 2 is mounted in a substantially central portion in the square area 12 of the ground substrate 4. More specifically, the GPS antenna 2 is located in the square area 12 of the ground board 4 and is an empty area in the + x direction (an area in which the ground board 4 is exposed with the GPS antenna 2 mounted on the ground board 4). ) And −x direction empty area are mounted on the square area 12 so that the area is substantially the same, and the + y direction empty area and the −y direction empty area are approximately the same area. That is, the GPS antenna 2 is mounted on the square area 12 so as to be symmetric in the x direction in the square area 12 of the ground substrate 4 and also in the y direction.

  On the other hand, the feed point 11 of the VICS antenna 3 is in the rectangular region 13 of the ground substrate 4, and the short side direction (−x direction in FIG. 1) from the center of the rectangular region 13 (see “A” in FIG. 1). It is mounted at a location that is off. More specifically, the VICS antenna 3 has an area in the + x direction of the ground substrate 4 that is larger than an area in the −x direction as viewed from the feeding point 11 and an area in the −y direction of the ground substrate 4 in the + y direction. The rectangular area 13 is mounted so as to be larger than the area. That is, the VICS antenna 3 is in the rectangular region 13 of the ground substrate 4 and has an asymmetry in the x direction so that the gain in the + x direction is relatively large and the gain in the −x direction is relatively small. It is mounted on the square region 12 so as to have asymmetry in the y direction so that the gain in the y direction is relatively large and the gain in the + y direction is relatively small.

  In the vehicle-mounted integrated antenna device 1 configured as described above, for example, in a state where it is housed in an antenna case (not shown), the + x direction is the vehicle traveling direction side, and the -y direction is the traveling lane direction side. And it mounts in a vehicle so that + y direction may turn into the opposite lane direction side. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, the arrival direction of the GPS radio wave received by the GPS antenna 2 is the zenith direction, and the arrival direction of the VICS radio wave received by the VICS antenna 3 is an obliquely upward direction.

  Here, the inventor measures the directivity of each of the GPS antenna 2 and the VICS antenna 3 in the above-described vehicle-mounted integrated antenna device 1 and each of the GPS antenna 2 and the VICS antenna 3 in the configuration shown in FIG. 4 as a comparison target. The directivity of was measured. FIG. 4 shows a configuration in which the GPS antenna 2 and the VICS antenna 3 are mounted on a ground substrate 14 having a simple square shape. FIG. 3 shows the measurement results of the directivities of the GPS antenna 2 and the VICS antenna 3 in this embodiment (the in-vehicle integrated antenna device 1, the configuration shown in FIG. 1), and FIG. 4 shows the directivity measurement results of the GPS antenna 2 and the VICS antenna 3 in the configuration shown in FIG.

  As apparent from FIGS. 3 and 5, in the configuration of the present embodiment, the directivity of the GPS antenna 2 is the same as the comparison target, and the directivity having a large zenith gain and symmetry at a low elevation angle. It can be seen that is realized. On the other hand, with respect to the directivity of the VICS antenna 3, the gain is asymmetric in that the gain in the vehicle traveling direction is large, the gain in the direction opposite to the vehicle traveling direction is small, the gain in the traveling lane direction is large, and the gain in the opposite lane direction is small. It can be seen that sex is realized.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the in-vehicle integrated antenna device 1 is configured such that the GPS antenna 2 is mounted in the square area 12 of the ground substrate 4 and is mounted substantially at the center. As the directivity of the antenna 2, it is possible to realize directivity that has a large gain in the zenith direction and is symmetric at a low elevation angle. In addition, since the VICS antenna 3 is arranged in the rectangular region 13 of the ground substrate 4 and mounted at a position deviating from the center of the rectangular region 13 in the short side direction, the feeding point 11 is mounted. As a result, a difference occurs in the area of the rectangular region 13 in the short side direction on the ground substrate 4, thereby realizing a directivity that is asymmetric in the short side direction of the rectangular region 13 as the directivity of the VICS antenna 3. In addition, since the difference in the area of the long side direction of the rectangular region 13 on the ground substrate 4 when viewed from the feeding point 11, the direction of the long side direction of the rectangular region 13 as the directivity of the VICS antenna 3 is achieved. However, a directivity that is asymmetric can be realized, and the gain of the vehicle traveling direction is large as the directivity of the VICS antenna 3 and the gain in the direction opposite to the vehicle traveling direction is Can gain traffic lane direction with again is large and the gain of the opposite lane direction to achieve a suitable low directivity.

  Further, in this case, the ground substrate 4 is formed in a rectangular shape in which the square region 12 and the rectangular region 13 are combined, and a portion 12a of the square region 12 and a portion 13a of the rectangular region 13 are overlapped. Further, it is possible to avoid the ground substrate 4 from becoming large or complicated, and it is also possible to avoid the structure of the entire apparatus from becoming large or complicated.

  The element 8 of the VICS antenna 3 has two vertical sides 9 a and 9 b substantially perpendicular to the ground substrate 4 and two parallel sides 10 a and 10 b substantially parallel to the ground substrate 4. Since the antenna is bent at two midpoints and folded at one midpoint, the height and horizontal dimensions of the antenna as a whole can be reduced. And the entire apparatus can be miniaturized.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, in the in-vehicle integrated antenna device 21, a dielectric pedestal 22 is interposed between the VICS antenna 3 and the ground substrate 4.

  In the second embodiment, the same effects as those described in the first embodiment can be obtained, and the GPS antenna 2 has a large zenith gain and is symmetric at a low elevation angle. The VICS antenna 3 has a large gain in the vehicle traveling direction, a small gain in the direction opposite to the vehicle traveling direction, a large gain in the traveling lane direction, and a large gain in the opposite lane direction. Appropriate directivity with a small gain can be realized. In this case, since the dielectric pedestal 22 is inserted between the VICS antenna 3 and the ground substrate 4, the element length of the VICS antenna 3 can be shortened by the wavelength shortening effect, and the entire apparatus The element 8 of the VICS antenna 3 can be mechanically held and mechanical strength can be ensured.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, in the in-vehicle integrated antenna device 31, the VICS antenna 32 is constituted by a monopole antenna. In this case, the VICS antenna 32 is formed so that the element length of the element 33 is substantially equal to the length obtained by multiplying the wavelength of the VICS radio wave by “¼”, and the feeding point 34 is the first feeding point described above. In the same manner as described in the first embodiment, it is in the rectangular region 13 of the ground substrate 4 and deviates from the center of the rectangular region 13 (see “A” in FIG. 7) in the short side direction (−x direction in FIG. 7). It is mounted at the location.

  In the third embodiment, the same effects as those described in the first embodiment can be obtained, and the GPS antenna 2 has a large zenith gain and is symmetric at a low elevation angle. The VICS antenna 32 has a large gain in the vehicle traveling direction and a small gain in the direction opposite to the vehicle traveling direction, and a large gain in the traveling lane direction and in the opposite lane direction. Appropriate directivity with a small gain can be realized. Further, in this case, since the element 33 of the VICS antenna 32 is formed in a shape that is not bent halfway, the vertical polarization of the VICS radio wave can be appropriately received.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this 4th Embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, in the vehicle-mounted integrated antenna apparatus 41, the VICS antenna 42 is comprised from the deformation | transformation monopole antenna. Also in this case, the VICS antenna 42 is formed so that the element length of the element 43 is substantially equal to the length obtained by multiplying the wavelength of the VICS radio wave by “1/4”. 1 in the rectangular region 13 of the ground substrate 4 in the same manner as described in the first embodiment, from the center of the rectangular region 13 (see “A” in FIG. 8) to the short side direction (−x direction in FIG. 8). It is mounted at a location that is off.

  Also in the fourth embodiment, the same effects as those described in the first embodiment can be obtained, and the gain of the zenith direction is large as the directivity of the GPS antenna 2 and is symmetric at a low elevation angle. The VICS antenna 42 has a large gain in the vehicle traveling direction, a small gain in the direction opposite to the vehicle traveling direction, a large gain in the traveling lane direction, and a large gain in the opposite lane direction. Appropriate directivity with a small gain can be realized. Further, in this case, since the element 43 of the VICS antenna 42 is formed in a shape bent at a midpoint, the height direction dimension of the entire antenna can be reduced, and the entire apparatus can be downsized. be able to.

(Fifth embodiment)
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the fifth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, in the in-vehicle integrated antenna device 51, the GPS antenna 52 is configured by a spiral antenna, and the feeding point 53 is in the square area 12 of the ground substrate 4. It is mounted at the approximate center of the square area 12.

  In the fifth embodiment, the same effects as those described in the first embodiment can be obtained, and the GPS antenna 52 has a large zenith gain and is symmetric at a low elevation angle. The VICS antenna 3 has a large gain in the vehicle traveling direction, a small gain in the direction opposite to the vehicle traveling direction, a large gain in the traveling lane direction, and a large gain in the opposite lane direction. Appropriate directivity with a small gain can be realized.

(Sixth embodiment)
Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the sixth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, in the in-vehicle integrated antenna device 61, a hollow region (indicated by “P” in FIG. 10) formed from the square region 12 and the rectangular region 13 of the ground substrate 4. An ETC antenna 62 (third antenna in the present invention) that can receive an ETC radio wave having a band different from that of the GPS radio wave and the VICS radio wave is provided. The ETC antenna 62 receives an ETC radio wave transmitted from an ETC transmitter installed on the road, and a plate-like radiating element (radiating electrode) 63 is formed on the surface 64a of a rectangular parallelepiped dielectric base 64. The patch antenna is mounted, and a predetermined portion of the radiating element 63 is a feeding point 65. The ETC antenna 62 is mounted on a ground substrate 66 that is inclined by a predetermined angle (about 23 degrees) from the horizontal direction according to the arrival direction of the ETC radio wave.

  In the sixth embodiment, the same effects as those described in the first embodiment can be obtained, and the GPS antenna 2 has a large zenith gain and is symmetric at a low elevation angle. The VICS antenna 3 has a large gain in the vehicle traveling direction, a small gain in the direction opposite to the vehicle traveling direction, a large gain in the traveling lane direction, and a large gain in the opposite lane direction. Appropriate directivity with a small gain can be realized. Further, in this case, since the ETC antenna 62 is disposed in the hollow area formed by the square area 12 and the rectangular area 13 of the ground substrate 4, the ETC antenna 62 is formed by the square area 12 and the rectangular area 13 of the ground substrate 4. Thus, the hollow region can be effectively used without waste, and the antenna device can be multi-functionalized.

(Seventh embodiment)
Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the seventh embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, in the in-vehicle integrated antenna device 71, a hollow region (indicated by “P” in FIG. 11) formed from the square region 12 and the rectangular region 13 of the ground substrate 4. In the area, for example, four light receiving elements 72 to 75 capable of receiving an optical signal transmitted from a road device are arranged. In this case, the light receiving elements 72 to 75 are arranged such that the respective light receiving surfaces 72a to 75a are substantially perpendicular to the arrival direction of the optical signal.

  In the seventh embodiment, the same effects as those described in the first embodiment can be obtained, and the GPS antenna 2 has a large zenith gain and symmetry at a low elevation angle. The VICS antenna 3 has a large gain in the vehicle traveling direction, a small gain in the direction opposite to the vehicle traveling direction, a large gain in the traveling lane direction, and a large gain in the opposite lane direction. Appropriate directivity with a small gain can be realized. Further, in this case, since the light receiving elements 72 to 75 are arranged in the hollow region formed by the square region 12 and the rectangular region 13 of the ground substrate 4, the light receiving elements 72 to 75 are arranged from the square region 12 and the rectangular region 13 of the ground substrate 4. The formed recessed region can be effectively used without waste, and the multifunctional antenna device can be achieved.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified or expanded as follows.
The configuration is not limited to the configuration applied to the in-vehicle integrated antenna in which the GPS antenna and the VICS antenna are integrated, and may be configured to be applied to an integrated antenna in which a plurality of other antennas other than these are integrated.
A configuration in which the ETC antenna and the light receiving element are disposed in a hollow region formed by a square region and a rectangular region of the ground substrate may be employed.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing the first embodiment of the present invention. A diagram schematically showing the direction of arrival of GPS radio waves and the direction of arrival of VICS radio waves The figure which shows the directivity of each of a GPS antenna and a VICS antenna External perspective view for comparison 3 equivalent figure External perspective view showing a second embodiment of the present invention External perspective view showing a third embodiment of the present invention External perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention External perspective view showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention External perspective view showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention External perspective view showing a seventh embodiment of the present invention

Explanation of symbols

In the drawings, 1 is an in-vehicle integrated antenna device (integrated antenna device), 2 is a GPS antenna (first antenna), 3 is a VICS antenna (second antenna), 4 is a ground substrate, 8 is an element, and 9a and 9b are Vertical side portions, 10a and 10b are parallel side portions, 11 is a feeding point, 12 is a square region, 13 is a rectangular region, 21 is an in-vehicle integrated antenna device (integrated antenna device), 22 is a base, and 31 is an in-vehicle integrated antenna device ( Integrated antenna device), 32 is a VICS antenna (second antenna), 33 is an element, 34 is a feeding point, 41 is an in-vehicle integrated antenna device (integrated antenna device), 42 is a VICS antenna (second antenna), 43 is Element, 44 is a feeding point, 51 is an in-vehicle integrated antenna device (integrated antenna device), 52 is a GPS antenna (first antenna), and 61 is in-vehicle. If the antenna device (the integrated antenna device), 62 ETC antenna (third antenna), 71 vehicle integrated antenna device (integrated antenna device), 72 to 75 light-receiving element, 72A～75a is the light receiving surface.

Claims (7)

A first antenna capable of receiving a first radio wave arriving from the zenith direction; a second antenna capable of receiving a second radio wave arriving from an obliquely upward direction; the first antenna and the second antenna; And an integrated antenna device comprising a ground substrate that functions as both grounds,
The ground substrate is configured in a rectangular shape in which a square region and a rectangular region are combined and a part of the square region and a part of the rectangular region are overlapped,
The first antenna is mounted in a substantially central portion in a square area of the ground substrate,
The integrated antenna device characterized in that the second antenna is mounted at a position where the feeding point is in a rectangular area of the ground substrate and deviates from the center of the rectangular area in the short side direction. .
The integrated antenna device according to claim 1,
The second antenna is formed in a shape in which an element is bent at an intermediate portion and has a vertical side substantially perpendicular to the ground substrate and a parallel side substantially parallel to the ground substrate. An integrated antenna device comprising a linear or plate-shaped deformation antenna. In the integrated antenna device according to claim 2,
The said 2nd antenna is comprised from the deformation | transformation folded antenna formed by the shape where the element was folded in the middle part, The integrated antenna apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. In the integrated antenna device according to claim 2 or 3,
An integrated antenna device, wherein a dielectric pedestal is interposed between the second antenna and the ground substrate. In the integrated antenna device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A third antenna capable of receiving a third radio wave having a band different from that of the first radio wave and the second radio wave is disposed in a hollow area formed by a square area and a rectangular area of the ground substrate. An integrated antenna device. In the integrated antenna device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
An integrated antenna device, wherein a light receiving element for receiving an optical signal is disposed in a hollow region formed by a square region and a rectangular region of the ground substrate. The integrated antenna device according to claim 6,
The integrated antenna device, wherein the light receiving element is disposed so that a light receiving surface thereof is substantially perpendicular to an arrival direction of an optical signal.

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