KR20180038213A - Antenna apparatus for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an antenna apparatus for a vehicle capable of achieving downsizing while receiving various kinds of signals. The antenna apparatus for a vehicle includes: one or more built-in antennas operating at different operating frequencies; and a case including a conductive frame electrically connected to the one or more built-in antennas. So, a size of the antenna apparatus can be reduced and the degree of isolation between the built-in antennas can be increased.

Description

Antenna apparatus for vehicle < RTI ID = 0.0 >

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicular antenna device, and more particularly, to a vehicular antenna device capable of miniaturization.

Background Art [0002] In recent vehicle antenna apparatuses, not only a radio signal and a broadcast signal reception function but also a communication signal reception function are required. That is, it is required to receive AM / FM radio signals, receive broadcast signals such as DMB, DAB, and SXM, and receive communication signals such as 3G / 4G (LTE). In the future, ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) and WAVE (Wireless Access in Vehicular Environment) functions are expected to be required. Accordingly, as various antennas for receiving various signals are added to the vehicular antenna apparatus, the size of the vehicular antenna apparatus is increasing, and in the industry, the miniaturization of the antenna is a main technical problem due to the space limitation of the vehicle.

1 is a view showing a configuration of a conventional antenna device for a vehicle. 1, a conventional vehicular antenna device includes a base 110, a signal processing board 120, internal antenna modules 130-1, 130-2, 130-3, and a housing 150, .

The base 110 is a member having a plate shape as a whole. The lower surface of the base 110 is coupled to an outer panel of the vehicle, and the signal processing board 120 and the built-in antenna module 130 are installed on the upper portion.

The signal processing board 120 processes signals received through the built-in antenna module 130. For example, a signal of a desired frequency band is filtered by a band-pass filter to remove noise and the like and amplify to a required level. The signal processing board 120 may be configured as a printed circuit board (PCB), for example.

The embedded antenna module 130 includes a plurality of antennas. The first antenna 130-1 receives a signal for a mobile communication service such as LTE (Long Term Evolution), the second antenna 130-2 receives a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) signal, 3 antenna 130-3 receives the AM / FM radio signal. In addition, an antenna for receiving a telematics signal may be further included. The internal antenna module 130 receives the signal and transmits the signal to the signal processing board 120.

The case 150 is coupled with the base 110 to receive the signal processing board 120 and the built-in antenna module 130 in an internal accommodation space. The case 150 is implemented in a shark fin shape to reduce air resistance and wind noise generated when the vehicle is moving.

As described above, the conventional vehicular antenna apparatus is equipped with various built-in antennas for receiving various kinds of signals. Therefore, there is a problem that the size, particularly the height, of the antenna apparatus for a vehicle is increased. In particular, the third antenna 130-3 receiving the AM / FM signal is a monopole type antenna and has a helical coil structure. In order to receive the AM / FM signal, which is a low frequency band, the third antenna 130-3 has a spiral coil structure because it has a relatively long electrical length. The first and second antennas 130-1 and 130-2 are installed on the ground plane of the signal processing board 120 and are a general patch antenna type in which a dielectric and antenna patches are stacked in order. -3). That is, the size, i.e., the height, of the antenna device for the vehicle is increased in order to secure the electrical length of the third antenna 130-3 for receiving the signal in the low frequency range, which makes it difficult to downsize the antenna device for a vehicle.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicular antenna device capable of achieving miniaturization while receiving various kinds of signals.

An automotive antenna apparatus according to one aspect includes: at least one built-in antenna operating at a different operating frequency; And a case including a conductive frame electrically connected to the built-in antenna of one of the at least one internal antenna.

In one embodiment, the conductive frame compensates for the electrical length of the one embedded antenna.

In one embodiment, at least a portion of the conductive frame may be exposed to the exterior of the case.

In one embodiment, a protective layer may be formed on at least a part of the conductive frame exposed to the outside of the case.

In one embodiment, the case may be manufactured by insert injection of the conductive frame.

In one embodiment, at least a portion of the conductive frame may be exposed to the inside of the case and physically contact the built-in antenna.

In one embodiment, the conductive frame may be indirectly connected to the internal antenna by an electrical coupling.

According to the embodiment, the size of the built-in antenna can be reduced by reducing the size of the built-in antenna by connecting the conductive frame to the case, thereby improving the isolation between the built-in antennas.

In addition, according to one embodiment, it is possible to maximize the space utilization of the vehicle antenna device by reducing the size of the built-in antenna and improve the structural strength of the vehicular antenna device by coupling the conductive frame made of metal to the case.

Further, according to one embodiment, the conductive frame can be protected by providing a protective layer on the conductive frame coupled to the case to prolong the life.

1 is a view showing a configuration of a conventional antenna device for a vehicle.
2 is a view showing an antenna device for a vehicle according to an embodiment.
3 is a view showing a case of an antenna device for a vehicle according to another embodiment.
4A to 4D are views showing various shapes of a third antenna according to one embodiment.
5A to 5D are views showing the third antenna shown in Figs. 4A to 4D connected to the conductive frame of the case.
6 is a view showing the shape of a conductive frame according to another embodiment.
7 is a view for comparing heights of the vehicular antenna apparatus according to an embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a diagram comparing distances between antennas in an antenna device for a vehicle according to an embodiment.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in order that those skilled in the art can easily carry out the present invention. In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear. In the drawings, like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings.

2, a vehicle antenna device according to an embodiment includes a base 210, a signal processing board 220, an internal antenna module (not shown) 230: 230-1, 230-2, 230-3), a case 250, and a conductive frame 260.

The base 210 is a member having a plate shape as a whole, the lower surface of which is coupled to an outer panel of the vehicle, and the signal processing board 220 and the built-in antenna module 230 are installed thereon.

The signal processing board 220 processes signals received through the embedded antenna module 230. For example, a signal of a desired frequency band is filtered by a band-pass filter to remove noise and the like and amplify to a required level. The signal processing board 220 may be configured as a printed circuit board (PCB), for example.

The embedded antenna module 230 includes a plurality of antennas. The first antenna 230-1 receives a signal for a mobile communication service such as LTE (Long Term Evolution), the second antenna 230-2 receives a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) signal, 3 antenna 230-3 receives the AM / FM radio signal. In addition, an antenna for receiving a telematics signal may be further included. The built-in antenna module 230 receives the signal and transmits the signal to the signal processing board 220. Referring to FIG. 2, the first and second antennas 130-1 and 130-2 are general patch antennas that are provided on the ground plane of the signal processing board 120, and are stacked with a dielectric and an antenna patch in order. The third antenna 130-3 receiving the AM / FM signal is a monopole type antenna and has a helical coil structure.

The case 250 is coupled with the base 210 to receive the signal processing board 220 and the built-in antenna module 230 in an internal accommodation space. The case 250 may be implemented as a shank pin to reduce air resistance and wind noise generated when the vehicle is moving. The case 250 may be made of a resin that does not contain a metal component such as PC (Polycarbonate), PA (Polyacetal), POM (Polyoxymethylene), PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate), Polybutyleneterephthalate (PBT), Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) ), ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), and PPS (Polyphenylenesulfide).

The case 250 includes a conductive frame 260. The conductive frame 260 is coupled to a part of the case 250 and a part of the conductive frame 260 is exposed to the outside to form an appearance of the antenna device for a vehicle together with the case 250. The conductive frame 260 is also exposed to the inside of the case 250 and electrically connected to the third antenna module 230-3. The conductive frame 260 may be made of a conductive material such as copper (Cu), aluminum, stainless steel, gold (Au), or silver (Ag) using die casting, have.

The case 250 and the conductive frame 260 may be coupled through insert injection. The conductive frame 260 is inserted into a mold for injection molding the case 250 and then the resin is injected into the mold 250 to inject the case 250 and the conductive frame 260 together. Alternatively, the case 250 and the conductive frame 260 may be combined and integrated by a bonding method, an adhesive tape bonding method, a heat fusion bonding, an ultrasonic fusion bonding, or an assembly method.

The conductive frame 260 is electrically connected to the third antenna 230-3 mounted on the signal processing board 220 to compensate the electrical length of the third antenna 230-3. The electrical connection includes a physical connection that is physically in direct contact and an electrical connection that is connected by an electrical coupling while maintaining a constant spacing. The physical connection includes direct contact of the conductive frame 260 with the third antenna 230-3 or connection using an intermediate medium such as solder, connector, contact pin, or the like. The conductive frame 260 has conductivity and functions as a radiator that emits a signal transmitted from the third antenna 230-3 to the outside. In this way, by electrically connecting the conductive frame 260 to the third antenna 230-3 to compensate the electrical length of the third antenna 230-3, the size, especially the height, of the third antenna 230-3 can be reduced . Therefore, the overall size, particularly the height, of the vehicular antenna device can be reduced. By reducing the size of the third antenna 230-1, the size of the vehicular antenna device can be reduced. Also, by reducing the size of the third antenna 230-3, the distance between the plurality of antennas 230-1, 230-2, and 23-3 built in the vehicle antenna apparatus can be increased, So that signal interference can be prevented. Also, the conductive frame 260 is made of a conductive metal material, so that it is possible to prevent the vehicular antenna device from being easily damaged by an external impact, as compared with when the case 250 is made of a material having a low rigidity such as plastic.

In theory, a monopole antenna in a free space with a permittivity of 1 should have an electrical length of 1/4 of the wavelength (λ) of the transmission and reception signals. When the FM signal is 88 ~ 108MHz and the center frequency is 100MHz, the monopole antenna in free space should have an electrical length of about 75cm. However, in general, in an actual environment, the electric length is less than about 75 cm due to the permittivity of various components. When the electrical length is L, the third antenna 230-3 is electrically connected to the conductive frame 260. Therefore, the third antenna 230-3 may be electrically connected to the second antenna 230-3 by the electrical length of the conductive frame 260, The required electrical length is reduced. That is, assuming that the electrical length of the conductive frame 260 is L2 and the electrical length of the third antenna 230-3 electrically connected to the conductive frame 260 is L1, the electrical length L2 of the conductive frame 260 The sum of the electrical length L1 of the third antenna 230-3 becomes the electrical length L for receiving the FM signal. The third antenna 230-3 should have the electrical length L when there is only the third antenna 230-3 without the conductive frame 260. However, in an embodiment, the electrical length L2 of the conductive frame 260 The size of the third antenna 230-1, that is, the height of the third antenna 230-1 can be reduced, and the size, i.e., height, of the antenna device for the vehicle can be reduced Can be reduced.

3 is a view showing a case of an antenna device for a vehicle according to another embodiment. 2, the upper surface of the conductive frame 260 is entirely exposed to the outside of the case 250. As shown in FIG. 3, only a part of the upper surface of the conductive frame 260 is exposed to the outside of the case 250. In this case, The exposed portions of the conductive frame 260 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 exposed to the outside of the case 250 may be coated with a plating material such as chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), or gold (Ag) Or may be coated with a UV coating or a paint coating by a spray method to form a protective layer. Alternatively, a protective layer may be formed on the whole of the case 250 including the conductive frame 260.

4A to 4D are views showing various shapes of the third antenna according to one embodiment, and Figs. 5A to 5D are views showing a case where the third antenna shown in Figs. 4A to 4D is connected to the conductive frame 260 of the case Fig. As shown in FIG. 4A, the third antenna 230-3 may be manufactured in the shape of 'a', or may be formed in the shape of 'a' as shown in FIG. 4B and the lower end may be bent at least once Shape. If bent, it can have a longer electrical length in the same space. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, when the third antenna 230-3 is 'A' shaped, the third antenna 230-3 and the conductive frame 260 are physically in direct contact and connected Can be indirectly connected by electrical coupling. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 4C and 4D, the third antenna 230-3 may have a trapezoidal shape in which the width increases while being bent in a zigzag shape. As shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D, when the third antenna 230-3 is trapezoidal in shape, the conductive frame 260 and the third antenna 230-3 may be physically Lt; / RTI >

6 is a view showing the shape of a conductive frame according to another embodiment. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the conductive frame 260 is in the "a" shape. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the conductive frame 260 may be included in the case 250 in a cross shape as shown in FIG. The shape of the conductive frame 260 is not particularly limited as long as it has a desired electrical length.

Fig. 7 is a view for comparing heights of the vehicular antenna apparatus according to an embodiment. Fig. 7 (a) is a conventional vehicular antenna apparatus, and Fig. 7 (b) is a vehicular antenna apparatus according to an embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 7A, in the conventional vehicular antenna device, the third antenna 130-3 must have an electrical length L for transmitting and receiving AM / FM signals. 7B, the antenna device for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a conductive frame 260 coupled to a case 250, a conductive frame 260 and a third antenna 230-3 The electrical length L of the conventional third antenna 130-3 is reduced by the electrical length L2 of the conductive frame 260. [ Therefore, the third antenna 230-3 according to an embodiment is configured to have a length L1 (L1) obtained by subtracting the electrical length L2 of the conductive frame 260 from the electrical length L of the conventional third antenna 130-3. L-L2), and therefore the vehicle antenna apparatus can reduce the height by a minimum L-L1.

8A and 8B are diagrams showing a comparison of separation distances between antennas in a vehicular antenna apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 8A is a conventional antenna apparatus for a vehicle, and FIG. 8B is a cross- Antenna device.

The antenna device for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a conductive frame 260 coupled to the case 250 and a conductive frame 260 electrically connected to the third antenna 230-3, -3 can be reduced by the electrical length L2 of the conductive frame 260 so that the size of the third antenna 230-3 as well as the height is reduced. Thus, as shown in (a) of Figure 8, and the separation distance between the first antenna 130-1 and the second antenna 130-2 of the conventional vehicle antenna device t ₁ a second antenna (130- 2) and the third antenna (if the spaced distance between t ₂ 130-3), in the vehicle antenna device according to one embodiment, the third antenna (a reduced, each of the antennas (230-1, 230 230-3 in size) -2, and 230-3 can be made larger. That is, as illustrated in (b) of Figure 8, a first antenna (230-1) and a second antenna (230-2), a second antenna (230-2) extends a distance a ₁ t + α between the first and separation distance between the third antenna (230-3) may be extended to t ₂ + β. Therefore, isolation between the antennas 230-1, 230-2 and 230-3 of the vehicle antenna apparatus according to the embodiment can be sufficiently secured.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. It will be understood that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

210: Base
220: Signal processing board
230: Antenna module
250: Case
260: Conductive frame

Claims (7)

A vehicular antenna device comprising:
At least one internal antenna operating at different operating frequencies; And
And a case including a conductive frame electrically connected to one of the at least one built-in antenna. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the conductive frame compensates the electrical length of the one built-in antenna. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein at least a part of the conductive frame is exposed to the outside of the case. The method of claim 3,
And a protective layer is formed on at least a part of the conductive frame exposed to the outside of the case. 3. The method of claim 2,
Characterized in that the case is manufactured by insert injection of the conductive frame. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein at least a portion of the conductive frame is exposed to the inside of the case and physically contacts the built-in antenna. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the conductive frame is indirectly connected to the built-in antenna by an electrical coupling.

Images