WO2016079311A1

WO2016079311A1 - Film antenna integrated into the disc

Info

Publication number: WO2016079311A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/077247
Authority: WO
Inventors: Uwe Daum; Markus Pfletschinger; Dominik SCHAICH; Bernd Schwarz
Original assignee: Hirschmann Car Communication Gmbh
Priority date: 2014-11-21
Filing date: 2015-11-20
Publication date: 2016-05-26
Also published as: EP3221923A1; DE102015222969B4; DE102015222969A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a feed line (5) for an antenna system (1) of a vehicle, comprising at least one electrical conductor arranged between two connecting points (14), characterized in that the electrical conductor is formed by at least two conductor tracks (13) arranged on a support (12).

Description

Foil antenna integrated in the disc

description

The invention relates to a supply line for an antenna system of a vehicle, comprising at least one arranged between two connection points electrical conductor, and an antenna system with such a lead according to the features of the respective preambles of the independent claims.

Printed film antennas are currently being installed in different versions in vehicles. Many RF services can be covered with such foil antennas. Today, radio, TV, mobile communications and other communication antennas are realized with this technology.

Most antennas are not visible, i. integrated into spoilers, bumpers, fenders or other plastic parts of the vehicle. An important installation space for antennas in the vehicle is the disc, especially the rear window, which normally contains whole antenna systems (for example FM, DAB, TV). These (antenna) structures are applied with the aid of silver ceramic pastes. The surface conductance of such antenna structures is not very good. Another disadvantage is the minimum width of a trace of about 0.5 millimeters to 1 millimeter (mm).

Antenna systems for vehicles, so-called pane antennas, have a carrier, for example a plastic film, with at least one antenna structure arranged thereon, which has a foot point, wherein at the base point a supply line is connected. Depending on the type of signals to be received or transmitted, it is also conceivable that either multiple carriers with antenna structures or a carrier with different antenna structures for different frequency ranges are available. This carrier is usually arranged on or in a pane of a vehicle, preferably the rear window, for which it is necessary to provide the base of the antenna structure with a feed line, either to send high-frequency signals to the antenna structure via this feed line, so that they from there can be emitted, and / or to be able to pass on the high-frequency signals received with the antenna structure to a downstream electronic device. It is known that this feed line is used as a cable with an inner conductor and an outer sheath, in particular a coaxial cable. Although the use of such a coaxial cable on the one hand has the advantage that over this cable, the high-frequency signals can be transmitted well and easily and due to the massive structure of the coaxial cable damage during normal operation of the vehicle does not occur. On the other hand, it is disadvantageous that, on the one hand, such a cable is relatively rigid on account of its coaxial construction and thus causes problems during installation. In addition, the use of such Koaxialkabeis of disadvantage, since it can not be used in the field of view of the disc, ie in such transparent areas through which can be looked through, since it has disturbing effects here. Should it nevertheless come to a damage of the coaxial cable, so that the entire signal transmission has failed in a disadvantageous way, especially if the inner conductor has been severed. If there is damage to the outer sheath with the underlying Abschirmgeflecht may still be a signal transmission, but this deteriorates significantly, since the required shielding effect is no longer given due to the high frequencies.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a supply line for an antenna system of a vehicle and also such an antenna system with which the above-described disadvantages are avoided.

This object is solved by the features of the independent claims.

According to the invention, a supply line for an antenna system is provided, in which the electrical conductor is formed by at least two conductor tracks arranged on a carrier. The presence of at least two, preferably exactly three or even more than three strip conductors has the advantage that when one of the strip conductors is damaged, in particular severed, the further signal transmission is ensured. In addition, it is advantageous that the support can be laid without problems, especially if it consists of a flexible or thin rigid material. Furthermore, it is advantageous that such a supply line can then be used in the field of vision of a vehicle window of a vehicle when the carrier is transparent. Thus, the presence of the lead in the field of view of the disc does not obstruct the viewer's perusal. This is especially true even if the tracks are very thin, preferably designed with a width of one micron to 100 microns.

In a first embodiment according to the invention, the at least two conductor tracks run parallel to one another in the region between the two connection points. These two interconnects are connected in quasi-parallel fashion between the connection points, so that when an electrical interruption of one interconnect takes place, the other interconnect still ensures the signal transmission. In addition, can be produced by the parallel course of two, three or more than three tracks very well leads to the carrier in the required length. It is conceivable that the interconnects run straight between the two connection points, an alternative being that the interconnects are bent, angled or the like executed or have a similar geometric course, so that the interconnects not directly but virtually on detour between the both points of approach. This has the advantage that the course of the supply line can be adapted to the space requirements by this course.

In a further development of the invention, the at least two conductor tracks intersect at least once in the region between the two connection points. Of particular advantage, three strip conductors are arranged on the carrier repeatedly crossing between the two connection points. This makes it possible to ensure a particularly good signal transmission, in particular even in the event that once again a printed conductor or even two printed conductors have been interrupted.

In a further development of the invention, the at least two conductor tracks are arranged in each case on one side and on the other side of the carrier. Preferably, the one conductor on one side is arranged congruently with the other conductor on the other side of the carrier. As a result, a so-called icrostrip feed line is advantageously formed, which has particularly advantageous mechanical and high-frequency properties. In any case, this ensures that the signal transmission is ensured via this supply line, even if one of the conductor tracks is interrupted. The signal transmission is still ensured even if all tracks except one are interrupted. This has not only advantage during the use of the supply line in the vehicle, but also in the storage and, above all, during installation, since any damage does not lead to a failure of the entire antenna system.

As already stated, it is particularly advantageous if the individual strip conductors have a width of one micrometer to 100 micrometers, since they are not perceived by a viewer or only insignificantly due to this very thin width when the supply line is in the field of vision of a vehicle window. This effect is assisted by the fact that the carrier is a transparent plastic film, whereby thin rigid transparent carrier can be considered. However, transparent plastic films have the advantage that they can be laid, for example folded, kinked, bent, rolled or the like, depending on the installation space conditions. Thus, it is conceivable, for example, that a supply line in a region starting from the one connection point is designed to be planar, while in the further course it is angled or rolled to the other connection point, in order to thus realize an adaptation to the space requirements.

The same above-mentioned embodiments of the lead and the resulting advantages are equally applicable when the lead is used in an antenna system of the vehicle.

In this context, it is particularly important if the carrier with the antenna structure of the antenna system arranged thereon and the carrier of the feed line with the conductor tracks arranged on one or both sides are designed to be continuous. Throughout in this context means that the carrier of the antenna system and the carrier of the supply line separate components On the other hand, however, they are arranged in the same plane in the region of the foot point on the one hand and the facing connection point on the other hand, with the points (base point and connecting point) arranged adjacent to one another being electrically contacted. This has the advantage that a base of the installation space forms the support surface for the two carriers. Alternatively, however, it also means that the carrier of the antenna system and the carrier of the feed line are integrally formed. In this case, it is not necessary to extra-generate the connection point on the lead and the root of the antenna structure, but it is possible that the antenna structure in the region in which the carrier of the antenna system merges into the carrier of the feed line, also made continuous are and thus pass over. This is of particular advantage when the carrier of the antenna system and the carrier of the feed line are made of a single piece, for example punched out. In this case, the surface of the carrier for the antenna structure may be large in area to accommodate the respective antenna structures for the respective frequency range, whereas the carrier for the lead from the large area protrudes, for example, as a kind of narrow tab or "tail." The length of this protruding part of the carrier for the lead in turn depends on the space requirements, especially after, where the lead must be performed to contact the connection point at the end with an electronic device (for example, an amplifier, a trap circuit, a display device or the like) to become.

Such an antenna system, comprising a support made of a transparent material with thin conductors arranged thereon, which form the antenna structures, and the associated supply line, the support of which also consists of a transparent material (with likewise thin conductor tracks arranged thereon) Advantage that it can be arranged completely or almost completely in the field of vision of the vehicle window.

Various embodiments of the invention are described below and explained with reference to the figures.

As far as shown in detail, FIG. 1 shows, in principle, an antenna system 1 which is arranged on a vehicle window 2 (alternatively between two layers of a vehicle window). The antenna system 1 comprises at least one carrier 3 with an antenna structure 4 arranged thereon. In the example case shown in FIG. 1, two largely similar carriers 3 are provided with antenna structures 4 arranged thereon, wherein the carriers 3 can also be designed differently, as well as those arranged thereon Antenna structures 4. This is particularly necessary if different frequencies or frequency ranges are to be radiated or received with the different antenna structures which are arranged on the carrier.

FIG. 1 shows a supply line 5 which connects the antenna structures 4 to a cable, in particular a coaxial cable 6. At the end of this cable is not shown connected to an electronic device with which the received from the antenna structure 4 high-frequency signals are further processed. In addition, it is possible for 5 high-frequency signals from the electronic device to be supplied to the antenna structures 4 for transmitting the high-frequency signals via the cable and the feed line 5. The vehicle window 2 shown in Figure 1 has a field of view 7, wherein around the Sichtfefd 7 around to the outer limits of the vehicle window 2, for example, a black print is applied, which is not visible. Therefore, for example, the cable, in particular the coaxial cable 6, are laid in this area. In contrast, the carrier 3 and the supply line 5 (here at least partially) are arranged in the field of view 7 of the vehicle window 2, for which purpose the carrier 3 and the unspecified carrier of the feed line 5 consist of a transparent material, in particular a transparent plastic film which are translucent. Likewise, the antenna structures 4 and also not yet designated electrical conductor of the lead 5 are made very thin, so they also act almost transparent to the viewer.

FIG. 2 shows that the at least one carrier 3 with its antenna structures is not arranged on the vehicle window 2 as in FIG. 1, but is arranged inside two glasses 8. This results in a kind of sandwich construction, wherein preferably the entire carrier 3 is arranged with its antenna structure 4 between the two glasses 8 and the feed line 5 is led out at the edge of the two glasses. Again, at the end of the supply line 5, the cable, in particular the coaxial cable, arranged mechanically and electrically contacted, just as in Figure 1. However, it should be noted at this point that a cable for the signal transmission between the antenna structure 4 and electronic device can be used but not necessary. Because it is conceivable, instead of the cable and the lead 5 to run so long that it extends to the electronic device.

Figure 3 shows the basic structure of the antenna system 1 with the carrier 3 and the antenna structures arranged thereon 4. The antenna structures 4, more precisely whose foot point is connected via the supply line 5 with an electronic device 9 shown here in principle. Depending on the type of high-frequency signals to be transmitted and / or received, the antenna structures 4 are adapted, as are possible recesses 10 and / or recesses 11 in the carrier 3.

FIG. 4 shows a possible embodiment of the feed line 5. On a carrier 12, in particular a flexible or rigid carrier, more particularly a transparent plastic film, a plurality of conductor tracks 13 are arranged either on one side on the carrier 12 or, as shown in Figure 4, on both sides on the two surfaces of the carrier 12. Preferably, mutually congruent facing tracks 13 are present on each side of the carrier 12. It is conceivable that applied to the tracks 3 and the spaces between them on the carrier 12 is still a protective layer, for example, glued or printed as a separate component.

Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the antenna system 1, in which the conductor tracks 13 of the feed line 5 are present in three and intertwined with each other.

A possible realization of this feed line 5 according to FIG. 5 is shown in FIG. There, the carrier 12 is shown, wherein between two connection points 14 each at the beginning and at the end of the carrier 12 Einzelleiterbahnen 15 on one side (as shown) or on both sides (not shown) are arranged on the carrier 12. The carrier 12 is again in a particularly advantageous manner, a transparent plastic film which can be applied to the vehicle window 2 or between the two glasses 8 and on the edge of this outstanding. By the braided embodiment of the individual strip conductors 15 shown in FIG particularly advantageously a transparent to the viewer and therefore transparent lead 5, in particular a 50 ohm supply realized.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, once in FIG. 7, the supply line 5 is shown with straight and parallel individual strip conductors 15 between the connection points 14, which are arranged on the carrier 12. Alternatively, it is shown in FIG. 8 (analogous to FIG. 6) that intersecting, in particular braided, individual conductor tracks 15 are located on the carrier 12 on one or both sides between the two connection points 14.

In the two FIGS. 7 and 8, it is shown above all that at least one of the individual conductor tracks 15 has an interruption 16 (FIG. 7) or even two interruptions (FIG. 8) with a total of exactly three individual conductor tracks 15. This ensures that the signal transmission between the two connection points 14 is still ensured, since at least one individual conductor track 15 still ensures the signal transmission. The individual conductor tracks 15, as well as the conductor tracks 13, applied in a particularly advantageous manner in a printing process, in particular a screen printing process. For this purpose, corresponding electrically conductive materials, such as silver polymer pastes, Siiberkeramikpasten and the like can be used. With these printing methods, widths of the printed conductors between one micron and 100 micrometers, as well as for the antenna structures 4, can also be achieved in a particularly advantageous manner. As a result of this broad area, the printed conductors, as well as the antenna structures, are translucent to the viewer and the surface conductance is particularly good, which contributes to a significantly increased performance for the signal reception or the emission of the signals.

In order to realize antennas in the GHz range, precise and reproducible antenna layouts are required. In addition, you want to accommodate transparent antennas in the pane area, so that the view is not limited. To accommodate very thin conductor tracks (width about 1 μιη to ΙΟΌμιτι) in the disc you can produce a Foiienantenne incisive HF connection and then stick to the disc or insert during the joining process of the laminated glass between the layers.

With the aid of these special film antennas, it is possible to use largely invisible antennas for broadband services, such as e.g. LTE, in the vehicle window accommodate. Also GPS antennas can be realized in flat slices so.

The contacting of the antenna on the disc or with inserted antenna in the intermediate layer of the disc is always difficult to realize. The separately inserted or glued antennas advantageously have a suitable "transparent" RF feed line, which can be realized, for example, with double-sided printed microstrip lines, which are connected in parallel, especially for extremely fine screen printing, which is partially congruent at the top and bottom must become.

Such a "transparent" Pigtaii lead, which protrudes beyond the disc contour, saves a separate Kapton band with the appropriate RF lead.

The contacting with the subsequent electronics or the RF cable can then take place outside the field of view, for example in the A-pillar. In particular, the film antenna is a dipole and suitable for transmitting and receiving in the radio range. Thus, the invention preferably describes a foil antenna for a vehicle, which is mounted in or on the disc.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1. Antenna system

2. Vehicle window

3. carrier

4. Antenna structure

5. Supply line

6. Cable

7. Field of view

8. Glass

9. Electronic device

10. recess

11. recess

12th carrier

13th trace

14. Connection point

15. Single track

16th interruption

Claims

Foil antenna integrated in the disc claims

1. supply line (5) for an antenna system (1) of a vehicle, comprising at least one between two connection points (14) arranged electrical conductor, characterized in that the electrical conductor of at least two on a support (12) arranged conductor tracks (13) is.

Second supply line (5) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least two conductor tracks (13) parallel to each other in the region between the two connection points (14).

3. supply line (5) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least two conductor tracks (13) intersect at least once in the region between the two connection points (14).

4. supply line (5) according to claim 3, characterized in that three conductor tracks (13) are arranged repeatedly crossing between the two connection points (14) on the carrier (12).

5. supply line (5) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the at least two conductor tracks (13) respectively on one side and on the other side of the carrier (12) are arranged.

6. supply line (5) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the conductor tracks (13) have a width of 1 micrometer to 100 micrometers.

7. supply line (5) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the carrier (12) is a transparent plastic film.

8. Antenna system (1) of a vehicle, comprising a carrier (3) with at least one antenna structure (4) arranged thereon, which has a foot point, wherein at the bottom of a supply line is connected, characterized in that the supply line (5) at least from at least two on a support (12) and between two connection points (14) arranged conductor tracks (13) is formed.

9. antenna system (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the

Carrier (3) of the antenna system (1) and the carrier (12) of the feed line (5) are formed continuously.

10. antenna system (1) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the at least two conductor tracks (13) parallel to each other in the region between the two connection points (14).

11. Antenna system (1) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the at least two conductor tracks (13) intersect at least once in the region between the two connection points (14).

12. Antenna system (1) according to claim 8, 9, 10 or 11, characterized in that three conductor tracks (13) between the two connection points (14) several times crossing on the support (12) are arranged.

13. Antenna system (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the at least two conductor tracks (13) are arranged respectively on one side and on the other side of the carrier (12).

14. Antenna system (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that the conductor tracks (13) have a width of 1 micrometer to 100 micrometers.